Chen Yunniang had to admit that he had overheard her conversation with Xiaohe, and lying would only make things worse.
"Back then... back then I did drug you, but I... I didn't plot against you."
"From the first moment I saw you, I was captivated by you."
“But you are the noble son of the General’s Mansion and the Empress’s own nephew, while I am just a lowly merchant’s daughter.”
“We are of vastly different social standing, I am not good enough for you.”
Having calmed down by this point, Chen Yunniang deliberately covered her chest with her hand, pretending to be weak.
She was reminding him that her frail health was a result of saving him back then.
Even though she wasn't the one who actually saved the person, she still had to make it look convincing.
All the care he has given her over the years has been because of her 'heart ailment'.
Sure enough, when Lu Ziqian saw her clutching her chest, his attitude softened considerably: "Sit down and talk."
Xiaohe immediately stepped forward to support the weak Chen Yunniang, letting Chen Yunniang's weight fall on her.
It was as if Chen Yunniang would faint at any moment without her support.
Chen Yunniang continued to sob and explain, "My only chance is that I saved your life, but I don't want to take advantage of that kindness."
"Later, you asked me if I would marry you, and I was so happy that I couldn't sleep all night."
"But after the initial excitement, I quickly calmed down."
“Our two families are not a good match. Even if you are interested in me, the General’s Mansion will not accept me.”
"So...so I had no choice but to shamelessly drug you, to...to force you into marriage, and to make it public knowledge, since the General's Mansion has a reputation to maintain."
“You…you are a responsible person, and I have done you a favor, so you won’t drive me to the brink.”
"I really had no intention of harming anyone, nor did I plot against you."
Lu Ziqian's face darkened: "Isn't this scheming?"
Chen Yunniang cried even harder: "I really didn't want to scheme against you, I... I just love you too much."
Lu Ziqian frowned. For some reason, when he heard her confess her feelings, he felt not moved, but disgusted.
What happened next?
Chen Yunniang shook her head: "I don't know what happened after that."
"I intended to help you to the backyard while you were drunk... but I didn't expect you to disappear in the blink of an eye."
"The next time I see you is... it's when you and your cousin are... seen by someone."
Lu Ziqian also recalled what happened three years ago. It was Su Baoguo's birthday, and he went with his father to celebrate.
After realizing that something was wrong with his body, he immediately left the table, wanting to go home to avoid embarrassment.
There were too many people at the front gate, so he left through the backyard. There he saw Su Yujiao sitting alone in the garden, lost in thought. He still vividly remembers her sad expression.
The beauty's tears were so pitiful that I felt sorry for her, and he also knew that Su Yujiao was deeply in love with him.
For a fleeting moment, a wicked thought flashed through his mind: why not use her as the antidote? She would surely be willing.
But in the end, reason prevailed over desire. Just as he was about to leave, he discovered that someone was drunk in the backyard and was trying to take advantage of her.
He couldn't ignore such a situation, so he helped her fight off the bad guys, and Su Yujiao noticed that something was wrong with him.
She said she could help him prepare the antidote, and he followed her to her room, after which he lost his mind and that kind of thing happened.
When I woke up, the two families were already discussing the marriage.
When asked what she meant, she surprisingly said she was willing to marry him.
Therefore, all these years he has believed that Su Yujiao was plotting against him.
It turned out that he had tainted Su Yujiao's innocence under the influence of drugs.
She was willing to marry him simply because she had loved him since childhood.
He's misunderstood her for so many years!
Upon learning the truth, Lu Ziqian was extremely agitated, and his guilt towards Su Yujiao only intensified.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, his tone reproachful: "Why didn't you explain it clearly back then?"
Chen Yunniang lowered her head and stammered, "I...I wanted to explain back then."
"But this isn't something to be proud of, how am I supposed to explain it?"
"Even if you explain it clearly, you still can't give up Jiaojiao to marry me. It will only... it will only leave you with a bad impression."
"So... I can only pretend nothing happened."
“I know I was selfish in this matter, but Jiaojiao didn’t suffer any loss. On the contrary, she benefited from the misfortune and married you.”
Lu Ziqian always felt that something was wrong with what he said. She had married him as she wished, but she had suffered three years of grievances because of it.
Is it fair to her that he suspects her, humiliates her, and ignores her?
I never spend the night in her room, I only seek her out in bed. Is that any different from being a maidservant who shares a room with a concubine?
Whose legal wife gets treated like this?
Seeing Lu Ziqian's ugly expression, Chen Yunniang knew that this matter would not be easily forgotten, so she knelt down on the ground with a thud and sincerely apologized.
"Ziqian, this is indeed my fault. I schemed against you because of my own selfish desires."
"Now that you know the truth, I have nothing to deny."
"You can do whatever you want with it."
Unlike before, Lu Ziqian was not reluctant to let her suffer any grievances and hurriedly went to help her up.
Instead, he stared down at her, his expression still unfriendly.
"Did you know about the meritorious service you performed to save someone's life?"
Chen Yunniang's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly calmed down and looked at him with a puzzled expression: "What meritorious service to save someone?"
"Why can't I understand?"
The man stared intently at her: "Retell the conversation between Su Yujiao and Gu Heng that day. I want to hear the truth."
Although Chen Yunniang was nervous, she already had a plan. She knew that if Su Yujiao made a scene with him, he would definitely come to confront her.
Therefore, she had already practiced the right words in her mind a thousand times over.
Chen Yunniang recalled the events of that day again, but still did not mention the rescue.
"You really didn't hear them mention the rescue?"
"What rescue? Who exactly are you trying to save?"
"Why don't you mention that Su Yujiao wants to save Ligong and her older brother?"
Chen Yunniang was shocked: "What? Wasn't she supposed to do good deeds to get a divorce? How did it turn into saving someone?"
"I really don't know."
“Su Yujing is my cousin. My aunt saved my whole family’s lives. If it could save him, how could I possibly stop her?”
"Have I become so wicked in your eyes?"
Lu Ziqian stood up, his tone cold and serious: "Whether you know it or not, it's pointless to pursue this further now."
“You once saved me, and I am grateful to you. Now I have given you the title of county princess and covered up your crime of murder. This debt of gratitude is now repaid.”
"From now on, we have nothing to do with each other, and you should not bother me."
Chen Yunniang's face turned pale: "Ziqian... I really don't know, please believe me."
Lu Ziqian paused, saying, "Ziqian is not a name you should use, Miss Chen. Please have some self-respect."
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