Chapter 178 I absolutely cannot marry Sister Lu
Madam Xiao was speechless at these words and glared at them fiercely.
Madam Xiao straightened her back and met her gaze without flinching, her brows revealing a frank and sharp edge.
At that moment, steady and powerful footsteps echoed from under the corridor.
A figure stepped into the brightly lit area, his shoulders still carrying the chill of the night, exuding a cold and stern air of someone who had been through many battles.
It was Xiao Yeming who returned.
Behind him was a handsome young man with a strong physique.
It was Lu Zhaoruo's elder brother, Lu Bohong.
Xiao Yeming stepped into the hall, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, finally settling precisely on Lu Zhaoruo.
That brief but focused glance was clearly seen by everyone in the hall.
Lu Zhaoruo lowered her eyes slightly, naturally noticing his gaze.
Madam Xiao saw this and was overjoyed, almost bursting out laughing.
Good lad! You have the same good eye as me, not bad at all!
Wang Miaoyin clenched the handkerchief in her hand, her nails almost digging into her flesh, her heart filled with bitterness and despair.
In his eyes... I truly never existed.
Madam He gritted her teeth inwardly: "It really is that merchant's wife, a vixen, who has bewitched him!"
Before Xiao Yeming could speak, Old Madam Xiao called out in a tearful voice, "Yeming, my grandson! Come quickly to your grandmother!"
Xiao Yeming did as he was told and stepped forward.
The old lady grabbed his mutilated left hand, tears streaming down her face as she caressed the severed finger: "You child... why did you keep such a big thing from your grandmother! What Japanese pirates you said you were injured by... I only found out today, you were injured while saving someone unrelated, and you ruined your health for nothing! If anything had happened to you, how could your grandmother live on..."
Her voice trembled with emotion, but her gaze seemed to drift towards Lu Zhaoruo almost imperceptibly.
Xiao Yeming frowned slightly, about to explain, but saw his mother, Madam Xiao, suddenly stand up.
"Mother, you are mistaken!"
Madam Xiao spoke in a clear voice, walking straight to her son's side and standing shoulder to shoulder with him: "The sons of the Xiao family, on the battlefield they shield their comrades from harm, and in matters of loyalty they sacrifice their fingers for their friends—these are the true colors of upright men! How can you say they are 'unrelated'? In my opinion, losing that finger was worthwhile, it was a loss of courage!"
Old Madam Xiao was once again publicly contradicted, and her fingertips trembled with anger. However, due to her status, she could not retaliate. She could only squeeze out a sentence through gritted teeth: "Fine... fine, what a 'spirited' one! I'm so senile, I'm not as good as you at teaching my son!"
Madam He saw it all.
Normally, although Madam Xiao and Madam Xiao were not on good terms, they rarely met. Even when they did meet, it was just a few polite words. Madam Xiao had never been so defiant and argumentative as she was today!
It was clear that Madam Xiao was determined to protect the merchant's daughter, and was unwilling to even put on a show of it.
Thinking of this, a chill crept up He's back.
If Madam Xiao's wish is truly granted, and Lu Zhaoruo enters the family with her mother-in-law's support, where will the mother and daughter have a place to stand in the inner quarters of the Xiao family in the future?
Just as the atmosphere was tense, Lu Bohong stepped forward steadily, bowed solemnly in the direction of the main seat, and said in a clear and open voice: "I am Lu Bohong, the younger brother of my elder brother Zhaoruo. I am a guest in your household and have never had the opportunity to pay my respects to the old lady. Today I am honored to come and pay my respects."
His demeanor possessed the upright and agile bearing of a martial artist, yet he did not lack the manners of a scion of a noble family.
At this moment, he was completely unaware of the uproar that had just been stirred up in the hall because of his sister.
Madam Xiao disliked Lu Zhaoruo, and naturally disliked her brother as well, not even raising her eyelids when Lu Bohong greeted her.
Madam Xiao laughed heartily and took over the conversation: "Young Master Lu, you've come at the perfect time! We were just discussing Ye Ming's marriage. In my opinion, he and your younger sister Zhao Ruo get along very well. I wonder if the Lu family would be willing to consider betrothing Zhao Ruo to my son?"
Lu Bohong froze, almost thinking he had misheard.
Madam Xiao actually proposed to marry her younger sister to General Xiao?
Seeing this, Dongrou, who was standing nearby, quickly whispered a reminder: "My lord, the lady is asking you a question."
Lu Bohong suddenly came to his senses.
He had practiced martial arts since childhood and was devoted to serving his country. He had long admired Xiao Yeming, a famous general who had achieved great military exploits at a young age and guarded a region, and regarded him as a role model.
Hearing that Madam Xiao had personally proposed marriage, and that the other party was none other than his most beloved younger sister, a surge of immense joy and excitement welled up within him.
He immediately clasped his hands in a fist and bowed deeply to Madam Xiao: "I am deeply grateful for your kindness, Madam, and your favor, General! This is great news, and as your elder brother, I am overjoyed."
He changed the subject, looking at Lu Zhaoruo with gentle eyes: "However, my younger sister Zhaoruo has her own opinions. Although I am her elder brother, I dare not make decisions on her life's most important matter. This matter... still needs Zhaoruo's own wishes to be considered."
Lu Zhaoruo felt gratified as she listened to her brother's words; her brother had grown up a lot.
Madam Xiao smiled and said, "Your sister said she agrees, and the marriage is entirely up to my son's wishes. How could I, as his mother, not know his thoughts?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Miaoyin and Madam He turned pale instantly.
They never expected that Madam Xiao would propose marriage so directly, and they could also hear the implication in her words that Xiao Yeming had already fallen for Lu Zhaoruo!
The mother and daughter suddenly looked at Xiao Yeming.
Xiao Yeming froze on the spot, his hands hanging at his sides unconsciously clenching.
He was shocked. He never dared to imagine that his mother would bring up his marriage to Sister Lu in public like this.
He secretly resented his mother for not letting him know in advance. What if she startled Sister Lu with such a suddenness?
But then I thought about it again, and realized that my mother had always been this kind of impulsive and energetic person.
However... so it seems that Mother does favor Sister Lu.
A surge of joy welled up inside him.
Especially when he heard “She naturally agreed, it’s all up to my son’s wishes,” he almost instinctively and quickly looked up at Lu Zhaoruo.
The moment his gaze fell upon her serene profile, he hurriedly lowered his eyes as if burned by fire, his ears quietly turning bright red.
Sister Lu...did she really agree?
To be honest, it was entirely up to him.
A surge of pure, almost boyish ecstasy instantly welled up in his heart, melting away his usual cold and aloof expression.
However.
He suddenly remembered that night a few years ago, and how he had despicably defiled Sister Lu, whom he regarded as a goddess.
He had promised with remorse that he would marry her with the proper rites and gifts three months later to atone for his sins.
Three months later, he voluntarily demoted and was transferred to Linhai, which happened to be her wedding night with her childhood sweetheart. Even after Shen Rongzhi fled overseas, she was willing to stay in the Shen family and wait for him.
At that time, he was heartbroken and only wished to silently protect her.
Who would have thought that later, Sister Lu would scheme to lure Shen Rongzhi back, take him to court, and sever all ties with him and get a divorce!
He was secretly overjoyed at the time.
But then he discovered that Sister Lu only felt hatred for him and avoided him at all costs.
Suddenly, the image of that night flashed into his mind: after Lu Zhaoruo killed Wan Miaoniang, he carried her on his back along the desolate street.
She lay on his back and bit down hard on his old scar, as if she wanted to tear his flesh apart.
She sneered, her words like knives: "Ha... After you ruined my reputation back then, didn't you whisper in my ear... promising to come back and marry me?"
His heart was breaking, and he replied in a hoarse voice, "If my wife does not despise me, I... am willing to marry her."
"Willing to marry you?"
Lu Zhaoruo chuckled lightly, her tone suddenly turning icy cold: "You... dare to challenge me?"
The three words, “You don’t deserve it,” haunted him like a curse, day and night.
An endless bitterness welled up in his heart: "Yes, how could someone as despicable as me... dare to hope? How could I be worthy of her?"
His gaze involuntarily drifted to Lu Zhaoruo, who was sitting quietly not far away, and his eyes suddenly turned red.
If she knew that the culprit who ruined her innocence that night was the very person who was now professing his "willingness to marry" her, how desperate she would be.
If he truly uses lies to build a marriage and trap her in it, wouldn't he be destroying her life with his own hands once again?
No.
I absolutely cannot marry Sister Lu.
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