Chapter 196 I earnestly hope that Lady Lu will not despise Young Master Meng.
“The young master has witnessed all of this since childhood, and it pains him deeply. He hates Lord Meng for his heartlessness and infidelity, and he hates Lady Geng for her shameless intrusion.”
"To be honest, when Lord Meng was demoted, it was the eldest son who secretly passed the news to General Xiao. As for that maid, Aru, it was also the eldest son who ordered someone to find her and deliberately arranged for her to get close to Lord Meng..."
"My lord has endured for many years, and today's situation is to make them... pay for their blood debts!"
Lu Zhaoruo listened quietly, her face showing little surprise, as if she were listening to a story whose ending she had already guessed.
She looked down at the rising steam from the ginger tea in her hand, and only slowly raised her eyes after Chang Hong finished speaking: "I see."
Then, he added, "Young Master Meng's desire to avenge his mother is both pitiful and admirable."
She shifted her tone slightly, but remained calm: "However, while there are clear distinctions between gratitude and resentment, there are also boundaries. Your act of revenge, directed at Lord Meng and Madam Geng, is a matter for your Meng family, and I have no intention of commenting on it."
"but……"
Her gaze swept over Chang Hong. "To include outsiders, such as that maid Aru, and even Dongrou and I, in your schemes and use them as pawns—I cannot condone this."
She put down her teacup with a soft, crisp sound: "Even if Aru had the desire to curry favor, her crime does not warrant death. The child in her womb is even more innocent. Although Meng Dalangjun instigated the bloodshed today, Aru and Geng's constant struggle was also the result of their own choices. In the end, it was just the backlash of their own karma, and each had its own cause and effect."
She stood up, straightened her sleeves, and said calmly, "Changhong, I appreciate your gratitude. But I saved Young Master Meng because of a matter of life and death, not because I condoned his actions today. Now that this matter is settled, my entanglement with the Meng family ends here."
She looked at Chang Hong and said finally, "Please tell Young Master Meng that although the game is dangerous, it will eventually come to an end. Hatred will eventually burn out. I hope he takes care."
After saying this, she said no more, nodded slightly to Dongrou, and the two of them turned and walked out of the hall.
"Madam Lu! Please wait!"
Seeing that she was determined to leave, Changhong blurted out in desperation, his voice choked with sobs, "Madam Lu! You...you mustn't blame my husband entirely! He...he actually..."
He took a deep breath and spoke urgently: "Don't think that just because I am now your servant, my hometown suffered a disaster seven years ago. My parents were gone, and I was all alone and fell ill in a dilapidated temple on the outskirts of the capital. I was burning up with fever and just waiting to die like a stray dog... It was you who happened to pass by and carried me back to your mansion. You found a doctor and medicine and gave me this worthless life and a place to live!"
“He didn’t just save me,” Changhong said, his tone becoming more earnest. “He also secretly sent money and clothes to the orphans in the South City Orphanage. He’s not a cold-blooded person at heart! He’s just… he’s just too bitter inside, which is why he always seems indifferent to everything.”
He raised his head, his eyes almost pleading: "My husband is usually aloof and indifferent to everyone, often feeling that life is meaningless. But he is different towards you, Madam Lu... I can see that he truly admires you, and you could even say that he... treats you differently. It's rare for my husband to show any interest in worldly affairs, and I'm happy for him. I beg you... not to dislike him because of this. If even you distance yourself from him, my husband will surely feel even more lonely and unbearable when he finds out."
Lu Zhaoruo stopped in her tracks because of the choked plea behind her.
She turned around and her gaze fell on Chang Hong's face, which was flushed with anxiety.
She didn't speak immediately, but the cold look in her eyes softened slightly, revealing a hint of understanding and a sigh.
"Chang Hong..."
Her voice was much gentler than before, "I have heard and felt your loyalty to your husband."
She paused slightly, carefully choosing her words, before continuing, "Young Master Meng saved your life, and you are still grateful to this day; this is your sense of duty. His secret care for the orphan is his kindness. I understand all of this."
Her tone was gentle yet clear: "I do not despise him, nor do I intend to judge his character. It's just that everyone has their own way of dealing with things. What I did today was in accordance with my own way; if we meet again in the future, I will also maintain the proper etiquette."
"So you don't need to worry about this. Go back and take good care of your husband; his health is the most important thing."
After saying this, she nodded slightly to Chang Hong, said no more, and turned to leave with Dong Rou.
Chang Hong stood there, watching her departing figure, and wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
He had always considered himself tongue-tied, afraid of saying the wrong thing and ruining things. But hearing Lu Zhaoruo's gentle yet clear words, a huge weight was lifted from his heart, and he couldn't help but murmur, "That's good...that's good..."
Night was falling.
The stone lions in front of the Meng family mansion looked particularly solemn under the dim lantern light.
As Lu Zhaoruo stepped out of the vermilion gate, she was immediately taken aback.
Outside the mansion gate, a carriage adorned with lanterns from the Xiao family mansion was already waiting quietly.
Beside the carriage, Xiao Yeming leaned against the saddle, his dark hair tied up with only a ribbon, and his black outfit accentuated his slender yet powerful figure.
The night breeze brushed against his handsome features, and his dark eyes, fixed on the doorway, betrayed the anxiety and concern that the young man could not hide.
Upon seeing Lu Zhaoruo come out, he immediately strode forward.
"General Xiao?"
Lu Zhaoruo was somewhat surprised, but a warmth inexplicably warmed her heart. "You... how come you're here?"
Xiao Yeming stopped in front of her, his gaze quickly sweeping over her slightly tired but still proud face. After confirming that she was alright, he spoke in a deep voice, his tone as concise as ever: "I heard that there were changes at the Meng family's birthday banquet, and I was afraid that something was wrong. I was passing by, so I waited for a while."
He spoke these words casually, but Lu Zhaoruo noticed the fine dew on his shoulder and knew that this "short while" was probably not short.
"Thank you for your concern, General."
Lu Zhaoruo nodded slightly, not saying much about the shocking events that had occurred in the manor today, and only said, "The matter is over, let's go back."
"good."
Xiao Yeming didn't ask any questions, but stepped aside to make way for her to get into the car.
However.
He noticed that her clothes were not the same ones she had worn when she left home that morning.
His eyes flickered almost imperceptibly, but he didn't ask any questions...
He simply nodded slightly to the driver.
The coachman began to urge the horses on.
The carriage slowly started moving, rumbling along the quiet street.
Xiao Yeming rode a horse to guard the carriage.
Through the occasionally lifted curtain by the wind, he could see Lu Zhaoruo's profile inside the car, her eyes closed as she rested, her brows slightly furrowed, showing a hint of fatigue.
He gripped the reins tightly.
I couldn't help but think of the unfamiliar clothes she was wearing...
Inside the carriage, the lights were dim.
Dongrou glanced furtively at the figure riding a horse outside the window, and finally couldn't help but lower her voice and ask, "My lady, look at the dew on General Xiao's shoulder... It's not like he's just passing by; he's clearly been waiting for a long time."
She hesitated for a moment, then lowered her voice, filled with curiosity and confusion: "From what I can see, General Xiao clearly... has feelings for you, Madam. But why did he refuse the marriage in the first place?"
Lu Zhaoruo kept her eyes closed, but her long eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly.
After a moment of silence, she spoke softly, her voice devoid of emotion: "Alright, there's no need to mention this again."
Dong Rou immediately fell silent, not daring to say another word.
Outside the carriage curtain, the crisp sound of horses' hooves could be heard.
Lu Zhaoruo slowly opened her eyes, looked at the figure outside the car, and felt a little embarrassed.
His current protectiveness and his past rejection left her unsure how to react.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
