Chapter 153 Family Scandals Should Not Be Aired in Public
Chu Yunyao followed the maid to the garden, passing a pavilion with a lotus lake outside.
She asked where the lady was, and the maid replied that the lady should be in the attic, so she went to invite the lady.
Chu Yunyao was standing in the courtyard outside the pavilion when she heard someone call out "Fourth Sister" behind her. She turned around and suddenly a strong force pushed her from behind, and she fell into the lotus lake without warning.
She struggled in the lake, screaming for help in terror.
She never expected that the person who jumped down to save her would be Young Master Lu.
Chu Yunyao choked up as she spoke, "I...I didn't lie. When I got ashore, I saw that the person who saved me was Young Master Lu. I...I wished I could have drowned in the lake..."
It's better than having the bad reputation of stealing your brother-in-law.
After listening to her, Chu Yunjin looked at Lu Yuanli standing to the side and asked, "Young Master Lu, since you were discussing the marriage in the front hall, why are you in the back garden?"
"The Third Miss said the garden scenery was beautiful, and it was cooler to talk in the pavilion." Lu Yuanli bowed and replied, "After I arrived at the back garden, I suddenly heard a splash. At first, I didn't know it was the Fourth Miss until I heard her cry for help. I followed the sound, but there was no one around. I had no choice but to rush into the water and rescue the Fourth Miss."
As he spoke, he lowered his eyes slightly: "No matter what, it was indeed I who ruined the Fourth Miss's reputation. Whatever decision the Chu family makes, I will accept it."
Chu Yunjin understood, and so did Yan Jinyue.
Lu Yuanli was no fool, and naturally understood that he had been tricked.
He initially thought that Chu Yunyao was the one plotting against him.
Before Princess Zhaoyang and Princess Yan arrived, Madam Chu's harsh tone in accusing Chu Yunyao indeed placed all the blame on Chu Yunyao, without even giving her a chance to speak.
Only after hearing Chu Yunyao recount the whole story did he finally realize that someone else had been plotting against him.
Lu Yuanli turned to look at Chu Yunshan and found that her expression had changed from anger to guilt, and she no longer looked aggrieved and crying.
He gradually understood something.
"Third sister," Chu Yunjin said, turning to Chu Yunshan first, "did you arrange to meet Young Master Lu in the back garden?"
Chu Yunshan bit her lip: "I..."
Chu Yunjin then asked, "If you invited Young Master Lu to the back garden, where were you when Fourth Sister fell into the water?"
"I...I'm going to change my clothes..."
"Really?" Chu Yunjin smiled. "Fourth sister, who was that maid who led you to the back garden? You should still recognize her, right?"
Chu Yunyao nodded slightly, about to speak, when Minister Chu spoke up: "Family scandals should not be aired in public. Whether Yunyao happened to fall into the water by chance or Young Master Lu happened to pass by, the matter has already occurred. There is no point in pursuing the truth now. What we should do now is to find a proper solution to this matter."
Yan Jinyue frowned slightly, wondering why they didn't pursue the truth.
But considering that this matter involved the reputations of the two girls, she, as an outsider, seemed to have no room to speak, so she could only pick up her teacup and entrust the matter entirely to Chu Yunjin to handle.
"Young Master Lu," Chu Yunjin looked at Lu Yuanli, "what do you think we should do?"
Lu Yuanli pondered for a moment, then lowered his eyes and said, "No matter what, it was indeed this humble citizen who ruined the Fourth Miss's reputation. As long as the Minister and the Fourth Miss agree, this humble citizen is willing to change his fiancée to the Fourth Miss and promises to respect and treat the Fourth Miss well in the future."
Chu Yunjin looked at Chu Yunyao: "Fourth Sister, what do you think?"
Chu Yunyao bit her lip: "I will listen to my mother... I will listen to the Princess's decision."
"No, this is a decision you must make yourself," Chu Yunjin asked. "Are you willing to marry Young Master Lu?"
Chu Yunyao remained silent for a moment, then nodded gently.
Chu Yunjin looked at her mother and Chu Yunshan: "Then Mother and Third Sister should have no objections?"
Just as Chu Yunshan was about to speak, Chu Yunjin spoke up unhurriedly: "If Third Sister likes Young Master Chu, then this marriage will remain as it is. As long as the servants in the house keep their mouths shut, and anyone who dares to spread rumors is sold off, I think we can still protect Fourth Sister's and Young Master Lu's reputation."
Chu Yunshan choked, all the words she had prepared stuck in her throat, making her face turn red.
She hesitated for a long time, but still couldn't say anything in protest.
She had absolutely no desire to marry Lu Yuanli.
But this matter cannot be stated directly.
Chu Yunshan frowned, then feigned magnanimity and said, "Since Fourth Sister wants this marriage, as her older sister, I have no choice but to reluctantly give it up."
Chu Yunjin glanced at Chu Yunyao without making a sound, and gave her a meaningful look.
"Third Sister!" Chu Yunyao received a look from her second sister and immediately shook her head in fear. "It's not that I want it, I absolutely have no intention of stealing your marriage. If you feel it's inappropriate, then as the Princess Consort said, let's pretend this never happened and stick to the original marriage agreement. Please marry Young Master Lu. If Father and Mother think that I have disgraced the Chu family, I am willing to become a nun or offer a white silk ribbon to preserve my chastity."
Minister Chu frowned: "Nonsense! It's not that serious."
While a woman's reputation is important, it is not so important as to warrant dying to preserve her innocence.
Chu Yunshan clenched her hands, secretly resentful.
Looking at the reactions of the group, Lu Yuanli cupped his hands and said, "This matter was all caused by me. In order to protect the reputation of the Fourth Miss, I am willing to marry her."
He turned to Chu Yunshan and bowed, saying, "If I have done anything wrong to the Third Miss this time, please forgive me."
As soon as he finished speaking, a man rushed in and respectfully reported, "Your Highness, Minister, His Highness the Prince of Yan has arrived."
Minister Chu's expression changed.
What is the Prince of Yan doing here?
Yan Jinyue raised an eyebrow: "Fourth Princess is just going back to her parents' home, why is Fourth Prince following her? Is he worried that Fourth Princess will be bullied?"
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