Chapter 17: Like a Fishbone Stuck in the Throat

Gu Huai was inexplicably a little irritated, his thin lips slightly parted in disbelief, the words "Lu Mingchao left" kept echoing in his mind.

"Did she say anything before she left?" Gu Huai clenched his fists at his side, his neatly trimmed nails digging into his palms. He took a deep breath and tried to calm down as much as possible.

He just left Lu Mingchao alone for a few days, and then Lu Mingchao left.

Isn't that a bit too willful?

The wife of the Marquis of Yongning pretended to wipe the slightly red corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. "She said that the Marquis's Mansion had the grace to raise her, and she wished that Minghui and I would live in peace and happiness for the rest of our lives, and that her nephew and Minghui would live in harmony."

There was a cold gleam in Gu Huai's eyes, full of ridicule.

Should he still be complacent that Lu Mingchao still remembered him and left him a few words?

Lu Mingchao was still as arrogant and self-righteous as ever.

It was obvious that his engagement with Lu Mingchao was obtained by Lu Mingchao's persistent and cunning efforts, but now he was just wishing for him and Lu Minghui to live in harmony.

The voice of the wife of the Marquis of Yongning was choked with sobs. "She said," Minghui also helped to persuade Mingchao, saying that as long as Mingchao was willing to stay in the mansion, she would not compete with Mingchao for the position of the eldest lady or the marriage contract."

"But Ming Chao kept clamoring to go back to the countryside to show filial piety to her biological parents, and she said that if she was not allowed, she would hit the wall again. It felt like a piece of my heart was being cut out."

"Faced with the Ming Dynasty's resolute attitude, Lord Hou and I had no choice but to make concessions."

"Considering the hardships in the countryside, she has been spoiled since she was a child, and I have specially prepared some money for her to live on. I hope her life in the countryside will be better."

In just a few words, the bad reputation of being arrogant, willful and ignorant of good and evil fell firmly on Lu Mingchao's head.

The emotions of the wife of Marquis Yongning were not entirely an act.

It's just that I don't feel heartache enough, but I am more angry than sorry.

She couldn't stand Lu Mingchao being disobedient and not following her arrangements.

If Lu Mingchao had stayed in the mansion obediently, Gu Huai would not have been so emotionally disturbed.

Gu Huai was filled with depression. He sneered, his face was as gloomy as water, and his words were cold. "As dragons give birth to dragons, so phoenixes give birth to phoenixes. There is no need for the Marquis' Mansion to be sad."

"Leaving the Marquis' Mansion is a foolish and unlucky move for Lu Mingchao. He will regret it sooner or later."

"My aunt and the Marquis have treated her with all their kindness and justice."

"I will tell my parents all this truthfully."

Gu Huai also had no idea why he would use such sarcastic words to belittle Lu Mingchao in front of the wife of Marquis Yongning.

Originally, he had disdained such despicable behavior as talking about others behind their backs.

But at this moment, it seemed that only by speaking it out loud could he feel at ease.

"How can parents resent the daughter they raised?" Lady Yongning paused and asked tentatively, "What about the marriage contract between the Duke of Zhenguo and the Marquis of Yongning?"

"Please ask Madam Hou to discuss this matter with my mother." Gu Huai evaded the question impatiently.

The wife of Marquis Yongning received a satisfactory answer, and the corners of her mouth hidden by the handkerchief slightly raised.

As long as Gu Huai had not strongly opposed Minghui taking over the marriage contract, she could have safely facilitated this marriage and let her Minghui become the mistress of the Zhenguo Mansion.

"Aunt, I have plans with two or three good friends. I'll take my leave now and visit you another day."

Gu Huai stood up, bowed his head and bowed.

He couldn't stay in the Yongning Marquis' Mansion for a moment longer.

The wife of Marquis Yongning smiled and nodded.

After getting the permission, Gu Huai left in a hurry.

"Mother, what does Prince Gu mean?"

"Are you still thinking about the Ming Dynasty? Why don't you bring the Ming Dynasty back?"

"My daughter and Prince Gu missed each other for more than ten years. Perhaps they really were not meant to be together and cannot be forced."

Lu Minghui slightly frowned her extremely fine and delicate willow-shaped eyebrows, her eyes were red and tears were about to fall. She looked tolerant and considerate, like crystal clear morning dew. At first glance, she exuded an indescribable gentleness and kindness.

The wife of the Marquis of Yongning tapped Lu Minghui's forehead, half distressed and half annoyed, "I don't want to hear these stupid words anymore."

"In the past few years, Gu Huai has always treated Lu Mingchao coldly and seldom cared about Lu Mingchao's face in front of outsiders."

"His strange reaction just now was just a result of habit, self-esteem, and the desire for control."

"I can't tolerate for a moment that the person who followed me so eagerly just walked away without saying a word."

"I'm going to teach you a truth that is both rough and true. The common bad habit of men in the world is to miss what they can't get or what they have already lost the most."

Otherwise, she would not have thought of marrying Lu Mingchao into the Duke's Mansion as a concubine if it really didn't work out.

"But I can't really say that I care about you. I will never shake your position as the Crown Prince's wife."

Lu Minghui's beautiful eyes were filled with tears, and she was half-believing and half-doubting, "Thank you, mother, for your guidance."

The wife of the Marquis of Yongning smiled and continued, "Minghui, you must not let Gu Huai know that Xiaolu will return to the countryside tomorrow to get engaged."

"Once Lu Mingchao and the hunter's marriage is final, it won't matter what Gu Huai thinks."

Lu Minghui nodded obediently.

…

Gu Huai hurriedly left the Yongning Marquis Mansion. He felt as if there was a heavy object pressing on his heart. A mouthful of foul air was stuck in his throat, which he could neither swallow nor spit out. This made him even more depressed and irritable.

A closer look revealed that the delicate palm was already covered with nail marks.

"Send someone to find out when Lu Mingchao left the capital and where he went."

"If you get the accurate information, report it as soon as possible."

The moment he stepped onto the low stool and entered the carriage, Gu Huai gave orders in a low voice with a dazed look on his face.

Hearing this, the servant looked puzzled, "Prince?"

This is something I have never seen before. Before this, I never thought that one day the Crown Prince would take the initiative to inquire about Miss Lu's news.

"Hmm?" Gu Huai glanced down at the servant.

The servant hurriedly lowered his head and responded.

At the same time, Lu Mingchao, who was far away in Changxi Village, kept sneezing, one after another and couldn't stop. The tip of his nose was red and he looked very pitiful.

Lu Mingchao was dumbfounded. It couldn’t be that serious, right?

You were so energetic while rushing on the road in the freezing cold wind, but you got sick after sleeping for a night at home?

Lu Mingchao rubbed his still itchy nose, feeling helpless.

"Chao Chao, why don't you go find a doctor?"

Yunniang put down the work at hand, full of concern.

Xie Yan, who was chopping wood, also stopped what he was doing and looked at the direction of Lu Mingchao with burning eyes.

He lowered his eyes, curled up the corners of his mouth, sniffed, and said softly, "Mom, there is medicine for colds in my package. Just take it and you will be fine. Why do you need to see a doctor?"

The sound was neither loud nor soft, but clear enough to be heard in the courtyard.

"Does it need to be fried?" Yunniang asked softly as she raised her hand to test Lu Mingchao's body temperature with the palm of her hand.

Lu Mingchao shook his head and said, "Just pour a bowl of hot water."

As soon as I drank the brewed bitter granules while holding my breath, my nose instantly stopped itching, my ears stopped burning, and I stopped sneezing.

Lu Mingchao's little face was filled with confusion.

In the midst of laughter and conversation, the masts and oars were reduced to ashes and smoke.