"Based on my observations over the past few days, I've noticed that Lu Zilei and Lianhua aren't that close. They barely see each other for days! The Lu family's attitude towards her is also indifferent. It seems they only see her as a tool for making money. Otherwise, why would they have been engaged for so long without any plans to get married?"
Cui Wanyun shared her thoughts with Madam Hu.
Madam Hu also felt that she had been deceived by the Lu family's appearance. Perhaps in the eyes of the Lu family, Lotus was just a tool for making money.
After a few days, she finally saw through Lotus's abilities. Her daughter had spent a lot of money on her, and she did so willingly, as if not spending that money would be a huge loss.
Lotus is quite capable, but only in business; she's too naive when it comes to men.
If she can't hold onto such a good catch, then she can't blame others for snatching him away.
"Yun'er, what are your plans?"
Mrs. Hu felt that her daughter must have a solution, so she decided to listen to her daughter's ideas first. If it worked, she would do it; if not, she would think of another way.
"If I keep following Lianhua around like this, I won't be able to see Lu Zilei. I should try to contact him when Lianhua isn't around! I've thought it through. I'll go all out and make sure Lu Zilei can't shake me off. He'll have to take responsibility for me!"
She didn't say it very explicitly, but Mrs. Hu understood what she meant.
Although this is somewhat wrong and could potentially damage one's reputation, none of that matters. What's important is that the daughter can marry into the Lu family as soon as possible.
The Marquis of Chang'an's mansion is just an empty shell; it didn't have much money to begin with, and its daughter has squandered a lot of it recently. As long as it gets on the Lu family's big ship, it can rest easy.
She patted Cui Wanyun's hand and said, "Whatever you do, your mother will support you. Don't worry, your mother will help you."
That meant her mother agreed. Cui Wanyun breathed a sigh of relief; she had been worried that her mother would think it was too risky and disagree.
That evening, when school was over, some of the younger children were going to follow the little prince into the palace to play with the retired emperor. Lei Zi was going home alone. On the way, he wanted to buy some pastries for Lianhua, so he got off the bus to buy them. But he was blocked in the alley shortly after getting off the bus.
Who are you?
Lei Zi looked wary and even took a step back.
But this is a dead end; there's simply no way to retreat.
Without responding, those people exchanged glances and then approached Lei Zi.
That evening, when it was already dark, Cui Wanyun quietly left the mansion with her maid and went to the restaurant that had been arranged beforehand.
She entered the restaurant through the back door wearing a veiled hat. A waiter was already waiting there and hurriedly and respectfully led the way without saying a word.
Upon arrival, the maidservant helped keep watch at the door. Cui Wanyun told her to stand back and not ruin her plans, then excitedly went into the room.
Incense was burning in the room, which she had specially arranged. The fragrance was exceptionally strong, and after smelling it for a while, I became a little dizzy.
She saw someone lying on the bed and nervously went over.
"Lu Zilei, haven't you been avoiding me all this time? Look, you've still ended up in my hands."
"Don't worry, you won't lose out by marrying me. After all, I'm a young lady from an earl's family. Aren't I much better than that country bumpkin?"
"If you treat me well, I might be lenient and let you take her as a concubine. Otherwise, don't blame me for sending her away!"
...
She stood to the side, talking smugly for a while, the fragrance constantly wafting into her mouth and nose, and soon she felt very hot all over.
Immediately afterwards, she lost her senses. She was still wondering how her mother could prepare such a strong medicine, which must have taken a lot of effort.
She staggered forward, yanked back the covers, and instead of seeing Lu Zilei, she was hit by a pungent, sour smell.
She covered her nose and looked closely at the person in front of her. It wasn't Lu Zilei, but a dirty beggar!
"you!……"
Before she could say anything, the beggar on the bed jumped up and hugged her tightly. The stench was unbearable. She was terrified and wanted to call for help, but the beggar covered her mouth. In her ear, she heard a vulgar taunt: "I never thought that a young lady from a noble earl's mansion would be so despicable. Brother will definitely treat you well tonight!"
She was so angry that tears streamed down her face. She wanted to resist, but her body was limp and she had no strength left.
He tried patting the bed board, hoping the maid guarding the door would hear him and come in to check, but then he remembered that he had just told the maid to stay away, so she probably couldn't hear anything now.
Who will come to save her?
Of course not.
She came full of joy, only to be tricked into benefiting a beggar.
Who would scheme against her?
Lu Zilei, it must be Lu Zilei!
In that instant, she was consumed by hatred and lost all will to resist.
Meanwhile, Lei Zi was with Lian Hua on the rooftop watching the stars, with pastries he had bought from the street laid out beside them.
"Cui Wanyun has reaped what she sowed; this matter should be over now, right?"
Lotus let out a breath, looking quite pleased with herself.
Lei shook his head: "Not necessarily, we'll definitely be held responsible for this."
Lotus laughed and said, "Who cares about them? They have no evidence anyway! Besides, it's her own fault for harming herself because she had malicious intentions. What does it have to do with us?"
Lianhua didn't think there was anything wrong with what they did. Aunt Jiu Niang was right. They didn't cause trouble, but they weren't afraid of trouble either. Cui Wanyun had already bullied her, so they couldn't just let her bully them.
Hearing her say that, Lei Zi's worries disappeared. Indeed, he had acted quickly and efficiently. Since the Cui family had no evidence, they naturally couldn't do anything to him.
The next day, the first thing Cui Wanyun did upon waking up was to hurriedly get up and find her maid, instructing her not to let the people she had arranged outside come in. However, she woke up too late, and before she could speak, there was a commotion outside.
The maid's voice rang out from outside: "Who are you? Get out of here!"
Someone replied, "Of course we're here to find the eldest young master of the Lu family. We heard he was here with He Jiuniang last night, so we've come to find him and continue drinking! Who are you, little maid, and why are you meddling in our business? Go away, don't get in our way of finding our brothers!"
As he spoke, he pushed aside the maid and kicked the door open, and a large group of people walked in swaggeringly.
Cui Wanyun's heart sank to the bottom. It's over, completely over!
The news quickly spread throughout the streets and alleys, and Cui Wanyun's reputation was completely ruined.
When Mrs. Hu heard about it, she was so angry that she fainted.
The Cui family sent people to take Cui Wanyun back. It is said that she was slapped hard by the Marquis of Chang'an and sent back to her hometown in the countryside overnight.
After that, there was no further news from the Cui family. Jiang Jiuniang thought that Madam Hu would come and make a scene, but she didn't expect to hear anything after waiting for several days.
It wasn't that Madam Hu didn't want to cause trouble; it's said that she had fallen seriously ill, and when she tried to make a scene, the Earl of Chang'an suppressed her. If she still didn't listen, she was sent to a temple to recuperate.
"This is truly gratifying!"
Jiang Jiuniang clicked her tongue. It was rare that the Marquis of Chang'an's mansion had a brain and knew how to cut their losses in time.
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