Chapter 169 Pregnant with the Master's Child
"Well, that money has been used for business. Right now, there is no return, and the principal will not be recovered for a while. Once the business makes money, there will naturally be a large profit."
Jiang herself didn't quite believe what he said, but in front of Zhao Shuning, she didn't want to expose her weaknesses, so she could only pretend to be very confident.
Zhao Shuning didn't expose her, but simply said, "Even if I can't get the money back for the time being, Mother will just borrow it from the Jiang family. Qing'er is the Jiang family's niece. She's risen to prominence, and the Jiang family will also benefit from it. Naturally, there's no reason not to lend it to them."
"This... I'm afraid the Jiang family can't come up with that much money."
Zhao Shuning suggested, "Didn't the Jiang family just welcome a new daughter-in-law? Her dowry must be quite large."
When Lu Yingxi ran away from her marriage, the dowry the Lu family sent was worthless.
Later, Lu Yingxi was brought back and was pregnant. Fang ordered people to complete the dowry, which was indeed very generous.
When Jiang heard this, her mind suddenly became active.
She had long wanted to get the money back, but her brother and sister-in-law kept making excuses and crying poor, and she really had no way out.
Zhao Shuning's words served as a reminder to her.
If they can't pay it back, they can use Lu Yingxi's dowry to offset it.
It was certainly not nice for the in-laws to embezzle the daughter-in-law's dowry, but that was not her concern. She just wanted to get the money.
Zhao Shuning stopped talking after making such a point.
Since she came up with this idea, she didn't care at all whether Lu Yingxi's dowry would be taken advantage of.
If she was really tricked by the Jiang family, it was her own fault and she couldn't blame anyone else.
Jiang immediately sent someone back to the Jiang family to handle this matter.
A few days later, there was a smile on her face, and Chu Yunqing's dowry was arranged.
As expected, the Jiang family adopted Zhao Shuning's suggestion and embezzled Lu Yingxi's dowry. However, Lu Yingxi happened to have returned to her parents' home at this time and knew nothing about this matter.
This was the first time she returned to her parents' home after getting married.
Fang took her hand and looked her up and down, her eyes full of pity.
"Xi'er, how are you doing in the Jiang family? Have they given you any trouble?"
A gloomy look flashed across Lu Yingxi's eyes. "How good can I possibly be in this situation? Jiang Xingyi is a jerk!"
Fang was so distressed that she began to wipe away her tears, "My poor Xier..."
A hint of annoyance flashed across Lu Yingxi's eyes. "Okay, stop crying. What's the point of crying now? I came back this time for serious business. The prince is about to be selected, and mother should know about this."
Fang wiped away her tears and nodded.
Hatred flashed in her eyes. "My life is ruined, and I will never let Lu Zhiran have an easy time! She wants to fly up to the tree and become a phoenix, but I want to ruin her beautiful dream!"
Fang was slightly surprised. "Xi'er, are you saying that Lu Zhiran is also going to enter the palace to participate in the selection? But how is that possible? She is a second-time bride and her body is not clean anymore."
She had been deprived of her housekeeper rights and confined to Zhichun Garden for some time, and had been cut off from the news.
"How is that impossible? Father has already reported her name!"
She heard this news from Jiang Xingyi.
That guy still couldn't forget Lu Zhiran. When he mentioned this matter, his tone was full of regret. After all, once Lu Zhiran became a member of the royal family, he would not dare to get involved even if he had ten times the courage.
"Why did I marry that playboy Jiang Xingyi, but Lu Zhiran got to marry into the royal family? She's a second-time bride, so why?"
She gritted her teeth and her face twisted into a distortion.
Fang's heart was also in turmoil, filled with hatred.
"Xi'er, leave this matter to mother. I will definitely not let her get what she wants!"
If her daughter doesn't live well, that bitch won't have an easy life either!
The next day, Lu Zhiran was having breakfast when Nanny Jin quietly leaned close to her ear and whispered something. Lu Zhiran raised her eyebrows slightly.
"Find a chance and bring her to see me."
At midnight, Yaoguang Pavilion fell into silence. Everyone went to bed, and only a few confidants were keeping watch.
Nanny Jin led someone into Yaoguang Pavilion through the corner gate, and then quickly entered Lu Zhiran's room.
Lu Zhiran was wearing a cross-collared silk nightgown, with her jet-black hair hanging down like a waterfall. Her face was plain, yet she looked even more stunningly beautiful.
"Your servant Zijuan greets the young lady."
Lu Zhiran's gaze fell indifferently on her face.
She was in her early thirties, not particularly stunningly beautiful, but with soft facial features that gave her a comforting air. She had a slender figure, and her clothes, though not of expensive fabric, were well-cut, accentuating her slender figure and giving it a unique charm.
She was Fang's dowry and also Lu Zhiran's secret agent in Zhichunyuan.
Fang probably never thought that her maid who came with her as a dowry would actually betray her.
Lu Zhiran looked down at Zijuan and asked, "Do you have something to talk to me about?"
Zijuan kowtowed heavily, "This servant is here to inform the eldest lady that the second lady returned home yesterday. She and the lady conspired to drug you so that you would not be able to participate in the selection of the prince's consort."
When Lu Zhiran heard this, she didn't feel much emotional.
Shouldn't she feel honored that so many people always think of her?
"This shouldn't be the main reason you came to see me. Tell me, what else do you want?"
In the past, she would only pass on some news through Nanny Jin. But she took the risk to come here tonight, and there must be a reason why she had to come.
Zijuan's expression paused slightly, and then she kowtowed repeatedly.
"Miss, please save me! You are the only one who can save me."
Lu Zhiran's eyes were indifferent. "What's the matter? Tell me first. If I can save you, I won't sit idly by."
Zijuan touched her belly and said, "This servant is pregnant with the master's child... If the mistress knew about this, she would never forgive this servant!"
She was married once, but her husband died soon after, and she never remarried.
Later, for some reason, Lu Guanxuan took a fancy to her, and the two of them got together after a few interactions.
Zijuan knew very well what kind of person Fang was, so she didn't dare ask for a formal status and could only act secretly.
Unexpectedly, Lu Zhiran discovered this matter and used it to manipulate Zijuan, forcing her to do things for Lu Zhiran.
At first, she was just forced to do so, but later, the situation in the Lu Mansion changed, and Zijuan became more willing to join Lu Zhiran, and the news spread more and more diligently.
She has been pregnant for more than a month. After a while, her belly will gradually become more obvious and everything will be revealed.
She had to plan for herself and her child.
Lu Zhiran looked at her belly and was not surprised.
In her previous life, Zijuan also became pregnant around this time.
However, the situation in the previous life was very different from this life. In the previous life, Fang had not lost power, and Zijuan had not found a new backer. This matter was discovered by Fang. She pretended to give Zijuan a legitimate status, but in the end, Zijuan died during childbirth.
She didn't believe that Fang had no hand in this.
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