Attack
As evening approached, Mu Qing entered Lu Tongxue's courtyard and saw servants surrounding the entrance, realizing that Lu Tongxue had been locking herself in her room.
She stepped forward and knocked on the door with her finger. "Tong-mei, the Ji family has come."
There was no response from inside the room.
Mu Qing continued, "If you don't come out, once the betrothal papers are exchanged, we'll have to carry you in a sedan chair and marry you off in a few days."
"What!"
The door was suddenly pushed open, and Lu Tongxue rushed out, her hair a little messy. She hurriedly pulled Mu Qing and said, "Sister Tong, please go and tell her to let this matter go, just pretend nothing happened."
Mu Qing said gently, "I'm afraid that won't work. I heard that Master Ji brought a matchmaker with him."
Lu Tongxue's eyes reddened. "I don't want to marry that shrew! Why should I marry him just because he saved me?"
Mu Qing thought for a moment, "It may not be that person. Perhaps Master Ji picked someone from among his nephews and nieces who is somewhat similar and can be considered a good match for marriage."
"That's even worse!" Lu Tongxue shouted angrily. "That person at least saved me. How dare the Ji family send just anyone to deal with me? What do they take me for?"
"Then Tong, hurry up and get ready, go to the flower hall to get to know everyone."
Lu Tongxue stormed back to her room, and the others followed her in to help her change her clothes and put on makeup.
Upon seeing this, Mu Qing returned to Ningxiang Residence first. It was half an hour later when he heard news of Lu Tongxue.
Shiyu returned after inquiring and said, "I heard from the maid in the front courtyard that Miss Tong did not lose her temper in the flower hall, but she had a few words with Master Ji's nephew. After Master Ji's nephew apologized repeatedly, he said that he would leave it to the elders to decide. It seems that as long as the second master and second mistress of Chongzhou nod, the marriage will be settled."
Mu Qing'an felt relieved, thinking that since Lu Tongxue hadn't come to complain to her, she must indeed be willing to accept it.
Mu Qing couldn't offer her blessings for this sudden marriage, and felt distressed knowing it was forced upon her.
That night, she changed into night clothes and went to the Ji residence. When she returned near dawn, she found that the guards' deployment had changed. Fortunately, she was already very familiar with the layout of the Lu residence, so it was not difficult for her to sneak back to Ningxiang Residence.
In the morning, as usual, Mu Qing went to pay her respects to Old Madam Meng. Mu Qing consciously gave up her seat and let Lu Tongxue sit next to the Old Madam. She noticed that Lu Tongxue was complaining about the Ji family, but her tone was not bitter.
Grandma Meng inquired about the matter yesterday and, knowing that the marriage was settled, had the leisure to educate her two granddaughters, giving them a good talk.
Mu Qing forced himself to listen, then returned to Ningxiang Residence, lay back down on the bed, and took a half-day nap.
When she woke up again, Lu Tongxue came to find her again.
Sitting by the window in the warm pavilion, Lu Tongxue asked in high spirits, "Sister Qing, do you know what happened at the Ji residence?"
Mu Qing hadn't slept enough and was still a little groggy. She rested her chin on her hand on the table and asked, "What is it?"
"Ji Shucai had nightmares last night and was so frightened that she lost her mind. The Ji family called several doctors to come and treat her," Lu Tongxue said with a smile. "Don't you think this is karma?"
Mu Qing sat up straighter and said, "Just a nightmare?"
Lu Tongxue beckoned to her, drawing her closer. Her expression turned slightly serious as she whispered, "Actually, Ji Shucai woke up this morning to find several wet snakes in her bed, which terrified her."
"Oh." Mu Qing nodded and lowered her eyes.
Lu Tongxue continued, "She's a snake at heart, so of course she attracts snakes. The Ji family actually thought it was our Lu family retaliating, so they sent someone to ask. You were sleeping, so my third aunt called me over. But I had a marriage arranged, so how could I cause trouble? Besides, everyone in our Lu family is honest and upright, and we would never use despicable means to harm others."
"..." Mu Qing nodded again.
She wasn't a member of the Lu family, so she might have used some unorthodox methods, but none of those snakes were poisonous, so she shouldn't be considered to have harmed anyone.
"Our manor was attacked last night. I wonder if it was because we showed our faces during the day that we attracted a lecherous man."
Lu Tongxue said with a puzzled look and admiration, "Third Aunt asked the people of the Ji family for the list of people who were present at the time, which really impressed them."
Upon hearing this, Mu Qing belatedly realized that when she appeared in public yesterday, it wasn't just the women in the inner quarters who saw her face.
Among those who saw her, would anyone recognize her, or remember the wanted poster of her from five years ago?
Seeing her face suddenly turn pale, Lu Tongxue said, "You're not more scared than me, are you? The guards in the house aren't just sitting around doing nothing. If that person dares to come again, they'll definitely catch him."
Mu Qing wasn't as optimistic as her. She was flustered and gave a perfunctory reply, just wanting to get rid of her as soon as possible. She asked, "Are you really willing to marry into the Ji family?"
Lu Tongxue blushed but showed no intention of leaving. "The Ji family is quite annoying, but that black charcoal didn't grow up in the Ji family. His parents were alive when he was young, so he didn't have to live under someone else's roof. He spent the past few years in the mountains mourning his parents. He only came to Weizhou after the mourning period was over. Like me, he has only been in Weizhou for a little over a month."
Mu Qing was stunned for a moment, listening to her rambling on about her feelings as a young woman.
*
In Wansong Academy, several scholars gathered in the octagonal pavilion and, taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, spoke without restraint.
"Master Lu's lecture today was just like usual, without any change in emotion. His mindset is truly steady."
“The girl the man carried out of the water wasn’t his daughter, just his niece, so of course he didn’t need to be in a hurry.”
"But his daughter was also put out there for everyone to admire."
"Do you dare say these words to Master Lu's face?"
"Sigh, I feel like I've seen his daughter somewhere before."
"Beauties always look alike. Wenjie, you don't seem interested in any of them this time."
"He was already interested in marrying Master Lu's niece, but now his fiancée is going to become his cousin's wife. How could he possibly be interested?"
Ji Wenjie, who was sitting on the railing leaning against a pillar, stopped shaking his leg when he heard this and scoffed, "What fiancée? There's not even a hint of her."
"Wenjie is a seasoned player in the game of love, how could he be interested in just one woman? Right now, he's probably thinking about how to get his hands on that musician, isn't he?"
Ji Wenjie smiled, got up, and was about to leave.
"Wenjie, where are you going? You have class this afternoon."
Ji Wenjie stepped out of the pavilion and waved his hand behind him, "I have an appointment with my beloved, so I've already asked for leave."
In Weizhou City, Kangpinglou was not the most famous restaurant, but because it was run by a woman who knew how to please female customers, it always had more female customers than other places.
When Lu Xier and Aunt Man entered this place, they noticed that it was different from other places, but they were still somewhat surprised to encounter a plump woman blocking their way in the corridor.
The woman smiled broadly, "Are you the musician from Yiye Residence before, young lady?"
Lu Xier was somewhat surprised. Although she was carrying a zither in her arms, she was wearing a veil. How did this person recognize her?
Seeing her hesitation, the woman covered her face with her handkerchief and approached, saying, "My name is Du Jiniang. I manage affairs in this brothel. I happened to hear that Young Master Ji invited you here, so I came to warn you. Young Master Ji may look well-dressed, but he is actually a heartless man who plays with women. You must be careful."
After Du Jiniang finished speaking, she curtsied and continued walking forward.
Hearing what she said, Lu Xier's heart sank. She had seen plenty of spoiled young masters, but when she saw Young Master Ji, she thought he was a gentleman and really wanted to exchange musical skills with him.
Aunt Man, always shrewd and experienced, calmly said, "What she said may not be true. Let's try to find out. Even if Young Master Ji has ulterior motives, we're not afraid of not being able to deal with him in this restaurant."
*
At the Lu residence, Mu Qing spent the entire afternoon listening to Lu Tongxue discuss her worries about marriage. Only after Lu Tongxue left Ningxiang Residence did Mu Qing recall her own anxieties, but she was at a loss for what to do.
In the following days, Lu Tongxue's marriage proceeded smoothly, and soon the wedding date was set. Lu Tongxue was then brought back to Chongzhou to await her marriage.
With one less person in the manor, Mu Qing's days became quieter, and he spent most of his time reading at Ningxiang Residence.
She occasionally visited Princess Duanjing at the Prince's Mansion, and was especially cautious when going out, choosing streets and alleys with more people. She had no problems going out several times in a row, and the Lu Mansion was only attacked at night once. She gradually began to wonder if she was worrying too much.
But on this day, as the carriage passed through the bustling city, it moved slowly. Amidst the noise of the people on the street, a few whistles suddenly rang out, and the horses pulling the carriage, as if stimulated, reared up and ran.
Mu Qing sat in the carriage, her head suddenly jerked back, and she heard screams and a chaotic commotion outside.
As the carriage sped along, she gripped the swaying corner of the wall and looked out the window. She saw figures moving erratically, rooftops and eaves flashing by. The carriage was moving extremely fast, rushing straight ahead through the street, its destination unknown.
In a panic, she called for the coachman and the guards, but no one answered.
Shiyu held her in her arms, and Ninggu pulled back the carriage curtain. The carriage shaft was empty, the driver was nowhere to be seen, and the carriage was out of control.
"Miss, I'll go and rein in this horse!"
Seeing Ning Gu hunched over, struggling to squeeze out, Mu Qing asked worriedly, "Ning Gu, do you know how?"
But then they heard the horse neigh, the carriage shook, and Ning Gu fell backward. Mu Qing and Shi Yu rushed to help her, but the carriage suddenly stopped and overturned, and the three of them crashed into the side of the carriage.
A deep, panting voice came from outside: "Sir, this is the Lu family's carriage."
Then, the voice of the "adult" came through the carriage curtain.
"Who is in the car?"
Mu Qing was startled and stared at the lowered carriage curtain without saying a word.
Fortunately, Ning Gu reacted quickly and peeked out from behind the curtain.
The reins of the carriage were broken, the shaft was snapped and lying on the ground, and the horse was being controlled about two zhang in front of it. People from all over the street were watching, and some of the disheveled people were still getting up from the ground.
The people beside the carriage were holding onto the carriage, one of whom was wearing a black gauze hat and a dark blue official robe.
Ning Gu glanced at him and quickly said, "So it's the Imperial Censor! Thank you so much! My young lady is inside."
Zhong Linlan asked, "Is Miss Lu alright?"
"It's alright, I was just a little frightened."
Mu Qing put on her veil and stepped out of the damaged carriage. Ning Gu spoke on her behalf, and Mu Qing quietly sized up Zhong Linlan. She noticed that he had scratches on his face and his right hand was strangely behind his back, indicating that he had probably suffered some injury.
He tried to conceal his intentions, perhaps wanting to minimize involvement, so she pretended not to see him, remained silent, brushed past him, and got into the sedan chair that had been arranged for her.
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