Chapter 241: Contempt

Chapter 241: Contempt

Ge Baor was also terrified and at a loss.

She had just visited her sister-in-law Liu Shi, only to hear that Lu Zhengliu was causing trouble at the Duke's residence with Princess Huan.

Not close to Liu Shi, both women, legs weak, had supported each other on their way here.

Liu Shi, supporting Lady Chen, dismissed the servants nearby and asked with a pale face, "Mother, what is going on?"

She had no interest in meddling in her grandmother's affairs.

But bearing the name of her maternal family, she couldn't afford not to inquire.

If this got out, how could she, or the Liu family, face others?

Lady Chen, out of breath and fear, clutched her chest and pointed at Lu Zhengliu, stomping her foot without being able to utter a word.

After helping Lady Chen, Ge Baor approached Lu Zhengliu and inhaled sharply, "How could you be so foolish in the Duke's mansion!"

Lu Zhengliu remained motionless.

Ge Baor pulled him up, reminding him in a low voice, "You've caused such a mess, do you still expect mother to help the Lu family? You said you would uphold the Lu family, I stood by you, is this how you run a family?"

Lu Zhengliu slowly stood up, scoffing.

His voice was hoarse, "Do you even know who the Prince Huan's wife is?"

Ge Baor frowned, replying coldly, "Even if she's a fairy from heaven, what does that have to do with you! The princess is a woman of the household!"

Lu Zhengliu said no more.

With his head down, he walked towards the exit, murmuring, "I was wrong. It's all my fault."

"Realizing your mistake now, what good does it do?"

Ge Baor was seething with anger.

She observed the current Lu Zhengliu, his back no longer straight, his face adorned with a short beard, lacking the spirited vigor he had when she first loved him, now utterly despondent.

She had once basked in the prosperity of the capital and the glory of the marquis' mansion on his shoulder, but now, she somewhat looked down on him.

Yet, Lu Zhengliu was still Qing'er's father, the head of the Lu family.

If she wanted power in the marquis' mansion and to raise her son, she couldn't do without him.

Ge Baor had no time to think further, turning to comfort Lady Chen, "Mother."

Despite being startled and agitated, Lady Chen, as the mistress of the duke's household, instructed her eldest daughter-in-law, Liu Shi, "There are still guests in the banquet hall, and your siblings are there. Go help them quickly."

Liu Shi, unsettled herself, dared not defy her mother-in-law's command.

She curtsied and said, "Yes."

Taking the maids with her, she went ahead to attend to the guests.

The second master Chen also couldn't neglect the guests, so he left briskly.

Ge Baor watched her half-brother's retreating figure, her eyes reddening, softly saying, "Mother, let me help you back first."

Lady Chen naturally noticed her son's actions too.

She scoffed, "His wings have hardened!" but then gently said to Ge Baor, "I'll talk to him later."

Ge Baor expressed her concern, "Let me help you rest first. It's understandable for my second brother to be upset about what the eldest did in the duke's mansion today."

She always had a way to soothe people, and Lady Chen, who was fond of her, brightened up in just a few words.

"Baor, you're always so considerate."

Ge Baor blamed herself, "I've only brought trouble to you, mother. But in this world, you're the only one I can rely on."

Lady Chen reassured her not to worry, "Our duke's household isn't some insignificant family. Such a trivial matter won't affect your brothers' futures."

Once they had calmed down, they called the housekeeper over to recount the entire incident that had occurred at the secondary gate.

Hearing the name 'Yunwan,' Ge Baor suddenly stood up, staring at the housekeeper in disbelief, "Did you just say... what did the eldest brother call the princess?"

"Yunwan."

The housekeeper looked puzzled.

She hadn't misheard!

Lady Chen also looked at Ge Baor, confused.

With her mind in turmoil, Ge Baor quickly left a few words and hurried back to the Marquis of Wuding's mansion to find Lu Zhengliu.

The banquet at the duke's mansion ended abruptly that day.

The crown princess returned home full of suspicions, turning the day's peculiar events into a joke to tell the crown prince.

The crown prince lay on the couch, almost in July, still covered with a thin blanket.

He held a book, lost in thought.

The heir of the duke's mansion, the second master Chen, and Liu Shi, along with their grown siblings and spouses, gathered at Lady Chen's to discuss the day's events.

The heir, nursing a broken leg and leaning on a crutch, spoke angrily, "Mother, you've been foolish! I've long said to stay away from the Lu family, but you were too soft-hearted... soft-hearted towards our sister. But this isn't the way to show your affection. Look at what happened today; we've offended Prince Huan's wife and the young prince. Even if the prince doesn't take it to heart, if the young prince complains to the emperor, father might not be able to withstand the consequences."

Lady Chen was worried too.

But that didn't mean she could abandon her daughter.

She said irritably, "You grew up well-fed and clothed at home. Do you know the hardships your sister endured as a child? If you, as her elder brother, had taken better care of her, how could she have..."

The heir of the Chen family closed his mouth.

As the eldest brother, it was all his fault.

Liu Shi, twisting her handkerchief, had red eyes.

Seeing his wife so aggrieved, the heir, despite his reluctance, spoke up for her, "Still, it's not right to always say she's a relative of the duke's wife's maternal family. That Lu fellow's character is too despicable! If my in-laws or brothers-in-law ask about it, what should I say?"

Liu Shi wiped her tears.

Ever since she acknowledged her grandmother, she had endured so much humiliation.

Lady Chen glared at Liu Shi, "I was wondering why my eldest son would speak to me like this. Was it your wife who instigated this?"

Liu Shi knelt down in fear, "Mother, your daughter-in-law didn't..."

The heir threw his crutch and knelt as well, his injured leg hitting the ground.

Lady Chen's heart clenched.

Yet, her son spoke firmly, "If mother blames anyone, blame me. I'll tell the truth to father about today's events."

Lady Chen, both heartbroken and anxious, clutched her handkerchief, "You don't need to! I'll send someone to tell your father myself."

The Duke Xingguo was still stationed away from home.

Not long after, Lady Chen's heart ailment flared up again, and she fainted.

This was a stubborn illness she had developed from years of longing for her daughter, which only eased slightly after she was reunited with her.

Now, it had flared up again.

The heir of the Chen family, panicked, hurriedly sent for a doctor.

Liu Shi bit her lip, not daring to cry.

If she gained a reputation as a mother-in-law with hysterical sickness, no matter how much her husband loved her, she would likely lose face to stay in the Chen family.

The second master Chen shook his head and sighed, waiting for the turmoil to settle before discussing with the heir what to do.

"Big brother, someone will surely accuse our Xingguo Duke's household of poor management."

The heir said, "That's not what worries me. It's normal for families to have problems. I'm more concerned that the prince, princess, and the young prince might be upset, and if that angers the emperor, it would be much worse."

He made a quick decision, "You and I should first apologize to the Prince Huan's mansion together, and then write a letter to our father to see what he advises."

However, the second master Chen asked, "Big brother, have you thought about how to apologize?"

"What are your thoughts, second brother?"

The second master Chen hesitated, "Although Lu Zhengliu isn't very capable, he doesn't have hysteria for no reason. His actions today were highly unusual. Big brother, you should first clarify what exactly happened."

He tactfully added, "Big brother, there are some things... you need to personally ask mother and our sister."

If he asked, his stepmother would certainly not tell him.

The heir replied, "I understand."

\\

Ge Baor returned to the Marquis of Wuding's mansion and, not finding Lu Zhengliu, first saw Lu Changzong, who had slipped back at some point.

He was sitting at the entrance of the Hanging Silk Hall, not even accompanying little Xuan, lost in thought.

He was holding a piece of bamboo, broken off from somewhere.

Ge Baor approached and asked, "Qing'er?"

Lu Changzong didn't respond.

"Qing'er?"

Lu Changzong looked up, startled, and exclaimed, "Aunt, Auntie."

Ge Baor, with a stern face, said unhappily, "There's no one else here."

Lu Changzong then corrected himself, "Mother."

He looked down, focusing on the bamboo in his hand.

Ge Baor asked him, "Bamboo leaves can cut your hand. Why are you holding this?"

Lu Changzong replied softly, "This bamboo is the same as the one that used to grow in mother's courtyard."

Ge Baor suddenly felt a chill in her heart.

This was her own son!

She had poured so much effort into him, yet he resented and hated her, always pining for that deceased woman.

Realizing something, Ge Baor asked, "Did you see her at the duke's mansion just now?"

Lu Changzong looked up, utterly bewildered.

He said, "I... I don't know... I'm not sure if it was her..."

It had been too long.

He couldn't remember clearly.

Ge Baor kicked open the gate of the Hanging Silk Hall and went to confront Lu Zhengliu.

She couldn't believe it. How could someone who was burned to death possibly be alive?