Chapter 117: Who Was Calculating Whom?

Chapter 117: Who Was Calculating Whom?

Zheng Jinyu smiled faintly and said, "Mother, something has indeed happened in our family. We can only hope for the best resolution. It doesn't matter to me."

She meant that preserving everyone's dignity was more important than enduring a little humiliation.

Madam Lu praised her for her magnanimity, casually mentioning that this was the kind of grace expected from a well-bred young lady.

Wasn't this a veiled insult, suggesting that someone was behaving too pettily for a noble lady?

The offended party was about to explode but was stopped by Lady Wang.

"Shut up! Apologize to Second Miss Zheng right now!"

Wang Fuzhen was extremely indignant—of course she was. She knew that Zheng Jinyu had done it on purpose, intentionally holding the incense burner under her nose.

Unfortunately, no matter what she said, nobody believed her.

To her, she had suffered greatly at Zheng Jinyu's hands, and now she was being asked to apologize? Impossible.

"Zheng Jinyu wronged me, and I owe no apology."

"Fie upon you!" Lady Wang struck her again, now both cheeks were flushed.

Wang Fuzhen, tears streaming down her face, looked fixedly at Lady Wang. "Mother, you believe her over me? I told you she harmed me, why won't you trust me?"

Lady Wang gritted her teeth. "Does it matter? You were outwitted."

It wasn't about whether she believed her or not; it was that she attempted to scheme against someone, only to be outmaneuvered. Her own foolishness was to blame.

With the truth before them, what was the point of further words?

Why couldn't this fool see it?

Lady Wang's eyes held profound disappointment as she gazed at her daughter. Reluctantly, she apologized to Zheng Jinyu.

"I'm sorry."

Zheng Jinyu responded magnanimously, "It's alright."

After all, apologies were merely spoken words, as were expressions of forgiveness. Neither party suffered any loss from these gestures.

Yet, what came next was something she might not be able to endure.

Lady Lu followed suit, casting a meaningful glance at Lady Wang and her daughter before turning to her son. "Shen'er, apologize to Miss Zheng as well."

Lu Shen was prompt in his apology, almost reaching out to grasp Zheng Jinxiu's hand in sincerity.

"Jinxiu, my dear sister, I'm sorry. It's all my fault; I was blind and mistook her for you..."

"Mr. Lu," Zheng Jinxiu interrupted him with a loud cry.

Lu Shen awkwardly fell silent, desiring to explain that she was the only one in his heart. However, seeing her pale complexion, he refrained from speaking further, fearing that he might say too much.

Despite his silence, he was displeased, inwardly blaming the situation on the rumor that she had taken a liking to the seemingly effeminate Cui Yongnian. If not for that, he wouldn't have resorted to such a risky move.

Your siblings aren't being sincere. When you disliked Cui Yongnian, you used me to teach him a lesson, which landed me in the Imperial Academy, always at his mercy. Now that you've taken a liking to him, you want to discard me? Am I just a tool to be used and thrown away?

Am I a fool to endure this?

But because of your affection, I remain silent, swallowing my grievances.

"Mr. Lu, it's alright," Zheng Jinxiu said softly once more.

Lu Shen's heart melted at her gentle tone.

He gazed at Zheng Jinxiu with affectionate eyes.

Madam Zheng was speechless at Lu Shen's lecherous expression.

How revolting.

"Enough. At this point, it's up to both your families to decide. All I can promise is to keep my mouth shut, as will my two daughters and our servants. We won't divulge a word of this incident."

After Madam Zheng finished speaking, the amused princess and the other two ladies assured her that they would keep their silence and not divulge what had transpired.

As for how the two families intended to handle the matter, that was something they should discuss privately. Whatever the outcome, they would pretend to be ignorant of today's events.

The incident was supposed to end there, but Madam Lu's suggestion stirred up fresh controversy by offending Lady Wang and her daughter.

"Since that is the case, why not let your third Miss become a high-ranking concubine for my son? The children have already shared a bed; it can't simply be dismissed with a casual remark. Our Lu family is an esteemed household, and we wouldn't shirk our responsibilities."

The crowd, who were preparing to disperse: "..."

Lady Wang slammed her hand on the table, "Madam Lu, Zhen Zhen is my legitimate daughter. How dare you suggest she become a concubine?"

Madam Lu sneered in response, "If your 'Zhen Zhen' had gone through the proper matchmaker procedures, she would indeed be a suitable wife. But alas, she chose a path of wickedness at such a young age, attempting to ruin someone else's reputation. Hmph, with her petty nature and viciousness, do you truly believe she could still be the respected wife of a noble family?"

Lady Wang stumbled backward in anger.

Although everyone promised not to divulge the incident, she understood that secrets have a way of coming out.

If her daughter were to marry honorably, and this matter were to surface in the future, how would they face their daughter's prospective in-laws?

How could anyone believe us if we simply claim that we were lying on the same bed fully clothed?

Apart from those who witnessed it here, who else would trust such a tale?

Upon hearing that she was to become Lu Shen's concubine, Wang Fuzhen panicked and exclaimed, "Who wants to be a concubine in your family? Forget about being a concubine, I wouldn't even want to be his wife! I don't fancy that ugly monster, Lu Shen."

Madam Lu's smile immediately vanished.

Lu Shen retorted, "Me, an ugly monster? You're the one who schemed against me, yet you still have the nerve to criticize my looks?"

He scrutinized Wang Fuzhen from head to toe, his gaze carrying a hint of vulgarity.

To be honest, he wouldn't mind having her as a concubine.

But in front of Zheng Jinxiu, he couldn't express this thought. He had to marry Zheng Jinxiu first before taking Wang Fuzhen as a concubine.

Madam Lu chimed in, "My son is right. What do you have to say about plotting against my son?"

"Haha, I plotted against you? Don't you know why you ended up in this room?"

Madam Lu turned to her son, "Shen, why did you come here?"

Lu Shen replied, "Someone told me that Jinxiu was looking for me and that she was waiting in this room. As soon as I entered, I saw a woman dressed like Jinxiu lying on the bed. Worried that something had happened to her, I forgot about gender propriety and went straight to check on her. Little did I know there was a sleeping powder by the bedside, and I fainted as soon as I approached."

"Ha," Wang Fuzhen scoffed mockingly, "What a coincidence, just collapsing on the bed?"

"Yeah, what a coincidence indeed, right on the bed," Lu Shen raised an eyebrow. "What are you implying? Do you think I did it on purpose?"

Before Wang Fuzhen could respond, Madam Lu stepped in to defend her child, "This must have been Wang Fuzhen's plan. First, she lured Miss Zheng here, then orchestrated someone to bring my son here. But she was too clumsy; she failed to trap Miss Zheng and ended up on the bed herself."

"Exactly, that must be it," Lu Shen slapped his thigh in realization.

He then turned to his mother and said, "Mother, Wang Fuzhen is so wicked. She almost got me into deep trouble. Fortunately, she's foolish, or else being found in bed with Miss Zheng would have been a disaster. We would have surely incurred the wrath of the Princess Consort."

Until now, it had been a minor spat, but Lu Shen's words sent a chill down Madam Lu's spine.

She hadn't considered these implications earlier, but her son's reminder made her realize the gravity of the situation.