Chapter 160 – Does Lu Shen Still Want To Take Wang Fuzhen As A Concubine?

Chapter 160 - Does Lu Shen Still Want To Take Wang Fuzhen As A Concubine?

Mei Jingzhi nodded. "Sure."

He pointed to another path leading up the mountain. "Let's ascend from here."

Wang Fuzhen had lost all interest and said casually, "No need. We'll just run into them again if we go up there, and I'm not in the mood for more frustration. Let's just stroll around at the foot of the mountain."

"Sounds good."

The two strolled along the lake at the foot of the mountain, chatting with each other.

On the mountain.

Lu Shen and Zheng Jinxiu climbed up to admire the sea of chrysanthemums.

Upon noticing that Wang Fuzhen and Mei Jingzhi were not following, he said menacingly out of spite, "Sister Jinxiu, don't worry. I'll teach them a lesson, and I won't let you suffer such indignity."

Zheng Jinxiu said, "Young Master Lu, perhaps you should reconsider. The Wangs are not to be trifled with, and Lady Wang is fiercely protective of her family. If you were to provoke Zhen Zhen for my sake, Lady Wang might end up quarreling with my mother."

Lu Shen hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. He had indeed heard about the disputes between Lady Wang and Madam Zheng, which were said to have escalated all the way to the Empress.

"How can that be acceptable? Wouldn't it show that I'm incapable of protecting you if you suffer while by my side?"

"It doesn't matter," she replied gently.

"How can it not matter? Would your brothers allow anyone to mistreat you when you're out with them?"

Zheng Jinxiu fell silent, her silence conveying that her brothers had never allowed her to suffer any injustice.

Lu Shen continued, "That's precisely the point. If your brothers could protect you, it wouldn't make sense for them to fail to do so after you've married me. How could I then have the audacity to ask for your hand?"

"But what about the Wang family...?"

"Oh, I'm not the least bit afraid of the Wangs. Lady Wang actually owes my mother a favor. Just wait and see, I'll make sure she apologizes to you."

A shy smile graced Zheng Jinxiu's lips as she nodded gently.

"Actually, whether Zhen Zhen apologizes or not is trivial. I mainly don't wish for her to misunderstand me."

One could say that the act of apologizing was insignificant; she cherished the sensation more.

Being surrounded by people, with everyone catering to her every whim, and those who dared to upset her being dealt with by her personal guards – this was the kind of treatment she enjoyed.

Yes, she reveled in this feeling.

...

When Zheng Jinxiu was invited out by Lu Shen, the Zheng family became deeply concerned.

Especially Zheng Hongqi and Zheng Hongxu, who had been waiting anxiously at the entrance. Only after seeing Zheng Jinxiu emerge from the carriage unscathed did they finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Mr. Lu, thank you very much."

"You're too kind. It was my duty."

Zheng Hongxu inquired, "Jinxiu, did going out today to clear your mind make you feel better?"

Zheng Jinxiu was taken aback and hesitated before lowering her head to whisper, "I'm much better now."

Zheng Hongqi and Zheng Hongxu exchanged glances. How could she be any better?

Zheng Hongxu inquired, "Jinxiu, is something wrong?"

"Ah? No, nothing's wrong."

Both men turned to look at Lu Shen.

Fuming, Lu Shen said, "We were all having a good time until Wang Fuzhen showed up with her snide remarks, making Sister Jinxiu cry. I asked her to apologize, but she was incredibly rude."

Zheng Hongxu had a soft spot for Wang Fuzhen, so when he heard Lu Shen's words, he instinctively replied, "No way, Miss Wang San is quite a pleasant person."

"Hmph, pleasant? I think she's becoming more and more desperate. Hey, after several failed matchmaking attempts over the past few months, she actually took a liking to that Mei family boy whose family bought their way into officialdom. They're just a small, humble family. It would be hilarious if an Wang family's legitimate daughter married someone like that – she's probably jealous of how well Jinxiu has fared in her marriage."

Zheng Hongxu was deeply shocked. "She likes someone from a humble background? That can't be right. Could there be some misunderstanding? Is her family forcing her to sacrifice herself for a business relationship with the Mei family?"

"How could that be? She seems more than willing. How could it be her family pressuring her? I criticized that Mei boy, and she even defended him, didn't she, Sister Jinxiu?"

Zheng Jinxiu bit her lip and nodded softly. "Third Brother, although that Mei Young Master doesn't come from a remarkable family, judging by Zhen Zhen's expression, she seems quite satisfied with him."

Zheng Hongxu's face twisted in distress as he opened his mouth, unable to speak.

Didn't she say she liked him? How could she have taken a liking to someone else?

Zheng Hongqi patted Zheng Hongxu on the shoulder. "Third Brother, don't dwell on it. Don't forget what Mother said—she won't allow any daughter of the Wang family to marry into ours. Have you forgotten when Mother quarreled with Lady Wang all the way to the Empress Dowager?"

Zheng Hongxu remained silent, his heart heavy.

Lu Shen interjected, "Third Brother, what's so great about Wang Fuzhen besides being born into a decent family? She's not worthy of you. Besides, she's chosen to lower herself now, looking for a modest match. You should let go of her."

Zheng Hongxu still felt upset and returned to the courtyard in a sullen mood.

Lu Shen shook his head and then turned to Zheng Hongqi. "Second Brother, please try to persuade him. Wang Fuzhen bullied Jinxiu, and you can't let Third Brother support someone who mistreats our Jinxiu sister, right?"

"Alright, I understand."

Zheng Hongqi accompanied Zheng Jinxiu back, and Lu Shen watched them enter the courtyard before leaving.

With the image of Wang Fuzhen in his mind, he gritted his teeth secretly.

Upon returning, he went straight to his mother.

"Mother, do you still have that IOU that Lady Wang signed for me last time?"

"Yes, why do you ask?"

Lu Shen curved his lips slightly and gave a cold laugh. "It's time for them to fulfill their promise."

Lady Lu was taken aback. "Son, what do you plan to make them do?"

"Hmm, I want Wang Fuzhen to become my concubine."

"Ah?" Lady Lu was startled. "My son has ambition, which is good. But last time, Mother only said that in jest. Wang Fuzhen is, after all, the legitimate daughter of the Wang family. How could she possibly become a concubine in our Lu family? We can only enjoy the satisfaction of having said it; it shouldn't be taken seriously."

"How can it not be taken seriously? Mother, even Wang Fuzhen considered the Mei family, a small and insignificant household. Would marrying into the Mei family as a wife be better than becoming a concubine in the Lu family?"

"Which Mei family?"

"A family that started from humble origins in business, with the highest-ranking official being a fifth-grade minor one, bought through silver bribes. It's understandable if Mother doesn't know about them."

Madam Lu was also quite surprised. "Impossible, how could the legitimate daughter of the Wang family possibly take a fancy to such a family?"

"How can it not be possible? Initially, I didn't believe it either, but it's true. If you don't trust me, go inquire first."

Madam Lu nodded and said, "Alright, I'll investigate first. We'll talk more if it's true."

Madam Lu asked someone secretly to inquire about Wang Fuzhen's situation in the Wang family. This was a confidential matter, and it didn't take much effort to find out. The person who returned confirmed that it was indeed the case—the Wang family was indeed considering an arranged marriage for Wang Fuzhen with a small, low-ranking family.

Madam Lu was astonished. "Is there something remarkable about that Mei family's son?"

The servant boy shook his head. "Just an ordinary young master, far from our young master in terms of quality."

"Then is the Mei family's business exceptionally large and prosperous?"

"Their business is quite extensive, but to say they're exceptionally wealthy... it's not that remarkable. No matter how big they are, they can't compare to the major aristocratic families."

Madam Lu nodded. "I thought so too. If their business was truly that prosperous, how could I not have known about it? And how could the Wang family look favorably upon such a family?"