Chapter 271: You Always Hurt While Feeling Guilty

Chapter 271: You Always Hurt While Feeling Guilty

As soon as she said it, she suddenly realized something and her voice trailed off abruptly.

Her face pale, she looked uneasily at Zheng Jinyu.

Zheng Jinyu smiled; she was used to this pattern of hurting while feeling guilty.

She picked up where the other left off, saying, "Indeed, she's quite fortunate. She's the little star of good fortune for our whole family. Mister Lu, no, Brother-in-law, now that this lucky star has come to your home, she'll surely bring you good luck. You must treat her well, okay?"

Lu Shen snorted. "Of course."

Zheng Jinxiu shot a challenging glance at Zheng Jinyu.

Zheng Jinyu always wore a smile on her face, but it was the kind reserved for watching a play unfold.

Only Lady Zheng had an extremely unpleasant expression.

Several times she wanted to say something to Zheng Jinyu, but she held back, not uttering a word.

Soon, Lord Zheng arrived, his face somewhat sour. After three sentences, he excused himself with an excuse.

Zheng Hongqi felt that the Lu family had wronged Zheng Jinxiu, so his attitude towards Lu Shen wasn't very friendly.

Zheng Hongxu was now quiet. He seemed to have something he wanted to say to Lu Shen, but in the end, he didn't speak up.

Feeling bored, Zheng Jinyu made an excuse to leave, asking Chunmei to keep an eye on things.

In truth, her goal was to send Zheng Jinxiu to marry into the Lu family and lock her down with the scoundrel Lu Shen.

Now that she had succeeded, it didn't really matter whether she continued to watch over her or not. It was just a habit formed over time.

Later, Chunmei told her that Lu Shen and Fang Erya went to see the Fang couple.

That was odd.

"Fang Erya going to see them is understandable, but what's Lu Shen getting involved for?"

Chunmei replied, "I heard that Lu Shen thinks those two beggars are Zheng Jinxiu's biological parents and should be met. But Zheng Jinxiu finds them repulsive and doesn't want to go, so it was Lu Shen and Fang Erya who went."

Zheng Jinyu couldn't help but laugh when she heard this. If Lu Shen had such lofty ideals, could he still be Lu Shen?

So, Lu Shen meeting the Fang couple must have another motive.

"Keep an eye on them."

"Yes, Miss."

...

Life under Zheng Jinxiu's hand hadn't been easy for Fang Erya. Ever since Zheng Jinxiu heard that Lu Shen had slept with the maidservant by her side and even with her mother's maidservant, she kept a tight watch on the maidservants around her.

Not only the maidservants by her side, but any that Lu Shen could come into contact with were watched closely by her.

Those who dared to seduce Lu Shen were beaten by Zheng Jinxiu.

Now, Lu Shen truly cared about her. The maidservants' lives were cheap, so they were beaten, and Lu Shen wouldn't offend Zheng Jinxiu for their sake.

After beating two of them, everyone else was intimidated, and Lu Shen hadn't touched any of the maidservants in the manor since then, leaving Fang Erya with no chance at all.

While Lu Shen was talking to Fang Dachuan outside, Fang Erya told Zhao Zhaodi about these matters.

"Mama, Eldest Sister is too domineering. What should I do?"

Zhao Zhaodi said, "I think our son-in-law looks at you differently. He might have some interest in you."

"But what's the use of that? His heart is set on Eldest Sister. Forget us servants, even the one from the Wang family..." she lowered her voice, "The one from the Wang family is a proper noble lady. I've heard that her status is far higher than Sister's. Such a noble lady shares a husband with Sister, yet they haven't consummated their marriage. Think about it, how skilled Sister is."

Zhao Zhaodi also found it strange, muttering, "It's rare for a man to treat a woman like this. Your sister is capable, but hasn't she said anything about promoting you?"

Fang Erya shook her head. "She guards herself tightly."

"But isn't she pregnant herself? She can't serve him herself, nor will she let others touch him. How can a man endure that?"

"I... Mama, I don't know."

Zhao Zhaodi laughed. "You, silly girl. She guards herself tightly, but can she watch day and night? There's plenty of time during pregnancy, several months more. You'll find an opportunity eventually."

"But if Eldest Sister finds out, she might not tolerate me."

"It can't be. You're her real younger sister. In big households, the wives must be magnanimous. How could they not tolerate their own sisters?"

For people like them, having managed to connect with a family like the Lus, they naturally had to use every ounce of strength to hold onto it.

By whatever means necessary.

Zhao Zhaodi lectured Fang Erya on a pile of matters between men and women, and Fang Erya nodded shyly after listening.

Zhao Zhaodi was extremely satisfied and smiled at Fang Erya, saying, "Erya, you're different from Zheng Jinyu and Zheng Jinxiu. You're our flesh and blood, raised by our hands. We're your real father and mother. When you make it big, you can't become an ungrateful child. You must promote your brother and be filial to your parents, understand?"

"Mama, I know."

...

Outside, Fang Dachuan was lamenting how his whole family had been imprisoned by Lady Zheng, hoping his son-in-law would help them escape their predicament.

Lu Shen wanted to get Fang Erya in his grasp while making Zheng Jinxiu accept it calmly, so he had to use his brain and give the Fang couple some benefits.

Seeing Fang Erya come out, he stroked his chin and stared at Fang Erya with a meaningful gaze for several moments.

"Well, this is rather tricky. Our family and the Zhengs are in-laws, so as the son-in-law, I can't afford to offend my mother-in-law."

"Bullshit," Fang Dachuan retorted. "They're in-laws, but what does that make us? I'm Jinxiu's real father."

"Ah, Father-in-Law, I know, but you didn't raise Jinxiu. She grew up in the Zheng household. To outsiders, it's clear that our family and the Zhengs are in-laws."

Fang Dachuan waved his hand. "I don't understand all these twists and turns, but..."

As he spoke, he noticed something odd about Lu Shen's expression.

Following his gaze, he realized that Lu Shen was leering at Fang Erya, standing by the door.

Well, no wonder a noble scion like him would call me father-in-law?

He had been waiting for this moment.

Fang Dachuan knew too well the look in a man's eyes. He cheerfully pushed Fang Erya towards Lu Shen, nearly sending her into his arms.

Lu Shen pretended to casually steady her, his eyes wandering.

Fang Dachuan said with a smile, "They do look quite alike, don't they?"

Lu Shen replied with a smile, "Indeed, Second Sister looks just like Jinxiu did two or three years ago."

Back then, Zheng Jinxiu had been betrothed to Prince Chen, and Lu Shen had been silently infatuated with her.

It could be said that Zheng Jinxiu of that time was the most perfect image of her in Lu Shen's memory.

Looking at Fang Erya now, Lu Shen's youthful feelings were stirred, his heart pounding and his skin heating up.

Fang Dachuan continued, "Madam Zheng hired a governess for our family to teach us etiquette, saying she was afraid we'd embarrass ourselves. We did learn some things from the governess."

"Oh?"

"For example..." Fang Dachuan looked at him, his smile carrying a deeper meaning. "In the past, when noble ladies married, they would bring along a sister from their family to marry with them, called... what was it..."

Lu Shen said, "A concubine."

"Yes, a concubine. We're country folk, without any decent dowry to offer. So your mother-in-law and I discussed it, and decided to provide Jinxiu with a concubine as part of her dowry. We hope the groom won't mind."