Chapter 318: What You Can’t Have Is Always Better

Chapter 318: What You Can't Have Is Always Better

Lu Shen continued, "I think you're meddling too much. You can't even manage your own affairs properly, yet you're reaching into my home. Have you ever seen an in-law interfere with her daughter's husband's household? Even my own mother-in-law from the Wang family doesn't say anything to me. You're just Jinxiu's adoptive mother, and yet you still meddle so much."

"You... What did you say?" Lady Zheng was enraged as she slammed her hand on the table. "How dare you speak to your elder like that?"

Lu Shen also slammed his hand on the table. "And what kind of elder are you? What's wrong with me finding women? My own mother doesn’t bother me about it, yet you meddle in my affairs. If you think you're right, let’s go outside and ask around. Who has an in-law like you?"

Lady Zheng was left speechless by his retort and shouted angrily, "Get out! Get out of here!"

"Hmph." Lu Shen coldly snorted and stood up. "Farewell."

As soon as he left, Lady Zheng collapsed onto her chair in anger.

Lady Luo hurried over to comfort her. "Lady, please take care of yourself."

Anger is detrimental to health, and Lady Zheng had been suffering greatly recently, even turning her hair prematurely white.

"I truly regret it," said Lady Zheng. "Why did I agree to marry Jinxiu to him when I knew he had such poor character?"

Lady Luo replied, "Lady, it's not your fault. If it weren't for Miss's ill intentions first, Lady Lu wouldn't have been able to use it against you and force you into this marriage."

The mention of that incident made Lady Zheng pause.

Why did Jinxiu do something so foolish back then? She didn't think she could blame Jinxiu entirely.

After all, why did the Princess Dowager suddenly want to cancel Jinxiu's engagement and replace it with Jinyao?

For so many years, Jinxiu had been devoted to Prince Chen, and everyone in the capital knew about their engagement.

But when Jinyao returned, the engagement was canceled and replaced with hers. Jinxiu couldn't accept it and lost her head, trying to matchmake Jinyao and Lu Shen.

Lady Zheng said, "While I don't approve of Jinxiu's actions, I understand her. After such a huge humiliation, it's inevitable that she would do something foolish. It's also my fault for not handling the relationship between my two daughters well. I didn't protect Jinyao enough, almost allowing her to be harmed, nor did I notice Jinxiu's strange behavior earlier or insist on canceling the engagement."

Thinking of Lu Shen made her furious. "Even after Jinxiu lost her virtue, I should have insisted on canceling the engagement. One mistake led to another. Sigh! I feel like I've lived my life in vain."

Lady Luo massaged Lady Zheng's shoulders and offered comforting words.

After leaving Lady Zheng, Lu Shen didn't leave the Zheng residence but headed straight for the Yusheng Courtyard.

The Zheng servants, seeing his menacing appearance, didn't dare to stop him.

Chunmei rushed over and told Zheng Jinyao, "Miss, Master Lu is coming with a fierce look."

Fierce look?

Erya looked at Zheng Jinyao nervously.

Zheng Jinyao smiled faintly and reassured her, "Don't worry. Just remember what I said. Go ahead."

"Yes."

"Chunmei, please escort Master Lu to the tea room."

"Yes, Miss."

Lu Shen soon arrived. Initially filled with rage, his fury dissipated when he saw the captivating figure through the window brewing tea.

"Lady, Miss Erya has been waiting for a while. Please come in."

Lu Shen was taken aback. "Waiting for me?"

"Yes, Miss Erya has been waiting for you for quite some time."

Lu Shen felt secretly pleased and hurried to the tea room.

Zheng Jinyao sat in the opposite room, peeking through a small gap in the window.

Erya sat composedly in the tea room and calmly gestured for him to sit down when he entered.

"Master Lu, please sit."

He had never seen Erya like this before. He had seen plenty of seductive women who knew how to entice men, and there were many refined ladies, but they were usually unattainable.

This woman before him was both seductive and refined, exactly his type.

He felt as if he had lost half his soul.

"Erya, we haven't seen each other for several days. Did you miss me, my lord?"

As he spoke, he reached out to lift her chin.

Erya turned her head away and glanced outside.

There were still maids working outside.

Lu Shen regained his composure and adjusted his clothes.

After all, they were in someone else's home, so he shouldn't go too far.

Erya gestured for him to sit, and he obediently took his seat, looking at her with a flattering expression.

"Erya, why have you changed so much these past few days? My lord hardly recognizes you."

Hmph, hardly recognizes her?

Shouldn't he be more familiar with her now?

She said, "Master Lu, I have a name. It's not Erya; it's Fang Jinyao."

Lu Shen was taken aback. He thought that this name did indeed sound better than the crude "Erya Fang." He quickly said, "Good, Fang Jinyao is a good name. Then, I won't call you Erya anymore in the future. How about if I call you Jinyao instead?"

Erya only smiled but didn’t say anything.

She had already told him several times, but it seemed like he hadn’t cared at all.

In his eyes, she was merely a substitute for Zheng Jinxiu when she was pregnant and not available, a tool for his desires. Naturally, he wouldn’t care.

These past few days with Zheng Jinyu, she had imparted many principles to her, which had been very enlightening.

A person couldn’t be too casual, nor could they debase themselves.

Otherwise, even those who liked you wouldn’t take you seriously.

"Jinyao, your parents have gotten into trouble. They asked me to come and tell you, so you can go back to take care of them."

Zheng Jinyu had already mentioned this to her. It was something she had arranged.

The punishment had been measured; there was no need for her to return.

"Oh, thank you for telling me this news."

"Then will you leave with me now?"

He couldn’t resist any longer. These past few days, she had been on his mind constantly, and even going to the brothel hadn’t helped.

"No, I’ll visit them another day."

Huh?

Lu Shen anxiously said, "Your parents are severely injured. Aren’t you eager to see them?"

Fang Erya replied, "My sister has already sent people over. The servants she’s sent will take much better care of them than I would."

"Your sister?"

"Yes, Miss Zheng, Zheng Jinyu."

Lu Shen: "…" Zheng Jinyu, that dead girl, was stepping in again. What did she want?

"Jinyao, when will you come back with me? I’ve missed you terribly."

Fang Erya’s expression was serious as she gently shook her head. "Brother-in-law, I won’t be going back with you."

This term "brother-in-law"…

"Why not? If you don’t come back with me, where will you go? You’re already mine."

"I don’t want to continue living this kind of life. I don’t want to be a secret mistress anymore. I want to return to my hometown and get married, to live a normal life."

"What? Get married?" Lu Shen’s eyes widened in anger. "You’re already mine. Why do you want to marry someone else? Who would want you, a used woman?"

Fang Erya said, "In the south, some ethnic groups don’t care about virginity. At worst, I can say that my husband died, and then I can still get married."

Lu Shen: "…" Was she going to spread rumors that this young master was dead?

"Absolutely not. This young master forbids you from getting married. You’re coming back with this young master right now."

An enraged Lu Shen directly reached out to grab her.