Chapter 421: Lu Shen Has Been True to Her

Chapter 421: Lu Shen Has Been True to Her

"Then how did he arrange things for you?"

"He assigned two people to protect me. But once Fang Jinxiu sticks out her belly, they dare not do anything to her."

"Tsk tsk, look at you; you haven't improved at all in such a long time. Not only have you failed to outdo Fang Jinxiu, but you've also gradually lost Lu Shen's affection. You still have a long life ahead of you. What are you going to do with the rest of your life?"

"I... what can I do? Fang Jinxiu's belly is so fruitful. She now uses the child to control Lu Shen, and the whole family defers to her. I can only blame my own belly for being so useless. Why can't I bear a child?"

She helplessly pinched her stomach.

Zheng Jinyu smiled faintly. "Didn't you say last time that she was pregnant again? Isn't it strange? Didn't you tell Lu Shen about it?"

"I did, but Lu Shen doesn't believe me. Firstly, he thinks Ning'er looks like his own child, and he trusts Fang Jinxiu. Secondly, he believes the fortune-teller, and even the midwife said Fang Jinxiu is fertile. Lu Shen believes her and says that if others can't conceive but only Fang Jinxiu can, it's because her land is good."

Zheng Jinyu's smile faded. So useless? Every time something happens, she comes to me for help?

Her face darkened. "Since that's the case, then take care of yourself."

"What? Sister, you're not going to help me anymore?"

Zheng Jinyu replied coldly, "Firstly, we are not sisters. I don't have an obligation to help you forever."

"But... you were the one who suggested I become a concubine in the Lu family. How can you just abandon me?"

Hmm?

People, huh!

Zheng Jinyu laughed. "Did you forget that if it weren't for me, your parents would have sold you to the Lu family as a maid?"

Fang Erya lowered her head guiltily.

"From a regular maid to a bedchamber maid, and then to a recognized concubine, do you know how long it takes for a woman without background and unable to bear children to achieve this?"

Zheng Jinyu sneered. "A lifetime wouldn't be enough."

Fang Erya knew that without Zheng Jinyu's planning, she would probably still be a regular maid in the Lu family.

Just like when she first followed Fang Jinxiu to the Lu family, secretly taken by Lu Shen, without any status, no courtyard, and no maids or servants to serve her.

She said guiltily, "Sister, I'm sorry. I spoke out of turn."

"Enough, don't call me sister. I am not your sister. Call me Consort Chen."

Fang Erya panicked. "Sister, you're angry with me. I..."

Zheng Jinyu gave her a cold look, and she shut up, bowing her head and calling her Consort Chen.

They were never really sisters. Back in Fangjia Village, her parents treated her poorly, and there was no sisterly bond between them. She had been calling her sister out of desperation.

Ironically, she hadn't called her sister until she returned to the Zheng family.

"Please, Consort Chen, show me a way to survive."

Seeing her attitude was decent, Zheng Jinyu decided to give her a path forward.

"You lack means, background, and intelligence, yet you love to vie for favor. You are not suited to be a concubine in a high-ranking family. Concubines in such families either align themselves completely with the mistress, which men appreciate, or they stay low-key and unobtrusive, never appearing before the mistress unless allowed. You can't do either. You vie for favor with the mistress and can't bear children. Once the master tires of you, you'll be left with only death."

Fang Erya nodded, saying softly, "I understand now. I was wrong."

"Saying these things now won't change anything. The path I suggest for you is to leave here."

"Leave here?" Fang Erya looked at her in surprise.

"Yes, leave here and go to Lu Shen's father, Master Lu. Tell him you want to leave and get his permission."

Zheng Jinyu knew that running away as a concubine could have severe consequences, so she suggested seeking permission from Master Lu.

He might be the only one in that family willing to let her go.

Fang Erya thought carefully about the possibility.

Leave? Where should she go?

She sighed, "Lu Shen also told me to leave. Does that mean I really have to go?"

"Lu Shen also told you to leave?" This surprised Zheng Jinyu.

Fang Erya nodded and took out what Lu Shen had given her before leaving.

"Look, this is what Lu Shen gave me. He gave me some silver and told me to leave if necessary and wait for him to come back."

The silver wasn't important; what caught Zheng Jinyu's attention was the release document.

She quickly read through it.

It was indeed a release document?

Lu Shen, that scoundrel, actually has some conscience.

Knowing she would be killed once he left, he gave her silver and a release document.

With this, she would be free and could leave the capital without anyone's permission.

She could even stay in the capital.

Erya is no longer a concubine of the Lu family. If Fang Jinxiu tries to harm her, it would be illegal.

There were also several silver notes, indicating that Lu Shen had been quite generous with her, including one for a thousand taels.

Looking at Fang Erya's worried face, she asked, "Do you not know what this is?"

Fang Erya shook her head, "I can't read."

Zheng Jinyu took a deep breath.

See, some people truly cannot be helped.

What kind of family is the Lu family? Grand Tutor Lu was a renowned scholar in his generation, having achieved the Three Yuan Laureate, how glorious.

In his youth, Grand Tutor Lu himself taught the royal clan’s children. He placed great importance on education, and the scholarly atmosphere in the Lu family was very strong.

It is said that Grand Tutor Lu even set up literacy classes for the servants, with a teacher giving lessons every three days in the back courtyard, where anyone could attend, even the kitchen maids learned to write a few characters.

Fang Erya has been there for so long and still cannot read a single character.

"This is a release document. With this, you don’t have to fear Fang Jinxiu anymore."

"Release document? What... does this mean?"

Zheng Jinyu: "..."

"You take this to the government office and register it, proving that you are no longer part of the Lu family. Then Fang Jinxiu cannot act like your master and punish you. Do you understand?"

Fang Erya nodded after a long pause.

"Does this mean... a divorce document?"

Cough, cough...

"Something like that."

When Fang Erya heard it was indeed a divorce document, tears started falling.

"He divorced me, sob, sob, I’ve been with him for so long, he divorced me."

Zheng Jinyu rubbed her forehead, wanting to slap her.

"Lu Shen has been loyal to you. He gave you this release document to protect you. Without it, just because you dared to run away from the Lu family today, Fang Jinxiu could use that as an excuse to have you beaten half to death and sold. With this, you have no connection to the Lu family anymore. If she dares to harm you again, report her to the authorities, do you understand?"