Chapter 87: Heartless

Chapter 87: Heartless

As soon as Su Youyue finished speaking, the crowd couldn't help but cheer in agreement.

"Exactly, we can't let scoundrels like Lu Song succeed! I was even considering buying their pastries, but after hearing this, I'd rather not touch them with a ten-foot pole!"

"Did you all see that? Lu Song's concubine and her son are here. Maybe these pastries were even made by his concubine. Ugh, how disgusting." A middle-aged woman spat in Yun Niang and Lu Wen's direction, clearly despising the existence of concubines and their children.

As more people chimed in, Yun Niang's face cycled through a rainbow of colors - red, then white, then purple. She had never heard such harsh words before, despite being Lu Song's concubine.

She couldn't help but defend herself softly, "If you don't want to eat, then don't. Why do you have to curse at us? My relationship with my cousin brother is genuine love."

Lu Wen's face darkened, but he wholeheartedly agreed with his mother. He was about to stand up and scold the crowd for their ignorance - if it weren't for the powerful influence of the Su Mansion, his parents would have already been married.

After all, in his previous life, his parents' love had lasted for a decade without wavering. Who else could boast such a bond?

But the auntie could no longer contain her anger, spitting on Yun Niang's dress this time. "Disgusting! Never have I seen someone so shameless, justifying an illicit affair with such arrogance. It's fortunate your parents passed away early. If they were still alive to know you're a concubine, they wouldn't be able to show their faces in public. They might as well rip off their skin for others to spit on!"

Yun Niang had never heard such offensive insults before. Her heart clenched in anger, but just as she was about to retort, a group of patrolling officers approached from afar.

"The Horse and Chariot Office is here," someone called out.

The crowd's expressions turned tense. Though they had verbally offered to testify for Su Youyue, ordinary folk like them still harbored fear when it came to dealing with law enforcement.

"The hell's going on here?!" The leading officer pushed his way through the throng, his brow furrowed in inquiry.

Lu Song quickly formulated a plan and, gritting his teeth, cried out, "Your Excellency, it was Miss Su, the eldest daughter from the residence up ahead, who deliberately hired thugs to assault me, leaving me in this state."

He'd served in the Capital's garrison before and was well aware that the Horse and Foot Guards were merciless. If there were any major cases involving violence or injury, even a noble maiden wouldn't escape unscathed; she'd have to take a trip through the dungeons.

As long as Su Youyue could be thrown into jail, he would consider today's humiliation avenged!

"Miss Su?" The leading officer hesitated for a moment, then turned his gaze towards Su Youyue.

A commoner whispered, "Sir Official, it has nothing to do with Miss Su at all. It was this Lu Song who provoked Miss Su and deliberately injured the horse, causing it to panic and lose control, nearly harming Miss Su. A chivalrous traveler couldn't bear to watch and thus gave Lu Song the beating he deserves!"

"Indeed, Your Excellency..."

Lu Song sneered inwardly. These commoners knew nothing. According to the protocols of the Martial Affairs Bureau, anyone involved in a serious injury case would be taken into custody for questioning before a verdict was made, regardless of guilt or innocence.

Just as he finished this thought, the officer nodded and said, "Very well, bring this man surnamed Lu with us!"

"What?" The smug expression on Lu Song's face froze. He stared at the officer in disbelief. "Sir, it was that poisonous woman who wronged me. Why am I the one being arrested?"

The officer, clearly annoyed, replied, "Do you even know your own status? You can't just falsely accuse Miss Su! We've already received a report that you attempted to harm Miss Su and were instead beaten. We're here to arrest you!"

Lu Song was stunned. He sensed something was off, but before he could react, the officers restrained him.

"Cousin!"

"Father!"

Yun Niang and Lu Wen rushed forward to intervene, but the officers pushed them away. "If you don't want to end up in jail, stay out of our way!"

Fuming with frustration, Lu Song could only instruct them to keep their distance.

Something was amiss here. When the officer had mentioned Miss Su earlier, he had clearly hesitated, indicating that he hadn't received any report beforehand.

He was merely trying to avoid provoking the Minister Su's residence by deliberately supporting Su Youyue's words!

But if he didn't stop Yun Niang and Lu Wen now, who would save him if they also got embroiled in this?

Jail was not a place for leisure; without a substantial bribe of several hundred taels of silver, there was no way he could easily leave!

Lu Song loathed Su Youyue with all his heart. He glared at her with a venomous gaze, but was soon shoved fiercely by the officer, almost causing him to spit out blood again. He could only stagger away obediently.

Yun Niang and Lu Wen never expected such an outcome. Seeing Lu Song being escorted away by the officers, they stood rooted to the spot, dazed.

Yun Niang had never dealt with these officers before, while Lu Wen felt a profound sense of powerlessness.

In his previous life, his father was a military official who constantly earned merits on the battlefield, eventually rising to the rank of general. His foster mother was the legitimate eldest daughter of the Minister Su's residence, holding a prestigious status. When the Military Commission officials saw him, they were only obliging and respectful. How dare they treat him so dismissively now?

But now, his father had lost his official position, and he no longer had a foster mother who was the daughter of the Minister Su. Who would take his face into consideration?

Since his rebirth, Lu Wen had never felt so helpless. However, he quickly clenched his fists, blaming it all on that toxic woman, Su Youyue.

But just you wait, he thought. Soon, the shops he seized would generate profits like a flowing stream. Once he became one of the wealthiest merchants in the Great Sheng Dynasty, these people would still have to show him respect!

At that time, he would simply hire assassins to abduct the contemptible Su Youyue and torture her to vent his anger before killing her!

Lu Wen glared at Su Youyue with hatred, but she looked back at him calmly, her eyes devoid of any emotion.

Let him hate, for there would be plenty more days in the future when he would despise her. She would make every member of the Lu family suffer through endless misery, fostering hatred among them until they began to truly regret their actions!

As she observed Yun Niang and Lu Wen being followed by two others, Su Youyue playfully winked at Lu Wen with interest before boarding the newly hired carriage.

Grandma Lu and Lu Cheng had finally arrived.

However, she was no longer in the mood for a spectacle. She needed to go home and think about what delicious food she could prepare to reward Xie Yuan for his efforts.

Confused by the meaning behind Su Youyue's smile as she left, Lu Wen suddenly heard a voice from behind: "Ah, I knew you two were enjoying your lives behind my back, even opening up over a dozen shops! You ungrateful wretches, don't you know Cheng-er is on the verge of death due to debt collectors?"

Caught off guard by his grandmother's fierce grip, Lu Wen froze in shock. How could his own grandmother be so vicious? He was her grandson!

His uncle owed the money, not him. Why should he be blamed for lacking a conscience?

"Both of you, quickly give me five hundred taels! I need to pay off Cheng-er's debts!" Grandma Lu initially planned to ask for one hundred and fifty taels, but the thought of these two secretly opening numerous shops made her seethe with resentment.

These past few days, I've been met with nothing but obstacles in my pursuit of silver, almost to the point of losing all dignity. Yet, they're living comfortably here. It's truly heartless!