Chapter 428: Incredible Fighting Spirit

Chapter 428: Incredible Fighting Spirit

Li Shouye stepped into the examination hall at the last moment, carrying his belongings.

Madam Liu, relieved that her grandson was safe, felt as if a great burden had been lifted. She turned and glared at Lu Hanyi, poking her head and scolding her, "Why on earth did you put that cursed thing in Shouye's kneepads!"

It was absolutely infuriating!

Madam Liu used almost all her strength in poking.

Lu Hanyi, her head still throbbing from the poking, finally regained her composure. She dodged once and then rubbed her head, saying, "I was trying to ward off evil spirits and pray for Shouye! He had upset me a few days ago, and I thought he might have been cursed by something unclean! It was meant to ward off evil!"

Everyone: "......"

"Do you realize you nearly ruined Shouye's entire life!"

"I didn't know that written papers weren't allowed in the Imperial Examination hall. The inspector was so careless, he didn't even check what was written on it! How could that be cheating! That's so unfair..." Lu Hanyi's voice grew softer as she spoke, looking at everyone who was staring at her, "But in the end, everything turned out fine, didn't it!"

Hearing this, everyone was furious.

"How dare you say that! If it weren't for my husband and cousin, Shouye would have been in serious trouble today!" Tong Nanyuan retorted angrily.

This was something she couldn't say. If Madam Liu had said it, Lu Hanyi would have kept quiet, but since Tong Nanyuan said it, Lu Hanyi had something to say.

"They're his uncle and aunt; helping Shouye is only natural!" Lu Hanyi raised her neck, not righteous but still bold.

Tong Nanyuan's neck turned red with anger, "Now you acknowledge that my husband is Shouye's uncle and my cousin is his aunt! Why didn't you let Shouye recognize us before, not even letting him eat at our house!"

"Tong Nanyuan, what do you mean! It's just asking for your help, and you act like we owe you a massive debt!"

Everyone: ...... Isn't it a massive debt?

Tong Nanyuan put her hands on her hips, "We didn't ask for anything in return, we just can't stand your attitude. We helped you, and you can't even show a bit of gratitude! It's like we owe you! Think about it, if it weren't for my husband and cousin today, wouldn't your son have been ruined because of you!"

"Enough, let's all calm down; we're family," Madam Liu said with a bitter face, trying to mediate.

Lu Hanyi rolled her eyes, "Hmph, I never asked for your help! Even without you today, my Shouye would have turned things around!"

Tong Nanyuan: "......"

Everyone: "......"

Tong Nanyuan was so furious she stomped her feet, forgetting her ladylike composure, and lunged at Lu Hanyi. Lu Kuan quickly held Tong Nanyuan back, "Enough, Nanyuan, don't bother with her!"

"No, I can't take this! Is Lu Hanyi even human? She doesn't act like one, and she doesn't speak like one either!"

"You dare lecture me! You old woman who can't even have children, what right do you have to tell me how to behave! Say one more word, and I'll make sure my brother divorces you!"

Everyone: "......"

"Lu Hanyi!" Lu Kuan glared at her, and the previously arrogant Lu Hanyi finally shut up.

Lu Kuan coaxed and pulled, taking Tong Nanyuan away first.

Madam Liu, meanwhile, was muttering to her daughter, "What nonsense are you talking!"

"What nonsense? That Tong woman has been married for ten years and hasn't had a single child! She's going to end our family line! I bet Lu Kuan will divorce her sooner or later, and she'll slink back to her hometown in Jiangnan!"

Tong Nanyuan, being dragged away, heard this and burst into tears, overwhelmed with rage.

Tong Nanyuan and Lu Kuan entered Lu Lingyun's carriage together.

After getting on the carriage, Tong Nanyuan kept crying, while Lu Kuan kept comforting her.

"Don't pay attention to that crazy woman's ramblings."

"I’ll never leave you, not in this lifetime."

"Just ignore her; hasn’t Lu Hanyi spouted enough nonsense already?"

The more Lu Kuan comforted Tong Nanyuan, the more she cried.

Cheng Suying also advised from the side, "Auntie, please stop crying. Everyone knows my second aunt is off her rocker. Today, cousin Shou Ye was almost ruined by her. Why waste your energy on someone like her?"

"She’s made me furious before too. Now that we all know what kind of person she is, we won’t have any dealings with her in the future. Let her stew in her own madness!"

Tong Nanyuan continued to cry.

Lu Hanyi hit a nerve, and she just fell apart.

This wasn’t about Lu Hanyi anymore; she just couldn’t let it go.

Lu Lingyun sighed softly, watching Tong Nanyuan wipe away her tears. She looked at Lu Kuan and said, "Nanyuan can stay with me tonight."

"That’s a good idea," Lu Kuan raised his head and gave Lu Lingyun a grateful look.

The carriage stopped first at the Marquis’s Mansion. Lu Lingyun stepped out of the carriage with a tearful Tong Nanyuan and the others, and then sent the carriage back to take Lu Kuan home.

Tong Nanyuan looked worn out, her usually bright eyes now dull.

When they arrived at Lu Lingyun's courtyard, she asked with sadness in her eyes, "Cousin, do you think I should leave my husband?"

"What are you even saying?" Lu Lingyun scolded her.

"I think she’s got a point. I’ve been married into the Lu family for ten years without any children. I’m going to end my husband’s family line."

"Lu Hanyi’s lost it, and now you’re losing it too!" Lu Lingyun glared at her, "You know how Kuan treats you; do I really need to remind you? Back then, he achieved the top three places in the imperial examinations just to marry you. Talking like that would crush him!"

Tong Nanyuan’s tears fell silently, "I know, but the better my husband treats me, the more uneasy I feel. He’s such a good man; how can I deny him children?"

Seeing her so distressed, Lu Lingyun fell silent for a moment.

If she told her the truth about their family’s health, she’d probably risk her life just to give Lu Kuan a child.

But, oh well!

Lu Lingyun sighed, stood up, and walked over to Tong Nanyuan, holding her close and letting her sob.

The next day, she sent for Tong Nanxia.

Tong Nanxia had been married into Duke Zhao’s household for over a decade and still hadn’t had any children.

In recent years, Zhao Yanshu had taken two concubines, both arranged by Tong Nanxia.

Because she couldn’t conceive.

Lu Lingyun had personally told her. After learning about her physical condition, Tong Nanxia had been secretly taking contraceptive medicine, deciding not to have children.

Zhao Yanshu didn’t know. He cherished Tong Nanxia deeply. If she didn’t want to have children, he would bear the pressure.

As time went by, Tong Nanxia felt guilty. Under her mother-in-law's hint, she arranged two more concubines for him, adding a son and a daughter to the family. With more descendants, her mother-in-law became slightly more satisfied.

When she arrived at the Marquis’s Mansion and saw the haggard and pitiful Tong Nanyuan, her heart ached. She stepped forward to comfort Tong Nanyuan, "Third sister, what’s going on with you?"