Chapter 497 Grand Finale 2

"Jun'er! You were always meant to be my wife!" Li Wenxun stared at her with bloodshot eyes. "My mother told me herself! She was tricked by Lu Hanyi and Madam Liu—they swapped you out!"

"Brother-in-law, you’re clearly drunk, spouting nonsense," Lu Lingyun replied with a faint smile. "Even if things were muddled during the betrothal talks, both Hanyi and I went through the proper three letters and six etiquettes, were recorded in the family registry, and married honorably and legitimately. Don’t spout such baseless nonsense."

"But I remember now! In our past life, it was you I married!" Li Wenxun pushed himself up, his gaze burning as he looked at Lu Lingyun.

Hearing this, Lu Lingyun’s earlier shock crystallized into understanding. She was astonished—had Li Wenxun also remembered?

"Jun'er, we were in perfect harmony—your brilliance matched my charm. You supported me, helped me ace the exams, and I topped the scholar rankings. When the emperor assigned me to serve in Jiangnan, you devoted yourself entirely to assisting me, managing the household so I could focus and achieve outstanding political feats. I climbed swiftly to become prime minister and even secured an imperial title for you!"

Lu Lingyun scoffed inwardly at Li Wenxun’s embellished tale.

So, she just handled the household while he took all the credit?

With a cold smile, she asked, "And what happened afterward?"

"Later..." Li Wenxun's eyes flickered away. "Later, you fell gravely ill and passed away, your light faded too soon."

Lu Lingyun smirked again. "Did we have any children?"

"You bore me one child, but tragically, the birth was difficult. To save you, I had to sacrifice the child!" Li Wenxun's eyes gleamed with fervor. "After that, you couldn’t conceive again, but I never blamed you. I continued to honor and love you, placing all my concubines' children under your care for upbringing!"

Listening to this man who painted himself in such a saintly light, the coldness in Lu Lingyun's smile deepened. Under Li Wenxun's expectant gaze, she replied, "Brother-in-law, you’re quite the comedian."

"Jun'er..." Seeing her disbelief, Li Wenxun grew frantic. "You must believe me! It's all true, every word!"

Lu Lingyun sneered. "Brother-in-law, if you truly possessed the talent and character you claim, why have you fallen so low in this life? In your past life, you became a prime minister, yet now you're stuck as an eighth-rank treasurer? In your past life, you were deeply devoted to me, yet in this one, you're so unfaithful to my sister? They say you spoil your concubines and neglect your wife!"

Li Wenxun felt as though a knife had pierced his heart, leaving him speechless.

How could he admit he owed all his past success to Lu Lingyun? Or that all his concubines back then were chosen by her based on his preferences? After all, in this life, without her arranging it, he still took concubines—and even let them bully the lady of the house! What happened to his so-called loyalty?

So... he was nothing without her.

Seeing him tongue-tied, his selfish, two-faced, fickle nature exposed, Lu Lingyun found it laughable.

She wouldn’t waste another breath on this worm wallowing in filth and turned to leave.

Li Wenxun suddenly lunged forward.

"Jun'er!"

"Jun'er!"

"Let us be together again!"

"Perfect—you’re a widow now, and I’ll dump Lu Hanyi the moment I get back! We can relive our past! With you by my side, I’ll surely rise to the highest ranks again, make everyone envy me!"

Li Wenxun grabbed Lu Lingyun, pulling her into his arms, tearing violently at her clothes.

Now he realized—everything he had came from Lu Lingyun. Without him, she’d still be Lady Fengguo. But without her, he was nothing!

He had to take her back!

Before she could react, Lu Lingyun was yanked into his arms. Just as the crazed fool started tearing at her clothes, a figure descended from above.

"You vile scoundrel! How dare you touch the lady of the house!"

A swift figure soared over Lu Lingyun’s head, a glint of silver flashed as a person wearing a bamboo hat and short martial attire appeared before her.

With a few swift strokes of her sword, she sliced through Li Wenxun’s grip on Lu Lingyun.

Amidst a spray of blood, Li Wenxun let out a loud cry and released his hold.

In an instant, Lu Lingyun was yanked behind the bamboo-hatted woman.

She lifted the hat, revealing a rough-skinned but bright-eyed face under the bright moonlight.

"A'Ruo!" Lu Lingyun exclaimed in delight upon recognizing Du Ruo.

Du Ruo glanced at Lu Lingyun up and down. "Madam, I’m back to rest a spell. Will you have me?"

"Of course you are," Lu Lingyun replied with a smile.

Just then, moans of pain rose from the ground nearby.

Li Wenxun, his hands dripping with blood, rolled in pain.

Du Ruo eyed the man and asked Lu Lingyun, "This reckless fool—what should we do with him?"

Lu Lingyun looked at the drunken Li Wenxun, memories of their past life surged through her mind, finally settling on the image of him handing her that fatal bowl of medicine, his eager, hungry gaze as he waited for her to die.

Her gaze turned icy, her lips barely moving.

"Li family’s brother-in-law, drunk and stumbling, drowned in the Ningyang Marquis’s pond."

As her words fell, Li Wenxun was shoved into the Ningyang Marquis’s pond.

In terror, he stared up at Lu Lingyun looming above, pleading for her help. "Jun'er..."

The moment he opened his mouth, water rushed in. "Jun'er, I... really... am your husband!"

"Help... me... please!"

"Believe me..."

At that moment, he suddenly saw her lips forming three silent words.

"I believe you."

In an instant, his drunken haze cleared.

Lu Lingyun believed him.

No—she must remember our past life too!

But that thought filled him with dread...

"No!"

"I... I was wrong! Jun'er!"

"I was wrong! Save me!"

Li Wenxun flailed wildly in the water, but his drunken limbs failed him. His hands, shredded by Du Ruo’s blade, scraped against the rocks, tearing his flesh further.

He pleaded with Lu Lingyun, desperate for mercy.

Unfortunately, Lu Lingyun was right there, planting a firm kick to him as he tried to crawl up.

Just like the last bowl of medicine he had forced down her throat.

She was no saint.

Her heart was mostly soft—if she could spare a life, she would. Everyone's just scraping by—life isn't easy for anybody. But for those who wanted her dead, she would never show mercy.

You pay what you owe—cash for cash, blood for blood!