Chapter 498 Grand Finale 3

Chapter 498: Finale, Part 3

The next day, news spread that Li Wenxun had drowned at the Marquis's Mansion after drunkenly losing his footing.

The banquet at the Marquis's Mansion had ended late the previous night, and all the servants were busy, so no one noticed Lady Fengguo's brother-in-law drowning.

When his body was retrieved, it was confirmed that he had indeed drowned, though his hands were mangled, likely from struggling in the pond.

The news reached the Li residence.

Upon hearing it, the old couple of the Li family fell silent for a moment, uttered a few words of grief, and then sent their eldest son to retrieve the body of their second son.

What else could they do? They didn’t even dare to question the Marquis's Mansion.

First, the Marquis's Mansion was at the height of its power, and they were eager to curry favor rather than offend.

Second, their second son had never amounted to much—his life had been so pitiful that he couldn’t even keep his own house in order, leaving them ashamed.

As for how Li Wenxun had died—whether it was truly an accident or murder—no one cared, nor did anyone attempt to investigate.

They were simply relieved that it was their second son who had died, not the eldest!

They even secretly blamed Li Wenxun for not choosing a better place to die—dying in the home of Lady Fengguo, and on the very night of her celebratory banquet! If this brought bad luck and provoked her wrath, how would the Li family survive in the future?

As for Li Wenxun’s own household, Lu Hanyi laughed herself into a stupor for three days upon hearing of his drunken demise, laughing until she became delirious.

His concubines, upon learning that he had drowned at the Marquis's Mansion after drinking, acted like the world was ending. Over the past three years in the Imperial City, they had survived by scheming against Lu Hanyi behind her back under Li Wenxun’s protection and guidance. Now that he was dead, if Lu Hanyi took control, they were all doomed!

While Lu Hanyi was lost in her mad laughter at home, those who had sons turned to them for support, those with daughters leaned on their sons-in-law, and they all escaped the Li residence as quickly as possible.

By the time Lu Hanyi came to her senses, the house was empty.

She was then taken in by Li Shouye and Xu Yinyin. To their surprise, this woman, once so domineering, seemed transformed after her husband’s death—her personality became much brighter.

No longer eccentric and difficult, she stopped picking on the family. Instead, she spent her days gardening and raising fish. She even turned to Buddhism, frequently visiting temples to listen to sermons. She took to saying that one should build good karma, believing that everything had its karmic consequences, praying her next life would be free from worthless men.

She had begun a new life.

Du Ruo stayed at the Marquis's Mansion for only a few days, exchanging news with Lu Lingyun before setting off on her travels again.

She had found her calling in life—she was happiest when roaming, free as a bird. She urged Lu Lingyun to join her, to break free from the confines of the mansion.

Lu Lingyun smiled and replied that everyone had their own path.

Some saw these walls as a prison to escape, while others saw them as a fortress.

Within these ramparts was her kingdom and battlefield.

To Lu Lingyun, the Marquis's Mansion was her kingdom, and she was its ruler.

Why would a ruler abandon her own kingdom?

This year, Lu Lingyun was exceptionally busy.

Receiving the title of Lady Fengguo, her three-year mourning period for Lady Qin came to an end. As it happened, Wang Qiluo and Liu Shuhui were both present, so the two families co-hosted the wedding of Cheng Binghao and Liu Xianxian.

After the wedding, Wang Qiluo pleaded with Lu Lingyun to come with her back to Jiangnan for a visit.

A ruler may leave their domain briefly, but cannot abandon it entirely. Lu Lingyun took a short trip to Jiangnan. While there, she ran into Cheng Lanying and an unfamiliar man selling pork by the roadside.

When Cheng Lanying saw her, she was so frightened that she hid behind Wei Dahai, who immediately realized the woman in fine silks before them was from the Marquis's Mansion.

He snatched up the butcher's cleaver at hand, adopting a defensive stance as he glared at Lu Lingyun with hostility.

Lu Lingyun actually chuckled at his reaction.

Just then, the little one came toddling out from the small courtyard behind them. Wei Dahai hurriedly grabbed the child, shielding them behind him.

But the child, drawn by the sparkling gems and fancy silks on Lu Lingyun’s attire, ran straight toward her.

"Zhenzhen! Don’t go over!"

It was too late. The little girl reached Lu Lingyun, and Shuang Hong scooped her up quick.

Seeing this, Cheng Lanying dropped to her knees with a loud thump and knelt before Lu Lingyun. Wei Dahai, witnessing his wife and child in such a state, dropped his cleaver and also knelt, knocking his forehead against the ground repeatedly.

"This is all my fault! Please, lady, spare Lan Ying and Zhenzhen! I’m willing to be cut to pieces if need be!"

Lu Lingyun observed the rough but honest man before her, then glanced at their plain clothing. Cheng Lanying and the child wore garments that were still fairly new, without a single patch, while Wei Dahai’s clothes were stitched up and threadbare.

She waved her hand, signaling them to rise, and entered their rented courtyard for a closer look. After summoning Cheng Lanying for a private conversation, she emerged from the house to find the cart driver pacing like a caged animal outside, clutching the child.

Lu Lingyun approached him and looked at the little girl in his arms. "Her name is Zhenzhen?"

"Yes," Wei Dahai replied cautiously. "I had no schooling—Lan Ying chose the name. She said it means 'treasure,' and I like it too. Zhenzhen is much better than names like Er'ya or Zhaodi. A girl deserves a name like this."

Hearing this, Lu Lingyun gently patted the little girl’s head. She noticed Wei Dahai barely stopped himself from pulling the child away, as if fearing she might harm her. With a faint smile, she left them with only one instruction: to take good care of Lan Ying and the child, then departed.

Lu Lingyun’s simple departure left Wei Dahai stunned. Holding the child, he rushed to Cheng Lanying as she stepped out of the house.

"Lan Ying!"

"Da Hai!"

The family of three embraced. Wei Dahai, still in disbelief, watched the noblewoman surrounded by attendants. "She just... let us go?"

"What else?"

"I thought she’d be like your mother—capture us and make us suffer terribly."

Cheng Lanying smiled, gazing at the ornate sandalwood carriage with its silver-chased bells and brocade curtains. As the silk veil lifted, the noblewoman inside gave her a calm smile and waved farewell.

"That’s the lady," she said, watching Lu Lingyun’s departing figure.

"The finest woman I know."

As a child, she had thought she was just putting on airs. As a youth, she had seen her as shrewd and mysterious. Now, she truly admired her character.

She tightened her sleeve, where Lu Lingyun had hidden five hundred silver taels—her dowry.