Chapter Nine: Maybe Meet Him First

Chapter Nine: Maybe Meet Him First

"Mother, what are your plans for the marriage?" Lu Yao lightly coughed, his voice cold and calm. "Dragging this matter on will harm Lu Mingchao's reputation and place Xie Yan at the center of gossip."

"We should have a plan by now."

Yunniang retrieved her smile without hesitation and sighed deeply. "The mistakes Lu Miao made should not be borne by Lu Mingchao."

"The marriage must be called off."

On this point, Yunniang and Lu Chunsheng’s thoughts were in complete agreement.

"After your father returns from gathering firewood, let him invite Xie Yan over to discuss. If we need to apologize, we will apologize; if we need to compensate, we will compensate. Xie Yan has been unfairly dragged into this mess, and we owe him an apology."

"There’s been a lot of nasty gossip going around the village. Xie Yan’s situation is not good, and our two families have become the laughingstock of the entire village."

"What a tragedy!"

Bringing up the marriage made Yunniang feel exhausted and overwhelmed; Lu Miao had really gone too far.

Although Yunniang didn’t elaborate, Lu Mingchao could mostly guess the gossip.

Even if they successfully called off the marriage through discussion, both the Lu family and the Xie family would still be the subject of gossip and unable to hold their heads high, which could even affect the future prospects of the children from both families.

Especially Lu Yao. Lu Yao was meant to take the imperial examinations and pursue an official career.

In the Great Qian dynasty, there were customs of local recommendations, student mutual guarantees, and official endorsements. The guarantor had to vouch for the scholar’s moral integrity and academic excellence.

To ensure the seriousness and authenticity of the guarantees, a system of joint liability was implemented. Without enough guarantors, he wouldn’t even be eligible for the provincial exams.

This matter was far from easy to resolve.

Thinking about people gossiping and criticizing made Lu Mingchao feel irritated.

"Mother, Lu Miao accepted one hundred taels of betrothal gifts from Xie Yan."

"If we call off the marriage, the fault lies with us. Besides returning the betrothal gifts in full, we also need to provide additional compensation."

"Mother, did you forget that before Lu Miao left, she took away the hairpins and remaining silver she bought in the county, using the excuse that she felt inferior and was afraid of being rejected." Lu Yao lightly reminded her.

Yunniang’s thumb unconsciously rubbed the pad of her index finger, her lips tightly pressed together.

After a long pause.

"We’ll figure out the money situation with your father," Yunniang said.

"That’s one hundred taels, not just ten or eight coins," Lu Yao lightly scoffed, his tone still as calm as a still pond.

Yunniang’s red eyes flared as she raised her voice, unconsciously becoming sharp. "Even so, we can’t substitute Lu Mingchao. Lu Mingchao is your real younger sister."

"Apart from your father and me, you are the closest people to her in this world."

Lu Yao’s eyes were dark and inscrutable, as if hiding endless secrets, becoming increasingly difficult to fathom.

As his hands emerged from his sleeves, Lu Mingchao immediately noticed the abnormally grotesque scar on his right hand.

The scar was long and clean, as if it had been made by a precise cut from a sharp blade, hinting at a weighty past.

It wasn’t that she was deliberately staring at Lu Yao’s scar, but his hands were so slender and pale, like polished jade, perfectly suited for holding a brush.

And the scar was like a crack in a beautiful piece of jade—conspicuous and deeply regrettable.

Lu Yao didn’t care about Lu Mingchao’s gaze, and his lips curled into a smile that seemed both mocking and cruel.

"Mother, all things in this world have cause and effect, and every wrong has its perpetrator and every debt its payer. Whoever makes a mistake should bear the consequences."

"In my opinion, either bring Lu Miao back to fulfill the marriage contract and get married, or make Lu Miao take responsibility for the betrothal gifts and compensation."

"It’s not right for her to commit a wrong and then simply run away without consequences."

"If you, Mother, are reluctant to break off relations due to over a decade of mother-daughter affection, then I and Xiao Xin can go on your behalf."

Yunniang’s body shook, her lips quivered, as if she had a thousand words on the tip of her tongue but couldn’t utter a single one.

Lu Mingchao was taken aback, realizing just how ruthless and decisive he could be, almost like a born antagonist.

Quite interesting.

Her role was that of a malicious supporting character, while Lu Yao was the kind of antagonist who never let a grudge go unpunished.

If they were siblings, they should stick together and face everything as one.

She had thought Lu Yao’s aloofness and detachment from worldly affairs were just superficial.

Wait!

A bolt of realization struck Lu Mingchao.

Thinking of the one hundred taels she had worked so hard to obtain, her face darkened instantly.

Couldn’t Yongning Marquis Madam have subtly hinted at the marriage contract and extracted information about the betrothal gifts?

So, that one hundred taels were not her own money, but rather the Marquis Madam cleaning up after Lu Minghui’s mess.

Of course, how could the Marquis Madam allow her high-marrying daughter’s reputation to be tarnished?

Even if someone in the future dredges up old grievances, with that one hundred taels of silver as solid evidence, the heavy blame would be firmly placed on her head, impossible to shake off.

The Marquis Madam’s schemes were worn out, yet she was still fumbling around like an amateur.

"Mother, let’s meet them before making a decision."

If it suited her fancy, she’d take him in, no matter what.

These days, even keeping a male companion required letting him live in luxury.

Consider it her guilty pleasure; she had a thing for male companions who came with baggage.

Lu Yao was visibly startled for a moment, the spreading malice like thin snow meeting the scorching sun, abruptly disappearing without a trace.

But his furrowed brows deepened, filled with disapproval.

Could it be that Lu Mingchao was also the type to turn the other cheek after being slapped?

Although he was much better than the wicked Lu Miao, he was tired of dealing with people who were too naive.

The Lu family no longer needed someone who could be easily manipulated.

Lu Mingchao's heart raced under Lu Yao's disapproving stare, and she quickly summarized Lady Hou's little schemes and her own naive foolishness, explaining, "Second Brother, we probably can't find Lu Miao anymore."

Lu Yao felt no joy about the hundred taels; his main goal was to make Lu Miao miserable.

His frustration with Lu Miao had been building up for so long, and now it was reaching its breaking point.

But previously, Lu Miao had the protective shield of being his sibling, leaving him with no outlet for his full grievances.

Lu Mingchao: Good heavens, Evil Sword Immortal?

Lu Mingchao thought that even with just Lu Yao, they could manage, but the timing was wrong.

Lu Mingchao's eyes flickered, deciding not to provoke Lu Yao's bad side, and repeated to Yunniang, "Mother, let's not rush into a decision. Let's meet first. If it's really not suitable, we'll call off the engagement."

"A person cannot stand without trust. I cannot selfishly affect my brothers' lives."

"Chaochao, I won't let you suffer either." Yunniang rubbed Lu Mingchao's head.

Her shoulders were narrow and small, delicate and slim, but in Lu Mingchao's eyes, they were as solid and inclusive as a small mountain.

Lu Mingchao: Looking good means you don't have to suffer.

Days without big dreams or goals were easy and carefree.

After Yunniang went to start cooking, Lu Yao got straight to the point, "Want to talk?"

The tension in the room was thick.

Lu Mingchao nodded, "I'll do whatever you say, Second Brother."

"Second Brother, if you're too strict, you might scare Big Sis off." Lu Xin blinked, hiding behind Lu Mingchao, and couldn't help but peek out with a timid complaint against Lu Yao.

So cute and endearing.

Lu Yao felt powerless and deeply regretful.

"The characters I taught you recently, can you write them?"

"I'll check later. If you get them wrong, I'll spank you."

Lu Yao opened his heart.