Chapter 16: The Former Fiancé’s Bewilderment

Chapter 16: The Former Fiancé's Bewilderment

Feng Family.

"Elder Sister-in-law, are you sure you've figured it out?"

"What’s the deal with the Lu family’s newly returned daughter? I just saw Brother Xie Yan heading toward the Lu family from afar."

Feng Shen, who had been bending over to feed the chickens, stiffened. Her eyes shifted guiltily. But thinking of the Lu family's reaction, she couldn't help feeling angry and immediately straightened her back with newfound confidence.

She dumped the chicken feed all at once, put her hands on her hips, and shouted in a rough voice, "Who says I didn't find out?"

"As soon as I heard that Lu Chunsheng had returned the donkey cart to the village head, I braved the wind and snow to go find out."

"That girl is really a vixen. She has the entire Lu family wrapped around her little finger. Even Lu Yao is protecting her, afraid she might suffer any grievance."

"The engagement with Brother Xie Yan was left ambiguous, but I think the girl is willing to be a stepmother."

She hadn't forgotten the sharp words the girl had used to mock her.

"Jinyu, don't blame your sister-in-law for speaking harshly. If you were as bold as Lu Miao and latched onto Xie Yan, making him feel responsible for you, would I, as your sister-in-law, have to run around getting slapped and looked down upon?"

"You don’t know how the Lu family people pointed their fingers at me and scolded."

"Now that Lu Miao is gone, here comes Lu Mingchao. I wonder what you’re going to do now!"

"Tsk, what good is a girl’s pride and reputation? Can it buy silver or put food on the table?"

Thinking of how casually Xie Yan could offer a bride price of one hundred taels made her heart ache.

As she spoke, Feng Shen couldn't help but compare Lu Mingchao with her younger sister. The more she compared, the more frustrated she became.

Her younger sister was the daughter of her father-in-law after he had married into the family, and the elderly couple doted on her like their own eyes. She was willful and unreasonable, looking down on others with her nose in the air. She looked down on ordinary farm families and only dreamed of marrying into a wealthy city household. As a result, her marriage had been delayed due to her pickiness.

In her opinion, only a foolish young master from a rich family would even consider marrying such a rough, ill-tempered, and illiterate farm girl.

But she only dared to mutter these thoughts in her heart. If she said them out loud, her mother-in-law would surely find ways to torment her.

Compared to the biological daughter of the Lu family, her own sister seemed like nothing but dregs.

Feng Jinyu's face changed colors, flushing red and turning pale, showing a mixture of shame, embarrassment, and anger.

Hearing that the biological daughter of the Lu family was interested in continuing the marriage and being a stepmother, she forgot about her sister-in-law's harsh words and became anxious.

At her age, she had no hope of becoming a wealthy wife in a rich family; she wouldn't even be considered for a secondary wife.

Among the men she could realistically aim for, Xie Yan was the best option.

"How can the Lu family be so shameless, clinging to Xie Yan like this?"

"It was Lu Miao who had something going on with Brother Xie Yan, not Lu Mingchao."

"No, I have to protect Brother Xie Yan from those greedy Lu family members."

"I'll go find Brother Xie Yan right away."

Feng Jinyu was fierce and defiant, ready to rush out as she spoke.

Feng's aunt grabbed her niece, tutting under her breath.

Her niece wasn’t as reckless as Lu Miao, but when it came to twisting the truth, she was just as adept.

"You're going to look for Xie Yan like this?" Feng's aunt's thick, black eyebrows furrowed together, her tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction, sounding both fierce and harsh, "At least tidy yourself up. Which man wouldn’t want a girl who looks fresh and beautiful?"

She wasn’t being charitable or nosy; she just figured that if they managed to win Xie Yan back, she might get a piece of the pie too.

Upon hearing this, Feng Jinyu thought it made sense.

…

In the capital city, at the Yongning Marquis family.

After repeated stern instructions from the Duke's family, he reluctantly paid a visit to the Yongning Marquis family.

Lately, the scandal over the real and fake daughters at the Yongning Marquis family had been making waves.

Especially the scandal of Lu Mingchao threatening to die unless she got her way, which had become even more infamous.

The engagement of the Yongning Marquis family was widely known throughout the nobility. He couldn’t avoid being swept up in the rumors, which eventually turned into a story of two women fighting over one man.

He found it shameful and deliberately avoided letting any news of the Yongning Marquis family reach his ears.

If he didn’t hear about it, he wouldn’t have to deal with it.

Today, there was no escaping it.

At the sight of the unfamiliar young girl, Gu Huai couldn't help but furrow his brows.

As much as he disliked Lu Mingchao, he had to admit that her beauty was rare.

If Lu Mingchao were dressed up like this, even if she just stood quietly under the eaves, she would resemble a fully bloomed peony, radiant and noble, looking down on everyone rather than being vulgar and calculating.

"Marquis Madam, Miss Lu." Apart from his slightly furrowed brows, Gu Huai's words and actions were flawlessly polite, "My family has been busy these past few days, and I haven’t had the chance to visit. I deeply apologize for this and hope you can forgive me."

The hidden intricacies were clear to Yongning Marquis Madam, though her face didn’t show it. She wore a benevolent smile, "Nephew, you’re being too formal."

"Don’t call me Marquis Madam, call me Aunt."

"This is Minghui, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis family."

Lu Minghui blushed, feeling a wave of joy and pride wash over her.

Her life had taken a leap to the top.

Compared to the eldest son of the Duke's family, Xie Yan was nothing.

After some polite exchanges and having drunk two or three cups of tea, there was still no sign of Lu Mingchao, and Gu Huai's brows furrowed even more tightly, his hidden frustration growing like a vine.

Since childhood, Lu Mingchao had liked to stick to him, always considering herself his fiancée, fearing nothing, not even death, for him.

He had come, but she was avoiding him. Was this a ploy to act coy, waiting for him to coax her?

After another cup of tea, Gu Huai's growing displeasure could no longer be suppressed. He cleared his throat and casually asked, "Aunt, why isn’t Mingchao here?"

The bright smile on the Marquis Madam’s face faltered, her expression becoming somewhat unnatural.

Lu Minghui clenched the handkerchief in her hand tightly, her downcast eyes filled with jealousy and resentment.

She was the rightful heir of the marquis's family, a noble lady of high birth. Lu Mingchao was the thief who had stolen her identity!

"You didn't know, did you, nephew?" Yongning Marquis Madam's surprise was perfectly timed.

Gu Huai was startled. "What?"

Yongning Marquis Madam sighed deeply. "Mingchao is gone."

"Mingchao has been raised by the Marquis and me for over ten years. How could we not feel for her? We considered letting her stay as the marquis's second daughter, but she's very stubborn. She was determined to return to the countryside to reunite with her family."

"We tried everything to convince her, but she still left."

"I’ve already spoken with the Duchess about this."

Gu Huai was stunned, his mind spinning, unable to process what he was hearing.

Lu Mingchao had left?

Lu Mingchao, who had been following him for ten years, was gone?

A heavy lump formed in his throat, making it hard to breathe.