Chapter 89: I Want Her for Myself

Chapter 89: I Want Her for Myself

The servant departed, and the study was enveloped in silence.

Sun Zhiye's smile disappeared in an instant, his expression darkened as an impulse surged within him, he wanted to sweep everything off the desk.

However, as his sleeve swung out, he forcibly reined in his emotions.

Sun Zhiye downed the cooled tea in one gulp, and the anger within him gradually subsided. After a moment, he shook his head gently, folded his hands behind his back, walked to the window, pushed the window open, and his gaze fell on the withered branches in the courtyard, looking especially frail and decayed under the cold winter night. He couldn't help sighing.

Would the Sun family wither like a tree?

The cold wind roared, but Sun Zhiye seemed unaffected by the cold, allowing the wind to brush past his face in a near-masochistic way.

Sun Zhiye's mind was crystal clear, knowing it would be hard to stay on good terms with Lu Mingchao.

Even the hope of 'keeping to their own territories' was a luxury.

Then they could only become enemies!

He hoped the true daughter of the Yongning Marquis family, Lu Minghui, wouldn't let him down.

Sun Zhiye shut the window, holding a candlestick, and twisted a small figurine in the corner of the bookshelf. A hidden door appeared seamlessly within the wall.

He passed through the door and descended the steps, where a disheveled young woman was locked in a cage.

"What else do you know about the true daughter of the Marquis family, Lu Minghui?"

...

A night passed.

The snow had stopped, but the sky remained overcast, devoid of warmth, and the temperature showed no signs of rising.

On the ground, the snow melted very slowly, silently turning into ice, making it slippery. Few people ventured outside, but Sun Zhiye had no choice but to go out.

"Eldest Young Master."

Sun Zhiye nodded in acknowledgment and looked at the servant doing cleaning work in the mansion. "What is this about?"

"Reporting to the Eldest Young Master, last night the wind was cold and strong, and the courtyard gate and pillars, being old, showed more obvious peeling of the red paint. The Old Master ordered me to find the usual craftsman to repaint them."

"If it's Father's order, just follow it."

Sun Zhiye would not go against Old Master Sun's wishes in small matters. "Make sure all areas are guarded, and don't let the craftsmen disturb the ladies of the house."

With a calm tone and expression, Sun Zhiye gave his instructions and then boarded the carriage waiting not far away.

Even with the slippery roads due to the snow, he had to go to the Xu family to apologize and thank Xu Qingxing for his kindness.

Meanwhile, in Changxi Village.

Lu Mingchao, feeling heavy-headed and drowsy, was being fed freshly stewed soup by Yunniang. Her nose was red, and her eyes were watery, looking quite pitiful.

"Good thing you're not feverish anymore." Yunniang tested Lu Mingchao's forehead temperature again and sighed in relief. "Rest well, I'll take care of the children."

Lu Mingchao sipped the soup spoon by spoon. "Thank you for your hard work, Mother."

Yunniang smiled and gave Lu Mingchao a playful glare. "No need to be so polite with your mother."

From inside the house, Lu Mingchao seemed to hear the sound of snow being shoveled outside, and she couldn’t help but smile slightly.

Yunniang took the empty bowl and placed it on the small wooden table beside her, told Lu Mingchao to lie down, then tucked in the blanket. She hesitated, then asked, "Chaochao, was everything okay at the Plum Blossom Banquet?"

"The set of clothes you were wearing when you came home last night—I noticed they didn’t fit you well."

Lu Mingchao furrowed her brows, rubbed her slightly itchy nose, and said, her voice thick with a cold, "At the banquet, I accidentally knocked over a cup, and the wine soaked my clothes. The magistrate’s wife was kind enough to have a maid get me a new set."

"Really?" Yunniang asked, skeptical.

She was worried her daughter had been mistreated at the Plum Blossom Banquet and was hiding it from her to spare her concern.

Lu Mingchao nodded earnestly. "Really, you know how capable I am, Mom."

Remembering her daughter’s moment of glory when she became famous in Changxi Village, Yunniang chose to believe her.

"That’s good. I was so worried I barely slept last night."

"You just had some hot soup, so stay covered and sweat it out. Don’t throw off the blanket as soon as you feel warm."

"Okay."

Listening to the occasional laughter and talk outside, Lu Mingchao, who had taken her medicine, unknowingly fell asleep again.

Several days flew by.

Lu Mingchao’s cold was much better, and Madam Xu also sent someone to tell her the outcome of the drowning incident, along with some fabric and hairpins to comfort her.

The cousin staying with the Sun family had a crush on the second young master and acted out of anger?

Lu Mingchao scoffed.

If it were said she had a crush on the Jade String Gentleman, Sun Zhiye, she might have believed it a bit.

Given the magistrate’s wife’s stance, Sun Zhiye brought the still-recovering cousin, Qu Ying, to Changxi Village with heavy gifts to see Lu Mingchao.

Lu Mingchao openly looked Qu Ying over a few times.

Her face was pale, her lips colorless, her round almond eyes filled with timidity, her head wrapped in thick soft cloth, and a strong medicinal smell filled the air.

Noticing Lu Mingchao’s gaze, Qu Ying quickly lowered her head.

Lu Mingchao chuckled lightly, leisurely saying, "You pushed me into the icy lake because you have a crush on the second young master of the Sun family?"

"Your taste and preferences are truly unique."

Qu Ying’s face turned even paler, and she stammered out continuous apologies.

Lu Mingchao didn’t look at Qu Ying anymore but turned her gaze to Sun Zhiye. "The eldest son of the Sun family, is this apology another notice of your next attempt to harm me?"

"Sun has never had the intention to harm Madam Xie."

Sun Zhiye had faint dark circles under his eyes, looking somewhat haggard.

Lu Mingchao slightly furrowed her brows, pondering in her heart.

The only good person in a group of bad people is often either a hypocrite or a monster.

She would rather Sun Zhiye be simply hypocritical.

"Then I will trust once more, in the name of the Jade String Gentleman's reputation for integrity and moral character."

"However, pushing me into the icy lake is no different from trying to kill me. These so-called lavish gifts are insufficient to atone for the Sun family's wrongdoing."

"Only a life for a life is fair."

Sun Zhiye slightly furrowed his brows, looking somewhat puzzled at Lu Mingchao.

"If Mrs. Xie demands Qu Ying's life in return, I must beg your pardon, but I cannot stand idly by. I hope Mrs. Xie will show mercy."

Lu Mingchao's eyes widened slightly, "Do I look like some heartless villain who doesn’t care about lives?"

"I do not want Miss Qu's life, but I want Miss Qu herself."

"If she had the guts to try to kill me, she’s not someone who’s afraid of trouble."

"Eldest son of the Sun family, this incident occurred at the magistrate's wife's plum blossom banquet. I’m willing to believe the magistrate’s wife’s explanation is a goodwill gesture, not her being blind to the truth."

"I’ve already backed off. Shouldn’t the eldest son of the Sun family do the same?"

Sun Zhiye felt a sharp pain in his temples, something he’d never felt before. He’d never met a woman as sharp-tongued and hard to handle as Lu Mingchao.

"I wonder how Mrs. Xie requires me to step back?"

Lately, the Sun family has been on edge, with strange things happening at night, leaving everyone scared and uneasy.

So far, there’s been no lead, and he doesn’t have the time or energy to deal with Lu Mingchao.

If Lu Mingchao’s confidence comes from the capital, he should fight fire with fire, not get himself trapped and helpless.

"Haven’t I made myself clear?" Lu Mingchao raised an eyebrow, her voice clear and resolute, "I want Qu Ying to sell herself to me as my servant."

"Eldest son of the Sun family, you’re not losing out here."

"I want two shops."