Chapter 102: Past and Present Lives

Chapter 102: Past and Present Lives

"I've already warned you, Father. There are many enemies who want to destroy the Sun family and completely ruin us."

"As I try to turn the tide, naturally, there are those who want to stir up trouble and ruin my plans."

Old Master Sun was unmoved. "Don't put on that act of being effortlessly superior in front of me."

"If you really cared, you'd make me happier by having children sooner."

After urging him to have children, Old Master Sun remained silent.

Sun Zhiye felt stifled and found it completely unreasonable.

The carriage continued toward the county courthouse, with the disturbing children's song still echoing in their ears.

Sun Zhiye pulled a thin letter from his chest pocket. The handwriting was from the second young master of the Sun family, sincerely begging him to take Qu Ying as a concubine.

He could have stayed out of this mess, but now, because of a few lines from a children's song, he was dragged into this ambiguous situation.

What a pity.

The second brother has to commit suicide!

The coroner's autopsy results also need to be made public.

It was unclear when help from the capital would arrive.

In the face of absolute power, any schemes or calculations are insignificant.

The imperial capital.

The Yongning Marquis estate.

"Slap."

The ruler landed on her palm, leaving another shallow red mark.

"Miss Lu, you've made another mistake!"

"Keep your hands at eyebrow level, don't shake."

"Again."

Lu Minghui was both angry and frustrated, but she didn't dare show it on her face.

This was the tutor sent by the Duke's family. Her every word and action would be carefully recorded and reported to the Duchess.

The Yongning Marquis' wife felt very distressed. "Madame Sheng, you've done a lot of hard work. How about letting Minghui process this on her own?"

As she spoke, she subtly signaled the maids behind her to pass over a few gold leaves.

Madame Sheng, without changing her expression, pinched the gold leaves in her hand. Her cold and stern demeanor showed no sign of softening. "Marquis Madam, it's not that this old servant is being harsh and unreasonable, but the birthday banquet of Princess Duandhe is approaching. This is your daughter's first attendance at a proper royal banquet. No mistakes can be made on such occasions, and perfection is required."

"Princess Duandhe values rules and etiquette the most. If your daughter can receive a word of praise from her, it will be greatly beneficial."

"Conversely, if your daughter makes a mistake, she will find it difficult to move in the noble circle of the capital."

"The wife of the heir of the Duke's family must excel in everything. I hope Marquis Madam can understand the difficulties of this old servant."

Glancing at Lu Minghui, who had slightly reddened eyes, Yongning Marquis Madam paused and said, "Forget it, rest for the time it takes to burn an incense stick."

Madam Sheng placed the ruler on the purple sandalwood table, then bowed slightly to show respect, her attitude neither humble nor arrogant. She turned and left at a leisurely pace.

Only when Madam Sheng completely disappeared did Lu Minghui's tears dare to fall.

"Mother."

Yongning Marquis Madam hurriedly said, "Don't cry, don't cry, if Madam Sheng sees you, she'll gossip about you in front of the Duke's family Madam again."

Upon hearing this, Lu Minghui felt even more bitter.

She thought that becoming the young miss of the Marquis's family was to live a life of luxury, but who would have thought that what awaited her was day after day of torment.

In her previous life, when she accidentally learned about her true identity and clamored to return to their rightful places, Lu Mingchao was the unchallenged mistress of the Duke's family; even the elegant gentleman Gu Huai followed her every word.

As for her? The Duke's family wouldn't allow her to set foot inside, and the Yongning Marquis's family found her shameful.

At that time, Lu Mingchao was like a peony that stirred the capital, while she was just a stinking pile of mud at the foot of the peony, a weed destined to wither.

How is it that in this life, having early on worked to regain her status as the Marquis's young miss and successfully forced out Lu Mingchao, she still had endless rules to learn, endless ridicule to endure, and endless suffering?

"Mother, if I had been by your side since I was young, it would have been better."

Lu Minghui stilled her tears, her eyes brimming with sorrow, looking extremely pitiful.

Yongning Marquis Madam felt a pang in her heart. "It's my fault; I didn't bring you back sooner."

"Minghui has suffered."

Having missed more than ten years of upbringing, it was incredibly difficult to make up for it in just a few days.

But there was no way around it; if Minghui wanted to marry high into the Duke's family, she couldn't be a crude person, as Madam Sheng had said, she needed to excel in everything.

Moreover, with Lu Mingchao being so outstanding, Minghui would have to put in even more effort to catch up to her.

Thinking of Lu Mingchao, Yongning Marquis Madam couldn't help but feel a bit wistful.

Lu Minghui keenly noticed the change in Yongning Marquis Madam's emotions. "Mother, I've shamed you."

"I'm grateful that Lu Mingchao has been filial to you and Father for so many years on my behalf, but I can't help but resent her while I constantly learn rules, etiquette, and household management."

"How is it that her life is so good?"

"Mother, am I too hard-hearted?"

She was jealous of Lu Mingchao.

She hated Lu Mingchao even more.

If Lu Mingchao hadn't taken her place, she would definitely have been more outstanding than Lu Mingchao.

Yongning Marquis Madam could no longer care about the Lu Mingchao who had been driven away, gently patting Lu Minghui's back and softly comforting her. "It's my poor Minghui who has suffered; I'll find a way to help Minghui get revenge."

"Study hard, and once you marry into the Duke's family and secure the position of the heir's wife, everything will fall into place."

Lu Minghui's eyelashes fluttered, her eyes flickering.

Yes, in her memory, Lu Mingchao's grace and nobility were unmatched, and in this life, it would all be hers.

She comes from a good family background.

She has an unmatched husband.

A lifetime of wealth and honor is also hers.

"Will mother really help me teach them a lesson?" Lu Minghui blinked, her eyes misty, asking cautiously.

Yongning Marquis Madam replied without hesitation, "Of course."

Anyway, Lu Mingchao had already married a countryside hunter and would be stuck as a peasant for the rest of her life. There was no way she could be of any real help to the marquis family.

Lu Minghui broke into a smile through her tears, her face adoring and reverent. "Thank you, mother. You are the most loving to me."

"Happy now?" Yongning Marquis Madam gently tapped Lu Minghui's forehead. "If you're happy, then study hard with Elder Maid Sheng."

"I will," Lu Minghui firmly replied.

"Then take a short rest. I still have some ledgers to review, so I won't stay here with you."

As soon as she turned around, Yongning Marquis Madam's face showed worry, and she instinctively massaged her temple.

From the age of twelve, Mingchao had been helping her with managing accounts and handling the marquis family's affairs.

These days, the marquis would also occasionally mention Lu Mingchao, as if her departure had created distance. The marquis began to miss Mingchao's virtues even more.

Even the servants, when making tea, would overhear the marquis saying the tea wasn't as good as the tea brewed by Mingchao.

The wife of the Duke of Zhenguo had also hinted indirectly that compared to Lu Mingchao, Minghui fell far short. Hearing this too often annoyed her greatly.

Minghui was her biological daughter, while Lu Mingchao was of common blood. Every time someone disparaged Minghui, wasn't it indirectly mocking her?

Sighing softly again, she slowly walked away.

Lu Minghui lowered her brows, the admiration in her eyes fading away, leaving only the secret joy of a successful scheme.

The Sun family was willing to provide her with funds, and she was naturally willing to help the Sun family in return. After all, they had a common enemy.

However, Lu Mingchao was truly born to be annoying!

"Right and wrong depend only on the times."