Chapter 116: What Kind of Woman Does Your Second Brother Prefer?

Chapter 116: What Kind of Woman Does Your Second Brother Prefer?

"And yet, the person who resembles Sister Zhi was meeting with a different man. How could it be Sister Zhi?"

A flicker of panic crossed Cheng Zhi's eyes.

"I hope Sister Zhi can forgive me; it was a slip of the tongue." Lu Mingchao, understanding the situation, put down her teacup and stood up to bow to Cheng Zhi.

Disingenuous.

Cheng Zhi said dryly, "People can resemble each other, and goods can be similar. Sister Ming just made an unintentional mistake."

Wei Tang returned with a maid bearing various fruits.

Noticing the shattered teacup on the ground, she asked suspiciously, "What happened?"

Cheng Zhi whispered, "My hand slipped, and I accidentally dropped it."

"Sister Zhi's embroidered shoes and skirt are wet; why not change into one of mine for now?" Wei Tang, while signaling the maid to clean up the mess, looked at Cheng Zhi with concern.

Cheng Zhi waved her hand, "It's nothing serious; I'll just dry off by the charcoal brazier."

As she spoke, she lifted her skirt and walked towards the nearby brazier.

Lu Mingchao gazed deeply at Cheng Zhi's back, her heart a mix of emotions.

Cheng Zhi.

A single test revealed the issue.

Lu Mingchao inwardly sneered and averted her gaze.

With Wei Tang present, the small parlor stayed lively, though Cheng Zhi seemed a bit distracted.

Wei Tang blew on her hands, peeled a steaming orange, and handed it over, "Sister Zhi, is something bothering you?"

A shadow crossed Lu Mingchao's eyes as she lightly tapped her lips, "It was my mistake; I mistook someone I once met who resembled Sister Zhi for her, causing her displeasure."

"My fault, my fault; I'll punish myself with tea instead of wine."

"Oh, Sister Zhi, it's such a small matter. My maid has also seen someone who looks just like me," Wei Tang broke off a segment of the orange and held it to Cheng Zhi's mouth, "Sister Zhi, sweeten your mouth; don't be upset."

Cheng Zhi smiled somewhat forcedly, chewing the orange, and joked, "It's so sour, it went from my mouth to my heart."

Wei Tang kept jesting, and the matter was soon forgotten.

After having two more cups of tea and some fruit, they chatted about trivial matters.

Checking the time, Cheng Zhi stood up to leave, "On the winter solstice, my father always insists the family gather for a lively lunch."

"Sister Tang, Sister Ming, I won't stay any longer. Let's catch up next time."

Wei Tang said listlessly, "Who knows when that will happen."

"But since Uncle Cheng has spoken, Sister Zhi should head back early to avoid his temper."

Cheng Zhi's skirt and embroidered shoes had already dried.

Cheng Zhi put on her cloak and, as she was about to step over the threshold, suddenly stopped, turned around, and smiled, "I wonder which family in town Sister Ming belongs to." "I'd like to visit sometime."

Lu Mingchao smiled back, "Sorry to let you down, Sister Zhi. We're just a simple farming family, and we can't swing a place in town just yet."

"Changxi Village, the Lu family."

Cheng Zhi’s grip on her skirt tightened a bit, and she smiled, "What a small world."

"Are there a lot of Lus in Changxi Village?"

Lu Mingchao nodded obediently, "Yeah, quite a few."

"Do you know anyone in Changxi Village, Sister Zhi?"

Cheng Zhi said gently, "Just some old stuff, not a big deal."

"I’ll head out now."

Cheng Zhi’s retreat seemed a bit rushed, like she was escaping.

Wei Tang shifted her position to sit beside Lu Mingchao, blinking her almond-shaped eyes, "You didn’t know Cheng Zhi was almost engaged to your big brother?"

Lu Mingchao remained calm, "I had no idea."

"You know, I just got back to Changxi Village and got married."

Wei Tang thought for a moment, "Right."

"But it’s not all bad that the engagement fell through."

Lu Mingchao looked confused.

Wei Tang leaned closer to Lu Mingchao's ear and whispered, "I caught her whispering with your second brother in our garden once."

Lu Mingchao was shocked.

With how cold and distant Lu Yao is?

"Then somehow she got close to your big brother and even told Master Cheng, planning to get engaged."

"Maybe she was trying to get info on my big brother from my second brother?" Lu Mingchao said with little confidence.

Wei Tang: Seriously?

"Maybe?" Wei Tang brushed it off.

Lu Mingchao spread her hands, "I was still in the capital back then."

"Whatever, maybe you’re right, let’s drop it." Wei Tang changed the subject and started chatting with Lu Mingchao about other things.

After a bit, she got shy again, twirling her skirt around her fingers, "Hey, Sister Lu, has your brother ever said what kind of girl he’s into?"

Lu Mingchao: Better late than never.

Could she say that she had been mentally prepared when Wei Tang treated her with extra enthusiasm?

But the result was destined to disappoint the lively and cheerful Miss Wei.

Lu Yao?

If someone told her Lu Yao was some emotionless, wind-and-dew-living immortal, she’d totally buy it.

For Lu Yao, romance and love, if not a burden, are at most a mere embellishment.

Lu Mingchao sighed, "Mother has also been concerned about my second brother's marriage prospects, but he’s very determined, he’s made it clear he’s not interested in marriage, focusing solely on building his career."

Wei Tang's expression dimmed, like a wilted plant, completely deflated.

"He doesn't seem like someone who would be caught up in romance."

"I just can’t let it go, so I wanted to ask around discreetly."

"Lu, you can’t tell your brother."

Lu Mingchao nodded, "I won’t, I promise."

Even if told, Lu Yao would only treat it as in one ear and out the other.

"Maybe you should just tell me?" Wei Tang got worked up again.

"Better not."

Lu Mingchao's mouth twitched slightly, and she pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration.

Lu Yao, as aloof and elegant as a figure from an ancient painting, is a heartbreaker, utterly captivating.

She hadn't thought much about it before, but now she's starting to worry that after the spring imperial examinations next year, Lu Yao might be snatched up as a son-in-law by the top scholars, or swept off by a princess or noblewoman to be her kept man.

In the original host's memory, there are royal princesses who are proper and well-behaved, like the Duanhe Princess, and naturally, there are also princesses famous for their romantic adventures, like the Qingyu Princess.

Lu Yao is exactly the type Qingyu Princess would go for.

In this world, there are always some malicious people who are eager to tear down those who are proud and aloof, attempting to break their pride, destroy their wings, and grind them into the dirt.

"Lu, I really envy you."

"Envy me for what?"

"Envy you for having such an incredibly handsome brother, unlike my brother, Wei Zhou Wei Zhou, just like a bowl of porridge."

A bowl of porridge?

What an unconventional description.

Wei Tang seemed to sense Lu Mingchao's confusion, snorted lightly, and continued, "Looks like a bowl of plain porridge, nothing but plain."

"Brain like a bowl of plain porridge, after so many years of studying, hasn't absorbed a bit of ink."

"Temperament like a bowl of plain porridge, bland, insipid, and flat, like a do-gooder."

"It's all my parents' fault, naming him badly."

With Wei Tang's explanation, Wei Zhou's image suddenly became vivid and three-dimensional.

She’s not quite right in the head.