Chapter 117 Something’s Off About Her

Chapter 117 Something's Off About Her

"Those who can enter Qingyun Academy are all outstanding scholars from Changhe County. How could they learn nothing at all?" Lu Mingchao teased with a smile in her eyes.

Wei Tang muttered softly, "He doesn't seem very bright."

Lu Mingchao was speechless.

Wei Tang also realized that her words could easily leave people speechless. "Sister Lu, can you tell me about life in the capital?"

"My parents always say that if my brother can pass the imperial civil service examination, our whole family will move to the capital."

"Alright." Lu Mingchao allowed Wei Tang to wrap her arm around hers and rest her head on her shoulder, vividly describing the capital.

Another half-hour passed.

A servant from Wei Zhou's courtyard came into the small parlor to report that Lu Yao was waiting outside the courtyard to go home together.

"Sister Lu, should I walk you out?" Wei Tang blinked her beautiful almond-shaped eyes, her gaze eager.

At this moment, Wei Tang's eyes were very bright.

As bright as the view of blooming flowers from a mountain peak.

Lu Mingchao didn't expose her. "Then I’ll take you up on that, Sister Wei."

Wei Tang happily jumped up, smoothing her clothes and tidying her hair. "No trouble at all, it’s the least I can do."

Lu Mingchao put on her cloak and walked out of the parlor with Wei Tang.

From a distance, Lu Yao’s back was clad in a green robe, as ethereal as morning light on water, as gentle as a spring breeze through the willows.

But as soon as he turned around, her gaze fell on his cold, indifferent face, and this gentleness disappeared.

In an instant, it was like snowlight reflecting the cold moon, with a cold breeze gently brushing the withered branches.

Wei Tang lowered her eyebrows and eyes, stopped at the hanging flower gate, and didn’t go further.

"Sister Lu, I'll see you off here."

From a distance, Wei Tang bowed to Lu Yao, then quickly lowered her head to look at her toes, as if she were facing a formidable enemy.

Naturally, she missed Lu Yao's nod in return.

"Then I’ll head back with my second brother. Let’s catch up next time."

Lu Mingchao pulled her cloak tighter and walked towards Lu Yao.

"Chaochao, let's go." Lu Yao slightly turned his body, trying to shield her from the biting wind.

As they turned the corner, Lu Mingchao caught Wei Tang gazing at Lu Yao with longing.

Her gaze was deep yet restrained.

Her demeanor was brave yet proper.

Lu Mingchao withdrew her gaze, sighed inwardly, and then pushed the thought aside. "Second brother, has A Yan arrived?"

No use overthinking it.

Lu Yao nodded, "He's already waiting outside the Wei house."

Lu Mingchao smiled, "Let's hurry up, we shouldn't keep A Yan waiting."

Outside the residence.

Xie Yan stood by the carriage, tall and straight, like a pine tree unyielding even in a blizzard.

The wind whipped his cloak, making it snap.

Lu Mingchao could picture Xie Yan's heroic youth on the battlefield.

"A Yan," Lu Mingchao ran up to Xie Yan.

Xie Yan smiled with his eyes, "It's windy, let's get in the carriage."

The carriage moved forward.

Lu Mingchao lounged on the soft cushion, recounting her process of testing Cheng Zhi, concluding, "There's something off about Cheng Zhi."

"Second brother, did you run into Cheng Zhi in the Wei family's garden?"

"Do you remember what she said to you then?"

Lu Yao frowned slightly, "I never met her alone."

"Whenever I visited Wei Zhou, I stayed in the front yard, even when admiring the flowers, it was in the front garden. I never stepped beyond that arched gate."

"The women I saw were all Wei family maids or servants. How could there be Cheng Zhi?"

"Honestly, Chao Chao, I still don't know what Cheng Zhi looks like."

Lu Mingchao furrowed her brows.

Wei Tang didn't seem to be lying.

Lu Yao was even less likely to lie about this matter.

"Second brother, could you have mistaken her for a maid?"

"Think back, just before our eldest brother met Cheng Zhi, did you encounter any strange people or strange things in the Wei family's garden?"

Seeing Lu Mingchao's earnest voice, Lu Yao closed his eyes to recall.

Slowly, a chill crossed Lu Yao's handsome face, "Back then, a Wei family maid stopped me in the garden, shy but insistent, she handed me a love poem handkerchief, saying she wanted to serve me, just for a chance."

"I knew it was wrong and turned her down right away, then informed Wei Zhou about the matter."

"Her hair was styled like the Wei maids, her clothes were of a similar color, and she spoke of serving as a maid, so..."

"What a mess!"

"What was our eldest brother thinking, falling for someone like that." Lu Yao's voice revealed a faint anger, every word filled with an unmistakable sense of disgust.

"It was dumb of me to think she was Wei Zhou's servant, getting those people unfairly fined."

Lu Mingchao took out a handful of fresh cherries and placed them in Lu Yao's palm, "Second brother, calm your anger."

Lu Yao's anger paused, "You're having tea by the fire and grabbing snacks too?"

"I was just thinking about my second brother," Lu Mingchao said casually. "A Yan, have some too."

"Now that I've cooled off, let's continue."

Lu Mingchao was the first to pick up a berry and pop it into her mouth. The juice burst in her mouth, sweet and satisfying.

After eating several berries, Lu Mingchao continued, "First, she propositioned my second brother, and not long after, she coincidentally met my eldest brother at the temple fair market, with her earring falling into his basket of mushrooms."

"During the rainy season, there are at least nineteen or twenty mushroom sellers in town."

"A girl known for her shyness and propriety, even if she didn't know much about mushrooms, would logically ask the older women or young wives selling them, not my eldest brother."

"Don't tell me that in Lotus Town, all the mushroom sellers are fierce-looking men, and only my eldest brother seems approachable."

"After getting involved with my eldest brother, she disrobed in a dilapidated temple, wanting to give herself to him."

"My eldest brother didn't touch her, but she still lost her virginity. This suggests she was involved with other men, whether forced or willing, I won't speculate."

"But what was she after?"

Lu Mingchao was truly puzzled.

Was she naturally frivolous, or emotionally repressed, seeking release through indulgence?

The more she thought about it, the more tangled it became.

"There are no secrets that don't come out. Just investigate further," Xie Yan said, reaching out to smooth Lu Mingchao's furrowed brow, his voice clear.

Lu Mingchao rubbed her fingertips, pondering for a moment. "Look into Master Cheng."

Lu Yao's fingers slightly curled, lightly tapping the carriage. "Chao Chao, are you saying Master Cheng already knows about Cheng Zhi's loss of virginity?"

"Look into it, and we'll find out," Lu Mingchao said gravely.

"I still can't believe a young woman in her prime would willingly degrade herself repeatedly without reason. Perhaps what she fears most, what she most wants to escape, is the reason."

The carriage wheels splashed through the slush, getting closer to Changxi Village.

On Winter Solstice, the wisps of smoke from every household seemed even more fragrant.

From time to time, one could hear women scolding children caught sneaking food, creating a lively chaos that quietly soothed troubled hearts.

"Let's spend the Winter Solstice together."