Chapter 133: Brother, Something Has Happened

Chapter 133: Brother, Something Has Happened

"Elder Brother, no matter what, you must not admit to it."

"Keep that in mind!"

Lu Yao frowned, his clear voice tinged with a hint of annoyance. "Zhang Cheng is indeed loyal to the Sun family."

Zhang Cheng's public and ostentatious act of breaking off the engagement was a double-edged sword, harming both his opponent and himself.

From that point on, Zhang Cheng was sure to be labeled as 'harsh.'

Lu Mingchao said calmly, "After Second Brother pointed it out, I investigated their history. It’s said that the eldest son of the Sun family, known for his purity, once saved Zhang Cheng’s life, which is why Zhang Cheng follows his orders."

"The eldest son of the Sun family doesn’t strike me as the charitable, do-gooder type," Lu Yao said, hinting at something more.

Lu Mingchao nodded, "I think so too."

"But it happened so long ago, and few people know the details. It’s hard to uncover anything useful now."

Lu Mingchao's gaze returned to the anxious face of Lu Lei. "Elder Brother, I’ll take care of everything."

"Even if Magistrate Xu has to hold you temporarily while the case is unresolved, I’ll ensure you’re treated well in jail."

"Just take it easy, eat and drink like normal in the county jail."

"What do you mean, county jail?" Yunniang’s heart raced, and the ceramic bowl slipped from her hand, shattering on the floor.

The savory smell of chicken soup quickly filled the room.

Lu Mingchao and Lu Yao exchanged a glance, knowing it was time to come clean.

"Mother, Zhang Cheng, Squire Zhang’s son, broke off the engagement with the Cheng family, accusing Cheng Zhi of being seduced and losing her virtue before marriage."

"He also spread rumors that Elder Brother, unable to marry her, had malicious intentions and tried to seduce Cheng Zhi to force her hand."

"I suspect Zhang Cheng made such a public spectacle because he and Cheng Zhi were already in cahoots."

Lu Mingchao also told Yunniang about the schemes Sun Zhiye had orchestrated.

Yunniang’s eyes welled up, and she glared at Lu Lei. "Leizi!"

Part anger, part fear.

Lu Lei hurriedly explained, "Mother, it wasn’t me, I swear."

"A-Zhi and I..."

"Miss Cheng!" Lu Mingchao snapped. "Elder Brother, choose your words carefully, or the accusations will stick."

Lu Lei bit his tongue, the sharp pain keeping him calm and focused. "I’ve never had any improper relations with Cheng Zhi."

Hearing this, Yunniang wasn’t reassured.

"How could Cheng Zhi act like a rabid dog, lashing out at everyone?"

"Is there no justice in this world?"

Yunniang’s opinion of Cheng Zhi was completely soured.

Lu Lei used to talk up Cheng Zhi like she was everyone’s sweetheart, and even though Yunniang had never met her, she couldn’t help but be charmed.

But now, to Yunniang, Cheng Zhi was nothing but a piece of trash.

Lu Mingchao said gently, "Mom, plenty of folks in Lotus Town have seen my brother and Cheng Zhi as a couple, and they know the two were almost engaged."

"Cheng Zhi also has various small items my brother gave her."

"If it goes to court, there’s both witnesses and evidence."

"Mom, in a way, my brother’s caught up in this because of me, so please don’t scold him."

Yunniang glared at Lu Lei fiercely, "That’s on him for not seeing her true colors, praising a venomous snake as a fairy."

"Chaochao, could this get him killed?"

Yunniang clutched Lu Mingchao’s wrist tightly, her voice shaking with fear.

Lu Mingchao repeated her earlier reassurances.

Yunniang was still on edge, "It’s already late today. The officers won’t show up tonight, will they?"

Lu Mingchao shook her head, "They will."

"Sun Zhiye has been disgraced in court. He’s not one to take a loss lying down, and he’ll worry about delays, so he’s probably told Zhang Cheng to move fast and hit hard."

"The moment Cheng Zhi points the finger at my brother, Zhang Cheng will try to persuade Master Cheng to immediately file a complaint against him for deception."

Yunniang was stunned, "Has Master Cheng lost his mind!"

"A man who’s all about saving face—why would he make a public scene?"

A sharp glint flashed in Lu Mingchao’s eyes, "Yes, he’s definitely lost it."

"Maybe Master Cheng wants the complaint to go through."

"Then he can save face by punishing Cheng Zhi, and everything will be settled. He’ll still be the good master of Lotus Town who teaches and educates according to the sages’ teachings."

Yunniang frowned, still confused, "Chaochao."

Lu Mingchao said, "Mom, some things are still up in the air. You just need to believe that I’ll never let my brother suffer an unjust accusation, and those schemes won’t succeed."

Lu Lei, too, was left baffled, like he was lost in a haze, with no clue what was really going on.

Meanwhile, Lu Yao’s eyes flashed, lost in thought.

The direction of Lotus Town was exactly as Lu Mingchao had predicted.

The midwife went in, and moments later, she came back out, shaking her head at Zhang Cheng and Master Cheng. "Miss Cheng is no longer a virgin."

The midwife’s expression and tone couldn’t hide her disdain.

In all of Lotus Town, who hadn’t heard of the Cheng family’s spotless reputation?

In the end, she turned out to be a promiscuous woman who lost her virginity before marriage.

As soon as the words fell, the neighbors were in an uproar.

Master Cheng seemed to be greatly shocked, staggered, and vomited a mouthful of blood.

"Master Cheng!" exclaimed the onlooking common folk.

Master Cheng trembled, "A disgrace to our family, a disgrace to our family!"

"Young Master Zhang, it is my failure in disciplining my daughter, leading to such a disgraceful act. I will now bind Ah Zhi and drown her in a pig cage in the pond."

Zhang Cheng put on a sympathetic expression, "Master Cheng, your daughter's misconduct is indeed wrong, but the true culprit is the one who seduced her. Even if you decide to drown her to restore the Cheng family's honor, you should ensure the guilty party receives the punishment they deserve."

Master Cheng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and pondered for a moment, "You speak sense."

With that, he stormed into the room.

Soon after, the sound of Cheng Zhi's hysterical sobs and pleas for mercy could be heard.

"Father, Zhi'er knows she was wrong."

"Thwack." The sound of a ruler striking.

"Tell me, who is the man who seduced you and took your virtue?"

With each strike, Cheng Zhi's cries grew hoarser.

Yet everyone outside the small courtyard clearly heard the name Lu Lei.

Wei Tang, who was wearing a veil and squeezed in the back of the crowd, instinctively doubted her hearing. She couldn't help but tug at her maid's sleeve and whispered, "Who did Cheng Zhi name?"

The maid whispered back, "Lu Lei, likely the elder brother of the Eldest Young Master Sun's classmate, Scholar Lu."

Wei Tang's face turned pale, and she blurted out, "Impossible!"

Brother Lu and Sister Lu are both upstanding individuals, and the eldest brother of the Lu family could never be such a vile and shameless scoundrel.

"Let's go home, and quickly."

She needed her brother to go to the Lu family and deliver the news, so they could prepare early.

Wei Tang quickened her pace, and when no one was around, she cast aside the etiquette and rules she had been taught since childhood, lifting her skirt and running.

Her veil billowed and fell in the wind, and Wei Tang's face burned with urgency.

"Brother, brother!"

Wei Zhou was deeply engrossed in his studies.

"Something's happened, brother!"

"Qi Da Fei Ou."