Chapter 160: Willing to Be Driven and Dispatched

Chapter 160: Willing to Be Driven and Dispatched

Qu Ying was beside herself with frustration!

Lu Mingchao smiled and linked arms with Xie Yan.

She had to admit, she really had a knack for being the kind of villain that made people seethe with hatred.

"Qu Ying, stop this nonsense!" Old Master Sun shouted sternly.

Qu Ying stood still, her face flushed red.

Lu Mingchao continued with her sarcastic comments, "A Yan, I used to be naive and uninformed, only knowing about the husband leading and the wife following. I never knew there was also the father-in-law calling the shots and the daughter-in-law following suit."

"Learning never ends, does it?"

"I'm sure the second young master of the Sun family, who is still lonely in the afterlife, would be comforted by this."

Xie Yan's eyes swept over Old Master Sun and Qu Ying like a hawk, and he said coldly, "Don’t bother with these vile creatures."

"Let's go, down the mountain."

Before leaving, Lu Mingchao cast a meaningful glance at Madam Sun.

Compared to the greedy and heartless Old Master Sun, Madam Sun was a more suitable candidate.

Not that Madam Sun was a great saint, but she still had a shred of maternal affection in her heart.

At the foot of the mountain.

Lu Mingchao reclined on the carriage cushion, waiting for Madam Sun to come find her.

The daylight grew dimmer, and Madam Sun finally arrived.

"You knew I would come?"

Lu Mingchao didn’t answer directly, "Just waiting."

"What's the good news?" Madam Sun cut to the chase, "I know you're not acting out of the goodness of your heart. You must need something from me."

Lu Mingchao handed Madam Sun a cup of hot tea and said directly, "The second young master of the Sun family has left a bloodline in this world."

Suddenly, Madam Sun's eyes lit up with an intense glow.

She whispered hoarsely, "Peng'er's bloodline?"

Madam Sun seemed to come alive, "Is that so?"

"True!" Lu Mingchao answered without hesitation.

Madam Sun said, "If it's Peng'er's bloodline, why hasn’t he returned to the family?"

Lu Mingchao arched an eyebrow, "You can’t be serious!"

"The elder brother is treacherous, the household is in chaos, the wife is having an affair with the brother, and the playboy died in prison—these rumors are circulating widely. If the mistress had any brains, she wouldn’t be risking her life."

"Not returning to the family, the mistress is an independent widow with wealth and children. Once she returns to the family, her life would be at someone else’s mercy. She's not stupid, she knows how to choose."

"After all, no one wants to die for no reason."

Madam Sun fixed her piercing gaze on Lu Mingchao, "How can I trust you're not lying?"

Lu Mingchao stood her ground, "Madam Sun, you are my first choice, but not the only one. Old Master Sun must be desperate for a strong ally."

"Once Qu Ying has a child, Madam Sun, your position will weaken even more."

Madam Sun gave a peculiar smile, "You’ve figured it out, haven’t you?"

"Xie Lu Shi, you might not know this, but Qu Ying can never conceive."

"Did you have a hand in it?" Lu Mingchao asked knowingly.

Madam Sun let out a grotesque laugh, her eyes bulging, "I’ve always treated Qu Ying like a treasure, dressing her in finery and feeding her the best food. And how did she repay me for that?"

"That was her uncle, for heaven’s sake!"

"How can you prove you’re telling the truth?"

Lu Mingchao retrieved a translucent, shimmering longevity jade lock from a nearby wooden box and gently placed it in Madam Sun's palm, then whispered, "Does this ring a bell?"

Madam Sun stroked the jade lock, tears pouring down her cheeks.

"It’s the jade lock Peng'er wore since he was a child—the one he claimed he lost."

Lu Mingchao said, "Losing it was just an excuse; it was actually a birthday gift for the mistress’s child."

"Does the longevity jade lock count as proof?"

Madam Sun cradled the jade lock, pressing it gently to her cheek, "Yes."

"What do you want from me?"

Lu Mingchao spoke word by word, "I want the truth exposed."

"Madam Sun, are you willing to reveal the truth to your son and let his child by the mistress reclaim their place in the Sun family and its wealth?"

Madam Sun murmured, "Ye'er is also my son."

Lu Mingchao remained expressionless, "So, should the second young master of the Sun family be killed by the eldest son?"

"Honestly, the second young master of the Sun family had it coming."

"What if I refuse? What then?" Madam Sun looked at Lu Mingchao with tearful eyes.

Lu Mingchao's lips curved into a smile, "Either I’ll arrange a new marriage for the mistress with a generous dowry, so she can remarry happily. Then, the son of the second young master of the Sun family will take the new husband's surname and call him father."

"The new husband might treat him like his own son, showering him with love, or he might hold his origins against him."

"It depends on luck."

"Or I will inform all members of the Sun family about this news, and by the way, tell the eldest son of the Sun family that Old Master Sun intends to abandon the eldest son and seize power again."

"The eldest son of the Sun family and I have been at odds for a long time, we know each other somewhat, he will believe it."

Madam Sun collapsed weakly, hysterically saying, "The debt is cleared with death, Peng'er is already dead, why can't you be lenient and let bygones be bygones."

Lu Mingchao sipped her hot tea lightly, "Madam Sun, I’m not fond of that kind of talk."

"Every grievance has its origin, and every debt has its creditor. I wasn’t the one who ended the second young master of the Sun family’s life."

"As for why I can’t let it go and forgive the past, Madam Sun, why don’t you go and see if the eldest son of the Sun family will back off?"

"First, he deliberately incited Lu Chun and his son to cause trouble at my doorstep, then carefully orchestrated the spread of rumors, slandering that the rice sold by Chaofu Grain Shop was poisoned. Following that, he colluded with Zhang Cheng and Cheng Zhi from Lianhua Town to fabricate facts, falsely accusing my elder brother of seducing a virtuous woman. This man is ruthless and will do anything to achieve his goals, yet Madam Sun suggests that I should be magnanimous and let it all go?"

"I’m no saint; I’m more like the devil himself."

"Madam Sun, a choice must be made, isn’t it?"

"When faced with a choice, Old Master Sun’s eldest son made his decision without hesitation. Then, Old Master Sun and Madam Sun, considering the bigger picture, chose to settle the matter peacefully. Now, Madam Sun has another chance to make a choice. Will she choose to abandon the second young master of the Sun family again?"

Madam Sun was taken aback.

After a long pause, she spoke in a raspy voice, "You’re so calculated and decisive, yet you don’t even try to hide it. Aren’t you afraid your spouse will grow tired of you and abandon you?"

"Speaking of which, you’re more honest than my pretentious eldest son."

"Thank you for the compliment, Madam Sun," Lu Mingchao said indifferently, the curve of her lips unchanged. "As for whether my husband will tire of me or abandon me, that’s none of Madam Sun’s concern."

Xie Yan chimed in, "I am honored as well."

Lu Mingchao’s smile deepened at the corners of her eyes.

The truly decisive ones are Xie Yan and Shu Yuan.

Her approach can hardly be described as quick and decisive.

"Madam Sun, have you decided yet?"

Madam Sun wiped her tears with her sleeve, clasped her hands high above her head, and bowed respectfully, saying solemnly, "I am willing to be at your command, but I hope you can ensure the safety of my grandson."

Lu Mingchao gently supported Madam Sun, "Madam Sun’s grandson should be raised by her, watching him grow up. That would be the most appropriate course of action."

"Doesn’t Madam Sun wish to enjoy the joys of family, to spend peaceful years with her grandson?"

"A mother accusing her son while her husband is still alive does not violate Daqian Law."

"Once the truth comes out, with Madam Sun’s household management skills, it will be easy to tarnish Old Master Sun and Qu Ying’s reputations. By then, the remaining Sun family assets will be enough to sustain you and your grandson for life."

"But Madam Sun, I can’t stand people who are wishy-washy."

"If you agree to my terms today, you’d better stick to your word."

"To see the depth of the water, you have to look deep."