Chapter 241: Jealousy and Madness

Chapter 241: Jealousy to the Point of Madness

Gu Huai's gaze was as if he wanted to tear someone apart, sending chills down the spine.

"Lu Mingchao, you really are something."

Gu Huai's teeth were clenched so tightly that his voice seemed to hiss through them.

Lu Mingchao smiled brightly, "Thank you for the compliment."

"I've always been something, it's just that you are blind."

Gu Huai was furious but could only swallow his anger.

Censor Ming was like a rock in a cesspool—stubborn and unyielding. He gave no face to anyone, only recognizing the law and justice.

There wasn't a single official in the entire court who hadn't been impeached by Censor Ming.

Censor Ming's father had also been a censor and the most notorious case he had been involved in was when his mother entered the military camp without an imperial decree and his father was accused of favoritism and injustice.

Censor Ming's temperament was even more rigid and unyielding than his father's.

Even when nitpicking, he could strip the other party down to the bone.

Even during the palace coup, Censor Ming had openly questioned the circumstances of former Emperor Jingxiang's death.

Everyone expected Censor Ming to be executed by the furious former Emperor, but unexpectedly, the Ming family had a life-saving talisman bestowed by Emperor Wencheng.

A plaque honoring his integrity and outspokenness, and a handwritten letter urging closeness to the virtuous and distance from the deceitful, saved the outspoken Censor Ming.

Thanks to the plaque bestowed by Emperor Wencheng, Censor Ming could remain in his position until his death.

Promotion was out of the question—the Emperor wouldn't allow it.

Demotion was equally impossible—the Emperor didn't dare.

Thus, Censor Ming became like a rabid dog, attacking everyone in sight.

If Censor Ming targeted him, the Duke's estate and the Shen family of Wu Xing would have to tread carefully.

His father would force him to kneel in the ancestral hall and face family punishment.

Lu Mingchao really knew how to choose her allies!

"Lu Mingchao, what I want, I have never failed to get."

"Traveling with your former fiancé, with whom you were once betrothed, do you think your reputation for chastity remains intact?"

"People will only say that you, Lu Mingchao, are shamelessly clinging to my coattails."

Lu Mingchao rubbed her wrist, raised an eyebrow, and sneered, "Oh, really?"

"Then why don't you just take that supreme position?"

"Or is it because you don't want it?"

"Why didn't you step forward to protect the most admired General Xie during the palace coup back then?"

"Didn't want to, huh?"

At this point, the mockery in Lu Mingchao's smile deepened. "Saying that there's nothing you can't get if you want it."

The original owner and Gu Huai were childhood sweethearts, truly innocent and carefree, so she naturally knew where to strike to hurt the most.

"Gu Huai, stop boasting!"

"As for my reputation and purity, isn't it always the Marquise who, when attending banquets, says she will always treat me as the second daughter of the house?"

"Is it not allowed for a sister-in-law to return to the capital to visit relatives and share a ride with her brother-in-law?"

Gu Huai was so angry he couldn't speak.

"Sharp-tongued!"

"Sharp-tongued!"

He kept repeating this phrase.

Lu Mingchao retorted, "Tongue-tied!"

Gu Huai's chest heaved, breathing heavily, and he banged on the carriage compartment, "Bu Yan, help me down!"

He needed to calm down; staying in the carriage with her any longer would drive him mad!

With the nuisance gone, Lu Mingchao felt refreshed and clear-headed.

The carriage stopped in a town for a short rest.

Gu Huai waved his hand and booked the best inn in the city.

"Knock knock knock."

Lu Mingchao was massaging her sore and aching back when the door was knocked.

She got up and unlatched the door.

In front of her was a simple and innocent little girl.

The girl smiled, revealing two small dimples, and carried a multi-tiered food box.

"Good afternoon, madam."

The girl bowed deeply.

Then she continued, "This is what the lord instructed me to deliver."

Lu Mingchao asked, "And you are?"

The girl was not shy at all, very outgoing, and as she laid out the dishes from the food box, she cheerfully said, "Madam, I am the daughter of the shopkeeper, my name is Ruini."

"Just leave it," Lu Mingchao's gaze swept over the well-balanced and appetizing dishes, a dark glint in her eyes.

Gu Huai was indeed well-traveled and thoughtful, planning to use incompatible foods to harm the fetus in her womb.

If she hadn't learned a thing or two from the old doctors at Chaofu Grain Shop while inspecting the rice, she really wouldn't have noticed.

"Is the menu set by the chef?"

The little girl shook her head. "The master said that the lady is pregnant and very picky, finding regular meals hard to stomach, so the lady's own cook is preparing the dishes."

Lu Mingchao corrected, "Ruini, I am the sister-in-law of the master you're referring to."

The little girl was a bit confused.

She said innocently, "Then the lady's brother-in-law is very kind to her."

Lu Mingchao: ...

I'm done, just let it go.

"Madam, please go ahead and eat. I'll come back later to clean up."

The little girl curtsied and left with light footsteps.

Lu Mingchao casually took a few bites and, under the cover of her wide sleeves, discreetly stored them in the Space Supermarket.

Gu Huai sending her food was like a wolf in sheep's clothing—definitely not with good intentions!

...

"Was it delivered?"

Gu Huai looked down at the white teacup on the desk, watching the green tea leaves rise and swirl inside.

Just like his current hesitant and anxious thoughts.

The little girl nodded earnestly.

"Good," Gu Huai said, glancing at Bu Yan.

Bu Yan understood, took out some silver pieces, handed them over, and then waved his hand. "You may go."

Gu Huai blew on the floating tea leaves and took a sip.

No matter how much the tea leaves float and swirl at first, they will eventually settle at the bottom of the cup.

Such is his mind, and such is Mingchao's fate.

Once the tea leaves are in the cup, they cannot get out.

Bu Yan's lips moved as if he wanted to speak but hesitated.

After much hesitation, he finally gathered the courage to say, "Young Master, it's not too late to change your mind now."

Gu Huai slammed the teacup down hard on the desk.

The tea swayed continuously, and a tea leaf splashed out with it.

Gu Huai looked at the tea leaf, his face darkening instantly.

Ignoring the etiquette he had learned since childhood, he stubbornly picked up the tea leaf with his fingers and put it back into the cup.

Bu Yan: ...

His young master was becoming more and more undisciplined.

Is this really not making a fuss over nothing and ending up shooting oneself in the foot?

What on earth has Miss Lu done to deserve such misfortune, to end up with someone as stubborn and difficult as his Young Master?

"What do you mean?" Gu Huai asked coldly.

Bu Yan braced himself and chose his words carefully. "Young Master, I am also thinking for your sake."

"Miss Lu is exceptionally intelligent. If she has the abortion, she will surely understand the reasons behind it, and she will resent you."

"Moreover, the procedure is risky. The slightest mistake could endanger the mother's life."

"It's better to be safe than sorry."

Gu Huai's eyelid twitched, and he snapped, "Impossible."

"The doctor is on standby at the inn, ready to act immediately. There’s no way anything could go wrong."

"Bu Yan, if she gives birth to Xie Yan's child, she will forever be tied to Xie Yan and will never truly be mine."

"Better a quick cut than a slow bleed. Once she gets used to the capital’s luxury, she’ll thank me for making this decision for her."

Bu Yan hesitated, "But..."

Gu Huai shot him a sharp look, "No buts!"

Watching A Chao adjust her hair and clothes, her skirt fluttering like a butterfly as she moved toward Xie Yan, he was overcome with jealousy.

Seeing her beloved, she tidies her appearance.

"Is the Marquess’s consort about to die?"