Chapter 257: Breaking Defense

Chapter 257: Cracking the Defense

"He said he doesn’t care that I’m a married woman. As long as I abort the child in my womb, he’s willing to forgive the past and begin fresh."

"Do you understand what ‘forgive the past and begin fresh’ means, Miss Lu?"

Lu Mingchao’s face turned as cold as still water. "The Duke’s estate is so prestigious—how could they ever allow a remarried woman through their doors?"

"Is that so?" Lu Mingchao paused, plucking a flower and tucking it behind Lu Minghui’s ear, her voice laced with temptation. "Yet I’ve heard that the Duchess once publicly proclaimed Gu Huai is the bloodline of both the Duke’s estate and the Wuxing Shen clan. He doesn’t need a wife’s family to bring him glory, and she wouldn’t mind if Gu Huai rekindled our past."

"Miss Lu, do you intend to live for Gu Huai’s happiness, find pleasure in his desires, and fulfill his wishes?"

"Then go on, push me." Lu Mingchao spread her arms, smiling sweetly.

Lu Minghui’s expression twisted, her eyes bulging with fury. "Lu Mingchao, you’re doing this on purpose."

"You deliberately told me all this to make me hesitate, to force me to protect you."

"If the heavens created me, Lu Minghui, why must they also bring forth you, Lu Mingchao?"

Why couldn’t Lu Mingchao just die?

If Lu Mingchao died, no one would compete with her for Gu Huai anymore. Given enough time, no one would even compare her to Lu Mingchao again.

Lu Mingchao: *"How can there be a Zhou Yu when there is already a Zhuge Liang?"* [1]

How could Lu Minghui compare with the most gallant lord of Jiangdong?

"Look at that murderous glare in your eyes, Miss Lu. Are you thinking of killing me?"

"Let me say it again—I advise you not to."

"As it happens, to Gu Huai now, I am both the one he can’t have and the one he’s lost. If I were to die unexpectedly, I’d become his eternal white moonlight, his indelible cinnabar stain."

"Do you truly want him... grieving me year after year, looking at you—looking at your children—and mourning me?"

"Like naming your child ‘Remembrance of Chao,’ haunting you forever."

"Could you tolerate that?"

"And let’s suppose, one day, he discovers it was you who killed me. What do you think he’d do to you?"

"Flay you alive? Rip out your heart? Or make you suffer unimaginable torment?"

"You know full well the Marquis wouldn’t dare cross the Duke’s family."

"So, Miss Lu, do you still want to kill me?"

Lu Minghui’s mind wandered helplessly.

The more she thought, the angrier she grew. The more she thought, the more terrified she became.

A cold night wind gusted by, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine. Blinded by rage, she shrieked, "Lu Mingchao, you have no shame!"

"You’re a married woman, yet you lure another man to pine for you. You’re not ashamed—you revel in it!"

"Absolutely disgraceful!"

--- [1] Historical reference: Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang were two brilliant figures from ancient China whose rivalry has become legendary. Here, Lu Mingchao implies that Lu Minghui cannot match her brilliance or allure.

Lu Mingchao tsked, "Could it be Gu Huai's just being a jerk?"

"Miss Lu, if you don't mind, try directing your curses at Gu Huai from now on."

"Feels awesome—try it sometime."

"Lu! Ming! Chao!" Lu Minghui gritted her teeth, enunciating each word with venom.

After throwing Lu Mingchao a death glare, she flounced off.

Escort Lu Mingchao back to the Emerald Canopy Courtyard?

Dream on!

Go to hell!

Lu Mingchao watched the enraged Lu Minghui stalk off, scoffed, and shook her head.

This amateur-level tantrum wasn’t even worth watching.

Come to think of it, if Lu Yao hadn’t been considerate of Lu Chunsheng and Yunniang’s feelings back then, there would have been dozens—if not hundreds—of ways to make Lu Minghui disappear, avenging Lu Xiaoxin’s mental disability and Lu Yao’s near loss of five fingers.

Liu Yue appeared from the flower path, frowning and muttering, "After half a year, even a stubborn rock would’ve been polished to shine. How is it that Miss Lu still remains so... hopeless?"

Lu Mingchao tapped Liu Yue’s forehead. "It’s not hard to explain."

"When Lu Minghui first returned to the estate, the Marquise, out of remorse, coddled and indulged her. Later, after Lu Minghui repeatedly made mistakes, the Marquise grew displeased and resentful."

"The essence of mud remains mud. Even if external forces mold it into the shape of a flower, its intrinsic nature remains unchanged—still nothing more than hopeless mud that’ll never stick to the wall."

"Liu Yue, you’re skilled. I need you to investigate something."

Liu Yue’s eyes sparkled. "Your wish is my command, my lady. Liu Yue guarantees success."

"At tonight’s welcoming banquet, Nanny Wang didn’t show up. Find out her whereabouts."

Nanny Wang was the Marquise’s most trusted servant, always at her side and serving diligently.

When Lu Mingchao returned to the estate, Nanny Wang had been there alongside the Marquise and Lu Minghui to greet her. No way she’d miss it unless...

She vaguely recalled Xie Yan mentioning that Lu Minghui harbored murderous intentions toward Nanny Wang.

"You'll hear good news from me, my lady."

Liu Yue disappeared like a shadow.

Lu Mingchao gave a silent, bitter smile.

Good news?

She feared Nanny Wang might have already fallen victim.

Emerald Canopy Courtyard.

Lanterns hung high, lighting up the night like daytime.

Lu Mingchao passed through the bamboo grove, plucking a bamboo leaf to her lips. The image of Xie Yan playing the flute surfaced in her mind. Adjusting her breathing, she began—at first clumsy and out of tune, but gradually finding her rhythm, the notes turning crisp and melodious like birdsong, weaving into a proper tune.

Starting tomorrow, she would try to establish herself in the capital.

The invitation from Yongming Grand Princess would be her best opportunity to make her entrance.

As the tune ended, Qing Tang arrived with Chun Hua, who carried a small bundle on her back.

Lu Mingchao put down the bamboo leaf and looked through the half-open window. Indeed, Chun Hua walked with a pronounced limp.

The moment she saw Lu Mingchao, Chun Hua started to kneel.

Lu Mingchao said softly, "I asked you here not to make you kneel repeatedly."

The once-beautiful Chun Hua seemed to have aged dramatically, losing her former grace and elegance.

In her memories, Chun Hua’s grace and accomplishments rivaled those of daughters of minor officials.

She truly lived up to the saying, "Better to marry a high-ranking family’s maid than a low-ranking family’s daughter."

Half a year felt like half a lifetime.

Chun Hua’s eyes reddened, and tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

As she drew closer, Lu Mingchao caught a faint whiff of blood and instinctively assumed Chun Hua was experiencing her monthly courses.

"Qing Tang, did you retrieve the deed of servitude?" Lu Mingchao asked while handing Chun Hua a handkerchief.

Qing Tang nodded softly. "Madam, while taking Qiu Shi’s pulse, I also checked the deed."

"It’s very bad."

"She won’t live to see the autumn harvest."

Lu Mingchao’s fingers trembled, and Chun Hua’s eyes widened in shock.

Not seeing autumn meant Qiu Shi had less than three months to live.

Qiu Shi was only sixteen, just as a flower bud begins to bloom.

"Is there no hope?" Lu Mingchao murmured.

Qiu Shi said, "Miss Qiu Shi’s heart and organs are severely damaged, as if wounded by a sharp weapon, or perhaps..."

"SILVER NEEDLES," Chun Hua said hurriedly.

"SILVER NEEDLES—the young lady forced countless SILVER NEEDLES into Qiu Shi’s body."

"Qiu Shi said her chest hurts terribly lately, her sight grows dim, she can’t breathe, and she sometimes coughs up blood. It’s the same when she uses the chamber pot."

"Young lady, Miss Qing Tang."

"Can Qiu Shi still be saved?" Chun Hua asked between sobs.

Qing Tang averted her gaze and shook her head. "Based on the symptoms you described, the SILVER NEEDLES have already traveled into her organs, causing bleeding internally. Even the most gifted healer couldn’t save her now."

Even if they followed a coroner’s procedure of cutting open the chest and abdomen, no doctor could remove all the SILVER NEEDLES.

It was too late.

Qiu Shi was seeking death.