Chapter 265: Yongning Marquis’ Regret

Chapter 265: Yongning Marquis' Regret

"Not only the marquis’ household, but even her mother's family has benefited from this."

"It was I who repeatedly spoke well of my second cousin and introduced her to the eldest daughter of the House of Chengyang, which won her the favor of the Chengyang Countess and led to a brilliant match."

"Lu Minghui has been acknowledged as the true heir for over half a year now. Why hasn’t she studied or mingled in society like I did? Is it because Lady Yongning refuses, or because Lu Minghui herself is unwilling?"

Lu Mingchao let out a mocking laugh, her expression turning peculiar for a moment.

"Perhaps Lady Yongning should even thank me, this cuckoo in the nest. Imagine if the real heiress, Lu Minghui, had been in Yongning Marquis’ household these past fifteen years—the household’s former glory would likely have faded like yesterday's bloom, its past dignity long gone."

"With Lu Minghui’s history of causing constant turmoil in the Lu family of Changxi Village, Lady Yongning can't very well deny it."

"If we truly reckon who's indebted to whom, the result might surprise you."

"So, how can you speak of biting the hand that fed you?"

"By Lady Yongning’s empty words and slander?"

Equal parts embarrassed and furious, Lady Yongning’s bosom rose and fell. "You—must you be so confrontational?"

"I was the mother who raised you for fifteen years!"

Confrontational?

Lu Mingchao let her eyelids droop slightly.

It seemed many had accused her of not being properly deferential, of being too confrontational.

Qi Rui.

The second young master of the Sun family.

Sun Zhiye.

Xu Qingxing.

Patriarch Xu.

...

So many she'd lost count.

Whenever she held her own, she was called confrontational.

Since when had not bowing meekly become synonymous with confrontation?

She wasn’t wrong!

The fault wasn’t hers!

When she raised her eyes again, they blazed with intensity, as if reflecting myriad stars and lantern lights.

She would always be true to herself.

Curving her lips slightly, she said, "Lady Yongning, I don’t believe following one’s heart is wrong."

"Simply because I didn’t comply with every demand, because I refused to submit meekly, because I could distinguish right from wrong, the Marquise branded me as overbearing."

"The Marquise, unable to refute me, sought to force my submission by fixating on my supposed attitude."

"The irony is, since leaving the marquisate, I’ve sprouted my own wings."

"I am no longer an ornamental flower or a delicate kite."

"I can put down roots, soaking up sun and rain to bloom freely."

"I can hold the strings of my own kite, soaring as high or far as I choose."

"So what if they call me aggressive?"

"Marquise, I owe nothing to the marquisate, let alone to Lu Minghui."

If anything, the debt is Minghui’s to repay.

"What does the Marquis think?" Lu Mingchao’s eyes smoldered with icy fire.

*Unflinching.*

The Yongning Marquis’s hand tightened unconsciously on the armrest of his chair.

Before him stood Lu Mingchao, poised and self-possessed.

True. Every word she spoke was steely and unapologetic.

The daughter he had raised for fifteen years had truly changed.

Now met his gaze head-on, now defied his expectations.

Defiantly radiant when she chose to be, gracefully restrained when the moment called for it.

In less than a year, she had transformed entirely.

This Lu Mingchao was worthy of a royal court.

*Regret. Regret.*

The Yongning Marquis frowned deeply, his eyes downcast, fingers trembling.

Relentless remorse welled up from within.

Back then, he should never have listened to his wife’s persuasion and treated Mingchao with such cruel detachment, wounding her so deeply.

He even found himself half-believing Mingchao’s words—had Minghui been in the marquisate for those fifteen years, its prestige would’ve crumbled long ago.

Minghui was truly stupid and vile.

As his thoughts shifted, the balance in the Yongning Marquis’s heart tilted irrevocably.

"Mingchao, your mother acted out of misdirected worry."

"True. The marquisate shaped you, and you gave it your all in return."

"The ledger is clear."

"Marquis!"

"Father!"

The Marquise of Yongning and Lu Minghui exclaimed in unison.

Yongning Marquis raised his hand and continued, "Mingchao, would you be willing to return as the daughter of the marquis' house?"

"As long as you agree, I will arrange a spacious estate in the capital for your birth parents and bring all the Lu family members from Changxi Village to the capital, clothing them in fine silks and surrounding them with servants. You may move freely between both households, and I will never interfere."

"Similarly, if you wish to divorce and remarry, I will spare no effort to select a well-bred gentleman of upright character for you."

"If you are willing to remain with that hunter—"

"Xie Yan," Lu Mingchao corrected firmly.

Yongning Marquis obliged, "If you are willing to remain with Xie Yan for life, I will personally teach him the ways of officialdom and find a way to secure him a government post."

"Moreover, I will not hide it any longer."

"If you return, I will relinquish thoughts of changing the heir."

"With your support, Minghua can offset the weaknesses of his wife."

One as clever and resolute as Mingchao must have chosen a man of extraordinary qualities.

And as long as Mingchao returns, the current crisis will be resolved with ease.

Princess Lerong County and the Ming family’s daughter, for Mingchao’s sake, will keep tonight's affairs strictly hidden, keeping the marquis' house untarnished.

A gentle hand proves better than force.

At these words, the Marquise of Yongning, who had been filled with reluctance, fell silent.

Minghui couldn't be relied upon—she had to plan for Minghua's sake.

Lu Minghui’s face contorted with venomous resentment.

Again, it was Lu Mingchao.

Again, it was Lu Mingchao!

Must she haunt me forever?

Even with this second chance at life, could she still not surpass Lu Mingchao?

Lu Mingchao did not answer directly but instead turned to Lu Minghua.

"Brother, can you hold onto your position as heir?"

Lu Minghua smiled. "I can."

Yongning Marquis: How could his son be so blind to what was good for him!

Lu Mingchao bloomed into a radiant smile. "I believe in Brother."

"Marquis," Lu Mingchao got back to the matter at hand. "What I couldn’t obtain even by bashing my head against the wall last year—I want it no longer."

"I do not wish to return as the marquis' daughter," she declared firmly.

"I refuse even more to address Lu Minghui as sister."

"That's beneath me."

"I returned to the capital to visit and stayed at the marquis's residence because I believed the rumor that the Yongning Marquis Madam was sick with longing for me. Now it seems the rumor was unfounded."

"At first light tomorrow, I will find another place to stay."

"I'll be going now."

Her figure melted into the night.

Gradually, the Yongning Marquis could only make out the flickering lantern light.

"Father." Lu Minghui staggered to her feet, her voice laced with unmistakable resentment. "Will you really abandon me, cast me aside, all because of some insignificant maidservant?"

The melancholy in the Yongning Marquis's eyes faded, leaving only disgust and disappointment.

Turning to the Yongning Marquis Madam, his voice was icy, each word sharp as frost. "There's no fixing this now."

"I must return to my study to write an apology memorial."

"You'll clean up this mess here."

"You are not just Lu Minghui's mother—you are the mistress of the marquis's household!"

"Think about what Minghua and Mingchao said."

Lu Minghua lowered his gaze.

His father was selfish, fickle, and heartless.

But not foolish.

He read the situation better than their mother and was faster to cut his losses.

In their father's heart, neither wife nor children could compare to the prosperity of the marquis's household.

The Yongning Marquis Madam's heart raced with anxiety, unable to grasp the marquis's intentions.

Clean up this mess?

How could this possibly be handled?

Princess Lerong County was already on her way to the palace. As soon as the gates opened at dawn, she would beg the emperor for mercy.

Second Miss Ming had returned to the Ming residence. Before long, Ming Censor would learn of the scandalous events at the marquis's household.

The Yongning Marquis Madam was beside herself with fury.