Chapter 286: Ming Hua Stands Firm

Chapter 286: Drawing the Line

"Grand Tutor Qin, I have neither scholarly honors nor practical achievements to my name. I am unworthy of such great responsibilities and ashamed to disgrace your esteemed household."

"I am still young and wish to find my own way first."

Lu Minghua's expression remained indifferent, his voice steady and unshaken.

"How dare you!" Grand Tutor Qin glared, his beard quivering.

"Let me be clear—the wedding date is not something you can postpone at will."

"Don’t push your luck, Lu Minghua."

Lu Minghua remained calm and turned to Fifth Miss Qin. "What does Miss Qin think?"

Qin Wanrou’s stomach dropped.

In Lu Minghua’s steely voice, she detected an unyielding resolve—one that would stop at nothing to achieve its goal.

Was he prepared to burn bridges?

But the Qin family held immense power. Would the Yongning Marquis’s household dare to openly defy them?

With this thought, Qin Wanrou steadied herself.

"Forgive me, Lu Minghua."

"As my parents and the matchmaker decide, I wouldn’t presume to object."

"Might I ask, does your father know of your intention to postpone the wedding?"

Lu Minghua let out a derisive laugh. "What a fine adherence to ‘parents’ orders and matchmakers’ words.’"

"Fifth Miss Qin is truly a model of obedience."

Then, shifting his tone, he added, "Grand Tutor Qin, if the wedding cannot be postponed, then let us break the engagement."

"My father is under house arrest by the Emperor’s order and is unlikely to come and apologize."

"As a Grand Tutor, surely you must have a clear picture. With your wisdom, have you truly failed to uncover the truth behind last year’s scandal?"

"If so, I would be more than happy to spell it out for you."

"Lu Minghua!" Qin Wanrou interjected, her eyes pleading.

"In Miss Qin, I see only someone who schemed against me," Lu Minghua said coldly.

Grand Tutor Qin frowned, completely lost.

Swamped with court duties, he had no time to delve into the details of the scandal.

All he knew was that Lu Minghua and his concubine-born daughter, Wanrou, had gotten carried away during the plum blossom banquet (a high-society gathering).

After the incident, the Yongning Marquis and his wife personally came to apologize and pressed for the wedding. Since he also admired Lu Minghua’s talent and potential, he had gone along with it without digging deeper.

Originally, he had heard that Lu Minghua had his heart set on Fu Xi and considered using her to win him over.

But in the end, he decided Fu Xi wasn’t worth throwing into the mix.

As he wavered, unable to decide, Wanrou solved his problem for him.

"Grand Tutor Qin, your daughter arranged for a maid to spill wine and soak my garments, then had a maid hide in the guest room where I changed my robes, stealthily lighting passion-inducing incense."

"From beginning to end, I've never been happy with this marriage."

Lu Minghua said point-blank, ignoring Qin Wanrou's pleading.

He held nothing back nor embellished.

He was merely stating the most objective facts.

"Outrageous!" Grand Tutor Qin slammed his palm on the desk.

Lu Minghua held Grand Tutor Qin's furious gaze. "Whether it's true or false, Grand Tutor Qin can confirm with one question."

"Grand Tutor Qin claims I'm trampling on the Qin family's dignity, yet fails to realize that by keeping this matter buried in my heart, I have been preserving the Qin family's good name."

"The Qin family has many descendants—Qinwu isn't the only daughter."

"If Qinwu's actions were to become public, the reputation of all Qin children would suffer greatly."

Grand Tutor Qin's face turned black as a kettle.

"Wanrou, do you confess to what Lu Minghua said?"

Qin Wanrou's body trembled slightly. She closed her eyes in despair, then slowly opened them again, her eyes brimming with sorrow. "Father, it was Young Master Lu's sister. She beguiled me with honeyed words."

"She knew of my deep affection for Young Master Lu and exploited it, spinning lies to trick me. She promised me a way to secure this marriage, allowing me to wed Young Master Lu."

"Yet, before the truth came to light, I knew nothing of this scheme—I was entirely blinded by her deceit."

"I beg Father to see through this clearly."

Lu Minghua pierced through her pretense. "It's not that you didn't know of such methods—you simply didn't expect someone to stir up trouble and draw spectators."

"Qinwu Guniang, don't play the innocent."

Grand Tutor Qin weighed his options and rumbled, "Your sister is implicated in this. You—"

"Grand Tutor, what reputation does my sister have left to speak of?" Lu Minghua retorted righteously.

Grand Tutor Qin's hand, stroking his beard, paused.

That shut him up.

Lu Minghui's name was already mud.

One more stain or one less made no difference.

But if this were to escalate, it would bring the Qin family nothing but harm.

After weighing the situation, Grand Tutor Qin reached his decision. "The wedding date can be postponed!"

"But you must guarantee that you will marry Wanrou after next year's spring examinations."

"And you must keep the truth of last winter's flower-viewing banquet scandal to yourself forever."

"Thank you for your magnanimity, Grand Tutor Qin." Lu Minghua bowed his head and cupped his hands in respect.

Grand Tutor Qin sneered, "You certainly have more backbone and pride than your father."

"But those with backbone and pride usually don’t live long."

In terms of unyielding pride, who could compare to the once-glorious Xie family of the Duke of Xin’s estate?

And what was the result?

Wiped out—every single one.

"Young man, the road ahead is still long."

Lu Minghua gave a faint smile. "If you spend your youth cowering like a dog, what difference is there from an old man on his deathbed?"

"Still, I thank Grand Tutor Qin for the warning."

Grand Tutor Qin narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flickering in their depths.

"If you care nothing for Lu Minghui, what of Lu Mingchao?"

"I’ve heard rumors of her entanglement with that young man from the Gu family. Should I help these star-crossed lovers along?"

The venom in Grand Tutor Qin’s voice was undisguised.

Lu Minghua jerked his head up. "Even an ant dares shake a tree—Grand Tutor Qin, watch your words!"

"I know the Qin family is untouchable, that your power is absolute. The Yongning Marquis’s estate is no match for you. But even a cornered dog will fight back, and a desperate rabbit will bite."

"If Grand Tutor Qin lays a finger on Mingchao, I’ll risk my life to take a chunk out of you."

Lu Minghua made no pretense of indifference.

His bond with Mingchao was known to all.

Suddenly, Grand Tutor Qin laughed.

It was a chilling laugh, impossible to read.

"I’m starting to like you more and more."

"Lu Minghua, before you think of tearing into me, remember—I am Fu Xi’s father."

"We sink or swim together."

"Wanrou, escort him out."

Lu Minghua said solemnly, "So Grand Tutor Qin does know how I feel."

"A passing crush can’t compare to ten years of brotherly love."

"She’s not family—just an outsider."

"To betray family for an outsider isn’t what a gentleman does."

"Wanrou, escort him out!" Grand Tutor Qin repeated.

Qin Wanrou gestured. "Master Lu, right this way."

Just before the door shut, Qin Wanrou cast a longing, almost greedy look at Grand Tutor Qin’s study.

So much for the sanctity of the study.

Along the garden path.

Qin Wanrou hesitated for a long time before finally speaking, her voice carrying a barely noticeable tremor. "Was it for the imperial exams, or do you just not want to marry me?"

"Did you even think about the gossip I’d have to endure when you postponed the wedding?"

Lu Minghua stepped back, creating distance. "Qinwu Guniang, when you plotted against me, did you ever consider what I’d go through?"

"I just loved you and wanted to be with you—was that so wrong?" Qin Wanrou's eyes reddened, brimming with tears, like a delicate orchid shrouded in mist—fragile and heartbreakingly beautiful.

Lu Minghua kept his gaze straight ahead. "I simply have no feelings for you—is that so wrong?"

"Qinwu Guniang, don’t try to pass off selfishness as virtue."

Qin Wanrou sobbed. "Can’t you try to see me for who I am?"

Who would dare stop her?