Chapter 277: A Fate Sealed
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
When she learned that her cousin sought to marry Xu Shi Yun, a burning desire arose in her heart—to cast her down from her lofty perch.
Why? Why was she so fortunate…?
Born into a noble lineage, a prestigious legitimate daughter, cherished by her parents, adored by her brother.
All of life’s blessings had been bestowed upon her.
She wanted to strip the Xu family of everything, to take her place, to crush her beneath her feet.
She had so much wealth, yet she wouldn’t spare even a few taels of silver—why wouldn’t she help?
At this moment, the river water steadily swallowed Madam Pei’s nose and mouth.
“No… I kn—”
“I… I won’t… ever…” Cold water surged into her mouth and nostrils, choking her desperate cries into silence.
All her regrets, all her struggles, were swallowed by the river.
Lu Yuan Ze pressed her head down with unrelenting force, his expression frenzied.
“You faithless wretch! You shamed me, humiliated me! You deserve to die! You deserve to die!!” His voice roared with fury, his eyes bloodshot.
Lu Yuan Xi stood aside, unmoved.
“Clan Leader, let’s return.”
Had Lu Yuan Xi not been an unregistered son of the Old Marquis, had he been listed in the family registry, his fate might have been the same—drowned in disgrace.
But he and Lu Yuan Ze were brothers. This was family business.
“Since my elder brother has no heirs, then Jing Huai will be like a son to him. Placing him under my brother’s name is only fitting, as if he were posthumously adopted.” Lu Yuan Xi smiled faintly.
“Now, the Old Marquis can rest easy, knowing his line will continue.”
“At least my brother will have an heir to his name. A bloodline to carry forward.”
Lu Yuan Ze’s face contorted with rage. “Who wants your filthy bloodline?! I have my own children! I have them! I have three sons and a daughter! My eldest is a top scholar, my daughter is a princess! I have my own heirs! I have my own blood!”
His eyes turned wild as he sought out Lu Chao Chao, but her guards stood vigilant, blocking his approach.
Frustrated, he ran madly toward the city.
“Shi Yun! Shi Yun! I drowned that treacherous woman! Shi Yun, we can go back to how we were, can’t we?”
“Shi Yun, let’s start over, shall we?”
His voice cracked with hysteria.
“Shi Yun, I was wrong! I won’t keep another woman again! Shi Yun, come home! Let’s live well together. Shi Yun, I was wrong…”
Lu Yuan Ze stood outside the Lu Manor’s grand gates, crying desperately.
With a creak, the doors slowly opened.
His heart leaped with joy as he lifted his gaze—
Only to see Rong Che, beaming with unrestrained delight, stepping out. Behind him, the Duke and Duchess of the Stabilizing Duke’s Manor followed, their expressions equally jubilant.
A servant at the gate tossed handfuls of wedding sweets into the air.
“Our General is engaged today! Come, share in the good fortune!”
The crowd surged forward, scrambling for the sweets.
Rong Che’s grin stretched wide, showing off every tooth, his joy bordering on shamelessness.
His parents mirrored his delight.
“Good lad, look how clever Shi Yun’s child is. Our Rong family is truly blessed!”
“I heard Yuan Xiao has passed the scholar’s examination already…” The Duke’s voice boomed as he clapped Rong Che on the shoulder.
“Boy, you had better behave! If you dare act like Lu Yuan Ze, consider yourself disowned. Let me be clear—if you stray, you won’t just lose Shi Yun, you’ll lose your parents too!” The Old Madam warned sternly.
“I wouldn’t dare! I’m already in my thirties, a lonely old bachelor who’s finally getting married—how could I be that stupid?” Rong Che rolled his eyes.
“That’s true!” The Duke nodded vigorously in agreement.
“Ah, I wrongly blamed our ancestors, thinking they didn’t watch over you. Turns out, they were just saving up a grand blessing!”
“Last time, we even burned the ancestral tablet for firewood…”
“We’d best carve a new one immediately!” The Duke muttered, heading straight back to the Stabilizing Duke’s Manor to do just that.
Lu Yuan Ze stood frozen, watching in a daze.
Shi Yun… was engaged.
She and Rong Che had set their wedding date.
The woman he had cast aside, disregarded, was now a treasure others longed for.
Shoved into a corner by the bustling crowd, he watched the joyous scene unfold—none of it had anything to do with him.
The brilliant children, the virtuous wife—all would belong to another.
“Son, go on home first. I forgot to tell Shi Yun something, I’ll be back shortly.” The Old Madam waved Rong Che off.
She dismissed her maids and rushed back with unexpected agility.
Shi Yun had not gone far when she heard the Old Madam’s hurried call.
“Shi Yun! Shi Yun! I have something important to tell you!”
She took Shi Yun’s hand, panting.
“Shi Yun, listen closely—I have a secret. I’m afraid I’ll forget it later.”
“On the wedding night, step on the groom’s shoe. It’ll shift the morning sickness onto him instead! Remember, you must step on his shoe!”
“Morning sickness is awful! Some women throw up until the day they give birth!”
Shi Yun froze, memories stirring—on her wedding night with Lu Yuan Ze, the Old Madam had taken his shoes away…
“Step hard! Don’t hold back! I’m off now, truly off this time!” The Old Madam turned reluctantly before finally leaving.
Deng Zhi burst into laughter.
“The Old Madam is truly something. Most mothers worry their sons will suffer, but she’s afraid her son won’t suffer enough!”
“Yes, both elders are kind-hearted people.” Shi Yun smiled.
Deng Zhi hesitated, then carefully looked at Shi Yun.
“Madam, Madam Pei was drowned.”
“Lu Yuan Ze… was outside just now, begging for forgiveness.” She worried her mistress might still harbor feelings.
Shi Yun cast her a side glance. “He’s brought filth to our doorstep. Such misfortune! Have the entrance cleaned three times over. Reward the servants well.”
“Understood! The servants will be most grateful!” Deng Zhi grinned.
Yet Shi Yun’s gaze remained fixed upon the direction of the Imperial Palace, her thoughts unsettled.
Meanwhile, Lu Yuan Ze stumbled back to his residence.
His mother had been cleaned up, her wounds dressed, her clothes changed. Yet even beneath thick layers of powder, the stench of rot remained…
The maids held their breath, afraid to inhale deeply.
She was set outside to bask in the sun. She slumped, drooling, but when she saw Lu Yuan Ze, her cloudy eyes lit up with expectation.
“Madam Pei is dead. And the bastard… was my father’s illegitimate son. Did you know?”
His mother’s lip curled, more drool slipping down.
“He was even placed in the family registry years ago. A legitimate bastard son! He cuckolded me!! The children I painstakingly raised weren’t even mine!!” Lu Yuan Ze’s laughter turned mad.
“Mother, I… have lost the ability to father children.”
His words struck like thunder.
His mother jolted, eyes snapping to him in horror.
“I will never have heirs again. Never. That wretched Madam Pei poisoned me!”
“The Lu family will die out!”