Chapter 33: Marrying a Scoundrel
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
[The flooding in Linluo Province, wasn’t that when my second uncle lost his life helping those flood survivors? Second Uncle, please be careful around Dong Jiaming. He’s dangerous and targeting you!] The young girl was filled with worry as she contemplated this.
Seeing her concern, Second Uncle’s face softened, showing his understanding. “It seems I arrived just in time! Coming here was the right choice. Dong Jiaming, huh? I’ll keep an eye on him,” he murmured, acknowledging her warning.
Madam Xu, meanwhile, was deeply pondering how to subtly alert her brother to the danger he faced.
The second uncle, perhaps weighed down by these worries, missed dinner and briefly excused himself from the table. He also arranged to foster more interaction between his sons and Chao Chao. After just one visit, he noticed his boys seemed sharper and more observant.
That night, as Lu Chao Chao was falling asleep, she faintly heard quiet, broken voices outside. Always vigilant now, Madam Xu quickly dressed and went to investigate. She returned to report, “Someone rushed to Deshan Hall, saying there’s a serious illness…”
Lu Chao Chao, half-asleep, yawned and decided to return to sleep, finding comfort in turning over in bed. She thought about how luck seemed to be a zero-sum game. In the story she knew, the Xu family had declined, and Madam Xu’s three sons had faced bad luck, while the heroine’s family prospered. Now, with the Xu family’s fortunes improving, her own survival, her brother staying away from bad company, and their mother’s clever tactics against the Lu family and the heroine’s resources, it appeared their luck had changed. Even with the noise lasting all night, Lu Chao Chao slept well.
The next morning, Madam Xu was called to Deshan Hall early. The family matriarch, looking tired and annoyed, barely hid her irritation at seeing Madam Xu so energetic, inwardly blaming her for the current problems.
“You’ve had a good night’s sleep, I see. Meanwhile, Wan Yi’s marriage is still uncertain, and here I am, an old woman, dealing with everything. What’s the point of having you here if you aren’t willing to help?” the old lady snapped.
Normally, Madam Xu might have knelt to admit her fault. But today, she stood her ground: “Mother-in-law, my love for her is known throughout the capital. Even if the sky falls, my duty as a daughter-in-law remains firm and undeniable.”
“And to think of yourself as old? When you had Wan Yi, women your age were already grandmothers. Yet, you were blessed with a daughter. That hardly sounds like old age to me,” Madam Xu countered, her tone playful and her smile suggesting flirtation.
The old lady, unable to smile, suspected Madam Xu of mocking her. Yet, she couldn’t find solid proof of ridicule, which only irritated her more.
“Wan Yi is your own child. While I can love her any day, managing her marriage is a task for her mother. This way, no one can criticize you,” Madam Xu continued, smiling genuinely and warmly.
In the capital, it was well-known that Madam Xu disapproved of Lu Wan Yi’s marriage proposal and had kept her distance from the arrangements. She was determined that if Wan Yi regretted her marriage later, the blame would not fall on her.
The old lady looked even more annoyed.
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
The scandal of Pei Jiao Jiao being humiliated and spending a night in jail had caused chaos, especially when she returned home with Lu Yuan Ze. The gossip spread fast, damaging Lu Jing Huai’s reputation with rumors that his mother was a thief and their family was cursed by lightning. This hurt Jing Huai’s social standing.
“You need to offer more support to Wan Yi as you are her sister-in-law,” she demanded of Madam Xu, who responded with a silent smile.
“Anyway, I called you here today because there’s something important I want to discuss,” the elderly lady said.
“We received a letter from our ancestral home in Clear Creek Village. We’ve been informed about a distant relative who has met with misfortune and left behind a young daughter. This girl, about the same age as Chao Chao, has been neglected and is in a weak state, almost forgotten by our family. I thought we should help her. Since we don’t have any children around Chao Chao’s age here, it would be good for her to have a companion. Having brothers is one thing, but the support of a sister could be very helpful. What do you think?” Despite asking for her opinion, the elderly lady seemed to have already decided.
Madam Xu, who had been with the family for seventeen years, had never before refused a request, including when she had suffered from a severe cold years ago. In large households, it was uncommon for the masters and mistresses to do the tasks of servants, yet Madam Xu did so when demanded.
“When the time comes, we’ll add her to the family registry with Chao Chao as if they were twins,” the elderly lady suggested with a slight smile. “This way, we don’t have to change their birthdates, and they can both come back to the mansion as recognized members of the family.”
Upon hearing the proposal, Madam Xu was filled with outrage. The idea of bringing a child from a concubine into the home for the legitimate wife to raise as her own struck her as deeply offensive. She remembered that this had been their plan from the start, a plan she had managed to avoid by heeding the unspoken wishes of Chao Chao. If Chao Chao had not survived, and she had raised the other child with all her love, only for that child to turn against her and the Xu family, the fallout would have been catastrophic.
A cold shiver went down Madam Xu’s spine, and she tightened her fists, though her face showed none of her inner turmoil.
“Mother-in-law, I already have Chao Chao. Why would we need another daughter, especially since that child’s parents are deceased?” Madam Xu expressed her concerns, concealing the true extent of her discomfort.
The old lady sighed lightly, signaling Madam Xu to continue.
“I don’t mean to seem heartless, Mother-in-law, but I’m afraid that child might bring bad luck,” Madam Xu added, her voice tinged with worry. “Her family was once thriving and happy until she was born, and then everything fell apart. It’s as if her presence brought misfortune. I might be young and not fear such bad luck for myself, but for you, Mother-in-law…” She let her words hang, implying more than she said.
The old lady looked momentarily annoyed. She held Lu Jing Yao and Lu Jing Huai in high esteem and would not accept any negative comments about them, especially since a respected monk had confirmed Jing Yao’s favorable future.
“Alright, if you’re against it, I won’t force the issue,” the old lady finally said, her mind touching upon a past regret that they hadn’t been more decisive with Lu Chao Chao and strangled her when they could.
As Madam Xu left, the smile she had maintained disappeared, revealing the pressure of the argument.
Meanwhile, Lu Chao Chao, oblivious to the plots and discussions about her future, continued to live blissfully unaware. Even if she had known about the plans to make Lu Jing Yao her sister, she would have firmly rejected them. Convinced that not even divine intervention could make her accept something she didn’t want, Lu Chao Chao, at only seven months old, celebrated her first baby tooth by enjoying more diverse foods, like the occasional half of a soft-boiled egg.
During Lu Wan Yi’s wedding ceremony, little Lu Chao Chao, despite her young age and the memories from her past life, couldn’t help but reflect inwardly. [In the previous life, my mama saved you from entering a terrible marriage, and in return, you harmed her. Let’s see if you’ll end up regretting your actions this time…] Dressed in festive clothes with a playful red dot on her forehead, Lu Chao Chao looked exceptionally cute, yet her thoughts were somewhat grim. [Hehe, let her face the consequences…]
Marquis Zhongyong’s mansion was buzzing with excitement, decorated with lanterns and the double happiness symbol, celebrating the special day.
The old lady was overjoyed, and there was a touching moment of tears and goodbyes between mother and daughter as Lu Wan Yi left to start her new life.
As guests arrived to accompany the bride, Madam Xu noticed Lu Jing Huai among them. It seemed Lu Jing Huai had become friends with the recently celebrated top scholar, and she wondered if Lu Jing Huai knew about Gu Ling’s darker reputation, particularly his harsh treatment of his wife.
Madam Xu watched with a reserved coolness as Lu Wan Yi embraced her future with open arms, her poise and confidence shining through as she embarked on the marriage she had always wanted.