Lu Lingxiao emerged from the dungeon, gazing at the dark clouds obscuring the moon above the dome, his eyes turning icy cold.
This Grand Commander was ten, no, a hundred times more arrogant and ruthless than the rumors had suggested.
To have such a treacherous minister in Great Zhou is truly a calamity. Action must be taken promptly to remove this threat for the court and for Your Majesty.
As Lu Lingxiao stepped into the carriage, Meng Qianqian was already inside.
Recalling the events in the dungeon, his chest felt stifled, yet he could not speak to her of them. After all, she was merely a little woman of the inner chambers, entirely ignorant of such matters.
He took a seat across from Meng Qianqian.
Meng Qianqian didn’t look at him, sitting quietly as if she intended to completely ignore him.
Lu Lingxiao scrutinized her from head to toe, noticing that she had changed her attire again. But with the lesson from last time, he refrained from questioning her this time.
"Were you... frightened today?"
Meng Qianqian ignored him.
Lu Lingxiao continued to inquire.
Meng Qianqian still did not respond.
Lu Lingxiao said, "Mother is very worried about you. Great-grandmother is asking why you haven’t returned yet."
Meng Qianqian remained silent.
Frowning, Lu Lingxiao urged, "Say something."
Meng Qianqian cast him a frosty glance and said coolly, "Does my husband hope I’ll say something like, ’I’m fine,’ or ’I escaped danger unscathed,’ or ’The Beiliang spies didn’t almost kill me,’ or ’The Jinyi Guard’s hidden weapons didn’t nearly cut me in half!’ Or would you prefer me to say that my dear husband, who vowed he’d come to rescue me, only showed up late in the night, arriving just barely too late to collect my still-warm corpse had the Grand Commander suspected me even a little?"
"Ah, but that wouldn’t be surprising, would it? Husband, you were the one who, in front of everyone, handed me over to the Beiliang men! I suppose my survival means you’ve missed your chance to live blissfully with your beloved. What a pity, isn’t it?"
Lu Lingxiao stood up, seething. Forgetting it was a carriage, he slammed his head against the roof with a loud thud, grimacing from the pain before gritting his teeth and sitting back down.
"When did I ever hand you over to the Beiliang men? Don’t spout nonsense! Wan’er is pregnant. If I hadn’t saved her, she might have died along with her unborn child. And besides, she was closer to me at the time..."
Meng Qianqian chuckled faintly. "Taking her to the Governor Mansion to enjoy my position was because she was closer to you as well?"
Lu Lingxiao flared up in anger. "Why are you still bringing up past grievances? That matter is over! Let’s not mention it anymore!"
Lu Lingxiao said, "Besides, if you’re angry at me, direct it at me alone. Stop dragging Wan’er into this. She’s done nothing that wronged you. Keeping her at the Governor Mansion was a consideration for the big picture—she refrained from clarifying for the sake of my future. There’s no need for you to humiliate and expose her publicly like you did today."
Meng Qianqian sneered in fury. "Was that what she told you?"
She had thought that when a man’s heart turns blind, his eyes would be blind as well. But evidently, it’s worse than she imagined—even his brain ceases to function.
Lin Wan’er impersonated her, took her place, and yet he blamed her for exposing it.
This was the husband she had been widowed for, for five years.
She refused to believe no one had told him what really happened, but he simply chose not to believe that his Wan’er had done anything wrong.
His Wan’er, even if she erred, she must have been forced to. She must have had her reasons. But as for Meng Qianqian—whatever she did was always wrong.
As long as she remained in the position of rightful wife, she would forever be the one bullying Lin Wan’er.
Even if it was her identity that was stolen, even if it was her who was abandoned.
Lu Lingxiao said, "Who said it doesn’t matter. There are some things I hope you don’t misunderstand—Wan’er’s choice not to clarify was for the bigger picture."
Meng Qianqian replied, "Running faster than a rabbit was for the bigger picture too?"
Lu Lingxiao frowned deeply. "Wan’er rushed toward me at that time to protect me—to block the Beiliang men’s blade on my behalf. She’s not the kind of person who values her life over others. Her father and brother died fighting Beiliang; father and son alike were courageous martyrs. Wan’er is also a woman of integrity. Do you think she’s never been captured by Beiliang before? At least you returned whole, while she—she not only had her martial arts destroyed by them, but her voice was poisoned mute. These are the things I owe her."
Meng Qianqian continued to stroke the silk handkerchief in her hand. "So whoever is weaker must be in the right?"
Lu Lingxiao opened his mouth, "Is that what I meant?"
"Is it not?" Meng Qianqian’s deep gaze locked onto his eyes. "You only remember what you owe her. What about what you owe me?"
Her eyes were clear and serene, yet they were sharp and cutting as a treasure sword encased in icy bluntness—a gaze impossible to meet directly.
Lu Lingxiao diverted his gaze, resting his hands on his knees, speaking lowly. "Why are you bringing up the silver again?"
Turns out, in this man’s heart, the only debt he owed her was silver.
Meng Qianqian said, "If not silver, then what? Shall we discuss the love that should exist between husband and wife? My dear General seems to have forgotten that between you and me, such a thing does not exist."
Lu Lingxiao’s voice deepened. "Wasn’t it just a matter of borrowing some silver? Once Your Majesty’s rewards arrive, I’ll return it to you!"
"Fine, then I’ll have the ledger sent over when we return," Meng Qianqian said coldly. "Please don’t go back on your word, and make sure to reimburse me for my dowry promptly!"
With that, Meng Qianqian lifted the curtain and stepped off the carriage, not sparing him a single glance in her departure.
Lu Lingxiao felt anger boiling over.
She’s suffered grievances today—let her vent however she wants.
Upon his return to the Lu Family estate, Lu Lingxiao first checked in to reassure Lu Mother, then headed to the study to see Lu Xingzhou.
He recounted the events in the dungeon in meticulous detail, including the moment he heard the Beiliang spies were there to assassinate the Holy Emperor, and Lu Yuan made the brazen comment, "Had I known earlier, I wouldn’t have stopped them."
As for Lu Yuan’s arrogance and wolfish ambition, Lu Xingzhou seemed utterly unsurprised. But when he learned that Lu Yuan killed the Beiliang spy who slandered Lu Lingxiao and Meng Qianqian without hesitation, he couldn’t help being momentarily startled.
After a long pause, Lu Xingzhou murmured, "It seems he’s resolved to win you over. Taking Qianqian to the Governor Mansion for interrogation was, in name, to question her, but in truth, it was to lure you there, to curry favor. Killing the Beiliang spy who defamed you was a declaration of his trust—he believes in you."
He spoke of defamation toward "you," and not "you two."
In Lu Xingzhou’s eyes, all the Grand Commander’s moves were aimed at wooing his son—they had nothing to do with Meng Qianqian.
Lu Lingxiao also found his father’s reasoning sound. "Father, what should we do?"
Lu Xingzhou said, "On the surface, don’t antagonize him. Wait and watch for further developments."
Lu Lingxiao said, "Understood, Father."
Lu Xingzhou added, "One more thing: you’ve been back for a while now, but you’ve been neglecting Qianqian. Tonight, move to Haitang Courtyard. Until Qianqian conceives a legitimate son, you are not allowed to leave."
Lu Lingxiao’s expression darkened. "Father!"
Lu Xingzhou spoke harshly: "If you can’t manage that, send that Lin woman away!"
Leaving the study, Lu Lingxiao called over a servant boy from the courtyard. "Who’s been here just now?"
The boy thought for a moment before replying, "The Eldest Young Madam."
Lu Lingxiao’s fists clenched tightly.
Snow began to fall as the night settled in, the wind bitterly cold.
Ban Xia was about to lock the door when she saw Lu Lingxiao arrive at the entrance, his face chilly.
She turned away, not even bothering to greet him as "Master."
Lu Lingxiao entered the room without a word.
Meng Qianqian was eating fried pastries and reading a storybook. She glanced at the shadow cast on the ground and asked without looking up, "Is this about coming to repay the silver already?"
Lu Lingxiao’s deep gaze fixed on her. "After you returned to the estate, you went to see Father, didn’t you?"
Meng Qianqian uttered an acknowledgment.
Lu Lingxiao clenched his fists tightly. "So it was you! Earlier, I even thought you had been wronged today—felt it was only right that you vent your anger at me. I never expected you to be so manipulative! Using Father and Wan’er to force me!"
Meng Qianqian caught the heavy scent of alcohol on him and frowned slightly. "If you want to act drunk, go back to your own courtyard and do it."
Lu Lingxiao suddenly grabbed her wrist, yanking her up forcefully, and threw her onto the bed with a heavy motion. His voice was cold as he said:
"Isn’t it true that you just want to consummate the marriage? Fine, I’ll grant your wish!"