Too Naive

Even though the old lady had guessed it, she couldn't help but feel frightened when she heard this. She pulled Lu Xiang up and said, "Get up quickly. This isn't your fault. You've poured your heart out to Lu Mingzhu. I didn't expect her to be this vicious to you."

Lu Xiang said, "I always thought that they were good people. I accidentally heard them cursing me and Grandmother behind our backs and that's when I saw their true colors. That's why when Lu Mingzhu tried to express her goodwill to me again, I didn't believe her." In her previous life, didn't she treat Madam Liu and Lu Mingzhu as good people? In the end, her life was the price to pay to see through their rotten hearts.

"No wonder you distanced yourself from them suddenly. This mother-daughter pair is simply despicable. It hasn't been long since they entered the manor, but they've already started to stir up trouble. Your father, that blind and heartless person, actually treats them as treasures." The Old Madam gritted her teeth as she spoke. Her dissatisfaction with Madam Liu and Lu Mingzhu reached an extreme point.

"This time, you escaped because of your vigilance and you managed to let them suffer the consequences of their own actions. Madam Liu will definitely hold a grudge and find another opportunity to plot against you. I'm afraid such a person will be a disaster if she stays in the Lu family. I have to think of a way to chase them out."

The Old Madam knew her son too well. Although he valued his children and never criticized them, if there was a situation whereby Lu Mingzhu got into a conflict with her other sisters and yet his own interests were unharmed, Lu Youping would definitely protect Lu Mingzhu since she was his favorite child.

"Grandmother, since I know their true colors, I'll just avoid them in the future. Now is the time when Father is feeling apologetic towards them. Grandmother, don't be anxious. Otherwise, you'll only push Father further and further away. That will end up hurting your relationship with him."

Her father doted on Madam Liu very much. From this, one could see that Madam Liu had a way to coax people. Although she had embarrassed Lu Mingzhu this time, Lu Xiang knew very well that this matter would not cause her father to hate Madam Liu and her daughter.

However, she had never planned to make Madam Liu and her daughter fall out of favor with him with just this matter.

The old lady frowned and pondered. Her agitated mood calmed down a lot after hearing Lu Xiang's words.

Her son was very into Madam Liu right now and had already argued with her because he wanted to help her obtain an official status in the family. She had just used forceful methods to suppress his wishes and if she was to go against her son now, she was afraid that she would really hurt her son's heart.

Damn it, damn it. What kind of seductress Madam Liu was to charm her son like this?

When Lu Youping returned to the manor, Butler Du immediately reported everything that had happened today to him. When he heard that his beloved woman and daughter had been punished, Lu Youping's heart ached so much that his face turned pale. He hurried to the Lotus Hall.

Butler Du: "…"

Damn it, after saying so much, the Master had only heard about them being punished?

Madam Liu was lying on the bed then, her face pale from the pain. She was so angry at Lu Xiang's counterattack that she gritted her teeth. Suddenly, she heard the maid's voice outside the door. Her expression changed and she instantly started crying silently.

Lu Youping ignored the maid's greetings and strode into the house.

"He'er…"

"Boohoo boohoo, Master, you're finally back. I… I thought I would never see you again." Madam Liu looked at Lu Youping with tears streaming down her face. Her pitiful appearance would make anyone who looked at her to ache for her.

Lu Youping was afraid of hurting Madam Liu, so he sat by the bed and gently held her hand. He looked at her with visible pain in his expression. "Don't talk nonsense. No one will dare to bully you with me around."

A glint flashed across Madam Liu's eyes. Even her cries were exceptionally pleasant to the ear. "Boohoo, Master, our daughter has been wronged. Others may not know what kind of person Mingzhu is, but Master, you know best. She's so kind, sensitive, and pure. How could she have done something like having an affair with an outsider? She just wanted to share good things with her sisters, so she didn't hesitate to give the hairpin you gave her to Lu Xiang. I don't know how it ended up in that man's hands. Now that that man is dead, Mingzhu will never be able to clear her name."

Although Madam Liu did not directly say that Lu Xiang was the one who harmed Lu Mingzhu, every word she said conveyed this meaning.

Unfortunately, Wang Er had been silenced by the Old Madam. Otherwise, as long as they could confront Wang Er, they would be able to clear Mingzhu's name. So what if the Master knew that they had schemed against Lu Xiang? Since they did not succeed, it would not make him angry. Moreover, the Master doted on Mingzhu the most, so he would not make things difficult for them for Lu Xiang's sake.

However, Wang Er was now dead. Even if the Master believed that Mingzhu was innocent, he could not stop the gossip from occurring in the manor.

"How's Mingzhu?" Lu Youping asked.

Madam Liu wiped her tears and said, "Poor Mingzhu is still young and has been pampered since she was young. How could she withstand the punishment? She's still unconscious and hasn't woken up yet. The doctor said to take care of her carefully. Otherwise, if her wounds get infected, I'm afraid it will affect her ability to walk in the future."

Lu Youping comforted her. "Don't worry, it won't happen. I'll find the best doctor in the city for Mingzhu. I'll meet my mother for now and will come back to you in a while."

Madam Liu held his hand affectionately and nodded gently.

After Lu Youping left, her maidservant, Luochun, entered the room and asked Madam Liu, "Mistress, is the Master going to Old Madam to seek justice for you?"

Madam Liu snorted proudly. "Of course. How can the Master stand by and do nothing when we have been wronged? This old woman has underestimated my status in the Master's heart. It's best if I can anger her to death this time."

If she died, this entire manor would belong to them mother and daughter.

Luochun nodded proudly. "Perhaps Old Madam's coercion has made the Master determined to let Mistress be the legal mistress of the family."

Madam Liu's eyes lit up. "That makes sense. If that's the case, I have to thank the old woman."

Madam Liu was daydreaming and didn't think that this idea was naive or ignorant at all.

Lu Youping entered Fuyuan Hall with a dark expression. Nanny Wen's heart skipped a beat when she saw his expression.

Oh my god, did the Master intend to come to quarrel with Old Madam just to stand up for Madam Liu?

Just as she was hesitating if she should stop him, Lu Youping had already strode into the house. Nanny Wen followed him anxiously. Before she could speak, Old Madam waved at her. "Get the chicken soup for the Master. I'm sure he hasn't eaten at this hour."

Nanny Wen hesitated for a moment before leaving.

When Lu Youping heard the concern the old lady had for him, he was touched.

"Have a seat," Old Madam said. "Have you visited Madam Liu?"

"Yes." Lu Youping nodded. "Mother, Mingzhu is not a reckless child. I'm afraid there must be some misunderstanding."

The Old Madam glanced at him indifferently, "Misunderstanding? What did Madam Liu tell you?"

Lu Youping took a deep breath and said, "She said that Mingzhu gave the hairpin to Xiangxiang…"

"Heh…" Although the Old Madam was angry, she did not flare up. She only sneered. "So, you're trying to say that Xiangxiang framed her. Lu Youping, even if you don't have any feelings for the Bai family, you can't degrade your legitimate daughter like this."

"Mother, I didn't…" Lu Youping's face stiffened.

When he first heard Madam Liu's words, he was indeed furious and wished he could drag Lu Xiang over and ask her why she did this. However, along the way to Fuyuan Hall, he had calmed down.