"Even you can think of it, but your foolish father doesn't understand." The Old Madam looked at Lu Xiang and couldn't help but sigh. "It's a pity that your mother is unlucky. If she was still with us, there wouldn't be such trouble in this family. Xiangxiang, don't worry. Grandmother won't let you suffer."
When Lu Xiang thought of her own mother, her heart ached slightly.
If her mother was still alive, Madam Liu would not have been brought back to the Lu Manor. Would she not have died so miserably in her previous life then?
The atmosphere suddenly became a little quiet. Nanny Wen smiled and said, "The Third Miss has Old Madam's protection. Her days will only go smoothly from now on. Why would she be aggrieved?"
"Mm, Nanny Wen is right. Grandmother, you must take good care of yourself. I'm counting on you for the rest of my life," Lu Xiang said with a smile.
When the old lady heard this, she was instantly overjoyed. She quickly shook off all unhappy thoughts and continued to feed her granddaughter. "Alright, alright, alright. Grandmother will definitely take care of herself so that she can choose a son-in-law for Xiangxiang."
"Grandmother, I'm only 14."
With the trauma of her previous life, Lu Xiang couldn't help but tremble at the thought of having a husband. Who knew if the chosen son-in-law would turn out to be a fatal demon in the end?
She would not want that at all…
The old lady thought that she was shy and gave her an understanding smile.
The corners of Lu Xiang's mouth twitched. She thought about it and did not explain. Instead, she lowered her head and continued eating. Anyway, with her grandmother's love for her, she would not force her to marry someone she did not want to marry.
"It will be your mother's death anniversary in half a month. I plan to go to Hua'an Temple tomorrow to ask Master Xuan Kong to perform a ritual for her. At the same time, I'll pray for your aunt to have a smooth life in the palace. Rest in the manor and recuperate. If your father wants to look for you, don't see him. Just say that it was my idea. If there's anything, wait for Grandmother to come back. Don't act on impulse."
The old lady was afraid that once she left, her son would come looking for trouble with Lu Xiang.
Lu Xiang was stunned and could not help but think of this time in her previous life.
When Lu Mingzhu found out that her grandmother was going to Hua'an Temple, she urged her to beg her grandmother to bring them along. At that time, she wanted Madam Liu and Lu Mingzhu to obtain her grandmother's approval. Coupled with the incident of how Lu Mingzhu 'cut' herself to save her life, she agreed to everything she asked. Although her grandmother was unwilling, she finally agreed on her account.
Unexpectedly, this trip to Hua'an Temple was a huge trap dug by Lu Mingzhu for her.
Lu Xiang rolled her black eyes and said, "Grandmother, can I go with you tomorrow? We'll stay for two more days. The temple is quiet and would be beneficial to my recovery."
"Huh?" The old lady looked at Lu Xiang in surprise. Although she was very happy that her granddaughter would accompany her, she could tell from Lu Xiang's expression that she had a motive for doing so. "Can you tell me why?"
The old lady's persuasive tone was like a big bad wolf tempting an innocent little white rabbit.
Lu Xiang pinched her chopsticks and said stubbornly, "Father wants to help Aunt Liu become the legitimate wife. I'm very unhappy, so I want to go with Grandmother to relax. In the Lu family, I'm the third daughter but I'm also the only legitimate daughter. If you want me to move down the rank for Lu Mingzhu, I'll become a nun then."
In other words, Father, do as you see fit.
Which good daughter would become a nun for no reason? Usually it would be because the girl had made a huge mistake.
If a family had a daughter who had committed a mistake, and a legitimate daughter at that, the reputation of the other daughters would be affected as well. At the very least, it would be very difficult for them to marry well in the future.
Lu Mingzhu, the apple of his eye…
From this name, it could be seen how much Lu Youping valued this daughter and how much he liked her. How could he bear to have a flaw on Lu Mingzhu's reputation?
Keep it a secret?
Since Lu Xiang did this, it could only mean that he has plans to make it known to everyone that he favored them. How could the truth be hidden from the world?
"You…" The Old Madam instantly understood what she meant. She looked at her helplessly and smiled dotingly. "Alright, I'll bring you along. But don't say anything about becoming a nun again. Leave this matter to Grandmother. It's time for me to wake your father up from his foolishness."
Lu Xiang nodded.
Grandmother's intention was to prevent her from fighting her father head-on. After all, he was her father. Even if her father compromised in the end, it would not be good for her reputation if word spread that she, as a daughter, had threatened her own father.
However, it would be different if Grandmother was the one.
It was only right for a mother to educate her son. If her father did not care for his mother's feelings, he would not be able to continue to be a magistrate anymore.
"Oh my god, grandmother was really too good to me. How blind must I have been in my previous life to ignore grandmother's love for me?" she thought.
After dinner, Lu Xiang accompanied the old lady for a walk in the courtyard for better digestion. Suddenly, there was a burst of sobbing outside the courtyard.
"Who's out there?"
A maid ran to the door and saw the person standing outside. She replied, "Old Madam, it's the Fourth Miss." Lu Mingzhu was not listed in the family tree for now, and hence the Fourth Miss in question was still Lu Yue.
As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Yue walked in while wiping her tears. She bowed and greeted, "Greetings, Grandmother and Third Sister."
Lu Yue wore a plain dress while her delicate and charming face was covered in tears. Her delicate and expressive appearance caused all who looked at her to pity her.
Lu Xiang looked at her young sister and mockery flashed across her eyes. Although her facial features made her look weak and harmless, her heart was in fact even more vicious than a snake. Lu Yue thought that she was smart and relied on her beauty to get ahead of herself. She thought that she could rely on her beauty to climb up the social ladder. In the end, she was utterly manipulated by Madam Liu and had an unfortunate marriage.
"What's wrong? Why are you crying so late at night?" The old lady asked calmly. If one listens carefully, they could hear a trace of concern in her words.
Even if she was a concubine's daughter, she was still a child of the Lu family. Old Madam Lu would always take her wellbeing to heart.
Lu Yue knelt in front of the Old Madam and her tears fell fiercely. "Grandmother, save us. Father is furious and wants to punish Aunt Fang. I beg you to save her."
Lu Xiang raised her eyebrows slightly with a hint of mockery in her eyes.
Concubine Fang thought that she had caught Madam Liu in the wrong. She called Lu Yue over to ask Grandmother for help because she wanted Grandmother to suppress Liu ruthlessly. As long as Grandmother hated Madam Liu, the latter would not dare to do anything.
However, Concubine Fang did not stop to think that the reason for Madam Liu's arrogance was because of her father's love and support for her. As long as her father did not hate her, Madam Liu would always have a high status in the manor.
Lu Youping was the only way to destroy Madam Liu.
"Let's take a look." The Old Madam said with a frown.
The old lady did not let Lu Xiang go back, so Lu Xiang followed her.
The entire night sky looked quiet and peaceful with the waning moon.
Lu Xiang supported the Old Madam as they walked to the front courtyard. Lu Yue, who was beside her, followed with tears in her eyes and told her what had happened. The bright moonlight shone down, making the tears in her eyes crystal clear like pearls.
She was really good at putting on an act.
In the main hall of the front yard, Concubine Fang's cries could be heard. "Master, what did I do wrong? It's clearly Lu Mingzhu who doesn't know the rules."
"Shut up. Who gave you the right to call Mingzhu by her name? She's the young lady of the Lu family and a proper young mistress at that," Lu Youping said angrily.
Concubine Fang's face turned pale. Even if her status is that of a concubine, she was still his woman. He had just embarrassed her for a daughter who was raised outside?