"Heh, who's the cheap one? Lu Mingzhu pounced on a man whenever she saw one. As a mother, how good can you be? Who knows if you have been able to withstand loneliness when the Master doesn't go to your place…"
"Concubine Fang!" Old Madam scolded when she saw that the latter was getting more and more ridiculous.
Concubine Fang shut her mouth in embarrassment, but she glared at Madam Liu nonetheless.
The Old Madam was so angry that her entire body was trembling. At the thought that Madam Liu and her daughter's initial goal might be to plot against Lu Xiang, her eyes filled with hatred.
Lu Mingzhu looked at Old Madam's deathly gaze and her throat suddenly choked. It was as if someone was holding her neck so tightly that she could not breathe. She could not say anything to defend herself and her body trembled violently. She knew that no matter what explanation she provided, Old Madam was certain that she was having an affair with someone.
The fear in Lu Mingzhu's heart intensified as she helplessly looked at Madam Liu.
Madam Liu went crazy, and Lu Mingzhu's loud wailing deeply annoyed the Old Madam. "Nanny Wen, shut this man's mouth. Let's go back to the manor for now."
After such a scandal, the Old Madam could not end this matter here in Hua'an Temple.
She did not feel sorry should Lu Mingzhu's reputation be damaged because of it, but she did not dare to make a big deal. Otherwise, her other granddaughters' reputations would be damaged as well. Not to mention her own second daughter, Lu Ying, who was already married and the one who could not afford to have any mistakes, her daughter in the palace.
Therefore, this man who kept saying that he had a secret relationship with Lu Mingzhu could not remain alive.
It was laughable that Wang Er thought that he could make a fortune, but he did not know that the moment he promised Lu Mingzhu to destroy other's innocence, he was destined to lose his life.
The old lady coldly glared at the scene in front of her. She wanted so much to send Lu Mingzhu to her death. It was better than her embarrassing herself and ruining the Lu family's reputation.
However, this mother-daughter pair were the love of her son. As of now, she could not deal with them in a casual manner.
Madam Liu saw that Old Madam only said that she was going back to the manor and nothing else. She was nervous and could not help but heave a sigh of relief.
The old woman was wholeheartedly on Lu Xiang's side. At this moment, she did not believe in Mingzhu's innocence at all. Only by returning to the manor, they would be able to get the Master to clear Mingzhu's name.
Master doted on Mingzhu the most and would definitely stand on their side.
With this thought in mind, Madam Liu gradually felt more confident. She squeezed Lu Mingzhu's hand and gave her a comforting look.
Lu Xiang saw the change in her mood and a light flashed in her dark eyes. Before getting into the carriage, she said a few words to Yun Zhe and Wu Yue.
"Keep an eye on Madam Liu and Lu Mingzhu's maids. Don't let them have the chance to inform my father."
For the sake of the Lu family's reputation, Old Madam Lu would secretly deal with Wang Er. Her father doted on Madam Liu and Lu Mingzhu, and as such, he would protect Lu Mingzhu like her grandmother did for her in her previous life.
However, in her previous life, she had been mocked by everyone in the manor because of how ambiguous her reputation became. Lu Mingzhu could forget about escaping the same fate in this life.
After this incident, everyone was silent like cicadas in winter. They quietly and quickly reorganized the carriage and returned to the manor. Madam Liu and Lu Mingzhu were followed by two nannies who served the Old Madam.
After returning to the Lu family, Old Madam asked someone to close the manor's main door. She did not try to hide from the family and just sat in the main hall of the front courtyard. "Go. Call the eldest son's family, Aunt Yao and her son to come over."
Family scandals should not be aired in public, but Old Madam did not cover up Lu Mingzhu's scandals within the family.
The Old Madam was also stubborn and she wanted to embarrass Madam Liu and Lu Mingzhu with this.
Didn't her son dote on this mother-daughter pair? Then let the entire manor see what embarrassing things Lu Mingzhu had done.
When Madam Liu saw that Old Madam had called the others over to laugh at them, she was so angry that her brain felt like it would explode. She felt so ashamed that she wanted to die.
Their maids, Luochun and Hua Mei, wanted to go out of the manor to get reinforcements when they were not paying attention. Unexpectedly, when they were about to reach the door, Yun Zhe and Wu Yue suddenly rushed out from the side and blocked their way. Behind them were the Old Madam's maids.
"Where are you two heading?"
Luochun and Hua Mei's expressions changed. "It's none of your business."
Wu Yue smiled sinisterly. "It's none of our business, but the Old Madam has ordered us to close the door and not go out. We have to keep a close eye on everyone in the manor. Who knows if someone will take the opportunity to smear the Lu Manor's reputation."
As soon as she finished speaking, and before Luochun and Hua Mei could retort, the old madam's maids blocked the door and glared at them fiercely.
Luochun and Hua Mei trembled in fear. They did not dare to fight head-on and could only go back, cursing as they went.
Yun Zhe bowed to the two old women and said, "Thank you for standing guard here."
The two old maids were flattered and quickly said, "Miss, you're too polite." They were third-tier maids from Fuyuan Hall while Yun Zhe was Third Miss's trusted maid. How could they dare to accept Yun Zhe's bow?
Lu Chao was not in the residence, so Qiao Jingru brought Liang Chen to the front yard. Along the way, she heard the servants whispering to each other. After getting a rough idea of what was going on, she rolled her eyes speechlessly. "The way Lu Mingzhu does things is an eye-opener."
Liang Chen said, "Young Madam, mind your image." You're a lady. How can you roll your eyes?
Liangchen felt like a mother worrying her heart out over her child.
"You're so long-winded." Qiao Jingru glared at her and said, "Hurry up. I want to see what kind of pervert Lu Mingzhu likes."
Liang Chen: "…"
Young Madam, wouldn't the Old Madam teach you a lesson if she saw you being so joyful?
…
Contrary to Qiao Jingru's curiosity, Concubine Yao's face was completely dark when she arrived. If she could, she would have cut open Madam Liu's brain to see what was inside.
Their task was to bring the Old Madam back to the manor and look at what they did. The idea of having an affair. Were they stupid?
The six-year-old Lu Xiao looked at his mother's cold expression and closed his mouth tightly as he followed behind her silently. He was so young that he did not understand why she was so angry.
There were not many servants in the manor, but at this moment, all of them were gathered in the front yard. The atmosphere was cold and made them uneasy, as though a storm was about to arrive.
It was said that curiosity killed the cat. In fact, they did not want to know anything about their masters.
In the front hall, Madam Liu and Lu Mingzhu were pressed to the ground.
They were not hurt physically but it was extremely insulting.
"Old Madam, why are you detaining us? Mingzhu is innocent. I'm not convinced. I want to look for the Master." Madam Liu struggled and shouted.
The Old Madam raised her eyelids indifferently and couldn't be bothered to talk nonsense with her. Not to mention that Xiangxiang had already taken precautions against Madam Liu's people and prevented them from going out to tattletale. Even if Madam Liu managed to bring Lu Youping home right now, would an old woman like her be afraid of her son?
"Lu Mingzhu didn't know how to conduct herself properly and had a private meeting with an outside male. Her punishment is 20 lashes, three months of confinement, and copying 100 times of the book on 'woman's virtues'. As her mother, Madam Liu didn't teach her well, so that means her crime is all the more serious. Her punishment would be 30 lashes, copying 100 times of the book on 'woman's virtues', and half a year of confinement. As for this man…"
As the old lady spoke, her gaze landed on Wang Er with thick killing intent.
"Do not leave him alive."