Lu Youping looked at his daughter's strange expression and felt suspicious. Did Xiangxiang know this Mr. Xiao?
However, he quickly rejected this idea. How was that possible?
The old lady said, "We're almost done eating. If you have something to do, go ahead. Take care of your health. Don't work too late."
"I know." Lu Youping stood up and bowed to the old lady before leaving the main hall.
The old lady wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and left as well.
Seeing this, Lu Xiang quickly got up and left with the old lady.
She felt as if her feet were filled with lead, so heavy that she could barely take a step.
As soon as the old lady left, the atmosphere at the dining table changed.
Concubine Fang stood up first. "You guys eat. I'm leaving." Then, she pulled her daughter, Lu Yue, away.
She felt as if she was choking throughout dinner so she didn't want to stay any longer.
Madam Liu's gaze changed slightly. She smiled and sent Concubine Fang off.
Concubine Lin wanted to stop Concubine Fang from leaving, but before she could say anything, Concubine Fang ran away. She glanced at Madam Liu and hesitated for a while before continuing to eat.
Madam Liu was the Master's beloved concubine, so she didn't dare to show her displeasure.
Qiao Jingru looked at the table full of concubines and illegitimate daughters. She gracefully stood up to leave. Although she had married a concubine's son, it did not mean that her status had become lowly. Moreover, Lu Chao was not in the residence today, so why should she give face to the concubines?
Along the way back to Fuyuan Hall, the old lady suddenly said, "Xiangxiang, you should go back and rest early too. You don't have to accompany Grandmother anymore."
Lu Xiang felt that she was not in a good condition, so she did not decline. After bowing to the Old Madam, she brought Yun Zhe towards Xixia Hall.
Suddenly, Lu Xiang stopped walking. Yun Zhe called out in confusion, "Miss?!"
Lu Xiang stared ahead, her pitch-black eyes suddenly shooting out flames of anger, as if she wanted to burn the person in front of her to ashes.
Yun Zhe followed Lu Xiang's gaze. Under the cold moonlight, a man stood in an elegant pose.
He wore a silver-white brocade robe. His hair was as black as ink, and he wore a jade crown on his head. He looked extremely handsome.
Seeing that he was following Butler Du, Yun Zhe guessed that this was probably Young Master Xiao, who wanted to see the Master.
But why was Miss so angry when she saw him?
Miss should not know this person.
Yun Zhe was puzzled.
She did not understand how much Xiao Muheng had hurt Lu Xiang. The hurt was so deep that it was carved into her bones. Lu Xiang would never forget the hatred that was etched into her bones even if she died.
The devil-like face that haunted her mind suddenly appeared in front of her. Lu Xiang wanted to rush up to him, grab his neck, and ask him loudly why he was so cruel to her. What did she do to him?
The scene of her death in her previous life instantly appeared in Lu Xiang's mind. The hatred that had accumulated for a long time turned into countless poisonous fangs that gnawed at her internal organs.
Her nails dug deep into her flesh, and Lu Xiang felt a raging fire in her chest. It surged and roared, and there was an uncontrollable pain tearing at her entire body.
"Third Miss." Butler Du bowed respectfully to Lu Xiang.
Lu Xiang came back to her senses and took a deep breath. She regained her composure, as if everything that had just happened was just an illusion.
She nodded slightly at Butler Du. The cold moonlight shone on her, making her look like an ice princess.
Her snow-white skin was crystal clear, and her eyes were long and slender. As her beautiful eyes swirled, they were dazzling and beautiful.
Xiao Muheng was stunned by the woman in front of him and felt his heart skip a beat.
This was the first time he had seen such a beautiful woman. She was like an orchid blooming quietly in the valley, emitting her unique elegance silently.
Hearing how Butler Du addressed her, he immediately understood Lu Xiang's identity.
"Greetings, Third Miss."
The third daughter of the Lu family, the only legitimate daughter of Magistrate Lu.
Within a few breaths, Xiao Muheng's thoughts changed.
In her previous life, when Madam Liu became the official wife, her father held a grand banquet, so Lu Xiang did not meet Xiao Muheng in the manor then.
After her rebirth, Lu Xiang changed the course of her life and as a result, she met Xiao Muheng earlier than expected.
Lu Xiang suppressed the hatred in her heart and turned a deaf ear to Xiao Muheng. As Xiao Muheng bowed, Lu Xiang stepped over him and walked away in a charming manner, leaving only the corner of her dress fluttering in the wind.
Her cold attitude made Xiao Muheng a little depressed. However, on second thought, it was normal for the magistrate's daughter to be arrogant. He felt relieved and looked at Lu Xiang's back before following Butler Du to the study reluctantly.
The cool night wind blew gently, blowing away the frustration in Lu Xiang's heart. She also suppressed the strong hatred in her heart.
No matter how much she liked him in the past, all that was left now was hatred for him—
Lu Xiang, who had not had any nightmares since her rebirth, dreamed of her past life the night she saw Xiao Muheng.
Winter in the capital was exceptionally cold.
The heavy snow fell for several days in a row, causing the ground to be piled with thick snow. When one stepped on it, it made creaking sounds.
The Xiao Residence occupied an extremely large area in the capital. The decorations in the residence were luxurious. It contained the graceful Jiangnan province style and the majestic and domineering aura of the north side of the country.
In the capital city, where celebrities gathered and where there were countless noble families, there was no other mansion that could compare to the Xiao Residence even among the royal relatives.
Why?
This was because the current head of the Xiao family, Xiao Muheng, was the youngest, richest, and most wealthy imperial merchant in the country of Great Qi.
He was also the promising young aide of the crown prince.
Everyone praised him for his amazing achievements at such a young age, but they did not know that half of it was thanks to Lu Xiang.
He was not the one with the talent for business. It was Lu Xiang.
The Lu family produced the Zhen Noble Consort. Xiao Muheng had the backing of the Lu family's power and status. Coupled with his wealth, the emperor was all smiles when he saw him. Everyone in the Imperial Court was on good terms with him.
In this world, no one would complain about having too much money or even hate money.
In the northwest corner of the Xiao Residence, there was a warehouse used to store miscellaneous items. It had been abandoned for many years and was very dilapidated.
The broken door could not withstand the cold wind and snow outside. The window paper had been blown apart, and no one came to repair it. The whistling cold wind blew into the house without any resistance.
Lu Xiang was wearing very thin clothes. The cold wind hurt her to the bones, and she would be in trouble if she continued to stay in the wind. Her lips were purple, and she did not know how long she could last.
She lowered her head. Her long hair, which was once as black as ink, had now turned as yellow as weeds. It was messy on her head and scattered on her shoulders, covering her face. She did not move, making people think that she was dead.
Creak—
At this moment, the door was pushed open. The cold wind carried the snow and rushed into the dark house. Endless coldness swept over Lu Xiang, causing her clothes to flutter in the wind.