Yun Zhe and Wu Yue raised their heads and looked at Lu Xiang in a daze. The fine sunlight landed on the side of her face, scattering like a golden glow on her. There was a hint of elegance in the haziness. She held her lips together lightly, and her expression was calm but confident. She was like a snow lotus that grew proudly on the top of a snow mountain, tough and soul-stirring at the same time.
Miss is special, very special—
If it were anyone else, they would have been scared out of their wits. How could they deal with the criminals in such a calm manner? She was even smart enough to expose their goal and strike first.
If they couldn't figure it out, so be it. In any case, whatever Miss did was right.
"Alright, we'll believe you this time. If you dare to lie to us…" The leader gritted his teeth and made up his mind.
Since they were going to rob someone, anyone would do. Since they could not touch this girl in front of them, they might as well believe her for once.
"The Lu Manor won't run away. If you don't get any benefits, just go to the entrance of the Lu Manor and make a scene," Lu Xiang said nonchalantly. The sneer on her lips was terrifying.
The big brother gritted his teeth and looked like he was going all out. He took the banknotes from Lu Xiang and said to the other two, "Let's go."
Wu Yue frowned uneasily as she looked at the trio departing from their sight. "Miss, will they bear a grudge and take revenge on us in the future?"
Lu Xiang said, "They wouldn't dare to. The commoners don't fight with the officials. Besides, I didn't lie to them. When they get the money as promised, they will leave this place immediately."
The act would still go on. They can still collect money from Xiao Muheng. Where else could they find such a good deal?
Yun Zhe and Wu Yue nodded in mock understanding.
"But now that the coachman has run away, how are we going to get to the Silk Cloth Manor?" Yun Zhe asked.
Lu Xiang looked around and smiled. "The Silk Manor is close by once we are out of this alley. Anyway, Concubine Liu and Lu Mingzhu will take a while to arrive. Let's walk over."
On the other side, Xiao Muheng had been waiting for the chance to act as the hero and save the damsel in distress. When he saw the three hooligans walking over, he was stunned. "Why are you here at this time?" What happened to stopping the carriage?
The eldest brother cursed, "Damn it, it's a mistake. There's no beautiful young lady like you said. She's clearly an old woman in her thirties. She's pretty, but she's a little old." Xiao Muheng was stunned. "What's going on?"
"But that woman said that the person we're looking for is riding a carriage towards the back alley of Silk Cloth Manor. Young Master, what do you think? Can her words be trusted?"
These words were naturally taught by Lu Xiang…
The woman in her thirties had guided them to the back alley of the Silk Cloth Manor. She should be Concubine Liu then.
With that thought in mind, Xiao Muheng said without any doubt, "Then let's leave quickly."
Silk Cloth Manor
As soon as Lu Xiang announced her identity, she was invited to the inner room by the shopkeeper. Tea and snacks were served as well.
"Bring me the new materials that you have," Yun Zhe said.
The shopkeeper quickly smiled and replied, "Alright, I'll go get it now. Miss, please wait a moment."
Soon, bright-colored materials were placed on the table in front of Lu Xiang.
Lu Xiang walked around the table and looked at it seriously. Occasionally, she would touch the materials and look very focused on the fabrics.
Suddenly, the door was pushed open forcefully. Madam Liu stood at the door with an ugly expression.
When she saw Lu Xiang in perfect condition, the anger in her chest could barely be suppressed.
"Why are you here?" Madam Liu's sharp voice was like a sharp blade cutting through porcelain which was extremely ear-piercing.
Lu Xiang put down the teacup in her hand and looked at Madam Liu with a smile. She said, "Concubine Liu, didn't you ask me to come to the Silk Cloth Manor to choose fabric? If I'm not here, where should I be?"
Although she was smiling, her smile did not reach her eyes.
Madam Liu was stunned. She rolled her eyes and coughed lightly. She immediately changed the topic, "How's it going then?"
Xiao Muheng, that incompetent person. How could he even get the wrong person?
"I'm almost done. I have picked these out. Concubine Liu, take a look and see if it's appropriate." Lu Xiang stood up. She had a gentle and sweet smile on her beautiful face.
Madam Liu looked at the gorgeous satin and brocade fabrics in front of her. Her eyes immediately had greed in them. She couldn't help but walk forward and touch them. She liked every one of them.
Lu Xiang turned around and said to Lu Mingzhu, who was behind Madam Liu, "Fourth Sister, why are you in a daze? Come and choose together."
Lu Mingzhu only came back to her senses after Lu Xiang spoke to her. Her snow-white cheeks were flushed red, and she walked towards Madam Liu in a daze. She was no longer as happy as before when she saw the beautiful fabric in front of her.
Madam Liu glared at Lu Mingzhu angrily, but she couldn't say anything because Lu Xiang was present.
Lu Xiang looked at the mother and daughter who were choosing the fabric with a faint smile and asked casually, "Didn't Concubine Liu and Fourth Sister say that they would come soon? Why did you guys take such a long time? Did something happen?"
Madam Liu's hand that was caressing the fabric froze for a moment. The corners of her mouth twitched and she did not intend to say anything more. However, from her expression, Lu Xiang could tell that Madam Liu and Xiao Muheng would definitely go separate ways because of what happened today.
In her previous life, Xiao Muheng appeared when she was in danger. He descended from the sky like a god and saved her from the criminals. At that moment, she was moved and fell in love at first sight. When she found out that Xiao Muheng had asked her father to marry her, she firmly thought that he was sincere to her.
Who knew that she was just a pawn to him? The reason was that if he was able to marry the daughter of the magistrate, it would be smooth sailing for him to do business in Yangning City then.
The world only saw Xiao Muheng as the one who married the legitimate daughter of the Lu family, and he was related to the Lu family. He also benefited from the Lu family's meteoric rise thereafter.
No one knew that ever since she was engaged to Xiao Mu, she treated him as the only man of her life and had done her best to help him. She came up with a scheme to help him take the illegitimate daughter from a good family background as his concubine with the sole reason that the concubine's family would then be able to help him in his career and social status. She helped him plan, and helped him rise to a high position step by step.
After being reborn, she would never trust a man again.
She wondered if Lu Mingzhu could resist Xiao Muheng's temptation when he put on the same act of the hero saving the damsel in distress. However, judging from her absent-minded look, it was obvious that Lu Mingzhu was just as dumb as she was in her previous life.
When Madam Liu thought of the criminal she and her daughter had just met, her expression became even uglier.
"It's nothing. I woke up late," she said perfunctorily.
However, as soon as she finished speaking, Lu Mingzhu said, "Just now, three criminals stopped our carriage in the back alley. Fortunately, Mr. Xiao appeared in time and saved me and Concubine Liu." When she said this, her eyes were surprisingly bright.
Lu Xiang had a faint smile on her face as she looked at Lu Mingzhu's shy expression. What else could it be other than that she had since developed feelings for Xiao Muheng?
Lu Xiang had expected this outcome, so she was not surprised.
In her previous life, Lu Mingzhu had tried everything to snatch Xiao Muheng from her. Other than the fact that he had a bright future as the top scorer in school, the main reason was his handsome appearance.
In this life, even if Lu Mingzhu was not moved by Xiao Muheng's identity, she would still fall in love with him because of his heroic act today.