Volume 1 Chapter 18: Gratitude

  Lu Xuan glanced at him, but didn't even bother to respond.

  Just as she was still sulking, Zeng Lang felt a surge of annoyance. He stretched out his hand to pull Lu Yue over, intending to take her aside and reason with her. Suddenly, another clear and loud shout came, "May I ask if Miss Lu Yue is here?" The voice was followed by four slender and elegant maidservants, dressed more beautifully than ordinary young ladies-in-waiting, walking towards them with gentle steps.

  Under everyone's gaze, Lu Xuan said: "It was me."

  As soon as her voice fell, the four maidservants smiled simultaneously and walked straight to Lu Yue's front. After a curtsy, one of the maidservants said respectfully: "My mistress says that you have helped our young master. This humble gift, please don't despise it." They bent down and placed the wooden box in their hands respectfully in front of Lu Yue.

  Seeing the four beauties leaving, Zeng Lang suddenly exclaimed: "I remember them, they are from the Chang Mansion!" The Chang Mansion was a place that had produced two officials, one of whom still held considerable power in Chengdu. And the other official, who came from Hanyang and held high power, was exactly the person his father wanted to get close to!

  At this moment, Zeng Lang suddenly turned his head and looked at Lu Yue with extreme surprise. He really felt that Lu Yue had never been so dazzling as she was now.

  This time, until Wang Da Shanren also left, Zeng Lang finally walked up to Lu Yue with big strides. He looked down at Lu Yue, thought for a moment, and then smiled: "A Yue, quickly tell me, how did you help them? That Wang Da Shanren said you saved his son, but you're just a weak woman. Quickly tell me, how did you save him at that time?"

  He was apparently somewhat excited, speaking in a soft and rapid tone.

  Lu Xuan raised her head and looked at Zeng Lang, then glanced behind him. After searching for a while, Lu Xuan said: "Ah, where's Ai Yin?"

  "Never mind her now." Zeng Lang said irritably: "I'm talking to you, don't change the subject."

  Lu Yun's lips curved slightly as she said lightly, "It seems that Zeng family's Lang Jun doesn't understand human language. I've said it before, there is no connection between us anymore!" Her expression was icy, her tone even colder.

  Zeng Lang was taken aback.

  He stared straight at Lu Xuan, stared for a while, and suspiciously thought: Something's not right, Ah Xuan's attitude towards me has changed too quickly, could it be that she has climbed onto some high branch?

  As soon as this idea emerged, he immediately confirmed it himself. Suddenly, his eyes turned cold, and his thin lips were pursed tightly.

  At the same time, Ain, who was being taken care of by Lu Xuan, sat dispiritedly in the returning donkey cart.

  She counted her fingers for a moment, then couldn't help but raise her voice and called out: "A Nan, go ask around and see what exactly Lu Yue did that was so unbearable!"

  "Yes."

  The horse carriage stopped after a short while, and before two minutes were up, the coachman Ah Nan ran over, panting: "Fifth Auntie, I've found out. Hehe, that matter has really spread far and wide. Today isn't it the day when Qiu Gong was stabbed? At that time, the assassin mixed in with a dozen or so scholars to make his move. Originally those scholars were all caught, but because Eldest Auntie stepped forward to find the real culprit they were able to be saved, so the parents of those scholars are extremely grateful to Eldest Auntie."

  As soon as Ah Nan's voice fell, Ah Yin's face twisted and she shouted in a shrill voice: "Impossible! If such a big man can't find the real culprit, why can she, a little girl, do it? There must be something wrong here."

  "It's true, Wu Guniang. If you don't believe me, go listen for yourself. Everyone is discussing it enthusiastically now. Many people are saying that they didn't expect your cousin to be such a clever person."

  He didn't say anything, but Ah Yin was both disbelieving and resentful. Zeng Lang on the other side was shocked and suspicious, and involuntarily leaned in close to Lu Yue wanting to say a few words of comfort.

  At this time, another footsteps came, but it was two ordinary students brought by their parents to thank Lu Xuan.

  How dare Lu Xuan accept it? She was so scared that she hastily dodged, and finally, after much persuasion, accepted the small gifts of eggs and rice they brought.

  Then, Zeng Lang couldn't find any opportunity to be alone with Lu Xuan again. One after another, the parents rushed over, some expressing gratitude and others presenting gifts. It wasn't until the sky was completely dark that they finally left one by one.

  As soon as those people left, Lu Xuan entered the house. Zeng Lang was about to chase after her, but was held back by Lu Yun, who suddenly pulled out a broom from beside him and swept him back several steps.

  Reluctantly retreating to the ground, Zeng Lang's face turned pale and he finally couldn't help but call out: "A Xuan, you rest well. I'll come again tomorrow." As he said this, he shot a fierce glance at Lu Yun, but at that moment Lu Yun was busy carrying gifts into the house and didn't notice.

  Sitting on the donkey cart of his own home, listening to the rolling sound of "ge zi ge zi" from the wheels, Zeng Lang, who had been frowning all along, couldn't help but start a conversation with the driver, "A Gen, do you know? Among those people who came to Lu's mansion today, half of them are rich officials from Hanyang City."

  Argen swung his whip and, after heavily whipping the donkey's back, smiled foolishly: "Of course, those who can send their children to school are all good families."

  He had heard this before, and he sighed: "Yes, they are all good people. They saved the children of seven wealthy families, and if used properly, it's not a mountain of gold and silver?" The reason for this matter, at this time he had already inquired clearly.

  The more he thought about it, the more Zeng Lang felt a pang in his heart. After a while, he sighed and said, "What a pity, Ah Yue is really too stubborn. What are those gifts worth? Can they replace the life of one's own child? Alas, how could I have done such a thing?"

  But in a flash, he became excited again. "Ah Yu is my fiancée after all, and she has done me a favor, which is equivalent to doing a favor for me. This time when Father returns home, I must discuss with Father how to make use of this matter."

  He spoke with great enthusiasm, but Argen, who was familiar with some of his actions, looked surprised. After a while, Argen asked in a low voice: "Lang Jun, didn't you say you didn't want to marry A Xue? Do you want to marry that Ping Shi's niece Ah Yin as your wife?"

  Zeng Lang hummed and said lightly, "This doesn't conflict. I never thought of giving up on Ah Yue. She entered my family's door and became a concubine, that kindness is also from me, the husband." Zeng Lang was in an extremely good mood today, rarely explaining, "Ah Yin and Ah Yue are different after all. Ah Yue was clever for once today, but this kind of thing is rare, it doesn't count as anything. Compared to her, Ah Yin has a good family background and so much dowry, she's the one who's more worth marrying back home to control."

  He muttered to himself, "Besides, if I marry Ah Yue, Ah Yin will definitely not be my turn. But if I marry Ah Yin, it's different. At that time, Ah Yue will still be mine. This business, no matter how you calculate it, is worth it."

  Argen fell silent upon hearing this. He recalled the attitude Lu Xue had towards Zeng Lang earlier and couldn't help but think: Ah, Xue is being so serious, it's unlikely that either of the two ladies will be able to get him. However, he only thought about it and didn't dare say it out loud.