Volume 1: Hanyang Chapter 21: The Plan

  Zeng's Mansion

  Zeng's mother sat in her own courtyard, enjoying the delicate pastries carefully presented by the maids.

  Her husband is now a school officer, and in the Han Yang area, their family can be considered to have made some achievements. Zeng's mother, who likes to show off, has been working hard to learn the etiquette of those noble women.

  At this time, the sun was warm, and Zeng's mother sat in the sunlight with her eyes narrowed: "The high-ranking official of the Chang Mansion is said to be close to the noble son from Luoyang. Well, the favor that the Chang Mansion owes us will have to wait until my husband returns, and then we'll discuss it further. As for the Wang family's silk business, they must give up a share. Hmph, if he doesn't agree, I'll let that cheap servant girl Lu Yue speak out against them, saying they're ungrateful and disloyal, and force him to cough up something!"

  Enjoying the spring sunshine, Zeng's mother counted and pondered house by house, thinking about what benefits her family should ask for, and how to respond if the other party was unwilling.

  After a moment of deliberation, Old Lady Zeng let out a sigh and thought excitedly: This year is truly the lucky year for our Zeng family. Basking in the sunlight that made her squint, she couldn't help but imagine herself dressed in gold and silver, surrounded by maidservants, strolling through the streets of Hanyang with everyone lowering their heads, not daring to look at her directly, and was so delighted that she couldn't sit still.

  Just then, she caught sight of Zeng Lang rushing in hastily.

  Seeing her son's angry face, Zeng's mother stood up and coldly shouted: "Why is the child so angry? Is it because that cheap servant girl disagreed?" She spat out in disgust: "That ignorant and inexperienced cheap servant girl, how dare she refuse? I'll immediately call off this marriage and let her cry!"

  Upon hearing his mother's words, Zeng Lang's face grew even darker with anger. He rushed to sit opposite her, picked up the tea cup and drank it in one gulp, saying with hatred: "Am I afraid she won't agree? Mother, you don't know how stupid she is! She actually sold all those gifts early this morning and used the money to buy a house."

  "What?" Zeng's mother was shocked, and then her eyes were filled with stars.

  Seeing his mother staggering, Zeng Lang was taken aback, and two maidservants had already hurried to support her.

  Zeng's mother, supported by others, looked very ill, with a purplish tint to her pale complexion, and even showed signs of blood rushing to the heart. Zeng Lang was shocked, his voice rising as he loudly ordered: "Quickly, quickly go call the doctor."

  "Yes, yes." A maid turned and ran off.

  Zeng Lang took two steps forward and supported his mother, calling out in a low voice: "Mother, Mother?"

  Her mother struggled to lift her head, at this time, she only felt that the front of her forehead was like a stone tied up, heavy and dull, and the heart in her chest was beating rapidly. She didn't dare speak or open her eyes, as soon as she opened her mouth, there was a strong smell of blood, and as soon as she opened her eyes, there was a wave of dizziness, the whole person swaying back and forth, as if she would fall down at any moment.

  The maid stroked her chest for a while, and after taking a few deep breaths, Zeng's mother sat down on the couch, twisting her face in anger and said: "That slut, how dare she ruin my family's future! Go, go tell her that we want to cancel the engagement. My son will not marry anyone, let alone this good-for-nothing woman. Go, just go tell her."

  "Yes, yes, Mother, don't get angry, don't get angry."

  Not to mention the chaos in the Zeng's house, Lu Xuan and Lu Yun had bought all the necessary things, cleaned up their new home, and were so exhausted that they didn't even want to move.

  The next day, Lu Yun went to school, while Lu Xuan continued to buy household items and clean the new house.

  After everything was taken care of, it was already afternoon. There were still some things left, but none of them needed to be done in a hurry.

  By now, the brother and sister had only less than ten wu coins left from their savings over the past few days. Lu Xuan thought to himself that starting tomorrow, he would have to start selling words again.

  After taking a bath, Lu Xuan carefully thought for a while before setting off towards Pingfu.

  She didn't go directly into Ping's mansion, but instead found the gatekeeper and asked him to pass a message to Ping Yin, then stood waiting in the alley.

  Before long, Pingyuan hurried over.

  Looking at Ping Yin who had hurried over, with a rather complex expression on his face, Lu Xuan smiled slightly and said: "Ah Yin, let's find a quiet place to talk."

  "Alright."

  Two women, one in front and one behind, came to a deserted and dilapidated old house of the Ping family.

  After standing still, Ping looked around four times with his head tilted to one side, but didn't dare look at Lu Xuan.

  As for her cousin's appearance, Lu Yue pursed her lips. She lowered her eyes and said slowly: "Cousin, do you know what Yan Lang said to me yesterday?"

  "What was said?" Ping asked in her heart, but on the surface, she still lowered her head.

  Lu Xuan gazed at her for a moment, smiling: "He said I'm incredibly intelligent and that among the people I saved, there are seven families who are really something. Others would have to work hard to get close to those families, but I easily became their honored guest."

  Ping's face suddenly turned pale.

  Looking at her cousin's flustered face, Lu Xuan suddenly felt a surge of inexplicable sympathy and compassion. However, she had never been one to go soft, so despite feeling sympathetic, she still calculated what needed to be calculated.

  She raised her head and looked at Ping Yin steadily. After a while, she lowered her eyes and said: "Actually, I knew in my heart that Zeng Lang's heart belonged to you, his cousin..."

  Ping suddenly looked up at Lu Xuan. Her lips moved, and a hint of water light gradually seeped into her eyes. She looked at Lu Xuan with a pitiful expression, and Ping Yin's appearance was simply saying, Ah Xuan, since you know that we two are in love, then please fulfill us, I beg of you.

  Lü Yuè didn't look at her, but instead continued to say: "I've never liked to force people into difficulties. If Zēng Láng wants to cancel the engagement, I won't hold on to it." In the midst of Píng Yīn's joyful expression, Lü Yuè slowly said: "However, I'm already 15 years old. Once this engagement is dissolved, I'm afraid it will be difficult to find another good family... So ā Yīn, if you want me to let go of Zēng Láng, it's not hard, but for my loss, compensation must be made with money."

  After she finished speaking, she turned around calmly and walked away. Her last words still lingered in the air: "If you've made up your mind, when Uncle Zeng returns, have Stabilizing Uncle follow me to the Zeng's mansion together." Stabilizing Uncle was Ping Yin's uncle and also the most trusted person of the four houses of the Ping family.

  The corners of her mouth twitched, and Lu Xuan took a step back, thinking to herself: Once I get the silver from Ah Yin, I'll go to the Zeng's house to annul the engagement. Uncle Wen is a steady and polite person, with him accompanying me to the Zeng's house, Ping Yin will definitely feel at ease, lest she thinks that I've taken her money but won't follow through, or runs into the Zeng's house on purpose to speak ill of her.

  As for me, I just need to make a small move, and through Ping Yin's uncle, let Ping Yin's parents know what kind of person Zeng Lang is, and what kind of person Zeng's mother is.

  "Hmph, you owe me an inch, I'll make you pay back a foot! Zeng Lang, not only will I call off the engagement, but I'll also make sure you can't marry Ain! I'll let Ain's family see your true face and that of your family, making you infamous in Han Yang City, so you'll never find another good marriage prospect!"

  She was already fifteen or sixteen years old, and the divorce was not handled well, which would not only damage her reputation but also affect her brother's future. Lu Xuan had never been a kind and great person, and it could be said that she was a vengeful and ruthless person who acted solely on her feelings. She thought, the marriage must be divorced, but why couldn't it be Zeng Lang's reputation that was ruined? Why couldn't she pretend to be an innocent victim?