Chapter 20: Reaping What One Sows

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“Mother, I’m finished, I’m truly finished...” Lu Wanhe ran in tearfully, throwing herself into Li Xianyue’s embrace.

Li Xianyue’s harsh demeanor softened into a gentle smile as she patted Lu Wanhe’s back and said, “Silly child, it’s just some rumors. Why bother with them? Life is too exhausting if you fret over every little thing.”

“But the rumors outside are so cruel. How can I face anyone now? Who is the bastard spreading these lies? If I catch him, I’ll tear him apart and feed him to the dogs.” Lu Wanhe clenched her handkerchief tightly, her eyes full of venom.

“Enough. You must watch your words and actions—if Prince Yuan hears this, it won’t be good. Rest assured, I will handle this for you,” Li Xianyue reassured her. “Tomorrow’s the autumn exams. It’s a perfect chance to deepen your relationship with Prince Yuan—you mustn’t miss it. I’ll also help you negotiate with your aunt.”

Hearing this, Lu Wanhe’s spirits soared. She was determined to seize this rare opportunity.

At the Marquis of Dongyang’s residence, Zhuang Huaijin sipped his tea in high spirits. In his previous life, on the third day after marrying Lu Lanxi, it was the day of the autumn exams when Prince Yuan noticed Lu Wanhe. Reluctantly, she married Prince Yuan and fell into a fiery pit, destined to be close yet apart for a lifetime.

Tomorrow was the autumn exams. He had to prevent this tragedy from repeating.

“Young master, bad news! The rumors outside are terrible—” his attendant Jin Bao came running to report.

Instead of worrying about restoring his reputation, Zhuang Huaijin hobbled toward the door on his injured leg.

“Where are you going?” the Marquis’s wife asked as she came to check on his injury, seeing him limping toward the gate.

“Mother, the rumors are spreading everywhere. Wanhe must be miserable. I need to see her. She’s so reserved—I fear she might not handle this well.”

Before the Marquis’s wife could respond, Zhuang Huaijin was already gone, running faster than a rabbit despite his injury.

“Madam, shall I send someone to bring the young master back?”

“No need. He won’t turn back unless he hits a wall or falls into a coffin. Let him go.”

“But the Lu family surely won’t be courteous to him...”

“If that’s the case, then all the disdain is his own doing. Let him taste neglect and ridicule.”

...

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At the Lu residence.

“Madam, Young Master Zhuang is here,” someone announced.

Lu Wannian sneered with a fierce glint in her eyes. “He harmed my eldest sister so badly, and he still dares come? Chase him out at once!”

“Wannian, wait,” Li Xianyue pondered for a moment.

“Take him to the parlor and have him wait,” she instructed.

“Mother, he’s already ruined sister’s reputation. Why let him in? Won’t that cause more gossip and further damage our family’s name?” Lu Wannian couldn’t understand her mother’s decision.

“You’re young and don’t understand these social dealings. I have my reasons,” Li Xianyue said.

“I’ll play the stern one in front of him. Wanhe, you act pitiful and aggrieved to make him feel guilty. If he begs to marry you, find an excuse to string him along...” Li Xianyue laid out the plan.

Lu Wanhe immediately understood. Her mother was savvy and thorough.

Zhuang Huaijin waited an entire hour in the parlor before Li Xianyue strolled in leisurely.

“Madam Lu...” he stood to greet her, but Li Xianyue didn’t spare him a glance. She sat in the main seat, sipped her tea, and said coldly, “Young Master Zhuang, why don’t you have some tea? Is the Lu residence’s tea not to your liking?”

Zhuang Huaijin glanced at the empty table and forced a smile. “Madam Lu, you jest. My leg is injured, and the doctor advised against tea.”

Li Xianyue snorted. Ridiculous—no one had even served him tea, yet he brazenly inflated his own importance.

“Oh, call me Madam Lu. I can’t bear to be called aunt.”

“Yes, Madam Lu,” he replied, somewhat deflated.

“Your leg was fine yesterday. How did you get injured today?”

“To be honest, it’s because of...” Zhuang Huaijin began, but Li Xianyue cut him off. She had heard the rumors and simply chose to ignore him.

“You didn’t come here for a pleasant chat, did you?”

“Madam Lu, actually, I came to see Wanhe. Where is she?” he asked, looking around.

“Don’t bother looking. She won’t see you. You claim to love her, yet you’ve never cared about her reputation. Is that your idea of love?”

“Madam Lu, I know I was impulsive yesterday. Please let me see her. I just want to know if she’s well—then I can be at ease.”

“Don’t you already know how she is?”

“Madam Lu, I’m sorry. But I truly love Wanhe. Yesterday I threatened to take my own life. My mother finally agreed I could propose on an auspicious day. Then Wanhe will naturally be my fiancée, and no one can say otherwise.”

“Threatening suicide is your affair. Wanhe never asked you to do that. Go home and don’t come back. The Lu family does not welcome you.”

Li Xianyue’s tea lost its fragrance instantly. Zhuang Huaijin’s obsession was so deep; kindly put, he was a hopeless romantic; harshly, a fanatic. Threatening suicide just to marry Wanhe.

Seeing Li Xianyue’s firm rejection, Zhuang Huaijin passionately continued, “Madam Lu, I promise I will bring glory to my family, become the youngest general, famed across the land. Wanhe will be a noble lady. If I betray her, may heaven strike me with thunder.”

He spoke with conviction because in his past life, he indeed became the youngest young general of Dongzhao within a year, galloping across battlefields, cutting through thorns and brambles.

This life, he firmly believed, he would shine just as brightly.

But Li Xianyue ignored him entirely. Feeling foolish, he was about to leave, embarrassed to linger.

Just then, tearful Lu Wanhe floated into the room.

Zhuang Huaijin’s eyes brightened instantly with longing.

“Bang!”

Li Xianyue threw down her teacup, shattering it at Lu Wanhe’s feet.

“Who told you to come out? Such disgrace! Go back to your room at once.”

“Mother, I’m unfilial. Please just let me say a few words to Brother Huaijin.”

“I promise, just a few words... sob, sob...” Lu Wanhe’s red-rimmed eyes overflowed, tears cascading down like a waterfall.

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