Chapter 77 of Volume One: Inquiry

  They got four hundred taels of silver and Lu Yun also became excited. The sister and brother talked until midnight before falling asleep.

  The next day, after seeing her brother off, Lu Xuan read for a while before heading to the market.

  Before she arrived at the market, a donkey cart stopped in front of her. At the same time, a familiar shout came, "A Xuan."

  Lu Xuan raised her head.

  She looked at Zeng Changzhi with a complex expression, revealing a hint of reluctance and sadness.

  Four eyes met, Zeng Changzhi's lips moved slightly, but no sound came out. It wasn't until after a while that he spoke in a hoarse voice: "A Xue, I and Ping Yin...". At this time when he mentioned Ping Yin, the warmth in his expression disappeared, replaced by indifference.

  Perhaps that's just how things are in the world. Because Ping Yin gave up on himself, he didn't hold onto or miss him, but Lu Yue was the one who actively rejected him, yet he couldn't let go.

  Zuo Zuo Ci said: "I and Ping Yin have already dissolved our engagement."

  Zhen Changzhi found his chest tight as he was stared at by Lu Xuan's calm and dark eyes.

  As for who's been the most eye-catching lately, it must be Lu Shi Ayu without a doubt. Almost everyone with some connections knows that she has won the favor of that noble person.

  Zeng Changzhi never thought that a fallen family like Lu Xuan would have a chance to rise again. With this mindset, when he looked at Lu Xuan, he felt that she was more beautiful than ever, with an aura that was unmatched, truly a rare beauty in his life.

  But as soon as this feeling emerged, his chest felt even more suffocated.

  After saying the words of breaking off the engagement with Ping Yin, Zeng Changzhi lowered his head and looked at Lu Yue, saying in a hoarse voice: "Ah Yue, it was my fault before. I was seduced by Ping Yin, bewildered, and neglected you."

  In the blink of an eye, the reason for his marriage change with Lu Yue was all pushed onto Pingyin's body. Zeng Changzhi didn't do this on purpose, but he really thought that it was because Pingyin seduced him and bewildered him, which made him confused for a moment and lost Lu Yue.

  In his tone, there was some unconscious resentment and dislike towards Ping Yin.

  Lu Xuan smiled and said: "Why say such things? Zeng Jialang. It's all in the past."

  She curtsied and wished him: "May you have a safe and smooth journey to Chengdu."

  Zeng Changzhi was shocked and stared wide-eyed, saying: "Ah Yue, how did you know I'm going to Chengdu?"

  "Didn't Lang Jun say that he had broken off the engagement with Ah Yin?" Lu Yue said with a matter-of-fact attitude, "If it weren't for going to Chengdu, why would Lang Jun's father act in such a way?"

  Zeng Changzhi was completely stunned.

  He stared blankly at Lu Xuan for a long time, and suddenly his father's words flashed in his mind. "Chang Zhi, Lu's daughter is cleverer than others, you gave up on her and married Ping Yin instead, it was really a big mistake."

  He had heard this before, twice, and was also moved. But never as deeply as now. With just one sentence, she could infer the actions of his entire family, a kind of intelligence that was beyond him.

  Dazed for a moment, Zeng Changzhi suddenly lifted his head. He looked at Lu Yue and asked excitedly and cautiously: "Ah Yue, I...I've always liked you, will you still marry me?" He said with utmost seriousness: "Ah Yue, I know I was wrong before, don't worry, I won't make that mistake again. I'll always be good to you, my father will like you too, he'll appreciate you. And as for my mother, don't mind her, once you enter our household, you'll definitely be in charge of the kitchen!"

  The more he spoke, the more excited and thrilled he became.

  As he spoke, Zeng Changzhi's cheeks turned bright red, his eyes shone brightly, and his heart beat rapidly with excitement.

  He felt for the first time that he had been so unhappy all this time because of his broken engagement with Lu Xue. He now realized that as long as he could be with Lu Xue again, he would be truly happy from the heart.

  How come he didn't realize how much he cared about her until now?

  At this time, Zeng Changzhi had completely forgotten that there was still a nobleman behind Lu Yue.

  Lu Xuan's expression, which had been tense with excitement and eagerness, suddenly relaxed a little as he felt an urge to smile.

  She slowly shook her head and smiled, "Zeng Lang, you know that's impossible." She said this and bowed again, "Zeng Lang, slow down, Ah Yuan has something to do."

  Having said that, she turned around and left.

  Zeng Changzhi couldn't help but feel a wave of disappointment after hearing her rejection, the disappointment was so deep that it made him lose his power of speech and thought for a moment. Therefore, he simply stretched out his head, staring blankly at Lu Yue as she walked away.

  Lu Xuan walked to the market, as she was selecting things, she found that there seemed to be more young men in the market. There were stalls offering letter-writing services, and some holding a book staring at her foolishly.

  ...the influence of wearing red clothes those two days has still not dissipated?

  In the crowd, Lu Xuan heard someone whispering: "That's the Lu family girl, she's the number one beauty in our Hanyang." At the same time, some discontented voices also came through, "A little girl, how can she show off like this every day, letting men point and stare?"

  Just as the whispers reached her ears, suddenly, Huang's familiar and intimate voice came over, "A Xuan!"

  Huang's wife's voice was a bit loud, attracting many people to look at Lu Xuan.

  Lu Yu turned around and smiled at Huang's wife, who was also smiling very kindly. She said: "Sister-in-law is also here to buy vegetables?"

  "Ah, ah." Huang's wife stepped forward and approached Lu Xuan, looked down at her basket and laughed: "It's these dishes again? Eating them every day is really not interesting. By the way, Ah Xuan, my family made some pickled vegetables that taste extremely good, I'll give you some."

  Lu Xuan naturally declined.

  But the next day, Lu Xuan saw Huang Shu again. This time it was Ping Shi's third wife's birthday celebration, and Huang Shu had come to invite her cousin over for a lively gathering.

  Not long ago, Pingfu had just sent her 700 taels of gold, so why shouldn't Lu Xuan's cousin attend the banquet?

  After apologizing on behalf of Lu Yun, Lu Yue followed Huang Shu to Pingfu.

  How long has it been since you last returned to Ping's?

  Lu Xuan turned her head to look at the birthday celebration, and also looked at the usually calm Ping family mansion, which was now more subdued than usual. She then glanced at the Ping family's servants, who were normally arrogant but now had their heads lowered in a humble attitude. In her heart, she thought: The people of the Ping family have indeed lost their confidence and are panicked.

  When arriving at the courtyard where the three branches of the Ping family lived, the sound of music and the fragrance of incense could be faintly heard from inside.

  "Ayin, let's hurry up."

  "Alright."

  Lu Xuan followed Huang Shu into the courtyard. In the yard, dozens of guests and servants stood upright, and on a nearby pavilion, a beauty was playing the zither with her slender fingers.

  When Lu Xuan came in, someone also noticed, but Lu Xuan was wearing a very simple white dress, holding a wooden box and walking with her head down. She didn't look eye-catching at all.

  After saying a word to Huang Shu, Lu Xuan saw the Pingfu girls sitting on one side and walked over.

  The girls were chatting and laughing. When they saw Lu Yue approaching, they initially just glanced at her, but when Lu Yue looked up, the girls one by one came to their senses, so this small corner also became quieter and quieter.

  Sitting on one side, the obviously plumper second sister walked over with a gentle smile, holding Lu Xuan's hand and saying: "Is it Ah Yuan who has come? It's been a long time since I've seen you, come sit by Sister."

  But it was to rescue Lu Xuan instead.

  Luoyue smiled and sat down beside Pingyi.

  After Lu Xuan sat down for a while, the people around him gradually returned to their lively conversations.

  On the other side, Ping's most beautiful six sisters occasionally cast glances at Lu Xiang. Among these sisters, those who were slightly favored knew that Lu Xiang was valued by that noble person. They thought about how much effort they had put in to get close to that noble person back then. Therefore, now seeing Lu Xiang, the six sisters and others felt somewhat displeased.

  Just then, a girl exclaimed: "Hey, why hasn't Ain come?" Another girl replied: "She hasn't been out for several days." "It's also her bad luck to have encountered such a...man-snatcher..." "Really can't see through, just a fallen family, and yet she has the nerve to seduce that noble and not let go of Zeng Changzhi, I don't know how she managed to handle it."

  The cannon fire slowly shifted onto Lu Xuan's body.

  These arrogant girls, how could they understand the situation? They had long been displeased with Lu Yue. Now that they finally saw her, of course, they would take the opportunity to mock her a couple of times.

  Among the whispers and discussions. Under the frequent glances of the crowd, Lu Xuan took over the soup brought by the maid, and drank a mouthful with an expressionless face.

  Lu Xuan's expression was cold and detached, with a hint of arrogance. Sometimes her posture was very ordinary, but she also exuded an aura. Unconsciously, the surrounding chatter subsided a bit, but at the same time, the number of disapproving glances towards her increased.

  Just then, a young woman walked over and approached Ping Yi, asking in a low voice, "Second sister, what should I do now? Will you tell me?" Her tone was already trembling with tears.

  At this, the attention of all the women immediately shifted from Lu Yu to that girl. Ping Shi's sixth sister said gently on one side: "Third sister, don't be sad, there must be a way." Fourth sister also said: "If it were earlier, big brother and second brother might have taken people to fight over. Third sister, you're really being wronged!" "Ah, grandma almost got sick from anger."

  Among the sympathetic sighs, Ping's third aunt wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and choked: "I really can't, second sister. Last time you dealt with that Ah Jiao, and now your husband is also so good to you and listens to you. You must have a way, right?"

  Her face, which had become slightly more rounded, showed a hint of difficulty. At this time, she looked at Lu Xuan and said in a low voice: "Xuan, do you have any way?"

  But as soon as she said this, the crowd of girls had already chimed in with their opinions. "Second sister, you're being too kind to her!" "Second sister, our cousin is just a young girl who hasn't even reached adulthood yet, what can she possibly do?" "Don't make things difficult for Ah Yuan."

  ……

  Among the chatter of the women, Ping Yi explained to Lu Xuan: "Ah Xuan, it's like this. Your third sister's husband recently took a concubine from a good family, didn't he? Who would have thought that this concubine was sinister? She is gentle and soft in front of her husband and also respectful and considerate towards your second sister. However, whenever your third sister's husband is not around, she comes to scheme against your third sister. Recently, she even prepared some abortifacient medicine herself and deliberately let your third sister see it, then drank the medicine in front of your third sister. As a result, she only had diarrhea twice, but your third sister's husband scolded her for being vicious and didn't speak to her for a long time. Moreover, your third sister's son was pushed into the water by that slut yesterday and almost drowned. That slut explained to your third sister's husband, saying that his son humiliated her and used needles to prick her, she was so scared that she screamed and fell down, and he laughed too hard, resulting in him slipping on a stone and falling into the river."

  She sighed and said calmly, "It's a pity that the woman has been pretending for years. Your third sister's husband always thought she was gentle and kind, tolerant and magnanimous. Moreover, the two maids around her helped that woman too. As a result, your third sister's son almost drowned to death, but until today his father hasn't visited him once. But when that woman's younger son coughed twice, he rushed over immediately."