Chapter 193 - 142
Xie Wanqing was stunned by such words, her pupils gradually dilating with disbelief.
What does he truly see women as?
Unable to endure her gaze, Lu Ziyuan frowned and said, "If I’d known you’re always soft-hearted toward this woman, I shouldn’t have let you see her."
With a wave of his hand, Mingjian, who witnessed their argument, felt as if granted amnesty and quickly carried the person out.
Just as the door was about to close again, a clear and urgent female voice sounded outside.
The voice snapped Xie Wanqing back to her senses; she looked up to see a woman avoiding Mingjian’s obstruction and running inside.
With a glance, Xie Wanqing guessed the woman’s identity.
This was probably the beauty from the plan Lu Ziyuan set for Pei Yuqing, the cousin who resembled her greatly.
Indeed, they looked very similar.
Suddenly seeing a person who looks seventy percent like herself shocked Xie Wanqing visually.
Chen Xixi felt the same; originally her knees were about to give way, but she straightened up and stared at Xie Wanqing, stunned.
Recovering, she showed her confusion and tentatively called out, "Cousin?"
Xie Wanqing was startled.
"You must be the cousin from the Xie family," upon confirming the identity, Chen Xixi’s face lit up with joy, and she urged, "Please, save me!"
Seeking rescue the moment she arrived, and they were in a military camp.
Xie Wanqing’s mind seemed to have been struck by something heavy, leaving her bewildered.
Has Lu Ziyuan changed professions and become a madam?
Specializing in throwing women into military camps?
She slowly turned her head and looked at the person beside her.
No words were needed; just one glance made Lu Ziyuan understand her thoughts.
His face turned dark instantly, "It’s not what you think."
Even though Chen Xixi learned to read expressions from a young age, she couldn’t guess what Xie Wanqing was thinking and thought she misunderstood her relationship with Lu Ziyuan, hastily attempting to explain.
Lu Ziyuan shot a cold glance, silencing the rambling Chen Xixi, leaving her fearful and quiet.
Seeing the situation, Xie Wanqing felt a sudden pang.
She recalled Pei Yuqing saying that when Lu Ziyuan was affected by drugs, two women went into the room.
Seeing how he seems to disregard women, it indeed seemed possible for him to spend the night with two women.
Lu Ziyuan couldn’t know what she was imagining about him at that moment; he tilted his head and earnestly explained, "She is here because I plan to send someone to escort her back to Qingzhou, there is no intention to let her serve the military."
He received her at that time preparing to use her for that old man; now that the plan fell through, naturally he would return her to where she came from.
Having learned from experience, Lu Ziyuan had long resolved to never keep any woman by his side in this life, ensuring no misunderstandings that could affect his grand pursuit of a wife.
Considering Liu Manrou’s situation, Xie Wanqing remained skeptical about his words and looked at her distant cousin.
Seeing her gaze, Chen Xixi’s knees buckled, softly kneeling, tears falling before she spoke, lips moving as though she wanted to say something but hesitantly looked at Lu Ziyuan, clearly frightened.
This act made Lu Ziyuan’s expression darken abruptly.
Xie Wanqing frowned slightly at the sight, "He said he’ll send you home, is that true?"
"Mr. Lu speaks the truth, it’s just that Xi’er doesn’t want to go back," Chen Xixi cried softly, "My birth mother is no longer in this world, and the Chen Mansion is no longer my home. Once I return..."
Unaware of today’s events at the court, where the Chen family was on the brink of ruin, she merely imagined the situation she would face upon returning home, looking terrified.
"Girls like me who are returned by nobles never end well."
Chen Xixi trembled all over, tears flowing, disregarding her delicate posture, sobbing without image.
"The best outcome would be my father recognizing me as a daughter of the Chen family, selling me again as a maid or concubine."
Just this time, it’s uncertain into what sort of danger she’ll be sent.
"It’s more likely my father finds me useless, unable to win over nobles, and tosses me into the Chen family backyard, like those thin horses kept in the Mansion waiting to serve guests in bed."
Speaking, she sobbed once, "My third sister ended up as a household courtesan for guests after being returned."
After saying this, the room fell silent.
Except for Chen Xixi’s sobs, no one spoke for a moment.
Mingjian outside, carrying Liu Manrou, and Lu Ziyuan who stayed in Qingzhou for a few months, knew well what kind of person Chen Wen was, but Xie Wanqing listened as if hearing celestial books.
Her aunt, a concubine-born lady from the Marquis Qu Mansion; even if her birth mother was humble, causing doubts about her lineage, hadn’t been inscribed into Mrs. Zheng’s family tree, but must have married as a noble concubine at that time.