The abstinent and powerful minister is cold and aloof during the day, but he adores her in his dream

Chapter 186 My cousin has always been of high moral character and integrity.

Upon hearing this, Chu Chu was overjoyed.

Once she enters Lord Lu's courtyard, he probably won't say anything when he returns. And once she's by Lord Lu's side, she has plenty of ways to truly become his person.

She curtsied and thanked him, saying, "Thank you..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a voice.

"Madam, Aunt, this woman is a former courtesan from Yangzhou. My cousin has absolutely no relation to her. Please don't be fooled by her."

The person who arrived was none other than Zhiwan.

She listened outside the door for a while, and after getting a general idea of ​​what had happened, she came in.

Upon hearing her words, everyone in the hall changed their expressions and turned to look at her.

"What did you say? She's a Yangzhou courtesan?" Lou asked, her mouth agape in astonishment.

Zhiwan frowned. "How come the Second Madam doesn't know? I thought Lu Lan had told you, after all, she and Aunt Jinglan brought the person back."

Lu Lan's expression changed. Seeing Lou Shi's sharp gaze sweep over her, she hurriedly said, "Sister Zhiwan, isn't there some misunderstanding? How could Miss Chuchu be a 'thin horse'?"

“Yes, Wan’er, you can’t just say things like that.” Lu Jinglan frowned, her tone full of disapproval. “Besides, Miss Chu Chu does indeed live in the Lu family’s villa. If she and Jin Zhi had nothing going on, why would Jin Zhi let her stay for so long?”

"Wan'er, is what you're saying true?" Wei ignored what the others were saying and quickly pulled Zhiwan's hand, making her sit next to her. "Tell me what exactly happened."

Zhi Wan said, “Everything I said is true. There were seven slender women sent to the Lu family’s villa at the time, and Chu Chu was one of them. My cousin took them in as a temporary measure for official business, but he did not do anything out of line with them. When we went to Panyun Manor, my cousin also took me and Ouyang Zhenzhu with him. Moreover, my cousin only stayed at the manor for one night before leaving. On the contrary, Zhenzhu and I spent more time with this Miss Chu Chu.”

Madam Wei immediately understood, and glanced at Lu Jinglan and Lu Lan with displeasure, "You two are really traitors. As members of the Lu family, you help outsiders and damage the reputation of your own family."

Zhiwan looked at the two with disapproval, "My cousin has always been upright and of noble character. Aunt Jinglan and Lu Lan, as members of the Lu family, why are you helping an outsider to slander my cousin and damage his reputation? What are your intentions? Do you have any respect for the Lu family?"

After being reprimanded and questioned by the two, Lu Jinglan and Lu Lan's expressions froze.

But soon, Lu Jinglan frowned and said, "Why... do you think of us like that? We only brought Chuchu back from afar for Jinzhi's own good. Otherwise, if this matter were to spread, Jinzhi would be accused of starting something and then abandoning it, which would really damage his reputation."

"Aunt Jinglan, you would rather believe an outsider than believe in your cousin's character? There's nothing between my cousin and this Chuchu, so how can you say he started something and then abandoned it? You've really gone too far!" Zhiwan said, her face filled with disappointment and anger.

Madam Wei was also furious. She pointed her finger at Lu Jinglan's nose and cursed, "You can't expect anything good to come out of a dog's mouth. What are you up to by slandering Jinzhi like this?"

Lu Jinglan's face instantly turned ugly. She quickly tugged at Old Madam Lu's arm and said in a wronged tone, "Mother, I only brought Chuchu back for the sake of the Lu family and for Jinzhi's sake. I didn't expect that it would cause my sister-in-law and Wan'er to misunderstand like this..."

Madam Lu patted her hand, then frowned at Madam Wei and Zhiwan, "You don't need to be so agitated. I think Chuchu is quite good. Although she comes from a humble background, even if there's nothing between Jinzhi and her, she's already here, so she can stay. It's good for Jinzhi to have someone to take care of him."

Upon hearing this, Lou chimed in, "Yes, sister-in-law, Chu Chu seems like a good girl. She's willing to be Jinzhi's concubine; it's just a matter of adding another pair of chopsticks. Sister-in-law, please keep her."

Hearing the two of them talking back and forth, Madam Wei was furious.

She sneered and looked at Madam Lou, "Since you think Chuchu is so good, why not let her be Lu Jun's concubine? Lu Jun is not young anymore. With someone serving him attentively, he will surely pass the imperial examination next spring!" Madam Lou said awkwardly, "Sister-in-law, you are joking. Chuchu is after Jinzhi. How can our Lu Jun take away what my brother desires?"

“You can eat whatever you want, but you can’t say whatever you want. My sister-in-law is getting on in years, don’t you understand this principle? Besides, Chu Chu’s background is unknown, and our eldest son’s family dares not take her. If your Lu Jun doesn’t like her, I’ll go ask my second brother. Maybe he’s short of bedding and would be willing to take Chu Chu in.” Madam Wei said slowly.

Lou's expression changed drastically, and she said angrily, "How could you say such a thing, sister-in-law?"

"I just saw that you really like Chu Chu, so I thought I'd have her keep you company! Of course, I was just making a suggestion. If you don't agree, that's fine. Why are you so angry?" Madam Wei said with a half-smile.

Lou fell silent instantly.

Listening to what everyone was saying, Chu Chu's heart sank deeper and deeper.

She hadn't expected the Lu family to be so difficult to deal with.

Especially Wei Shi and Zhi Wan.

But things had already come to this point, so she naturally couldn't back down.

Thinking it over, she clenched her palm tightly and said in a sobbing voice, "I know that because of Lord Lu, Miss Wan'er doesn't like me, but the things between Lord Lu and me are not something a young unmarried girl like you can understand. Although Lord Lu loves you and takes you everywhere, there are some things... he won't do in front of you."

Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Lu Lan's eyes. Chu Chu was implying that Zhi Wan was targeting her because she was jealous of her elder brother's kindness towards Chu Chu. Moreover, Chu Chu's words implied that her elder brother and she had a close relationship.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but glance at Zhiwan, trying to see panic on her face.

But she was about to be disappointed; Zhiwan's face remained calm, showing no sign of anything amiss.

A hint of jealousy flashed across Lu Jinglan's eyes.

If it weren't for the fact that Chu Chu could annoy Wei Shi and Zhi Wan, she would never have brought her back to the Lu family.

What a despicable woman! Does she even deserve to be called one?

"Snapped!"

Suddenly, a crisp slapping sound rang out from inside the room.

"You insolent wretch!" Madam Wei slammed her hand down, her anger barely contained. "What kind of vile creature dares to act so presumptuously in my Duke Dingguo's mansion? Guards, escort her out of the mansion!"

Chu Chu covered her slapped face, filled with resentment, but her face showed a pitiful expression. She immediately knelt down and cried uncontrollably, "I am indeed from a poor family, but I was once a girl from a good family. How can you treat me like this, Madam? Before I met Lord Lu, I was still a virgin. If Madam does not acknowledge me, I will become a lowly maid and serve you for life. I beg you, Madam, to give Chu Chu a way to live."

"Stop with your pitiful act. Do you think I can't see through your tricks?" Madam Wei looked at Granny Fang with disgust and ordered, "Send her out!"

Seeing this, Zhiwan leaned close to Wei's ear and whispered a reminder: "Aunt, don't forget about Wang Shuya's matter. We still need to send Chuchu far away to avoid being bitten back by her."

　Zhiwan is not far from learning the truth.
　　(End of this chapter)