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

Chapter 26 Entering a Dead End
Lu Xin was startled, not expecting that she had come to talk about this matter.

Her eyes flickered, and she feigned ignorance, saying, "Why are you asking me, Aunt? I don't know. There were many guests that day; perhaps he came in with other guests."

Wei said, "I asked the servants who greeted the guests at the front gate that day. They carefully checked the invitations of the guests. Those scions of noble families all entered the mansion with their invitations. They did not see any of the scions of noble families bring friends, nor did they see Wang Zeren enter through the front gate."

Lu Xinqiang laughed and said, "But there were so many guests that day, the servants couldn't necessarily check every single one of them. Oversights are possible."

"This isn't the first time our Duke of Dingguo's mansion has hosted a banquet, and they've never made such a mistake before. Besides, there are more than just one or two servants to greet guests," Madam Wei said calmly.

Lu Xin looked puzzled. "If Wang Zeren didn't enter through the front door with the guests, how did he get in?"

"That's a question for you to answer!" Madam Wei's voice suddenly became stern, and her gaze sharpened as she looked at her.

Lu Xin's heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to remain calm and said, "Auntie, why do you say that? Why are you asking me? What does it have to do with me?"

"What does this have to do with you? You were the one who brought Wang Zeren into the mansion at the flower viewing banquet that day!" Madam Wei said coldly.

Lu Xin's heart sank, but she denied it and instead said emphatically, "I don't know Wang Zeren at all. I don't know where I offended you, Auntie, that you would wrong me like this."

"I'm accusing you?" Madam Wei sneered and ordered outside, "Granny Fang, bring the person in!"

Soon, an old woman was brought in by Granny Fang.

Upon seeing the old woman, Lu Xin's pupils contracted, and she clenched her fists.

The old woman knelt down on the ground. "This servant greets Madam."

"You were on duty at the flower-viewing banquet that day, guarding the back door. Answer truthfully, did the Third Miss ask you to let a man in that day?" Madam Wei asked in a deep voice.

The old woman nodded without hesitation and said, "That is indeed the case."

Madam Wei turned her gaze to Lu Xin, "What else do you have to say?"

Lu Xin's expression changed; she was furious and regretted bringing Wang Zeren in that day.

Not only did he fail to harm Zhiwan, but he also brought this trouble upon himself.

Who would have thought that, after so much time had passed, the Wei family would suddenly start investigating this matter again?

Whatever Wei's reasons were, she absolutely could not admit it!
Thinking of this, she immediately said, "I did bring a man in, but that man was not Wang Zeren, but my cousin."

Anyway, the old woman had never met her cousin and had no idea who had been let in that day, so she could say whatever she wanted.

Madam Wei saw through her thoughts at a glance, sneered inwardly, and said indifferently, "Oh, so it's your cousin who's here? Is that Lou Junyou?"

In this generation of the Lou family, Lou Junyou was the only male heir.

Lu Xin didn't have time to think much and nodded, "Exactly."

"If he's your cousin, why did you let him in through the back door? Besides, I didn't see your cousin at the flower viewing banquet that day. I think you're lying!" Madam Wei slammed her hand on the armrest and shouted angrily.

Lu Xin was so shocked that her face turned pale. She lowered her head and stammered, "My cousin came late that day, so it was faster to come in through the back door. So, so I let him come in through the back door."

“In that case, I will have someone invite your cousin over so you can confront each other. I believe that with your cousin’s character, he won’t lie for you,” Madam Wei said coldly.

Upon hearing this, Lu Xin broke out in a cold sweat.

Her cousin was a rigid and pedantic scholar who considered himself a gentleman and disdained to lie. If she called him over, her lies would be exposed on the spot.

At this moment, Lu Xin regretted it very much. Of all the people she could have dragged in, why did she have to use her cousin Lou Junyou as an excuse?

“My cousin is going to take the imperial examination next year. My aunt is very strict with him. He is studying hard every day and my aunt will not let him go out.”

"A trip to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion won't take much time, and I'm sure your aunt isn't that inflexible. Someone, go and invite Young Master Lou over!" Madam Wei glanced at her and gave the order directly. "Yes." Granny Fang replied respectfully and turned to leave.

Lu Xin shuddered in fright.

No, we can't let my cousin come.

But how can she stop her aunt?

Lu Xin panicked.

Knowing full well that this matter could no longer be concealed, they realized that it could no longer be kept secret.

In a panic, she knelt down and said, "Auntie, I was wrong. Wang Zeren... I did bring him in."

Seeing that she had finally admitted it, Madam Wei asked in a deep voice, "Why did you bring him in?"

Lu Xin broke out in a cold sweat. Of course, she couldn't say that it was to harm Zhi Wan.

"He... he was just curious about what our Duke Dingguo's mansion looked like, so he begged me to bring him in."

"So, you and Wang Zeren have a very good personal relationship?" Madam Wei looked at her sarcastically.

Lu Xin was shocked. "Auntie, how can you say that? Wang Zeren and I have absolutely no affair." If this got out, her reputation would be completely ruined.

"Since you two have no romantic relationship, why did you secretly bring Wang Zeren into the mansion?" Madam Wei asked in a deep voice.

“He kept begging me, and I… I couldn’t bear to refuse.” Lu Xin’s eyes flickered.

"Why did he have to ask you for help instead of anyone else? And now you still won't admit to having an affair with him? You've completely disgraced the Lu family!" After saying this, Madam Wei slammed her hand on the armrest. "Go and fetch the Second Madam!"

Lu Xin's face was ashen.

I don't understand how I got myself into this dead end.

She can't tell the truth now, and she can't lie either.

If she told the truth—that she brought Wang Zeren into the mansion to harm Zhiwan—then Madam Wei would probably skin her alive. But if she didn't tell the truth, Madam Wei would accuse her of having an affair with Wang Zeren.

Not long after, the Lou family arrived.

Seeing her daughter kneeling on the ground in such a disheveled state, Lou felt uncomfortable and looked at Wei, saying, "Sister-in-law, what's wrong with you...?"

Madam Wei sighed, "What a misfortune for our family! That girl Xin'er has acted so recklessly, secretly making advances on Wang Zeren. You'll have to deal with it yourself!"

"What?" Mrs. Lou was shocked and looked at her daughter in disbelief.

Lu Xin hurriedly shook her head in denial, "Mother, I didn't, you have to believe me..."

Upon hearing this, Lou Shi composed herself and looked at Wei Shi with a grim expression. "Sister-in-law, although Xin'er is a bit willful, she wouldn't do something like that. There must be some misunderstanding. A young lady's reputation is so important. Your words will ruin Xin'er."

"Are you saying that I wronged Lu Xin?" Madam Wei asked, her face showing displeasure.

“That’s not what I meant…” Lou said sullenly.

Wei said sarcastically, "You don't know yet, do you? At the flower viewing banquet that day, Xin'er secretly took Wang Zeren and sneaked into the mansion through the back door. The old woman on duty can testify to this, and Lu Xin just admitted it herself."

Seeing how certain she spoke, Lou's heart sank. "Is...such a thing really true?"

(End of this chapter)