Madam Lu’s expression became extremely ugly as she turned around to see that detestable face of Qin Yining.

“How are you here!”

Qin Yining smiled slightly. “Our family bought a residence. I came today to find the original owner to sign documents. Why would Sister Lu bring so many people bursting in and speak so rudely to my father?”

At this point, Qin Yining’s beautiful eyes glanced at Lu Heng. “Is there some misunderstanding between the Lu family and my family?”

Qin Yining was clearly implying that the Lu family was deliberately toying with the Qin family—they were the ones who arranged to meet with Qin Huaiyuan, Qin Huaiyuan honored the appointment and courteously reserved an entire floor at Drunken Immortal Tower just to meet Lu Heng, yet Madam Lu brought people to act this way.

If all this was pre-arranged by the Lu family, it would be trampling the Qin family’s dignity into the mud.

Such simple logic was understood by Lu Heng, Madam Lu, and several onlookers downstairs.

Madam Lu said with an ashen face, “Don’t speak such nonsense! Where is there any misunderstanding between the Lu and Qin families!”

“No misunderstanding?” Qin Yining’s face suddenly turned cold. “Then you’re saying Sister Lu acted deliberately? What grudge or grievance does my Qin family have with Sister Lu that you would offend my father so!”

Qin Yining was naturally bright and beautiful, but in her anger, her pair of rippling almond eyes seemed to ignite two flames, their bright gaze soul-stirring and compelling Lu Heng upstairs to unconsciously walk slowly down.

Her originally jade-like gentle beauty suddenly became so aggressively beautiful that Madam Lu couldn’t help but feel jealous and resentful upon seeing it.

If she were ten years younger, would she lose to her?!

“You needn’t put such a big hat on my head. I have no grievance with Minister Qin—why would I deliberately offend him!”

“Then why did you come? Don’t tell me you brought your subordinates out for a stroll and just happened to pass by?”

“You!”

How could Madam Lu not hear the sarcasm in Qin Yining’s words?

But things had reached this point, and she truly found it difficult to defend herself. In front of Qin Yining and Qin Huaiyuan, she naturally couldn’t say she had received reports from others and came specifically to cause trouble to prevent Qin Yining from signing documents with Lu Dehan, intending to teach her a lesson.

If it were just the two of them, she would naturally fear nothing, but now both Lu Heng and Qin Huaiyuan were present. Moreover, earlier, not knowing that Qin Huaiyuan was on the third floor, she had said so many inappropriate things and even ordered people to deal with whoever was on the third floor, saying the Lu family would take responsibility for any consequences.

Now, meeting Lu Heng’s gaze upon her, Madam Lu only felt her head splitting with pain and her entire body turning cold.

Because decisions for the Lu family had never been hers to make!

Just as Madam Lu was at a loss for words, Lu Dehan had already positioned himself three steps away from Qin Yining and bowed. “Miss Qin, we meet again.”

“Master Lu.” Qin Yining curtsied in return.

Lu Heng smiled as he looked at Qin Yining, his gaze containing three parts amusement, three parts appreciation, and four parts understanding that saw through everything.

He knew Madam Lu’s temperament best. Though she was brainless and quite domineering, if Madam Lu had known he and Qin Huaiyuan were upstairs, she absolutely would not have acted as she just had.

So Lu Heng could conclude that Madam Lu had definitely received some information and mistakenly thought Qin Yining was upstairs, which was why she dared to make such a scene, leading to today’s events.

Lu Heng had clearly seen Madam Lu’s shocked expression upon seeing Qin Yining—she obviously couldn’t believe Qin Yining would appear here at this moment.

How much had Qin Yining designed and orchestrated in this matter?

Lu Heng didn’t believe Qin Yining would so coincidentally arrange to meet someone here for business. He even less believed that Qin Yining’s guards were all so useless that they couldn’t impede the steps of those thugs Madam Lu had sent to the third floor at all.

He believed Madam Lu now also understood clearly, seeing through Qin Yining’s deliberate design just as he had guessed.

Such an obvious trap, openly and successfully crushing his plan to sow discord between His Majesty and Qin Huaiyuan, while also calculating Madam Lu, who had offended Qin Yining in recent days, into the scheme.

Could this be Qin Huaiyuan’s strategy? After all, Qin Huaiyuan was known for his wisdom rivaling Pan An.

Or was this matter designed by the extremely beautiful young lady before him?

Lu Heng was more inclined toward the second guess.

Because if Qin Yining were unrelated to this matter, she wouldn’t be standing here actively speaking with Madam Lu.

Lu Heng could sense that Qin Yining was someone with proud bones. She disdained Madam Lu’s underhanded methods and only wanted to openly step on the heads of these obstacles like them.

She wanted to directly tell them that whether it was Madam Lu’s aggressive attitude toward the Qin family’s residence matter or his attempts to sow discord between the Qin family and His Majesty, she had seen through it all clearly and intended this head-on strike to make them thoroughly understand where it hurt!

Such beauty, such uniqueness, and such intelligent, imposing bearing—this was truly the first woman Lu Heng had ever encountered in his life.

Lu Heng’s heart felt as if someone had brushed it with a feather. Itchy and tingling, though his plan had been disrupted, an inexplicable joy that no one could understand filled his heart.

Though Lu Heng’s mind raced through all these analyses, it was actually only in the space of a breath, and his expression showed no abnormality whatsoever.

“Please calm your anger, Miss Qin. Today’s events must be a misunderstanding. My friendship with Minister Qin has no other meaning and certainly no intent to insult. Moreover, why would I deliberately create such incidents to embarrass Minister Qin? It would benefit me not at all!”

Qin Yining smiled. “Indeed, it benefits you not at all, but it greatly benefits Madam Lu. Didn’t she threaten to make it impossible for our Qin family to remain in the capital!”

Lu Heng smiled slightly. “The Lu family has been passed down for over a century—it’s inevitable that there would be both good and bad members. I will certainly discipline her strictly when I return.”

At the end, Lu Heng suddenly lowered his voice, leaning close to Qin Yining’s ear to whisper, “If Miss Qin is dissatisfied with Madam Lu’s conduct, I’ll handle everything for you when I return. Since Miss Qin’s scheme has succeeded today, shouldn’t our two families call it even? Our strategies both failed—let’s call it a draw, how about it?”

Qin Yining was quite surprised to hear this, not expecting Lu Heng to see through the essence of the matter in such a short time.

No wonder he could achieve such success at such a young age.

Qin Yining felt no embarrassment at being indirectly exposed, but smiled frankly. “Since Young Master Lu puts it that way, our Qin family naturally must give Young Master Lu face. However, are you truly certain we should call it a draw?”

It really was her!

The meaning in her words could already confirm that today’s events were indeed her design.

Her confident appearance when she frankly told him that today’s events were her handiwork made Lu Heng’s heart race and pound once again.

Even though he was already married, even though he had met countless people, this feeling of his heart racing before a woman was something he had never experienced before.

Just as Lu Heng was looking at Qin Yining with an inscrutable expression, Qin Huaiyuan came downstairs to their side.

Seeing that everything had been stated both explicitly and implicitly, and that the Qin family shouldn’t really tear relations with the Lu family completely, he said, “I also believe in Young Master Lu’s sincerity in making friends with the Qin family, and I know Young Master Lu harbors no ill will. Let today’s matter end here. When we have the opportunity in the future, it won’t be too late to gather again.”

Lu Heng smiled. “Yes, today’s events are ultimately due to poor management in our Lu family. Please rest assured, Minister Qin—I will certainly handle this matter properly.”

Qin Huaiyuan smiled slightly. “No need for such trouble—it’s not worth it. This old man will take my daughter and bid farewell first.”

Lu Heng quickly glanced at Qin Yining, and that bright and beautiful countenance immediately imprinted itself deep in Lu Heng’s memory.

“Then I’ll see Minister Qin off.”

“I wouldn’t dare—please stay.”

Qin Yining called her people and followed behind Qin Huaiyuan as they went downstairs.

Lu Heng watched them leave, then slowly and methodically turned with his hands behind his back to look at Madam Lu beside him.

“Speak—what exactly happened today? If you cannot explain yourself clearly, I’ll have no choice but to send you to the clan elders for them to decide how to deal with you. At that point, it won’t be something I can control.”

The tears Madam Lu had been holding back for so long finally couldn’t help but fall.

She told Lu Heng about today’s events in detail, finally choking back sobs. “Second Cousin, I really didn’t do it on purpose. I just heard that that dead slut Qin Yining dared to openly oppose me. I couldn’t hold back.”

Lu Heng smiled slightly, looking at Madam Lu very gently. “Listen to this one piece of advice from me now. In the future, never make enemies with the Qin family, especially Qin Yining.”

“Why?! I haven’t even avenged today’s humiliation.”

“Humiliation? It’s precisely because of your poor character and cruelty to others that you’ve become like this now. If you withdraw in time, you might be able to go to a country estate to retire and live out your years. I’ll guarantee you a lifetime without worry about food and clothing.”

Upon hearing about retiring to a country estate, Madam Lu screamed with a pale face.

“No! How could I go to such a place? I’d certainly be unable to eat or sleep well there! Cousin, do you really have the heart to refuse to save me!”

“Refuse to save you? You’re becoming increasingly bold now, even learning to bargain with me.”

Lu Heng was still smiling, but the smile lines at the corners of his mouth gradually faded.

After all, he was someone experienced in business—when he wanted, his every gesture could carry imposing presence.

Though Madam Lu wasn’t particularly observant, Lu Heng’s impatient expression successfully stung her.

“Second Cousin, if I go to such a place, I’ll surely die of frustration. Second Cousin, I don’t want to go.”

“The estate has pleasant scenery and simple people. You’d live freely and comfortably there—why wouldn’t you go?”

Madam Lu was persuaded by the four words “freely and comfortably.”

Moreover, she had now unknowingly thoroughly offended Lu Heng because of the decisions she had made on her own.

In the end, Madam Lu could only bow her head and leave with her thugs.

Lu Heng remained standing in place, staring blankly at where Qin Yining had just stood, unable to help but smile.

Interesting—truly becoming more and more interesting.