After the initial anger subsided, Shi Fa Ke calmed down. The more she thought about it, the more she felt something was fishy about this situation. Although Madam Zhu was aloof, she was someone who loved her daughter like her own life, and she wasn’t the type to be unreasonable and tyrannical… How could she suddenly turn hostile and change her mind?

Could it be that something she didn’t know about had happened in between?

Shi Fa Ke thought about it and decided to return to Willow Leaf Lane first.

Watching Shi Fa Ke being driven away reluctantly, Madam Zhu slowly opened her palm. In it was an exquisite jade pendant – the very jade pendant that Zhu Yanyan had always treasured and worn close to her body, never taking it off even when sleeping. She had previously suspected how that penniless scholar could have such a fine thing… Now it seemed this item was likely ill-gotten.

Such a filthy thing had been treasured and worn close to Yanyan’s body for ten years. Madam Zhu angrily raised her hand to smash the jade pendant, but at that moment she suddenly remembered her daughter’s almost desperate look when the jade pendant was taken away. In the end, she couldn’t bring herself to break it, instead gripping it tightly with such force that it almost embedded into her palm.

That scheming thief!

“How is the young lady doing?” After a long while, she asked faintly.

“The young lady is still kneeling.” Caiyun, the trusted maid standing nearby, reported with trembling fear.

She had been kneeling all night… The young lady had always been weak, this was using her life to force Madam’s hand.

Madam Zhu gripped the jade pendant tightly in her hand and said through gritted teeth: “She’s trying to force me. Go tell her to abandon this hope – I’ve already refused this marriage. Even if I have to support her for the rest of my life, I will never let her marry into a den of thieves!”

Caiyun silently groaned inwardly but dared not disobey, bowing her head in acknowledgment before withdrawing.

Soon after, Caiyun came running back in panic, her face pale as wax: “Madam, the young lady has coughed up blood!”

Madam Zhu suddenly stood up, her body rigid for a long time, then hardened her heart and sat back down, only saying: “The young lady is ill. Please have Doctor Feng come to the residence to examine her.”

In Zhu Yanyan’s boudoir.

Zhu Yanyan lay on the bed, her face like golden paper, breathing weakly. Having heard the message her mother specifically sent through Caiyun, the last glimmer of light in her eyes also disappeared.

Caiyun was her mother’s confidant – her words were her mother’s words.

“Young lady…” The wet nurse kept wiping her tears at the side. “You’re cutting out Madam’s heart!”

Zhu Yanyan closed her eyes, feeling utterly exhausted.

“I know I’m extremely unfilial and shameless, failing the teachings of Mother and Wet Nurse, but…” She murmured a sentence but could no longer continue, falling unconscious in a daze.

But… her heart was beyond her control.

Meanwhile, Shi Fa Ke returned to Willow Leaf Lane with a heavy heart, only to see it was quite lively outside the lane, with several carriages parked there. The carriages were piled high with boxes large and small, all bearing the mark of Jinman Tower.

This formation… was Jinman Tower delivering betrothal gifts?

Seeing such a grand display, Shi Fa Ke felt somewhat troubled. If she told them that Madam Zhu had refused the marriage, wouldn’t she be thrown out by Uncle Lu and Aunt Lu?

The courtyard gate was wide open. Shi Fa Ke steeled herself and walked to the entrance, where she saw a middle-aged man in a sand-colored round-collar robe chatting familiarly with Lu Chi’s father… Shi Fa Ke recognized this person – it was Shen Tongyun’s father, Shen Qing, the owner of Jinman Tower.

Shen Qing was extremely talented in business – this was what her second brother had said. Second Brother privately held this Master Shen in high regard. However, for the grand owner of Jinman Tower to personally escort goods was quite unusual, and judging by Shen Qing’s attitude toward Uncle Lu, there was respect mixed with familiarity.

Shi Fa Ke found it strange, remembering how yesterday at Jinman Tower, when Lu Zhuxi had given the shopkeeper a long list asking him to prepare betrothal gifts according to the list, he had been thoroughly mocked by their owner’s daughter Shen Tongyun… Yet today Jinman Tower had eagerly delivered the goods, with the big owner personally escorting them?

Just as Shi Fa Ke was observing from the entrance, Xu Feiqiong noticed her return and walked over with a smile to pull her in: “What are you standing at the door for? Come in.”

Shi Fa Ke looked at the courtyard full of boxes large and small. If these were all betrothal gifts, they would be the most generous in Tongluozhen. But the more thoroughly and sincerely the Lu family prepared, the more guilty and ashamed she felt. Thinking about it, she finally couldn’t help but seek confirmation: “Aunt Lu, this is…?”

“These are betrothal gifts for the Zhu family. They’ve treasured and pampered that little girl like a precious pearl as she grew up, and now she’s about to be married off by our stinky boy. We can’t possibly shortchange the girl.” Xu Feiqiong held Shi Fa Ke’s small hand, speaking quite meaningfully.

Shi Fa Ke was completely unaware that this Aunt Lu was paving the way for her other son. Having received a definitive answer, she felt even more conflicted… How was she supposed to tell them about the Zhu family’s refusal of the marriage?

“What’s wrong?” Xu Feiqiong sharp-eyed noticed her expression wasn’t quite right.

Shi Fa Ke hesitated for a moment, thinking that there was no way to put this matter delicately, so she steeled herself and said: “Aunt Lu, Madam Zhu has refused this marriage.”

Xu Feiqiong raised an eyebrow and instinctively looked toward Lu Zhuxi, who was taking inventory in the courtyard.

Lu Zhuxi had been paying attention to the situation here all along. Hearing this, he strode over with furrowed brows: “What did you say?”

Lu Zhuxi was tall and quite intimidating in appearance. Now, frowning and striding over, he looked as if he might hit someone. Shi Fa Ke instinctively stepped back.

Xu Feiqiong gently patted Shi Fa Ke’s hand: “Don’t be afraid. Zhuxi looks fierce, but he has the softest heart. He’s just anxious.”

This comment… was somewhat inexplicable.

Shi Fa Ke hesitated for a moment – but where was the person who should be most anxious?

So Shi Fa Ke pulled Xu Feiqiong aside and asked quietly: “Aunt Lu, where is Young Master Lu?… I mean the second young master.”

Xu Feiqiong was startled, then her eyes turned and she said with a smile: “You’re already calling Zhuxi Big Brother Lu, so why are you still so formal with Achi? Call him Second Brother Lu.”

Second… Brother Lu?

Alright then.

“Where is Second Brother Lu?” Shi Fa Ke went along with it.

“Your Second Brother Lu went to the school – he said he had classes today.” Xu Feiqiong said with a smile.

…Why did this sound so awkward?

But that wasn’t the point. The point was that Lu Chi had actually gone to the school?

Shi Fa Ke looked at Lu Zhuxi standing before her, his eyes showing tension and anxiety, and felt increasingly strange. The person who should be anxious wasn’t anxious, while the person who shouldn’t be anxious looked overly concerned?

“What happened? Why did the Zhu family suddenly refuse the marriage?” Seeing that she didn’t answer and kept talking about useless things, Lu Zhuxi couldn’t help but interrupt and ask.

“Actually, I haven’t figured out what happened either. When I went to the Zhu family to propose marriage today, Madam Zhu’s attitude suddenly changed completely. She said she couldn’t bear to have her beloved daughter marry far away and firmly refused the marriage, with a very resolute attitude that seemed to leave no room for negotiation.” Shi Fa Ke looked completely puzzled as she spoke. “What’s strangest is that she also told me to stay away from your family…”

There was one more thing Shi Fa Ke was too embarrassed to mention. When she had reminded Madam Zhu about keeping one’s word, Madam Zhu had actually sneered and said “those rats don’t deserve to talk about trustworthiness with me.” At the time, she had just thought Madam Zhu was being unreasonable, but thinking back now, that tone and expression had revealed an indescribable disgust…

Shi Fa Ke suddenly thought of something. She looked at Xu Feiqiong: “Aunt Lu, do you… have some grudge with the Zhu family?”

If Madam Zhu hadn’t known who Lu Chi’s parents were before, but now knew and had changed her mind… that possibility was quite likely.

Hearing this, Lu Zhuxi suddenly fell silent.

Qianya Mountain’s Feiqiong Stronghold and Tongluozhen’s Zhu family had no previous connection, so a grudge was naturally impossible. As for why Madam Zhu had suddenly refused the marriage, Lu Zhuxi had a pretty good idea… it was probably because of what happened last night.

Xu Feiqiong glanced at her son’s grave expression, smiled, and said to Shi Fa Ke: “I’m old acquaintances with Madam Zhu. There’s probably some misunderstanding here. Once I visit her and explain things clearly, it’ll be fine. You’ve been running around all day and must be tired. Go home and rest first.”

So they really were old acquaintances?

Shi Fa Ke immediately imagined grievances and feuds from the previous generation, feeling this made sense. But judging from Madam Zhu’s attitude today, it didn’t seem as optimistic as Aunt Lu suggested…

At this moment, she had no better solution either.

If it was a grudge from the previous generation, she was truly powerless to help.

“Then I’ll come again tomorrow. Aunt Lu, Big Brother Lu, I’ll head back now.”

Shi Fa Ke glanced at Uncle Lu, who had his back to her and seemed to be chatting quite congenially with the owner of Jinman Tower. Thinking it wouldn’t be appropriate to disturb them, she only said goodbye to Xu Feiqiong and Lu Zhuxi before leaving.

Lu Zhuxi seemed to be pondering something, looking completely lost in thought, and had no reaction to her words.

Xu Feiqiong, however, seemed completely unaffected by the news of the refused marriage, smiling and waving goodbye to Shi Fa Ke as she watched her leave.

As Shi Fa Ke waved goodbye to Aunt Lu, she couldn’t help but sigh with admiration – Aunt Lu was truly a gentle beauty.