Favoring a Hidden Mistress? Engagement Broken-Chapter 36

In the reception hall.

The old butler stood at the door. Seeing Xie Wanqing, he hurriedly bowed and saluted, ushering her inside.

The people inside heard the commotion and looked over at the sound.

As soon as Xie Wanqing entered, she met his gaze directly.

As people say, appearance is influenced by one’s heart—Lu Ziyuan’s features were as sharp and fierce as his temperament.

His eyes were deep, nose straight, sitting there with a somewhat indifferent air even without speaking.

He had waited half the afternoon, yet his brows didn’t show a hint of impatience. Seeing her arrive, his stern face seemed to soften a bit.

He moved his lips: "Wanwan..."

Xie Wanqing ignored him, instead pulling out a handkerchief to wipe her sweat while instructing the maid to bring a bowl of iced milk.

She had always feared the heat, and though it was only early summer, she had rushed over here, breaking into a light sweat on her forehead.

Once the servants retreated, she didn’t bother with polite exchanges, holding the iced milk and sitting across the spacious hall from him, speaking directly: "Say whatever you have to say."

Her demeanor completely disregarding him made Lu Ziyuan narrow his eyes slightly.

He still couldn’t adjust to this girl’s coldness towards him.

Yet it was indeed he who had hurt her heart, he was reaping what he had sown.

Suppressing the unease rising within him, he stood and walked over.

"Stop right there!" Remembering his previous improprieties, Xie Wanqing warned, "Say whatever you have to say there."

Lu Ziyuan’s steps slightly hesitated, speaking softly: "I just want to have a good talk with you, you don’t need to worry I will do anything to you."

Continuing to step closer, his gaze fell on her face, "Just outside are your mansion’s guards. If I misbehave, you can call them in as you like."

Holding the jade bowl, Xie Wanqing paused, her tone impatient: "If you hadn’t misbehaved, why would I worry?"

She couldn’t possibly tell him that just being near him flooded her mind with images from dreams of their interactions.

They were once husband and wife.

In the dreams, soon after they married, Liu Manrou was rumored to be pregnant, Er Xia had not yet been taken in by him, so during that period he came to her Shaoguang Courtyard quite often.

Every time he came, after barely exchanging a few words, he would pull her into bed.

At that time, they were newlyweds. She hadn’t lost hope in him yet, believing that his actions represented his affection toward her, so she never refused him.

However he indulged himself, in order to please him she also forced herself to follow, allowing him to manipulate her.

Later, one cold day after another, under his indifference and favoritism, she finally realized who he truly cared for.

How laughable, she was a proper spouse, yet merely a substitute for when his concubine, pregnant, couldn’t serve.

Thinking of this, Xie Wanqing’s expression grew cold, she put down the jade cup: "Whatever you have to say, say it quickly."

Previously at Wuyuan Marquis Mansion, when she confirmed the truth of the dream, there were servants distantly following. Now, it was just the two of them truly alone since Lu Ziyuan’s return to the Capital.

She felt entirely resistant, noticing her aversion, Lu Ziyuan, sensitive as ever, naturally realized this. He sat beside her, contemplating, and apologized: "That day at Marquis Qu Mansion, I was abrupt, not intentionally disrespectful."

He had merely seen her holding Pei Yuqing, overwhelmed by jealousy. If he’d had a spear at hand, there would likely have been bloodshed on the spot.

Recalling now still filled him with anger.

Lu Ziyuan’s gaze darkened, "Wanwan, you and Pei Yuqing..."

Xie Wanqing frowned: "Is that why you came?"

Her tone was truly impatient, causing Lu Ziyuan to momentarily fall silent.

Today he did not intend to upset her, yet he was too preoccupied.

After a brief pause, he said: "He is much older than you, you shouldn’t..."

"Enough," Xie Wanqing interrupted, "That day I twisted my ankle, he was just helping me up."

She sneered: "You really shouldn’t impose your own perspective."

Judging others by oneself.

Their marriage fell apart—that was Lu Ziyuan’s fault, Xie Wanqing had no intention of bearing the blame.

Her tone was mocking, yet Lu Ziyuan’s lips curled slightly, his long-laden heartache finally easing, he said, "I trust you."

He trusted that she still held feelings for him, just like her, jealousy clouded judgment and his words that day had wounded her heart.

Thinking this, he spoke more softly: "Wanwan, could you ask me again, the questions from that day?"

Xie Wanqing furrowed her brow tighter.

Had he lost his mind?

Thinking of his agreement to call off the engagement after their talk, she reluctantly held her temper: "I can’t remember what I asked you then."

"I remember," Lu Ziyuan said, "You asked who Liu Manrou was, what plans I had for her, if everything between us was pure, and you also asked..."

Xie Wanqing remained impassive, hearing of her previous foolishness, she said coolly: "If I ask again, you agree to call off the engagement?"

Lu Ziyuan made a sound of agreement.

"Alright," Xie Wanqing calmly repeated, "I ask you, who is your Rou Niang, what plans do you have for her, is everything between you still pure?"

"She is not mine." Lu Ziyuan’s gaze fell on her hand placed on the table.

The lady’s ten delicate fingers lightly tapping on the table, in the hall where only the two of them were present, everything she did seemed to carry silent allure.

He very much wanted to hold them in his hands and admire them, even embrace her once more, but he resisted.

He raised his eyes, his gaze shifting to her side profile, speaking slowly: "Liu Manrou is a maid from Bianzhou in an official’s household. I brought her to the Capital, planning to place her as a concubine in the Lu Family’s second house, but between me and her, it is innocent, not a finger laid."

"You shouldn’t believe those rumors. Indeed she is pregnant, but not carrying my child."

Xie Wanqing turned to look at him, utterly astonished: "What do you mean by this?"

How could she not understand?

He intended to take Liu Manrou as a concubine, yet she was carrying a child that wasn’t his.

Isn’t this contradictory?

Xie Wanqing glanced up at the top of his head, aside from the jade crown, she saw no sign of any green glow.

Her gaze was straightforward, Lu Ziyuan’s eyes paused, his lips pressed, not arguing with her.

He only said: "Wanwan, do you remember my second uncle?"

Xie Wanqing nodded, when his second uncle died in battle she was ten years old, how could she not remember.

She clearly remembered although the second lord of the Lu Family was not the heir apparent, he was accomplished, his reputation no less than his brother’s.

Such a stalwart man, with deep affection for his wife, his backyard clean, only one legitimate wife.

Their marital love was admirable, back then among the society women in Capital City, who didn’t envy the second lady of the Lu Family.

Her husband showed no divided loyalty, with eyes for her alone, their two sons outstanding, while her mother-in-law was lenient, never stuffing people into her son’s backyard.