Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Zhi Wan: Cousin Will Be Angry

The slender Shuang’er was thrown to the ground.

"Shuang’er—" Zhi Wan’s heart sank. She rushed over, trying to help her up, but two matrons seized her by the arms.

"How dare you!" Zhi Wan snapped.

"You’re the one who’s being insolent!" Just then, an aged, displeased voice rang out from beyond the courtyard gate.

Zhi Wan turned to see Old Madam Lu walking in, leaning on Lu Jinglan’s arm for support.

Seeing them, Zhi Wan suppressed her anger and asked, "Old Madam, what is the meaning of this? Why are you restraining my maid?"

Before Old Madam Lu could speak, Lu Jinglan strode forward and slapped Zhi Wan hard across the face.

"Zhi Wan, the Lu Family has raised you for so many years! Instead of showing gratitude, you dare to speak to Old Madam like that? Have you no conscience?"

The sudden slap left Zhi Wan’s ears ringing.

It took a long moment for her to recover. She lifted her gaze and stared coldly at Lu Jinglan.

Lu Jinglan froze for a second under that icy gaze. But then she remembered that neither Lady Wei nor Lu Zhenbei was at the manor. No one could save Zhi Wan. A wave of reassurance washed over her.

She made no effort to hide her contempt. "Zhi Wan, a person must know their place. Someone as exceptional as Jinzhi is not for you to dream of."

"If I can’t dream of him, what makes you think you can?" Seeing that Lu Jinglan had dropped all pretense, Zhi Wan let out a sarcastic laugh. "But no matter how much you dream, Cousin won’t give you the time of day. Besides, you’re hardly any nobler than I am. Don’t forget, you were a beggar! What, after being adopted by Old Madam, have you forgotten who you are and where you came from?"

Lu Jinglan was furious. But instead of screaming, she threw herself into Old Madam Lu’s arms and sobbed pitifully, "Mother..."

Old Madam Lu’s heart ached for her. "Don’t listen to that little bitch’s nonsense. You are my daughter, a young lady of the Lu Family. She’s in no position to be compared to you."

Hearing her call Zhi Wan a "little bitch" repeatedly, Lu Jinglan felt a surge of satisfaction and shot a provocative glance at her rival.

Zhi Wan ignored her.

’She knew exactly why Old Madam Lu dared to be so brazen. It had to be because her aunt wasn’t here.’

’What can I do?’

’Who can help me and Shuang’er?’

The entire courtyard was filled with Old Madam Lu’s people. She and Shuang’er were being held, and all the other servants were under guard.

’Jiang Shi is at the manor, but he’s in the outer courtyard. How could he possibly know about my predicament?’

Zhi Wan’s mind raced, searching for a way out.

’Old Madam Lu’s behavior today... she must have found out that Cousin wants to marry me. That’s why she’s coming after me now.’

"Old Madam wants you inside."

Just then, one of the matrons gave her a hard shove, causing her to stumble.

After steadying herself, she shot an icy glare at the woman.

The matron flinched under her gaze and muttered to herself, ’This Miss usually seems so meek, but that look in her eyes now... it’s like she could eat a person alive.’

Remembering how much the mistress of the house favored this young lady, the matron unconsciously loosened her grip and said sheepishly, "Miss, please hurry inside. Don’t keep the Old Madam waiting."

When Zhi Wan entered the room, Old Madam Lu was already seated on a daybed, her critical eyes scanning the boudoir.

Every one of the ornaments was exquisite.

Seeing the room furnished with such luxurious beauty, Old Madam Lu grew even more displeased.

’Lady Wei has clearly been raising Zhi Wan like a pampered heiress.’

The more Old Madam Lu looked, the angrier she became. As soon as Zhi Wan entered, she launched her attack. "Zhi Wan, people should have some self-awareness. The Lu Family has supported you for so many years. Why are you still shamelessly clinging to us?"

Zhi Wan was not surprised to hear this.

’Old Madam Lu has come today with ill intent. It seems she wants to get rid of me.’

She paused, then said lightly, "I was about to leave, but Cousin wouldn’t allow it. I... listen to Cousin."

Old Madam Lu had expected her to be embarrassed, to be utterly mortified. She never imagined Zhi Wan would show no shame at all, and would instead so brazenly use Jinzhi’s name.

Old Madam Lu was furious. "Do you think you can bewitch Jinzhi with your seductive little tricks? Take a look at yourself! What is your status? Are you worthy of him? Of course," she added with a sneer, "if you’re so desperate to serve him, I’m not entirely unwilling to give you a chance. I can condescend to let you be his concubine."

Lu Jinglan looked at Zhi Wan, her eyes full of scorn and contempt.

’So what if she seduced Jinzhi with her feminine wiles?’

’Old Madam Lu would never agree to let her marry him.’

’With her status, becoming a concubine is the only fate she deserves.’

She had hoped to see a look of humiliation on Zhi Wan’s face, but she was disappointed. Zhi Wan’s expression was placid, without the slightest ripple of emotion.

"Old Madam, you are mistaken. I did not seduce Cousin. He is the one who insists on marrying me. I am but a weak woman, with no strength to even truss a chicken. How could I possibly resist him? Besides, Cousin is so many years my senior. If anything, it is he who is not worthy of me.

As for being a concubine, that is absolutely out of the question.

The women of the Zhi family do not become concubines!

If the Old Madam refuses to accept me, then I’ll just have to tell Cousin to marry into the Zhi family instead! He was trying desperately to become a live-in son-in-law just to be with me, you know."

"What? What did you say?" Old Madam Lu clutched her chest, staring at her in disbelief.

Lu Jinglan was equally incredulous. "Zhi Wan, do you have any idea what you are saying?"

Zhi Wan shot her a look. "It’s understandable that Old Madam is getting on in years and her hearing might be weak. But Little Aunt Jinglan, you’re so young. How can your hearing be so poor as well?"

Lu Jinglan’s sharp nails dug into her palms as she fought to suppress her rage.

’How had she never realized before that Zhi Wan had such a sharp tongue?’

’What happened to her timid, cowardly demeanor?’

"Zhi Wan, you’ve hidden your true self very well," Lu Jinglan said after a moment, her eyes narrowing.

"You’re one to talk," Zhi Wan retorted sarcastically.

Lu Jinglan clenched her fists tightly.

Old Madam Lu was burning with rage. The very sight of Zhi Wan’s beautiful face infuriated her.

She suddenly snatched a cup from the table and hurled it at her. "You little vixen! I truly underestimated you! Tell me, what will it take for you to finally leave the Lu Family?"

Zhi Wan had already sidestepped out of the way the moment the old woman’s eyes flicked to the cup.

Looking at the cup shattered to pieces on the floor amidst a splash of tea, she shook her head. "Cousin has already personally chosen an auspicious date for our wedding. I will not be leaving. He would be angry."

Hearing this, Old Madam Lu nearly choked. "The audacity!"

"Cousin gave it to me," Zhi Wan replied calmly.

Old Madam Lu trembled with rage. "If I had known you were so ambitious and ungrateful, I never would have agreed to let you stay in the Lu Family all those years ago."

"Why does the Old Madam insist on blaming me? If you are dissatisfied with my marriage to Cousin, you can go directly to Jiangning and demand an explanation from him. Why must you make things difficult for me?" Zhi Wan’s brow furrowed in clear displeasure.

’Cousin was the one who insisted on marrying her. But instead of confronting him, the Old Madam came to bully her.’

’Did she think I was an easy target?’

Old Madam Lu was rendered speechless with anger.

Lu Jinglan frowned, took a step forward, and said in a stern voice, "Zhi Wan, you are too insolent—"

SLAP!

Before Lu Jinglan could finish her sentence, a sharp slap landed heavily across her face.

She clutched her cheek, staring at Zhi Wan in utter disbelief.

Zhi Wan lowered her tingling hand and looked at her coldly. "The affairs of the Lu Family are not for a beggar like you to comment on!"