Chapter 244: Chapter 244: Feared to Have Met With a Mishap

At this thought, Lu Lan felt a surge of malicious glee, but when she considered Lu Jinglan’s fate, a chill ran down her spine.

Although everyone in the mansion was saying Lu Jinglan had eloped, Lu Lan knew that wasn’t true. The person Lu Jinglan loved was Big Brother; she would never run off with another man. Her sudden disappearance had to be the work of Lady Wei and Big Brother.

All because she had offended Zhi Wan. That was why she had met such a fate.

’Aunt and Big Brother are truly so good to that orphan, Zhi Wan!’

Recalling Zhi Wan’s warning from that day, she dug her nails into her palm.

’No, I have to get myself married off as soon as possible, while I still have a choice.’

’I absolutely cannot end up like Lu Jinglan.’

’I will control my own destiny! I won’t be at the mercy of others anymore!’

As soon as she returned to the Duke Dingguo Mansion, she went to the kitchen to simmer a pot of chicken soup, which she then personally delivered to Fushou Hall.

With no news of Lu Jinglan for days, Old Madam Lu was worried sick and utterly listless. When she saw Lu Lan arrive, she was in no mood to acknowledge her.

"Grandmother, I noticed you’ve been low on energy these past few days, so I went to the kitchen and made a pot of chicken soup. Would you like a bowl?" Lu Lan asked cautiously.

Old Madam Lu hadn’t intended to pay her any mind, but at her words, she raised her eyelids and glanced at her. "You made it yourself?"

"Your granddaughter is useless. Grandmother is so worried about Little Aunt Jinglan, and I can’t do anything to help. All I could think to do was make some chicken soup, in the hopes that you might regain some strength." Lu Lan lowered her head, twisting her handkerchief in a display of self-reproach.

Old Madam Lu’s expression softened slightly. "That’s very thoughtful of you. Go on, serve me a bowl."

"Yes." A look of delight crossed Lu Lan’s face. She quickly ladled out a bowl of chicken soup, brought it to the old madam, and fussed over her. "I simmered this soup for an hour. The broth is rich, and the chicken is fall-off-the-bone tender. Grandmother, don’t just drink the broth; you should eat some of the meat, too."

Old Madam Lu accepted the bowl, scooped up some broth with her spoon, and took a sip. Finding the taste quite good, she offered a rare compliment. "Lan’er, your cooking is quite good."

A satisfied smile appeared on Lu Lan’s face. "I’m happy as long as you enjoy it, Grandmother."

Old Madam Lu couldn’t help but study her for a moment longer.

Seeing her standing there, so poised and graceful, with her pretty face and obedient nature, a sense of pity welled up in the old madam’s heart. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

’If only that incident hadn’t happened to the girl, how wonderful that would be. Even though she’s the daughter of a concubine, with the Lu Family’s prestige, it wouldn’t have been difficult for her to marry into a good family.’

’Such a pity.’

Lu Lan caught the fleeting look of pity on the old madam’s face, and her fingers, hidden within her sleeves, dug fiercely into her palms.

’Even Grandmother looks down on me...’

Suppressing the resentment and sorrow in her heart, she stepped forward and crouched before Old Madam Lu, beginning to sob quietly. "Grandmother, I’m so scared..."

Old Madam Lu’s brow furrowed. She set down her bowl and reached to help the girl up. "What are you afraid of?"

Lu Lan refused to rise, instead collapsing against her grandmother’s knees and crying inconsolably. "Little Aunt Jinglan suddenly vanished. For the past few days, I’ve been so anxious... I can’t shake the feeling that I’ll be next..."

At the mention of Lu Jinglan, Old Madam Lu’s heart clenched. She snapped, "Don’t be ridiculous! What happened to your little aunt was just an accident."

Lu Lan shook her head. "How could it be an accident? The Duke Dingguo Mansion is heavily guarded. Common intruders can’t get in. For Little Aunt Jinglan to suddenly disappear... I think it’s clear there was foul play."

Old Madam Lu froze. "Are you saying Jinglan’s disappearance was intentional?"

"I don’t know the specifics, but I have a feeling Little Aunt Jinglan would never leave on her own for no reason. But to say an intruder got in is even more impossible... unless it was... a thief from within," Lu Lan said cryptically.

"It’s Zhi Wan! It must be her doing!" Old Madam Lu said furiously. "I suspected from the beginning that she had someone abduct Jinglan, but nobody would believe me."

Lu Lan’s eyes flickered, and she said in a low voice, "Sister Zhi Wan is so frail and gentle. I doubt she could do something like that."

"Hmph! Her gentleness and frailty are all an act! You didn’t see how vicious she was that day at Yaoguang Pavilion." The memory made Old Madam Lu furious. "Jinglan’s disappearance is definitely connected to her!"

Lu Lan paused before adding suddenly, "Aunt and Big Brother have always sided with Sister Zhi Wan. They can’t stand to see her wronged in the slightest. That day, you and Little Aunt went to Yaoguang Pavilion to pressure her... If Aunt and Big Brother found out, they certainly wouldn’t just stand by and do nothing..."

The moment Old Madam Lu heard this, something clicked. She gritted her teeth. "It must have been Wei Minghui!"

"It was Aunt?" Lu Lan trembled in feigned terror. "I... I’ve also had disagreements with Sister Zhi Wan. Will Aunt get rid of me, too? Grandmother, you have to save me!"

Seeing her trembling in fear, Old Madam Lu quickly pulled her into an embrace, comforting her. "Don’t be afraid. Lady Wei wouldn’t dare be so brazen. Grandmother will protect you."

Lu Lan shook her head, her face streaked with tears. "But Little Aunt Jinglan had you protecting her, too, and look what happened... Grandmother, please find a family for me to marry into. I don’t want to stay in the Lu Family and just... disappear for no reason..."

Old Madam Lu’s heart sank.

’That’s right. No one in this mansion respects me anymore. Who can I possibly protect?’

"Grandmother, I’m begging you, take pity on your granddaughter and decide my fate for me..." Lu Lan sobbed uncontrollably.

"Very well. I will find a family for you to marry into as soon as possible," Old Madam Lu said in a grave voice.

Lu Lan looked visibly relieved. "Grandmother, I don’t care what kind of family it is. I just want to leave this nest of vipers as soon as possible."

Old Madam Lu felt a pang of bitterness at her words.

’If she weren’t terrified, why would Lu Lan be so desperate to leave the Lu Family? So desperate she’s not even particular about her future in-laws?’

’Their Lu Family... had it really become a place of such strife, a place the younger generation couldn’t wait to escape?’

Old Madam Lu’s expression was grave. "Rest assured, I will find you a good family, and quickly."

"Thank you, Grandmother." Lu Lan wiped her tears and rose to her feet. "Please drink your soup, Grandmother. It won’t be as good once it gets cold."

Zhi Wan was unaware of what had transpired in Fushou Hall. That afternoon, she received a reply from her cousin.

The letter, however, contained only a few short words: *You need not worry, Cousin. I will be back soon.*

Zhi Wan was surprised. ’My cousin is coming back?’

’Has he finished handling things in Jiangning already?’

’Then what about that uncle of mine...?’

Zhi Wan’s heart dropped. She had a sinking feeling that her uncle had already met with a grim fate.

The thought left her feeling deeply uneasy.

Although she had been mentally prepared for this, now that it had actually happened, she still felt a knot of unease in her stomach.

Before, she hadn’t known she had any relatives left in the world. Now that she did, only for it to end like this... a wave of melancholy was unavoidable.

"Miss, Miss Ouyang is here," Shuang’er announced, entering the room.

At her words, Zhi Wan quickly gathered her thoughts. "Please, show her in."

Shuang’er quickly led Ouyang Zhenzhu inside.

"Wanwan, what have you been so busy with? I came looking for you twice, but the servants said you’d gone to Yangzhou! Why did you go to Yangzhou again? Is something wrong?" Ouyang Zhenzhu fired off the questions the moment she entered the room.