Chapter 241 FCADW? IRTBTMOTMM

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 Favoring Concubines and Destroying Wives? I Refuse to be the Mistress of this Marquis' Mansion

 Chapter 241: 

 Look Down On

Ge Bao'er was also terrified, feeling utterly lost. 

Just after meeting her sister-in-law, Madam Liu, she heard about Lu Zhengliu harassing the Duchess of the Duke's residence. 

Though not particularly close, both women were shaken, supporting each other as they approached. 

Madam Liu supported Madam Chen, dismissing the nearby servants before asking, her face drained of color, "Mother, what's going on?" 

She didn't want to meddle in her stepmother's affairs. But with her mother's family name at stake, she had no choice. If word got out, how could she continue living? How could the Liu family hold their heads up? 

Madam Chen was both furious and frightened, her chest tightening in panic. She pointed at Lu Zhengliu, clutching her chest and unable to utter a word.

Ge Bao'er finished assisting Madam Chen and approached Lu Zhengliu, taking a deep breath. "How could you act so recklessly in the Duke's residence?"

Lu Zhengliu remained motionless.

She pulled him up and whispered sternly, "You've caused such a big mess. Do you think Mother will still support the Lu family after this? You said you would uphold the Lu family, but is this how you lead?"

Lu Zhengliu stood up slowly, chuckling bitterly. "Do you know who the Wangfei of the Prince is?"

Furrowing her brows, Ge Bao'er whispered sharply, "What does it matter if she's some celestial being? She's just a woman in the end!"

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Lu Zhengliu fell silent, lowering his head and walking towards the exit, murmuring, "I was wrong. It's all my fault."

"Realizing your mistake now, what good does it do?" Ge Bao'er seethed with anger.

She observed Lu Zhengliu, noting how he seemed less confident than before, his posture slouched, and his face adorned with stubble. He lacked the vigor and charisma he once possessed when she admired him. His current state disappointed her.

Despite her disdain, Lu Zhengliu was still Qing'er's father and the head of the Lu family. Ge Bao'er needed him to maintain her influence in the Duke's residence and to raise their son.

With no time to dwell further on her thoughts, Ge Bao'er turned to comfort Madam Chen. "Mother."

Madam Chen, despite being shaken and startled, maintained her composure as the lady of the household. She instructed her elder daughter-in-law, Madam Liu, "There are still guests in the banquet hall. Your younger siblings are there. Hurry and assist them."

Although Madam Liu was also uneasy, she dared not defy her mother-in-law's orders. She complied, saying, "Yes," before leading her servants to attend to the guests.

Meanwhile, Second Young Master Chen couldn't neglect the guests either, so he left as well.

Watching her half-brother's departing figure, Ge Baor's eyes reddened. She spoke softly, "Mother, let me assist you back home first."

Madam Chen naturally noticed her son's actions. She sneered, "His wings have hardened!" Then, she turned to speak gently to Ge Bao'er, "I'll talk to him later."

Ge Bao'er was deeply concerned. "Let me assist you back home first to rest. It's only natural for Second Brother to be displeased with what happened today in the mansion."

Ge Bao'er had a way of comforting people, and since Madam Chen adored her, she quickly brightened up after just a few words. "You're always so thoughtful, Bao'er."

However, Ge Bao'er blamed herself, saying, "It's because of me that you've been troubled. Mother, in this world, I can only rely on you."

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But Madam Chen reassured her, "The mansion is not insignificant. Such minor incidents won't affect your brothers' future prospects."

After the mother and daughter calmed down, they had the mama come over and explain everything that happened at the second gate. 

Upon hearing the name "Yunwan," Ge Bao'er immediately stood up, staring blankly at the mama in disbelief, and asked, "Did you just say that Master called the princess... what?"

"Yunwan, yes," the mama replied, looking bewildered.

She didn't mishear!

Madam Chen also looked at Ge Bao'er in confusion.

Ge Bao'er's heart was in turmoil. She quickly said a few words and hurried back to the residence of the Marquis of Wu Ding to find Lu Zhengliu.

The banquet at the Duke's mansion ended hastily today.

The Crown Prince's consort returned to the palace with many doubts, treating the strange events of the day as a joke to tell the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince lay on the couch, covered with a thin quilt, even though it was almost July. He held a book in his hands, lost in thought.

The Duke's eldest son, the Second Master Chen, and Madam Liu, along with their grown-up siblings and spouses, gathered to talk to Madam Chen.

The Duke's eldest son, nursing an injured leg with a crutch, angrily exclaimed, "Mother, you're confused! Your son has long said that we shouldn't get involved with the Lu family, but you still show favoritism... favoritism towards our sister. But your kind of favoritism won't help. Look at what happened today, offending both the Pincess of Huan and the young Shizi. Even if the Prince overlooks it, if the matter reaches the Emperor through the young Shizi, Father probably won't be able to bear it."

Madam Chen was also worried. 

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But that didn't make her give up on her own daughter. 

She said impatiently, "You've been raised in comfort and luxury at home. Do you know what kind of life your sister had when she was young? If it weren't for your negligence as her older brother, how could she have..." 

The eldest son of the Chen family closed his mouth. 

As the eldest brother, it was all his fault. 

Meanwhile, Madam Liu bit her handkerchief, her eyes red.

Seeing his wife so aggrieved, the eldest son of the Chen family, still with a bold face, spoke up for his wife, saying, "B-but we can't always blame it on the fact that it's the eldest daughter-in-law of the Duke's family. That guy from the Lu family has such poor behavior! If my in-laws, my elder brother, and my younger brother ask about it, how do you expect your son to answer?"

Madam Liu wiped away her tears.

Since acknowledging Madam Ge as her sister, she didn't know how much grievance she had endured.

Madam Chen gave Madam Liu a stern look and said, "I thought, how could my eldest son speak to me like this? So it turns out it's because of your instigation behind my back?"

Madam Liu knelt down in fear, "Mother, daughter-in-law didn't..."

The eldest son of the Chen family threw away his crutch and knelt down as well, his injured leg hitting the ground hard.

Madam Chen's heart clenched at the sight.

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But she heard her son's resolute words, "If mother blames anyone, blame me. I will tell father the truth about what happened today."

Madam Chen felt both sad and anxious, clutching her handkerchief, she said, "You don't need to tell me! I will personally inform your father."

The Duke of Xingguo was still stationed outside.

After a while, Madam Chen's heart condition flared up again, and she fainted directly.

This illness, borne of her longing for her daughter over the years, had only eased somewhat after her daughter's return. But now it flared up again.

The eldest son of the Chen family was in a panic and quickly ordered someone to fetch the doctor.

Madam Liu, biting her lip, dared not even cry.

If she tarnished the reputation of her mother-in-law with a hysteria attack, no matter how much her husband respected her, she feared she would have no face to stay in the Chen family anymore.

The second master of the Chen family shook his head and sighed, waiting for the storm to calm down before discussing with the eldest son what to do next.

"Brother, surely someone will blame us for the mismanagement of the Xingguo Duke's household," said the eldest son.

"That's not the main concern. Every family has its own troubles. What we fear is if the Prince and Princess of Huan are displeased, and if we further provoke the Emperor, that would be even worse," he replied decisively. "We'll go apologize to the Price Huan residence together, and then write a letter to father to see how he responds."

But the second master of the Chen family asked, "Brother, have you thought about how we'll apologize?"

"What do you think, Second Brother?" 

The second master of the Chen family hesitated. "Although Lu Zhengliu isn't particularly capable, he's not truly afflicted with hysteria. I don't believe he would go mad without reason. Today's events are indeed very suspicious. Brother, you should first find out what really happened."

He hinted delicately, "Brother, there are some things... you need to personally ask mother and sister about."

He knew that their stepmother definitely wouldn't speak up about it.

The eldest son of the Chen family nodded. "I understand."

~

Ge Baor reached the residence of the Marquis of Wuding and didn't see Lu Zhengliu. Instead, she first spotted Lu Changzong, who had slipped back unnoticed at some point.

He didn't even accompany Xiaoxuan and sat alone at the entrance of the Chui Si Tang, lost in thought. He held a piece of bamboo in his hand, its origin unknown.

Ge Bao'er walked over and asked, "Qing'er?"

Lu Chang Zong didn't react.

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"Qing'er?"

Lu Chang Zong looked up, startled, and called out, "Aunt, Auntie."

Ge Bao'er frowned unhappily and said, "There's no one else here."

Lu Chang Zong corrected himself, saying, "Mother."

He lowered his head, staring at the bamboo in his hand.

Ge Bao'er asked him, "Why are you holding bamboo that cuts your hand?"

Lu Chang Zong whispered, "It's the same as the bamboo in Mother's yard."

Ge Bao'er suddenly felt a chill in her heart.

This was her own son!

She had poured so much effort into him, yet he resented her and held a deep longing for the deceased woman.

Ge Bao'er suddenly realized and asked, "Did you see her at the Duke's Mansion just now?"

Lu Chang Zong looked up, utterly confused.

He said, "I... I don't know... I don't know if..."

It had been too long. He couldn't remember.

Ge Bao'er kicked open the courtyard door of the Chui Si Tang and went to confront Lu Zhengliu.

She couldn't believe that someone who had already been burnt to death could possibly come back to life.

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