Chapter 9

Chapter 9

I hurried to catch up with her, only to see that Madam Lu was heavily pregnant.

Now it was my turn for my pupils to tremble in shock.

“Madam, you…”

Lu Qiuping gave a hearty laugh and gently stroked her belly.

“Don’t worry, I’m not that fragile.”

I sat down beside her, still disapproving. “You should still be careful.”

She waved a hand dismissively. “In Sanyuan, there are plenty of women becoming mothers under far harsher conditions than mine.”

This land nurtured the most resilient of lives.

Looking at the wheat fields before her, she was filled with emotion.

“It’s rare to have a good official like Lord Xie, but it’s truly infuriating that most of this grain will be snatched away by the barbarians!”

Cui Tao: “…”

Lu Qiuping mentioned that she had come this time to arrange the marriage of one of her foster daughters.

“I heard that the mistress of the Xie family is vulgar and jealous. Have you heard anything about her?”

Cui Tao: “…”

I replied calmly, “No.”

Lu Qiuping gave an “oh.”

She continued, “Though my foster daughter’s talent is far inferior to yours, she has read some books. She won’t be a disgrace to Lord Xie.”

Cui Tao: “…”

Before Cui Tao could die of sheer frustration, I changed the subject. “I might be returning to the capital soon.”

Lu Qiuping was taken aback.

“So suddenly?”

However, before I could answer, she added, “Well, the borderlands are no place to stay forever anyway.”

She handed me a jade pendant.

It was engraved with the character “Lu.”

“If you ever find yourself in trouble in the future, you can take this pendant to the Lu family to find help.”

I accepted it.

“But I have nothing of value to give you in return, Madam.”

“Leave the chef from your restaurant to me.”

“Alright.”

Lu Qiuping burst into laughter, though her expression held a hint of melancholy.

“The times are turbulent, so I fear I won’t be able to see you off. I only wish that your journey to the capital is safe and that the rest of your life is smooth and prosperous.”

Just after our bittersweet farewell…

I met Lu Qiuping again.

Right there in the Xie household.

Actually, I hadn’t expected this either.

After all, I had told Xie Canghuai repeatedly that he wasn’t allowed to take a concubine.

I didn’t think he would actually go through with the formalities step by step.

To support her foster daughter, Lu Qiuping had come in person.

I was just about to head out when we met face-to-face.

Lu Qiuping was overjoyed. “Oh, Shisan Niang! I thought you had left!”

Song Yuer: “???”

Xie Canghuai: “???”

Xie’s Mother: “???”

Only Cui Tao’s eyes were glowing with excitement.

Cui Tao: “Pfft. Sorry, I just farted…”

I calmly covered her mouth and said, “I am Lady Xie.”

Lu Qiuping was stunned.

I said, “Previously, I didn’t reveal my identity because I was afraid you would misunderstand my husband as someone who clings to the powerful to climb the social ladder.”

Lu Qiuping looked at me, then at Xie Canghuai. After a moment, it was her turn for her face to turn ashen.

Xie Canghuai looked to his mother for help.

Xie’s Mother was actually just as confused, but she was sharp enough to realize that something had gone terribly wrong with this prestigious marriage.

She immediately took the initiative to point at me and accuse, “You jealous woman, did you go and tell Madam some nonsense?”

Then came her performance.

“Madam, please see clearly. This daughter-in-law of mine was someone we found in the wilderness. We only let her into our home because we took pity on her!

“Who knew she would cause trouble every single day!

“She only dares to act this way because our family is kind-hearted and couldn’t bear to cast aside a wife from humble beginnings!

“Madam, you cannot believe a single word she says!”

Song Yuer was also panicking. “Mother…”

Lu Qiuping looked at me and suddenly said, “The girls of my house do not become concubines.”

Whoa.

Things had taken a turn I hadn’t anticipated.