"Big Sister, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to accuse you of wrecking my carriage. I was just too scared. I'm sorry."
Lu Si Wan was adaptable. Seeing Chi Jing Chuan step forward to speak for Lu Qing Wan, she spoke her apology meekly.
"After all, I'm not like Big Sister, with extraordinary skills. Seeing the young lords and ladies injured, I could do nothing but fret..."
While crying and apologizing, she still managed to remind everyone that Lu Qing Wan, who could have saved them, only saved Chi Yao Yao.
Lu Qing Wan hadn't even reacted when Chi Yao Yao exploded, "Lu Si Wan, get it straight. Your carriage hit someone else. If anyone should be saving people, it should be you.
Lu Qing Wan saved me simply because she happened to be next to me. She's just an ordinary girl, not some martial arts heroine. There's no reason for her to take the blame for your carriage hitting someone!"
Lu Qing Wan's heart warmed. She and Chi Yao Yao were mere acquaintances, and for a small act of kindness, this young girl was defending her so fiercely.
Deeply touched, Lu Qing Wan tugged at Chi Yao Yao's sleeve and said sternly, "Lu Si Wan, an apology should be made with sincerity.
Not everyone is as infatuated with beauty as His Highness Prince Chen. A few tears from you, and you can pin your crime on someone else.
Save it. You only have one face, use it sparingly when you're about to lose it."
After speaking, she turned to Chi Yao Yao and said, "Aren't you hungry? Why waste words with her? Let's go find something to eat."
"Okay, okay!"
Chi Yao Yao couldn't wait to get away from Lu Si Wan. She eagerly pulled Lu Qing Wan along.
Palace maids had already prepared snacks and dried fruits at the seating area. Chi Yao Yao, like a little hamster, devoured the dried fruits while her mouth was still busy.
"Your half-sister is truly a handful. That carriage, she probably broke it herself, didn't she?
I've always heard that households with many concubines and illegitimate children are rife with such sordid affairs. I didn't expect to actually witness it.
Fortunately, my Chi family has proper teachings. Unless one is over forty and childless, concubines are forbidden. The thought of someone scheming against me like this gives me chills!"
Lu Qing Wan pursed her lips and smiled. "I can see that!
When the carriage crashed just now, your brother's voice was practically hoarse from shouting.
And Madam Chi, this is only in the palace. If it were at your home, I imagine she would have stripped you naked and examined you thoroughly!"
"What are you talking about?"
Chi Yao Yao's face flushed. She glanced around, and seeing no one had overheard Lu Qing Wan, she patted her chest, feeling a lingering fear. "Shameless you!"
Lu Qing Wan chuckled softly. "My mistake, I was too reckless.
Come, Miss Chi, do me a favor and forgive this lowly one this once?"
A small white jade bottle was presented. Chi Yao Yao looked at it curiously. "What is this?"
"Earlier, I observed Madam Chi's rapid breathing, her bluish lips, and bloodshot whites of her eyes. She resembles someone who has suffered from a heart condition for a long time.
Next time, if she experiences these symptoms due to emotional distress, give her one of the pills inside. It will make her feel more comfortable."
Judging by Madam Chi's condition, her heart disease was clearly severe.
Chi Yao Yao had defended her in front of Lu Si Wan once. Now, Lu Qing Wan was saving Madam Chi once. It could be considered a reciprocal favor.
Chi Yao Yao exclaimed excitedly, "You could tell my mother had a heart condition just from a brief encounter? Are you a divine doctor?"
Holding the medicine bottle in both hands, she looked at Lu Qing Wan with immense curiosity.
...
"What kind of good fortune is that? His Highness Prince Chen would rather marry a mere concubine's daughter than her.
After finally being betrothed to the Regent King, even though he's crippled, at least someone is willing to marry her. But now that Marquis Lu is away, and the Regent King is coming to propose, there's no one in charge at the estate. If Lu Si Wan's mother accepts the Regent King's betrothal gifts, let alone whether Lu Qing Wan is willing, Princess An Yang's coffin lid won't be able to stay put, ha ha..."
Ah!
With a scream, the noble lady who was happily gossiping found her face drenched in tea. She stood up in embarrassment, "Lu Qing Wan, what are you doing?!"
Lu Qing Wan calmly handed the teacup to Yue'er. "Miss, my hearing isn't very good. Could you repeat what you just said?
Who did you call crippled, and whose coffin lid is about to be dislodged?"
"I'll say it again if I want! Was I wrong?
The Regent King isn't crippled, and your princess mother isn't a short-lived ghost?!"
Having Lu Qing Wan splash tea all over her face, the noblewoman was already furious. Regardless of where they were, she shrieked, "My mother was short-lived because she shouldered diplomatic relations between two countries as a woman, bringing over a decade of peace to the western borders of Da Qian;
My father is not home because he is defending Da Qian's borders and ensuring its people's safety;
And the crippled person you speak of, he exchanged his own legs for Da Qian's territory to remain unmolested.
You don't have to be grateful to them, but you have no right to belittle and insult them!"
Lu Qing Wan raised her hand and slapped the noblewoman's face. "Remember this, the crippled person you speak of will soon be my husband.
We missed the days of childhood sweethearts and the budding of young love.
But based on his passionate dedication to protecting this land beneath his feet, even without a formal matchmaker or an eight-bearer sedan chair, I am willing to spend the rest of my life with him, growing old together!
Now, apologize to my fiancé!"
After speaking, Lu Qing Wan didn't actually expect the noblewoman to apologize.
After all, the contempt for Feng Xi Wu in her words was evident.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she finished speaking, the woman suddenly knelt on the ground with a thud, kowtowing in panic and begging for mercy. "Regent King, spare me! Regent King, spare me..."
Lu Qing Wan: "I asked you to apologize, not beg for mercy, you..."
"It's alright. She deserves to beg for mercy.
However, she has displeased my fiancée, and she cannot be let off lightly.
Drag her away, thirty strokes of the cane, and she is forbidden from entering the palace for five years."
"Regent King, have mercy!"
The noblewoman cried even harder. Thirty strokes of the cane was bearable, but being forbidden from entering the palace for five years was equivalent to depriving her of the opportunity to interact with young noblemen of similar standing.
Wasn't this forcing her to marry someone of a lower status?
Moreover, having offended the Regent King, her father's official career was likely over. She would be beaten to death by her father when she returned home!
However, Feng Xi Wu didn't even spare her another glance.
The guards stepped forward, covered her mouth, and unceremoniously dragged her away.
"Damn it, when did you get here?" Lu Qing Wan covered her mouth, still startled.
The scoundrel appeared without a sound. Had he heard everything she just said?
She just wanted to borrow his authority, not have a genuine confession with the scoundrel!
As if reading her mind, Feng Xi Wu smiled with his eyes. "I arrived not long ago. I just happened to hear my fiancée confessing her feelings to me."
When he fought on the battlefield, he never imagined that anyone would remember his contributions or be grateful to him.
But when he heard the mockery and sarcasm about his disability in the streets, he did feel resentment.
Yet, he never expected that the first person to show him gratitude and understanding for his disability would be this fiancée who appeared out of nowhere.
She even said that even without a formal matchmaker or an eight-bearer sedan chair, she was willing to spend the rest of her life with him, growing old together.
It was like someone accustomed to walking alone in the harsh winter suddenly saw a flame, warming him. He felt a bit unaccustomed, but more than anything, he felt a deep, heartfelt emotion.
Lu Qing Wan was embarrassed. "This humble subject merely stated facts.
Those who carry torches for the masses should not be left to freeze in the wind and snow.
This humble subject simply does not wish for the soldiers on the front lines to be disheartened due to the indiscreet remarks of some people."
Feng Xi Wu raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying.