She had arrived.
Song Zhiyao took a deep breath and strode toward the main hall.
As she reached the hall, before even stepping inside, she heard soft sobbing.
It was Lin Guanguan.
Her voice trembled with grievance: “Madam, you must speak up for Second Young Master. Second Young Master has always been upright and proper—he never had even a hint of feeling for Lady Lu. It was all the First Young Mistress acting on her own, and Second Young Master refused her.”
“Now these rumors are spreading outside. Second Young Master truly doesn’t know how to handle himself…”
Song Zhiyao’s eyes flashed coldly.
At first, she had only suspected that Lin Guanguan was involved. Now, hearing the woman preemptively whining and blaming her, Song Zhiyao was certain of it.
She calmly stepped into the hall and bowed respectfully. “Mother.”
She noticed that Madam Lu remained composed and serene, sitting at the head of the table, paying no reaction to Lin Guanguan’s crying.
Madam Lu took a shallow sip of tea and then said to Song Zhiyao, “Sit.”
Song Zhiyao sat down across from Lu Jinyu and Lin Guanguan with poise. “Thank you, Mother.”
Lin Guanguan froze, her sobbing now rigid on her face. She had cried and complained for so long, yet Madam Lu remained indifferent—and even allowed Song Zhiyao, the supposed “culprit,” to sit.
All her crying had been for nothing.
She drew a deep breath, looked at Song Zhiyao, and asked accusingly, “The rumors outside… doesn’t the First Young Mistress want to explain?”
Song Zhiyao looked at Lin Guanguan. “Explain what?”
Lin Guanguan was stunned—she hadn’t expected Song Zhiyao to be so audacious.
“Seems the First Young Mistress doesn’t care about these rumors,” she continued. “Indeed, the First Young Mistress has always been like that, never caring what others think.”
“But Brother Jinyu is different. He’s a man—he needs to build his reputation. Yet now, with these rumors, only harm comes to his future. Doesn’t the First Young Mistress feel guilty?”
Song Zhiyao’s gaze was sharp. “Miss Lin, what you say is ridiculous. Why should I feel guilty?”
Lu Jinyu had no real reputation. He and Lin Guanguan were not formally engaged, yet he had fathered Lu Yan before marriage—a laughingstock in the capital. No respectable family girl would even consider arranging a marriage with him.
“I am also a victim,” Song Zhiyao said, turning to Madam Lu. “Mother, I want to report this officially.”
“What?!”
Lin Guanguan’s disdain froze into a faint trace of guilt.
Even Lu Jinyu frowned.
In aristocratic families, internal matters were usually handled privately. Reporting to authorities would only invite outsiders to mock them.
“I’ve heard the rumors myself, but now it involves Deep and Weiwei,” Song Zhiyao continued.
“Mother, I suspect the one spreading these rumors is a spy from a hostile state,” Song Zhiyao said gravely.
Madam Lu frowned, but before she could speak, Lin Guanguan jumped up, shrill with disbelief, “Impossible!”
Her outburst drew the attention of both Madam Lu and Song Zhiyao.
Lu Jinyu also looked at her in surprise. “Guanguan?”
Only then did Lin Guanguan realize her mistake. Sheepishly, she sat back down, explaining in a dry voice, “I just thought the First Young Mistress was being… excessive.”
Song Zhiyao ignored her and turned to Madam Lu. “Mother, some time ago, Husband achieved a great victory over the Xia state. Second Uncle has been back in the capital for three years with peace, yet now, just three months after Husband’s return, these rumors emerge. I cannot not consider the matter.”
Of course, Song Zhiyao knew her reasoning was slightly far-fetched, but it served its purpose: Lin Guanguan was already anxious, right?
Madam Lu frowned but nodded in agreement. “What you say is reasonable.”
She knew Song Zhiyao had acted wildly in recent years, but she was still a Lu family daughter-in-law. And now this involved Lu Jianshen and Lu Weiwei—she could not ignore it.
Though the twins had been premature, she knew without doubt that they were Lu Yanzhi’s children. Lu Jianshen’s face was practically a miniature version of Lu Yanzhi’s.
Song Zhiyao said, “Since Mother agrees, I will go to the Jingzhao Prefecture immediately.”
As she spoke, her gaze swept over Lin Guanguan, lips curling slightly—visible pride in her expression.
From Lin Guanguan’s perspective, she looked smug.
Seeing that Song Zhiyao was truly going to officially report the matter, Lin Guanguan’s face paled.
Instinctively, she grasped Lu Jinyu’s hand tightly.
Even at the Jingzhao Prefecture, nothing might be discovered, right?
Lu Jinyu noticed her pale expression and glanced at her. “Guanguan, what’s wrong?”
All eyes turned to Lin Guanguan.
She hesitated, then cautiously said, “I just feel… this is only the First Young Mistress’s suspicion. What if we make a big deal out of it and it turns out a waste?”
Song Zhiyao paused mid-step, looking at Lin Guanguan. “Miss Lin, you were so worried about Second Brother just now. Now you have a chance to clear his name—why hesitate?”
Madam Lu, perceptive, saw displeasure flash in Lin Guanguan’s eyes.
She then asked Lu Jinyu, “Jinyu, what do you think?”
Lu Jinyu was not foolish. He quickly made up his mind. “Mother, I think Guanguan is right—it’s just rumors. It’s not worth making a big scene.”
Disappointment flickered in Madam Lu’s eyes.
Lu Jinyu was not her biological son—his birth mother had been frail and passed away soon after his birth. She had raised him herself, loving him as if he were her own.
Without her absolute favor, he would never have dared such a reckless act as attempting to flee marriage. Three years ago, she was upset but did not make things difficult.
Lu Jinyu lowered his eyes, unable to meet Madam Lu’s gaze.
“What’s this?” Song Zhiyao asked with a bright smile. “Second Brother doesn’t want to defend his reputation?”
Before Lu Jinyu could respond, her smile vanished, replaced by a cold glare. “You may not care about your reputation, but I will not allow my children to be slandered.”
Lin Guanguan’s face drained of color, lips biting tightly. Her mind raced, but she had to maintain a calm exterior.
“Sister-in-law, Mother…”
Lu Jinyu squeezed Lin Guanguan’s hand, about to speak, but another voice cut in.
“No need.”
With an icy voice, a tall figure strode in—it was Lu Yanzhi.
Hearing this, Lu Jinyu secretly relaxed, while Lin Guanguan’s eyes glimmered with anticipation.
No man could endure being cuckolded—especially if the children might not even be his own. She didn’t believe Lu Yanzhi could remain calm.
Song Zhiyao paused, looking up at Lu Yanzhi.
What did he mean? Did he not believe her?
It didn’t matter if he doubted her. Deep and Weiwei were unquestionably his blood. She would never let him suspect otherwise.
Taking a deep breath, she prepared to explain, “Husband…”
Before she could speak, Lu Yanzhi arrived before her, calm and authoritative. “I’ve already investigated this matter.”
Silence fell in the hall.
Song Zhiyao blinked—she hadn’t expected him to act so quickly.
Lin Guanguan’s smug expression froze. Investigated? How? How could it be so fast?
Lu Jinyu pursed his lips, face slightly pale, heart racing.
Next, Lu Yanzhi’s gaze landed on him, eyes cold and scrutinizing. “Lu Jinyu, what do you have to say?”
Calling out his full name and combining with prior events, the implication was clear.
Lu Jinyu panicked. “Big Brother, I…”
Lu Yanzhi continued: “Two days ago, your servant went to the Western Market and paid a few local ruffians to spread these rumors. There’s evidence and witnesses. What do you say?”
Lu Jinyu instinctively glanced at Lin Guanguan—only to see her tear-filled, frightened eyes, silent sobbing, looking pitiful.
He inhaled deeply, shook off her hand, and knelt in the hall, facing Madam Lu.
“Mother, Big Brother, Sister-in-law… this was my doing.”
He kowtowed heavily. “It was all my fabrication. Please punish me.”
The hall was silent. Everyone could see who the real mastermind was.
At that moment, he noticed another figure beside him—Lin Guanguan had knelt next to him.
Lu Jinyu’s heart jumped. She wouldn’t spill anything, would she?
“Madam, please give Second Young Master a chance and be lenient.”
“Guanguan, don’t speak recklessly…” Lu Jinyu started to stop her, but her words cut him off.
He froze, slowly turning to Lin Guanguan in disbelief.
She was… pushing responsibility onto him?
Madam Lu’s voice was stern: “Lu Jinyu, are you certain this was your doing?”
His lips trembled. He didn’t respond immediately.
Lin Guanguan pleaded softly, “Brother Jinyu…”
Lu Jinyu closed his eyes, resigned. “It was me.”
Disappointment filled Madam Lu’s eyes. She could not understand how Lu Jinyu had come to this.
Lu Yanzhi said: “I’ve already commanded an official investigation. Since you’ve admitted it, wait for the response.”
He didn’t lecture Lu Jinyu—there was no need.
As a Lu family member, Lu Jinyu knew well: shared glory, shared shame.
Tarnishing the family’s reputation would benefit neither him nor Lu Yan.
Lin Guanguan stared in disbelief. “Brother Jinyu admitted it, so why report it?”
“This concerns my children’s reputation. I will report it and restore their honor!”
When she spoke Lu Jinyu’s name, a teasing tone lingered.
Lu Jinyu was willing to take the blame for Lin Guanguan—let him bear it properly.