Liu Qiaoer was called over by Mrs. Lu again. Looking at Lu Yunqing kneeling in front of her, Liu Qiaoer frowned.
He still bowed respectfully to Mrs. Lu.
"My lady is well."
Mrs. Lu sat steadily on the main seat, while Aunt Sun and the maid Chunxiang stood behind her on her left and right, looking very dignified.
But Liu Qiao'er was just blessing her blessings. She was no longer a maid, so there was no need for her to perform the kneeling ceremony.
Mrs. Lu's face looked bad, and she felt even worse when she saw Liu Qiao'er being so rude.
A heavy slap landed on the table, causing the cup to jump.
"Nonsense, absolutely nonsense. Qiao'er, if you are dissatisfied with the engagement between the Second Young Master and the Qin family's daughter, you can tell me that you have done a favor to the Lu family, and we will remember it. But their marriage was already set in stone, and you ruined it again."
Liu Qiaoer looked innocent. What did she mean by "it was her who ruined the business"? It was Qin Yueying who came and smashed the store herself.
Without Liu Qiaoer's explanation, Lu Yunqing tried his best to defend himself.
"Mother, things are not what you think. Qiao'er is also a victim in this matter. Our newly opened rouge shop was smashed by that woman without any reason. Mother did not blame her, but instead blamed Qiao'er. What's the logic?"
This time, Xia Ying also spoke for Liu Qiaoer.
"Yes, Madam, this matter is really not good for Qiaoer. Miss Qin not only smashed our shop, but also kidnapped Qiaoer and the owner of the rouge shop. If it weren't for the second young master to come and get her, I'm afraid she would still be imprisoned in the woodshed and suffering."
Mrs. Lu endured it. She had only heard that Lu Yunqing was determined to break off the engagement, and she hadn't had time to learn the details. She shouldn't have been so impulsive.
Aunt Sun on the side added fuel to the fire: "In my opinion, Qiao'er must be dissatisfied with Miss Qin and deliberately targeted her. Last time we invited Miss Qin to our house to watch a play, Qiao'er framed her."
Lu Yunqing couldn't bear it any longer and stood up suddenly.
"Aunt, I understand your desire to marry into the Qin family, but you can't sacrifice me. Last time, it was me that was tricked by her. I didn't agree to this marriage in the first place. The Qin family has a problem with their family tradition. I told you but you didn't listen. Now, the facts are before your eyes, but you still turn a blind eye."
Lu Yunqing was so anxious that veins on his head popped out.
"What benefits did the Qin family give you that made you sell out even your own son?"
These words really hurt her heart, and Aunt Sun's eyes turned red as she felt wronged.
"No, I just don't want you..."
I don’t want you to marry a maid who has nothing, just Liu Qiaoer.
Mrs. Lu knew exactly what Aunt Sun was thinking, and she just wanted to help her, but she didn't expect Lu Yunqing to react so strongly.
Liu Qiaoer couldn't help but remind them, "Madam, Aunt Sun, you really need to think carefully about this marriage. Let's not talk about the Qin family's family tradition. Miss Qin's temperament is not suitable for the second young master."
Aunt Sun was so angry that she gave Liu Qiaoer a cold look. Even though Liu Qiaoer helped her protect her daughter, she still felt that Liu Qiaoer was not qualified to marry her son.
"She is the daughter of a wealthy family. Her dowry is enough to buy ten shops. You say she is not suitable for the Second Young Master. Who is suitable? You?"
As soon as Aunt Sun finished speaking, Madam Lu coughed heavily.
"Auntie Sun, be careful with your words. Miss Qiao'er is very good to Xi'er and Yang'er. If she is really paired with Qing'er, it would be fine too."
Lu Yunqing immediately explained: "I will not marry the girl from the Qin family. If I want to marry someone, you can marry..."
Qin Yueying is rash in her actions and has no idea what she is thinking, but her thoughts are written all over her face.
It was because the Lu family was small that she was able to succeed. If it were in the past, when County Magistrate Lu was still alive and Madam Lu still had the energy to take care of everything at home.
A woman like this won't be able to enter the Lu family even if she begs.
"If you really don't want to marry her, just take her as a concubine."
Lu Yunzheng's voice was heard in the room, and Mrs. Lu quickly asked all irrelevant people to leave.
Knowing that Lu Yunzheng was not feeling well, he led him to sit on the couch and had all the windows closed.
Liu Qiaoer was sweating profusely. She didn't want to listen to them and turned around and left.
Outside the room, Liu Qiaoer and Qi Ze were together again, listening to the conversation between Lu Yunzheng and Mrs. Lu.
Lu Yunzheng told Mrs. Lu everything Qin Yueying had done.
Liu Qiaoer couldn't help but complain: "It's really weird. I told my wife about this matter, but she didn't believe it. Why does she believe what Lu Yunzheng said?"
Qi Ze glanced at Liu Qiao'er calmly and said, "That's her son."
Okay, Liu Qiaoer admitted it.
If her own son doesn't believe it, who else can she trust
"The Qin family girl's character is indeed not good. If she becomes my second brother's wife, there will be no peace in the family in the long run. We can use this as an excuse to make her a concubine..."
Half an hour later, Lu Yunzheng came out of the house.
Looking at Liu Qiao'er's bright and white face, she smiled and said in a gentle tone, "Come home with me. Mother will take care of this matter."
Liu Qiao'er was still a little worried: "Where is the compensation for smashing the store?"
At this time, Lu Yunqing also walked out of the house with his long legs.
"It must be every penny less."
Qin Yueying was wrong in this matter. Sure enough, the next day, news came out that the Lu family wanted to cancel the engagement with the Qin family.
The Qin family is in chaos.
Mrs. Qin was so angry that she was shaking with anger. Although she was over 30 years old, she had a voluptuous figure and was charming and enchanting. She could really make a man's breathing disorder.
"The rouge sold by our rivals is better than ours. You could have just done something secretly. Why bother smashing their shop? Now the Lu family has caught them. Not only do they want compensation, but they also want you to be their concubine. What sin did I commit to give birth to a brainless thing like you?"
Qin Yueying was not to be outdone: "It would have been fine if we just paid the money. Who told my brother to kidnap her? That girl saved the young lady from the Lu family and was originally going to marry Lu Yunqing. Madam Lu disliked her background and arranged the marriage with us. If you ask me, it must be her doing."
Qin Yuanming also admired his sister's brain: "You can't even handle a maid. Even if you marry into the Lu family in the future, you will definitely be bullied to death. Forget it, forget it. If this marriage really doesn't work out, forget it."
Mrs. Qin did not tell anyone in the Qin family about Qin Yueying's plot against Lu Yunqing, so Qin Yuanming naturally didn't know either.
Now that she wants to cancel the engagement, Mrs. Qin is really like a mute swallowing bitter herbs, unable to express her grievances.
Qin Yueying also pushed the blame onto Qin Yuanming. Qin Yuanming was speechless about this sister who always knew how to cause trouble.
Madam Qin glanced at Qin Yueying helplessly: "Go to the Lu family first to apologize to them and compensate them for the money. As for the marriage, just put it on hold. You can't really be a concubine. Our Qin family can't afford to lose that person."
Although the Qin family is a merchant family, they are also considered a wealthy family in Fengxin County.
In the ancient hierarchy, the four classes were scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans, with merchants ranked last. Even if something happened to the Lu family, they were still nobler than the Qin family. This was why Mrs. Qin insisted on the marriage.
Qin Yuanming was helpless: "County Magistrate Lu was arrested, and the Lu family is in trouble. I don't know why the second lady insisted on this marriage."
Although County Magistrate Lu was arrested, the Lu family still has people, and the Lu family is still in the capital. A starving camel is bigger than a horse. Their Qin family is just a mere merchant family, and it is good enough for them to climb up to the branches of the aristocratic family.
Madam Qin couldn't stop him, so she could only coax him: "Although the Lu family is a branch of the Lu family in the capital, it still has some foundation. The current county magistrate is the cousin of the former Lord Lu. This marriage... can only be delayed, it can't be lost."
Qin Yuanming couldn't swallow this breath: "The Lu family has been defeated, but they still dare to control us. I must teach them a lesson."