Don't disturb me, I won't be a concubine

Faced with Zhou's questioning, Mother Wang had no choice but to tell her everything she knew.

"I swear to heaven that I did not see it wrong. For this reason, I secretly asked around this morning and found that several servants saw the master and Miss Qingyan together. The two were very close."

Zhou's face changed drastically, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Mother Wang felt wronged. "I just found out everything and was about to report it to Madam, when the news from the Marquis arrived."

"It must be that bitch who seduced Wen Chen!"

"At this critical moment, if people knew that Master was hanging out with a prostitute, and that she was his brother's woman, it would be very detrimental to Master's inheritance of the title." Mother Wang looked up at Zhou, "Who knows what people would say if this got out. Master San went to the battlefield to kill the enemy and save Master Hou, but Master reached out to his backyard..."

"Nonsense! How could my son fall for that lowly girl!" Zhou interrupted her angrily.

Mother Wang quickly agreed, "Yes, the master has a noble character, and it must be Qingyan who behaved improperly. The master is hot-blooded and has never seen the methods of brothel girls, so he was careless and lost control. How about this servant go and invite the master over, and Madam will have a good talk with him?"

"No," Zhou raised her hand, "Don't let Wen Chen know that I already know about this. We can't alert the enemy."

"What do you want to do, madam?"

"I let that bitch into the mansion to deal with that evil creature, but I didn't expect that she would dare to seduce my son. I can't keep her here any longer. Before this matter gets out of hand, go and deal with those people who saw Wen Chen with her."

"Do it quietly and don't let anyone notice." Zhou did not forget to remind.

"Don't worry, Madam. I will definitely get it done."

Before Zhou could say something else, Lawrence Lu’s voice came from outside the door.

“Mother—” Lu Wenchen walked in with a sad face, “Mother, have you heard that father…he was killed by the Northern Di people!”

Zhou motioned for Wang Madam to leave, turned around and wiped her eyes and said, "I just heard too, your father died so tragically... How are we, an orphan and a widow, going to survive..."

"I heard that my third brother killed the Northern Di general, which can be regarded as revenge for my father."

Zhou put down her hand, "Silly son, this is what's wrong with you. Now that your father is dead, that evildoer has made great contributions. If he wants to inherit your father's title again, will we mother and son still have a way to survive?"

Lu Wenchen was stunned. "I am my father's eldest son. How can he, a bastard, be qualified to inherit the title?"

"It's better to be safe than sorry. It's better to help you settle this matter before that evildoer comes back."

"Mom, have you come up with an idea?"

"I can only try my best."

Thinking of this, Zhou couldn't help but hate Lu Hao. If he had asked for the title of Crown Prince for Wen Chen earlier, they mother and son wouldn't be so passive and uneasy.

Coming back to her senses, Zhou reminded him, "You better behave yourself during this time and don't make any trouble that will make people laugh at you."

Lawrence Lu felt guilty when he heard this, “Mother is worrying too much, what kind of trouble can I cause.”

"There is no best." Zhou saw through it but didn't say it.

On the day when Lu Siheng led his army back to the capital, the emperor and his ministers personally went to the city gate to welcome him, and the roadside was also filled with common people.

Lu Siheng dismounted, supported the coffin, and walked forward in plain clothes to pay his respects.

"Your Majesty, I have failed to carry out your orders. Please punish me."

"Get up." The emperor's eyes fell on the coffin. "Lord Lu fought all his life and made great contributions to our Great Yin. Now he died to protect our soldiers and people in Xizhou. I am deeply saddened."

The emperor turned his gaze to Lu Siheng, "You killed Ao Ye and dealt a heavy blow to the Northern Di, which is a great achievement. Send your father back. After taking care of Marquis Lu's funeral, I will reward you according to your merits."

After the emperor finished speaking, he turned around and got on the imperial carriage. At this moment, two white shadows suddenly rushed out.

The guards drew their swords and protected the emperor in the middle, "Protect the emperor——"

The two men rushed straight towards the coffin.

"My lord, you are gone like this. How can I live?" Zhou threw herself on the coffin and cried bitterly.

Lu Wenchen knelt on the ground and kowtowed, crying, "Father, I am unfilial and failed to see you for the last time. If I had known this, I should have gone with my third brother to rescue you. Although I don't know martial arts, I would rather die for you..."

The mother and son cried so hard that the emperor waved his hand and asked the guards to put away the knives.

Seeing this scene, the people on the street couldn't help but shed tears.

"Madam Lu, please accept my condolences," said the emperor.

Zhou then stepped down from the coffin and knelt down to pay her respects. "I am sorry for disturbing Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

Lu Wenchen also turned his body to the emperor, "Your Majesty, please forgive me..."

"I understand your feelings. Since you are here, let's take Marquis Lu back to the palace together. I have ordered the Ministry of Rites to arrange Marquis Lu's funeral."

"Thank you, Your Majesty——"

Later on the way back to Marquis Zhongjing, Zhou and Lu Wenchen stood in front of the coffin as the legitimate wife and son, while Lu Siheng could only follow behind.

The mourning hall has been set up, and after Lu Hao's coffin was placed in place, people came to pay their respects in an endless stream.

Zhou and Lu Wenchen returned the greeting in front, while Lu Siheng knelt beside them.

The funeral hall didn't become quiet until dark.

Mother Wang came over and said, "Madam, the food is ready. You and the two gentlemen have been busy all day. Come over and have something to eat."

Zhou turned around and said, "Third brother, come too."

"I'm not hungry." Lu Siheng said without raising his head while burning paper money.

"Mother, don't pay attention to him. He didn't save father, so how can he have the face to eat?" Lu Wenchen stared at Lu Siheng viciously.

Zhou turned around and scolded: "You are brothers, you are not allowed to talk like that."

Then Zhou said to Lu Siheng, "Then you stay here first, and we will take over for you later."

After leaving the mourning hall, Lawrence Lu asked in confusion: “Why did mother scold me just now? I was not wrong.”

"Now that the succession to the title has not been decided, it is not the time to turn against him."

"Mother has asked the emperor through the Empress, but the emperor has not issued an edict yet. Does he really want to give this title to Lu Siheng?!"

Zhou frowned, "You need to calm down. Didn't the Queen also say that His Majesty wants to wait until your father's funeral is over before making a decision. I was not thoughtful enough and shouldn't have been so anxious."

Lin Zhong watched Zhou and Lu Wenchen walk away from the dark before he dared to enter the mourning hall.

"Third Master, something happened to Miss Qingyan--" Lin Zhong knelt down beside Lu Siheng and said.

The paper money in Lu Siheng's hand suddenly fell into the brazier.

"What's wrong with Qingyan? Didn't I ask you to stay by her side and protect her?"

"It was my fault that Miss Qingyan disappeared."

"How could she disappear while staying in the mansion? When did she disappear?"

Lin Zhong lowered his head and replied, "Today is the third day. The day Miss Qingyan disappeared, Aunt Ruyi suddenly fell ill, so I asked a doctor to go to the mansion to treat her. When I returned home the next morning, I found that Miss Qingyan was missing. I have searched many places in the past few days, but there is no trace of Miss Qingyan."

Lu Siheng had a bad feeling after hearing this, "Qingyan is not a willful person, and she would not leave without saying goodbye. She must have encountered something."

At this time, Lin Zhong took out a letter from his pocket and said, "This is what Miss Qingyan gave me the night before she disappeared. She asked me to keep it close to me and wait for you to come back and give it to you personally."