"Lu Wang, you... you shameless person, Lu Tieâs body is not even cold yet, and youâre already thinking of taking his wife. He helped you in life, and you... doing this, is it... is it right for him?"
Lu Shi angrily pointed at Lu Wangâs nose and scolded.
Lu Wang was indifferent and instead looked down at Lu Shiâs fair neck. Her suitable clothing wrapped a soft and voluptuous figure. The towering curve beneath her angry breathing seemed eager to burst forth.
Lu Wang felt his nose almost start to bleed as he said:
"Itâs precisely because Brother Lu Tie helped me in life that I gave you so many days to consider and protected you for so many days. Otherwise, with your looks, you wouldâve been defiled by someone else long ago. Iâve been more than fair to Brother Lu Tie.
And if you follow me, I will surely treat you well. I know Brother Lu Tie couldnât perform his duties as a husband and couldnât bring you happiness in that regard. If you follow me, Iâll ensure you feel the full joy of being a woman..."
Having said that, Lu Wang couldnât resist and began to remove his clothes, laughing loudly, revealing a mouthful of yellowed teeth, causing Lu Shi to evade in embarrassment.
Lu Shiâs husband came from a family with some standing in Lu Village, owning several mu of land. But as an only son, he became ill during his attempts for the civil examination and was impotent thereafter.
To prevent people from discovering his impotence, a couple of years ago, he spent a large dowry to marry a woman with the surname Xu from another place, who became Lu Shi.
Lu Wang was considered a distant cousin of Lu Tie. With no worries about food or clothing, Lu Tie would often assist Lu Wang when he could.
He once drunkenly revealed his secret to Lu Wang.
Later, when the Nanyang Rebel Army erupted, Lu Tie was killed by the rebels who rushed into the Celestial River city.
But never would Lu Tie have imagined.
The brother he often helped now sought to seize his wife.
After shedding his outer robe, Lu Wang grabbed Lu Shiâs chin, lifting her delicate face, and leaned in to kiss.
However, Lu Shi evaded him, then hastily picked up a spatula and struck Lu Wang on the head.
Itâs unclear whether Lu Shi was too weak or Lu Wangâs head was too hard, but it did little damage.
The pain, however, thoroughly exhausted Lu Wangâs patience.
"Slap!"
Lu Wang slapped Lu Shi to the ground, angrily cursing, "Bitch, donât be ungrateful. Itâs your blessing that I fancy you. Otherwise, as a widow, youâll eventually be taken advantage of, and your land will be seized by others. Follow me, and youâll be treated well by me."
Having said that, with a few quick motions, he stripped down to just his underpants.
Gazing at the figure beneath her neck as she lay on the ground, his throat gulped repeatedly, and his body grew heated.
Lu Wang could no longer bear it and was about to commit an offense.
Yet given that Lu Shi was the woman he fancied and did not want anyone else to witness such an act.
He turned to his followers and said, "You two stand guard outside the courtyard. Iâll be out shortly after doing good with your sister-in-law."
Lu Wang had already considered Lu Shi his own woman.
His two followers complied, but their exit was noticeably slow.
Not only Lu Wang but they too grew restless.
Lu Shiâs beauty and good figure were one reason.
The other reason was... better left unsaid.
"Why are you dawdling?"
Seeing his followers so sluggish, Lu Wang voiced his dissatisfaction.
The two followers quickened their pace.
Once they were outside, Lu Wang hurriedly bolted the door, turning to look at Lu Shi on the ground:
"Haha, Beauty... no, Sister-in-law, thatâs not right, it should be Wife, allow your husband to thoroughly cherish you..."
He said and was about to overwhelm her.
At that moment, commotion came from outside the courtyard.
Just as Lu Wang was frowning.
He heard an "ah" as the courtyard door was kicked open, and Lu Wangâs follower was sent sprawling.
Immediately after, there was a "bang bang" sound at the kitchen door.
Lu Wang, both humiliated and enraged, shouted outside, "Who is it, tired of living..."
"Boom!"
Before he could finish, the kitchen door was kicked open, and Gao Zheng and Liu Dan rushed inside with a squad of Song soldiers.
Seeing the soldiers clad in armor, Lu Wang, fearful yet cowardly, knelt with a thud: "Military... officers, what... what did I do to offend you?"
Gao Zheng and his men did not respond.
"Miaozhen, my girl." A yellow-faced woman wearing hempen sleeves stepped forward from behind, quickly walking over and helping Lu Shi up.
"Auntie..." Lu Shi suddenly hugged the yellow-faced woman, bursting into tears.
The yellow-faced woman softly comforted her, then turned to Gao Zheng and said, "Sir, this... is the Miaozhen I just told you about."
"Auntie, this..." Lu Shi looked puzzled.
The yellow-faced woman explained concisely.
It turned out that when Gao Zheng and his men brought the troops to Luâs village and explained their purpose.
Learning that they provided food and lodging, along with compensation.
The women in the village were tempted.
After all, Nanyang was currently experiencing a famine, with many starving to death and others nearly subsisting on one meal every three days.
Who didnât want to be a maid?
The yellow-faced woman was one of them, applying as a cook. She was a mother of two, her husband having died long ago.
Being plain and even unattractive, and over forty, she was unafraid of gossip.
Then the yellow-faced woman recommended Lu Shi.
Gao Zheng immediately took notice of Lu Shi.
Isnât this exactly the maid the master wanted?
No one expected such beauty in this small village.
Since she might become the masterâs woman, Gao Zheng respectfully asked, "Lu Shi, are you willing?"
Lu Shi hesitated, but before she could finish, the yellow-faced woman nudged her and whispered into her ear:
"These officers just repelled the rebels, and they have money and food. Now every household in the village is out of food. I heard Old Zhangâs family has resorted to cannibalism. They offer food and shelter, and Iâve heard that the one youâll be serving is their masterâs wife. Miaozhen, have no worries..."
Looking at the kneeling Lu Wang, now intimidated, Lu Shi nodded.
Seeing her nod, Gao Zheng also breathed a sigh of relief. Finding a suitable candidate was difficult, and without her consent, it would indeed be troublesome.
After all, the master had specifically instructed not to use force.
Now that sheâs agreed, everythingâs settled.
"Take them all away," Gao Zheng waved his hand and said.
"Military officers, have mercy, have mercy..."
Seeing that he was also to be taken away, Lu Wang panicked. Now that Lu Shi was in their favor, if he were taken away, a single word from her, and his life would be forfeited.