Chapter 29: Recruiting a Husband

Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Recruiting a Husband

Lady Wei was so angered by her words that she laughed.

"My Wan’er... Is she so desperate she can’t find a husband? Or have all the men in the world dropped dead, forcing her to go to your family as a concubine? Who gave you the gall? You claim being a concubine isn’t demeaning? Then why didn’t you become a concubine for the Marquis Xuanping yourself?"

Lady Lin’s face turned ashen. "Madam Lu!"

"Furthermore, my Wan’er looks down on your Fu family entirely! Never mind a concubine, she wouldn’t even care for the position of the main wife!" Lady Wei finished, pointing a hand toward the door. "Get out of my sight, now! Or I’ll grab a broom and beat you with it!"

"You... you... you..." Lady Lin was fuming with rage, unable to speak. She never imagined that the dignified Duchess Dingguo could be so graceless, daring to strike someone like a common market shrew.

Lady Wei grabbed the gifts from the table and hurled them all at her. "Take your worthless junk and get out of the Duke Dingguo Mansion!"

Lu Zhan had just returned from the morning court when he saw Madam Fu and her servant rushing out of the front hall, looking dusty and disheveled.

𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Spotting Lu Zhan, the two didn’t pause, quickly exiting the Duke Dingguo Mansion.

They had witnessed Lady Wei’s ferocity and feared that if they were a step too slow, she would actually come after them with a broom.

Lady Lin never wanted to set foot in the Duke Dingguo Mansion again.

Even if her son adored that Zhi Wan, she would never agree to let her into the family.

Watching the two of them leave in such a sorry state, Lu Zhan paused in thought before stepping into the front hall. There, he saw his mother sitting with a dark, gloomy expression, her face ashen.

"Mother, did something happen?" Lu Zhan asked.

Lady Wei, her anger still simmering, heard him and cursed with a dark expression, "Who does the Xuanping Marquis Mansion think they are? How dare that Lady Lin come to my home just to disgust me."

Lu Zhan realized. "So that woman just now was the Marquis Xuanping’s wife? What did she come here for?"

Speaking of the matter, Lady Wei was overcome with indignation. "That old hag! She actually came to ask me for Wan’er to be her son’s concubine! Does she think her Xuanping Marquis Mansion is so great? What worthless trash. How could she even utter such words?" As she spoke, her eyes began to redden.

She treated Zhi Wan as her own daughter, doting on her endlessly. She never thought someone would debase Zhi Wan like that.

Lady Wei was so furious she felt like she could kill Lady Lin.

Hearing this, Lu Zhan’s brow furrowed, and his handsome face darkened.

’Lady Lin actually wanted my cousin to be Fu Hongyi’s concubine?’

’Where did she get the nerve?’

Although Zhi Wan wasn’t his biological sister, his mother had treated her as her own daughter for years. She was a member of the Lu Family, just without the Lu surname.

’The Fu family is truly blind to dare to belittle her like this.’

A flash of anger crossed Lu Zhan’s dark eyes.

’How could someone from my Lu Family be so disdained?’

Once Lady Wei had calmed down, Lu Zhan reminded her, "Mother, don’t mention this matter to our cousin."

"I know," Lady Wei nodded.

Seeing she was still in low spirits, Lu Zhan paused for a moment before saying, "Mother, you could actually formally adopt our cousin. That way, with the status of a young lady of the Duke Dingguo Mansion, no one would dare look down on her again."

Lady Wei sighed and shook her head. "Do you think your father and I haven’t considered that? But Wan’er is the only child left of the Zhi family. She has to carry on the Zhi family line."

If they adopted Zhi Wan, she would have to change her surname to Lu.

With no one else left in the Zhi family, it wouldn’t be right for them to do that.

"If she must carry on the family line, then find her a live-in husband. When the time comes, she can establish her own household and live separately," Lu Zhan suggested.

Lady Wei was taken aback, her eyes brightening slightly. "Why didn’t I think of that?"

"So you think it’s feasible, Mother?" Lu Zhan asked.

"I think it is, but we still have to ask Wan’er what she wants," said Lady Wei.

"Of course," Lu Zhan nodded.

Lady Wei’s mood instantly improved. She asked, "You just got back?"

"Yes," Lu Zhan responded in a low voice. After a moment of thought, he added, "I have to go out again."

"But you just got back. Why are you going out again? Is it for something important?" Lady Wei asked, surprised.

"It’s nothing," Lu Zhan said lightly, offering no further explanation.

Hearing this, Lady Wei didn’t press him. "Then come back early."

"Mhm."

Zhi Wan was completely unaware of what had happened in the front hall. She waited in the garden for a while, and when Lady Wei didn’t return, she went back to Yaoguang Pavilion first.

She went to Shuang’er’s room to help her change her medicine, then returned to her own room.

Although the injury on her bottom wasn’t serious, it still hurt to sit, so she took out a picture album and lay on her side on the couch to look at it.

Before long, Dongxiang came in to announce, "Miss, the Duchess has arrived."

Zhi Wan quickly got up.

"Stay lying down, you don’t need to get up," Lady Wei said hurriedly as she entered and saw her.

Zhi Wan still rose and asked Dongxiang to brew some tea.

After Lady Wei sat down, Zhi Wan studied her expression before asking, "Has Madam Fu left?"

"She has." Lady Wei’s face no longer showed any sign of her earlier anger.

"What did she come for?" Zhi Wan was still a little curious.

"She said you were injured at her villa yesterday, so she prepared some modest gifts and came to see you. I turned her away," Lady Wei said.

Hearing this, Zhi Wan didn’t ask any more questions.

Looking at her pretty little face, Lady Wei’s heart grew heavy with worry.

’Wan’er is so beautiful and has such a sweet, obedient nature, yet no one knows how to treasure her.’

After today’s events, she no longer wanted to look for a match for her among the aristocratic families.

After thinking it over and over, she felt that her son’s suggestion of finding a live-in husband was more feasible.

After mulling it over, she began, "Wan’er, have you ever considered finding a live-in husband?"

"A live-in husband?" Zhi Wan was startled, then immediately shook her head. "No."

Lady Wei took her hand and smiled. "Actually, having a live-in husband is quite nice. You wouldn’t have to serve a mother- and father-in-law or live by reading the expressions on others’ faces. You can be your own master in everything. Plus, any children you have in the future can take your surname. That way, your Zhi family line can continue."

Zhi Wan’s heart stirred when she heard this.

’Why would Aunt suddenly think of having me find a live-in husband?’

’Before, Aunt never mentioned this idea.’

’But what did Lady Lin say to Aunt just now?’

Zhi Wan thought for a moment, then said softly, "Aunt, your idea is a good one, but I don’t have the means to support a live-in husband."

Her face flushed red as she said this.

Finding a live-in husband meant she would have to support her own household. Not only would she need to purchase a residence, but she would also need a lot of silver in hand.

Years ago, her home had been ransacked and her parents had died tragically. All she had was the monthly allowance her aunt gave her, plus the silver she received during holidays.

Although she had saved a small sum, it was far from enough.

"You don’t have to worry about the silver. All of that is easily solved. I will prepare it for you. If a suitable person is found, I will also arrange for a residence for you to move into with your husband," Lady Wei said.

"How could I accept that? I already owe you so much, Aunt. I’m afraid I’ll never be able to repay you in this lifetime," Zhi Wan said, ashamed.

"Silly girl, there’s no need to be such a stranger. And you don’t need to repay me. As long as you still see me as your aunt, that’s enough," Lady Wei said gently, stroking her hair.

"Thank you, Aunt." In the end, Zhi Wan did not refuse.

’Given her family background, finding a live-in husband is better than marrying into another family.’

’Just as Aunt said, with a live-in husband, I wouldn’t have to serve parents-in-law or live by catering to others’ whims. And my children could take my surname.’

’Of course I’d prefer to find a live-in husband.’

’It’s just that I’ll have to trouble my aunt to worry about this for me.’

’If I have the ability in the future, I must repay my aunt properly.’

Zhi Wan vowed silently in her heart.