A Good Country Wife-Chapter 697 - 690_1

"So the beauty has arrived, hurry, help this official change clothes." When Ceng Lu heard that Lin Yue was accompanying people to the Government Office to demand someone, his previous ill-humor at being disturbed abruptly changed for the better. The beauty he esteemed indeed had skills and was formidable; he was still contemplating how to leak the news of Dalang and his brothers at the Government Office to Lin Yue, hoping she would come on her own accord, but unexpectedly, Lin Yue had already learned the news and came to demand people.

Concubine at his side watched Ceng Lu’s eyes light up at the mention of that rural woman, clearly having intentions for her, and became rather displeased. She blamed the servant for being too clueless to directly report the news, not considering whether the time was right. It wasn’t easy for her to wait until Ceng Lu thought of her and stayed overnight in her room, an encounter she had put much effort and money into creating. Yet before she could enjoy the benefits, she saw Ceng Lu’s thoughts being captivated by a village woman, which she could not accept.

"My lord, it’s already dark. Why don’t you let your servant take good care of you? Why the hurry? That rural woman truly lacks manners and proper conduct; she even dared to make a scene at the Government Office. Why not have someone lock her up first, then deal with it tomorrow? There’s no need to rush this moment. In this way, you could also dampen her spirit, to let her understand her status. She’s just a rural woman, and she’s turned everything upside down!" The concubine said these words with undisguised disgust and disdain for Lin Yue. Being just a concubine, Ceng Lu only treated her as an object of pleasure, so she did not know Lin Yue’s reliance and background. She was simply jealous that Ceng Lu seemed to set sights on a married woman, and moreover a peasant, which infuriated her.

Ceng Lu, who emerged among women, knew exactly what his concubine was thinking. It was normal for women to vie for favor and be jealous of one another, so he wasn’t upset by her words. Instead, he pondered for a moment, considering whether to indeed leave Lin Family’s Lin Yue hanging to dampen her spirit. But upon reflection, he dismissed the idea. He was eager to see the person he had been longing for; everything else was secondary.

Seeing that Ceng Lu was still dressing without delay, the concubine’s eyes flickered, and she decided to boldly approach Ceng Lu, wrapping her arms around his neck. "My lord, it’s been days since I’ve seen you, and I’m so anxious. Please don’t go, let your servant take good care of you. I will make sure you are comfortable. What’s so good about that peasant woman? She’s already a married woman, her body tainted. How does such a coarse person deserve someone like you? Don’t think about that peasant woman anymore, I won’t allow it!"

The concubine spoke coquettishly, rubbing against Ceng Lu to kindle his desire. He had always loved frolics with beauties, and the concubine was extremely attractive; otherwise, Ceng Lu wouldn’t have elevated her to be his concubine. He was indeed fond of and indulged her, and she was quite skilled at seduction. On any other day, Ceng Lu would naturally have stayed according to her wishes, but today was different.

Firstly, Lin Yue was the beauty he had been thinking about for so long, yet unable to obtain. Having finally caught the opportunity, he could hardly wait and was unwilling to do so. Additionally, the words of the concubine made him very uncomfortable. Knowing that Zhao Erhu was not at home, he deliberately ignored the fact that Lin Yue was already with a man, yet others insisted on bringing this up, which inevitably irked him.

"Enough, stop being jealous. This official has important matters to attend to. I’ll pamper you later, quit it." Ceng Lu was ultimately a man who pitied and cherished women. Although he was displeased inside, he still placated the concubine with a few words.

The concubine, chided by Ceng Lu, became somewhat emboldened and shook his arm. "My lord, please, I won’t let you go. That village woman is way too shameless. With her man not home, she’s restless, flirting with other men. Truly a cheap wench!"

Hearing these words, Ceng Lu’s face turned quite ugly. The beauty he longed to hold and cherish had yet to be enjoyed, and even if she disobeyed, it was up to him to decide how to deal with her. It was not someone else’s place to slander or interfere. It seemed he had been too indulgent, letting the concubine forget her place.

"Presumptuous! Is it your place to meddle in your master’s affairs, and with such filthy words, too? Do you even possess the slightest upbringing expected of a lady from a prominent family? How dare you block me, do you know what is proper? It seems I have been too indulgent, allowing you to forget your place. From today on, stay in your yard and reflect on your behavior. If you further anger your master, hmm!" Ceng Lu didn’t finish his threat, but the menace and disgust in his words were clear. After all, she was just a concubine; he could easily dismiss her or sell her away if he became displeased. The only reason he kept her was that she was from a prominent family and her background was relatively good, which made him keep her around a bit longer to see her later performance.

Scared out of her wits by Ceng Lu’s words, the concubine immediately knelt on the bed, not daring to utter a word. When this man became heartless, he was truly ruthless. As indulgent as he had been to her in the past, he was now equally harsh and unfeeling. She felt a mix of anger and fear, tears brimming in her eyes.

However, Ceng Lu merely glanced at the concubine. While he was satisfied with her knowing her place, he had not a sliver of pity for her. Not waiting for the maid to attend to him, he hurriedly dressed and headed to the front.

At the front, Lin Yue was confronting the butler and the guard of the Government Office. Though both sides refrained from physical confrontation out of mutual caution, they stared fiercely at each other. Lin Yue had Quan An brought over, along with those who had been drugged and involved in the kidnapping incident. They were all bound by Lin Yue’s men and were being escorted over.

"Madam Lin, what is the meaning of this? Bringing so many people to storm the Government Office, do you realize where you are, that you act so wildly? Even if you have a powerful backer, you cannot disregard the Court’s laws like this! If you wish to see the Magistrate, have your servants leave, and come with me to see the official inside. My lord is the most reasonable; if you have any grievances, my lord will naturally attend to them," the butler said, well aware of Lin Yue’s reasons for coming but feigning ignorance. He depended on the authority of the government, attempting to make Lin Yue back down and submit first.

"Nonsense, I know very well why I’m here, did you think these words would frighten me? When have I caused trouble? I’m simply bringing the kidnappers of my son to the Government Office for the Magistrate to deliver justice and explain the situation. The sound of the grievance drum was heard by everyone earlier, so why hasn’t the Magistrate called the court into session yet?" Holding Quan An and the others, Lin Yue stood on the side of reason, unafraid of the Government Office’s strong arm tactics.