Las viudas de la dinastía Song eran fáciles de casar

Capítulo 35

Kiyoshi had no choice but to hurry into the hall, bowing respectfully with a beaming smile, "Your subordinate greets the Lord of the Fortress."

Lu Qingcheng stroked the white fox's snow-white fur, "Look at your face, smiling like a flower. What delicious food did Zhonghe treat you to?"

Qing Jianyue laughed heartily and said, "There was a whole table of delicious food. I ate a lot and my belly is so full that I can skip dinner tonight. Lord, you've really made a profit this time."

"Nonsense," Lu Qingcheng laughed and scolded, "Aren't you afraid of bursting your belly?"

Qing Jian Yue chuckled foolishly. A heavy cough seemed to remind him of something, and Qing Jian Yue looked at Liu Mei. Liu Mei held a cup of fragrant tea with an arrogant expression, her almond-shaped eyes wide, as if rebuking him for his extreme rudeness. Qing Jian Yue understood that, in principle, he should kowtow to this mistress of the house, but when he thought of how cruelly she had treated Qing Feng in order to obtain this position, he simply couldn't bring himself to kowtow.

"Jianyue, don't stand there like a wooden stake. Come stand next to me. I have some things to do." Lu Qingcheng hugged the white fox and gently scratched its neck. The white fox lazily squinted its golden eyes.

Qing Jianyue breathed a sigh of relief and quickly moved to stand beside Lu Qingcheng.

Liu Mei's pretty face was clouded with anger, and her chest heaved as if she was trying to suppress her rage.

Lu Qingcheng didn't even look at her. "I invited you here to tell you something: Qingfeng is back."

Like a bolt from the blue, Liu Mei's body suddenly trembled violently. Perhaps she was too horrified, for her face instantly turned ashen, and her body shook violently like a sieve. The teacup she was holding fell to the floor, the ear-piercing sound of the porcelain cup shattering piercing her eardrums.

Lu Qingcheng smiled coldly: "Your highly skilled brother is currently in the Hall of Punishments. If he cannot confess all the money he embezzled to the Chief Justice, he may never have the chance to see the moon and stars in his life."

Even after such a severe blow, Liu Mei still managed to squeeze out a trembling sentence, "What do you want to do to me?"

Lu Qingcheng snorted, "You should understand that there's no need for us to maintain this ridiculous relationship anymore."

Liu Mei suddenly laughed, "You're going to divorce me."

"You are not worthy to be my wife." Lu Qingcheng's eyes were filled with contempt and disdain. "The Lu Family Manor does not need a young mistress like you."

Most women would burst into tears and scream upon hearing such words. But Liu Mei didn't. Instead, she suddenly covered her face with her hands. She seemed to be trying to calm herself down, and she did succeed. When she removed her hands, her face was still bloodless, but she was no longer trembling.

"I understand. You knew this day would come; you've been waiting for this opportunity all along."

Lu Qingcheng stared at her coldly.

A sinister, venomous glint flashed in Liu Meixing's eyes. "You set a trap for me. You bastard, you married me just to break me up with Qingfeng."

Lu Qingcheng's lips curled into a cruel smile.

Liu Mei screamed like a madwoman. She leaped up and lunged at Lu Qingcheng, looking like a demon. Startled, the white fox arched its back, its fur bristling, baring its sharp white teeth, and letting out a wild roar. Fortunately, Liu Mei still had some sense and quickly retreated; otherwise, if she had taken another step forward, the white fox would have mercilessly pounced on her throat.

Upon seeing this, Kiyomi Tsuki was deeply shocked, and in an instant, he understood.

Liu Mei trembled violently. Was it pain? Anger? Fear? Sadness? Hatred? Perhaps only she herself knew. Suddenly, she burst into laughter.

"Do you think that if you bring Qingfeng back, he will forgive you? Do you think that if you divorce me, Qingfeng will stop hating you?"

"You can go now."

Lu Qingcheng's eyes held nothing but contempt as she coldly and ruthlessly dismissed Liu Mei. Liu Mei's heart felt as if it had fallen into an ice cellar, chilled to the bone. She knew she had utterly failed. Three years of effort, all for naught. She understood even more clearly that she was wrong. Not only was she wrong, but her mistake was unforgivable. She should have chosen Qingfeng all along. In this world, only Qingfeng loved her selflessly and unconditionally, and she had betrayed him.

Laughter and conversation drifted in clearly. Qingfeng and Cai Zhonghe, exuding elegance, entered the living room first, followed by Cai Bo'an and Bai Yiting, and then Lei Yongxiang and Lin Feng, arguing about something. The time for their meeting had arrived. However, when they saw this scene, they were all stunned.

In an instant, Liu Mei seemed to regain her composure, becoming calm and collected. She stared arrogantly at Lu Qingcheng, "You divorced me, and I feel no sadness at all."

Kiyoshi was surprised. When her gaze swept past Liu Mei and landed on Qingfeng, Kiyoshi immediately understood what Liu Mei wanted to do.

"Do you think I love you? Don't flatter yourself. I only hate you for breaking us up. Qingfeng will never forgive you. We could have been a perfect couple, but you snatched me away from him. You beast!" Liu Mei loudly mocked and ridiculed Lu Qingcheng.

The gentle, warm expression on Qingfeng's handsome face instantly froze, as if chilled by the frost of December. Cai Bo'an and the others couldn't help but change their expressions drastically. They looked at Qingfeng and Lu Qingcheng with melancholy. This reminded them of the time three years ago when they, as brothers, had fought fiercely over Liu Mei.

Lu Qingcheng slowly stood up from his chair. Everyone stared at him. Although he was usually composed, Qing Jianyue noticed that his fist, hidden in his sleeve, was almost clenched to the point of breaking, showing how much strength he needed to suppress his inner rage.

Liu Mei retreated guiltily, turning back in panic, her sorrowful, regretful, and poignant eyes searching for Qingfeng's pity. Qing Jianyue quickly moved a few steps, swiftly standing between her and Qingfeng, and said with a smile, "Lord of the Fortress, it's time for the meeting. Shall we invite the Grand Lord, the other lords, and the stewards to the main study for the meeting?"

Lu Qingcheng nodded and said calmly, "Let's discuss this in the main study."

Cai Zhonghe swiftly grabbed Qingfeng and shoved her aside. Lu Qingcheng walked out of the living room without looking back, like a tiger entering a deep mountain; clearly, he had completely calmed down. Cai Zhonghe, dragging Qingfeng along, left the living room surrounded by Cai Bo'an and the others.

As Liu Mei watched Qingfeng's departing figure, her heart was churning with longing, sorrow, and regret. Suddenly, she warned him coldly, "Don't meddle in other people's business; it won't do you any good."

Kiyoshi's eyes sparkled, and she smiled serenely, "If you continue down the wrong path, it will do you no good at all."

Liu Mei retorted angrily, "Do you really think you're so smart? You idiot. That despicable Lu Qingcheng is just using you. Once he's done using you, he'll kick you to the curb without a second thought, just like what happened to me now."

Qing Jianyue remained calm and composed, saying, "Miss Liu, your current situation is not worthy of any sympathy. You deserve to be divorced. Even if what you say is true, your betrayal of Qingfeng is an indelible fact."

Liu Mei's expression shifted rapidly. She was filled with hatred; she desperately wanted to pounce on Qing Jianyue and shatter her confident, serene smile. However, the white fox crouching at Qing Jianyue's feet was glaring menacingly at her, ready to pounce without hesitation should she make the slightest move. In an instant, Liu Mei, like a defeated hen, lost all her fighting spirit.

Night had fallen. Qing Jianyue extinguished the candles in the hall and quietly pushed open the bedroom door. Inside, Lu Qingcheng leaned against the window, silently gazing at the lonely crescent moon in the sky. Qing Jianyue walked over and looked at his resolute, sculpted profile.

"Lord of the castle, please rest."

"Was I wrong?" Lu Qingcheng asked in a low voice.

Qing Jianyue was taken aback. But quickly, she understood his meaning. He misspoke; he meant Qingfeng and Liu Mei. Lu Qingcheng was undoubtedly a clever man. He saw through Liu Jianhua and his sister at a glance, and he knew even more clearly how much of Liu Mei's love for Qingfeng was tainted. He might have warned Qingfeng before, but Qingfeng didn't believe him. Yes, how could he believe it? How much he loved Liu Mei! Thinking of this, Qing Jianyue felt as if her heart was being torn apart.

Lu Qingcheng turned his face. His eyes were filled with melancholy, sorrow, and loneliness. Qing Jianyue's heart trembled; she remembered that he had the same expression when they first met.

It was a grand banquet, hosted by a very wealthy man, whose name and the reason for the event were irrelevant. Kiyomi Tsuki was hired at great expense to perform at the banquet. Yes, he was a dancer. His singing and dancing drove the entire audience wild. As Kiyomi Tsuki proudly surveyed the cheering crowd, he spotted him.

Lu Qingcheng sat in the most prestigious guest seat. Everyone else was cheering, but he remained silent. His eyes were filled with melancholy, sorrow, and loneliness. He met Qing Jianyue's gaze; though his expression was calm, Qing Jianyue seemed to hear a lonely heart crying out.

Help me, help me.

Kiyoshi's heart felt as if it had been struck by something heavy, the pain so intense it was almost unbearable. So much so that later, when Lu Qingcheng proposed that absurd bet to him, he agreed even though he knew he would lose.

"Was I wrong?" Lu Qingcheng asked again.