Chapter 106

Early the next morning, the Luo family descended the mountain the same way they ascended it. Only, the circumstances in which they arrived at and departed from the temple were slightly different.

Luo Minghuan preferred to mind her own business, so she had the carriage driver slow down their return. When Jun Zishu and Luo Minghuan arrived back in the Luo Manor, the Seventh Madam's trial was already nearing its end.

"Master, you should just confess. That way, you can still…"

A maid with tears covering her eyes bitterly kowtowed in front of a bound woman.

Being greeted by such a scene as soon as she returned, Jun Zishu put on a frightened appearance as she held Luo Minghuan's hand tightly.

Noticing her wife's reaction, Luo Minghuan gently patted the back of Jun Zishu's hand to console her.

"Confess? You cheap wench! To think that I raised you all these years! Even a dog would've been more loyal than you!" the Seventh Madam said in a hoarse voice, her expression contorting as she laughed maniacally.

When the maid started crying and arguing again, Jun Zishu hid behind Luo Minghuan. Then, she quickly scanned the room and found that Lord Luo was absent.

How strange. His beloved concubine has just cucked him, so why isn't he here? No matter if it is true or not, shouldn't he come to take a look at the very least?

[Lord Luo left earlier on.]

Little Fairy, who had been spectating the trial from start to end, explained. She truly had nothing better to do in this world, so she paid even closer attention to gossip than Jun Zishu.

Did he express any doubts regarding this matter?

[No. He merely had Madam Luo do as she saw fit before taking his leave. He was so cruel. When the Seventh Madam heard his words, she instantly crumbled and started crying and yelling. She only stopped after she got gagged again.]

After getting her answer, Jun Zishu resumed spectating the show.

Meanwhile, after seeing that Lord Luo paid no heed to this matter, Madam Luo no longer had any concerns holding her back. Immediately, she gestured to the old female servant standing beside her and said to the Seventh Madam, "Drink it."

"I won't drink it! I won't drink it!" The Seventh Madam frantically shook her head, her expression looking like she had just seen a monster when she saw the bowl of medicine in the old servant's hands. "The child in my stomach is the lord's! It's not a bastard! I want to see the lord! I want to see the lord!"

"Pour it," Madam Luo commanded again while fiddling with her nails.

Immediately, the old servant grabbed the Seventh Madam's chin and poured the medicine into the Seventh Madam's mouth. Although some of the medicine fell to the ground during the struggle, half of it had still made it into the Seventh Madam's mouth.

Jun Zishu frowned and looked away at this sight.

"Can we leave, Husband?" Jun Zishu asked in a very small voice, an uncomfortable expression on her face.

Everyone in the room, whether it be family members or servants, wore indifferent expressions.

Through relying on such public and slanderous means, they had killed a life that had yet to even leave its mother's stomach.

It was no wonder the Sixth Madam, who had suffered through a similar fate several times, had gone crazy.

Luo Minghuan nodded to Jun Zishu's request. If it were in the past, she might have stayed out of interest.

Of course, it wasn't because she had a hobby of watching people suffer. Instead, it was because she wanted to see how these monsters clad in human skin reacted.

Though, Luo Minghuan was honestly a little happy that her little dummy couldn't bear to watch such a spectacle. So, the two of them quietly left the punishment hall.

However, shortly after they walked out of the room, Jun Zishu heard a blood-curdling scream coming from behind.

[The Seventh Madam rammed her head into a pillar, Host.]

It's much better to be dead than alive.

Jun Zishu didn't feel much about the Seventh Madam's misfortune. She had already gotten used to such situations and such cruelty.

Objectively speaking, the Seventh Madam would have to endure less suffering now that she was dead.

Although the darkness within her eyes briefly surfaced, Jun Zishu dutifully reacted to the scream, putting on a confused expression as she tightly embraced Luo Minghuan.

Luo Minghuan gently stroked Jun Zishu's head. However, outside of Jun Zishu's vision, a similar darkness briefly appeared in Luo Minghuan's eyes.

Seeing Luo Minghuan's expression, Little Fairy couldn't help but think that her host was a good match for this person.

"Where are we going, Husband?"

Jun Zishu noticed that the direction they were headed wasn't Luo Minghuan's courtyard but the manor's entrance instead.

"Home."

"Huh? But aren't we at home?" Jun Zishu asked in confusion.

"We're going to your home. Don't you want to see your mother?"

"I do! But… Husband… Do you not want me anymore?"

Jun Zishu's expression lit up briefly before stiffening.

"That's right; I don't want you anymore. You eat too much. I can't afford to feed you," Luo Minghuan said, sighing as she made a troubled expression.

Jun Zishu looked as if she had just been struck by lightning as she stood frozen in place. Then, her mouth deflated, and she looked like she was holding back the urge to cry. Although she wanted to say something, she eventually chose not to. Instead, she simply turned around and ran out of the manor.

Jun Zishu honestly felt exhausted. She didn't know why Luo Minghuan found the need to mess with her like this. Did she not know that the little fool wasn't resistant to teasing?

However, Jun Zishu still needed to work hard in cooperating with Luo Minghuan's performance, so she ran away while letting her tears run wild.

Luo Minghuan didn't expect such a huge reaction out of Jun Zishu. Although she wanted to chase after Jun Zishu, she started coughing a few steps after she started running.

Frowning, Luo Minghuan covered her mouth as she walked out of the mansion.

Jun Zishu didn't run too far away, choosing to huddle around beside the lion statue outside the entrance and wipe her tears. However, despite her watery eyes, she stubbornly refused to cry aloud.

Luo Minghuan felt her anxiety turning into helplessness when she saw Jun Zishu's curled-up figure. Even though she felt apologetic, she had the urge to laugh for some reason.

When Luo Minghuan arrived before Jun Zishu, she crouched down and reached out to pat Jun Zishu's head, only to have her hand avoided by Jun Zishu in a huff.

Afterward, Jun Zishu slowly moved her body away. She refused to lift her head and kept her back facing Luo Minghuan.

"I'm sorry, Yuanyuan. I was only teasing you just now. I won't throw you away," Luo Minghuan coaxed in a soft voice. "I'll buy you candied haws, okay? I'll also have the kitchen prepare a roasted chicken for you."

However, Jun Zishu remained silent as she stayed planted in her corner like a mushroom.

"I'll also have them make braised pork and braised fish for you. Didn't you say the meatballs last time were delicious? I'll get some for you as well. I'll get you whatever you want to eat, okay?"

Luo Minghuan already knew how to coax her little dummy. There was no problem she couldn't solve with a good meal. If there existed such a problem, she would simply need two meals to solve it.

Meanwhile, seemingly coaxed, Jun Zishu slowly moved her body again and faced her body toward Luo Minghuan. Then, she looked up at her naughty husband.

Luo Minghuan's heart clenched when she saw Jun Zishu's wet eyes and red nose, the feelings of delight in her heart vanishing. Grabbing her handkerchief, she started wiping Jun Zishu's tears with an aching heart.

Luo Minghuan realized that she might have gone too far with her joke just now. Her little dummy wasn't acquainted with anyone in the manor, so she had nobody but her to rely on. Her little dummy also took everything she heard seriously, so her saying that she would abandon the little dummy must've been a big blow to her.

"I'm not eating," Jun Zishu said, sobbing. She maintained her stubbornness as she gripped her clothes and looked up at Luo Minghuan. As she did so, her eyebrows fluttered, and some tears rolled down her face.

"I lied to you before, Yuanyuan. I can afford to feed you, so don't cry. You don't eat much, anyway," Luo Minghuan said, feeling a little flustered. At the same time, her heart also inexplicably ached when she saw Jun Zishu's tears. "Yuanyuan, it's the third day of our marriage, so we need to visit your home according to tradition. We're not going back because I don't want you anymore. I really was joking before. I'll apologize, okay? So, please stop crying."

After saying so, Luo Minghuan stood up and extended a hand to Jun Zishu.

However, Jun Zishu kept holding her knees and turned her face to the side.

Left with no better choice, Luo Minghuan called for Ruyun, who was standing in wait a short distance away, and whispered some instructions into her maid's ear.

Ruyun's actions were swift, and she quickly returned with the item Luo Minghuan tasked her with buying.

"Look what this is, Yuanyaun?" Luo Minghuan asked as she waved a skewer of candied haws in front of Jun Zishu to attract her attention. "Don't be sad, Yuanyuan. Here, have some candied haws."

"I'm not eating."

Jun Zishu puffed out her cheeks, looking very determined.

"What do I need to do for you to stop being angry?" Luo Minghuan asked.

However, the little mushroom did her best to curl up and not answer.

"I'll give it to Ruyun if you don't want to eat it."

"Let Ah Yun have it, then," Jun Zishu gloomily responded.

This situation stumped Luo Minghuan. If she couldn't coax Jun Zishu using food, what other means could she use to stop Jun Zishu from being angry?

Luo Minghuan didn't have any experience in coaxing children. However, when she thought back to Jun Zishu's tearful face, she felt a prickling sensation in her heart.

Failing to come up with an idea, Luo Minghuan looked toward Ruyun.

Ruyun immediately pretended like she was thinking of a solution. Inwardly, though, she couldn't help but smile at this situation. Although the Second Young Madam was bad with jokes, the way she tearfully sought for the Second Young Miss to coax her was simply too cute.

Moreover, Ruyun noticed that ever since the Second Young Madam arrived, the Second Young Miss had become much more amicable than usual.

Ruyun had always been afraid of Luo Minghuan. Although the Second Young Miss would never raise her voice against the servants, she gave off a very cold and sinister feeling. It was so bad that Ruyun didn't even dare to look Luo Minghuan in the eye.

However, ever since the Second Young Madam arrived, not only did the Second Young Miss's courtyard become livelier, but the Second Young Miss herself had also started smiling a lot more. It wasn't the insincere smile she usually wore, either. Instead, it was a smile that clearly expressed her joy.

Unlike everyone else in the Luo Manor, Ruyun did not treat Jun Zishu like a fool. She merely treated her like a child. A funny and lovable child.

When the Second Young Miss looked at her, Ruyun immediately knew what Luo Minghuan was trying to convey. Unfortunately, she did not have any experience in coaxing children, either. If even food failed to coax the Second Young Madam, what other methods could they use?

Luo Minghuan beckoned for Ruyun to come closer again.

After listening to Luo Minghuan's instructions, Ruyun nodded before swiftly leaving and returning again. This time, instead of only a skewer of candied haws, she brought with her an entire bucket of candied haws. Then, she placed the bucket in front of Jun Zishu.

"Everything's yours, Yuanyuan, so please stop crying, okay?" Luo Minghuan pleaded.

Jun Zishu was honestly taken aback by this situation. After awkwardly wiping her tears, she sullenly looked at Luo Minghuan.

"Have you stopped being angry?"

"Mhm."

Luo Minghuan extended a hand, to which Jun Zishu obediently put her hand on it.

"I won't eat so much from now on, Husband. I'll eat very little. I won't eat meat, either. It'll be very easy to raise me."

While holding hands and walking back to the manor with Jun Zishu, Luo Minghuan abruptly heard Jun Zishu saying so.

The girl's voice was tinged with tears, and her expression was timid.