Chapter 773: Cousin Chengmin

Chengmin cousin?

All the ladies present knew Su Chengmin, but the ruffian on the ground was clearly not Su Chengmin.

Was it that Lu Yiner mistook her adulterer for Su Chengmin?

Or was her adulterer truly Su Chengmin, only to be overtaken by this ruffian?

The ladies frowned deeply.

The call of "Chengmin cousin" instantly aroused the gossiping enthusiasm of everyone.

Mrs. Min looked calm, with a smile on her lips. Lu Yiner was self-destructing by admitting today’s scheme was for Su Chengmin.

Hoisted with her own petard, serves her right!

The expression on the Lu Family’s faces was even uglier than when they discovered the adulterer wasn’t Su Chengmin.

Under the gaze of the public, Lu Family, enraged, swung her arm and slapped Lu Yiner twice, scolding, "You little harlot, how dare you?"

At this moment, Lu Family wished they could kill Lu Yiner; she had set everything up yet ruined it all.

Lu Yiner had lost her purity before even recognizing who her adulterer was.

This niece was truly useless.

This pawn was as good as wasted.

As Lu Yiner was slapped awake, when she saw the man in front of her, she almost fainted again.

This was someone she was very familiar with, a subordinate of Su Chengmin named Gao Ming.

Every time she went to find Su Chengmin, she would encounter him.

The first time she met Gao Ming, she could tell from his eyes that he was interested in her.

She decided to use Gao Ming to plot against her cousin.

After all, Gao Ming had grown up with Su Chengmin and was now his subordinate; Su Chengmin trusted him a lot.

Being able to win over Gao Ming would make plotting against Su Chengmin much easier.

In order to achieve her aim of using Gao Ming, after Su Chengmin got engaged, she still waited for him.

As she expected, Su Chengmin avoided seeing her, but Gao Ming appeared every time.

She could see that Gao Ming sympathized with her as she waited for Su Chengmin.

She began initiating conversations with Gao Ming, and gradually they became familiar with each other.

This time, since Gao Ming, as Su Chengmin’s subordinate, also came to the banquet, she asked Gao Ming to slip the drug given by her aunt into Su Chengmin’s drink.

"I depend on Aunt for a living; I have no choice. If I can’t marry my cousin, Aunt will beat me to death. Rest assured, if you help me, only you and I will know. There won’t be a third person. Besides, it won’t be for free. Once I marry my cousin, I’ll speak well of you in front of him, securing your future."

Lu Yiner knew how to manipulate Gao Ming.

Seeing Gao Ming hesitant, Lu Yiner appeared weak and tearful, constantly persuading him.

Although Gao Ming felt that helping Lu Yiner plot against Su Chengmin betrayed his trust, he couldn’t resist Lu Yiner’s tears. He agreed to help just this once.

Lu Yiner confidently handed the drug over to Gao Ming.

After the banquet, Gao Ming had someone inform Lu Yiner that it was a success.

Lu Yiner personally saw Gao Ming help Su Chengmin to Min Baozhen’s former residence.

Thinking her plan had succeeded, she followed them inside, but then everything went black and she knew nothing more.

When she woke up, it was this current scene.

Where did Su Chengmin go?

Why was Gao Ming lying next to her?

Lu Yiner felt a chill; every time she sought out Su Chengmin, she encountered Gao Ming. Was Gao Ming genuinely sympathetic to her or did he approach her with intent to gain trust for today’s preparation?

Or did Gao Ming truly help her plot against Su Chengmin, yet both fell into Su Chengmin’s trap?

Lu Yiner glanced at the Lu Family, then at Gao Ming, and finally at Mrs. Min and Tong Huaqiong, her mind in chaos, eyes filled with helplessness, clueless about how to wrap things up.

Originally, Lu Yiner was forced into this by the Lu Family.

Despite having mentally prepared beforehand, being publicly "caught in the act" still made her wish for death from the shame.

Lu Yiner clutched Gu Taohua’s shawl tightly, shedding silent tears.

"Yin Er, how did this scoundrel get inside? How did he drag you into the house? Explain clearly."

Lu Family got angry seeing Lu Yiner trying to avoid the situation.

She was foolish enough to get counter-plotted and didn’t even realize it.

Wasn’t it time to push all the responsibility onto the man in front?

This way, she could maintain a victim’s image and distance the Su Family from it completely.

"Are you dead? Why don’t you speak? Being harmed like this without saying a word, how am I supposed to explain to your parents? Don’t worry, as long as you tell the truth, your uncle and I will surely get justice for you."

Lu Family both pinched and slapped Lu Yiner.

The words directed at Lu Yiner were full of guidance.

Lu Yiner was dazed by Lu Family’s beating, her mind a mess.

She truly didn’t know why Su Chengmin turned into Gao Ming.

Lu Yiner bit her lip, unsure of what to say.

It didn’t matter; regardless of whether she lost her purity, lying in a room with Gao Ming before so many people meant she couldn’t marry Su Chengmin or have any good match.

She wouldn’t even have the chance to become a concubine in a wealthy family.

From what she understood of her aunt’s indifference and uncle’s ruthlessness, with no marital value, she’d only be sent to a nunnery to live out her remaining days.

Lu Yiner shivered.

A wave of desolation filled her heart.

"Aunt, I don’t know."

"I really don’t know."

Lu Yiner’s face was full of tears as she shook her head desperately.

All the ladies present were astute and quickly realized from the conversation between Lu Family and Lu Yiner that the former tried to scheme against Su Chengmin but ended up implicating her niece instead.

It was truly a case of losing both the lady and the soldiers.

The crowd, originally sympathetic to Lu Yiner, now felt she deserved her fate.

"Tie this scoundrel up for me," Lu Family ordered the servant women, pointing at Gao Ming.

Gao Ming woke up just in time and looked at Lu Yiner and Lu Family with a bewildered expression.

At this moment, two robust servant women and young male servants entered with ropes to bind him, but the still-confused Gao Ming instinctively kicked them away.

Although Gao Ming’s skills weren’t noteworthy among the Imperial Guard, dealing with the servant women and young males was a piece of cake.

"Murder, murder! Quick, go call Housekeeper Xu to take this madman away."

Lu Family’s voice changed from shock.

The housekeeper rushed in hurriedly with people, and Mrs. Min called out, "Hold on."

She swept a sharp gaze over Gao Ming’s face and asked, "Gao Ming, how did you end up here?"

Hearing Mrs. Min’s question, Lu Family realized Gao Ming was Su Chengmin’s man.

She and Lu Yiner had been outwitted by Su Chengmin.

Gao Ming just opened his mouth.

Old Mrs. Su and Su Shihang hurriedly arrived.

"Shameless harlot, the Su Family has been giving you both good food and shelter, yet you two set your sights on my eldest grandson..."

The maid by Lu Family had informed Old Mrs. Su and Su Shihang that Lu Yiner and Su Chengmin were caught in Min Baozhen’s courtyard.

Old Mrs. Su was so enraged she wanted to divorce Lu Family and have Lu Yiner strangled.

Old Mrs. Su cursed and gave Lu Family and Lu Yiner’s aunt and niece a slap each.