Chapter 778: The Mud Is Thrown Only at You, Not at Him

Lu Yiner looked at Gao Ming with a pleading gaze.

Gao Ming knew Lu Yiner was using him, but he still softened.

"Letting a weak woman die to preserve one’s reputation is not the act of a true man," Gao Ming said.

Su Shihang, with a hint of amusement in his eyes, asked, "Nephew Gao, how do you plan to handle this matter?"

Gao Ming remained silent.

From the moment he walked into the trap, he had decided to marry Lu Yiner.

The words Lu Yiner had just said to Su Chengji left him uncertain.

What if Lu Yiner refused to marry him until death?

Given Su Shihang’s ruthlessness and the Lu Family’s coldness, Lu Yiner would certainly die.

Gao Ming looked at Su Chengmin, hoping for some advice.

Su Chengmin said to Gao Ming, "You should speak your own mind."

Gao Ming gritted his teeth and said, "Both Miss Lu and I have lost our reputations. Since that’s the case, I might as well marry Miss Lu. After all, I have neither married nor got engaged."

Lu Yiner widened her eyes, looking at Gao Ming.

She didn’t want to marry Gao Ming, but compared to becoming a concubine to Su Chengji or being drowned, marrying Gao Ming seemed a more acceptable option.

Old Mrs. Su felt like clapping, thinking it should have been handled this way all along.

Lu Family frowned. Lu Yiner marrying Gao Ming brought her no benefits, and it was no different from death.

"I disagree. Lu Yiner must die in the Su Family."

Su Chengji had already considered Lu Yiner part of the Su Family.

Since Lu Yiner was unwilling to marry him as a concubine, she couldn’t marry anyone else.

Lu Yiner’s only path was death.

Su Chengmin threatened Su Chengji, "What business is this of yours? Speak again, and I’ll kick you to death."

Su Chengji shrank back like a quail behind Lu Family, his eyes filled with resentment.

Gao Ming looked at Lu Yiner.

Lu Yiner kept her head down, not saying a word.

Old Mrs. Su sneered, "Lu Yiner, you’d better accept quickly. A girl like you who has lost her purity wouldn’t survive long in our countryside. Now that someone is willing to marry you, it’s your good fortune. If you refuse, you’ll just end up being drowned. Think carefully whether you wish to live or die."

Lu Yiner had already reached as fortunate an outcome as she could hope for.

Lu Family spoke before Lu Yiner, "The daughters of the Lu Family are always disciplined. Even if Lu Yiner marries this rogue, it won’t salvage the reputation of Lu Family’s daughters."

Lu Yiner suddenly met Lu Family’s gaze.

Lu Family’s eyes were cold and murderous.

Initially, she didn’t want Lu Yiner dead but merely sent to a nunnery to live out her life.

But Su Chengji’s appearance changed her mind.

Whether Lu Yiner went to a nunnery or married Gao Ming, Su Chengji might try to take Lu Yiner away due to discontent.

Lu Yiner now hated her deeply. If she ended up at Su Chengji’s side, she might influence him to retaliate against her family.

Now that Su Chengji regarded Lu Yiner as a toy, who could say if she wouldn’t eventually control him.

The means Lu Yiner had learned from her were too familiar and vicious.

"Yin Er, our Lu Family cannot tolerate an impure woman. Do you wish your parents to be ashamed? The Lu Family has more than just you among its daughters; you have sisters and other female relatives. Do you want them to be implicated and unable to find a husband? Our Lu Family’s daughters can’t be so heartless and care only for themselves."

Lu Yiner’s eyes were like pools of icy water as she asked Lu Family quietly, "So you want me to die, Aunt?"

Lu Family replied, "It’s not about you dying. It’s about you fulfilling a greater purpose for the family and your parents, proving your chastity through sacrifice. Yin Er, for women, reputation in this world is crucial. Even if you marry Gao Ming now, how can you be sure he will treat you well forever? Today’s events, even if consensual, cast you as impure; society will only blame you, not him. Your tainted reputation will be a constant thorn between you two. Never overestimate a man’s nature; he will eventually resent you."

Mentioning her brother and sister-in-law was an obvious tactic to threaten Lu Yiner.

Her brother, sister-in-law, and nephew were Lu Yiner’s weaknesses; she held their lives, so she wasn’t worried about Lu Yiner risking everything.

Lu Yiner had to die.

Lu Yiner said, "Like what happened to Uncle?"

Su Shihang gave Lu Yiner a cold look. Lu Yiner, always fearful of Su Shihang, involuntarily shrank her neck but asked boldly, "Uncle, did you know why I’m here today? Yes, it was Aunt who told me to drug my cousin, to ruin his reputation and bind him to the Lu Family. But despite all my calculations, I ended up trapped myself."

Knowing what Lu Family had done was one thing for Su Shihang; being outed by Lu Yiner in front of his son was another.

Old Mrs. Su cursed, "Wretched woman, I always knew you were vicious."

Lu Yiner turned to Lu Family, sneering, "Auntie, you will soon be discarded by Uncle. What will happen to my parents and siblings then? Since you care so much about the Lu Family’s reputation, why not take all the blame and say today was your scheme? Everyone knows you were wronged by Uncle, and they’ll understand your bitterness led to this plot against me and my cousin."

Lu Family was dumbfounded.

This niece, who had always been obedient and subdued, now lashed out like a venomous snake.

Lu Yiner felt a surge of satisfaction, a smile appearing on her face that seemed terrifyingly predatory in Lu Family’s eyes.

"Auntie, if anyone should die, it’s you, not me."

Lu Yiner turned to Gao Ming and said, "Mr. Gao, I don’t want to die; I am willing to marry you."

Gao Ming was at a loss for words, his mind entirely occupied with the thought that Lu Yiner was willing to marry him.

But Su Shihang was unwilling for Lu Yiner to marry Gao Ming.

If she married Gao Ming, the Su Family’s reputation would be irreparably damaged.

Su Shihang darkly said, "This matter is inappropriate."

Ignoring Su Shihang, Lu Yiner turned to Su Chengmin and said, "Cousin, today was a scheme of mine, and I bear its consequences. I ask you, Cousin, to help me leave the Su Mansion alive."

Su Chengmin nodded, "I promise to spare your life. But you must also promise me that once you leave the Su Mansion, you won’t become someone else’s pawn. Live well with Gao Ming. If you harbor any harmful intentions, I will ensure your life will be a living hell."

With no expression, Lu Yiner stood up.

With Su Chengmin’s promise, her life would be spared.

As for marrying Gao Ming, though unwilling, there was no other choice.

Marrying Gao Ming was better than becoming a concubine to Su Chengji or being drowned.

After kneeling for so long, Lu Yiner wobbled as she stood, and Gao Ming stepped forward to steady her.

Lu Yiner smiled at Gao Ming, while Gao Ming felt a bit guilty.

Did Lu Yiner know that his manipulation of her against Su Chengmin had, in turn, manipulated her?