Chapter 8: He is Unworthy

"Master, you cannot believe the words of the Third Miss. I have been managing the Prime Minister's Mansion for so many years. When have I ever made a mistake? Please, master, see this clearly! I will never let the Third Miss be wronged..."

The Lady Dowager could not bear it any longer. She immediately knelt down, repeatedly kowtowing to Lanyu, her forehead hitting the ground with a resounding thud.

Lanyu, in his current state of anger, had no mind to care about the life or death of the Lady Dowager. What mattered most was his own reputation. Later, he could easily find a reason to release the Lady Dowager and the others. But the Lady Dowager, not understanding his intentions, continued to confront him head-on.

As a result, Lanyu became extremely disgusted with her. A cold glint flashed in his eyes. He lifted his foot again and viciously kicked the Lady Dowager's shoulder. This time, Lanyu used three times the force, sending the Lady Dowager flying two zhang away.

The Lady Dowager was like a kite with a broken string, instantly flying backwards and landing with a muffled thud. As she lay on the ground, a cloud of dust rose around her. She spat out a mouthful of blood, her eyes went dark, and she fainted.

Lanyan's brows furrowed slightly. The thing he detested most in his life was a man who laid hands on a woman. If Lanyu had just continued to protect the Lady Dowager, she would have held him in high regard as a man of integrity. But now, Lanyu's heartlessness and disregard for the Lady Dowager's maternal family made her look down on him as a despicable father.

How would such a father treat his own mother? It probably wouldn't be much better. Even if he considered a shred of affection, he wouldn't let his own mother suffer humiliation and torment for so many years.

Such an unfeeling and ungrateful father should truly taste the bitterness of a tarnished reputation and being abandoned by his loved ones.

Lanyu waved his sleeve and roared, "Why haven't you taken them away yet!"

After speaking, Lanyu walked directly to Lanyan's side, his face changing to a gentle fatherly smile, his eyes slightly teary as he trembled, "Rou'er, ever since your mother passed away, I have been solely focused on state affairs, neglecting you, which has caused you so much suffering. Now that I know the truth, I will never let you suffer again. Today is your joyous day with Prince Yi. But Prince Yi has broken the engagement before marriage, which is truly outrageous. Don't worry, I will go to the palace and reason with the emperor."

Lanyu's appearance was like that of a loving father, seeing his daughter wronged, full of indignation. He must go to the palace today to demand justice, or else he would lose face. Even if Prince Yi was determined to marry Qin Muxue, if the emperor spoke up, Lanyan might still become a side consort. This would be entirely beneficial to him without any harm.

Lanyan couldn't be bothered to look at Lanyu's hypocritical facade. Her eyes were full of disdain as she glanced at Lanyu and spoke, ostensibly to him but actually for the benefit of the guests present.

"There's no need for the Prime Minister to make this trip. Prince Yi and I will be married by the Empress Dowager first. The Empress Dowager loves Prince Yi and has loved me since childhood, which is why this marriage was arranged. I am grateful for the Empress Dowager's loving heart. In the past, I was too fixated on her favor, which is why I was solely focused on the engagement."

Here, Lanyan looked around at the guests, who were all listening with great interest, as if they were listening to a storyteller under a bridge. She smiled faintly and continued, "But now, Prince Yi has disregarded the Empress Dowager's decree and betrayed her love for him, abandoning me like an old shoe. I feel guilty for betraying the Empress Dowager's love and am ashamed of myself. I attempted suicide by hanging, perhaps the Empress Dowager couldn't bear to see me go to the underworld, which is why she let me wake up. Now I have seen the light. How can a man like him be worthy of marrying me?"

Marrying me!

By using the phrase "marrying me," Lanyan was clearly saying that Mo Chenyi was not worthy of her.

Lanyan's expression was calm, as if she were commenting on the weather. But to the ears of the guests, her words were like pearls, leaving no doubt about her determination.

The onlookers stared wide-eyed, unable to blink as they looked at Lanyan. They couldn't help but feel that such a woman was indeed too good for Prince Yi.

In the past, she had seemed infatuated, chasing after Prince Yi. But now, it was clear that she had only been following the Empress Dowager's decree and repaying her love. Mo Chenyi had disregarded the Empress Dowager's decree, which was considered disloyal. He had betrayed the Empress Dowager's love, which was considered unfilial. On the day of their grand wedding, he had broken the engagement, which, for a woman, was enough to cost her life, considered unkind. He had disregarded the Prime Minister's Mansion's reputation, causing shame and humiliation, considered unjust.

With just a few simple words, Mo Chenyi's reputation, built over many years, was destroyed in an instant. This woman, hidden behind her gentle appearance, was definitely not simple!

Jun Mo furrowed his brows slightly. This woman was quite formidable with her words. In just a few sentences, she had tarnished Mo Chenyi's reputation. This woman, with her hidden sharpness, was definitely not simple!

He approached Lanyan and lowered his voice, saying, "What a heartless woman. What you're doing is even more ruthless than taking Mo Chenyi's life."

"Hmph!" Lanyan glanced at Jun Mo with disdain and sneered, "This is just the beginning. It's not so simple to let him off the hook!"