A Good Country Wife-Chapter 699 - 692_1

Lin Yue knew that Ceng Lu would never agree, but there was no better option at the moment. "Quan An is a subordinate trusted by Master Ceng, and there has never been any news of Quan An being expelled from the Government Office. Now, at the eleventh hour, for you to say this, Master Ceng, it’s simply too hard to believe." freёweɓnovel.com

"Madam Lin, your words are not appropriate. Whether you believe it or not, this is the truth. I have no need to deceive you about this matter. The Government Office is not an ordinary place; it represents the dignity and face of the Court. Even at critical times, unless it’s a state ****, we cannot arbitrarily allow people to search it, let alone at ordinary times. As an official of Dazhou, I earn my salary from the Court and would not dare to make a jest out of the Court’s affairs. I ask for your understanding, Madam Lin!" Ceng Lu, after all, was raised in a prominent family. Though he might be somewhat foolish and lustful, his tongue was not weak, and he was best at saying decorous, dignified things. It seemed as if it was really genuine, leaving no room for faultfinding.

How could Lin Yue not know that the Government Office was not a place that could be searched at will? But with Ceng Lu refusing to hand over the person, there was no other way around it. She had always thought Ceng Lu was useless, and now that he puts forth such an argument to shut her down, she is unable to refute and feels even more frustrated.

"However, someone tipped me off, claiming they clearly saw Dalang and his brothers being taken into the Government Office. How do you explain that, Master Ceng? Are you intentionally covering for your family’s servants, or is it actually your own idea?"

"Madam Lin, you have been misled by rumors. If your stepsons had truly entered the Government Office, how could I be unaware and keep them here against their will? As an envoy of the Court, how could I commit such acts, and for what purpose? Madam Lin, you are also a prominent family in Xin’an City. I have always had great respect for you, Madam Lin. However, I am quite disappointed this time. You are, after all, a woman of the household, with limited experience, and rather reckless. The Government Office is not a place where people can come and go freely. This just shows that the person who reported the false information to you has a sinister intent, probably trying to lead you into making such a mistake."

Seeing that he had rendered Lin Yue speechless, Ceng Lu grew even more complacent. According to what people reported to him, this Madam Lin cared a great deal for her stepsons and was highly concerned about them. The fact that she was willing to risk herself to rescue them this time indicated how much she valued the young boys. To save the youngsters, Lin Yue would have to comply with him.

"Madam Lin still doesn’t trust me? Then how about this, allowing so many people to search the Government Office is impossible. However, I can accompany Madam Lin on a walk around the Government Office, so you can see for yourself whether there is anyone hidden. This is the furthest I am willing to concede and the final offer, Madam Lin. What do you think?"

If Lin Yue didn’t know Ceng Lu’s purpose and character, his actions and words would seem very sincere and nearly convincing. But Lin Yue, fully aware of Ceng Lu’s covetous intentions toward her and his desire to commit vile acts, would never be so foolish as to enter the Government Office alone, leaving herself isolated and defenseless, at the mercy of others. Such an obviously disadvantageous situation was almost immediately rejected without thought, especially when considering Dalang and his brothers detained at the Government Office, worrying about their safety, and fearing Ceng Lu might actually harbor malicious intentions. Unable to say no, she hesitated.

"Madam Lin, you haven’t yet responded to my suggestion. If you are worried, would you be willing to accompany me for a walk within the Government Office? I have always conducted myself with integrity and do not wish to be slandered casually. It would be best for you, Madam Lin, to see it with your own eyes, to prove my innocence. The Government Office is the most impartial place, it’s not a dragon’s lair or a tiger’s den. Do you still have any concerns? Or perhaps Madam Lin doesn’t care that much about the safety of the children, and it is simply a matter of causing a commotion at the Government Office. If that’s the case, I would absolute not tolerate it!" Ceng Lu pressed her further as she remained silent, and even the nearby onlookers felt his sincerity in his words. If Lin Yue continued to make a fuss, it would be seen as undignified.

"Master, I indeed have concerns. Not to mention that I am a woman, who should not lightly enter or leave the Government Office with a strange man. Moreover, I am now married and my husband is away. I should be all the more cautious to avoid any insinuation that could damage my reputation. Instead of accompanying you myself, how about I send someone with you to take a look?"

Dalang and his brothers had yet to be rescued. She couldn’t just plunge into the wolf’s den. She thought to herself, among these people, the Jiang Family’s Hidden Guard had the best skills and was the most capable. If she could persuade Ceng Lu to let him take a walk in the Government Office, even if they couldn’t rescue Dalang and the others, at least they could gather some intelligence on the situation inside.

Since Ceng Lu had come up with all these justifiable reasons, Lin Yue wasn’t foolish either. She promptly cited an entire rationale. In this era, there were many restrictions placed on women, and regardless of whether they were married, their reputation for purity was highly valued. How could a woman casually enter and exit with an unrelated man?

"Madam Lin thinks the Government Office is some kind of place that anyone can enter as they wish? Since you are unwilling, I won’t force you. Leave quickly with your people, and stop causing trouble and chaos here. Otherwise, I will charge you with gathering a crowd to cause a disturbance and for unauthorized entry into an official residence. Madam Lin, you certainly cannot afford such accusations."

Ceng Lu felt certain Lin Yue would not leave Dalang and his brothers unattended, so he would never agree to her conditions. His attitude was exceptionally firm. Now, Lin Yue was genuinely hesitant, pondering whether to enter the Government Office with Ceng Lu. After all, she did carry certain protective powders and pellets, which could be considered as means of self-defense. However, the Government Office was indeed not like other places—if an incident occurred, her own people wouldn’t be able to break in. Even if she managed to incapacitate Ceng Lu with the drugs, with so many people in the Government Office, she wouldn’t be able to confront them alone, and after all, she was quite defenseless.

"What do you think, Madam Lin? Are you going to agree to my suggestion? If not, leave quickly and stop making trouble in front of the Government Office, stop being unreasonably confrontational. Otherwise, for the sake of the Court’s dignity, I will have to arrest you and all your accomplices."

"Madam, this man is up to no good; you mustn’t trust his word. If you really go into the Government Office alone, you’ll be entirely at his mercy later. Let’s withdraw for now. The master will be back soon. Perhaps I should send another message urging him to hurry back and deal with this matter. You absolutely mustn’t take such a risk at this time, Madam. If something were to happen..." Liu Aniu expressed his concerns anxiously, fearing that Lin Yue, for the sake of Dalang and his brothers, would fall into Ceng Lu’s trap all too easily.

Lin Yue glanced at Ceng Lu, who pretended to be earnest, and then at Liu Aniu and the others, who looked worried. She was truly undecided, weighing her options and finally, with clenched teeth—