My stepmother is here, all the rebellious sons and evildoers should kneel down!

"waste!"

In a secret dark room, Lu Zhanyao was so frightened by the angry shout that he trembled all over.

The woman with a blue birthmark on her face flew into a rage and stared at him coldly: "Lord Lu, I did everything I could to get your son into the Cining Palace, and I compiled Lord Yu's preferences into a book for him to figure out, so that he could become a favorite of the Empress Dowager!"

"He can't even handle such a small matter! Wen Qiqi was not poisoned to death, but the emperor and the empress dowager fell out! Now, the emperor is on guard, and Wen Qiqi has left the Cining Palace... You say, this is all your son's fault, should he still live in this world?"

Fine beads of cold sweat oozed out of Lu Zhanyao's forehead.

"My benefactor, please calm down! Xingcheng is a very cautious person. He must have done his best to fulfill your instructions... I guess Wen Qiqi must have noticed something... Could it be that something went wrong? Did the news leak out?"

The woman looked at him coldly: "If the news leaked out, it was you and your son who leaked it on purpose! I will only let you and your son do this!"

"No! Absolutely not!"

Lu Zhanyao raised his right hand: "You have been very kind to our Lu family. How dare I do something that goes against your kindness? Besides... Besides, Xingcheng is still in the Cining Palace... If the news of this leaks out, it will not benefit him at all!"

The woman lowered her eyes and sat on the pear blossom carved wooden chair in front of Lu Zhanyao. The middle-aged woman who was accompanying her whispered to her, "Miss, what he said makes sense. It seems that this matter was not leaked by them. Fortunately, Lu Xingcheng won the sympathy of the Empress Dowager with his death, and he is still alive..."

Lu Zhanyao took a deep breath.

After all, Lu Xingcheng is his own son. If he loses his life, the Lu family will have no hope of revenge.

"Lu Zhanyao..."

The woman leaned forward and looked at him with cold eyes: "I now feel that your son Lu Xingcheng is no longer a useful chess piece. Even if the Queen Mother saved his life this time, he will definitely be sent to the Ministry of Punishment for interrogation when he recovers..."

"My benefactor, please show some mercy!"

Lu Zhanyao crawled on the ground like a dog and approached the woman: "Believe me, Xingcheng is very smart. He has finally gained the trust of the Empress Dowager. If you keep him... he will definitely be useful."

"Of course I won't destroy my own chess piece. Don't worry, I can't kill your son."

The woman's young face appeared uncertain due to the birthmark.

At this time, Lu Zhanyao was really scared.

He was rescued from the prison by this woman, and thought that he had really met his benefactor, and that he could change his fate and make a comeback. However, he never thought that until now, he realized that he had already boarded a pirate ship...

This boat can capsize at any time.

"However, Lu Xingcheng has already aroused the emperor's suspicion. Even if the empress dowager protects him, it will be difficult for him to succeed again. Whether it will be useful depends on his own ability."

The woman's eyes were cold and she sighed, "So, I need a new chess piece. A chess piece that is really useful!"

Lu Zhanyao supported himself on the ground with his hands and looked at the woman timidly.

These days, he did not return to the Lu Mansion, but was locked up in this dark secret room...

This secret room is extremely terrifying. The room where Lu Zhanyao is now located only has a simple bed, and miserable wailing sounds can be heard from the next room from time to time.

He didn't know who lived in the house next door, but every night, after the wailing sound in that room gradually disappeared, he could hear the sound of dragging, and then the door was closed and locked...

Obviously, someone was being tortured horribly in the house next door.

After being tortured, he was dragged out, not knowing whether he was dead or alive.

"My benefactor, my sister and mother are the only ones left in the Lu Mansion. There are also a few children... all of them are still young. Xingcheng is the only... the only person who can be of use."

Lu Zhanyao said with a stiff face: "My sister has a bad temper and is not suitable to be a chess piece. Besides, my mother is old, and my sister Shengshi still needs to take care of her."

"Did I say I wanted your sister to be my pawn?"

The woman narrowed her eyes slightly and read Lu Zhanyao's face: "I have seen your sister. She is a rough person with no beauty. In the past, I heard that she wanted to marry the Thirteenth Prince... Hehe..."

"It's my sister who doesn't know how high the heaven is and how deep the earth is."

Lu Zhanyao blushed, "Master, please don't laugh at her. That's just her temper! I've told her many times, but she just won't repent. She has already given up on that idea."

"You don't need me to laugh at her. She is a joke if she has such thoughts."

The woman raised her lips and said contemptuously, "In this capital, apart from the young general returning home at night, the Thirteenth Prince was the most handsome and elegant person at that time. Your sister is not even worthy of carrying the Thirteenth Prince's shoes."

"Yes Yes……"

Lu Zhanyao vaguely sensed something from the woman's words.

"So, my sister is not only rude, but also stupid. She is really not worthy of being the benefactor's pawn. But the Lu Mansion... there is really no one suitable."

"Who said no!"

The woman raised one eyebrow and suddenly stared into Lu Zhanyao's eyes: "There is another person..."

"Who... who?"

Lu Zhanyao's heart jumped into his throat.

The woman raised her lips, looked at his nervous face, and said jokingly, "What are you afraid of? I tried every possible means to rescue you from the prison... How can I let you die? Lord Lu, don't worry, you even abandoned your own son. You are so loyal, I can't bear to see you die."

What? Die?

Lu Zhanyao sucked in a breath of cold air and looked at the woman with horror in his eyes.

The woman had her body measured and the birthmark on her face was like a green centipede, creeping and crawling on her face...

"Since Lord Lu has even abandoned his son, then Madam Lu is already old. For the future of the Lu family... Lord Lu, you won't be reluctant to let her go, right?"

Lu Zhanyao suddenly collapsed to the ground.

"My benefactor... you... you are not kidding! My mother is already old, what else can she do for you?"

The woman stood up and turned her back to him: "Of course it's one life...for one life."

"One life for another?"

Lu Zhanyao was extremely anxious: "My mother is old, please be merciful!"

"Lord Lu, you also know that your mother is old? In this case, Mrs. Lu's greatest wish is to see the Lu family make a comeback. I didn't let her starve to death in the countryside, and I was able to let her return to Kyoto to live a few days as a wealthy old lady. She should be at peace now."

Lu Zhanyao was shaking his head desperately.

He had long forgotten that he got drunk with joy the night he heard that Qiqi's father and brother had died in battle.

He believed that he could take advantage of the opportunity and felt that God would not let down those who work hard.

The tragic moment of the Wen Mansion was a golden opportunity for Lu Zhanyao...

Now, the woman chose Lu's mother, and Lu Zhanyao felt heartbroken.