Chapter 46: Lu Yanshen Subjected to Family Punishment

That night, Xia Meng updated her Moments again.

This time her Moments post was a photo covered in wounds; I couldn't tell which part of the body it was, lash after lash, truly shocking.

Xia Meng captioned it: "Heartbroken (sobbing)."

When Xie Wantang saw it, her heart involuntarily twitched.

Could it be Lu Yanshen?

Speak of the devil.

Lu Rourou quickly followed with many pictures and messages: Lu Yanshen was brought into the old residence under guard by bodyguards, after which medical staff carried a stretcher inside.

Next, Lu Yanshen was whipped until his whole body was bloody, and he was carried out on the stretcher.

Then came Xia Meng keeping watch by Lu Yanshen's hospital bed, secretly wiping away tears.

After the photos were posted, Lu Rourou immediately followed with a series of angry questions:

"Xie Wantang, seeing these, are you happy? You really are the Lu family's eldest miss; being pregnant is no small matter, yet you almost got my second brother beaten to death by our grandfather."

"Xie Wantang, could this be what you call loving my second brother?"

"My second brother married you; aside from the benefit of him getting up from his wheelchair, what else has he gained from you?"

"My second brother loves Xia Meng, not you, a country bumpkin; before Xia Meng didn't return, that was fine, but now she's back, and you not only refuse to yield, you even steal my second brother's seed?"

"You're truly shameless."

""

Afterwards there were many more harsh words; Xie Wantang didn't want to keep reading.

Even without looking, she could guess what Lu Rourou wanted to scold her for.

After all, the words she had just scolded on her phone, aside from the pregnancy, were the same old things she often said.

It was nothing more than repeatedly reminding her that Lu Yanshen didn't love her, that she was a homewrecker, and so on.

Frankly, hearing these words gave her goosebumps, yet Lu Rourou felt they weren't enough.

But what she said had absolutely no basis.

What does it mean to steal her second brother's seed?

As for fulfilling marital duties, later Lu Yanshen was even more enthusiastic than she was, right?

Forget it; seeing how badly Lu Yanshen had been whipped, Xie Wantang couldn't be bothered to argue with Lu Rourou.

Xu Yanqiu finished washing up, and as soon as she came out she saw Xie Wantang staring blankly, looking foolish.

"What's wrong, treasure? Who bullied you again?" Xu Yanqiu hurried over, asking worriedly.

"Lu Yanshen was whipped by his grandfather."

"Ah?"

Xu Yanqiu stared for a moment, then said: "Isn't that what he deserved? Who let him, while you're pregnant, still have such a foul mouth and argue with you?"

Xie Wantang shook her head.

"No, it's not like that; actually, it's not that serious."

"Even if they argued, it wouldn't warrant whipping someone onto a stretcher; look at the photo, Lu Yanshen was whipped so badly he could hardly move."

"A little discipline is fine."

"But disciplining him to this extent, Xie Wantang always feels things aren't that simple."

"Even though she's pregnant now, with motherhood making her precious, she's become a giant panda in the eyes of the Lu family's elders."

"She's treasured beyond measure."

"But Lu Yanshen is their biological grandson."

"'What's wrong? Does it hurt?' Xu Yanqiu pouted."

Xie Wantang shook her head again.

"She does feel heartbroken, but her doubts are even stronger."

Xie Wantang picked up her phone again, just about to call her older brother, when Qin Muyang's call came through.

"'Hello, big brother.' Xie Wantang called softly."

Seeing this, Xu Yanqiu obediently kept quiet, tiptoed to the side, and maintained absolute silence.

"'Tang Bao, big brother confirmed that Lu Yanshen is Lu Yanshen, not big brother's lifesaver; this way, I'll book a flight tomorrow and come over, and we'll proceed with the original plan to discuss divorce with him.'"

"'Big brother, wait a moment.'"

"'What's wrong, Tang Bao?'"

"'Lu Yanshen has been subjected to family punishment; he's now lying in the hospital, unable to move. Let me wait until he improves a bit, then I'll let you know.'"

"'How was he subjected to family punishment?'"

"'Maybe it's because we argued.' Xie Wantang said."

"'... Alright, then big brother will wait for your notice.'"

"'Mm.'"

After hanging up, Xie Wantang leaned against the headboard, looking through the hospital window at the distant layers of countless lights.

Xu Yanqiu hadn't seen her so low in spirits for a long time; she opened her phone, found a hilarious variety show, climbed onto the bed, and said, "'Treasure, don't think about that dog of a man Lu Yanshen; let's watch the variety show together—it's really funny.'"

Xie Wantang seemed not to hear; a flash of inspiration struck her, she picked up her phone again and messaged Qin Muyang: "'Big brother, does your climbing club have a group photo?'"

"'How come? Want to see how big brother mistakenly took Lu Yanshen for his lifesaver?'"

""

Her thoughts were exposed; Xie Wantang didn't deny it.

Qin Muyang: "'Our Tang Bao is really going to be a mom; people say pregnancy makes you stupid for three years, and your reaction time for asking me for photos is way too long.'"

"'Hold on, I'll look through the album; I should have a couple photo with that guy.'"

"Big brother, what's that guy's name?"

"His name is Lu Chen."

Lu Yanshen? Lu Chen?

They both have the surname Lu?

Xie Wantang rubbed her chin, falling into deep thought.

Xu Yanqiu beside her was immersed in a funny variety show, laughing nonstop, completely unaware that Xie Wantang hadn't joined in at all.

Xu Yanqiu's call interrupted the variety show she was watching; seeing the caller ID, her happy smile froze on her face. She muted the phone, then gripped it and got out of bed.

"Tang Bao, I'm going outside to take the call."

"Okay." Xie Wantang nodded.

Xu Yanqiu's call went on for a long time.

Since Xie Ningmeng learned that Xie Wantang was pregnant, mother and daughter have been making a daily call, just for routine greetings, prenatal care, and precautions.

Xie Ningmeng also teaches her some knowledge about prenatal first aid.

After the usual greetings ended, Xie Ningmeng told Xie Wantang, "Today, Mom and Dad drove to the old house in the countryside; someone near the old house has been inquiring about you."

When they initially adopted Xie Wantang, they didn't let her take the Qin surname but gave her the Xie surname because they had agreed before having children.

Sons follow the father's surname, daughters follow the mother's surname.

The same applies to biological children.

However, Xie Ningmeng gave birth to three sons in a row before finally adopting Xie Wantang.

This also counts as fulfilling her wish.

"Really?" Xie Wantang frowned.

Who would go inquire about her affairs?

"Before, you said that to Mom, and Mom thought you were overthinking, but now it seems your worry is justified, Tang Bao; if you feel it's not good there, just come home, it's fine—we act upright and proper, we don't fear people inquiring, ah."

"Mom, I know, but many people are not content with what they have; I'm doing this just to avoid trouble coming to our door."

"Mm, Mom listens to you; I've already told Aunt Wang and Steward Xie, and the old house in the countryside has been arranged as well—those people won't be able to find anything."

"Thank you, Mom." Xie Wantang sincerely thanked Xie Ningmeng for her cooperation.

"I'm your mother; I do things for my daughter, and yet she thanks me over and over? All right, it's getting late—get some rest, you're in early pregnancy, you need to take good care of yourself."

"Mm, Mom, good night."

"Good night."

After hanging up, Xie Wantang received a photo sent by Qin Muyang.

Although the photo is a bit blurry, it doesn't affect recognition.

Xie Wantang enlarged the photo; aside from the hairstyle and clothing, Lu Chen's face really is exactly the same as Lu Yanshen's.