CHAPTER 272: CHAPTER 272: DEVOURING WITH GUSTO

"Just explain it clearly and let them leave, simply throwing them out like this..." Meng Yao hesitated.

Matchmaker’s lips, they speak kind words, and they speak harsh ones too.

Though Meng Yao herself doesn’t care much about reputation, this involves Zhao Xiaohua’s reputation.

"Mother, fear not, I actually think simply throwing them out is too kind!" Zhao Xiaohua said indifferently.

"If she dares speak recklessly, I’ll cut out her tongue to ensure she never uses that mouth again." Zhao Ting said, "You don’t have to worry, I’ll step outside for a bit."

What is the Lu Family? Do they think they can bully him?

Do they really think the Lu Family is still the same as before? Or do they believe the deceased Lu Chen and Luo Wanqing can protect the Lu Family forever, allowing them to do whatever they please?

Though he’s not very familiar with the younger generation in the Capital City, he knows enough that that Lu Family kid is dreaming about pairing with Xiaohua.

Meng Yao didn’t stop him; the Capital City is Zhao Ting’s domain, and whatever issues arise, it’s fitting for him to handle them.

However, Meng Yao felt somewhat uneasy.

These aristocratic families, logically, value etiquette above all.

Yet today, the Lu Family’s display lacks all etiquette, not just for the Capital City, but even in the countryside, such lack of manners is rare.

It all seems intentional, no matter how you look at it.

Meng Yao was indeed right; it’s precisely intentional.

Mrs. Lu the Steward had a completely different opinion on Lu Tiannan’s marriage from Lu the Steward himself. How could her precious son pair with a rural girl? Even if she is the daughter of General Zhao, it doesn’t erase the fact she grew up in the countryside.

Such a crude little girl, she’d have to think twice to let her work as a maid in their house.

Moreover, she can’t be her precious son’s wife.

She favored Xun’er as her daughter-in-law, from a good family, simple-hearted, obedient, devoted to her son. Making it easier to manipulate once she’s in.

Therefore, she secretly instructed the matchmaker Ma.

This led to the proposal of a fixed arrangement on the very first visit, showing disrespect to the prospective bride.

Additionally, she anticipated the Zhao Family’s anger, but so what? She has other plans. She’s not worried about that rural lass.

And she saves the spot for her son’s legitimate wife.

——

By lunchtime, Zhao Ting hadn’t returned.

Instead, Bai Su arrived, and she wasn’t empty-handed.

She brought along a skinny monkey-like man and a woman as fat as a pig.

That woman, Meng Yao immediately recognized; wasn’t she the matchmaker Ma who came the day before?

Meng Yao looked at Bai Su puzzled, "What is this?"

"I happened to overhear this woman instructing this man about matters concerning Xiaohua of your family. So I knocked them out and brought them over. Rest assured, I stuffed them in a carriage, no one saw." Bai Su explained.

Bai Su spoke quickly, relaying everything she heard to Meng Yao.

Meng Yao, usually reserved in her reactions, was so infuriated her lips trembled; how can someone be so malicious?

The Lu Family, under the guise of seeking marriage, secretly intends to ruin Xiaohua.

Indeed, matchmaker Ma was instructed to spread the story that Xiaohua is already with Lu Tiannan.

They made it sound so believable, claiming that when Lu Tiannan went to Qingzhou Prefecture, Zhao Xiaohua fell in love at first sight and pursued him persistently.

Such tales, once spread, will certainly be eagerly discussed.

No one would ponder whether it’s true or false, they’d only scrutinize, pinning someone on the pillar of shame.

Or rather, they only choose to believe what they want to believe, regardless of the truth.

"Wake them up," Meng Yao ordered.

"Alright." Bai Su pinched their jaws, fed each of them a small, black, green bean-sized thing, and shortly after, they awoke writhing.

The pain was excruciating.

Matchmaker Ma felt as if her internal organs were being gnawed at by something.

"I can’t interrogate like this."

Bai Su snapped her fingers, and matchmaker Ma felt the pain gradually subside. She gasped for air, lying flat on the ground, like a fish out of water.

After recovering, matchmaker Ma turned her eyes, looking around.

She saw Madam Zhao staring at her with a venomous gaze, towering above.

"Speak, who instructed you?" Meng Yao asked, expressionless.

"Madam Zhao, I don’t understand what you’re saying," matchmaker Ma was stubborn, "just because I came to propose marriage for your daughter, and you disagreed, you’re venting on me? You are abusing your power!"

"Not telling the truth? Seems like the pain wasn’t enough earlier? Before, it was just a taste of the agony. If you won’t cooperate, I’ll let my little darlings feast properly with no restraint. They love internal organs the most," Bai Su grinned, "What went into the stomach won’t come out the same, if your organs are shattered..."

Matchmaker Ma seemed to feel the same intense pain from before.

"Killing is against the law, you can’t, you can’t..." matchmaker Ma stammered.

"Who said I was killing? How could I kill anyone when it’s the bugs eating you, not me killing? My little bugs reproduce rapidly, they could gnaw a cow down to the bones in under fifteen minutes, and though you’re a bit hefty, you’re not quite the size of a cow, right? Rest assured, I even have bugs that eat bones, nothing will remain," Bai Su said with a gleeful smile.

The courtyard was filled with a strong smell of urine.

She was scared stiff.

"With such a limited courage, trying to act tough?" Bai Su scoffed.

"I’ll tell, I’ll tell, I’m just doing someone else’s bidding for money," matchmaker Ma confessed everything about Mrs. Lu the Steward, like pouring beans from a bamboo tube.

Indeed, she paid quite a lot, but what’s the use of silver if she doesn’t live to spend it?

Meng Yao gritted her teeth, "How much of those rumors have you spread?"

"None, none, I had just reached the skinny monkey and finished talking, hadn’t even taken the money before I was brought here." matchmaker Ma quickly replied, "Honestly, I swear to heaven."

"Madam Zhao, I was blinded by greed, please forgive me, I assure you I won’t do wicked things again. Please, get those bugs out of me." matchmaker Ma pleaded.

She didn’t want to be eaten by bugs, leaving not even bits of bone.

"My little darlings are quite fond of your bodies, they don’t wish to come out," Bai Su said slowly, "so how about you two serve as good caretakers and feed my little darlings?"

Matchmaker Ma’s plump body trembled like a sieve, "I was wrong, I was wrong, I don’t want to die!"

"Who’s forcing you to die? It’s just asking you to help nurture my darlings. Rest assured, as long as you don’t do evil acts and focus on goodwill, my darlings won’t be craving for flesh," Bai Su assured, "Otherwise, they’ll feast open bellies."