Whoosh—
“Who is that? Why isn’t President Lou here?”
“Are you new to the Imperial Capital? You don’t even recognize Old Madam Lou?”
“Old madam? What old madam? Didn’t they say the Lou family has nobody left?”
“Her surname is Fu. Technically she isn’t a real Lou family member, but the Lou family can’t avoid her.”
“Uh… sorry, I’m not new to the Imperial Capital. I’ve been here a month, but I still don’t know who she is. Could someone explain?”
“Back when this Old Madam Lou was young, she was quite a figure. Born a commoner, divorced once, then got involved with Lou Yunzong, the only son of the Lou family at the time. He secretly bought her a house, and she gave birth to a son and a daughter for him. Those two are Lou Mingxin, the previous Lou Group president now in prison, and the current president Lou Mingshen.”
“Wasn’t Lou Mingyue their child?” someone asked.
“Pfft—Lou Mingyue has nothing to do with her. She was born to the first wife. What connection could she have with a mistress?”
“First wife? So the master of the Lou family was already married back then?!”
“Of course. He married the Zhao family’s eldest daughter, Zhao Chuxiu, they were a business alliance. But times change. The Zhao family declined and disappeared from the capital’s elite circle long ago.”
“And then? How did this one become Madam Lou?”
“A few years later, the first wife fell ill and died. Before six months had passed, Lou Yunzong married this woman, bringing along their two kids, who were only a few years younger than Lou Mingyue.”
“Hiss, that sounds exactly like a mistress replacing the first wife.”
“Not ‘sounds like.’ She was the mistress.”
“But would Lou Mingyue, the legitimate heiress, ever accept this? I heard she’s extremely strong-willed and ruthless in business.”
“Lou Mingyue was sent away by Madam Lou early on and didn’t live with the Lou family. She only returned after Lou Yunzong died to inherit the family business. Before that, she was never seen in the circle, very mysterious. With such little time spent with Lou Mingxin and Lou Mingshen, the friction wasn’t that bad.”
“Later she took over the family, busy expanding territory, dominating the business world. She didn’t have time to bother with the siblings. At most she just spent money to keep them fed. If she really cared, Lou Mingxin wouldn’t be in prison, and Lou Mingshen would have gone further.”
“But didn’t I hear the three siblings get along pretty well now?”
“That was later. After Lou Mingxin deliberately sucked up to her and Lou Mingshen pretended to be harmless and well-behaved, Lou Mingyue finally softened a bit.”
“Besides, Lou Mingyue was always open-minded, upright, magnanimous, and poised. My old man worked with her once and still praises her to this day, deeply regrets her passing.”
“Exactly. If she were still alive, how could the Lou family have ended up in such a half-dead state? The Xie family wouldn’t be dominating everything now.”
“Anyway, you see how high-level this old lady is? After Lou Yunzong died, she only got two properties. As for the important things, company stock, bonds, options, not a single share. If it were anyone else, they’d have caused a massive scene. How could they swallow that?”
“She didn’t cause trouble? She just accepted it? Even if she was a mistress turned wife, she legally married him. No way the inheritance would be divided so unevenly.”
“Lou Yunzong wanted to leave her more, but the old master was watching. He protected Lou Mingyue’s inheritance without letting a drop leak. Only after everything was secured in her hands did he feel safe enough to die. In that situation, no amount of fighting would’ve changed anything.”
“This old lady is smart, knew Lou Mingyue wouldn’t like her in power. Instead of making a fuss, she moved out of the Lou mansion voluntarily.”
“That’s it? Doing nothing counts as strategy?”
“She left but Lou Mingxin and Lou Mingshen, who share half the same blood as Lou Mingyue, stayed. With no mistress stepmother in front of her eyes, time naturally softened things. Wasn’t it easy for Lou Mingyue to develop feelings for her younger siblings?”
“And once feelings exist, even a little leftover from Lou Mingyue’s fingers is enough to let those two kids live in luxury.”
“Ha! She really planned far.”
“And now that Lou Mingyue is dead, Lou Mingxin and Lou Mingshen became the rightful heirs. With this level of scheming and foresight, if she’s not brilliant, who is?”
“A single woman captured the entire Lou Group, harvesting the fruits of generations of the Lou family’s hard work. Tsk tsk… the old master Lou must be rolling in his coffin.”
“Speaking of which, Lou Mingyue’s cause of death has always been shrouded in rumor. Who knows what kind of secrets lie behind it?”
“This old lady suffered for years, endured humiliation. Now she finally gets to enjoy the sunshine. Even Goujian’s ‘sleeping on brushwood and tasting gall’ isn’t as inspiring.”
“Sure she suffered before. But now? Look at her putting on airs. Anyone who didn’t know would think she’s perfectly legitimate.”
“But I heard President Lou and his birth mother aren’t close at all. He left for twenty years and never stepped into the Lou home again. Only returned this year to take over the company.”
“Oh? So the mother and son have a grudge?”
…
Everyone whispered gossip.
People say the wealthy are forgetful, waves crash, tides rise and fall, and most people and events get lost in the depths.
But some things don’t get washed away. They’re merely locked away for a time.
Tonight, Old Madam Fu Choujun’s sudden appearance became the key that unlocked the box.
As the discussion swirled, she stepped off the final stair and stopped before everyone with a smile.
“Didn’t expect everyone to come tonight. I, this old woman, thank you for giving me face. This banquet has two purposes. First, I’ve been gone too long, many young people and new friends may not know me, so it’s a chance for us to get familiar.”
Everyone: …
“Huh! From the sound of it, she plans to live in the capital now?”
“Wasn’t she at a country estate for health reasons? Even when Lou Mingxin went to prison she didn’t return. What is she here for this time?”
“Something’s off, there must be trouble.”
“Hey, did you all notice President Lou hasn’t shown up at all?”
“Don’t tell me she organized this banquet over his head and invited us without his approval?”
“Hiss! Honestly, that’s very possible!”
“What a joke. We’re here for President Lou’s sake. Who does she think she is?”
“If it’s true, this old lady isn’t simple. Pulling such a big move on her own…”
“Let’s hear what she says next.”
…
Fu Choujun watched everyone’s reactions, still calm and smiling.
“Second reason—” she continued, “I wanted to look at the beautiful young ladies of our circle.”
“To be honest, I’m embarrassed to say it, but my son Lou Mingshen is already past forty and still unmarried. He’s the Lou family’s only seedling. I cannot watch him stay single forever. So…” she sighed elegantly, revealing just a bit of weary helplessness, “it’s time to arrange his marriage.”
Ah…
No wonder.
No wonder the invitation specifically said to bring the daughters of the family!
So this was her plan.
Heh.
Leave it to her.
How old are these young girls?
How old is Lou Mingshen?
Even in arranged business marriages, this isn’t how things are done.
Many loving parents immediately sneered, this move was anything but respectable.
If you want to find a wife for your son, fine, just say so. Let us decide whether we want our daughters involved.
But this?
This is deceit.
You tricked us here first, then looked over the “stock” like choosing pigs for slaughter?
Oh? Your son is an only child?
And my daughter isn’t a treasure?
“What the h*ll is this?”
“How shameless.”
“Mistress is mistress, no matter how old she gets, she can’t shed that cheap air.”
“Exactly, it’s called nature that cannot change.”
“Yep. Like a dog that can’t stop eating sh*t.”
“If I knew she planned this, I would’ve never come!”
“Same. Thought President Lou invited us, not this old woman.”
“What a farce! I’m leaving!”
People began walking out.
But out of respect for Lou Mingshen, no one said anything too harsh aloud. Their faces, however, were dark.
Fu Choujun had no idea what was happening.
Seeing people leave, she frowned slightly, confusion in her aging eyes.
In her mind, who would ever refuse to become her daughter-in-law?
After all, the Lou Group was powerful, and Lou Mingshen handsome and distinguished. What woman wouldn’t be eager to marry him?
“Heh…”
Jiang Fuyue let out a cold laugh.
A mistress grows old, but she’s still a mistress. She sees everyone else as one too.
The things buried in one’s bones can never be washed away.
Eager to cling?
Lou Mingshen?
He’s not worth sh*t.
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