<h4>Chapter 2627: A Woman Without the Protection of a Family</h4>


    Life was already difficult in the Lu family, but being exiled by the court would truly be a living hell.


    Lu Junning…


    Ning Shu clenched her fist; no matter what happened, she had to give it her all.


    A woman without the protection of a family or n couldn’t survive in this era without facing countless hardships.


    Ning Shu actually wanted to outright leave the Lu family. But what would that aplish?


    Lu Mingxuan was tightly locked up by Lu Yuanfan—it was forbidden for her to even step outside of the yard. If she didn’t behave, they would send her directly to the family temple.


    The current Lu Mingxuan had no value at all.


    A carefully raised daughter, treated as a legitimate one her whole life, was now worthless—aplete waste. And they even married off a ten-year-old daughter. From now on, the Lu family would be mocked and be a joke in the streets.


    No matter how much Mistress Yun pleaded, Lu Yuanfan didn’t agree. He didn’t even want to see Mistress Yun.


    He had too many troubling matters; he still had court affairs and conflicts with political enemies. How could he spare time for a worthless daughter?


    Mistress Yun could only kneel repeatedly in front of his study, begging Lu Yuanfan. As a result, it only annoyed him further—he ced her under house arrest. She wasn’t allowed to take a single step outside.


    Both mother and daughter were confined. Ning Shu took in the sight of how this mother and daughter ended up and felt a sense of sympathy for them as fellow people in the same boat. Perhaps she and Mistress Liu would be next.


    To do something that would tarnish Lu Yueyun’s innocence shows that Lu Junning despised her.


    Even if Lu Junning didn’t deal with her now, she would probably deal with her in the future.


    Ning Shu put down her embroidery. She didn’t have the mood for it anymore.


    “Miss, Fourth Miss has returned!” Yuan Xiang walked into the room and said to Ning Shu.


    “What Fourth Miss? It’s Eldest Miss,” Ning Shu said mildly.


    Yuan Xiang quickly covered her mouth. “I misspoke. It’s Eldest Miss who has returned.”


    It was already past the scheduled return date for the bride, so why was she returning now?


    Ning Shu went to the front hall and saw Li Yu bringing along Lu Yujing, whose height only reached his chest, to greet his father-inw.


    Li Yu had an unpleasant expression on his face; he kept frowning.


    Lu Yujing, on the other hand, appeared very happy. She was wearing brightly colored clothes, styled like a married woman with borate hair ornaments adorning her head. She was clearly still a child but was dressed so maturely.


    Lu Yujing happily greeted Lu Junning with a curtsy. “Greetings, Big Sister.”


    Lu Junning smiled and nodded in response.


    Li Yu and Lu Yuanfan went to the study to talk.


    “Now that you’re back, take your time walking around while I have some food prepared,” said Lu Junning.


    “Thank you, Big Sister,” said Lu Yujing with gratitude in her voice.


    As she turned around, there was a crisp sound as the pearls on the hairpin on top of her head collided against each other.


    Ning Shu felt that Lu Yujing was like an exhibit showcase, she was filled with jewelry from head to toe.


    “Third Sister,” Lu Yujing called out to Ning Shu.


    As of now, Lu Yujing’s status had changed, and Ning Shu would have to greet her. “Greetings, Young Madam Li.”


    “Third Sister is making fun of me,” Lu Yujing covered her mouth andughed but did not ask Ning Shu to get up.


    “No, I’m not,” Ning Shu said calmly.


    “Third Sister, please get up,” Lu Yujing said.


    Ning Shu straightened her body and looked at Lu Yujing, asking, “Howe you married Li Yu?”