Chapter 82: Undermining

Chapter 82: Undermining

"Thankfully..."

After hearing the edict and returning to the Chuisi Hall, Lin Yunwan also breathed a sigh of relief.

She said to her two maids, "Thankfully, it's only a revocation of the title."

The maids, unaccustomed to such significant events, were speechless for a while, calming themselves before pouring her tea.

The tea was Longjing.

Lin Yunwan, sipping her tea, said with lingering fear, "It really was hard on my brother and mother."

Favoring a concubine over the wife is not a trivial matter, but the Lu family this generation indeed lacked concrete evidence of wife-murder. A light punishment would mean just a demotion, barely a scratch.

A harsher penalty could implicate the Marquis for past mistakes on the battlefield, leading to a family execution; that could drag innocent people into trouble and cost her own life.

The outcome, however, was just right – neither too much nor too little.

Taoye sighed, "The Wuding Marquis's household is finished. Once the Marquis passes away…"

This goes without saying; a family stripped of its title won’t be granted one again by the Emperor. The honor of nobility ends here.

With the death of the Wuding Marquis, there would be no more 'Wuding Marquis's household' in the capital.

Pingye, quite satisfied, said, "If not for the old Marquis's contributions, perhaps even the Marquis’s title would have been lost long ago. It’s already quite fortunate that he's still alive."

She added, "It serves to humble the young master, let's see if he dares to cause more trouble in the future!"

After all, they were all part of the Wuding Marquis's household, and the maids discussed future plans with Lin Yunwan.

"There’s no other path to follow; a person stripped of his title can’t inherit it again unless he enters the civil service through imperial examinations. The exams are fair to everyone."

Lin Yunwan spoke calmly, not the least bit frightened.

She didn’t believe that Lu Zhengliu, at his age, would go to the lengths of studying hard for the exams.

Taoye, being practical, said, "In the future… the best course would be for the elder to manage the family's assets properly and live a quiet life."

Pingye pursed her lips and muttered, "What kind of life can he lead! From now on, it all depends on our lady."

"Madam" is a title of dignity granted only by imperial decree. With the young master losing his title, everyone in the household would have to address Lin Yunwan as 'lady'.

Not only titles but many other things in the household needed to be changed.

Pingye said with a sense of relief, "We’ll be busy from now on."

Everyone lost face, and the Lu family could no longer suppress the Lin family. She felt everything would be more comfortable from now on.

Lin Yunwan responded, "You just take care of Changgong. The rest doesn't concern us anymore."

She continued, "We've burned our bridges, so I don't need to help manage the Wuding Marquis's household anymore. From now on, we just need to hold onto the lifeblood of the Lu family."

Pingye, genuinely puzzled, asked, "What is the lifeblood of the Lu family?"

Taoye explained, "With the Marquis suffering from a stroke and dementia, and the young master stripped of his title, the household will become a mere shell. What do you think is the only hope for the household?"

After thinking, Pingye said, "Is it Young Master Changgong?"

Taoye nodded with a smile, "Exactly. Madam only needs to nurture a competent successor. In three to five years, the old lady will age, the lady lacks cunning and schemes, and with the Marquis in his condition, Changgong will soon be in charge. The elder won't matter much in the household anymore."

Lin Yunwan gave a faint smile.

Taoye was a clever girl, understanding the situation well.

Lin Yunwan intended to sideline Lu Zhengliu!

Since the Lu family wouldn’t let her go, insisting on dragging her down with them, she would transfer the Lu family's assets into Changgong’s hands.

She wondered if Old Lady Lu and Lu Zhengliu would be satisfied with her supporting the Lu family in this way.

"The aunt has arrived."

The little maid, knowing her mistress and the head maid were discussing important matters, entered and announced softly.

Lin Yunwan was always kind to her servants, and she softly said, "Let her in."

Zhu Qing entered, dressed in light-colored attire, looking slightly better than a woman in mourning.

She didn’t dare to sit, timidly calling out, "Madam."

She seemed somewhat afraid of Lin Yunwan.

Lin Yunwan smiled, "Sit down. What tea would you like?"

Zhu Qing replied that any tea would do.

Nonetheless, Lin Yunwan instructed Pingye to brew some fine tea.

Sitting on the embroidered stool, Zhu Qing was more subdued than before, not daring to be presumptuous and appearing very restrained.

Lin Yunwan asked her, "What’s wrong?"

Zhu Qing hesitantly said, "...Nothing."

She had witnessed Lin Yunwan and the Lin family taking bold actions in the hall, reducing the Lu family to its current state, realizing she had underestimated Madam before.

She said, "I thought Madam was just another woman of the inner court, like me."

Little did she know, Lin Yunwan had the ability to turn situations around drastically.

Looking at Lin Yunwan with great admiration, Zhu Qing said, "I have no other intention, just... I'm even more convinced of your capabilities now!"

She was truly grateful that she had chosen to follow Madam instead of the young master.

She realized that it wasn’t a division between Madam and Aunt Ge in the household, nor was it a direct confrontation between Madam and the old lady. Rather, it was Madam against the entire Marquis's household.

Lin Yunwan spoke gently, "From now on, don't call me Madam."

Zhu Qing quickly corrected herself, "Big Lady."

After sitting for a while, she began to talk to Lin Yunwan as before. Regardless of how formidable the mistress was, she was always kind to her own people, and Zhu Qing felt she didn't need to be afraid. She should be happy, after all, she belonged to the mistress.

"You didn't come just to drink my tea, did you?"

Lin Yunwan asked with a smile.

Zhu Qing hurriedly said, "Right, I came to tell you that Aunt Ge, knowing something happened in the household, was desperate to find out. I didn’t tell her. She's really cunning, trying to escape through the back window. Luckily, I had her caught and brought back."

"She’s tied up now, waiting for your orders, Big Lady."

Lin Yunwan nonchalantly said, "Instruct the maids to bind her well and send her to the farm."

Qingge'er had already been recorded under Ge Bao'er’s name; keeping her in the household was an eyesore.

Previously without the power to act, now that she could, she definitely wanted to rid herself of these people, letting them fend for themselves.

Zhu Qing said with a smile, "Big Lady, you're still soft-hearted. In another household, the mistress might have just killed her."

Lin Yunwan shook her head, "I’m not soft-hearted."

She said indifferently, "I just don’t want to stain my hands with blood and give others a handle against me."

Moreover, killing someone doesn’t always require a knife. Didn’t Zhu Qing almost die on the farm? How long can a sick concubine survive?

Zhu Qing didn’t see it that way; she believed it was the Lin family’s good upbringing that made the lady so compassionate.

Lin Yunwan didn’t want to elaborate further and said, “You’re most familiar with the farm, you go and arrange it.”

"Yes."

Zhu Qing immediately set off. The household was not at peace, and she was eager to prove her loyalty by taking on tasks.

Returning to Yuxing Pavilion, she hadn’t even had time to deal with Ge Bao'er when she started vomiting.

Tongliu massaged her back, worried, "Did you eat something bad?"

Zhu Qing shook her head, touching her stomach, "Could it be… I’m pregnant?"

She remembered seeing a tenant farmer’s wife pregnant, retching in the fields.

Tongliu was overjoyed, "Auntie, you must tell the lady right away!"

Zhu Qing refused, smiling, "Let’s first handle the lady's affairs."

Tongliu took the opportunity to ask, "There’s something I’d like to ask of you, Auntie."

Zhu Qing, in a good mood, said, "Speak up, I’ll agree to anything today."

"Do you remember Xiliu? After your incident, she went back to work under the stewardess. Now that you’re pregnant, you’ll need more people to serve you. I’d like to serve you alongside Xiliu, is that alright?"

Zhu Qing laughed heartily, "Such a small matter, the lady will surely agree."

After speaking, she went to deal with Ge Bao'er. First, she had the front yard staff prepare a carriage and arranged for several fierce maids to take Ge Bao'er to the farm.

Ge Bao'er was still making a scene, shouting, "I want to see the young master, I want to see my son Qing'er!"

The maids, all short-tempered, slapped her and said with rolling eyes, "The young master? He's been stripped of his title because of you! You should start calling him 'elder' now!"

Ge Bao'er's eyes widened in shock, clutching her jade pendant so tightly that it broke, her heart sinking to the depths.

It's over.

The Lu family will never let her see Qing'er again!