Chapter 104: The Nunnery

Chapter 104: The Nunnery

"Old lady, there's been a major incident!"

On the eve of the Lunar New Year, the Lu family set up a stage for a theatrical troupe and invited relatives for a New Year's Eve dinner.

Before Old Lady Lu had even reached the flower hall, she heard from Nanny Yan that there had been a major incident.

Her heart skipped a beat, and without even time to grab her string of Buddhist beads, she asked with a frown, "What happened?"

Nanny Yan, looking troubled, said, "The relatives in the flower hall have started arguing."

"Arguing during the Minor New Year? About what!"

Nanny Yan replied, "It's all about Auntie Ge."

"About her?"

Old Lady Lu dismissively said, "Didn’t we forbid her from going out? What's there to argue about?"

Nanny Yan explained, "The Lin family members have been causing a commotion again, claiming the Lu family shouldn't have taken Auntie Ge back, fearing that the family might favor concubines over the legitimate wife again."

"Old lady, the rumors are rampant outside. Our family members are being pointed at and scolded as soon as they step out. It’s humiliating for everyone!"

"Somehow, Auntie Ge was brought up in the flower hall..."

Ever since the talks of reconciliation and separation between the two families, there had been lingering discontent, inevitably leading to arguments.

However, being the main branch of the Lu family, the Marquis of Wuding's mansion held a position that necessitated the preservation of harmony within the clan.

Nanny Yan, worriedly said, "If we don't deal with Auntie Ge, the peace within the family might not last much longer..."

Old Lady Lu scoffed, "What do they know!"

"Have the lady manage the situation for now. When they understand my plans later, they'll see the good intentions behind my actions."

"The embarrassment we face now is only temporary. If we can indeed forge a connection with the Xingguo Duke's Mansion..."

Nanny Yan, feeling uneasy and recalling her own experience with the poisoned soup, said, "Old lady, I think our Madam is the better option. The wealth and status of the Xingguo Duke's Mansion aren't things we can just climb up to."

Old Lady Lu sighed, "How could I not know Yunwan's worth!"

"She's no longer aligned with the Lu family's interests. No matter how good she is, she's become an obstacle to us!"

Nanny Yan had no reply.

Hearing the commotion outside Shoutang, Old Lady Lu frowned, asking, "What's going on now?"

Nanny Yan went to look and returned in a panic, "They've brought the argument here! They're demanding that Auntie Ge be sent away!"

"Nonsense!"

Old Lady Lu attempted to go outside but, seeing from the window that the doors were nearly bursting open and hearing the voices of several feisty women, including a matriarch of her own age...

Nanny Yan advised, "It's best you don't go out."

Realizing it wasn't safe to step out, Old Lady Lu returned to her seat. The thought of these women resorting to physical confrontations was too humiliating!

She lay down on the bed, closing her eyes, "Say I am ill and ask everyone to leave. Let's not have the Minor New Year's dinner this year."

Nanny Yan thought that avoiding the situation wasn't a solution.

She said, "If you avoid tonight, what will you do on the first day of the Lunar New Year when paying respects? What will the Lu family do?"

Old Lady Lu said, "Just announce that I am ill from today until after the New Year. Once the clan's anger subsides and the rumors outside cease by early February, I can then 'recover' from my illness."

Nanny Yan didn't know what to say.

As a servant, she couldn't speak much, but inwardly she felt that the old lady was increasingly indifferent to maintaining face.

"Sigh."

After leaving, Nanny Yan also sighed and, thickening her skin, persuaded the Lu family members to leave. Fearing trouble during the New Year, she specifically warned Ge Baor, "Auntie, if you wish to avoid trouble, it's best to keep a low profile. Dozens of eyes from our family are watching you!"

Ge Baor remained expressionless, focusing intently on her embroidery.

Finding it pointless, Nanny Yan left after speaking her piece.

Ge Baor jabbed her embroidery needle fiercely into the fabric, smiling coldly.

"None of them will end well!"

The Lu family's affairs became a joke throughout the capital.

During the Lunar New Year, Old Lady Lu continued to feign illness, avoiding the Lu family members. When neighbors and relatives came to visit, they inevitably discussed the Lu family's affairs.

The Lu family's servants now felt ashamed to step outside.

Nanny Yan, attending to the old lady, reported, "I've inquired with the maids from Chuisi Hall. Despite my best efforts, no one knows where Madam's jade pendant is hidden."

Still unable to find it.

Hearing this, Old Lady Lu became irritated and said, "Where on earth has she hidden it! Is she always carrying it on her person?"

Searching the house was one thing, but searching the lady's person... that was impossible.

Nanny Yan further inquired, "Old lady, you mentioned administering medicine to Madam. Are we still going to do it or not…?"

"Certainly not now!"

Old Lady Lu frowned, "The medicine, although hard to detect, could cause a serious incident if she suffers any noticeable effects. Even if we find someone to take the blame, the Lu family can't escape the reputation of plotting against the lady of the house."

"The matter with the concubine is trivial; at worst, it's just the master indulging in lust. But if something happens to the lady of the house, the Lu family will face real trouble!"

"Let's not talk about the medicine for now. Go and call Zhengliu here."

"You and I can't get close to Yunwan, but Zhengliu is her husband; she can't avoid him."

"This…"

Seeing the old lady's expression of firm belief, Nanny Yan bowed her head and retreated.

Lu Zhengliu was in the Yuxing Pavilion.

He found it unbelievable himself that his most comfortable moments in the mansion were spent with Zhuzing.

Zhuzing offered him a cup of tea, "Master, please have some tea."

Lu Zhengliu accepted the tea and asked, "How do you feel now, being pregnant?"

Sitting down, Zhuzing smiled, "I get sleepy easily and feel nauseous. Other than that, there’s no discomfort. Madam takes very good care of me."

Lu Zhengliu nodded.

Yunwan… she has always been kind to Zhuzing and the maids.

"Nanny Yan."

Seeing Nanny Yan approaching, Zhuzing stood up to greet her.

Nanny Yan said with a smile, "Auntie, please sit. I need to speak a few words with the master."

Lu Zhengliu listened impatiently.

Feeling frustrated by the year's events, he said, "If it’s not something important, then please don’t bother."

Zhuzing tactfully said, "I'll go outside to gather some snow."

The two maids assisted her, and outside they heard Lu Zhengliu's outburst, as he shattered a cup.

Startled, Nanny Yan said, "Master, it was all the old lady's idea. Sigh…"

Lu Zhengliu didn’t want to speak.

Disrespected outside, he was now feeling alienated and frustrated with having to listen to everyone at home!

Nanny Yan, feeling helpless, said, "Master, if you're troubled, ask your heart whom you truly want to be close to. Ignore the old lady's wishes and follow your heart!"

"My heart?"

Lu Zhengliu scoffed, "I wish I could return to eight years ago. Is that possible?"

Eight years ago, he and Lin Yunwan were deeply in love, harmoniously united, with no family chaos, and the Lin family got along well with the Lu family.

"This…"

Nanny Yan shook her head with a sigh. How could that be possible!

One can't have the best of both worlds; now, it was a matter of choosing one or the other.

"I will go to Yunwan."

After leaving Yuxing Pavilion, Lu Zhengliu decided to visit Chuisi Hall, not for the jade pendant, but to be close to her.

Approaching Chuisi Hall, he saw maids moving luggage.

"What's going on here?"

Lu Zhengliu asked the maids coldly. He had not agreed to any separation!

Startled, Pingye replied, "Master, the old lady has been ill since the Minor New Year and hasn’t recovered. Madam is going to the family nunnery to pray for her."

While Lu Zhengliu breathed a sigh of relief, he also became very cautious.

The Lu family's nunnery was located on the south side of Wuding Marquis Mansion Street, outside the mansion. With a small Buddhist hall at home, why the need to go out to pray?

Lin Yunwan emerged from Chuisi Hall, dressed in plain colors without a single hairpin, resembling a widow or someone about to renounce worldly life.