Chapter 113: Settling Accounts

Chapter 113: Settling Accounts

"Yunyi, you’re here!"

Old Lady Lu cried sorrowfully, assuring him, "Your sister's departure was tragic. Rest assured, our Lu family will not neglect her funeral and will give her a grand send-off."

"That won’t be necessary."

Lin Yunyi looked at her coldly, firmly stating, "She’s my sister, and I will take her home myself!"

He was utterly disgusted and couldn’t help saying, "My elder sister is already dead, who are you putting on this act for!"

His words were too direct.

Old Lady Lu was somewhat stunned, especially by his insistence on taking Lin Yunwan home, which was unacceptable.

No longer crying, she said coldly, "Nephew, as relatives, you’re welcome to mourn at our house. But if you're here to cause trouble... A daughter married off is like water poured away. Even in death, your sister belongs to the Wuding Marquis Mansion, and you cannot take her away."

Lin Yunyi instructed the maids he brought, "Bring the coffin!"

Old Lady Lu's eyes widened in shock. How dare the Lin family!

Lu Zhengliu stepped forward, lowering his head, "Grandmother, let it be. I've written the divorce document. Yunwan... Yunwan is no longer a wife of the Lu family."

"You!"

Old Lady Lu, shaking with anger, punched him, "You’re not even providing Yunwan with a proper funeral! Do you realize how people outside will talk about you, about our Lu family!"

This was a real loss of face!

Lu Zhengliu looked up, his gaze fixed on Old Lady Lu, "Grandmother, please let Yunwan go..."

Old Lady Lu was intimidated by his stare.

No longer arguing with her, Lu Zhengliu instructed his own staff, "Help with sealing the coffin."

He stood beside the hastily acquired thin coffin, closing his eyes as he looked at the body inside.

"Yunwan…"

If he had known that she would meet her end in the Lu family, what good would writing the divorce document have done!

It was all his fault, his inability to let go of her and yet failing to protect her.

Heaven had granted him such a wonderful marriage, but he couldn't hold onto it.

Mrs. Wei came out and asked, "So, will the funeral still be held?"

The lady of the house had died, and now she was divorced and returned to her family in death – it was all too strange!

She had only recently taken over household duties and had no idea how to handle such a situation.

Old Lady Lu watched the coffin being taken away, furiously exclaiming, "Hold a funeral for whom! Who are the guests supposed to mourn?"

"For you?"

Mrs. Wei said, "Old lady, why curse your daughter-in-law like that…"

"She was in good health, and no one harmed her. She wouldn't have died. We shouldn’t be holding a funeral now."

Old Lady Lu glared at her, "Get all these cleared up quickly."

She pointed to the white lanterns and other items in the council hall.

"They're just bad omens!"

Mrs. Wei responded, "Yes."

Along with Nanny Yuan, they directed the maids to collect and put away the funeral items.

Old Lady Lu cast a cold glance at Lin Yunyi, then returned to Shoutang with Nanny Yan.

Lu Zhengliu said to Lin Yunyi, "I'll help you inventory your sister's dowry."

Lin Yunyi glanced at Lu Changgong, motioning for him to join.

The dowry Lin Yunwan brought was not lavish, but after seven years of careful management and her own additions, including subsidies provided to the marquis mansion, the total was almost equal to what she had brought as a bride.

However, the inventory list prepared now differed from the dowry list at the time of her marriage.

Taoye and Pingye presented the ledger, saying, "Young Master Yunyi, the inventory is complete; everything is listed here."

Lin Yunyi trusted them and, after reviewing the ledger, had nothing further to add.

However… Lu Changgong refused to leave.

Tearing off a portion of the inventory, he handed it over, "Changgong, as your sister's direct heir, these items rightfully belong to you. Now… I leave them to you on behalf of your sister."

Lu Changgong declined.

He said, "What my mother left for me is already enough."

Lu Zhengliu also spoke up, "Yunyi, take everything back with you. Our Lu family does not lack these things."

Lin Yunyi, not inclined to converse with him, saw Lu Changgong’s insistence and simply left the items on the table, saying, "I'll leave these for you. Whether you want them or not, you can decide after you come of age."

"You are still young, but as your uncle, I must be fair."

With such a statement, Lu Zhengliu found it hard to refuse.

After Lin Yunwan's dowry was moved out of the mansion, there wasn’t much left related to her… Lu Zhengliu was willing to keep some of her belongings.

"Changgong, I'm going to take your mother home now."

Lin Yunyi left Chuisi Hall, with the servants helping to move all items from Lin Yunwan's dowry.

Screens, small tables, cushions, trunks – the courtyard was swiftly emptied.

Even Taoye and Pingye were leaving, bidding farewell to Lu Changgong, "Young Master, we take our leave."

They too felt a deep sense of reluctance in their hearts.

Lu Changgong watched them leave and deeply bowed, "Please take care, sisters."

The two maids walked away in tears.

Lin Yunyi was also about to leave. Before departing, he said to Lu Zhengliu, "If you truly regret it, take good care of Changgong."

He looked at Lu Changgong's handsome face, saying, "My sister adored him the most."

Lu Zhengliu nodded silently.

He was well aware of how much Yunwan cherished Changgong.

"I'll accompany Uncle."

Lu Changgong followed Lin Yunyi out to the front courtyard. Lin Yunyi wanted to say something several times but held back, feeling it would be superfluous now.

With his sister having gone this far, adding anything more would be unnecessary.

Lin Yunyi whispered to Lu Changgong, "Changgong, take good care of yourself."

He had done everything he could for Changgong. But you can't force a bull to drink water; if Changgong didn't want to leave, he couldn't make him.

"Take care, Uncle."

Lu Changgong knelt on the ground, bowing deeply towards the coffin and Lin Yunyi.

After the Lin family members left, he remained kneeling, the white hemp rope still on his arm.

"Changgong, get up."

Lu Zhengliu approached, gently lifting his shoulder.

As Lu Changgong stood up, his knees ached.

Returning to the inner courtyard, they saw an elderly figure struggling to stand up against the wall – it was Qiao Da, who had been kneeling as well.

As long as Lu Changgong had knelt, so had he.

Lu Changgong gazed at Qiao Da for a long time before entering the inner courtyard.

His wound needed redressing, and as Qianru changed his bandages, he looked at the portrait of Confucius on the wall and instructed her, "Take it down."

Qianru, being quick-witted, immediately asked, "What would you like to replace it with, young master?"

Lu Changgong said indifferently, "Replace it with one of my mother."

Once his hand healed, he intended to draw a portrait of his mother.

He was glad his mother had escaped, but he also feared... feared that his mother might forget him, or he might forget her.

Startled for a moment, Qianru lowered her gaze and responded, "Yes."

Lu Zhengliu made a visit to Shoutang.

Old Lady Lu continued to recite her Buddhist prayers, her lips moving from one verse to the next, exuding an aura of kindness.

She said, "It's better that they are separated. This way, Changgong and Qing'er won't need to observe mourning rites and can focus on their studies."

But Lu Zhengliu did not respond to her words.

Old Lady Lu frowned, puzzled. She hadn't said anything wrong! Could he still hold a grudge against her? She remembered how she had brought them together as a couple. What was he doing at that time?

Lu Zhengliu calmly asked, "Grandmother, how do you plan to deal with Ge Baor?"

With the jade pendant gone and Ge Baor's actions, the Wuding Marquis Manor couldn't just ignore it.

Old Lady Lu coldly inquired, "What do you think?"

Lu Zhengliu's face was extremely impassive.