Chapter 236: Retribution

Chapter 236: Retribution

"Old Madame, you should stop shouting like that when the master comes. If you keep it up, he’ll be even less inclined to visit you."

Yan Mama sighed as if feeling sorry for the Old Madame Lu.

But she didn’t really look at the old lady’s expression.

By the bedside, she mused to herself, "Auntie Ge really has some tricks, intimidating and tempting people around you one by one, and before anyone knew it, you were paralyzed. Even the doctors couldn’t find the reason."

"You suspect a servant, and the master comes to dismiss one. After dismissing three or five, he grew tired of it. Now there are hardly any people left to serve in this courtyard."

"If you ask me, you should just stop struggling. You’re not living a bad life. I’m here to serve you, Auntie Ge hardly comes once a month. You might as well stay calm; it’s better for everyone."

"Old Madam Lu, in tears, pleaded, 'Why... why... have you also betrayed me. Why do you listen to that harlot!'"

"'I have no choice, Old Madam.'"

"Yan Mama’s face was pained, 'Now, what does the Lu family not depend on the Duke’s mansion for? My son and daughter-in-law’s future lies in the auntie's hands. At my age, if not for my children and grandchildren, what can I do?'"

"'Why... why...'"

"Old Madam Lu repeated weakly."

"Yan Mama, recalling the past years, scoffed, 'Didn’t you also force me to poison your wife and Aunt Ge before? I advised against it, but you didn’t listen.'"

"'Now...'"

"'It's just Aunt Ge getting back at you. An eye for an eye. Why can’t you understand that?'"

"Old Madam Lu choked up."

"She suddenly burst into tears, 'Yunwan, Yunwan, Yunwan, come back... come back... Yunwan.'"

"'What’s the use of regretting now, Old Madam?'"

"Yan Mama said, 'Only now do I realize, the legitimate daughter of the Qingliu family was always upright and fair. No matter how much she suffered, your wife never resorted to such vile tactics like Aunt Ge.'"

"'From the day your wife died, the Marquis of Wuding’s mansion began to fall apart. Look at it now, a den of iniquity!'"

"Yan Mama truly missed the days when Lin Yunwan was alive."

"She couldn’t help but shed a few tears, 'I had no choice either. Everyone was looking out for their own future, so I just followed along.'"

"Old Madam Lu continued to cry with her eyes closed, murmuring, 'Yunwan. Yunwan. Yunwan...'"

"Yan Mama, composed herself, covered the Old Madam with a thin blanket, and said impatiently, 'Don’t wet the bed tonight, it smells awful!'"

"As she was leaving, she suddenly asked, 'Old Madam, one thing I don’t understand, why were you so displeased with the eldest young master? How did he harm you? He didn’t harm you, right?'"

"'The eldest young master and the Lu family are of the same vine. He wouldn’t harm the Lu family. I don’t know what you’re talking about!'"

"Old Madam Lu showed no reaction."

"Yan Mama didn’t take it to heart. The Old Madam had been feigning madness for so long, it was possible she had actually become mad."

"Fortunately, Aunt Ge’s silver was generous, and she treated my son and daughter-in-law well."

"I didn’t want to treat the Old Madam like this, but I had no choice."

\\

"'Changgong, don’t take the Old Madam’s mad ravings to heart.'"

"Lu Zhengliu, concerned Lu Changgong might be affected, reassured him after leaving the Shou Hall."

"Lu Changgong said, 'I’m not taking it to heart.'"

"Lu Zhengliu nodded in satisfaction, somewhat melancholic, 'The Old Madam’s dementia is getting worse.'"

"Lu Changgong slightly bowed his head, saying little."

Lu Zhengliu couldn't help but open his heart to his eldest legitimate son, "Changgong."

"Father?"

Lu Changgong felt that Lu Zhengliu's call was quite abrupt.

Lu Zhengliu hesitated, then, unable to hold back, clenched his fist and said, "I... I went to the Red Elephant Temple today."

Lu Changgong was secretly surprised for a moment.

His face calm, he asked, "Did you go to pray for blessings?"

Lu Zhengliu fell silent, then said, "No."

Although Lu Changgong was asking Lu Zhengliu, "Then what did you go to the Red Elephant Temple for?"

He was thinking that they probably didn't go at the same time; otherwise, if Lu Zhengliu knew he had also been there, he would have surely asked him.

As expected, Lu Zhengliu showed no suspicion. He sighed deeply, somewhat ashamedly saying, "I wanted to see if I could meet... that lady... again."

Fearing his son might not remember, he added, "The one I told you about, who resembles your mother."

"No, she resembles her a lot. Very much so!"

The more Lu Zhengliu recalled, the more convinced he became.

Lu Changgong remained silent.

As they passed by the courtyard of Lu Changzong, they heard the laughter of maidservants, as if he was jesting with the girls, who laughed very coquettishly.

They both acted as if they hadn’t heard anything.

"Lu Zhengliu spoke coldly, 'Wasn’t he supposed to be at Ming Shan Academy today?'"

"Lu Changgong replied, 'I’ve already moved back home from the academy, I was unaware.'"

"Laughter still echoed in the courtyard."

"Lu Zhengliu quickened his pace, unwilling to listen anymore."

"He recognized the maid called Xiao Xuan, known for seducing Qing'er. Aunt Ge was frantic, but unable to do anything. Every time she confronted the maid, Qing'er would create a scene, leaving Aunt Ge helpless."

"He advised Lu Changgong, 'Make sure you don’t end up like Lu Changzong.'"

"Lu Zhengliu, patting Lu Changgong’s shoulder, spoke earnestly, 'You were personally raised by your mother. I know you have her integrity. If the Lu family can’t rely on that scoundrel, it must rely on you.'"

"'Changgong, study hard and enter the civil service. You are the hope of the Marquis of Wuding’s mansion!'"

"Lu Changgong bowed, 'I understand, father.'"

"Lu Zhengliu smiled contentedly."

"As they were parting, Lu Changgong suddenly said, 'Father, you really don’t need to go to the Red Elephant Temple anymore.'"

"'Why?'"

"Lu Zhengliu was puzzled."

"Lu Changgong seemed even more confused, 'Mother is already dead.'"

"Lu Zhengliu was suddenly struck motionless."

"'She’s dead...'"

"His first wife was dead, and even if that lady resembled Yunwan, she was not his Yunwan."

Lu Zhengliu felt a sharp pain in his heart.

He smiled bitterly, "Yes, she's dead. I saw her body with my own eyes. How could I still hope that she would appear before me again..."

It took a while for Lu Zhengliu to regain his composure before he said to Lu Changgong, "In a few days, there will be a banquet at the Xingguo Duke's residence. Do you want to go?"

"I have exams coming up soon, so I'd rather not."

Lu Changgong declined indifferently.

He never socialized with people from Ge Baoer's side.

Lu Zhengliu nodded, "It's just as well you don't go. However, I must attend since the Duke's residence has invited Prince Huan and Princess Huan. They have recently returned to the capital, and many are seeking to establish ties with them. If I don't attend the banquet, I probably won't get a chance to meet them."

This was a matter of court politics, and he preferred not to discuss it at length with a teenager.

"Changgong, you should head back."

"I shall take my leave, Father."

Lu Zhengliu, preoccupied with many thoughts, returned to the Chuisi Hall.

"I wonder what Princess Huan is like."

He probably wouldn't be able to connect with Prince Huan, so his hope was to build relationships through the inner court.

It was a pity that the Jiang family was too distant; there were no connections between the Lu family and the Jiang family of Lin.