Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 224 Old accounts
There were two copies of the imperial decree granting the marriage.

One copy was given to the Shen family, and the other was delivered to the Lu family in the afternoon.

Lu Jie received the imperial decree, kept the eunuch for tea, saw him out, and then had someone call Lu Jia over.

Lu Jia already knew about this news.

After leaving his father, Shen Qingzhou didn't go to the yamen at all, but went to Yanzi Hutong instead.

He first announced the news to Qiu Niang and the others. After they were all overjoyed, he asked Qiu Niang to immediately send someone to the Lu residence to inform Lu Jia.

Qiu Niang never expected that the marriage could be completed in this way. Could she possibly have any complaints about her son-in-law, Shen Qingzhou? Although the two of them still had to be careful, it was finally a legitimate marriage.

Lu Jia felt relieved after hearing the message. As soon as the message was delivered, she went to the study in front.

As he entered, he called out "Father," and Lu Jie, who was behind the desk, cast a complicated glance his way.

"Jiajia, Grand Secretary Yan has found you a husband, and I have found you a skilled embroiderer. From today onwards, you should follow her and prepare your wedding dress."

Lu Jia asked, "Whom do you want me to marry?"

"Shen Yu, the eldest son of Grand Commandant Shen."

Lu Jia said, "I've heard that Young Master Shen has been suffering from a chronic illness and is a sickly man. I won't marry him!"

Lu Jie frowned: "He is now an official in the Ministry of Revenue, and his health has improved."

"That won't work either. I heard that Grand Secretary Yan doesn't like Grand Commandant Shen at all. When the Emperor wanted to appoint Grand Commandant Shen to lead the western expedition, Grand Secretary Yan did everything he could to stop it. Our family and the Yan family are very close relatives. If I go to the Shen family, how can I have a good life?"

"Aren't you selling your daughter?"

Lu Jia refused outright.

Lu Jie sighed: "Shen Yu is also a clever young man, and very handsome. Apart from his illness not being fully cured, there's really nothing to criticize about him."

“That won’t do either,” Lu Jia replied decisively. “The Yan family sent me to their rival’s house because they must have a mission for me. Why should I be used for nothing?”

Lu Jie looked at her for a moment, then took out the imperial edict: "The Emperor has already bestowed the marriage, so this matter must be done whether it succeeds or not."

“However, you do have some things to do at the Shen family. To make up for it, you can think carefully about what you want. As long as your father can do it, he will find a way to get it for you.”

Lu Jia raised an eyebrow and stood up: "You said it yourself, remember not to go back on your word."

"..."

The imperial decree of marriage was issued and quickly spread throughout the household.

After lunch, a maid came to report that Madam Yan had sent a sedan chair to invite Lu Jia to the mansion for tea. Lu Jia silently smiled coldly, dressed, and went out.

The Yan family, of course, also knew that the imperial edict had been issued.

Madam Yan sent Lu Jia to the palace to give her a warning.

Now that the marriage is a done deal, there's no fear of the Lu family backing out. Some things can certainly be discussed openly now.

When Lu Jia arrived, she greeted her with a smile at the door and then warmly pulled her to sit down on the couch.

"Congratulations! You're about to become the eldest daughter-in-law of the Grand Commandant's mansion. In the future, the Shen family's vast fortune will all be passed down to the eldest son of the Shen family. Our Jiajia's future status will be incredibly prestigious."

Lu Jia blushed and curtsied, saying, "I must thank you for your care, Madam." Madam Yan gestured for her to sit down and then said, "Although once you go to the Shen family, you become a member of the Shen family, a daughter still needs the support of her maternal family to live in her husband's home. Besides, although the Shen family is small, their relationships are complicated. If you have any questions or anything you don't understand, you can bring them back to me. I've been through this before, and I can teach you. That way, you won't make any mistakes and accidentally anger the Shen family, which would only lead to suffering."

Lu Jia's face turned stern: "Thank you for your advice, Madam. I lost my mother at a young age and need someone like you to guide and teach me."

Seeing that she was listening, Madam Yan was not in a hurry to escalate the situation. She smiled and said, "Just remember, no matter how big or small the matter is, you can come back and tell me."

"Lu Jia will keep this in mind."

After nodding in response, Lu Jia took a pastry at her direction and suddenly said, "If I had known that my wife would treat me so well, why would I have foolishly longed for my stepmother's care back then?"

"If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have gotten lost in the woods eleven years ago in the village outside the city because I was in a hurry to find her in the dark."

Madam Yan paused, her hand still holding the pastries: "You still remember what happened back then?"

"It's all very blurry." Lu Jia smiled and broke off a small piece of jujube paste cake. "I just remember that it was the Mid-Autumn Festival. My father wasn't at home. In previous years, we would celebrate with the Yan family. But for some reason, that year Madam Jiang didn't bring my sisters, my wife, or Lord Yan with her. Instead, she took me to the estate."

"It's been more than ten years. I was only five years old at the time. How could I remember so much?"

Madam Yan withdrew her gaze from her face: "That's true. It's quite good that a five-year-old child can still remember the way home."

……

When Lu Jia returned from the Yan residence, the light in the study was still on.

She shook the snow off her cloak and went inside: "Father, what do you intend to do with the Jiang family?"

Lu Jie paused for a moment at the sudden question: "I plan to send her to a Taoist temple to recuperate in a while."

Whether he divorces his wife or does something else now, it will inevitably cause more trouble. These troubles will affect what he does next.

Therefore, he does not plan to take any further action against the Chiang family for the time being.

Lu Jia sat on this side of the lamp: "Yingjie'er is about to get married, and as her mother, she can't just not show up."

Lu Jie asked, "What do you mean?"

Lu Jia's eyes gleamed with a sinister light under the lamp: "Let her out. There's still a score to settle between us."

Thanks to Lu Jie's order that night, the day after Jiang was arrested, Lu Jia took full control of the Lu family's household affairs. Even Lu Ying, who was originally assisting in the management, fell ill, so everything from top to bottom was in her hands.

The first priority was for Lu Jia to get rid of all of Jiang's trusted servants.

She also sent all the stewards and housekeepers she had personally appointed to the estate to stay there.

The group of elderly people who had been sent to the Lu family mansion on the estate were all brought back if they were still able to work. Those who were no longer able to work were assigned to various positions as gatekeepers.

Even with such a drastic crackdown, only half of the forces were eliminated, but at least the influence of Chiang Kai-shek's inner circle, built up over many years, had been eradicated.

Of the remaining group, half were won over. The other half consisted of those who had never been close to Chiang Kai-shek, and their future actions could be observed.

Ultimately, whoever holds power is the master.

Even if Chiang Kai-shek were released again, he would not be able to control their lives or deaths, and the number of people he could command would be very limited.

Before going to the Shen family, everything that needed to be settled had to be settled.

I'll do some polishing tomorrow.