Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 232 He's in jail!

In Lu Jia's memory, after marrying Jiang, Lu Jie gradually became busier. He was often sent by the court as an imperial envoy, and he was responsible for important tasks. Looking back, those tasks also formed part of the emperor's recognition of Lu Jie in the years that followed.

At that time, the old lady had already passed away, but Old Master Lu was still alive. However, as the grandfather, he was unable to raise his granddaughter personally.

This means that Lu Jia, who was left behind in the mansion, could only be taken care of by her stepmother, Madam Jiang.

Because Madam Lu was exhausted from giving birth to Lu Jia, she passed away before her postpartum confinement period was over. When Madam Jiang married into the family, Lu Jia was less than two years old. Initially, she couldn't quite distinguish between her birth mother and stepmother. However, Lu Jie, who personally raised his daughter, always mentioned his birth mother to her. In addition, he only saw Madam Jiang every few days. As she grew older, even if she was still confused, she could tell the difference.

His relationship with Chiang Kai-shek has always been lukewarm.

The same thing happened when Lu Ying was born.

It wasn't until Lu Jie was constantly being sent out that the stepmother and daughter were forced to grow closer, and Lu Jia began to feel the sharp glint in Jiang's eyes.

The reason we talked about going to Bieye for the Mid-Autumn Festival that day was because Lu Jie was not at home. At that time, Old Master Lu had gone to visit relatives and friends in other places and did not need his daughter-in-law Jiang to be there to fulfill her filial duties. So Jiang decided to take her sisters to Bieye.

Bieye is a garden called Suichun Garden, and there is a path in the backyard that leads directly to the mountains and forests behind it.

During dinner, Lu Jia rolled up her sleeves as usual, revealing a silver bracelet on her wrist.

The bracelet was part of Madam Lu's dowry. Lu Jie found it and put it on her, since it was the right size.

Jiang's gaze sharpened instantly, and she made Lu Jia take the bracelet off so she could take a look.

Although Lu Jia was young, she knew that she couldn't just give away her things, especially since the Jiang family wasn't close to her.

She wouldn't give it to her.

Jiang made her stand as punishment.

The key issue is that Lu Jia also refuses to stand up.

Who is she?

She is the pampered young lady of the Lu family. Even her own father has never punished her, so why should anyone else punish her?
Jiang called for a servant to take her out, but Lu Jia started throwing a tantrum. She called in her own people, and they surrounded her. Jiang was furious, but she couldn't do anything about it.

Lu Jia finished her meal calmly and went back to her room.

As a result, she was woken up again in the middle of the night.

The person who came was Jiang's old woman, who said that there was a fire in the garden and that Madam Feng was taking her out. Without saying a word, she carried her out of a cloud of smoke, and when Lu Jia came to her senses, she was already in a dark mountain forest.

The old woman was carrying a stick, presumably intending to break her legs, but Lu Jia sensed something was wrong, landed on both feet, and started running. That's how one of her shoes was found later when people in the manor were searching for her.

She remembered every detail of how Jiang abandoned her and how Xie Zhang and his wife saved her, because the hurt was so deep that she dared not forget any of them. She remembered them clearly in both her lives, but she never saw Madam Yan appear that night!
If Madam Yan had ever celebrated the festival with us, it's even more inappropriate that she hadn't even eaten dinner with us.

This prompted Lu Jia to ask He Qu again, "Is that old woman from the Liu family really not talking nonsense?"

He Qu thought for a moment: "How about the younger one goes tonight and uses some force to get the truth out of us?"

“No need,” Lu Jia shook her head. “Why alert them and create unnecessary complications? If you want to confirm whether it’s true or not, just do as I say…”

At the end, she beckoned He Qu closer and gave him a few instructions.

...After Lu Ying's visit to the Taoist temple, Madam Jiang has been constantly looking out the door these past few days.

Lu Ying's wedding day is drawing ever closer, and Lu Jie has not divorced her. So, it's impossible for the biological mother not to be present on such an occasion as her own daughter's wedding.

Even if Lu Jie could be so heartless, he would still have to consider the gossip outside. Even if he had to wait until after the wedding to send her back, he would never prevent her from returning.

Therefore, her only chance to turn her life around is this one and only opportunity to return home.

Today is February 14th, and the wedding is in less than ten days. Someone from the Lu family should be coming to pick me up soon.

As long as she can go back, there is a way to stay in the Lu family again, and even more ways to get a chance to make a comeback!

A gentleman takes his revenge even after ten years. No matter how ruthless Lu Jia is, she is just a pawn now, being used by the Yan family. She can't rise very high.

Therefore, Chiang Kai-shek remained calm and composed throughout.

"Squeak-"

The tightly closed door was pushed open, and Granny Hu walked in. "Madam!"

When Lu Jie brought her to the Taoist temple, he asked her to bring along the few people who served her.

After entering, Granny Hu quickly closed the door, her face showing some tension: "I just heard the nuns outside talking about how the Liu family is in trouble!"

"What trouble?"

Granny Hu then recounted what she had heard about Liu Zheng telling the actors.

Madam Jiang frowned: "Madam Liu was originally invited by the Yan family to be a wife of good fortune, but with this sudden incident, won't she be unable to become one?"

The Liu family is quite prominent and has been highly regarded by Yan Song over the years. It is certainly a matter of prestige for Lu Ying to have Madam Liu as her consort.

Lu Ying is the Jiang family's only future support, and her reputation in the Yan family is directly related to her own well-being.

With the scandal involving the Liu family, who will replace her?
"But that's not the important thing!" Granny Hu leaned closer to her. "The important thing is that Young Master Biao has also been implicated and I heard he's already been imprisoned by Lord Liu!"

"……What?!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Jiang jumped to her feet. "You mean Guo Lu? Didn't I send someone to tell him to leave the city immediately that night? Why is he still in the capital?"

But how did he get involved with the Liu family?
"This servant doesn't know either!" Granny Hu's voice grew softer and softer as she spoke. "Not only are the nuns in front talking about it, but even the worshippers who are offering incense in front are talking about it."

"Although the Liu family's crime this time is not fatal, we don't know who they offended. The courtesan who accused them has solid evidence, and Lord Liu will not be able to get away with it this time!"
"But somehow, the young master got involved with that actor, which gave Lord Liu leverage to say that the young master had secretly instigated the actor to do it!"

"How could he? Where did he get the guts and the brains?!"

Jiang blurted it out.

The night she returned to the Lu family home from Anqing Hutong, she immediately sent someone to notify Guo Lu to flee the city.

Guo Lu knows best what she has done over the years. If he falls into Lu Jia's hands, Jiang Mingyi will not only be unable to make a comeback, but she may even have trouble keeping her life!

It was too late to silence him then, so they could only quickly send a message for him to leave. Turns out, he still couldn't leave!