Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 237 The Poisonous Woman's Dream

Madam Yan's eyes were like swords as she strode towards Madam Jiang.

Jiang immediately stepped back: "I know what you want to do, sister-in-law. I also know that I am like an ant in your eyes now."

"If you want to lay a hand on me, how can I possibly resist?"

"But this is the Lu family. I am still Mrs. Lu."

"Previously, Lu Jie negotiated with you because your Yan family treated him like a fool. In order to control the Shen family, he transferred himself to the Ministry of Revenue."

"If I die at your hands, how do you think someone as greedy as him would negotiate with you?"

"Not to mention, you even came to the Lu family to kill me!"

"You killed his legal wife, do you think you can give him what he wants?"

Jiang's words were clear and distinct, and Lu Jia on this side of the wall frowned deeply, but her heart was in turmoil!

She only knew that Shen Qingzhou had been sick since childhood, but she had never asked him how he came to be here, nor had she ever asked about his mother—the reason why he massacred the Yan family in his previous life must be because of this!
It is hateful that the tragedy of the Shen family was caused by Yan Shu and his wife. Shen Qingzhou has kept all of this hidden in his heart for two lifetimes, never forgetting it for a single day, but never revealing a word of it!

Lu Jia felt both ashamed and resentful.

She felt ashamed that Shen Qingzhou treated her so well, but she only thought about her own hatred and never cared about him much.

What I hate most is the Yan family's ruthlessness; they treated the Shen family so cruelly, and even their own mother—

Although Jiang didn't directly mention Madam Lu's death, if the Yan family were truly so clean, why would Jiang threaten them by mentioning Lu Jie and Shen Bo joining forces?

"Excellent!" Madam Yan's voice rang out again from inside the room. "This shows he knows when to advance and when to retreat. He truly is worthy of being our master's son. He's promising!"

Jiang said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, there's no need for your sarcasm. No matter what, we're still family now."

“My father has not denied his relationship with me to the outside world, has he?”

"Even if I remember what you did, it doesn't mean I'm going to spread it around."

“What good would it do me to spread this? If my sister-in-law remembers any good things I did for her in the past, I will only listen to you and my brother from now on and follow your lead.”

Madam Yan paced around the center of the room a few times before finally stopping behind the screen: "What do you want?"

Jiang took a deep breath: "I have managed everything for Lu Jie, both inside and outside the home, and raised his children. He has turned his back on me without mercy. How can I give up on myself?"

"and then?"

Jiang sighed, "If I want to turn my life around now, I can only return to my ancestral home and become a true young lady of the Yan family!"

Madam Yan narrowed her eyes: "What did you say?"

Jiang walked in front of her: "Now everyone knows that I am the illegitimate daughter of the Yan family. Although my father has punished my mother, I am still his biological daughter! If I can make a comeback, then I am still useful to the Yan family, and he may still care about me!"

"That night, my elder brother and sister-in-law invited the old lady, which made my father lose face. Even if he doesn't care about my mother and me, he was still angry because he lost so much face!"

"In the end, it is still Father who calls the shots in the Yan family, not the old lady. I don't believe my sister-in-law is unaware of this important point."

"So, would my sister-in-law really want to be resented by my father?"

"His elder brother is his only son, and you are just his daughter-in-law. He won't do anything to his elder brother; he'll just vent all his resentment on you!"
"So many people in this capital know me. As long as I am surnamed Jiang, the world will remember my father's mistakes."

"Why don't you make this happen, give it a perfect ending, and put your father's mind at ease?"

Jiang's voice echoed in the room. Madam Yan looked at her for a long time before finally laughing out loud. "I underestimated you in the past."

She picked up the painting on the table, walked to the threshold, opened the door, squinted in the sliver of sunlight streaming in, and then went outside.

Madam Jiang gritted her teeth and chased after him across the threshold: "I'll wait for you for three days! I want to hear your reply before Ying'er gets married!"

Madam Yan took a deep breath in the courtyard and hurried out.

Lu Ying, who had been waiting silently outside the courtyard gate, turned around when she heard the sound and stammered, "Aunt."

Madam Yan glared at her, clenched her teeth even tighter, and walked out without saying a word.

After the Yan family left, Lu Jia also came out.

Qinghe had just finished brewing the tea when she saw them return and quickly handed them the tea: "Did you hear something?"

Yinliu then explained the whole story.

Upon hearing this, Qinghe's face turned pale with shock. She quickly entered the room and saw Lu Jia sitting on the edge of the couch, deep in thought. After a pause, she stepped forward and said, "Since Jiang became the adopted daughter of the Yan family at a young age, it's not surprising that she knows the secrets of the Yan family."

"The situation is now entirely under Miss's control, so the Jiang family is not a concern. However, if Madam Yan has interfered in the cause of Madam's death, then this matter is quite extraordinary."

Lu Jia took a deep breath: "Have Changfu find out where Father is? I have something to ask him."

Qinghe hurriedly said, "Since Master went to the Ministry of Revenue, he seems to have become very busy. He went to the yamen early this morning. Su Zhixiao wanted to see him earlier, but he waited for half a day without seeing him."

Lu Jia glanced at her and then said, "Then prepare the carriage, I'm going to the Cheng residence!"

Qinghe nodded.

Lu Jia added, "Have Changfu deliver a message to Yanzi Alley first. I need to see Young Master Shen. Please ask him to wait for me there tonight!"

……

On Lu Jia's way to the Cheng family, Madam Yan had already returned to the mansion.

When she recounted the whole story in detail, Yan Shu couldn't help but snort coldly:
"She's quite shrewd! Now that she's become the Yan family's true aunt, she's completely bound to the Yan family's honor and disgrace. Not only has she regained face in the Lu family, but she'll also have to be treated with even more respect outside!"
"She's trying to take advantage of both the Lu family and the Yan family at the same time!"

"I knew she was a slut!" Madam Yan sneered indifferently. "Before I went there, I felt she had ulterior motives, and I was right. She's only one step away from being a divorced woman. How could she say such a thing?"

Yan Shu walked to the window and stood there for a moment: "If it's just to take advantage, then it's nothing. Even if she doesn't join the clan, with her years of being the Yan family's adopted daughter and her status as an illegitimate child, can she really sever ties with the Yan family? If the Yan family falls, she'll have even less hope for the rest of her life."

"She can only rely on the Yan family, and that's true."

"But she's now desperate and still dares to be so arrogant, so we really can't be careless."

His gaze fell on the painting that had fallen from Madam Yan's cloak. He picked it up and looked at it for a moment, then turned around and asked, "Did you manage to get her to do that thing back then?"

Madam Yan paused for a moment: "Nanny Lin watched it being burned with her own eyes, so there shouldn't be any mistake."

"Check again!" Yan Shu frowned. "She already knew about her background and has harbored resentment towards us for a long time. There's no guarantee she won't leave behind some tricks. Even if she doesn't spread them, what if she keeps them to blackmail us like this?"

Madam Yan sat still for a moment, then nodded deeply.

The two updates for the 31st have been delivered.

Although I've had a few days off, I still hope you'll all give me some monthly votes, this year's and next year's. And wishing everyone a Happy New Year in advance! May you be safe, healthy, and incredibly wealthy!