Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 239 Trapped Beast (asking for monthly ticket)

It was getting late, so Lu Jia didn't linger at the Cheng family's house. After asking around, she left.

Yin Liu asked her from inside the carriage, "Are you still going to inquire about the whereabouts of the Qi family?"

“No need,” Lu Jia said decisively. “If the Qi family really were infiltrated by the Yan family, they would have been silenced long ago.”

"Didn't you hear your aunt say that your uncle caught Qi Rulan at the city gate? She must have been trying to escape."

"Besides, what my aunt said is right. More than ten years have passed. Even if they were still alive, it would take them a lot of time. There's no need to waste our time."

With these details provided by Madam Cheng, the Yan family now has the means to use the Qi family to deal with Madam Lu. In other words, even without conclusive evidence, it is entirely possible that Qi Ruolan was manipulated by someone else.

As for how the Yan family had treated her mother, Lu Jia could guess with a high degree of accuracy.

The Lu family initially chose Miss Cheng as their young mistress, but the Yan family believed that the Lu family's power, especially Lu Jie himself, was very worth winning over. With no better options, they set their sights on the position of Madam Lu.

Just then, Madam Lu became pregnant after her marriage, and that's when they found the Qi siblings.

Originally, the time when Madam Lu was giving birth should have been a good opportunity, but for some reason, the two of them moved out before the delivery. However, when Madam Lu was injured afterwards, Qi Rulan still appeared and delivered a powerful blow, which ultimately led to her death.

Qi Rulan is not innocent, and the Yan family is even less innocent!

"I never imagined that Master was that kind of person!" Yinliu said fiercely. "They've only been married for a short time, how could he be so unable to control himself?"

No, this time I believe him.

Lu Jia said.

Yinliu exclaimed in surprise, "Huh?"

Lu Jia turned her head to look at the deep twilight outside the window: "If he really did that, how could the incriminating evidence in Jiang's hands possibly pose a threat to Madam Yan?"

According to Madam Cheng, Cheng Wenhui became enemies with Lu Jie after that, naturally believing that her brother-in-law was unfaithful to his sister.

Judging by the timeline, Qi Rulan does indeed have a chance.

But if Lu Jie has a relationship with Qi Rulan and is pregnant, and all of this is of his own free will, then what right does Lu Jie have to be angry that the Yan family is behind it, setting traps and digging pits for him, and that he can't control himself?
He had no grounds to be angry, so even if Jiang told him everything, he wouldn't betray the alliance with the Yan family and join forces with the Shen family instead.

Because nobody's doing any better!

Therefore, his entanglement with Qi Rulan could not possibly have been voluntary.

Considering that Lu Jie has not even had a concubine yet, what reason would he have to be tempted by women so soon after his marriage?
So maybe everything Qi Rulan said was a lie!
She never had anything happen with Lu Jie; those words were just something she used to deceive Madam Lu after she gave birth!

Madam Yan would only be afraid if Lu Jie hadn't done anything at all, because it was purely their conspiracy that killed Madam Lu.

Only in this way can Lu Jie have enough confidence to negotiate with Yan Shu and his wife after their conspiracy has been exposed!
Yin Liu murmured, "In that case, the Yan family definitely won't keep Jiang Shi, right?"

"Of course!" Lu Jia glanced at her. "So now, you need to go back immediately and secretly keep watch over the Jiang family. I'll go to Yanzi Alley and transfer a few more guards from there to the Lu residence!"

……

After Madam Yan's large group of people left, the main courtyard where Madam Jiang lived suddenly became empty.

Now that she no longer has the power to manage the household, the stewardess who used to come in droves to report and give feedback no longer needs to come. The servants who went to the Taoist temple tidied up the house under the direction of Granny Hu, and then went back to their respective duties, making it even quieter.

As night fell, Granny Hu brought in dinner and saw Madam Jiang sitting by the window, lost in thought. In the candlelight, she inexplicably appeared somewhat dejected.

She couldn't help but step forward and advise, "Madam, if you can endure this for a while, you will surely rise above your circumstances. The Yan family doesn't want to offend the master, so they have no choice but to comply with Madam's wishes."

"Master hasn't returned yet. Over ten years of marriage can't be so easily worn down. As long as he comes back—"

But he didn't come back!

Jiang raised her head. Her once shrewd and sharp eyes still shone, but they were like embers remaining in a burnt-out ashes, no longer bright.

"He clearly knew I was returning home today, yet he still hasn't shown up!"

Granny Hu was taken aback. Madam Jiang suddenly stood up and paced rapidly back and forth around the room.

Her shadow was faintly reflected on the glass screen. She was still wearing her gorgeous gold-embroidered brocade dress, and all the hairpins and jewelry on her head were as good as before. But the way she had been swimming around so fast just now made her look just like a trapped beast.

She's already free...

Compared to before, the only difference is that I have lost the power to manage the household affairs. What else is different?
Where is Guo Lu?

Suddenly she remembered something and turned around.

"Didn't we send someone to inquire about him? Why haven't we heard anything back yet?"

"He's already gone! He should be back soon! He brought enough money with him, so he should be able to manage!"

"Tell them to hurry up!"

Her voice was also anxious.

This feeling is both strange and familiar.

Many years ago, when she was still living a miserable life in the Jiang family, she had also felt this anxiety.

It wasn't until later that she took the initiative to go to the Yan family, paying her respects and showing filial piety every few days. Whenever she heard that Old Madam Yan was feeling unwell, or that Yan Shu and his wife needed anything, she would rush to the front at the first opportunity. Only after exchanging endless humility for a smooth road did she gradually say goodbye to this anxious self.

But what about this time?

After this period of anxiety, what kind of path will she find?

Will the Yan family really do as she wishes?
She used the things the Yan family had done fifteen years ago to blackmail Madam Yan into releasing her. Logically, having gotten her wish, she should have been satisfied and at ease.

But deep down, it felt like there was a hole in her heart; she felt neither secure nor confident at all…

"Madam! The man we sent to the prison has returned!"

At this moment, the maidservant reported from the doorway.

Jiang snapped out of her daze, rushed ahead of her, and quickly reached the threshold: "Speak!"

"Replying to Madam, the young master is indeed in prison. The Shuntian Prefecture has received instructions from Liu Jia to keep him under strict guard and has even used torture!"

"That Liu Zheng!" She couldn't help but grit her teeth. This snobbish guy, when had he ever not fawned over her before? Now he turns around and kicks her when she's down!

She glared at him: "Send my letter to Shuntian Prefecture and bring the person here! Let's see who dares to stop me!"

The messenger accepted the order.

She glanced at his retreating figure, then suddenly called out to him, "Wait!"

The person stopped.

Jiang gritted her teeth and clenched her fists: "No need."

The visitor was stunned.

Jiang said, "Granny Hu, go and make something to eat, send it to the prison, and make sure Guo Lu finishes eating."

Just as Granny Hu was about to nod, she came to her senses and was stunned: "Madam!..."

"Go!"

Granny Hu lowered her eyes and left with the person who had come to report.

Jiang took a deep breath into the wind, gazing at the deep night sky that resembled a giant beast with its mouth wide open, and involuntarily wrapped herself up tighter.

Yun Ji's new book, "Proud Feather": The princess seizes the throne and begs her father to die!