Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 304 Protecting one's own? Dream on!

Back at the manor, Jin followed Yan Liang into the residence. Watching his rapid steps ahead, she dared not breathe as she followed behind.

Upon entering the courtyard, Yan Liang ordered all the maids and servants to leave, then pointed at Madam Jin and said, "Look what you've done!"

Jin argued, "This matter has nothing to do with me; it's the fault of Granny Yang and the others..."

"Shut up!" Yan Liang interrupted her. "You can fool others if you want, but do you think you can fool me? Who are those two old women's servants? Whom do they listen to? Without your permission, would they dare to lay a hand on the wives of officials? Not to mention, she is the young mistress of the Grand Commandant's mansion, the daughter-in-law whom the Emperor bestowed upon the Shen family. Her father is Lu Jie, whom I had to go to great lengths to persuade to return after he had just given my father a lot of trouble! How dare you?!"

Yan Liang's anger surged like a torrent, wave after wave crashing down on the Jin family.

Jin gritted her teeth: "I'm not trying to deny it. It's true they were following my orders, but I had no idea that Lu Jia was in that room. Do you think I don't understand what you're saying? Of course I wouldn't be stupid enough to cause trouble for myself!"

"You don't know that's her? Then who do you think it is?"

Jin was speechless.

Admittedly, Lu Jia is not someone to be trifled with, and she was indeed not targeting Lu Jia, but Lu Jia is Lu Jie's daughter, and isn't Lu Ying the same?

Besides this, Lu Ying was also the link that Yan Shu and his wife used to force and win over Lu Jie. Lu Jia was, after all, an outsider. If it was said to be targeting Lu Ying, wouldn't the consequences be even more serious?

She gritted her teeth and refused to utter a single word!
"You still dare to say you're not just making excuses? If Mother finds out, let's see what you'll do!"

Yan Liang flicked his sleeves and threw the curtain aside, leaving.

Jin's heart tightened: "Where are you going?"

Yan Liang ignored her and walked out of the courtyard without stopping.

Madam Jin gritted her teeth and turned around. When she saw the maidservant by the door, she demanded, "Who informed the young master?"

The maidservant said in a panic, "This servant didn't know either."

Madam Jin then asked, "When did the Third Young Mistress arrive at the manor?"

The maid then realized, "The Third Young Mistress arrived at the manor half an hour ago, and the Eldest Young Master left in a hurry shortly after she arrived!"

Jin's eyes flashed with venom: "It really is her!"

……

Yingzi saw Yan Liang hurrying through the hall from behind the banana tree, and then quickly returned to the third room.

"Grandma, the eldest young master scolded the eldest young mistress and then immediately went to find He Shizhao."

He Shizhao was one of the three stewards of the Yan household. Lu Ying, holding a chess piece on the couch, said, "He only gave me a lecture, nothing else?"

Yingzi shook her head: "After returning to the manor, he went back to the eldest branch without making a sound. Later, even the servants were driven out, and you could only vaguely hear his scolding voice."

"It seems he's determined to protect his own," Lu Ying sneered. Then she added, "Did he go to He Shizhao to apologize to the Shen family and settle things peacefully?"

"After the young master went to see Steward He, Steward He went to the accounting office, which seems to be his plan."

Lu Ying frowned: "Has there been no movement from the Grand Commandant's residence?"

Just as Yingzi opened her mouth to reply, Li Mama's voice suddenly rang out from outside the courtyard gate. Then, panting, she entered the house and, seeing Lu Ying sitting there, immediately walked over: "That second young master from the Grand Commandant's mansion, who grew up in the Northwest, has come to the Yan residence with his guards to cause trouble!" Lu Ying's brows twitched slightly: "Second Young Master Shen? Aren't the two Shen brothers at odds?"

After setting up a stage for Lu Jia to perform, she returned to her residence. She knew that Madam Jin was afraid of everyone in the Yan family except for Lu Ying. Once Yan Liang arrived, he would surely settle the matter quickly and peacefully, and Madam Jin would have no choice but to obey and return to her residence.

But the Shen family has no reason to swallow this insult, and as long as Lu Jia acts quickly enough, she will definitely be able to make a scene before Yan Liang does.

Now that the person has arrived, Lu Ying thought it would be Shen Qingzhou or Grand Commandant Shen, since it would be more legitimate for these two to come forward. Unexpectedly, it was this illegitimate son who was known to be at odds with Shen Qingzhou who came instead.

Granny Li stepped forward and lowered her voice: "Whether to deal with them or not is another matter. This second young master wants to demand an explanation from the Yan family. He is saying that the eldest daughter-in-law of the Grand Commandant's mansion, the wife of the Duke of Yingguo, who was personally granted an imperial title by the Emperor, was actually schemed against by the women of the Yan family. He is forcing the master and mistress to come forward and demand an explanation!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Ying threw down the chess piece, stood up, lifted her skirt, and stepped out the door.

Along the way Li Mama entered the room, many people had already heard the news. The servants gathered in twos and threes to discuss it, while many others were heading towards the front yard.

"Don't report to the master yet, just follow my instructions!"

Lu Ying had just stepped out of the west courtyard when Yan Liang hurried over with his men. He saw Lu Ying halfway there, stopped abruptly, pursed his lips, and then quickly continued on his way. "Open the side gate, prepare tea in the flower hall, and invite Second Young Master Shen into the mansion for a talk..."

Looking at this scene, Granny Li said, "Putting everything else aside, the young master is still protecting the young mistress even now. He really is a man."

Unlike that madman, the Third Young Master.
Lu Ying ignored him and quickly followed Yan Liang to the front yard.

Before we even arrived at our destination, we heard the sound of the gate being pounded on.

"Open the door!"

Yan Liang gave the order urgently and then went out.

Once the door opened, the scene outside was revealed. Under a large tree outside, a group of people were standing. A strangely imposing and tall young man sat on horseback, staring coldly at the door. Below him stood a dozen or so guards, each one strong and powerful.

Yan Liang bowed politely at the door and said, "My name is Yan Liang. I was unaware of Young Master Shen's arrival. Please come in and have a seat!"

When someone comes to your door demanding an explanation, Yan Liang's polite invitation is the most appropriate and dignified course of action. The mess that Jin Shi made has already been witnessed by people at Baiyun Temple. Do you really want to keep people from making a scene outside for the whole capital to see?
"So you are Young Master Yan," the young man on horseback dismounted, a knife at his side, and walked towards Yan Liang. "So it was you who allowed your family to bully the Shen family? And who framed and slandered my sister-in-law?"

Yingzi looked at Lu Ying: "This second young master is completely different from our eldest son-in-law."

Shen Qingzhou was indeed elegant and noble, but she was extremely fragile, as if she could be shattered at the slightest blow. This second young master, on the other hand, was a little tyrant!

Yan Liang still bowed and invited, "There seems to be a misunderstanding. I was just about to go to the Grand Commandant's residence to apologize, but I didn't expect the Second Young Master to have arrived first. Please come in and have a seat, and allow me to explain in detail..."

“The Shen family has come to our door, yet the eldest young master is still so polite. He’s determined to protect his eldest mistress.” Granny Li looked at Lu Ying with concern.

Lu Ying stretched slightly: "Where is Madam?"

"...Shuyu from the main house also heard the news in the front yard and should be in her room now."

"Then let's go to the main room!"

Lu Ying turned her footing.

Happy Valentine's Day!