Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 311 I Apologize on Her Behalf
When Yan Shu came out of the Ministry of Revenue's warehouse, he discovered that news of Shen Zhui's disturbance in his mansion had already reached the Ministry of Revenue in waves.

The Emperor's commendation had given him boundless confidence in the future of his family, but when he suddenly heard that there was a fire in the backyard, and that a Jin family member had caused such trouble, how could he remain calm?

He hurriedly left the yamen after putting down his work, but his attention was drawn to several riders galloping past as he mounted his horse.

"Who is that?" he asked.

The guard glanced at him and replied, "It's Commander He from the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Yan Shu gazed in the direction they had gone, then suddenly frowned: "They're going to the palace. Why are they in such a hurry? Does His Majesty have something urgent to attend to?"

The guards dared not say anything more.

Yan Shu withdrew his gaze, then turned his horse around and quickly rode onto the main street.

After the two Shen brothers left, the Yan family naturally had to start cleaning up the mess.

Madam Yan returned to her room, seething with anger. After taking off her clothes, she saw a large bruise on her arm and became even angrier.

Lu Ying immediately sent someone to fetch the imperial physician, and at the same time, she fetched some ointment to reduce swelling and bruising, and carefully applied it to Madam Yan's wound. She also prepared all the necessary medicinal materials before the imperial physician arrived, so that after the physician examined her carefully, she could immediately have the medicine prepared according to the prescription.

The whole process took only a quarter of an hour. Madam Yan had everything she wanted and was served comfortably, which calmed her down considerably.

When Yan Song and Yan Shu arrived home separately, she was able to recount the whole story.

Although the matter was infuriating, it wasn't a major issue. Yan Song sat with a sullen face for a moment, then handed it over to Yan Shu and his son to handle before returning to his room.

Although Yan Shu believed that Jin Shi was the culprit and that she was unforgivable for causing things to develop to this point, the Shen family was also really outrageous. For such a trivial matter, Shen Bo actually allowed Shen Zhui to come to the Yan residence and cause a scene. Wasn't this just being unreasonable?

In the past, Shen Bo was always careful and meticulous, and we were just worried about not being able to find any fault with him. Now that we have this opportunity, we can't let it go.

He was just about to enter the palace to see the emperor.

Just then, the gatekeeper came running up, breathless: "Master! Master! Someone from the palace has come with an imperial decree. It says that Grand Commandant Shen just went to the palace to file a complaint, and the Emperor has demoted you, Master, and also stripped the eldest son of his official position!"

"what?!"

Madam Yan was the first to stand up.

"Demotion?"

"That's right... The eunuch who delivered the decree is still outside, waiting for Master and Young Master to go and receive the decree!"

The gatekeeper pointed outside in a panic.

These two words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the burning anger of three generations of the Yan family. Even Lu Ying, who had been observing silently the whole way, was surprised.

The Shen family's antics should have been enough. The Yan family had been favored for decades, and although they had been reprimanded by the emperor from time to time, it was always like a tickle, never causing them any real harm. There was no reason why Grand Commandant Shen wouldn't know this.

But not only did he still go to the palace, he actually won the case, demoting Yan Shu and even stripping Yan Liang of his official position. It was clear that he was serious!
“Go check it out first!”

After a moment of silence, Yan Song took a step and walked towards the front yard first.

Yan Shu and his wife, along with Yan Liang, followed. Lu Ying stood still for a moment, then also went over.

The eunuch stood at the threshold with the imperial edict in his hand, his expression not as cheerful as expected. After the edict was read aloud, he relayed a few words of reprimand from the emperor.

The three generations of the Yan family looked at each other in bewilderment. Madam Yan, who had been full of anger, pursed her lips tightly, and Yan Shu and his son also bowed their heads deeply. Apart from kneeling to receive the imperial decree, no one dared to say anything more.

"Please come inside for tea, Father-in-law," Yan Shu bowed and invited.

"Lord Yan, there's no need to be discouraged," the eunuch who had finished announcing the decree said. Seeing the stack of silver notes that Yan had handed over, he put on a smile again, but pushed them back. "In my opinion, the Emperor may not have believed what Grand Commandant Shen said. It's just that everyone knows about this matter now. It would be better for you to lower your stance for the time being to calm public opinion."

“I am in a hurry to return to the palace to report, so I will not stay any longer. Farewell.” Yan Shu quickly grabbed the eunuch’s hand and tucked the silver notes into his pocket. “Your Majesty’s instructions will naturally be carefully understood. However, under this scorching sun, it is only right that you offer me a cup of tea, sir.”

The eunuch looked down at the bulging robe and delivered it to the door, then smiled and bowed, saying, "You're too kind, sir. It would be impolite of me to refuse."

Yan Shu didn't turn back until he had watched him mount his horse.

The previously suppressed anger was now ignited by the words on the imperial edict, and surged forth once more.

For many years, there have been countless memorials impeaching the Yan family, and the emperor has punished the Yan family before, but this is the first time they have been demoted!
To quell public opinion?

Yan Shu is not a three-year-old child; how could he believe such a thing?
The emperor's punishment only proves one thing: the Shen family's petition moved him enough to make him disregard the decades of service Yan Song had given to the emperor!
This is definitely not a good sign...

"Father……"

Yan Liang's voice rang out from under the corridor.

Yan Shu looked up and walked over.

Yan Liang lowered his head in shame under his glare. "My son has failed in his duties..."

"Indeed incompetent!" Yan Shu gritted his teeth. "What was originally just a minor matter has escalated to this point!"
"I put you in charge of the household, and how did you manage it! Why can't you even control your own wife?!"

Yan Liang gritted his teeth and lowered his head, his face already flushed red.

He lifted his robe and knelt down: "Please punish me, Father."

"What's the use of punishing you?!" Yan Shu rebuked angrily. "Right now, we're dealing with an external enemy, the Shen family!"

"Shen Bo is now able to influence the Emperor's decisions!"

"What you should do right now is to find out what he said to the Emperor!"

"Yes!"

Yan Liang stood up, bowed deeply, and left the main room.

Even when he was being reprimanded, the elegant young man remained composed and showed little sign of embarrassment.

Lu Ying watched him walk over through the banana grove, then turned and headed towards the third house.

"Third sister-in-law..."

Just as I stepped through the Vase Gate, I heard his voice behind me.

Lu Ying stopped.

Yan Liang approached, glanced at her silently, and then said, "I'm sorry."

Lu Ying turned around and looked up at his solemn expression: "What makes you say that, brother?"

Yan Liang took a deep breath: "I know what happened. Jin has offended you and made you suffer. I apologize to you on her behalf."

Lu Ying sneered: "You apologize on her behalf? Why should you apologize on her behalf? You apologized for this 'fault,' so am I supposed to accept your 'apology'?"

Yan Liang stopped abruptly.

"Every wrong has its perpetrator, every debt its debtor. Whoever has offended me, I will seek revenge on them!"
"Since you know I've been wronged, instead of apologizing here, why don't you go and avenge me?"

Lu Yinghan gritted her teeth, her face cold, as if each word was followed by a knife.