Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 324 Understanding Grandmother
Lu Ying gazed at the distant starry sky: "It's understandable that I'm alone, but you shouldn't be."

Yan Liang gave a bitter smile: "I grew up with my grandparents and learned how to assist my parents in managing affairs from a young age. Unlike my third son, who was spoiled by his mother and could be forgiven no matter how big a mess he made. As for me, if my wife makes a mistake, I will be held responsible, and my two children will also face the prospect of losing their father."

"But who can I say these things to?"

Lu Ying turned her head: "So, it turns out that you were sitting here alone, feeling indignant on her behalf."

Yan Liang looked at her and said, "That's not what I meant."

Lu Ying sneered, "What does it matter whether it is or not? You are neither my father nor my brother, nor my husband. It's good enough if you don't help the wicked. Do you think I can expect you to give me justice?"
"It's a shame that I've treated you like my own brother since I was a child. In fact, the Jin family knew you after I did. Now that I'm in this state of having no relatives or friends, you still refuse to be fair."

After she finished speaking, she bit her lower lip, and for a moment the garden seemed to be filled with her melancholy.

Yan Liang gradually frowned, then raised his hand to rub it: "It's not that I'm unwilling, it's just that these are turbulent times, and we can't afford to cause any more trouble."

He looked up at her and said, "You've been coming and going in the Yan family mansion with your mother since you were little, and you have such a talented father. Although he doesn't serve in the court, he is knowledgeable and well-informed, no less than any man. I thought you could at least understand me."

“I can understand you, but who understands me?” Lu Ying’s voice grew colder. “Your brother disrespects me, and your mother-in-law hates me. Whenever you have a problem, you know to come to me to mediate.”

“If it weren’t for me covering for my father, he might have already turned against me. Fortunately, this time Jin Shi ran into my sister by chance, and I didn’t go back to my parents’ home to complain because of the Shen family’s troubles. But to this day, no one in the Yan family, from top to bottom, understands my hardships, and no one has seen through Jin Shi’s wickedness. They just think that all of this is my duty.”

"I just don't understand, in what way is my Lu family inferior to the Jin family? In what way is I, Lu Ying, inferior to the Jin family? Am I destined to suffer this kind of torment?"

Her voice choked with emotion. Her head bowed, her eyes filled with tears, she appeared even more solitary in the darkness.

Yan Liang remained silent for a long while, then finally couldn't help but sigh: "Then what do you want me to do?"

Lu Ying raised her head: "After all I've said, how could you not know? Since I agreed to your resolute decision to sever ties with your mother and marry into the Yan family, did I not want to be of one mind with the Yan family? With the state of our third branch, do you think I have any other hope? I just want some support and to live a stable life."

The light shone on half of her face, making her already beautiful features appear even more delicate and graceful.

Yan Liang took a deep breath and paused. "She has angered Mother and can no longer assist with household affairs. I will speak to Mother first thing tomorrow morning. I wonder if this will appease your anger?"

Lu Ying caught her breath, her low voice tinged with stubbornness: "Even so, it is what I deserve, and I will not thank you."

Yan Liang chuckled: "How dare I harbor such extravagant hopes?"

Lu Ying glanced at him, then got up and stepped down the stairs.

……

Granny Li had prepared the ingredients for making desserts in the kitchen courtyard. She was peeking out the door to see if Lu Ying had arrived when Ying Zi rushed in with a solemn expression: "Grandma has gone back to her room, Granny, you should go back now!"

As she untied her apron, Granny Li walked out, asking, "Why did you suddenly go back?"

Yingzi glanced at where the cooks were sitting outside, but didn't say anything. She just pulled her out the door.

Granny Li was even more surprised and quickened her pace back to her room. As soon as she entered, she saw Lu Ying sitting in front of the mirror combing her hair, with a lot of face powder and cosmetics in front of her.

Her exceptionally beautiful face and her cool, aloof gaze were reflected in the mirror.

“Grandma,” Granny Li stepped forward, “why haven’t you gone to the kitchen? Aren’t you making any pastries?”

“No need.” Lu Ying combed her hair gently. “No need for all that trouble. These past few months have been agonizing; I haven’t had a good night’s sleep. Granny Li, don’t I look too haggard?” Granny Li looked at her with suspicion: “Why would you say such a thing, Grandma?”

“I suddenly understand my grandmother,” Lu Ying scoffed, her eyes full of mockery. “Women are so useful. I’ve wasted them in the past.”

"My dear aunt!" Granny Li exclaimed, grabbing her arm in shock. "What do you think you're doing? You're the daughter of the Minister of Rites!"

“That was before! Now, I’m all alone, just one step away from becoming a discarded woman!” Lu Ying looked at her and smiled again. “But don’t worry, I haven’t reached that point yet.”

Granny Li held her breath, unsure of what to say.

“You don’t need to go to the Lu residence tomorrow.” Lu Ying turned around from in front of the mirror and handed her a piece of paper: “Go to the Xie family in Yanzi Alley and have Qiu Niang give this to your sister.”

When Granny Li saw the paper she was handed over, she was immediately startled: "Why is this?"

"Of course, it's also for myself." Lu Ying put down the comb. "I want to crush the Jin family into the mud and become the one who has the final say in the inner quarters of this Grand Secretary's mansion!"

"Didn't you just say that I am a young lady of the Lu family? How can I let someone force my head to the ground?"
"She, from the Jin family, is not worthy!"

"But you can't—"

“Alright,” she said softly. “I know what I should do. It’s just a slightly different path.”

"Besides, even if I did that, what would I lose? It would be entirely beneficial, wouldn't it?"

Granny Li's eyes dimmed, and she bit her lower lip tightly.

……

The following afternoon, Qiu Niang delivered the letter to Lu Jia.

Lu Jia looked at it several times. "Is there anything else?"

“No, that’s all.” Qiu Niang was also puzzled. “And after giving it to me, she left without stopping for a moment, as if she was afraid I would ask her something.”

"However, before leaving, Granny Li hesitated several times and asked you when you would go to Yanzi Hutong. I said I wasn't sure, and that you rarely go there nowadays, so she didn't say anything."

"Is it?"

Lu Jia remained silent. It was clear that Granny Li had something to say, but since she had come to her, why wouldn't she speak?

Looking at this piece of paper, there is only one sentence: Lu Jia is to send a reliable and capable person from the Grand Commandant's mansion to the same location written on the paper at the time specified on the paper.

It's really strange.

But in any case, since Lu Ying finally took the initiative to find him, he might as well listen to her for now.

Besides Shen Qingzhou, the most reliable and capable person in the Grand Commandant's mansion is Song En. Fortunately, the address Lu Ying left is in the city, and it's also in a prosperous area. Sending a few more people to secretly follow her shouldn't go wrong.

He then told Shen Qingzhou about it, and also confided in Song En.