Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 329 How could he be a kind person?
The Jin family had no peace and quiet that night.

After her husband and son left, Madam Jin was filled with anxiety. As dusk fell, she finally saw them return, but to her surprise, her daughter also came back. The mother and daughter embraced and wept bitterly. One was terrified, worried that her daughter had really been divorced and the family was doomed, while the other secretly resented her husband for being heartless and refusing to lend a helping hand in the face of disaster.

But further words are useless. The Yan family is powerful and influential, and now that they are caught in the vortex, they can only take it one step at a time.

Jin Yun paced back and forth in the room for half the night, thinking of the words her son-in-law had said before he left, and her despondent mood was rekindled with a glimmer of hope.

Yan Liang's vision, ability, and status in the Yan family are beyond doubt. He said that this matter cannot be decided by the inner quarters. Doesn't that mean that Madam Yan's words don't count?
Thinking it over again, since Madam Yan already knew that it was someone from the manor who had caught Jin Ziyao red-handed, why did she still have to bring him over for questioning?
At the time, she said she wanted to divorce Jin, but Yan Liang persuaded her not to. She was not particularly forceful when she left. After thinking it over, she still sent someone to deliver a few children's clothes to Yan's residence in Jin's name and handed them to Yan Liang in person.

Yan Shu was busy finding fault with the Shen family, but then the Jin family started causing trouble one after another. How could he not be furious?

Upon receiving the news in the afternoon, Yan Shu rushed back. However, Lu Jie, having received a letter from Lu Jia that afternoon, also came to the Yan family's residence, and they happened to meet at the main gate. Given the numerous conflicts with the Lu family recently, Yan Shu couldn't possibly refuse to entertain him. He invited him to stay for dinner, discussed the current situation, and finally received a secret report delivered by a subordinate before seeing him off to the inner quarters.

When he entered the room, Madam Yan was clearly still troubled. Upon seeing him, she said, "You've come back just in time. You should make a decision about the Jin family! I can't let this marriage between our children continue! If we do, even Liang'er will be ruined!"

Jin is Madam Yan's daughter-in-law, and she has always been by Madam Yan's side, having been trained for eight years. Yet she still managed to cause such a mess, and the Jin family has also gotten involved. Isn't this Madam Yan's fault as the mother-in-law?
Shouldn't she bear the responsibility?
Yan Shu had already resolved to question her before entering, but seeing her so resolute, he couldn't say anything more. He only glanced at her and said, "If you want a divorce, why put her back?"

"It wasn't me who put it there! It was Liang'er! That unfilial son, he seems so clever usually, but who would have thought he'd be so clueless at a crucial moment!"

Madam Yan was so angry that she gritted her teeth.

Yan Shu sat there with a furrowed brow for a moment, then left the room.

Upon arriving at the inner study, Yan Liang was summoned again: "I heard that your mother was determined to punish the Jin family, but you stopped her. Given what the Jin family has done, even if Jin Shi is not divorced, she should never be the eldest daughter-in-law again. Why do you disagree with your mother's decision?"

Yan Liang bowed: "It was my idea. I always felt that Jin had given birth to children for the Yan family, and even if she hadn't done anything meritorious, she had still worked hard. If we cut off the sutures too hastily, it would inevitably be seen as heartless. Therefore, I disobeyed my mother and sent them back first, waiting for my father to return before making a decision. If my father has already made a decision, I will immediately go and write the letter of divorce, without delaying for a moment."

Yan Shu assumed that the mother and son would put up a fight, but to his surprise, each of them was more resourceful than the other. He felt as if he were punching cotton, and after gritting his teeth and being angry for a moment, he finally waved his sleeve and said, "Let her stay at her parents' house. We'll talk about it after the Embroidered Uniform Guard matter is settled."

"As ordered."

Yan Liang left the study, took a deep breath, glanced at the deep night sky, and said to the Jin family members who were already waiting at the door of the eldest son's house: "Tell the eldest young mistress to come back tomorrow to pick up a few clothes to take back. After that, if you don't go to pick her up, don't let her come back."

The Jin family was terrified and immediately withdrew.

The servants in Madam Yan's room overheard this through the flower bushes and quickly returned to the main room to tell them everything.

After listening, Madam Yan sat down and said, "Have the Third Young Mistress come to the study to serve me ink."

Lu Ying was sent back to her room by Yan Liang during the day, and although she obediently did not show her face again, she did not let her guard down and kept a close watch on the commotion outside. After Jin was taken away, she put away the chess pieces she had been playing with for the afternoon.

When Yan Shu returned that night, he did not give any new instructions on the matter. She then got off the crooked couch barefoot and could no longer sit up.

"The Yan family has so many cronies, they don't need the Jin family to do anything. Why don't they take drastic measures when it's obvious they're suspects?"

When Lu Jia came that day, didn't Madam Yan blatantly use the Yan family's "great achievements" to intimidate her?

Even though the evidence of an affair between the Jin family and the Shen family is still insufficient, they have always preferred to make a false accusation rather than let the matter go, so there is no reason for them to be so lenient.

Granny Li was also puzzled: "Perhaps the eldest young master is unable to let go because of his marital bond." "Impossible."

Lu Ying denied it decisively, a chill playing on her lips: "What kind of kind person do you think he is?"

What kind of kind person would force a daughter to murder her own mother?
If it weren't for him, she wouldn't have been left with no way back.

Granny Li looked at her and said, "If that's the case, why does Grandma still hold such a thought?"

Lu Ying's expression darkened, and after a long while, she said, "That's different."

Granny Li remained silent.

Yingzi walked in: "Someone from Madam's side has come to ask Grandma to go and serve Mo."

Lu Ying immediately composed herself.

Madam Yan has her own elegant room for her daily affairs, and there is also a study there.

When Lu Ying entered, she was lighting incense. Hearing footsteps, she said without turning her head, "Close the door."

Lu Ying did as she was told.

The moment the door closed, Madam Yan turned around, her indifferent gaze sweeping across her face: "I have already given the order that from tomorrow onwards you will replace Madam Jin and assist with household affairs."

"From now on, you will be in charge of the main kitchen, the gardens, and the seasonal furnishings for each room within the inner quarters. You may also handle social interactions and dealings between officials of the third rank and below on your own."

"You may decide for yourself whether or not the families of officials of the fourth rank or below visit. After you submit the list of gifts from officials of the fifth rank or below, you may keep half of it."

Lu Ying lifted her skirt and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Mother!"

Madam Yan sat down, a cold smile playing on her lips: "Are you satisfied now?"

Lu Ying paused for a moment, then looked up.

Madam Yan glanced at her: "Now that the Jin family has come to such an end, you've finally gotten your revenge, haven't you?"

Lu Ying slowly straightened up: "Daughter-in-law doesn't understand..."

"Don't play dumb with me." Madam Yan lowered her eyes and sipped her tea. "You were born into a powerful family, how could you be a simple person? Qu Ge'er doesn't respect you, and you can't do anything about it. Even Jin Shi can provoke you. How can you not take out all the anger on her?"
"Tell me, when did you conspire with Lu Jia?"

Lu Ying bit her lip until it bled: "Mother can scold me, beat me, and neglect me, but she cannot humiliate me! If I had any disloyal intentions, why would I have treated Mother so cruelly in the first place?"
“Mother is shrewd. If she can find even the slightest evidence of my conspiracy with my sister, I, Lu Ying, will pay with my life the moment she does!”

Her words were forceful and resounding, her eyes blazing with fury that seemed capable of setting the house ablaze.

Madam Yan gazed at her intently for a moment, then put down her cup and said, "Get up."

(End of this chapter)