Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 360: Blind and blind
Now, the Grand Commandant's mansion is managed by Shen Qingzhou and his wife. Even if Shen Bo asks Yi Zhe to prepare gifts, Lu Jia has to lead the way.

The list contained more than a dozen items, all catering to the tastes of scholars, such as writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, calligraphy, paintings, and stones. Lu Jia took them all. At the end, he took out a letter and gave it to Yi Zhe: "I imagine my father is busy today. I had a few words I wanted to say to him, but since my father and teacher are going, I will not go. Please ask the teacher to pass this on to my father."

Yi Zhe left without mentioning it, carrying the letter with him.

After returning home, Lu Jie and Yang Bonong made some preparations and then took a carriage to the Yan residence to visit their deceased in-laws.

Lu Ying was the first to greet them and led them to the mourning hall. Before the coffin was sealed, some of Yan Song's students came upon hearing the news. They had become close friends over the years, and at this moment they didn't care about being implicated or not. If they didn't show up at this time, it would only be more embarrassing in the future.

Yan Shu was already wrapped up and lay in the coffin, covered with a burial quilt. His face, which was probably too shameful to be seen, was also covered with a handkerchief. There were many burial objects around him, but they couldn't hide the stench emanating from him.

Lu Jie lit three incense sticks, and then Yan Liang came out.

"Uncle Lu."

This boy grew up by Yan Song's side and was as beloved by his grandparents as his father, but he was not as flamboyant as his father. At this moment, he could still bow deeply to Lu Jie without showing any emotion and call him "uncle". Such composure is truly rare.

Lu Jie looked sorrowful and wiped his eyes with his sleeve: "I knew your father had some little hobbies in the past, and I covered them up for him as much as I could. When the Emperor asked about it, I thought, how could he possibly be confused about something so serious? Who knew that he would actually make a mess of things!"
"His Majesty's health has been declining these past two years, and he has become particularly focused on alchemy. This time, he has run into trouble. How could His Majesty be so heartless!"

Yan Liang gazed silently at the ground until he finished speaking, then bowed his head: "Thunder and rain, all are the Emperor's grace. Since Father's crimes are true, then whatever punishment His Majesty deems appropriate is justified. How dare this humble nephew speak ill of His Majesty?"

Lu Jie nodded at him, then looked behind him and asked, "Where is your grandfather?"

"Grandfather has overworked himself today and has already gone to rest."

Lu Jie let out a shout and stood up: "Since that's the case, I won't bother you any longer. Things happened suddenly, and now the burden is all on your shoulders. You've had a tough time. I'll come over after I finish my duties tomorrow. If there's anything I can help with, just let me know."

Yan Liang saw him to the door: "It's nothing to be proud of. Grandfather has already ordered a low-key funeral, so we won't trouble Uncle Lu."

They kept talking about respect, but every word they uttered was a polite refusal.

Lu Jie said goodbye and then left the mansion with Yang Bonong.

Yan Liang stood under the gate for a long time, gazing intently. After turning around, he closed the door himself, his teeth clenched tightly.

When he returned to the main room, Yan Song had just looked up from behind his desk, putting down his pen as he looked at him: "He's gone?"

Yan Liang nodded: "In the past, when Father said he had ulterior motives, I didn't believe it. Now it seems that I was blind."

"You're still young, and it's common for you to misjudge people. Besides, even I was fooled by him for so many years."

Yan Song slowly stuffed the letter in his hand into an envelope and handed it to him: "Send it out by fast horse, it must be delivered within five days. I need a reply after ten days."

Yan Liang nodded.

Yan Song watched him leave, then took out a memorial from the drawer, opened it, glanced at it, and slammed it shut. He walked to the door and handed it to the waiting attendant: "Send this to Eunuch Gao immediately! I want to hear about the progress by tomorrow morning."

The attendant also left.

Yan Song then opened a yellowed file that was lying on the table.

"Father!" After reading only a few lines, Madam Yan's sorrowful cry came from the doorway behind her.

"Father, you must stand up for Liang'er's father!"

Madam Yan, wearing a white flower in her hair, collapsed to the ground in tears as soon as she entered. The four or five maids who had followed her also knelt beside her.

Yan Song turned around and said, "Go back and rest first."

"My husband died a tragic and unjust death, how can I, as his daughter-in-law, rest easy? I will tear them to pieces and watch their families be destroyed before I can vent my hatred!"

Madam Yan collapsed to the ground and wept bitterly, unable to speak.

Yan Song sat in his chair, tears welling up in his eyes again. "Of course they must pay the price, and double the price at that! Otherwise, not only will my son's death be in vain, but my entire Yan family will be doomed!"

……

After the carriage turned out of the alley, Lu Jie immediately instructed Yang Bonong: "Send the memorial to the Cheng family right now, and have their master present it to them first thing tomorrow morning."

"Then come back as soon as possible and write down the names of every official who was in the mourning hall. Also, send Lu Rong to the Shen family immediately to bring back the eldest daughter and her husband. I have something to say to them."

Yang Bonong remembered everything, and then they parted ways at the alley entrance.

Lu Jie leaned against the carriage wall with his eyes slightly closed. Before he could even exhale completely, the servant who was driving the carriage knocked on the door:
"My lord, it looks like a carriage from the Grand Commandant's residence ahead."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jie peeked out and saw a large carriage parked outside the door, which was very similar to the carriage that Shen Qingzhou usually used when traveling to and from the Lu family.

Thinking that the two sides had such a tacit understanding, and that they had just arrived when they were about to look for them, he immediately got out of the car and rushed over: "Qingzhou! Why don't you come in?"

The carriage door was pushed open after a long delay, revealing the face of Grand Commandant Shen.

Lu Jie stood there stunned until Grand Commandant Shen stepped down and cleared his throat to call out "In-law," at which point he came to his senses!
……

In the study of the Lu residence, candlelight shone brightly, and food and wine were laid out on the octagonal table on the east side. Lu Jie was slightly reserved: "I did not know that the Grand Commandant would be coming in person, so I did not have time to prepare in advance. Please forgive me."

Fate is truly bizarre; he had two in-laws, one of whom is now lying in a coffin, while the other partnered with him to put the other one down in a coffin.

"As long as you don't hold my past rudeness against me, there's no need for these formalities now," Grand Commandant Shen said gently, looking at the other party. "I was blind and wronged you in the past; it was my fault."

"Actually, I came here tonight specifically to invite you to my home for a chat. Yu'er and the others have stirred up this turmoil, and you and I have already taken action. In the current situation, the only way to ensure everyone's safety is to strike while the iron is hot."

Lu Jie paused, rolled up his sleeves, and poured wine for both of them: "Since you are so straightforward, I will speak frankly as well."

“When I went to the Yan residence before, Yan Song did not show up. He has seen far more storms than Yan Shu, and he will not be brought down by what happened today.”

"If I'm not mistaken, he's already making his plans at this point."

Shen Bo stared intently: "So, what do you think he will do next, in-laws?"