Chapter 566
Chapter 566
“Go ask the steward when the Eldest Young Master will be back.” Nanny Tang sighed. She could only assume that Madame Jiang was speaking out of anger.
But she also knew that the Jiang family’s world was probably about to come crashing down.
After all, the fact that Jiang Yuanrang was not truly a son of the Jiang family could not be kept secret forever.
Fortunately, the Eldest Young Master was not currently at the residence. Even if those people came, they could find a way to send them away. Perhaps the matter would then blow over.
As for the trouble caused by the second branch—the Jiang family’s estate had originally belonged to the first branch. Regardless of whether Jiang Yuanrang was truly a son of the Jiang family, he was listed as one in the genealogy. Whether he was an adopted son or a stepson, the Jiang family ought to be inherited by Jiang Yuanrang.
After Li Zhiwei and the others settled down at the county office, Madam Yu left with a heart full of questions.
The farce at the Jiang residence soon reached their ears.
“Master, what should we do? What does the Jiang family mean by this?”
Ever since Lady Yao had arrived in Lucheng, she had been unable to settle her nerves.
“Madam, there is no need to worry. If Madame Jiang is reasonable, we will treat her with courtesy. If she insists on making trouble, then we will simply do what our conscience requires.”
Li Tianyou thought for a moment before speaking.
After all, the Jiang family had raised their son for nineteen years.
Regardless of their reasons at the time, at least their son was still alive in this world.
“Mother, Father is right. No matter what, we should thank them.” Li Zhiwei reflected and realized that she had been too narrow-minded.
As the ancients said, courtesy comes before force.
They should first thank the Jiang family for raising her elder brother.
As for the other debts, they could settle them slowly.
“I wonder where Zhou’er has gone.” Lady Yao sounded somewhat dejected.
“Mother, don’t worry. Once Elder Brother returns, you’ll be able to see him.” Knowing that Lady Yao was missing her eldest son, Li Zhiwei hurried to reassure her.
“I’m only worried that those people might lock him up so he can’t meet us.” At the thought of this possibility, Lady Yao’s face went pale.
“Mother, you’re overthinking it. Even if you don’t trust Elder Brother, Sister Wen brought quite a few people with her.” Li Zhiwei did not believe that Jiang Yuanrang could be controlled by the Jiang family. After all, Zhang Yanchu had sent Wen Xiu with a deputy general and several guards.
Even if Jiang Yuanrang could not deal with whatever methods the Jiang family employed, it was impossible for the deputy general to be subdued easily.
“If I don’t see him with my own eyes, I simply can’t put my heart at ease.” Lady Yao felt that the reason they had not seen Jiang Yuanrang was that the Jiang family might have taken control of him.
Upon hearing this, Li Tianyou frowned and looked toward Li Zhiwei. He seemed about to say something, but was afraid he might only be imagining things.
“Xu Mu, send someone to the Jiang residence to take a look.” Li Zhiwei had not been worried before, but after hearing Lady Yao’s words, she too became uncertain.
If the Jiang family had truly resorted to some underhanded tactic, she could rescue Elder Brother and Sister Wen as soon as possible.
“Rest assured, Your Highness. I’ll send someone to investigate the situation at the Jiang residence immediately,” Xu Mu said quickly.
At the Lu residence—
“Father, why did you hit me?” Lu Ning’er stared at Lu Jinchang in disbelief, one hand pressed to her cheek.
That madwoman had slapped her twenty times earlier that day, and her face was still throbbing with pain. She had never expected that the first thing her father would do upon returning would be to give her another slap.
Thinking of this, Lu Ning’er looked at Lu Jinchang with an aggrieved expression.
Madam Yu stood to one side without saying a word, quietly watching the father and daughter.
Yet she had already guessed the reason. The esteemed guest must have been displeased with Lu Ning’er’s behavior that day.
At the thought of this, Madam Yu looked at Lu Jinchang with faint mockery. Wasn’t this concubine-born daughter so bold and reckless because he had spoiled her?
If Lu Jinchang had not indulged her to the point of making her utterly lawless, how would she have dared to make such a scene at the county office?
“I only think I went too easy on you.” Lu Jinchang pointed at Lu Ning’er with a trembling finger and cursed.
He regretted it deeply. How had he managed to father such a useless wretch?
“Father, what did I do wrong? It would be one thing if you didn’t help me today, but you actually hit me too!” Lu Ning’er stared at Lu Jinchang resentfully.
“You good-for-nothing fool!” Lu Jinchang grew even angrier at her words.
She had caused him such enormous trouble, yet instead of reflecting on her actions, she was blaming him?
Was the trouble she had brought him still not enough?
“I told you to listen to your stepmother today. Why did you come to the county office and cause trouble?” Lu Jinchang scolded, pointing angrily at Lu Ning’er.
“I only wanted to stay with Father. What did I do wrong?” Lu Ning’er would never admit that she simply did not want to return to the old residence. She wanted to remain at the county office so that all the young ladies of Lucheng would envy her.
After all, at the main residence, she could only live in a small side courtyard.
The county office was different. She could have a large courtyard of her own.
Even if she invited the young ladies of Lucheng over as guests, she would have plenty of face.
“You’re being ridiculous!” Lu Jinchang grew angrier the more he thought about it.
“How am I being ridiculous? Haven’t I always behaved this way? Father, could it be that you’ve taken a liking to that slut?”
Remembering Li Zhiwei’s beautiful, delicate face, Lu Ning’er spoke jealously.
She had never seen a woman so beautiful in all of Lucheng.
“Shut up! Are you trying to get the entire Lu family slaughtered?” Lu Jinchang’s face darkened. This concubine-born daughter truly dared to say anything.
Madam Yu merely watched the father and daughter with scorn. Wasn’t all of this the result of Lu Jinchang’s own indulgence?
“Someone, take the Young Miss away and lock her in the woodshed. No one is to release her without my order!”
Lu Jinchang turned around and shouted at the old nanny behind him.
“Father!” Lu Ning’er stared at him in disbelief. Lu Jinchang actually wanted to lock her in the woodshed. Was he really her father?
“Madam, find this good-for-nothing a husband as soon as possible. The farther away she marries, the better.”
Lu Jinchang then looked at Madam Yu and spoke with great solemnity.
“Master, I’m afraid I cannot decide the Young Miss’s marriage,” Madam Yu said, the corners of her lips lifting slightly as she pushed the matter away.
How was she to know whether Lu Jinchang would later blame her for failing to find Lu Ning’er a suitable match?
“As the principal wife and stepmother, arranging marriages for the concubines’ children is your duty.” Lu Jinchang looked at Madam Yu with displeasure.
He could not understand why she could not even handle such a minor matter.
“Master, I’m afraid that if I select a match for the Young Miss, you and Concubine Yao may not be satisfied,” Madam Yu said frankly.
In the past, she might have agreed to handle the matter. But today, Li Zhiwei had taught her that if she was unhappy about something, she should say so directly.
“She’s only a concubine-born daughter. Does she think she can marry into some prestigious, influential family? As long as she gets married, that’s enough.” Lu Jinchang spoke irritably.
“Find someone strict, so she’ll stop causing trouble for me all day long.”
After saying this, Lu Jinchang flung his sleeves and strode away.
Meanwhile, at the entrance to the Jiang residence, Jun Mowen stood with his hands on his hips and shouted toward the house, “Madame Jiang, you old woman, get out here!”