Chapter 1382: Extra Fourteen: Strike
That push from Lu Zhu had nearly cost Liu Tinglan and her unborn children’s lives, including the unborn twins known as the dragon-phoenix twins. Not a single person in the Elderly Couple of Shen Family was willing to forgive her.
Sending Lu Zhu to the officials would compromise the reputation of both the Shen family and Liu Tinglan. However, simply sending her back to the Lu Family would be too lenient. In the end, Mo Yan brought Lu Zhu back, tossing her directly into the manor, instructing the Zhao family people to watch her and not allow her to take a single step out of the manor.
Following Mo Yan’s instructions, the Zhao family people certainly didn’t treat Lu Zhu, a criminal, like a young lady. They rushed her to start working as soon as dawn broke. Doing laundry and cooking were considered the lighter tasks, while tending to flowerbeds, watering plants, chopping wood, and even cleaning the chicken coop were the most grueling and exhausting tasks she was required to do every day.
Lu Zhu, having been spoiled by her late mother at home and doted upon by the Elderly Couple of the Shen Family, couldn’t bear such suffering. She cried, made a fuss, cursed, and even tried to commit suicide to frighten the Zhao family people, but they didn’t take any of her tricks to heart.
Don’t want to work? Fine, no food or water for you, let’s see how long you last!
Only a day passed before Lu Zhu couldn’t take it anymore. Dragging her weakened body, she begged the Zhao Steward and then sincerely began working in exchange for a day’s food and water. She knew very well that the Zhao family people wouldn’t show her any mercy, nor would they let her go. Even if she died of starvation, no one would seek justice for her.
Although the Zhao family people didn’t torture Lu Zhu, the transition from a pampered young lady to a laborer on the manor grounds was enough torment. Having to do endless chores every day, within less than a year, the once delicate and tender flower harshly turned into a dog’s tail grass, appearing like a thirty-year-old peasant woman.
Without pretty clothes, luxurious jewelry, and only able to eat meat once every half month, such a life nearly drove Lu Zhu mad. She felt like death was inevitable if she continued like this, but she still held onto hope in her heart. She was unwilling to wither away in this dark, unseen manor.