Whenever she thought of Qin Wan's wealth, Old Lady Lu felt a pang of pain in her heart: "We can't divorce! You haven't been home for so many years, and you don't know how much the family expenses are..."
Old Lady Lu detailed the expenses of the mansion over the years one by one, and then said, "Your fifth sister is engaged, and your sixth and eighth sisters are also getting married. Little Nine is about to turn fourteen and will also be looking for a husband next year. And your seventh brother is fourteen, and your tenth brother is thirteen."
"Look at these people getting married, marrying ...
Lu Yan only saw the various expense data in the account book, but he didn't expect that there were so many expenses behind it. His throat tightened a little. As a general who fought on the battlefield, could he not even support his family?
"How much silver do you need?" Lu Yan asked in a hoarse voice.
Old Lady Lu counted on her fingers for him, "Your fifth sister is betrothed to the second son of the Chief Censor's mansion. Their betrothal... dowry... etc. will cost at least eight thousand taels of silver."
"And then there's your two younger brothers' marriage proposals. The deposit, betrothal gifts, renovations to the courtyard, hiring servants, and the wedding banquet—all together, it's going to cost several thousand taels of silver."
Old Lady Lu calculated the accounts in great detail; it would be impossible not to do so; the expenses were simply too great. "Our Marquis's Mansion hasn't been divided. Although your uncles live separately in the mansion and their expenses aren't covered by the public account, the monthly allowance is still a considerable sum. Furthermore, your uncles' children are of marriageable age, and when that happens, the public court will set a fixed amount for their weddings. Each child will cost at least two thousand taels, so all in all, that's another ten or twenty thousand taels."
Lu Yan's mind followed the thoughts of Old Lady Lu. His biological father was a fertile man. With so many women in the backyard, his body was not exhausted and he even gave birth to more than 20 children.
His grandfather was busy fighting on the battlefield and didn't have much time to stay in the inner house, but including his father, he also had five sons, which means he also had four uncles.
These four uncles are also fertile men. Although each of them has only two or three concubines, one after another gives birth to a child. Who doesn’t have six or seven children in his yard?
The more Lu Yan calculated, the more troubled he became. Thinking of the IOU for thirty thousand taels he had written, he clenched his fists tightly: "Grandma..."
Old Lady Lu patted Lu Yan's shoulder and said, "With such huge expenses in our family, we naturally can't let Qin Wan divorce you. That's why I gave her the love wine last night. Who knew she would still be so angry after you consummated your marriage? It's my fault too. I was inconsiderate and impatient."
"But a woman, once she gives her body to you, she can't leave. Go over quickly and comfort her with soft words. Don't make her angry. She has to support the whole family in this mansion."
Lu Yan's vision darkened. How could his grandmother really have done such a despicable thing?! He felt a lump in his chest, unable to breathe, and was driven to the main courtyard gate by Old Lady Lu.
Lu Yan watched Zigui and his servants moving things in and out like a stream, and her words were still ringing in his ears:
"She still needs to support him!"
He was the Marquis of Pingyang, a great general who had guarded the border for eight years and killed countless enemies, yet he still wanted his wife to support the family!
"Brother!" Lu Linglong ran to the main courtyard after chasing the Ru kiln sky blue glaze six-linked vase and saw Lu Yan standing at the door. She pulled Lu Yan's sleeve and pointed at Zigui angrily, complaining: "Brother, look at my sister-in-law, she moved all the things in my room. I'm a girl about to get married, and my room is covered in snow. What a shame! Brother, get my things back!"
Lu Yan looked at Lu Linglong. It was she who had spoken so rudely in front of the emperor yesterday, forcing Qin Wan to give birth to a child even though her husband had not returned for eight years. His rage seemed to have found an outlet. He pushed Lu Linglong away and angrily shouted:
"You're about to get married, and you don't know the importance of things. What did your aunt teach you? Someone, come here!"
After a roar, the surroundings fell silent. After a while, two servants appeared from nowhere and stood behind Lu Yan, saying, "My Lord."
Lu Yan pointed at Lu Linglong and said, "Take Fifth Sister back and let her aunt discipline her! This girl who is getting married has no sense of propriety, righteousness, or shame! Don't let me down!"
"yes."
The two servants quickly grabbed Lu Linglong's arms and pulled her back.
Lu Linglong stared at Lu Yan in shock, forgetting to struggle. "Brother! How could you do this to me? I even spoke to Sister Bai for you in front of the emperor, and you're repaying me with evil!"
Lu Yan's head throbbed with pain. "Have you read so much that you've lost your mind? Is that how idioms are used? You!"
Lu Yan was so angry that he couldn't even curse. He waved his hand and turned away: "Take the person away!"
Before Lu Linglong could say anything, the old woman covered her mouth and dragged her inside.
Zhenzhen reported every detail of what happened at the door to Qin Wan. "I was afraid that if they continued to make a scene, it would be disrespectful, so I asked two maids to take the Fifth Young Lady back. Are they going to lock her up?"
Qin Wan nodded. "Find someone from the mansion to teach her well. She was still young when I married her, and now she's grown up like this. Those who know her will think that the old lady spoiled her and didn't let me teach her. Those who don't will think that I, the eldest sister-in-law, deliberately taught her the wrong way. It doesn't matter if she brings bad reputation to the Pingyang Marquis Mansion, but don't let it ruin the reputation of our Xuanwu Marquis Mansion, saying that our daughter is not a good steward."
"Yes, I'll do it right away." Zhenzhen quickly picked someone from the mansion and went to Old Lady Lu's room to find a way out.
When Old Lady Lu heard that it was Lu Yan who ordered someone to discipline her, and recalled what Lu Linglong had said in front of the emperor yesterday, she suddenly felt a headache. She hurriedly sent someone to go quickly and also ordered people to guard the door tightly. No one was allowed to leave without Lu Linglong's order! Let alone come to her to beg for mercy.
Lu Linglong was locked in her room, unable to even leave. She was so angry that she kept jumping up and down: "Why won't you let me go out!"
Nanny Chu said expressionlessly, "I'm under the orders of the Marquis and the old lady to teach the Fifth Miss some etiquette and manners. If the Fifth Miss continues to make trouble, the old lady will have this courtyard and all of it sealed off."
Upon hearing this, Lu Linglong was angry but did not dare to make a fuss anymore because she was not the only one living in this yard.
Although the marquis's mansion was large, it could not accommodate so many masters, so Lu Yan's uncles set up a separate place in the east to live, and they entered and exited through the side door.
The remaining space would be used to accommodate the concubines and illegitimate brothers and sisters left by Lu Yan's father.
The concubines who had not given birth to children were released from the mansion by the former marquis' wife and given freedom. The concubines who had children were placed in two or three courtyards each, and the second and third brothers who were married were each placed in one courtyard.
The remaining five are brothers and fourteen are sisters.
Except for the fourth sister who was already married, and the youngest twenty-year-old and twenty-first sisters who were only ten and nine years old and lived with their aunt, the other eleven sisters lived in twos and threes in each courtyard.
Living with Lu Linglong are her sixth sister Lu Linglin and her eighth sister Lu Lingjiao.
Although Lu Linglong acts like a big shot and dares to challenge Qin Wan in public, she is actually very afraid of Lu Linglin and Lu Lingjiao, especially Lu Linglin. A single look from her can keep Lu Linglong awake at night.
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