Lu Xiaoyun knew best whether Madam Wei was truly loyal to Madam Fang. The original owner once accidentally overheard Madam Fang scolding Madam Wei, saying something like that if she dared to have any disloyalty, she would make her family die without a burial place.
Therefore, the fact that Wei's mother took all the blame today must have been because she was threatened by Fang.
Fang was filled with anxiety in her room in the Begonia Courtyard, her face as white as paper. Outside, the shrill screams of Wei Mama being tortured could be heard.
The Duke of Zhenguo specifically ordered that the man be killed in the Begonia Courtyard, with all the servants and attendants in the courtyard watching.
Lu Yucheng specifically instructed that no handkerchief be stuffed into her mouth, so that everyone could hear how Wei Mama was being tortured.
The screams, like thunder, rang louder and louder in Fang's ears.
I don't remember how many times I was beaten, but I heard the screams gradually subside.
In the end, you can't hear it anymore.
But the dull thud of the sticks hitting flesh did not stop.
The servants knew that the extra blows were meant to kill the person completely, to prevent them from "coming back to life."
It seemed like she had been hit five or six more times when Fang heard a servant report, "Young Master, Madam Wei has died."
Fang collapsed to the ground.
"Throw the body into a mass grave." The cold, deep voice of the Duke of Zhenguo's heir pierced her ears like needles through the doorway.
The servants who carried out the execution outside the courtyard dragged away Wei's mother's body, leaving a long trail of blood on the bluestone slab.
Inside the house, Fang Shi and Lu Jinmi huddled together in fear.
"Mother, Father, why did Father beat Wei Mama to death in the Begonia Courtyard?"
Why did Father do this when there was a proper place to carry out the punishment?
Why? What else could it be? His mother-in-law wouldn't allow him to send her to the estate, but even in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, he wouldn't let her have a good life.
Lu Zhongyi, what a vicious mind you have!
...
Zhu Yu was also in Lu Yucheng's study.
A bodyguard came looking for Lu Yucheng and was taken aback when he saw that the young lady was also there.
The guard glanced at Zhu Yu, then lowered his head, unsure of what to say.
Lu Yucheng frowned: "What can't be said? Speak."
The guard knelt down with a thud and begged for forgiveness: "Young Master, when the young lady first returned to the manor a month ago, almost every night someone would climb over the wall and enter the young lady's room."
Zhu Yu's eyelids twitched. The day after Lu Xiaoyun first climbed over the wall, this was the same guard who came to see him.
He gave him a serious warning not to tell his brother.
As it turns out, this guy actually disobeyed his orders today!
Lu Yucheng slammed his hand on the table and roared, "Why did it take you so long to report this!"
The guard glanced cautiously at Zhu Yu: "He had his subordinates lead us in circles. The first time, my subordinates were already suspicious. So, my subordinates secretly observed and discovered that the one who climbed over the wall to see the young lady was His Highness Prince An."
Lu Yucheng's brow twitched, and he stared at his sister in astonishment. What on earth were these two doing?
Since Your Highness Prince An cares for your sister, why did you write that divorce letter and allow your mother to treat her so harshly?
If not, and the two are already divorced, why would he climb over the wall to see his sister? That's hardly gentlemanly behavior.
Hmph, a wife is not as good as a concubine, a concubine is not as good as a stolen one, and a stolen one is not as good as one that cannot be stolen.
It really is true!
Zhu Yu lowered his head guiltily and fiddled with the handkerchief in his hand.
He glanced at his sister and coldly ordered, "Double the number of guards outside Tongjia Courtyard. If anyone tries to climb over the wall again in the dead of night, throw them out!"
How could he not know that the bodyguards he personally selected couldn't possibly be so useless? It was highly likely that his sister had said something to threaten them.
"ah?!"
"What 'ah'? If he didn't want to use the main gate, how did you know who climbed over the wall? If a thief broke into the manor, of course you have to drive him out. If you cripple him, that's his own fault!"
Zhu Yu pursed his lips and remained silent, wanting to tell him, "Brother, the Prince An you hit is your own sister."
He was also secretly relieved that his martial arts skills had been slowly recovering during this time.
Feng Yan and the others wouldn't actually hit him.
"Everyone should be given twenty strokes of the cane, so that you will remember this lesson. It took you so long to report this matter. I think your brains were blown out by the wind when you came back from the southern border!"
The guards dared not object and immediately and respectfully withdrew to receive their punishment.
They can't be blamed for not reporting it; after all, they still had to consider the young lady's reputation.
But she couldn't get over that mental hurdle, so she thought she would come over today and secretly tell the young master that they should strengthen their defenses in the future.
Lu Yucheng stared at Zhu Yu without saying a word, making Zhu Yu feel extremely uncomfortable.
"Brother~" Zhu Yu called out sweetly, then blinked her big, innocent eyes at him.
If being forceful doesn't work, try being gentle. A little coquettishness and cuteness should calm your brother down.
Sure enough, Lu Yucheng helplessly rubbed his forehead and sighed, "Sister, as I told you, the Emperor agreed to let you participate in the selection of the Fifth Prince's consort because he knew that you and Prince An had not consummated your marriage."
Zhu Yu pouted, "But, brother, I don't want to marry the Fifth Prince. I don't like him."
Nonsense, how could a grown man like his own brother?
If he had known, he would have slept with Lu Xiaoyun even if he were a woman.
That evening, Zhu Yu tried to climb over the wall to find Lu Xiaoyun and tell her about the original owner's birth mother and the two maids who accompanied her in her dowry. However, the guards, who had just been beaten up, refused to let him leave.
Never mind, let's wait a couple of days. He still needs to sort things out.
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