Chapter 104 Giving a Lesson 2
Yu Qingci stepped forward and gently comforted her: "Mother, this is how it should be. Observing mourning is a major matter concerning the family's reputation and etiquette. The rules that should be established must be established."
Our actions were merely to help them correct their behavior, putting away anything that shouldn't be there during their mourning period; we weren't trying to deliberately make things difficult for them.
Lu Yun Chu also advised, "Yes, Mother, my sister-in-law is the most reliable in her work, so please don't worry."
My mother is just too soft-hearted. If she had half the courage of my sister-in-law, she wouldn't have been bullied by those people all these years.
Steward Lu and Granny Wang led their entourage out of Songbai Hall, heading straight for the west courtyard where the second branch of the family lived. Their menacing appearance frightened the servants who saw them from afar, and they quickly hid.
The old woman guarding the west courtyard panicked when she saw a group of people approaching from afar. She quickly turned around and ran into the house to report the news.
Before long, the Second Master, Madam Wei, and the two brothers, Lu Yunzhang and Lu Yunbo, all lifted the curtains and came out of the house.
Seeing this, the group of people stood there dumbfounded, looking at each other in disbelief.
The second master stared intently and immediately roared, "What are you doing? Are you here to ransack our property? Or are you planning a rebellion?"
Butler Lu simply clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Second Master and Second Madam, please forgive us. Yesterday, the Old Madam instructed everyone in the household to observe the mourning period according to regulations. Today, she specifically instructed the entire household to conduct a thorough inspection, and naturally, the West Courtyard should also be inspected. Any irregularities must be corrected one by one."
Second Master, rest assured, we will be extremely careful and will absolutely not damage anything.
After saying that, he gave a wink to the servants behind him, and they immediately scattered and began searching the garden. Others stood directly in front of the Second Master and the others, their solemn expressions making the Second Master and the others dare not move.
Granny Wang turned to the old women following behind her and instructed them, "You few come with me into the house and take a look. Be careful not to break anything."
The women immediately sprang into action, filing in one after another and heading into the house.
The second master and Madam Wei were furious at the sight. Madam Wei tried to stop the old women who had barged into the room, shouting:
"Stop right there! Who gave you the audacity to trespass like this? This is no place for you to run wild!"
The old women seemed not to hear anything; once inside the house, they moved out anything that didn't fit.
The old women brought out the screen with the magpie perched on a branch and the auspicious pattern, the red brocade quilt with embroidered floral patterns on the bed, the matching mandarin duck pillows, and even the gilded ornaments with large red beads on the table, symbolizing good fortune.
As an old woman stepped out of the threshold, she casually pulled down a pair of exquisite, large red brocade lanterns hanging above.
Seeing this, Wei became even angrier and wanted to rush over to snatch it back, cursing:
"Are you trying to rebel? You dare to steal things from my house? Put them down right now!"
Wang Mama stood there calmly and said, "Second Madam, you are too slow. Yesterday, the Old Madam gave you a day to clean up all these eyesores. Mourning should be done properly, but it looks like you haven't taken the Old Madam's words to heart at all."
"Perhaps you're too busy. We'll keep these things for you then. Don't worry, the Old Madam instructed that they will be returned to you after the mourning period."
Enraged, Madam Wei blurted out, "What utter nonsense! Someone from your eldest branch has died, why should we have to follow all those ridiculous rules!"
Hearing this, Butler Lu's face immediately darkened: "Second Madam, watch your words! Be careful what you say, or you'll be struck by lightning!"
Over the years, you have enjoyed wealth and luxury under the protection of the General's mansion. Now that the General is gone, how dare you utter such words? You are worse than animals! Even animals know gratitude, but what about you?
Steward Lu was a veteran of the battlefield, and he naturally possessed a fierce and ruthless aura. No matter how angry the Second Master and Madam Wei were, they dared not say anything more and could only watch helplessly as Granny Wang and the other servants carried out the things in the house one by one.
Wei Shi stepped forward and grabbed Wang Mama, saying, "Wang Mama, it's no big deal. We'll take care of these things ourselves later and put them away so as not to trouble you."
As they were talking, several old women who had rushed into the neighboring courtyard came out carrying colorful bedding and decorations, followed by two women, Yue and Ye.
As soon as the eldest daughter-in-law, Yue, entered, she hurriedly shouted, "Father, Mother, stop them! Why are they all like bandits, taking our things and running away without saying a word?"
Granny Wang glanced at her and said, "Madam, your clothes are too festive and inappropriate for the occasion. You should change them. Or, we can help you change."
Startled, Yue Shi backed away repeatedly, saying, "No need, no need, I'll change it myself when I get back..."
Seeing that his wife had been intimidated by a few words, Lu Yunzhang was so angry that he stepped forward and prepared to order the servants in his yard to take everything back.
But as soon as he took a step forward, he met Butler Lu's sharp gaze and immediately shrank back and remained silent. He knew that Butler Lu had killed people before.
With more people involved, things get done quickly, and soon a large pile of collected items was gathered in the middle of the courtyard.
Wang Mama said to the furious members of the second branch of the family, "Second Master, Second Madam, the west courtyard has been searched. We will help you put these things away for now. By the way, the clothes worn by the masters and the two young mistresses are not in accordance with regulations. Please change them yourselves so that we don't have to serve you anymore."
With a wave of her hand, Granny Wang sent the old women and servants to each grab some and leave.
Just as Wei and her two daughters-in-law were about to slap their thighs and wail, Granny Wang turned around and looked at them.
The cry that Wei had just begun to utter was abruptly suppressed.
Granny Wang: Oh, right, there's something else I forgot to tell Second Madam. Early this morning, the Old Madam sent people to the Wang and Wu families to convey that the marriage between Fifth Master and Sixth Miss will be postponed until after the mourning period in our mansion.
After saying that, he led his men away.
After all the people had disappeared, the three women, including Wei, her mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, started wailing and slapping their thighs.
Unfortunately, she had barely uttered two cries when the second master angrily shouted, "Enough! Aren't you ashamed enough? Go back to your rooms, all of you!"
Wei and the others were frozen in place again, and had no choice but to follow their husbands back into the house.
After leaving the second house, Steward Lu and Granny Wang led their men to the fourth house.
At this time, the fourth branch of the family had already received the news and knew that the eldest branch was serious this time. The second brother and sister-in-law had a lot of things taken away, and they were immediately panicked.
Fourth Master and Madam Ma directed the servants in the courtyard to tidy up in a flurry, quickly hiding away any valuable items that looked festive.
Before they could finish tidying up, the steward and Granny Wang stormed in with their men, causing another chaotic scene of utter disarray.
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