Although Zhao Liya obeyed her mother-in-law's words and did not settle the old accounts, there was no problem in "setting things right" at the moment.
Ding is Ding and Mao is Mao. The treatment of the second and third rooms was quickly restored to normal, strictly in accordance with the rules of the Duke's Mansion.
This is a matter of course, but when the second and third wives are in charge, they will naturally make many concessions to give their own families various preferential treatments, such as increasing the monthly allowance and share allowance by one liter.
The fine bird's nests we eat every day, seasonal clothes, various New Year's benefits, and benefits given to my mother's family and close relatives, etc., are now all gone.
This is very distressing.
I feel so uncomfortable but have no place to complain.
This alone was too much for Master Zhou Er and Master Zhou San, who were used to being lazy outside. They couldn't help but lose their temper, scolded their wives, and had a quarrel.
"If you don't have the ability, don't act rashly. If you do, you must be absolutely sure! Look at what you've done. Now you've handed the handle to others and turned the knife against us! I don't care. You must have saved up a lot of money over the years, right? Hurry and give it to me! I can use it!"
"You're so naive! If Zhou Hansheng and Zhao were so easy to deal with, why would they have waited until now? Is Zhou Hansheng some poor country boy who's never seen the world? How dare you send two little girls like that to him to flaunt them? Sending them is fine, but you should also know when to stop! If he liked them, he would have asked for them long ago! He said nothing, showed no reaction, and you've made up all sorts of stories. It's really, really embarrassing! You've even implicated your entire family."
Madam Tuesday and Madam Wednesday added another layer of anger. The two sisters-in-law complained to each other, and both of them were so angry that their eyes turned red. For a while, their relationship became closer and more harmonious.
This can be considered as an unintentional contribution by Zhao Liya and Zhou Hansheng.
That wasn't the end of it. Zhao Liya then took the opportunity of investigating the "rumors" to take drastic action, severely punishing several people, expelling several others, and changing the positions of more than ten managers, both large and small. In this way, she completely kicked the people from the second and third houses out of their core positions. The people promoted were all her own people.
Mrs. Tuesday was so angry that she started throwing things in her room.
However, if something is broken, you have to pay for it yourself, as the government will not replace it. Some things are borrowed from the government for decoration, and you still have to pay for it.
So she was so frustrated that she didn't even dare to throw things, and could only beat and scold the servants who served her.
Taking advantage of the right season, Zhao Liya began to make major renovations to the garden.
Zhao Liya was going to change all the places that the second and third wives had previously arranged for their own enjoyment, and renovate them according to the preferences of the Duke's wife or the Duke, herself, and Zhou Hansheng. Naturally, the flowers and trees they liked also suffered the same fate: the peonies and crabapples were all removed. The Hibiscus Garden would become the Wisteria Pavilion, and the Peony Garden would be transformed into the Plum Forest.
This isn't just a transformation, it's a slap in the face! A blatant slap in the face!
It was as if telling them: Now that you are no longer the head of the family, there will be no land left for you! Your preferences are unimportant! Every trace you leave behind will be erased! Even if it's something insignificant, I will still annoy you.
In principle, there is nothing wrong with this matter, but it gives people the feeling that everything is wrong!
Master Zhou Er and Master Zhou San couldn't stand it anymore and ran to find Duke Li Guo in a rage.
Duke Liguo said casually, "This is Duke Liguo's residence. The Crown Prince and his wife don't need any opinions on what they want to do." He then scolded them, "You two are already grown up. When will you stop idling around all day? Find something serious to do."
The two men left in a rage and returned covered in dust.
Mrs. Tuesday and Mrs. Wednesday wanted to endure it, but then they thought, "You can't endure it. It will be a complete loss of face. It's better to make a scene."
Mrs. Zhou San claimed to have a headache and refused to go. Mrs. Zhou Er sneered in disdain. "You're not going? She'll go by herself!"
I can't even stand up myself, no wonder others don't take it seriously!
Anyway, she would never swallow this humiliation.
What else can we do to her?
Zhao Liya did not do anything to Mrs. Zhou Er, and did not even quarrel with her.
He angrily denied Mrs. Zhou's accusations.
"Second Aunt, you're overthinking it. The mansion's garden has been the same for so many years. Mother told me it's time for a makeover! Mother's health has been better in the past year or two. If we take good care of the garden, she'll be able to walk around more often. The imperial physician said it would be of great benefit to her health! Mother also said it was a pity that the prince, such a noble and honorable son of a wealthy family, had to suffer in Shu when he was so young. Now that he's finally back, he should enjoy his life. The prince said he wanted to make some good changes to the mansion's garden, and mother agreed. She asked me to ask the prince and let him decide based on his preferences. So, we've broken ground now."
"It's just right that the season is right now. If we hurry up and plant the flowers and trees that need to be planted, they can still survive. If we delay any longer, we'll have to wait until next year! This is something Mother personally instructed us to do, so as her daughter-in-law, of course I have to do my best to do it! If we delay until next year, how can I face Mother? Second Aunt, don't you agree?"
Mrs. Zhou Er glared at Zhao Liya, her breathing quickened, but she couldn't find any fault to accuse Zhao Liya!
What else can she say?
"Hmph, you've said everything you can think of, good or bad. It's obvious you've been waiting for me. What else can I say? Zhao Liya, well, well, I never thought Master Zhao would raise such a good daughter! Or perhaps, being exiled thousands of miles away did have some use after all. I've learned quite a bit!"
Even Nanny, Chunfen, and the others turned grim upon hearing this. What kind of thing was this? Was there such a sore spot? And they were elders!
Zhao Liya smiled faintly, dismissed her attendants, and looked at Madam Zhou Er with extreme arrogance: "So what if it is, so what if it isn't? Second Madam, let me be frank, you are just a bunch of parasites living under someone else's roof. What qualifications do you have to speak in front of me? I respect my parents-in-law, take care of my husband, and do what they tell me. Isn't this a model of virtue? What's wrong? Are you dissatisfied?"
"It's a shame, even if you dislike it, it's useless! Who told you to be incompetent? If you have the ability, then use it. If you don't, then just bear with it! Although I know it's hard to endure and very uncomfortable, but what can we do? Don't you agree?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
