Chapter 20 Kneeling
Lu Zhaoruo arrived at Shen Lingyi's courtyard.
As soon as I reached the door, I heard a muffled thud from inside, like a heavy object hitting the ground, followed by stomping sounds and the soft sound of tearing fabric.
"Ugh, so annoying! Get out of my way!"
Shen Lingyi's shrill voice pierced through the door.
Lu Zhaoruo raised her hand to knock on the door, but the door was suddenly pulled open from the inside.
Shen Lingyi's plump figure blocked the doorway, her cheeks flushed red. When she saw it was Lu Zhaoruo, she immediately put her hands on her hips and glared at her: "What are you doing here?"
She had already heard the commotion in the main hall, and she retorted, "Isn't it just a beast? If it's dead, it's dead, especially since it's still alive! Sister-in-law, are you here to seek justice for that beast?"
Lu Zhaoruo curtsied and bowed her head, saying, "Sister-in-law, you've misunderstood. My sister-in-law has come to apologize."
"apologize?"
Shen Lingyi was stunned and squinted at her.
“The cat scratched my sister-in-law a few days ago because my sister-in-law didn’t discipline her properly. My sister-in-law is right to teach her a lesson today.”
Lu Zhaoruo spoke softly, her fingers twisting a handkerchief, "However, that cat has been with my sister-in-law for three years, so there is some affection between us. I only ask that you, my sister-in-law, let go of your anger and stop holding a grudge against it."
Shen Lingyi returned to her room, plopped back into her chair, and turned her face away with a cold snort.
Lu Zhaoruo walked into the house, closed the door, and continued, "My sister-in-law is even more afraid that this matter will cause trouble for my parents-in-law, so she came here to ask my sister-in-law to put in a good word for her in front of my parents-in-law. Next time, she will definitely discipline the cat properly and will never let it hurt my sister-in-law again."
Shen Lingyi glanced at her hands, in which she was holding a hot water bottle, and said unhappily, "An apology should at least be sincere, shouldn't it?"
She touched the faint scar on her neck and said, "My neck still hurts, and the medical expenses..."
She is short of money right now.
Lu Zhaoruo took out two taels of silver from her sleeve and respectfully handed it over: "This is the only two taels of silver I have in my purse. I went to Jingci Temple today to ask my parents-in-law for a peace charm. I happened to run into my elder brother, who just passed the martial arts exam. He was so happy that he went to the underground money shop and played a couple of rounds. He won ten taels and insisted on giving two taels to me."
Shen Lingyi's eyes lit up suddenly. She grabbed the silver coins and twirled a silver coin between her fingers: "Your brother gambles too?"
"It's just a pastime."
Lu Zhaoruo lowered her eyes and smiled faintly.
"How could he win ten taels?"
Shen Lingyi's tone was full of disdain as she fiddled with the silver in her hand, itching with desire.
If even that fool can win money, then I can surely win a hundred taels! A place that even Wu Jieyuan goes to must be safe.
Her eyes darted around, and she weighed the silver in her plump hand: "Since it's an apology, then I'll reluctantly accept it."
Lu Zhaoruo bent down and picked up the embroidered shoes and basket from the ground: "After I finish embroidering these shoes for you, my sister-in-law, you can take them to your parents-in-law to report. But I hope you will keep this a secret for me."
Shen Lingyi was secretly delighted and even took over the embroidery work.
She secretly despised this cowardly nature, but put on a smile: "Then thank you very much, sister-in-law."
Lu Zhaoruo withdrew with the embroidered basket, only to hear Shen Lingyi's snickering joy behind her.
She walked through the snow, her smile deepening.
Let's gamble.
In your past life, you were like this, starting with a bet of two taels and accumulating a debt of twenty taels. Eventually, the debt doubled due to compound interest, reaching one hundred taels of silver. The treasury clerk came to your home to collect the debt, threatening to cut off your arm if you didn't pay.
Previous life.
Zhang handed the twenty taels of silver she had taken from the accountant to the treasury clerk.
But twenty taels of silver was not enough. Instead of taking out her own savings, she grabbed Lu Zhaoruo's wrist and said, "What are you standing there for? Kneel down before us!"
Lu Zhaoruo's wrist ached, and tears welled up in her eyes: "Aunt, your daughter-in-law is the legitimate wife of the Shen family, how can you perform such a grand ceremony for a commoner..."
"The matriarch?"
Zhang abruptly shook off her hand and said coldly, "My son entrusted the family to you before he went to sea, and now that my aunt is being besieged by debt collectors demanding payment, you're putting on airs like a matriarch?"
She suddenly raised her voice: "Look at how you've taken care of your aunt and uncle, they've been blocked at your door by the warehouse keeper!"
Lu Zhaoruo staggered back half a step and fell to the ground. She looked at Zhang's distorted face and said, "But, it was my aunt who went to the pawnshop to gamble and owed a hundred taels of silver."
"shut up!"
Zhang spat, spittle landing on Lu Zhaoruo's plain dress: "You dare talk back? If you weren't so incompetent in managing the household, unable to even come up with a mere hundred taels of silver, why would my Yi'er be forced to cut off his hand? If my son comes back and sees his own sister with a broken arm, he will surely hate you..."
"He knelt on the ground back then, entrusting us to your care."
Her triangular eyes slanted fiercely: "How can you face my son? Huh? My son is out there risking his life to make a living, while you're causing chaos at home. When he comes back, how will you face him?"
Lu Zhaoruo's gaze swept over her uncle, who was huddled in the armchair coughing...
Shen Qingshu's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, and in the end, he simply turned his face away.
The head of the treasury said impatiently, "Enough nonsense! If you don't pay back the money today, I'll break one of her arms!"
No, no, no!
Zhang said anxiously, "I, your daughter-in-law, have a solution!"
She shoved Lu Zhaoruo forward abruptly, saying, "She saved the life of Master Gu of the silk shop, let her borrow it! It's only a hundred taels of silver, how could Master Gu refuse?"
After saying that, he grabbed her arm and forced her to kneel.
Lu Zhaoruo's knees buckled, and she knelt heavily on the cold blue bricks.
"Still standing there?"
Zhang kicked her elbow with her toe and scolded, "Quickly kowtow and beg the gentlemen to grant you three more days!"
Lu Zhaoruo's forehead was pressed against the ground.
Amidst the raucous laughter and curses of the warehouse keeper, she heard her own voice, barely audible: "Please...please grant me three more days..."
Later, she did indeed go to Gu Xian to borrow money.
However, Gu Xian turned out to be the mastermind behind the warehouse. After learning about the matter, Gu Xian did not make her repay a single penny. Instead, he cut off one of the warehouse leader's hands and made the warehouse leader kowtow to him and apologize.
Afterwards, Lu Zhaoruo still returned the original twenty taels of silver.
Lu Zhaoruo pulled herself out of her thoughts. In this life, she would also seek Gu Xian's help.
The Gu residence.
The first snow had just stopped, and Lu Zhaoruo stood outside the door, rubbing her fingers, which were red from the cold, and exhaling a puff of white breath.
The gatekeeper poked his head out, saw it was a young woman, quickly adjusted his sleeves, bowed and asked, "Madam, which household are you looking for?"
Lu Zhaoruo bowed slightly: "Please inform Master Gu that Madam Lu, a member of the Shen family, requests an audience."
The doorman responded and turned to jog inside.
A moment later, a maidservant came running and led her through the winding covered walkway. Outside the walkway, the snow still weighed down the branches, but inside, the warmth was already growing stronger.
As soon as the brocade curtains of the south hall were lifted, a warm and cozy feeling immediately washed over you.
In the center of the hall, a copper brazier burned silver-boned charcoal, with sparks occasionally crackling and popping. In the corner, a copper incense burner emitted wisps of warm smoke.
"Please sit down, madam."
The maid spoke softly, and then moved the embroidered stool near the brazier a little more straight. "The master is going to the east of the city to collect debts. He has already sent a servant to urge him. He should arrive in about an incense stick's time."
As soon as Lu Zhaoruo sat down, another maid handed her a hand warmer with a lotus scroll pattern. The copper walls were warm, just right for warming her hands...
Next, hot tea and fermented rice wine were served one after another, their sweet aroma filling the air.
Lu Zhaoruo held the teacup, her fingertips gradually warming up. She pursed her lips and said, "I'm really sorry to bother you."
He paused, then added softly, "I came here with a favor to ask, but I am truly sorry to have troubled your esteemed home with such hospitality."
Upon hearing this, the maid lowered her eyes and curtsied, saying respectfully, "Madam, you flatter me. The master specifically instructed us that if Madam Lu from the Shen family comes to visit, we must treat her with the courtesy due to an honored guest and would not dare to show her the slightest disrespect."
Lu Zhaoruo recalled that saving Gu Xian back then was just a small favor.
But since then, how many times has he helped her, both openly and secretly? Now even the servants in the house treat her with such respect...
The hall fell silent for a moment, with only the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire.
She glanced around discreetly and saw that everything was exquisitely arranged. Even the blue brick floor beneath her feet exuded a warm glow, indicating that everything had been prepared in advance. The maids stood silently, and when they poured tea, the sound of their sleeves rubbing together was barely audible, as if they were afraid of disturbing her...
Half an incense stick.
Lu Zhaoruo then heard the tinkling of jade pendants outside the door, followed by a voice saying, "I'm sorry to have kept Madam Lu waiting..."
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