Chapter 27 The cat actually called out "Mother"?
Lu Zhaoruo said calmly, "Since Auntie has pleaded for mercy, let's be lenient with twenty strokes of the cane, tattoo the word 'thief' on her forehead, and send her to the authorities to be exiled three thousand miles away. That would be enough to preserve the Shen family's reputation for benevolence."
Zhang's face turned deathly pale, but there was nothing she could do.
The old woman working at the kitchen door was limp as a rag doll, muttering repeatedly, "This old servant knows she was wrong..."
Xing'er's eyes were empty: "Forehead... stabbing..."
Tao'er fainted from fright.
Cao Cangtou, tears streaming down his face, slapped himself repeatedly, one hand on each side.
Only Cao Hai remained defiant, staring at Lu Zhaoruo with his eyes wide open.
Lu Zhaoruo's gaze turned cold as she added, "Cao Hai, as the steward, indulged his servants. He shall be given ten strokes of the cane and the words 'Disloyalty between master and servant' shall be tattooed on his left arm."
Cao Hai wanted to start cursing again...
Lu Zhaoruo turned around abruptly and shouted sternly, "Where are the guards! Drag this family of wicked servants away and execute them!"
The guards rushed in at the sound...
Lu Zhaoruo coldly watched as the family was dragged away by the guards, some wailing and others looking ashen-faced...
Zhang felt a sudden darkness before her eyes, her body swayed violently, and she almost fell to the ground.
Granny Zhou hurriedly stepped forward to support her, saying, "Madam, please be careful not to feel dizzy. This old servant will help you back to your room to rest."
Lu Zhaoruo lowered her head to make way, still maintaining a meek and submissive demeanor.
After Zhang left.
She straightened her back, stepped out of the threshold, and strolled leisurely through the corridor.
Suddenly stopped,
I looked up at the sky.
The winter sun broke through the clouds, scattering fine golden rays.
A faint yet beautiful smile slowly curved her lips: "The sun is particularly warm today."
…………
Seven days later, the warm sunshine melted away all the accumulated snow.
The house is much quieter now.
Shen Qingshu was so angry about what happened that day that his chest ached, and he still needs to have a stone pounded on his back to calm down.
Because of this incident, Zhang not only lost a trusted confidant and could no longer earn money through private transactions, but also almost exposed himself. To this day, he is still fearful and hides in the Buddhist hall, chanting sutras more urgently than usual.
Lu Zhaoruo, who was in charge of the keys to the storeroom and the accounting office, first dismissed the accountant, second personally selected five honest and dutiful servants, and third cut expenses...
Although Shen Lingyi had returned home and knew about what was happening there, she was so engrossed in gambling that she didn't take it to heart at all.
In the evening, Lu Zhaoruo returned from the shop with an oil paper package tucked into her sleeve.
"Madam is back!"
Dongrou is changing Abao's dressing.
She noticed Lu Zhaoruo holding an oil paper package and asked, "Madam, Madam, what delicious food did you bring back today?"
Lu Zhaoruo unfolded the oil paper, revealing four plump white buns: "Today's buns are made with lard and sugar."
The sweet aroma spread instantly, and the bun skin was snow-white and translucent, glistening with oil.
She handed two to Dongrou.
Then I looked at Abao. Abao's health has improved a lot in the past few days, but he is still very weak.
Dongrou took the bun and took a bite. The sugar and oil immediately overflowed, mixed with the aroma of walnut pieces and osmanthus honey...
Lu Zhaoruo asked, "Is it delicious?"
Dong Rou nodded vigorously, her eyes suddenly reddening: "Madam treats me better than my own family. Since I started following Madam, I've not only never gone hungry, but I've also had delicious food every day... I've even gained weight."
Lu Zhaoruo took a bite of the steamed bun and said, "Where have you gotten fat? You're still thin."
Dong Rou pointed to her face: "Look, you've gained weight."
Lu Zhaoruo looked at it carefully and found that it had indeed become a bit rounder.
Dongrou burst into tears: "My wife, Dongrou will definitely be good from now on..."
Lu Zhaoruo smiled and tapped her forehead: "Alright, alright, shh, the whole house is cutting back on food, and we're just sneaking a bite. Don't let anyone hear us, hurry up and eat."
After finishing her meal, Dongrou went back to her room to rest.
After Lu Zhaoruo finished washing up, she carefully held Abao on her lap.
The little one's breathing was faint and shallow, but his belly was still warm, and he rubbed against her palm with gentle rise and fall.
She combed the downy fur again and again, whispering softly, "I've already exiled those bad people, Ah Bao. You, get well soon. I'll buy you sugar peas every day and feed you until you're a round, chubby little snowball, okay?"
Ah Bao let out a weak "meow" and rubbed his little head against her palm. His breathy voice sounded like he was calling for "Mother".
Her fingers suddenly froze for a moment before sliding down to her lower abdomen.
Suddenly I remembered the child I had aborted three years ago.
Her nose suddenly stung, and her throat tightened: "Abao... tell me, was I too cruel? She didn't even have a chance to open her eyes and see this world..."
If the child had been born back then, he would probably be three years old now.
She will sweetly call out "Mama" and will chase after Abao to play together.
When tears fall, will the child hug you and say in a tender voice, "Mother, don't cry"?
Abao suddenly struggled to stand up, his wet, cool little nose pressed against her tear-streaked face.
Lu Zhaoruo could no longer hold back and buried her face in that frail yet warm little body, saying, "If she were still here... she would definitely be tugging at your tail for candied peas..."
Somehow, she felt that the child was clearly the bastard child of the villain who had defiled her, and that she should hate him along with that beast.
But she always felt so guilty...
late at night.
Lu Zhaoruo had the same dream as always, and she dreamed that three years ago she was sitting on the wedding bed, and Zhang Shi was holding a bowl of dark medicine for her to drink.
This time, she rebelled and knocked over the soup bowl.
As a result, Zhang's face twisted like a demon in her dream: "You shameless slut, you are carrying a bastard in your belly. It is my son who did not despise you and married you into the family. You deserve to serve our whole family."
In her dream, Lu Zhaoruo suddenly remembered that night when she was welcoming her husband, she whispered in Shen Rongzhi's ear, her voice trembling, about the baby in her womb.
He smiled gently then, his fingers lightly stroking her hair: "It's alright."
As a result, half an hour after being carried back to the Shen family home, Zhang kicked the door open and came in carrying abortifacient medicine...
So, it was Shen Rongzhi who told you?
"You wretch! Drink it down! The Shen family doesn't raise bastards!"
Zhang produced another bowl of abortifacient medicine and poured it into Lu Zhaoruo's mouth.
Lu Zhaoru struggled frantically...
Sudden.
I heard a child calling "Mother" in my ear.
She woke up suddenly, her clothes soaked with cold sweat.
She looked around the entire room but didn't see any baby at all. She even got out of bed and opened the window to check...
"Mother..."
The voice rang out again from behind.
She turned around abruptly, her gaze sweeping quickly across every corner of the room. Apart from Abao curled up on the bed, there was no one else in sight.
Ah Bao?
Her gaze fell on Abao.
Ah Bao tilted his head to look at her, and in his emerald green cat eyes, a hint of human-like confusion appeared.
"Mother..."
That innocent child's voice once again spilled from the cat's mouth. Abao himself seemed to be startled, and hurriedly covered his three-lobed mouth with his furry front paws.
Her eyes darted around twice, then she timidly released her grip: "Ah...Mother?"
Lu Zhaoruo's fingers tightened. She slowly walked over, squatted down, and said softly, "Was it...was it you calling me Mother?"
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