Chapter 58 brought with it an imperial "Chastity Archway".
That night.
Dongrou secretly followed and witnessed Zhang Shi riding in a blue cloth sedan chair to the City God Temple.
It took a while before he came out, and when he did, his face was full of joy.
Back in the courtyard, Lu Zhaoruo was seen leaning lazily against the couch.
In the candlelight, she used a silver skewer to slowly coat a glutinous rice ball with white sugar. The snow-white sugar powder clung to her slender fingers, making them appear even more lustrous and beautiful—hardly the image of a seriously ill person.
"My wife."
Dong Rou lowered her voice and recounted everything she had seen, "The old lady personally delivered the letter, which shows how anxious she was."
Lu Zhaoruo put the freshly dipped sugar-coated glutinous rice ball into her mouth, the sweet aroma melting between her lips and teeth. She smiled slightly: "How can I not be anxious? After all, I can't wait to receive that vast fortune of imperial copper and three thousand acres of land..."
He suddenly burst out laughing, "I'm afraid they've even prepared the phoenix coronet and wedding gown for the new bride."
Dong Rou couldn't help but chuckle to herself: "When they find out it's all for nothing, won't they be so angry they'll faint?"
Lu Zhaoruo then took out the marriage certificate of Shen Rongzhi who had married and had children overseas and copied it, clenching it tightly: "Shen Rongzhi, I'm waiting for you to come back!"
For more than half a month in a row.
She stayed indoors all day, lying idly on her high couch. When she was tired, she would sleep, and when she woke up, she would lean against the window to read, occasionally picking up a brush to practice calligraphy.
Dongrou often sneaked out and brought back all sorts of street snacks. Sometimes they were sweet candied fruit with carved decorations, and sometimes they were freshly baked roasted pork skin that was still steaming hot. Once the oil paper package was opened, the whole house was filled with an enticing aroma.
Over the past two weeks, Lu Zhaoruo has actually become more radiant and fuller-figured than before.
Ah Bao was so happy living at the Gu residence that he didn't even want to go home.
During this period, Lu Bohong visited him once.
As a patrol inspector of the county government, Lu Bohong had practiced martial arts since childhood. His muscular body stretched his official uniform taut. When he patrolled the streets with his archers, his eagle eyes would send thieves into a frenzy.
But this brave man started crying as soon as he entered the door, crying like a child.
To reassure him, and fearing that he might worry, Lu Zhaoruo revealed the truth: "I'm faking this illness, brother, please don't tell anyone."
Seeing that her brother was about to cry again, she quickly added, "Don't worry, just don't come again for a while, so as not to arouse suspicion."
Lu Bohong then stopped crying and started laughing. Before leaving, he secretly slipped a packet of chestnut flour cake into her sleeve...
That day.
Lu Zhaoruo got up early and sat upright by the window.
Dongrou came in carrying a copper basin and asked in surprise, "Why are you up so early today, my lady? Are you feeling unwell?"
Since she started feigning illness, my wife has been sleeping until late morning.
"We have distinguished guests visiting today."
Lu Zhaoruo had a smile on her lips.
We do have distinguished guests today.
On this day in my past life, my close friend Geng Qionghua would have traveled all the way from the capital to visit me.
They brought with them an imperial "Chastity Arch" and a gift of five hundred taels of silver.
Geng Qionghua was originally demoted from the capital to Jizhou City. After staying there for a few years, she returned to the capital and married a fourth-rank official.
According to the custom, one could only receive an imperial memorial arch after remaining a widow for twenty years. Lu Zhaoruo had only waited for Shen Rongzhi for three years, yet that handkerchief-wearing man had managed to get her a 'Chastity Arch'...
Thinking of that cold, blue stone archway, Lu Zhaoruo's fingertips trembled slightly.
In her past life, the "chastity arch" she presented stood three zhang (approximately 10 meters) to the east of the Shen residence's main gate...
The people of Jizhou City praised her highly, saying that the Shen family's daughter-in-law had gained immense prestige...
But this dignity became a noose around her neck.
After receiving the imperial archway, Zhang treated her even more harshly.
Every time he used the "Chastity Arch" to suppress her, he would point his finger at her nose and curse: "This is a commendation personally inscribed by the Emperor! If you dare to show the slightest disrespect, I will immediately file a lawsuit against you for disobeying your elders and showing contempt for the Emperor's grace! At that time, not only you, but your entire Lu family will not escape the crime of 'great disrespect'!"
Once she is commended, she must uphold the virtues she has been praised for the rest of her life; otherwise, she will be considered "deceiving the emperor."
She remembers one year's Lantern Festival.
Her elder brother, Lu Bohong, knelt on the ground with red eyes, begging her to come home.
She was indeed slightly moved, but Zhang threw herself under the archway and wailed, "This old woman will kill herself today by crashing into this imperial archway!"
Shen Lingyi crossed her arms and sneered, "A virtuous widow bestowed with imperial honors, no matter where you go, will forever be remembered in the official register as a member of the Shen Lu clan!"
"Madam, who is this distinguished guest who is coming today?"
Dongrou asked, puzzled.
Lu Zhaoruo pulled herself out of her thoughts and said calmly, "She is a close friend from the capital, who traveled a long way just to bring me a 'generous gift'—an imperial chastity archway."
Dongrou exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? But... but isn't that something you can only get after being a widow for twenty years?"
Lu Zhaoruo recalled Geng Qionghua's words from her previous life, and a cold smile appeared on her lips: "She said that she was on good terms with the Empress and had spoken to the Emperor on his behalf. The Empress had only mentioned it casually, and the Emperor had already bestowed this 'favor' upon her."
Dong Rou's eyes lit up: "Geng Niangzi is so thoughtful, she's such a good person."
A good person?
In her previous life, Geng Qionghua said with tears in her eyes, "Sister Zhaoruo, please accept my condolences. A few months ago, my husband unexpectedly met Mr. Shen at sea. He was on his way home to reunite with his sister... but unexpectedly, he was attacked by Japanese pirates who brutally murdered him. My husband barely escaped with his life and took the jade pendant he was always carrying."
Because of these words, she truly believed that Shen Rongzhi was dead.
Even after discovering Zhang's letters and Buddha statues and finding the secret letter, he did not suspect anything.
She even hated the Japanese pirates because of this, and that night, when facing the person who had defiled her, she sternly ordered him to join the navy...
He could clearly live with composure.
Why did Geng Qionghua say that he was killed by Japanese pirates?
If her husband never went to sea and never met Shen Rongzhi, but only used her to create momentum in the capital, then where did the jade pendant come from?
This jade pendant was a gift from her personally, and Shen Rongzhi always wore it close to his body.
Is she really a good person?
In her previous life, when she stayed briefly at the Meng family mansion in the capital, Geng Qionghua was renowned among the noble ladies for her virtue and kindness. Only later did she vaguely realize that the other party was using her as a "widow" to portray himself as a person of loyalty and righteousness...
She gradually distanced herself from her...
Dongrou asked doubtfully, "But I just wrote a letter asking my lord to return home, and he's clearly still alive. If he sees this archway, he'll be furious, and might even kick Lady Geng out."
"They won't."
Lu Zhaoruo said calmly.
Dong Rou asked, puzzled, "Why is that?"
Lu Zhaoruo knew Zhang Shi and Shen Qingshu all too well.
Why would anyone refuse such a reputation? Why would anyone turn down a reward of five hundred taels of silver? Not to mention that those who receive commendation can also have their taxes reduced.
In their past lives, they knew their son was not dead, yet they still accepted the memorial archway and used it to manipulate themselves.
Even if Shen Rongzhi returns home in two months, given their greed, they will definitely take her without hesitation. Not only will they hide the fact that their son has returned home, but they will also come looking for her...
Sure enough, footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.
Lu Zhaoruo immediately lay back down on the couch.
Dongrou quickly lowered the bed curtains.
Zhang covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, stood at the door, and said, "Madam Lu, Madam Geng has come all the way from the capital to visit you..."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but laugh: "She even brought a 'chastity arch' bestowed by the emperor!"
Lu Zhaoruo coughed: "Aunt...but...my husband isn't dead..."
"shut up!"
Madam Zhang scolded sternly, then lowered her voice: "Foolish woman! This is an imperial archway, and there's a reward of five hundred taels of silver! Madam Geng traveled a long way to get it. If we refuse, what will she think? Anyway, she'll be back in the capital in two days. How will she know what happens after that? When Rong-ge'er comes back, just say that Madam Geng made a mistake."
Dongrou then understood why her wife had said, "They won't."
That's incredibly greedy!
Zhang warned again, "She's resting now, she'll come to see you later. If you dare to let anything slip..."
Lu Zhaoruo coughed as she replied, "Daughter-in-law understands."
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