Chapter 76 Kowtowing is one thing, but the person still has to be sued.
Shen Rongzhi and Lin Yingyu were both completely stunned.
They never expected Shen Qingshu to say such a thing, let alone actually force Zhang to kneel down in public.
Shen Rongzhi's face drained of color, and he rushed forward, 'Father! How could you...'
"You wretch! Shut up!"
Shen Qingshu interrupted him directly, his eyes blazing with anger: "All this trouble today is because of your ingratitude and betrayal of Zhaoruo! It's also your mother's fault for neglecting to discipline you, letting you run wild! Her kneeling is only right!"
Gu Xian lightly waved his folding fan, a playful glint in his eyes, appearing as if he were watching a fire from across the river.
Xiao Yeming's face remained somber, his gaze fixed on Lu Zhaoruo, his eyes filled with guilt...
Outside the door.
The four men disguised as 'servants' peeked in.
"kneel!"
Shen Qingshu shouted again in a stern voice.
Zhang trembled all over, tears welled up in her eyes, her body shook, her lips trembled, and finally, she slowly bent her knees and knelt on the ground.
Lu Zhaoruo stood ramrod straight, looking down coldly at Zhang Shi.
Memories flashed before my eyes.
Those biting sarcasm, harsh harassment, and merciless beatings and scoldings...
The once high and mighty "aunt" is now groveling at her feet.
Seeing that Lu Zhaoruo showed no intention of stopping her, and even seemed to enjoy the moment she knelt down, Zhang gritted her teeth, feeling a surge of humiliation and resentment.
Shen Qingshu put on an apologetic and earnest smile and said gently, "Zhaoruo, your aunt has admitted her mistake and knelt down to acknowledge it, so that counts. Please don't be angry anymore. Today's events are all due to the Shen family's wrongdoings towards you. We will definitely make amends in the future and never let you suffer any more grievances."
He paused briefly, looked at Shen Rongzhi, and his tone turned stern: "As for this wretched child, I will make him kowtow to you every day to apologize, and from now on he will restrain his mind and nature, abide by the husband's authority, respect you and value you, and live a peaceful life with you."
Then, his gaze swept over Lin Yingyu: "This mistress... if you are willing to agree, then give her a title and allow her to enter the household as a concubine. From now on, she will serve you with the etiquette of a maid and concubine every day, and you can discipline and control her as you see fit. Any children she gives birth to, whether male or female, will be registered under your name and raised and educated by you personally. They will be filial to you in the future and will take care of you in your old age and see you off in your final days."
Lu Zhaoruo had a faint smile on her lips, but remained silent.
Gu Xian chuckled softly to himself, muttering, "What a thick skin."
Shen Qingshu continued, "Zhaoruo, in the end, we are family. Now that Rongzhi has returned and realized his mistakes, it is a joyous occasion and should be celebrated. Why ruin our family harmony and make ourselves a laughingstock for a disreputable mistress?"
He sighed deeply, his gaze unusually kind: "You and Rongzhi grew up together since childhood, inseparable while studying and writing, and your friendship is deep. Over the years, you have managed the family business for him and served your parents. Your father and your aunt have seen and remembered your kindness."
“Rongzhi… he was just confused for a moment, bewitched by that lowly maid. You have always been virtuous and generous, so please forgive him this time, okay?”
Lu Zhaoruo found these "sincere" words so hypocritical that they were laughable; to believe even a fraction of them would be utter folly.
Her gaze swept lightly over Shen Rongzhi and Lin Yingyu, lingering for a moment on Lin Yingyu's bulging pregnant belly, before turning to Shen Qingshu with a gentle smile and a clear, soft voice: "Not good."
With just two words, Shen Qingshu felt as if he had been slapped twice across the face.
His kind and benevolent expression vanished instantly, and his face suddenly darkened...
What a formidable family, the Lu family!
I really underestimated her!
Lin Yingyu was already displeased with Shen Qingshu's words, and now she frowned even more... She hadn't expected that the Lu family was so difficult to deal with.
Shen Rongzhi's eyes were moist and red as she stared blankly at Lu Zhaoruo.
She is so resolute now.
Can three years really change a person?
Zhang realized she had knelt in vain, and was instantly enraged. She abruptly stood up and was about to slap Lu Zhaoruo across the face...
The next second.
A tea lid shot towards us.
With a crisp "snap".
It slammed heavily onto Zhang's raised hand.
"ah……"
She cried out in pain, immediately clutched her hand, and bent over in agony.
Gu Xian stared blankly at his empty teacup...
The tea lid had mysteriously disappeared.
Then he looked at Xiao Yeming beside him.
Brother Xiao, could you please give me a heads-up?
Lu Zhaoruo turned around calmly and bowed to Xiao Yeming, saying, "I trouble Commander Xiao to escort them to the state government office. I... have prepared the petition."
When Zhang heard that she was going to take her son, whom she cherished as her own life, to court and even said to "prepare the complaint," she immediately became like a mad tiger, screaming, "What did you say? You actually want to sue my son?"
Lu Zhaoruo's tone was calm but resolute: "I will not only sue Shen Rongzhi and Lin Yingyu, but also you two elders."
Zhang was trembling with anger: "What are you going to sue me for? I'll sue you for being disobedient and disrespectful to your parents-in-law!"
Lu Zhaoruo smiled slightly: "Then let's go to the state government office together and see whether you can win the case against me or I can win the case against you."
Her gaze suddenly turned cold: "Every penny I've worked so hard to earn over the past three years, have you secretly sent it overseas to support your son who committed the crime of 'marrying another woman while already having a wife,' and his mistress?"
She stepped forward, her voice clear and bright: "Does your actions comply with the law of 'children and grandchildren having separate household registrations and property while their parents are alive' in the Criminal Code? It is clearly a deliberate violation, condoning your child's crime."
After a brief pause, her gaze swept over Zhang's pale face, and she softly added, "By the way, that temple keeper at the City God Temple... Auntie should know him very well, right?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingshu and Zhang were struck dumb, as if by lightning.
Lin Yingyu stepped forward, her chin slightly raised: "How could you go to such lengths? How could you be so cold-blooded... The two elders are already old, how could you bear to force them to court?"
Lu Zhaoruo turned to look at Lin Yingyu, her gaze cold and frosty: "I also want to sue you! A concubine insulting the principal wife is to disrupt the family; assaulting an official of the court is to commit treason! Do you know what the consequences will be if you are punished for both crimes?"
Lin Yingyu didn't understand any of these nonsensical crimes, and even if they were crimes, she wasn't afraid at all.
Instead, she took out a gold-inlaid jade hairpin from her sleeve and put it in her hair!
Zhang forced herself to remain calm and sneered, "Go ahead and sue us! Our Shen family is officially recognized as 'loyal merchants' by the government. If you had been lenient and forgiving, you might have shared in the rewards. But since you are so unfilial and unjust, and insist on taking this to court, then we'll go together!"
Lu Zhaoruo smiled gently and walked slowly closer: "Zhongshang?"
She feigned curiosity, "Will the reward be ten thousand strings of copper, three thousand acres of land, and a permission for one of my sons to study at the Imperial Academy?"
Zhang proudly raised her head: "Of course."
Lu Zhaoruo continued, "In that case, the Shen family will become the most prominent family in Jizhou City, and their descendants will serve as officials in the court, wearing scarlet and purple robes, right?"
Zhang glanced at her, her voice laced with arrogance: "Of course."
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