"Lord Lu, remember to send back everything that was taken from this room. Not a single item can be missing. As for that three hundred taels of silver, that was my compensation for all these years. If it isn't returned, I will ask Prince Jin to accompany me to report this to the authorities tomorrow..."
Lu Zhaoling's voice drifted into Lu Ming's ears like a debt-collecting ghost.
He knew she would actually do it!
"Your mother was only thinking of helping you! Your personality is too solitary. This time, you've fallen out with Yun'er, Yue'er, and Zhaohua. She only took those things because she wanted to send small gifts to your sisters in your name, hoping to repair your sisterly bonds!"
Lu Ming gripped his wife's wrist tightly, preventing her from speaking recklessly again.
"We are all one family; we should get along! Once you are married, your natal family will be your support. A person cannot live well in this world if they are isolated and helpless. No one taught you these principles before..."
Before Lu Ming could finish his speech, Lu Zhaoling interrupted him with a sharp click of her tongue.
"You think I believe that? Return every single item without exception. Stop talking nonsense."
"Since you refuse to get along with your family, then have it your way!"
With a darkened face, Lu Ming dragged his wife out the door.
"Lord Lu sure is quick-witted, being able to come up with such an excuse on the fly." Qingyin and Qingbao felt they had truly seen something new today.
"I always thought I was quite thick-skinned, but compared to this couple, I must admit I'm still a step behind," Lu Zhaoling said, touching her own cheek.
"Miss, will they really send the things back?" Qingbao asked.
"They will." Lu Zhaoling was certain. She laughed. "I've been waving the banner of Prince Jin around quite vigorously lately, and it works quite well."
"Would they even send the three hundred taels of silver?"
"Mhm. Not a single copper coin can be missing."
Sure enough, just as Lu Zhaoling predicted, it wasn't long before Housekeeper Hu delivered the items. Along with them was exactly three hundred taels of silver.
"Qingyin, Qingbao, check everything carefully. See if anything is broken or stained." As Lu Zhaoling spoke, she crooked a finger at the housekeeper. "Bring the silver here."
The housekeeper held the three hundred taels before her with both hands.
"The Second Young Miss is truly formidable."
Lu Zhaoling picked up a silver ingot and gave it a gentle shake in front of him.
The housekeeper's gaze involuntarily followed the movement of the silver, and he even reached out his hand as if to receive it.
He was the one who delivered the goods; at a time like this, if Lu Zhaoling knew how to handle social graces, she should give him a small reward.
She had already been so arrogant in front of the master and madam; she should take a step back now at least one step to win over a housekeeper like him.
Surely she didn't want to be surrounded by enemies on all sides?
But just as the silver ingot was about to be set down, Lu Zhaoling withdrew her hand.
"I am naturally very formidable, I don't need you to tell me that." Lu Zhaoling tossed the silver back onto the tray and let out a chuckle.
She was playing with him!
A surge of fury rushed to Housekeeper Hu's head.
That was like teasing a dog!
She had never intended to give him a tip!
"Second Young Miss!"
"Housekeeper, why are you shouting so loudly? Is it because your son is so gravely ill that your mood is poor? If you're too tired and truly can't handle the work of a housekeeper, I can suggest to Lord Lu that he find someone else."
"There is no need for the Second Young Miss to worry! Dali is fine, and I am not tired!"
The housekeeper suppressed his rage and turned to leave.
Even the master and madam had lost to her; how could he dare to go head-to-head? The Second Young Miss was truly far too arrogant now, relying on her status as Prince Jin's fiancée!
However, how did she know Dali was gravely ill?
Lu Zhaoling watched the housekeeper leave, her eyes flashing slightly.
A few days ago, when they had a conflict, the housekeeper's son, Hu Dali, had been overcome with lust and reached out to touch Qingbao's chest. Lu Zhaoling had channeled a bit of malevolent energy into his arm to teach him a lesson.
If he could have endured it, the arm would have only hurt for a few days. He would have lived in the terror that his "hand was ruined" for a while, and it would have healed after ten days or half a month.
But if they continued to court death in various ways, that might not be the case.
Lu Zhaoling had long since put the matter out of her mind, but the housekeeper's physiognomy just now had reminded her.
His face had changed, and his hands were tainted with a few hints of resentful energy. It likely wasn't an evil he committed himself, but most likely something Hu Dali had done.
"Qingyin, go and find out what Hu Dali has been up to these past few days," Lu Zhaoling said.
Though Qingyin found it strange, she immediately nodded and went out.
Qingbao finished inspecting the items.
"Miss, everything that was lost has been returned."
Lu Zhaoling gave an affirmative grunt and stood up. "I'm going to sleep. You and Qingyin take one silver ingot each to play with; put the rest away."
Miss had just handed them a reward of fifty taels on a whim!
One silver ingot was fifty taels!
How long had they been following the Miss? If this continued for a year, wouldn't they become two little wealthy ladies?
Qingbao answered and hurriedly packed the things away before retreating.
The next morning, when Lu Zhaoling woke up, Qingyin spoke about what she had discovered while combing her hair.
"Miss, that Hu Dali has been resting for quite a few days. I heard the housekeeper rented a house outside, and Hu Dali has been staying there instead of returning to the Lu Manor.
Several of the kitchen maids secretly told me that the housekeeper has been stealing a lot of food from the kitchen to take back. They said the portions are quite large, not looking like the amount one person would eat."
"Did you find out where the rented house is?" Lu Zhaoling asked.
She hadn't intended to interfere, but Hu Dali's hand problem was caused by her, which was why he hadn't returned to the Lu Manor. If he had committed some sin during these few days, there would be a trace of Karma linked to her if one calculated carefully.
Of course, she was only going to take a look. If she took everything upon herself, she would be exhausted to death.
Back when she was in the Xuanmen, there were plenty of people in the surrounding villages who were indirectly linked to her through Karma; she couldn't possibly manage every single thing.
The main reason was that she had calculated that she would encounter a bit of wealth energy if she went out today.
What should be collected must be collected.
She also wanted to ask around about that seal she had obtained previously.
"I found out the location."
"Then we'll go for a stroll after breakfast." She also wanted to see the streets of the Imperial Capital; she hadn't explored them yet.
"Yes."
Lu Zhaoling headed out after finishing her breakfast.
Once she knew Lu Zhaoling was gone, Madam Lu finally crawled out of bed. She and Lu Ming had argued all night, and her head was throbbing painfully today.
"How are the Eldest Young Miss and Third Young Miss doing today?" Madam Lu asked weakly, still worried about her daughters.
"The Third Young Miss's fever has broken, but she was talking in her sleep all night and hasn't woken up yet. The Eldest Young Miss has been crying since she got up."
Neither of her two daughters was doing well, yet Lu Zhaoling was perfectly fine and had dug another three hundred taels out of them last night!
Madam Lu was furious. She hadn't found a single cent of Lu Zhaoling's money, yet she had been bled for a fortune instead. Her heart ached terribly.
"This won't do. Yun'er's marriage cannot be delayed any longer. Isn't Lu Zhaoling just relying on Prince Jin's influence? We must make sure Yun'er marries the Second Prince!"
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