Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 545 - 0507 Apologize (2)

Liu Jinbao and Liu Yinbao both looked at Liu Er, "Father..."

Liu Er stepped aside, "Since Granny Lou says so, then please go ahead." He called his two sons over, "We have a clear conscience and fear no shadows."

The three Liu family men stepped aside.

Lady Lou glanced at them and led her people into the courtyard.

Someone brought a chair and placed it in the courtyard, and Lady Lou sat down calmly.

Nanny Gui led people to search room by room.

They first searched the upside-down room of the Liu family father and sons but found nothing.

Inside the father’s three-person room, there were only three small beds, a small cabinet, a table, four chairs, a few semi-new clothes, and some personal items, nothing more.

The total value of the items in the room was less than a hundred taels of silver.

The two rooms in the west wing were empty, unoccupied. Nanny Gui glanced inside from the doorway and then withdrew.

She led the group towards the east wing.

Liu Er said, "That is our Erlang’s bedroom."

He blocked the entrance, not allowing Nanny Gui to proceed with the search.

Nanny Gui sneered, "No matter whose it is, it’s better to search, lest someone suspects Li Erlang, isn’t it? That would be unpleasant."

Lady Lou also said, "Between relatives, it’s better to avoid misunderstandings. To prevent the servants from gossiping, I think it’s better to search. Li Erlang didn’t take anything, so he shouldn’t fear the search, right?"

Liu Jinbao and Liu Yinbao puffed their faces, full of defiance.

Liu Er frowned and stepped aside, "Please go ahead."

Nanny Gui gave a cold snort and unceremoniously pushed the door open.

Upon entering, Nanny Gui immediately noticed a small white jade screen on the desk.

This small screen was actually a pen holder.

It had six panels, with fan-shaped sides on both ends, and two empty panels in the middle hanging brushes.

Aside from that, Nanny Gui also spotted a paperweight, which looked quite familiar.

Nanny Gui’s eyes brightened, she picked up the two items from the desk and brought them to the courtyard to show Lady Lou, "Young Madam, we found these two items."

Lady Lou laughed, "Aren’t these things from the master’s room? Why are they here?"

Nanny Gui acted arrogantly and asked Liu Er angrily, "I’m asking you, why are these here?"

Liu Er shook his head, "I don’t know, Erlang brought them back."

Lady Lou laughed more, "So, you’re saying your Li Erlang brought them from our master’s room?"

Liu Er raised an eyebrow, "Granny Lou, your words make it sound like you’re accusing Li Erlang of being a thief."

Lady Lou laughed, "I never said that, the thief talk comes from you." Her expression changed, and she shouted at those beside her, "We found these two items, there might be more. Go search elsewhere carefully!"

"Yes, Eldest Young Madam."

A few people grabbed lanterns and rushed towards the small building in the North Courtyard.

Just then, a few people emerged from a side hall.

"What is happening here?" One of them demanded with an authoritative voice.

The first servant to rush over was so frightened that he trembled and collapsed to the ground, "M... Master..."

"What are you doing here? What is going on?" Another coldly reprimanded.

"Y... Young Master..."

All the servants’ faces turned pale with fright.

They fell to their knees with a succession of thuds.

"I don’t understand, why are you in my house?" Li Xingsheng’s gaze swept over the Lou family’s servants lightly, with a half-smile.

"Chunniang! What are you doing here?" Mr. Lou, seeing Lady Lou sitting comfortably on a chair ahead, became furious.

Father said he wanted to stroll and see the night view of the market in the evening, calling for him to dress casually and join for a walk.

As they walked, they turned into this alley, seeing Li Xingsheng standing at the mansion gate talking to servants.

Li Xingsheng invited both of them inside to tour the mansion and have some tea.

They had barely finished a cup of tea when they heard the commotion outside.

Well, it turned out his wife had brought a crowd of servants to cause trouble.

Lady Lou was utterly perplexed, why were her husband and master in the brother of the Li family’s small mansion?

Startled, she hurried over, "M... Master, husband."

The others, similarly terrified, scrambled hurriedly, "Master, Young Master."

"What is going on here? Hmm?" Prefect Lou’s face was dark, he glanced at Lady Lou, then coldly looked at the others.

Lady Lou dared not speak and glanced at Nanny Gui by her side.

Nanny Gui was still holding the two "pieces of evidence" gathered from Li Xingsheng’s room.

Nanny Gui mustered her courage, "Reporting to Master, something went missing in the manor, and the madam ordered the young mistress to lead a search. After searching the manor without finding anything, we came to search the servants living outside the manor. The three Liu family men staying at Li Erlang’s residence had visited the manor before, so we also searched here and found items from the mansion."

Nanny Gui handed over the two pieces of evidence.

"Hmph! Is this the evidence you found?" Prefect Lou’s expression became even darker, "This was a gift I gave to Li Erlang!"

What? A gift?

Lady Lou and Nanny Gui were taken aback.

Why was Master so generous, giving a jade pen holder to a country fellow?

Lady Lou couldn’t understand.

Mr. Lou glanced at Prefect Lou and sternly reprimanded Lady Lou, "Chunniang, aren’t you going to quickly apologize to Li Erlang?"

Apologize? Lady Lou was unwilling, standing in silence.

Prefect Lou’s face grew even more displeased, "You led people and barged into Li Erlang’s residence without reason, accusing him of being a thief. If Li Erlang pursues this, Mrs. Wei, you’ll face charges."

Lady Lou was taken aback; she never expected her father-in-law to speak on behalf of an outsider.

Lady Lou was unconvinced and looked at Mr. Lou.

But Mr. Lou didn’t aid her, instead urging her to apologize.

Lady Lou had no choice but to apologize to Li Xingsheng, "I was unaware that the items in Li Erlang’s house were gifts from Master. Please forgive me, Li Erlang, today was truly a misunderstanding."

Mr. Lou said coldly, "There are a few more items in this house. Should we check them all together?"

Having been reprimanded by her own husband, Lady Lou’s face turned red and white alternately.

She was angry inside but had no words to counter.

Li Xingsheng looked over at the servants of the Lou Family and said graciously, "Perhaps it’s a misunderstanding, let this matter go."

"Everyone return, this will not happen again!" Prefect Lou said coldly.

It was a step down gracefully, and Lady Lou lowered her head, "Yes, Master."

She glanced at the surrounding servants and left in embarrassment.

The other servants quickly followed and ran away.

Nanny Gui placed the two items on the ground, frightened, turned, and ran, afraid of being caught and punished.

Li Xingsheng called over Liu Er, "Keep the items safe.".

Liu Er took the jade screen hanging pen and paperweight and placed them back in Li Xingsheng’s room.

Prefect Lou then consoled Li Xingsheng, "Li Erlang, don’t be angry. When I return, I will surely reprimand the people in the house properly."

Li Xingsheng smiled slightly, "Lord Prefect, it was just a small misunderstanding; there’s no need to alarm everyone in the house. Besides, the New Year is coming in a few days, let’s turn big issues into small ones, and small ones into nothing."

His magnanimity made Prefect Lou feel ashamed.

.

Lady Lou returned to the residence and immediately went to see Lady Lou.

"Has Mother slept?" Lady Lou said irritably.

Did Mother-in-law know that Master had given things to Li Family’s brother?

Today, she went to search for items and happened to run into Master and her husband. If it weren’t for outsiders present, considering Master’s temper, she would surely have been punished.

The maid said, "Eldest Young Madam, Madam is not asleep yet."

Lady Lou reclined on the couch, looking at the New Year’s Eve menu. Hearing her voice, she put down the list and instructed the maid to invite Lady Lou in.

Lady Lou stormed into the room and immediately said, "Mother, your daughter-in-law barely made it back."

Lady Lou looked at her angry face and raised an eyebrow, "What does Chunniang mean by this?"

Lady Lou replied indignantly, "I went to Li Family’s brother’s house and found Master and Dalang there. They said that the items in Li Family’s brother’s house were gifts from Master. Master and my husband scolded me severely."

Lady Lou was surprised, "What? Master gave them? Why would Master give Li Family’s brother anything?" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Lady Lou chuckled, "Mother, how would I know?"

Lady Lou went over and held her hand, "Alright, I know you’ve been wronged. I’ll talk to Master and Dalang later."

After comforting her for a while, Lady Lou managed to persuade Lady Lou to leave.

Lady Lou sat back in her chair, pondering this matter when a maid came to report, "Madam, Master is here."

Lady Lou was about to say "Please come in," when the door curtain swung open, and Prefect Lou walked in.

His face didn’t look very pleasant.

Lady Lou’s heart skipped a beat.

"Master..."

Prefect Lou glanced at the two maids in the room and said sternly, "Leave, I need to discuss something with Madam."

The maids wisely withdrew and closed the door.

Lady Lou handed a hand-warmer to Prefect Lou and said calmly, "I heard from the eldest daughter-in-law that Master was just at Li Family’s brother’s house? What kind of skill does Li Family’s brother have to make Master repeatedly send items and personally visit?"

After speaking, she let out a mocking laugh.

Prefect Lou sat on a chair opposite her, looking at her coldly, "Your temper will cause trouble sooner or later!"

Lady Lou raised an eyebrow, "Master, if you have something to say, just say it!"