Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 897: Yuan Family People

Steward Yue nodded, "Mm, let’s leave now. We must exit the city today, first heading to Zeshan County to take shelter where the Zheng Family’s separate yard is located. The Lai Family won’t be able to break in, Brother Lian has already reached out to the Zheng Family for us."

This Brother Lian is a fellow townsman of Steward Yue, currently serving as a guest at the Zheng Family. He has helped them connect with the Zheng Family, and they can go to Jiangnan Jinling Prefecture and rely on them.

"We must hurry and leave. If they react, we won’t be able to escape." Steward Yue quickly changed into more convenient clothes and spoke to his wife.

Lady Yue became tense upon hearing this: "Are you saying Lord Lai will..."

Steward Yue nodded, "Yes, that’s why we must hurry."

He had followed Lord Lai for many years and knew many of his secrets. Lord Lai was taken aback by Gu Chengzhi’s condition of dementia and madness, and only let Steward Yue go in his momentary shock without reacting. If he were to remember, Steward Yue and his family would lose not just their chance to leave, but their lives to the Lai Family.

Seeing his wife’s fear, Steward Yue added: "You needn’t be too afraid; in exchange, that family has promised to help us stall the Lai Family People."

He referred to Gu Jinli’s house.

Lady Yue felt slightly more at ease upon hearing this.

Steward Yue’s family hurriedly changed clothes, took only silver notes and valuable jewelry, along with Lady Yue’s precious dowry, and fled with their son and daughter in their self-bought mule cart, all in less than forty-five minutes.

Before leaving, Steward Yue had a servant in the yard send a letter to Lady Lai.

After reading the letter, Lady Lai called over Second Young Master Lai’s family and handed them the letter to read: "Steward Yue is gone. You should also make plans early."

She was not too concerned. If Lai Zhi truly had issues, she would not die, merely retire to a temple to spend her remaining days.

But the situation was different for the second son’s family. If Lai Zhi were implicated, leaving aside the second son’s wife, Lai Er would definitely be sentenced by association.

Second Young Master Lai held the letter and said, "Madam, there’s nothing much in this, right?"

The letter, written in Yue Chong’s tone, informed them that Lord Lai’s prior misdeeds were about to be exposed. Yue Chong, not wishing them any harm by association, left them the letter before departing, advising them to leave Lord Lai early lest they be implicated.

Yet, since ancient times, officials of every dynasty have never been clean-handed; there would always be something. Such warnings were not the first, and Second Young Master Lai felt even if someone targeted Lord Lai, past misdeeds wouldn’t be revealed.

His father wasn’t a fool; he would clean up after himself.

Lady Lai remarked, "I used to think so too, but ever since your father met with the group from the Old Gu Family, he’s become increasingly muddled. Now even Steward Yue has escaped; if truly targeted, does he have the ability to retaliate?"

Pausing, she continued, "Don’t think that noble can assist your father... To speak boldly, the fact that noble can support your father shows he has no future. Your father is already sixty and should have retired long ago, yet the noble, due to your aunt’s connection, employs him. Such thinking is truly incapable of undertaking substantial responsibilities."

Can Lord Lai claim Jiangnan, this granary? Estimating a move, Lord Lai wouldn’t live long enough for reassignment before meeting his end.

"You better plan ahead, and also advise your maternal family to sever ties with the Bao Family, lest they be implicated by them. Our Emperor is in the prime of his life, having just welcomed a new prince recently, and with a concubine pregnant in the harem. If he learns that noble is laying plans behind his back, do you think the Emperor will spare him?"

The current Emperor is notorious for his violent and possessive nature, tolerating no coveting of his belongings. Anyone daring to seize things during his lifetime would face his wrath; even his own sons are no exception.

Lady Lai said all there was to say, and after she finished, she didn’t wait for Second Young Master Lai’s decision, instead sent the family away.

The second son’s wife was very frightened and upon returning to their quarter in their yard, she asked Lai Er: "Husband, what should we do... And will the Emperor truly act against him? Even though not born of the Empress, he is still the firstborn."

Second Young Master Lai was also terrified; what Lady Lai revealed today was too alarming, causing him to pace to and fro in the room, truly clueless about what to do.

After a moment, he said, "I’ll inform father of this matter; in the end, he is my father. Not saying a word would be unfilial and unrighteous."

The second son’s wife nodded upon hearing this.

...

Lord Lai had already realized and summoned Zhu Liu: "Go inform Lao Ba, have him shadow Yue Chong’s family, and make a move on the road if they depart the Prefecture. Do it discreetly to avoid suspicion falling on the Lai Family."

For such tasks, Lao Ba and his group were indeed the most adept.

"Yes." Zhu Liu immediately went to deliver the message to Zhu Ba, but upon Zhu Ba and his men returning to the Vice Magistrate’s office, they learned Steward Yue’s family had already left, prompting them to swiftly pursue.

However, they encountered the group that had always been entangled with them and were tricked by them, completely unaware of which direction Steward Yue’s family had gone.

Second Young Master Lai went to find Lord Lai with the letter.

Upon reading the letter, Lord Lai was shocked, but soon regained composure: "There’s no need to panic. Yue Chong might know some things, but he lacks evidence."

After all, he wasn’t foolish and had already destroyed the evidence.

Upon hearing this, Second Young Master Lai sighed with relief: "That’s good, son has been worried all along."

Lord Lai had previously looked down upon Second Young Master Lai for failing to achieve official position and fathering a son, but now with Pan Shuangniang’s offspring having failed, he saw the second son in a much better light.

This was his good son, born from his official wife’s legitimate line.

Lord Lai kept Second Young Master Lai at his side to work together, moving Second Young Master Lai to feel finally recognized as truly his son.

Upon leaving the government office, the father and son returned home together.

Lady Lai, upon hearing this, shook her head. She had assisted in every possible way, and if Second Young Master was sentimentally attached to his father and refused to leave the Lai Family, future troubles couldn’t be blamed on her, their stepmother.

However, Lady Lai had deep affection for the two daughters of Second Young Master Lai and invited the second son’s wife to advise her: "I know your relationship with Second Young Master is good, but you, as a mother, must leave a path for your daughters. Send a letter to your maternal family, have them prepare early. If the Lai Family truly encounters trouble, let your maternal family help separate you, and take your daughters back to preserve at least one life."

The second son’s wife, already deeply afraid, agreed without much hesitation upon hearing this.

Lord Lai, upon discovering what Lady Lai had done, was furious, storming into her yard and striking her twice: "You poisonous woman, what did you tell Second Young Master and his wife? You’re pushing them away from me, are you?"

Lady Lai laughed and ask him, "You care about Second Young Master’s family only now; don’t you think it’s too late?"

Because of these words, she received another slap from Lord Lai.

Lady Lai did not cry; she simply reminded him: "You know what you’ve done. If you truly cherish Second Young Master’s family, you should make plans for them early, rather than watching them die with you."

Lord Lai cursed: "What plans? I, Lai Zhi, have climbed up to nobility. I’ll have a successful official career; they will only enjoy fortunes following me!"

Unfortunately, mere days after he said this, on the evening of March 18, Yuan Family People were escorted into He’an Prefecture.