The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 726 - 688: Bringing Her Home (17th Update)
The smile on Wen Wan’s face slowly faded as she looked at her seriously, "Did you have a fight with Brother Bin earlier?"
Upon Wen Wan’s words, Mrs. Xiao Liu no longer pretended and said with a bitter smile, "Since our wedding, how few times have I argued with him? He never gives me a good face for the sake of that woman."
"And this time?" Wen Wan asked, "Does Aunt Su’s death have anything to do with you?"
Mrs. Xiao Liu did not answer but asked instead, "Sister Wan, do you believe me?"
"Of course, I believe you wouldn’t harm someone’s life, but on my way here, I heard Mrs. Lin say that Brother Bin has some evidence and firmly believes it’s you." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
"I never thought of taking Aunt Su’s life." Mrs. Xiao Liu lowered her eyes, her expression dim, "I haven’t given birth, but as a woman, I can tell by looking that her illness dragged on too long; she didn’t have many days left. Mrs. Liu came with my dowry and was valued by me, so her pride was higher. The young master asked her to serve a concubine, and whether she felt humiliated or wanted to vent for me, she tampered with Aunt Su’s soup and medicine for several months. By last night, Aunt Su couldn’t hold on; she closed her eyes and was gone. The young master was the first to suspect her and immediately had her taken away for severe interrogation. The old maid was quite honest and confessed to everything she did, repeatedly stressing it had nothing to do with me. The young master is suspicious by nature, especially when it concerns the life of his beloved concubine. How could he not suspect me? Without a word, he slapped me first."
At this point, Mrs. Xiao Liu covered the left side of her face, her voice eerily calm, "It got to the old madam, and she also said I couldn’t have harmed Aunt Su, but he wouldn’t listen and insisted I give an explanation."
She didn’t cry while saying this, and Wen Wan felt that Mrs. Xiao Liu’s tears had probably dried up when she wasn’t looking.
"So what are you going to do?"
"I don’t know." Mrs. Xiao Liu shook her head, "I want to go back to my family’s house for a couple of days, but I’m afraid of being scolded by my father. Staying here feels like every day lasts a year."
Wen Wan pondered for a moment and suggested, "Why not this, don’t go back to your family, come to our house. The garden there is almost finished, you can go to relax and also spend the Dragon Boat Festival with us."
Mrs. Xiao Liu was somewhat tempted by her words but still hesitated, "Wouldn’t it be inappropriate to just go like that?"
"What’s inappropriate?" Wen Wan said, "Unless you don’t consider me family, otherwise, I’ll tell the old madam, and she won’t refuse."
Hearing this, Mrs. Xiao Liu finally perked up, "Then I’ll really go."
"Hurry and pack, I’ll go with you to notify the old madam. If she stops us, I’ll say I won’t come to your house again."
As the two entered Furong Courtyard, Mrs. Xiao Liu’s main maid Hong Xiang came over and reported, "Young Madam, all the steward wives are waiting outside, asking when they can come in to report."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Xiao Liu’s face, which was just smiling, turned cold, "Let them go find the young master."
Hong Xiang saw Mrs. Xiao Liu’s displeasure, pursed her lips, and went out to instruct a few words, so the steward wives indeed went to Feixue Courtyard to find Lu Yanbin.
Su Dai was just a concubine and not qualified to be buried in the Lu Family’s ancestral grave. Lu Yanbin had to plead hard for the old madam to agree to give her a thin coffin.
The burial was just proceeding when a group of steward wives came in.
Lu Yanbin’s face turned black immediately, "What are you doing here?"
The lead steward wife said, "Young Master, today’s events haven’t been resolved. We just went to see the Young Madam, and she told us to find you."
Lu Yanbin frowned deeper, "What?"
He didn’t listen to what the steward wives said afterwards and strode towards Furong Courtyard. Upon entering, he saw Mrs. Xiao Liu packing things, with two bundles already on the table.
Lu Yanbin’s expression was heavy, "What are you doing?"
Mrs. Xiao Liu bent over to continue packing, not even lifting her head, as if she hadn’t heard Lu Yanbin, as if unaware of his presence.
Wen Wan, sitting on a round-backed chair, saw this and laughed, "I heard someone doesn’t value a wife gained through legitimate marriage. I do, so I’m taking her to live with us."
Seeing Wen Wan also there, Lu Yanbin immediately softened his tone, "Good sister, please don’t joke around. How can she go to your house?"
"Our house isn’t a dragon’s den or tiger’s lair, how is it she can’t?" Wen Wan gave him a sidelong glance and playfully scolded, "Favoring a concubine over a wife and hitting your wife, you’ll have difficulties in the future."
Lu Yanbin listened, and his eyes darkened as he glanced at Mrs. Xiao Liu.
Was she trying to make their private matters public by telling everyone?
Mrs. Xiao Liu completely ignored Lu Yanbin’s unfriendly gaze, and after ensuring she packed all the spare clothes, she turned to Wen Wan, "Sister Wan, let’s go." Remembering something, she called out, "Hong Xiang, are the cherries packed for the Commandery Princess ready?"
Through the emerald screen, Hong Xiang’s voice came in, "They are ready, placed on the table for the lady to see when she comes out."
Mrs. Xiao Liu nodded and said once more to Wen Wan, "Sister Wan, let’s go."
Wen Wan took one of the bundles from her and slung it over her shoulder, "Let’s go see the old madam first, or she’ll accuse me of abducting someone from your family."
"Alright." Mrs. Xiao Liu nodded.
Lu Yanbin couldn’t stop them and could only watch helplessly. Especially when Mrs. Xiao Liu stepped over the threshold, his handsome face darkened as if coated with ink.
Wen Wan looked back at Lu Yanbin standing there blankly and chuckled lightly before turning her head back.
The sisters-in-law headed to the old madam’s room, where she was still in good spirits, and a maid who could sing a few lines was performing "The Drunken Concubine" for her.
The old madam listened pleasantly, seemingly having forgotten the mess between Lu Yanbin and Mrs. Xiao Liu.
Seeing Wen Wan bring Mrs. Xiao Liu in, and noticing they both held bundles, the old madam was a bit confused, "What are you two doing?"
Wen Wan said, "Grandmother, Shuyuan has been in a gloomy mood these past days, so I thought I’d bring her back with me to stay at our place for a while. When she feels better, I’ll send her back to you, okay?"
The old madam initially thought about who would manage the house if Mrs. Xiao Liu left, but upon recalling that her eldest grandson even hit his wife, Mrs. Xiao Liu must be feeling terrible, and she wouldn’t have the energy to manage the household. It might be better for her to go and clear her mind to avoid constant quarreling with Brother Bin like cat and mouse, with no end in sight.
The old madam had no idea how many headaches she’d gotten that morning from the uproar over Su Dai’s death.
Thinking of this, she sighed, "Alright then, go with your Sister Wan, have fun, and after a while, I’ll have Brother Bin personally come to fetch you."
Mrs. Xiao Liu nodded in agreement, but she understood in her heart that he would never personally come to fetch her. If it weren’t for her being handpicked by the old madam, Lu Yanbin would probably have long since given her a Divorce Letter.
Such a marriage truly felt exhausting.
After bidding farewell to the old madam, Mrs. Xiao Liu followed Wen Wan outside when Rongrong suddenly chased after them with a red lacquered box full of freshly picked cherries from that morning. Through the carved cover, the sweet fragrance of the fruit could be smelled.
Rongrong handed the box to her, "Commandery Princess, this is what the old madam wanted you to take."
Wen Wan took it and thanked her.
Rongrong also pulled Wen Wan aside separately, whispering, "The old madam also said to please help console our Young Madam. She really is wronged by Aunt Su’s matter. After the Dragon Boat Festival, the old madam will have the young master personally come to fetch her."
Such a matter, Wen Wan dared not promise, only saying, "I’ll do my best."
Afterwards, the two sisters-in-law left through the Hanging Flower Gate, sat on the sedan chair out of the East Corner Gate, and then switched to the carriage Wen Wan had arrived in.
Kankan tugged at the corner of his garment, "So, Young Madam is really coming with us to celebrate the festival?"
Mrs. Xiao Liu twisted her mouth, "Yes, your lady is too enthusiastic, I can’t refuse. What, am I not welcome?"
"Welcome, of course, we welcome you." Kankan said happily, "The big garden between the east and west courtyards is almost finished. That means I might have to stay for a few more days."
