Chapter 213: Stirring Up Conflict

Apart from Lu Ting En, who had some achievements, Lu Ting Cong and Lu Ting Yi were both idle and lazy, unwilling to study or work.

The late Marquis of the Lu family rose from humble beginnings, earning his title through military achievements.

Having endured the hardships of a life on the battlefield, he was unwilling to let his descendants suffer the same fate. Therefore, he decreed that the sons of the Lu family should only pursue civil careers, not military ones.

However, the second and third sons had shown no interest in academics since childhood. Seeing this, the old Marquis gave up on their education and placed his hopes entirely on Lu Ting En.

Unfortunately, the injuries he sustained in battle took a toll, and he passed away before Lu Ting En could make significant accomplishments.

After the old Marquis’s death, Lu Ting Cong and Lu Ting Yi became even more unrestrained.

They believed that since Lu Ting En had inherited the title and reaped the benefits of the Marquis’s estate, it was his responsibility to support his two brothers.

The Old Madam, doting on her younger sons, also encouraged Lu Ting En to help them financially.

Over the years, the second and third branches of the family grew accustomed to relying on the Marquis’s household for financial support.

Now, hearing from Nanny Sun that Leng Qing Yu intended to cut off their monthly allowance of 1,000 taels each, the wives of the second and third sons, Gao Ming Lan and Zhao Wan Yi, were immediately furious.

“Leng Qing Yu is nothing more than a merchant’s daughter. Now that she occupies the position of the Marquis’s wife, isn’t it her duty to manage the affairs of this household? What right does she have to cut off our allowance?” Gao Ming Lan raged.

Zhao Wan Yi, attempting to calm her down, suggested, “Second Sister-in-law, don’t be so upset. Why don’t we go and ask Eldest Sister-in-law directly and see what’s going on?”

“What else could it be?” Gao Ming Lan shook off Zhao Wan Yi’s hand angrily. “Leng Qing Yu is simply throwing her weight around.

Last month, she refused to come back, clearly to avoid us and avoid giving us money.

She wants us to struggle financially so she can mock us!

Now that she’s back, I’ll confront her directly and find out what her intentions are!”

Zhao Wan Yi saw the rage on Gao Ming Lan’s face and couldn’t help but smirk subtly.

“I don’t think Eldest Sister-in-law is that kind of person. The Leng family is wealthy, 2,000 taels of silver shouldn’t matter to her.”

“You’re so naive!”

Gao Ming Lan said in exasperation, “She may not care about the money, but she’s deliberately making things difficult for us. If she doesn’t want us to live comfortably, then she shouldn’t expect to live comfortably either!”

“Come on, let’s go question her together!”

Gao Ming Lan pulled Zhao Wan Yi along as they headed toward the Marquis’s residence.

Once they arrived and stepped off their carriage, Gao Ming Lan stormed toward Leng Qing Yu with fury.

To her surprise, Leng Qing Yu seemed to have anticipated their visit. She greeted them with a friendly smile and said, “I thought you two might come today, so I’ve prepared some tea and snacks.

This is the newly released Longan and Lotus Seed Cake from Bao Fang Zhai, it’s quite delicious. Please have a taste.”

Zhao Wan Yi bowed politely in thanks, but Gao Ming Lan, impatient and annoyed, cut straight to the point.

“Eldest Sister-in-law, let’s not play nice. You already know why we’re here, don’t you?”

“Yes, I have an idea,” Leng Qing Yu said calmly as she sat down and poured herself a cup of tea. “You must be here about the 1,000-tael monthly allowance.”

Gao Ming Lan was surprised by Leng Qing Yu’s straightforwardness. “Since you knew we’d come, Eldest Sister-in-law, what do you plan to do?

When Eldest Brother inherited the title and the second and third branches were separated, we were left with almost nothing.

Mother promised us back then that even though the family was divided, Eldest Brother would still look after us financially.”

“We don’t run businesses like you do. If you cut off our allowance, how are we supposed to live?”

Leng Qing Yu took her time, calmly eating half a piece of longan cake and sipping her tea before responding.

“I don’t agree with what you’re saying,” she said leisurely. “When the family divided, wasn’t it you who complained that our branch inherited the title and you gained nothing?

Back then, didn’t we allocate the family’s shops to you?

I recall that the three shops in the south of the city were given to the second branch, while the two shops and a farm in the east were given to the third branch. Didn’t you all agree to this at the time?”

Gao Ming Lan was taken aback by Leng Qing Yu’s detailed recounting of past events. For a moment, she couldn’t come up with a suitable retort.

Seeing her falter, Zhao Wan Yi quickly stepped in. “Eldest Sister-in-law is right. We did receive our share of the family assets back then.

We shouldn’t have troubled you further. But the thing is, shops don’t run themselves. Since we don’t know how to manage them, they haven’t been profitable. In fact, we’ve suffered losses over the years, making us a laughing stock.”

Gao Ming Lan, catching on to Zhao Wan Yi’s hint, chimed in. “Shops may be fixed assets, but people are resourceful. Eldest Brother has done quite well in the court, and the emperor’s rewards alone include countless acres of farm land.

Why are you, Eldest Sister-in-law, still hung up on the few shops we have?”

“Ah, about those rewards from the emperor…”

Leng Qing Yu smiled and shook her head. “It’s true that there’s farm land, but all we do is rent it out and collect some rent every year. As for the rest of the rewards, they’re enshrined in the ancestral hall, who would dare touch them?

You’re both well aware of this.”

“Even just the rent must amount to a lot!” Gao Ming Lan argued. “Those are rewards for the Marquis’s household. Since we’re part of the Marquis’s family, that money shouldn’t all go into your pocket.

What’s the harm in letting a little trickle down to us?”

“You must be joking!” Leng Qing Yu replied, unfazed. “Even without us letting anything trickle down, it hasn’t stopped you from spending freely, has it?”

“What do you mean by that?” Gao Ming Lan’s expression darkened.

Leng Qing Yu gave her a knowing look and said, “During the recent inventory of the treasury, we discovered over 30,000 taels of silver missing.

I originally intended to report it to the authorities, but Mother stopped me.

She said that since it’s a family matter, we shouldn’t make things too ugly.”

This revelation shocked Gao Ming Lan and Zhao Wan Yi.

“Thirty thousand taels?” they echoed in disbelief.

“What’s wrong? Are you both unaware?” Leng Qing Yu asked, maintaining her composure. “You don’t have to pretend. We’re all family here, and I won’t report it.

But I don’t appreciate people taking my money while also sneaking things out from under my nose.

That’s why I discussed cutting off your monthly allowance with Mother.

Surprisingly, she agreed immediately and even informed you both.

It seems she also felt that your actions were out of line.”

Gao Ming Lan and Zhao Wan Yi exchanged uneasy glances, suspicion brewing between them.

If neither of them had spent the money, then it must have been the other household pocketing it.

Furious, Gao Ming Lan thought to herself:

“I actually believed she was on my side, but it turns out she’s been putting on a show this whole time.”