Chapter 41 The Stepmother is Disliked

Madam Li was momentarily taken aback upon seeing the visitor, but her brows quickly furrowed as she turned to the servant with a sharp tone. “How do you people handle things? How could you let this country bumpkin into my house?”

The servant quickly lowered his head and replied, “Madam, this lady said she is the mother of the Young Madam.”

Liu Lanzhi immediately stepped forward to stand beside Liu and spoke up, “Yes, Madam, this is my mother.”

Madam Li had already guessed as much the moment Liu walked in. She had simply pretended not to know because she looked down on Liu.

“Oh, so she’s your mother? I thought she was just a beggar who wandered in looking for food.”

Hearing this, Liu’s expression darkened further. Thinking of the scene she had witnessed upon entering, she couldn’t help but complain, “Dear in-law, my daughter is at least your family’s Young Madam. How could you make her kneel in front of so many people?”

Madam Li found her questioning extremely irritating. She stood up and said coldly, “I am disciplining my own daughter-in-law in my own home. What does that have to do with you? If you think our Li family is so terrible, then take your daughter and leave right now!”

Truth be told, Madam Li had never agreed to this marriage in the first place. Back then, her son had only married Liu Lanzhi as a last resort—better her than marrying that fool of a girl instead.

Liu panicked upon hearing that Madam Li wanted to throw her daughter out. She immediately reined in her arrogance and softened her tone. “Dear in-law, our Lanzhi has always been well-mannered. If she has done anything wrong, I will personally teach her how to behave.”

Madam Li couldn’t be bothered to argue further with such a shrew. She simply turned and walked toward the inner courtyard, saying, “Fine, then take today to properly teach her how to be a good daughter-in-law!”

With that, she left without looking back.

Once Madam Li was gone, Liu Lanzhi led Liu into her room.

The moment Liu saw her daughter’s living conditions, she was utterly stunned—her daughter was actually living in a servant’s quarters.

Her eyes widened in shock. “Lanzhi, you’re the Young Madam! Why are you living in a servant’s room?”

Liu Lanzhi immediately burst into tears and sobbed as she spoke. “Mother, the Li family never truly accepted me. The first couple of days after the wedding were fine, but Madam Li and Magistrate Li always treated me coldly. And ever since my return visit to our home, even the Young Master has started to despise me. He forced me into this servant’s quarters and doesn’t even look at me anymore.”

The more she spoke, the harder she cried. “Mother, the life I’m living here is inhumane. Not only do they make me live in a servant’s room, but they also feed me their leftovers. They constantly find fault with me, either forcing me to kneel or slapping me across the face.”

Liu was stunned upon hearing her daughter’s grievances. She had thought that marrying her daughter into the Li family would bring her a life of comfort, but instead, it had turned into pure suffering.

She immediately pulled Liu Lanzhi into a tight embrace and said, “Lanzhi, just endure it a little longer. If you want to deal with Madam Li and Magistrate Li, you must first win over the Young Master. Once you bear him a son, they will have no choice but to treat you with respect.”

Liu Lanzhi bit her lip and whispered, “Young Master hasn’t touched me since our wedding night.”

At that, Liu raised her hand and gave her daughter a slap. “You foolish girl! If he won’t come to you, can’t you think of a way? Use your charms, seduce him! Just like how I seduced your stepfather back then.”

As she spoke, a look of pride spread across her face.

Liu Lanzhi lowered her head helplessly. “Alright, Mother. I’ll try again.”

After the mother and daughter finished their discussion, Liu also told Liu Lanzhi about Du Dajiang’s situation.

Liu Lanzhi felt deeply aggrieved for her mother. “Stepfather is truly heartless! You’ve been with him for years—how could he raise his hand against you just like that?”

Liu let out a long sigh. “Lanzhi, my fate is already set. But you must live a good life. You must win over your husband’s heart and secure control over his household and fortune.”

Liu Lanzhi wiped her tears and nodded in determination.

Just then, a maid called from outside, “Young Madam, the Young Master has returned.”

Liu Lanzhi got up and peeked outside. “Why is the Young Master back so early today?”

The maid lowered her voice and answered, “The Young Master brought someone back with him… He said she is pregnant with his child.”

Both Liu and Liu Lanzhi were utterly shocked.

Liu Lanzhi, as if struck by lightning, demanded, “You’re saying that woman is pregnant?”

The maid replied softly, “Yes, Young Madam. I heard that the Young Master had her pulse checked. The physician confirmed that she is indeed with child. And… it is highly likely to be a son.”

Liu Lanzhi collapsed onto the floor, staring ahead in despair. “Mother, what should I do?!”

Liu was equally stunned. She furrowed her brows deeply, unable to speak for a long time.

Not long after, a servant arrived with a message from the Young Master, stating that Liu had to leave. He claimed that having the wife’s family staying in the manor was inconvenient.

But in truth, it wasn’t about inconvenience—the Young Master simply disliked Liu.

The moment he heard of her arrival, he immediately ordered her to be sent away.

Liu, knowing she had no power to oppose the Young Master, had no choice but to give her daughter a few last words of advice before leaving the estate.

As she made her way back to the village, she happened to pass through Changliu Village. When she reached the village entrance, she caught a faint yet distinct fragrance in the air. A single whiff of it was enough to make her feel refreshed and at ease.

She lifted her head and glanced in the direction of the Zhou family with a look of disdain. Snorting coldly, she muttered, “Hmph. No matter how bad the Li family is, they’re still better than the Zhou family.”

With that, she quickened her pace and left.

Inside the Zhou household, Madam Zhou had spent the entire night crafting dozens of small incense cones using fragrant wood from Xiangtan.

She carefully packed them into boxes, intending to sell them alongside the scented dew she had made.

Meanwhile, Du Wanchun lay in bed, half-asleep, when she faintly heard Madam Zhou bustling about outside. She rubbed her eyes, sat up, and noticed that Zhou Ruiyuan was still awake.

He was holding a book, reading with full concentration.

Du Wanchun sat up and asked, “Husband, have you been up all night?”

Zhou Ruiyuan put down his book, looked at her, and said slowly, “Wanchun, I’ve decided to take the imperial examination this time.”