Chapter 142: Deserved

Lu Man was aware of the ancient rituals and customs. Despite Mrs. Xiao Chen’s despicable behavior, she was still her stepmother, her elder. According to tradition, a stepdaughter must kowtow and mourn for her deceased stepmother. However, Lu Man couldn’t bring herself to do it for the deceased Xiao Chen.

She stated, “I can offer three incense sticks for her, but I won’t kowtow or mourn. I can’t do it. If needed, Father can say I’m too grief-stricken to contain myself and need to rest in the room for a while. Someone can watch at the mourning hall. Once there are no outsiders paying respects, they can dismiss the Chen family, and then I’ll go. This way, outsiders won’t know if I kowtowed or not.”

Lu Fangrong now felt three points shorter in front of Lu Man, unable to assert his paternal authority.

Seeing his resolute eldest daughter, he sighed heavily. This daughter looked so much like Mingzhu but had a completely different personality.

Thinking of the graceful and beautiful He Mingzhu, he continued, “Manman, I know you blame me. Earlier, I was indeed wrong. I believed Bao Qin’s words, didn’t bring you to be raised by my side, and let you suffer. Xiao Chen’s death and Bao Qin’s punishment have been dealt with, she was beaten and sent away. As for Chen Fei, I had my underlings look for him. But when my men went, they found out Chen Fei was already disabled. Not only were his legs broken, but even his tendons were severed, he can never stand again… Whoever did this, Chen Fei deserved it. Manman, those who harmed you have been punished, don’t hold a grudge against me. Holding onto too much hate will make your days harder.”

Lu Man didn’t look at him, gazing into the vast sky, softly saying, “Yes, those who caused harm have been punished. But what about those who aided and watched the cruelty unfold? If they had an ounce of compassion, I wouldn’t have been driven to the point of hanging myself. It’s not that I hold too much hate, it’s that I can never forget the helplessness and bitterness before hanging myself. How desperate and unbearable I must have felt to act so decisively…” The poor young girl, never to return.

Seeing his daughter’s silence, Lu Fangrong lowered his head and left.

Standing in the small courtyard, Lu Man felt only bitterness. Perhaps this was the original Lu Man’s sentiment? The tiny courtyard remained the same, with a few bamboo poles planted and a clothesline strung in the middle with a few pieces of clothing. The image was exactly as Lu Man remembered, unchanged. Memories of a young girl sitting in the yard, chin in hand, gazing at the sky, mixed with recollections of a teenage girl standing in the yard, filled with anger and cursing.

The whole family relied on Lady He’s estate to live comfortably, but her daughter was left to reside in such a cramped place with the main house’s illegitimate daughter, living a life devoid of dignity.

The incident involving Chen Fei was definitely orchestrated by Jiang Zhanwei. Serves him right!

Upon entering the house, Lu Man noticed many items missing, with only a table, a few chairs, an immovable bed frame, and some unwanted old items remaining.

Accompanied by a Lu family servant, the maid smiled and said, “Some of those things were taken by Second Madam, and the rest by the young ladies. Second Master said we’ll buy some new items later to furnish the place for when Second Young Miss returns to rest.”

Lu Man rolled her eyes internally, knowing that no matter how wealthy this family was, they couldn’t change their coarse and money-loving nature. Luckily, she had foreseen this and taken away several large boxes of books and other items left by her mother.

Lu Ying and Xing brought water to clean the table and chairs, and then Lu Man sat down.

After about three-quarters of an hour, a maid came to inform Lu Man that Second Master wanted her to go to the mourning hall.

In the mourning hall, Lu Man found only Lu Fangrong, old lady Lu, and the mourning Lu Chang, Lu Feng, and Lu Yuan, all kneeling, along with two other servants.

Lu Man lit three incense sticks and muttered, “May you be reborn in a better life, do more good deeds, refrain from evil, and atone for this life…”

Lu Yuan, seeing Lu Man not kowtowing to her mother, stood up and angrily scolded, “Lu Man, you wicked thing! You drove my mother to her death, yet you don’t even bow before her spirit, and you speak in such a disrespectful manner…”

“Silence!” Lu Fangrong’s voice thundered low.

Fearful of Lu Fangrong, Lu Yuan dared not speak further, glaring angrily at Lu Man.

Lu Man walked up to her coldly, saying, “Because your mother was unworthy and couldn’t deserve such reverence from me. Those who do wrong will meet their end. Your mother committed heinous deeds, it was divine retribution that took her, not someone else forcing her to her demise. I warn you, watch your mouth, don’t follow in the footsteps of your conscienceless mother!”

Lu Man had already experienced death once, so standing beside a coffin and scolding the deceased inside didn’t scare her.

Her bold behavior shocked everyone in the mourning hall, especially Mrs. Ding, whose eyes were filled with fear. This fifteen-year-old girl had such immense courage!

Lu Yuan clenched her fists tightly, still afraid, and took a few steps back.

Exiting the mourning hall, Lu Fangrong, Lu Chang, and Lu Feng accompanied Lu Man.

Lu Feng tearfully pleaded with Lu Man, “Second Sister, please, let my mother come back. She’s injured and suffering.”

Lu Man replied, “You should plead with your Grandmother and Father. I’m a married woman, I can’t interfere in your family matters.”

Lu Chang bowed deeply to Lu Man, tearfully saying, “Second Sister, I know my mother was wrong and caused you suffering. But she has been punished and has realized her mistake. Please don’t blame her.”

This lad was sly, fearing that Lu Man might take covert actions and lead to Bao Qin’s “untimely demise”. He couldn’t directly express his concern, so he sought her help in this manner. These two children, at least on the surface, seemed decent.

Although Bao Qin was selfish, cunning, and malicious, she put effort into educating these two children, not leading them astray. Perhaps, to appear virtuous in front of Lu Fangrong and the children, she truly portrayed herself as a good woman.

Her acting skills were indeed impressive, deceiving He’s family, Lu Fangrong, and everyone else, convincing them that she was a virtuous and wise woman.

Even now, Lu Fangrong and his two sons still believed that Bao Qin was a virtuous concubine and mother, attributing her actions to a momentary lapse or being led astray by emotions when she committed that foolish act.

However, Lu Man didn’t see it that way. She believed that Bao Qin was inherently deceitful, a type of person commonly found in real life. They might appear morally upright when not tempted, but when faced with a choice that could drastically alter their fate, their moral compass would lean towards evil, resorting to any means to seize what wasn’t rightfully theirs.

If not for that crucial event that could alter her fate, perhaps Bao Qin would still be seen as a genuinely “good woman” or “loyal servant”, and no one would have known her true nature.