nycdaug Chapter 173 Cleaning
Chapter 173 Cleaning
Before getting married, Yu Zhe made a special trip to Wuliping to have a good talk with his son and promised, "Han'er, no matter what, I will always be your biological father and will never become your stepfather!"
Yu Han remained silent.
He didn't quite believe that. Since his father hadn't remarried yet, it was natural for him to think that way. But if his father did remarry, things might change drastically if his father stirred things up.
Seeing that his son didn't believe him, Yu Zhe became anxious: "If you're so worried, then your father won't remarry! I'll stay with you for the rest of my life!"
Yu Han finally spoke: "Father, you're only in your twenties. If you don't take a second wife, there will be no one to take care of you, and I won't be able to bear it. Since you're going to marry anyway, it's better to do it sooner rather than later. However, I have a few conditions that I hope Father can agree to!"
Yu Zhe: "Go ahead and say whatever you want! As long as it's reasonable, your father will agree!" He was happy as long as his son was willing to set conditions. He had always been worried that his son's marriage would create a rift between them.
Yu Han: "First, I want to live in Wuliping for a long time in the future. If I don't want to go back to the Yu family mansion in the capital, please don't force me. Second, you can come to Wuliping to visit me, but please don't bring my stepmother. Third, after I grow up and get married, I hope you will agree to let me separate from the family and establish my own mansion!"
Upon hearing this, Yu Zhe immediately became anxious: "What kind of condition is this? Does this mean you're convinced that Miss Li is a vicious stepmother? Han'er, it's good to be wary of people, but don't go overboard! Don't think of people as so bad. There are still good people in this world! Spend some time with her, and if you find that she's not a good person, then make this decision!"
Yu Han: "Father, life is only a few decades long. I don't want to waste my most precious childhood years on scheming against my stepmother, nor do I want to constantly be on guard against her poisoning me or hiring someone to harm me! I want to live a happier, more carefree, and more meaningful life."
I want to use the time and energy I spend scheming against my stepmother on studying literature and martial arts, and on laughing and having fun with people I can completely trust! I hope my life can be more meaningful, and that I can live an upright and carefree life!
Yu Zhe couldn't help but sigh: "What am I supposed to say to you, kid?"
Yu Han: "Father, I made this decision because I don't want the day to come when our relationship will crack or even end. Sister Zisu said it well: distance makes the heart grow fonder. I will return to the Yu residence for a day or two during the New Year and other holidays. The rest of the time, I will either stay in Wuliping or go to the General's Mansion."
That way, my stepmother and I won't have much interaction, and there won't be any major conflicts between us. My father won't one day harbor resentment, anger, or misunderstanding towards me because my stepmother says how immature or cruel I am, thus affecting our father-son relationship!
Yu Zhe sighed deeply: "Oh, my child, what am I to do? How can I possibly be in the mood for marriage when you're like this?"
Yu Han: "Father, let nature take its course! It's impossible to cancel the engagement now, and there's absolutely no need for it! I heard from Sister Zisu that Miss Li is quite good, much better than many other women. Father, living alone isn't a good thing, so let's get married sooner rather than later!"
If Father, you dare not get married because of me, then I will feel guilty and indebted to you for the rest of my life, and I will never be truly happy! Father, please don't think too much, just get married happily! Some decisions, once made, should not be regretted. Your son wishes you and your stepmother a harmonious and happy life together until old age!
Yu Han bowed deeply to her father.
Yu Zhe felt a pang of sadness, and tears welled up in his eyes: "Okay, Daddy promises you, Daddy promises you! Good child, Daddy promises that in this life, I will never become a stepfather!"
As the saying goes, every stepmother has a stepfather. However, he can guarantee that in this lifetime, he will never become his son Yu Han's stepfather, and will always be Yu Han's loving and caring father!
The wedding date was fast approaching.
Both Yu Han and Shangguan Yi had to go to school, and Yu Han didn't want to attend her father's wedding, so Zisu decided not to let either child ask for leave. However, she returned to the capital two days early. She had to go to the Yu residence to help her grandmother with various preparations.
Zisu's mother, Madam Yu, is pregnant! As an older pregnant woman, Madam Yu became a priority for protection, and Shangguan Mufeng spent all his free time with her. The entire General's Mansion, from top to bottom, revolved around her.
Even Zisu spends less time in Wuliping now, spending a maximum of five days a month there instead of the half-month it used to.
Madam Yu is thirty-two years old this year. Zisu was very worried that her mother would have a difficult childbirth, so she found two experienced doctors who wrote a nutritional menu for her mother. The menu was in seven-day cycles, with different dishes for each day. In addition, she often accompanied her mother for walks in the back garden of the General's Mansion to get some fresh air.
In the back garden of the General's Mansion, there is a tree-lined path planted with flowers, trees, and shrubs that either purify the air or are highly ornamental. The path encircles the back garden and is about a mile long. Every day, Zisu would accompany her mother on one or two laps around the path.
On this day, Zisu accompanied her mother for a walk again.
Madam Yu: "Zisu, go about your own business. I have Haitang and Yingtao to keep me company! And since I'm at home, nothing will happen!"
Zisu: "Mother, you are now the most important person in our family to protect. The most important thing for your daughter is to accompany you for walks and chats. Everything else can be put aside for now!"
Although it's in the General's mansion, there's no guarantee that some servants won't be bribed and do something detrimental to Mother. Furthermore, Mother is currently pregnant; there's no guarantee that some maids won't be tempted to sleep with Father. And those tempted maids might even set their sights on Mother's womb.
Women who fall in love are often irrational and irrational. In particular, if a maid feels that the mistress of the house is hindering her path to wealth, she might even harm her mother.
In short, Zisu still felt that her most important task at the moment was to protect her mother's safety and ensure that her mother could live happily and carefree every day. To this end, she had to nip any bad things in the bud.
And sure enough, her worries were not unfounded.
When Yu got tired, she sat down to rest in the pavilion.
Zisu then said to Madam Yu, "Mother, I'll go pick some cucumbers and a bunch of greens. Tonight, I'll make you a cucumber salad."
Madam Yu: "Go ahead, there are cherry and crabapple trees here!"
"Mother, be careful, I'll be back soon!" Zisu said as she spoke.
"Alright, don't be so nervous, we're at home!" Mrs. Yu waved to her daughter with a smile, then said to Yingtao, "I'm thirsty, go and get me a pot of tea, and also some snacks!"
Cherry: "Yes, Madam!" Then she instructed Begonia: "I'm leaving too. Be careful on your own, and don't let anyone offend you!"
Haitang: "I know, we're in the mansion. Why are you and the young lady so worried?" Haitang couldn't help but find it amusing. Like Madam Yu, she thought that Zisu and Yingtao were making a mountain out of a molehill.
After Cherry walked away, Begonia said to Madam Yu, "Madam, the peach blossoms over there are blooming beautifully. I'll go pick a bunch. They'll look lovely in a vase when we get back!"
Madam Yu nodded: "Go ahead, pick more, and give some to Zisu!"
Haitang: "Okay, Madam, that's all for now! Just call me if you need anything."
Yu said nonchalantly, "Go ahead, it's only about twenty steps away!"
Haitang skipped and hopped towards the peach grove, but just as she began to break off peach branches, an accident occurred!
At that moment, a maid in a green uniform darted towards Yu Shi like an arrow, her eyes fixed on Yu Shi's belly. Fortunately, Zisu had left one of the two shadow guards that Prince Duan had given her for Yu Shi. At the critical moment, the shadow guard descended from the sky and kicked the maid away in time.
Blood gushed from the maid's mouth; the shadow guard's kick had pierced her internal organs. Knowing her days were numbered and her chances of survival slim, the maid recklessly pointed her trembling right finger at Madam Yu and cursed, "You wicked woman! You monopolize the general's possessions, leaving no chance for your maid to live! I curse you to lose this pregnancy, be abandoned by the general, betrayed by your children, and ultimately end up utterly abandoned by everyone!"
Yu was both shocked and furious, so angry that she trembled all over and couldn't say a word.
The shadow guard quickly comforted her, "Madam, please don't get agitated. It's not worth getting so angry over such a shameless maid. Calm down, don't hurt the baby in your womb, calm down!"
"Thank you!" Madam Yu said sincerely to the shadow guard, trying to calm herself down.
Shadow Guard: "Madam, you're too kind. It's what I should do! Alright, someone's coming, I need to excuse myself!"
Before the words were even finished, the person had already vanished.
Madam Yu's heart skipped a beat, wondering who the newcomer might be. Just then, Haitang rushed over: "Madam, are you alright?"
Mrs. Yu's face was pale, and she was still shaken: "Luckily, someone came to my aid, otherwise, I would have lost the baby in my belly!"
Haitang said guiltily, "Madam, it was all my fault for being so careless! I was wrong, please punish me!"
Madam Yu: "This is none of your business. Nobody would have imagined that the maid would be so heartless and insane."
Zisu rushed over, and after understanding the situation, she glared angrily at Haitang: "It seems I've been too good to you all! None of you know your duty, leaving Madam here alone! Haven't I repeatedly told you that no matter when or where, someone must be with Madam?! Is this how you respond to me? Is this how you slap me in the face, making me lose face?!"
"Could it be that you're not listening to what I'm saying?! Picking peach blossoms? Couldn't you wait until Haitang and I return? I've repeatedly told you, but you don't take it seriously! Since that's the case, then leave the General's Mansion and live a free and easy life! Anyway, the indentures were returned to you long ago; you can leave whenever you want!"
Begonia lowered her head, looking as if she had "gotten her mistake," letting Zisu scold her without daring to utter a single word in reply. The young lady was right; it was all her fault. She really shouldn't have left the lady alone in the pavilion for a few peach blossoms.
Zisu: "How about this, I'll deduct three months' salary from your pay. Are you satisfied with that? If you have any objections, you can speak up. If you don't want to stay in the General's Mansion anymore, you can also say so!"
Haitang lowered her head respectfully and said, "Miss, I have no objection. I am completely convinced. It was my fault. I shouldn't have failed to distinguish between what is important and what is urgent, and I almost caused Madam a great loss. If anything were to happen to Madam or the child in her womb, I would live with self-blame and guilt for the rest of my life. It was my fault, and I will definitely be more careful in the future and never make the same mistake again!"
Zisu waved her hand: "You can leave now, we don't need you to serve us here!"
She couldn't help but sigh inwardly. After Haitang had gone far away, she said to Madam Yu, "Mother, you too, she's all alone by your side now. You shouldn't have agreed to let her pick peach blossoms!"
Madam Yu: "Alright, don't be angry, it was Mother's fault!"
Zisu: "In the future, the maids and servants who serve Mother should still have indentures, preferably death contracts! That way, they will be more diligent in their work. Haitang used to be very good, but lately she seems to have become a bit lax! In a few days, I will go to Wuliping to select a few maids."
The oldest of those children is only eleven, but poor children mature early; eleven-year-olds can already do a lot of work! I'll bring about ten of them; Mother can choose a few she likes. They all know a little martial arts, so if they encounter any delusional women, they can hold them off for a while!
Ms. Yu: "Okay, I'll do whatever you say."
She had no choice but to agree to her daughter's request. Why did she always make such foolish mistakes? It was obvious she shouldn't have agreed when Haitang suggested going to the flower garden. It was only twenty-odd steps, not two. Thankfully, the baby in her womb was alright; otherwise, she would have spent the rest of her life in regret.
When Shangguan Mufeng found out, he was furious and severely reprimanded Haitang. He then immediately ordered, "Have that shameless maid beaten to death! In the future, whoever dares to have any evil thoughts will learn from her!"
He then summoned everyone in the household and gave them a stern reprimand: "Any maid who wants to become a concubine or a maidservant, step forward now! I will let you leave the mansion immediately and will not stop you from climbing the social ladder! Those who stay and do not leave, if I find out in the future that you have wicked thoughts and harm your master, being beaten to death is the least of your worries. I may even cut you into a thousand pieces!"
This general has fought on the Northwest battlefield for many years, and has killed at least a thousand, if not ten thousand. I'm not afraid to take a few more lives! If you're not afraid, then go ahead and try! However, I must warn you, it's best not to risk your lives. This is no joke, and I hope you'll remember that!
The general was enraged, his murderous aura overwhelming, causing the maids, servants, and boys with ulterior motives to tremble. The maids harbored ulterior motives, wanting to sleep with the general; the servants, on the other hand, had been bribed by outsiders to help them harm the general's master.
Not only that, Shangguan Mufeng also purged the people in the manor, giving each of the five suspected individuals twenty strokes of the cane and selling them far away. Among these five were two maids, one old woman, one servant, and one guard.
The maid is suspected of trying to climb into the bedchamber, the old woman has been bribed by an outsider, the servant is a relative who is hostile to Shangguan Mufeng, and the guards are spies sent by a high-ranking official.
Shangguan Mufeng broke out in a cold sweat. He knew this bodyguard had been his personal guard back in the Northwest. And many years ago, this bodyguard had been lurking by his side, serving a high-ranking official.
This was truly terrifying. Fortunately, the guard hadn't received any orders from his master to do anything detrimental to Shangguan Mufeng. Otherwise, Shangguan Mufeng couldn't believe what unpredictable disaster awaited him.
From the guards, Shangguan Mufeng learned the official's name—none other than the Right Chancellor, renowned as the "Upright and Just Magistrate"! From that moment on, he kept a close watch on the Right Chancellor. He also informed Prince Duan, who sent one of his men to follow the Right Chancellor. This surveillance revealed that the Right Chancellor harbored rebellious intentions, secretly forming cliques and waiting for the Emperor's death so he could take advantage of the chaos.
After reporting to the Emperor, Prince Duan was ordered to lead fifty imperial guards, with the assistance of Dongfang Han and Song Mo, to surround the Right Chancellor's residence in the dead of night. The Right Chancellor, in the middle of the night, was captured and imprisoned.
A hurricane swept through the imperial court.
With the Right Chancellor's downfall, his confidants and close associates also fell from grace one after another. Suddenly, the entire court was gripped by fear and unease. Prince Duan then dispatched two shadow guards to Zisu's side to protect her and the General's residence.
It would be a lie to say that Zisu wasn't moved by his hospitality. This Prince Duan, what was she supposed to do with him?
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