Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 941: Arrangements

The Second Young Master Lai’s wife was overjoyed when she heard this, grabbing the Second Young Master’s hand and said, "Husband, did you hear that? Lady Lai said she’s here to save us...we have a chance now!"

Being confined in the residence for over ten days, they felt each day like a year. One, they feared death, and two, they feared that their two daughters would live lives worse than death. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

The Second Young Master Lai was also delighted to hear Lady Lai’s words but still harbored resentment and was unwilling to open the door.

Seeing this, his wife smiled and said, "Husband, fix your attire; I’ll go open the door for Lady Lai."

Saying that, she left the room, joyfully went to open the door for Lady Lai, and upon seeing her, couldn’t help but shed tears, "Lady~"

Seeing her only slightly haggard but otherwise fine, Lady Lai was relieved and said, "There’s no need for this; you all will be fine."

Turning to the Government Official, she handed him a silver note, "Please, Lord, wait here. I will talk to them and be out shortly."

Although Lady Lai’s dowry wasn’t much, she managed it well over the years and had some Silver at hand, making this silver note inconsequential.

The Government Official was none other than Zhang Sanjin.

Zhang Sanjin was clever, knowing the Second Young Master Lai couldn’t escape, and since Lady Lai had met with Lord Magistrate and held a visitation document, Zhang Sanjin accepted the silver note and stood at the entrance, not setting foot into the courtyard.

Lady Lai followed the Second Young Master’s wife into the main hall.

The Second Young Master was already seated inside. Seeing Lady Lai enter, he neither stood up to greet her nor showed any cordiality, turning his head away in anger.

Lady Lai did not waste words with the Second Young Master Lai and stated directly, "You needn’t hate me. What I did was to save you."

"Save us?" The Second Young Master Lai, enraged, stood up and pointed at Lady Lai, "Don’t sugarcoat it, Brother Zhuo was gone, and you didn’t wish to live anymore. You only did this to avenge him, never thinking of us!"

Lady Lai’s face turned cold as she asked, "Brother Zhuo was my son. Do you not know how he died? Am I not allowed to seek vengeance?!"

Upon hearing this, the Second Young Master Lai, recalling Brother Zhuo’s death, suddenly lowered his head and fell silent... Regarding this matter, not only his father but he too owed Lady Lai.

He was Brother Zhuo’s biological brother. If he had stood firm against their father back then, perhaps Brother Zhuo might have been saved. But he didn’t, giving up after being slapped by their father, ultimately delaying Brother Zhuo’s illness, leading to his death on the road.

The Second Young Master Lai wasn’t a particularly resilient person; enduring this time was torturous, and he couldn’t help but cry, thinking about how his own weakness led to Brother Zhuo’s death.

The Second Young Master’s wife quickly comforted him, "Husband, don’t cry; things will be okay."

Lady Lai did not have time to watch the Second Young Master cry and said, "Second Young Master, you’re nearing thirty. With the Lai Family’s decline, it falls on you to uphold the family. Crying like this, what will the two sisters do in the future?"

Not waiting for the Second Young Master to stop his tears, she continued, "I’m here to tell you that I didn’t harm you; on the contrary, I reported Lai Zhi to the court to save you. You should be quite aware of how many acts Lai Zhi committed as a government official that could wipe out clans. The case of harming Yuan Jiaman is among his least crimes. While you will be implicated, such offenses can be absolved with Silver."

The Second Young Master knew Lady Lai was right. Since his father became involved with that noble figure, he aimed for Dragon’s Contribution. If Emperor Chu discovered his father colluded with the Eldest Imperial Prince to seize the throne, they wouldn’t only face clan extermination but rather nine relations being imperiled!

However...

"Murder is also a grave offense, and the Emperor is short of money. Our household hasn’t less than five people, requiring at least ten thousand taels per person, totaling fifty thousand taels. With family property confiscated, where would we get fifty thousand taels to absolve the offense?"

He looked at Lady Lai, "Even if Lady Lai sold all her dowry, it wouldn’t be this much."

Though Lady Lai was a concubine daughter of a merchant family, no matter how wealthy her family was, it was impossible for a concubine daughter to have a substantial dowry.

Lady Lai replied, "My dowry isn’t this much, but combined with your mother’s dowry and the eldest daughter-in-law’s dowry, it’s more than enough, allowing you to continue living prosperous lives."

"What are you saying?" The Second Young Master Lai was astonished, "Wasn’t my mother’s and elder sister-in-law’s dowry confiscated too? How could it still be used?"

Lady Lai shook her head, listening to this Second Young Master, truly born noble, unable to manage affairs, without foresight, "When I learned your father gained that noble person’s favor, I started secretly transferring those dowries away; they were never stored in this residence."

Lord Magistrate’s people couldn’t confiscate those dowries.

However...

"Your mother and Lai Zhi didn’t divorce, nor did your elder sister-in-law ever officially leave the Lai Family, so their dowries cannot be exposed. I’ll sell them all, exchange them for Silver to save you; don’t hold it against me."

"No blame, no blame." The Second Young Master’s wife was nearly moved to tears with joy. To absolve the offense, to have Silver to live on, they were grateful to Lady Lai, with no reason to blame her.

The Second Young Master did not speak, but the world he felt collapsing was suddenly held up again.

Lady Lai continued, "Travel between the Capital and He’an Prefecture takes time, and you may need to stay here a while longer. Rest assured, I’ve arranged everything; you won’t suffer. Nor will Brother Yan’er, as a doctor will come to treat him."

Earlier, the Second Young Master mentioned the family of five, which included Lai Yan.

"After the Imperial Court of Judicial Review rehears your father’s case, I’ll use Silver to absolve your offense. I’ve bought you a residence and a manor in Yuhu Prefecture, Jiangnan; once absolved, settle there...I have an old acquaintance there who can care for you."

She added, "It’s best not to return to the Northwest for now. The road from Central State westward has been unsafe, with rampant banditry. You and your wife, with two girls, would do better in Jiangnan."

The Second Young Master’s wife was delighted, as Lady Lai had arranged everything for them, taking note of her words, "Lady, rest assured, we have remembered everything."

She asked, "Where has Lady been staying lately? Come with us to Yuhu Prefecture then."

From Lady Lai’s words, she seemed to have no intention of living with them. But being a woman divorced, with her only son deceased, if she didn’t live with them, where would she go?

Lady Lai shook her head, "No, I have a place; it’s at the Small Qingming Temple in the city, filled with female cultivators. Many divorced or childless ladies go there for spiritual cultivation. I like it there, and once your matters are settled, I’ll take vows and join the temple."

Vows!

The Second Young Master Lai, hearing this, finally stood up and said, "Lady, you don’t have to do this. Though divorced from Father, you saved our family’s lives, and we ought to support you."

The thought of her alone in a Daoist Temple felt unbearably bleak.

Lady Lai shook her head again, "No need; the temple life is good, and I can pray for Brother Zhuo... You just have to live well, and if you think of me, bring the two girls to visit sometimes."