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In the room, Old Madam Lu sat with a gloomy expression. Beside her were Lu Shiming and his wife.
"Before your brother passed away, he was still worried about you. He refused to close his eyes because he could not get your forgiveness. In the end, you told him that you never blamed him and even showed him the ginseng that you sent. Only then did he take his last breath …" Old Madam Lu's voice was very low.
Lu Shiming lowered his head. He did not know about this. When he heard that his brother had passed away, he had rushed back as fast as he could, but he did not have the chance to see him for the last time. "Mother, I never blamed my brother."
"I know that your relationship with your eldest brother has always been the best. It was your eldest brother who let you down in the imperial examinations. You left your hometown because you didn't want him to see you sad." Old Madam Lu sighed. "Your eldest sister-in-law is just too sad. Don't take her words to heart."
Lu Shiming said in a low voice, "Mother, I don't blame sister-in-law. I know she did not mean it."
"You and your wife have been away from the capital for too long. Now that you are finally back, I hope that the family can be together and not be separated again." Old Madam Lu looked at Pei Shi as she said this.
Pei Shi smiled. "Mother, even if you chase us away, we will not leave."
Old Madam Lu was relieved. "If you leave, it will be even more difficult for you to delay your marriage."
"Mother, we know." Pei Shi said gently.
"Ever since your brother passed away, Liu Shi has been locking herself in the house. Fortunately, she knew that she had a son and a daughter, so she did not follow your brother. It is not easy for you to delay your marriage. Even if your sister-in-law says … unpleasant things in the future, you have to bear with it. Just treat it as an old woman like me." Old Madam Lu sighed. "I have lived to this age, and now I only want to see my family reunited. When I die, you can split it however you want. I will not be able to see it anyway."
"Mother …" Lu Shiming knelt in front of Old Madam Lu. "I am unfilial! I should not have been away for so many years and could not help with the matters of the family. "
Old Madam Lu helped him up. "Get up! You have already helped a lot by sacrificing your scholarly rank for the family. "
"Mother, it has nothing to do with husband. He did it for me …" Pei Shi hurriedly tried to take the blame.
"Alright, that's all in the past." Old Madam Lu interrupted Pei Shi's words. "Let's go. It's getting late. Let's go out for a meal. Those children must have been frightened."
Pei shi thought that her daughter did not know about the past grievances between the First household and the Third household and was afraid that she would be frightened.
When they arrived at the side hall, the children sat by the side. No one was eating, and they were all waiting for Old Madam Lu.
"Zanzhi, are your eldest and second brothers here yet?" Old Madam Lu ordered, not mentioning Old Madam Lu at all.
Lu Lingzhi and Lu Tingzhi sent First Madam back to her room. Physician Lu was indignant as he held his two sons' hands and cried, "I just can't take this lying down. Your father lost his life for the sake of the Lu Family. What right do they have to sit back and enjoy the fruits of his labor? Tingzhi, you are my sons. Don't you understand what your mother is thinking?"
"Mother, we all know that, but that's Third Uncle." Lu Tingzhi said. He had been by his father's side since he was young and was clear about what happened back then. He did not think that his father had done anything wrong, but he did not think that Third Uncle had done anything wrong to the First household. To be honest, it was indeed Third Uncle who had been wronged.
First Madam Lu cried and scolded, "Are you all going to speak up for an outsider now?"
"Tingzhi, go to Old Madam's side first. Don't let grandmother be too sad." Lu Lingzhi sat down on the armchair and sent his younger brother away.
Only mother and son were left in the room.
"Mother, what do you think Third Uncle owes us?" Lu Lingzhi looked at his mother and asked in a low voice.
First Madam Lu looked at her most valued son and asked with tears in her eyes, "What benefits did the Third household give you for you to help them like this? Everything they have done for the Lu Family today was done by you and your father. What right do they have to receive benefits just because they came back? "
"If Third Uncle had not sacrificed his scholarly rank back then, our Lu Family would have long fallen apart. Third Uncle could have been a high official with a generous salary, but he gave it up for the sake of our family. Mother, Father and I did so much not just for ourselves, but for the sake of everyone in the Lu Family. Back then, Third Uncle did not reveal the matter of the exam papers being swapped out for the sake of the Lu Family," Lu Lingzhi said in a low voice.
First Madam Lu said hatefully, "I just can't accept it …"
"Mother, what are you feeling indignant about? Do you resent Father for not wanting to see you before he died? Father hid it from the entire family and thought that he was the one who sold the exam papers to others. Even Old Madam does not know that it was you who harmed Third Uncle. What right do you have to hate Third Uncle? "Lu Lingzhi asked in a low voice.
First Madam Lu's expression changed as she looked at her son in shock, "How did you know?"
"I guessed it. Eldest Brother would not treat Third Uncle like this. You did not betray Third Uncle for the sake of the Lu Family. You only did it for your own benefit. You were afraid that Third Uncle would pass the exam and that the third branch would be better than the first branch. Mother, Third Uncle did not owe us anything," Lu Lingzhi said in a low voice.
"You … you want to be like your father, cold-shouldering and blaming me, your mother, for an outsider?" First Madam Lu's shoulders trembled as her face turned pale with anger.
Lu Lingzhi said, "I will not treat you like this, Mother. I only hope that you will not vent your anger on others."
"What did the third branch offer you?" First Madam Lu asked in a shrill voice.
"Before Father died, he told me to help Third Uncle and Mother." Lu Lingzhi looked at her and said, "If Mother wants to use this matter to take back the power from Old Madam, I will not agree. You are not in good health, and there are Second Aunt and Third Aunt at home. You should rest well!"
First Madam Lu glared at him and asked angrily, "Are you trying to put me under house arrest in the house?"
"I dare not. I just want Mother to rest well and wait for you to recover," Lu Lingzhi said. With his mother's current condition, if she were to manage the Lu Family, it would only be a matter of time before the Lu Family disbanded.
"I really don't know what benefits the third branch offered you and your father …" First Madam Lu cried out, "I am your mother. Your father neglected me for more than ten years because of the third branch. Are you going to do the same?"
Ever since Lu Shiming left the capital, Old Master Lu had completely neglected First Madam. He did not even take a step into her room. How could she not hate the third branch? Everything she did, was it not for their own good? Why did they not understand her intentions at all?
Lu Lingzhi stood up and said gently, "I will not treat you like this, Mother. Grandmother is still waiting for me. Rest well, I will come to see you tomorrow."
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