Chapter 337 - 336: A Trivial Matter (Monthly Votes 320+)

Chapter 337: Chapter 336: A Trivial Matter (Monthly Votes 320+)

The last time, the Lian Family was feigning illness.

That night at Baijie Hall, she provoked Mu Yuanjing and Mu Lianyu to the point of fainting, but it was just a moment of anger; it wasn’t to the extent of actually falling ill.

It was merely to avoid some gossip and also to calm Madam Wu, which is why she remained in Fengyu Courtyard and did not step out. She also took the opportunity to observe how Du Yunluo would react when she suddenly took charge of domestic affairs.

Those who knew about the scandal naturally understood the reason behind the Lian Family’s "illness," but for those who were unaware, the reason for feigning illness was truly unspeakable.

Family scandals should not be exposed; the Lian Family was desperate to keep it hidden from even Mrs. Xu and Mrs. Lu, let alone outsiders.

At this moment, hearing Mrs. Jiang Deng speak, it seemed like she knew the Lian Family was feigning illness; did she also know the reason behind it?

The Lian Family pursed her lips and glanced at Mrs. Jiang Deng.

A son and his sister-in-law involved in a scandal; it was a disgrace to the entire second house!

If the in-laws found out...

The Lian Family felt as if her whole neck had been doused in oil and set on fire, burning ferociously.

Who could have told Mrs. Jiang Deng about these things?

The Lian Family’s mind was in turmoil, guessing to herself.

It couldn’t have been Mrs. Xu; whether she noticed or not, she didn’t want to associate with the Jiang Family. The last time Mrs. Jiang Deng came by, she didn’t even see Mrs. Xu before she left the mansion;

Madam Wu was impossible to have said a word, so could it be Du Yunluo?

The Lian Family’s gaze searched around and landed on Du Yunluo not far away.

Du Yunluo was chatting and laughing with Madam Wu and, sensing something, turned her head to meet the Lian Family’s gaze, then turned back with a calm expression.

The Lian Family took a deep breath; it shouldn’t be Du Yunluo.

If such critical words got out and Madam Wu became furious, who could bear it?

Du Yunluo wasn’t close to Mrs. Jiang Deng; she wouldn’t foolishly divulge unreliable information to her.

This kind of scandal, even if someone with a loose tongue wanted to confide, would only be told to someone they trusted, like family.

Family?

The Lian Family’s eyes darkened, glancing toward the main building.

Could it be Jiang Yunuan who told Mrs. Jiang Deng? Those two were sisters-in-law, after all, very close sisters-in-law!

The Lian Family’s heart ached dully; supposedly, Jiang Yunuan wasn’t aware of that night’s events, but what if...

Taking a deep breath, the Lian Family forced a smile and said to Mrs. Jiang Deng and Mrs. Fang Jiang, "With our third sister-in-law ill, aren’t you afraid of catching it? I’ll have someone take you over shortly."

Mrs. Fang Jiang carried a faint smile, feeling there was more to the Lian Family’s words, hence not replying quickly.

Mrs. Jiang Deng didn’t catch the meaning and nodded, "She’s our own aunt; there’s nothing to worry about catching an illness or not."

The Lian Family smiled in response.

Once someone was sent to guide the Jiang women and their daughters-in-law, the Lian Family gritted her teeth in private.

Du Yunluo, upon hearing the two women were going to meet Mrs. Xu, smiled and said to Madam Wu, "After all, family connections are being solidified; it’s rare for them to visit, so all the formalities must be thorough."

Madam Wu did not want Mrs. Xu and the Jiang Family to face each other directly, as there was tension between them, and conversing would only be troublesome.

However, Du Yunluo’s reasoning was sound—people wanted to observe etiquette, so Madam Wu could not obstruct it.

The Lian Family also overheard this.

Etiquette? Why didn’t Mrs. Jiang Deng thoroughly observe proper etiquette in Fengyu Courtyard the previous time?

Despite her thoughts, the Lian Family refrained from revealing anything unusual in front of Madam Wu.

After the guests who came to witness the ceremony gradually departed post-wash day, Mrs. Jiang Deng and Mrs. Fang Jiang received the cold shoulder at Mrs. Xu’s place and returned to Shangxin Courtyard to complain to Jiang Yunuan before heading back.

The Lian Family returned to Fengyu Courtyard, initially wanting to chat with Mu Lianhui, but Mu Lianhui headed straight for the East Cross Courtyard without looking back, ignoring the Lian Family’s calls.

With frustration building up in her chest, the Lian Family went inside and lay down on the couch.

When Mu Yuanmou returned home, the Lian Family was still lying there.

"What’s wrong? Are you sick?" Mu Yuanmou asked her.

The Lian Family was most irritated by the word "sick" at the moment, and upon hearing it, a fire surged in her chest.

Despite her anger, the Lian Family didn’t lose her temper completely; she simply clenched her teeth and recounted the events to Mu Yuanmou.

"Could it be that Lian Cheng’s wife told her family?" the Lian Family fumed, "Her eldest sister-in-law suddenly remembers manners now; why didn’t she come to Fengyu Courtyard last time? Just because I’m no longer managing the household, all their eyes are suddenly skewed?"

Mu Yuanmou’s long, slender eyes remained as calm as water, and he glanced at the Lian Family slowly before going into the inner room to change clothes.

The Lian Family followed inside.

Mu Yuanmou changed into a long robe for home use, and the discarded robe was immediately thrown into the water basin in the washroom: "Why suddenly pay attention to these minor things?

Lian Cheng’s wife isn’t stupid; why would she tell her family?

Don’t let your imagination run wild—it’s not that big of a deal.

If you really want to ponder, focus on Lian Xiao’s wife. Over the past month, she’s managed everything in the mansion very smoothly, and even the maids and matrons under you are now listening to her."

The Lian Family was speechless.

The maids and matrons under her? They were obviously fair-weather friends, the kind who knew which way the wind was blowing.

According to Mu Yuanmou’s wishes, she had selected these shrewd stewards at the outset.

When the second house was still slowly gaining power, these people wouldn’t act recklessly to cause trouble for the Lian Family, nor would they spread any rumors to Baijie Hall, but once the second house gained influence, these fair-weather friends would all suddenly switch sides.

And now, they swayed with the wind toward the main house.

The Lian Family wanted to say they weren’t her people, but seeing Mu Yuanmou wasn’t interested, she didn’t say it aloud, only silently fuming.

Minor matters? Imaginings? Exaggerations?

Wasn’t Mu Yuanmou the one who was overly meticulous about every little thing?

The clothes he changed into in the morning had to be replaced by noon, claiming they were dusty and dirty.

The Lian Family had instructed people to take them outside to dust them off, but Mu Yuanmou wouldn’t have it; they had to be washed and sun-dried first.

Such stubbornness over "minor matters" not only baffled the Lian Family but made even the maid Mu Lianhui feel difficult to serve.

As for the brothers Mu Liancheng and Mu Lianyu, they grew up training shirtless, got rained on, and rolled in the mud. After a circle at the training ground on horseback, which of them wasn’t drenched in sweat and covered in mud?

But the two of them didn’t have nearly as many clothes as Mu Yuanmou combined.

Having changed into clean clothes, Mu Yuanmou headed to the front courtyard. The Lian Family glanced at the clothes soaking in the washroom basin and called in Zhu Shan, asking her to take them outside for the maids to wash.

Zhu Shan handed the damp clothes to the laundry maid and retrieved the set of clothes that had just been sun-dried in the morning.

The Lian Family initially wanted to fold them herself, but after folding one piece, she remembered Mu Yuanmou’s earlier words and threw the clothes aside.

"Leave it; none of us can fold them as neatly as he can," the Lian Family muttered.

Zhu Shan smiled awkwardly; while the Lian Family might say that, Zhu Shan didn’t dare follow suit. Whether or not Mu Yuanmou would complain about the neatness of the folded clothes, she carefully folded and put them away.