Chapter 611: Chapter 610 Modesty
At the center of the courtyard, there stood a pavilion, and inside the pavilion was a woman.
The woman, roughly in her thirties, was dressed simply, with a sapphire-encrusted pearl hairpin on her head. Her cheeks were thin, her eyes sunken, giving her a somewhat sickly appearance. Yet, it could not mask the noble air that emanated from her.
"Ling, come and pay respects to your mother-in-law!" Liu Zheng hurriedly tugged on Liu Ling’s sleeve, gesturing for her to greet his mother.
Liu Ling gave a slight nod before kneeling on the ground and kowtowing three times.
"Mother! Your child has returned!"
"Ling, get up," said Madam Liu, smiling gently.
Liu Ling stood up and then stepped back behind Liu Zheng.
Liu Zheng, watching Liu Ling’s gestures, couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Ling’er has really grown more beautiful, becoming more feminine as the days pass!
Madam Liu’s gaze was sizing up Liu Ling.
Liu Ling had exquisite features, skin fairer than snow, smooth and delicate as a peeled egg, tempting one to take a bite.
What was most important was her figure, which was so perfect that it could make men envious.
Most crucially, she was still a maiden unacquainted with worldly affairs, exuding a sense of greenness, shyness, and tenderness.
As her husband, Liu Zheng naturally couldn’t show too much emotion, lest he arouse his husband’s suspicions.
Although Liu Zheng was a son born to a concubine, the Liu Family did not arrange for him to marry an official wife after he came of age, instead choosing an ordinary girl to be his wife.
That ordinary girl was Liu Ling.
This union, despite shortchanging Liu Zheng, suited the interests of the Liu Residence more, after all, he was still young.
Not long after their marriage, Liu Ling gave birth to Liu Yuan. Such an outcome set the Liu Family at ease after Liu Ling had the child.
"Ah, what a delicate and lovely young girl!" praised Madam Liu with a smile.
"Mother! You are very beautiful too!" exclaimed Liu Zheng sincerely.
Liu Ling stood beside him, her cheeks tinged with a hint of red.
"Haha, you sweet talker!" laughed Madam Liu heartily. "Where is your father?"
"Father is behind us. Let’s go over there!" Liu Zheng said.
"Hmm!" Madam Liu nodded, following Liu Zheng as they made their way to the back courtyard.
Liu Zheng held Liu Ling’s hand, admiring the scenery of the Liu Residence as they walked towards the back courtyard.
The back courtyard of the Liu Residence was likewise distinctive, with a large lotus pond filled with various lotus leaves.
Beside the lotus pond, there were many small cabins with luxurious decorations inside.
"Mother, this is my room!" Liu Zheng pointed to the small building in front, saying.
"Hehe, truly my good son!" Madam Liu laughed.
"Father, mother!" Liu Zheng glanced at his parents and asked, "What day is today’s banquet for, and why are there so many people?"
"Oh, that’s because today is your second uncle’s wedding day! Your second aunt mentioned you were still at home, so she asked me to call you to join as well," she replied.
"I see!" Liu Zheng suddenly understood.
"Hmm. Oh yes, Zheng’er, today’s feast is one that the Liu Family has seldom seen in over a hundred years; you’re not allowed to slack off!" said Madam Liu.
"Don’t worry, mother!" Liu Zheng nodded and smiled. "I’ll certainly put on my best performance today and strive to carry a grandson soon."
"Nonsense!" Just as Liu Zheng finished speaking, a stern voice sounded, and a woman in her forties or fifties approached.
Despite looking weary and her face marked with wrinkles, with messy hair, her attire left no doubt that she must be the mistress of the Liu Residence.
Upon seeing this woman, Liu Zheng and Liu Ling immediately paid their respects, saying, "Daughter greets mother!"
Madam Liu also quickly paid her respects, saying, "This concubine greets the Old Madame!"
Although Liu Zheng and Liu Ling were only in their early twenties, they referred to the Old Madame as ’mother,’ showing the deep respect they had for the Liu Family.
"Rise, both of you," said the Old Madame, nodding. "Today is the joyous day of your second uncle. You two are not allowed to slack off either; you must diligently help your second uncle, understand?"
"Your daughter understands!"
"Alright, that’s enough, you two should also hurry down and freshen up!" Butler Liu waved her hand.
Afterwards, Lady Liu held Liu Zheng’s hand and left the Liu Family estate.
Within the inner part of the Liu Family estate, there was another large courtyard, which belonged to Butler Liu.
The courtyard was not very large, but it was winning in its quiet elegance. The courtyard walls were covered with various kinds of green bamboo, creating a poetic vista.
Liu Zheng took Lady Liu’s hand and together they proceeded to the Liu Family’s backyard.
In the backyard, there were two, three-story high pavilions.
Liu Zheng’s mother was named Lady Zhang, and she was Liu Zheng’s birth aunt.
Liu Zheng and Lady Zhang always treated each other with mutual respect, harmoniously like husband and wife.
Not only that, but Butler Liu usually treated Lady Zhang like her own daughter-in-law, showing her extreme affection.
In the Liu Family, Lady Zhang’s word was almost law. Even if Liu Zheng and Lady Liu made mistakes, as long as Lady Zhang didn’t mind, the Liu Family would not blame them.
Inside the household, who would dare to disrespect Lady Zhang?
"Mother!"
"Second Sister!"
When Liu Zheng and Lady Zhang met, they greeted each other.
"Hmm, today is your second uncle’s wedding; you must prepare well too, you know?" Lady Zhang glanced at Liu Zheng and reminded him.
"Mother!" Liu Zheng wasn’t happy.
For the past few months, Liu Zheng could say he had suffered greatly, living each day in fear and trepidation; he had no desire to attend that godforsaken banquet, especially since it involved his own marriage, which made it even more unacceptable to him.
"Hmm? What is it? You don’t want to?" Lady Zhang frowned and asked.
"No... no, how could I not want to?" Liu Zheng quickly changed his tone.
"Hmph!" Lady Zhang snorted coldly and said, "Let me tell you, if you cause me trouble again, don’t blame me for disowning you as my son."
"Mother, I know!" Liu Zheng sighed helplessly.
"Alright, you two should rest for now. The banquet will start soon!"
After saying this, Lady Zhang turned around and left Liu Zheng’s room.
"Ah~~~"
Liu Zheng sat on the bed, listlessly sighing.
He was already regretting having agreed to his father to leave all the Liu Family’s property to him, allowing him to inherit the Liu Family.
"Forget it, this is life, I suppose. Rather than handing over all the money to someone else, it’s better to deposit all the silver into the national treasury, or give it to the court, which is certainly better than giving it to others."
Liu Zheng comforted himself in his heart, but felt that this decision was rather foolish.
"Ah~~" Liu Zheng sighed again, suddenly feeling like the dog kept by the Liu Family.
His mood worsened at the thought.
"Enough, I don’t want to think about these troublesome matters anymore." Liu Zheng patted his head and said, "I’d better go wash up now."
With that, Liu Zheng got up from the bed and walked towards the bathroom.
While Liu Zheng was bathing, a maid rushed frantically into the room, knelt by the bed, and wept, "Young Master, it’s terrible! Lady Liu has been assassinated!"
"What?"
Liu Zheng suddenly stopped what he was doing and looked up, asking, "What’s the situation? Tell me in detail!"
Liu Zheng’s father, Liu Yuan, when Liu Zheng was seventeen years old, was promoted a level up because of some outstanding achievements, becoming the steward of the Liu Family.
This time, the wife he took was none other than his second brother Liu Zheng’s lawful wife, as well as his only concubine. Liu Yuan was a man of sentiment and integrity, treasuring his wife deeply. After marrying her, he never took another concubine nor did he seek other women outside.
In Liu Zheng’s memory, this aunt had always been very kind to him, and he got along well with her.
"Young Master, it was during Lady Liu and the third miss’s attendance at Lord Wang’s wedding. The third miss got drunk, and then was escorted back to her courtyard by Lady Liu. Not long after, Lady Liu was dead!" the maid sobbed.
"What did you say?!" Liu Zheng erupted in anger.
