The Marquis' Wife

Adelia's Decree

Lu Huanran grasped the letter Lu Xiang had just read. His face blackened, he did not expect that Lu Xiang would dare to commemorate even threaten him, the nephew who had always been secretly bullied dared to do that to him!.

But the threat had so pierced his heart that it had managed to scare him and be alert and that was what made him so angry. The niece who he thought was not a barrier for him turned into a threat.

Lu Huanran did not like Lu Xiang, he knew the potential of his nephew when he saw how quickly the young man understood the textbooks. Lu Xiang's ability made him anxious and worried that his family would turn to focus on his nephew rather than himself, so he got around to making his mother increasingly dislike Lu Xiang, luckily, there is a stupid brother who can be manipulated.

When moving to the city of Qincheng, Lu Huanran no longer looked for the living conditions of Lu Xiang who had been expelled from the house, he thought that he would be a vagrant because he had no money or place to live.

But his prediction was wrong!! Not only did his nephew continue school he even graduated to Xie Hsien!!. Lu Huanran's hand shook withstanding the turbulent emotions in his chest.

"Huanran, I didn't expect you to be Xie Hsien Lu's uncle. Are you close to your nephew?". A colleague asked curiously.

Lu Huanran regained his senses and smiled stiffly. "He already has a family and lives in Cheng city, I rarely communicate with him due to the long distance".

"Ah, but soon your niece will take the fu-shih exam right? Sometimes invite your nephew to drink with us" said another friend Lu Huanran. Who wouldn't want to have a relationship with Xie Hsien who has a bright future.

Lu Huanran could barely maintain his smile. "Alright, my nephew is a quiet, stiff man. He rarely socializes with others, maybe he will reject my invitation".

"Take it first maybe he'll accept your invitation because you're his uncle".

Lu Huanran's stiff smile turned into a grimacing smile. "alright. If he goes to Qincheng, I'll take him for a drink together". His colleague's praise and enthusiasm for Lu Xiang left Huanran's heart burning with envy and jealousy.

In contrast to Lu Huanran's chaotic mood in the morning, lu Xiang's mood was very bright when he saw his friend's reaction according to his prediction after hearing him say that there was no more stock of fruit wine for them.

"It's a pity, if there is any I want to give to grandfather" Zhang Yunlei sighed in disappointment.

"I'm sorry". Adelia's stock of fruit wine was not so much anymore, she could not give it to Zhang Yunlei and not the others.

Zhang Yunlei waved his hands not accepting Lu Xiang's apology. "Don't do that, I should be the one apologizing for putting you in an uncomfortable situation".

Lu Xiang chuckled. "You asked for wine because you thought of me as a friend". His words made Zhang Yunlei feel pleased.

"It's a student society invitation, you have to come on time".

"Of course" Lu Xiang looked at the yellowish-green invitation then smiled slightly.

Lu Xiang's dinner invitation made the man's reputation even better among students and scholars and even made Adelia famous and a concern of many, especially for women because of their skills in business and the creativity and talent they have.

Not only that, though, adelia's beauty began to fall into the category of beautiful women in Cheng city to make the women who came from respectable scholar families consider sending an invitation to Lu Xiang's wife to socialize and build relationships good.

&&&

Adelia goes to a nui bureaucracy where she sells property including human slaves. He decided to buy two more servants before releasing Lu Lian and marrying her away from Cheng city.

After thinking back, he still could not bear to sell back the 12-year-old girl to the nui bureaucracy because if anything happened to him then he would definitely feel regret. Lu Xiang handed over all the decisions to her and Adelia's decision was to give up the status of a slave and marry Lu Lian to a distant village.

His decision was not only based on the consciousness and morals he had but because he also thought of Lu Fang and Lu Cai. If he were to return Lu Lian to the nui bureaucracy then it would definitely be a wedge in the family's heart sooner or later because after all Lu Lian was their flesh blood.

Now it might be that Lu Fang and Lu Cai did not say anything but if someone made the incident to make Lu Fang and Lu Cai betray Lu Xiang it would be very dangerous. The heart of who knows.

Letting go of Lu Lian's status and marrying her off to a good man was enough to make Lu Fang and Lu Cai feel overwhelmed and indebted to his family, it is better to guarantee the loyalty of both than to give more money.

"Oh! Lady Xie Hsien. Welcome, you want to pick a waiter again?". Bureaucratic managers were very enthusiastic about welcoming famous women like Adelia.

"Yes. Make sure they are loyal and smart in observing things, it would be better if they can also read and write". Adelia's discomfort was slightly lessened than the first time she visited the nui bureaucracy and saw the plight of the slaves.

"Hm~. The criteria you asked for are very high madam but you are lucky, I just got a new stock and there are some that fall under the criteria you requested".

Adelia smiled uncomfortably at the bureaucratic manager's view of the slaves but said nothing.

The fat manager clapped his hands and moments later the women and men lined up neatly in front of Adelia.

One of them was a woman in her 20s, with long hair with a clean body despite her tattered clothes. While the other one is still a 14-year-old girl who continues to look at Adelia to choose her.

"They're both. The old one worked in the Sheng family who became a teacher in Lin Academy, he was the slave of the legitimate wife of the deceased scholar Fu Lin, his second wife decided to sell him. While the young one works in a business family, he is sold because... What were you selling for?" Ask the manager.

The 14-year-old girl clasped her clothes tightly and said quietly. "I was sold because I didn't want to be a concubine".

"That's why. Hows madam? Are you satisfied with them?".

Adelia was stunned then thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. "I chose them both".

"Haha. Right choice madam, let's get me to complete the file".

Adelia signs the ownership papers for the two girls and goes home with them.

The restless Lu Lian from last night was surprised to see Adelia who was bringing in a new servant. His face was pale from thinking that his master would sell it.

"Lu Fang, come with me. I want to talk to you".

Lu Fang was stunned. "Good mistress".

"Mrs!!". Lu Lian immediately stopped Adelia's steps, she knelt down apologizing.

"I'm sorry servant madam, give servant one more chance. Servants don't want to be sold!!".

Lu Fang's eyes widened, he was stunned to realize that his son had made a fatal mistake without his knowledge. His body trembled, sad, disappointed, angry and resentful towards Lu Lian mixed in his chest, he did not expect that Lu Lian had completely ignored the words and acted selfishly, either, why did he not think about the fate of his family?!!.

Adelia let out a sigh. "I'm not selling you out, take it easy".

Lu Lian and Lu Fang were stunned. "really?!".

Adelia did not reply and stepped away as Lu Fang followed.

They went into the study room and stared long at Lu Fang who was trembling in fear.

"I won't sell Lu Lian".

Lu Fang's eyes were reddened from being moved, his master was so kind as not to sell the servant who made a mistake and still provided an opportunity to improve himself.

"But I don't want to keep it here either. I think you already know what's on your son's mind. To be honest, I'm happy and satisfied with your and Lu Cai's performance. You guys are loyal and work sincerely with the Lu family and on that consideration I chose to give up Lu Lian's status and marry her off to a good man".

Lu Fang's eyes widened. He prostrated himself so hard that he hit his head on the floor many times. "Thank you madam. Thank you so much, I can't say anything but thank you. Your kindness is as high as the sky as Buddha. I am so grateful to you, Madam". Tears poured down Lu Fang's cheeks, for the old man who was a slave their greatest hope was for their child not to be the same status as them.

"Wakeup. You can bleed if you keep hitting your head on the floor". Adelia immediately stopped Lu Fang who kept hitting his head to the ground.

"Mrs...".

"I will look for a good man for Lu Lian, the family of her future husband will not dare to bully Lu Lian because she is a servant of the Xie Hsien family. You talked this over to Lu Lian so she could understand".

"Good mistress. Servant will do that" Lu Fang nodded enthusiastically.

"Now go".

"Good mistress. Thank you for your kindness, madam. The servant and the servant's husband will not forget the kindness of the mistress who is as high as heaven". Lu Fang bowed again before coming out.

Adelia let out a long sigh, she felt guilty thinking about the profit and loss first of her decision when she saw the deep gratitude Lu Fang showed.

But what he did not expect was Lu Lian's reaction when he heard what he decided for his future.

The girl escaped in the middle of the night!!.