Chapter 13: Confronting the Shrew, Reprogramming the Matriarch

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Nanny Li’s face was swollen and her mouth bleeding from several harsh slaps. She fell to her knees in front of Madam Lu, wailing, “Madam, please stand up for your humble servant!”

“Lin, how dare you! Nanny Li is my person!” Madam Lu trembled with fury. She never imagined Lin Wanqing would be so bold as to strike her servant right before her eyes! This was a complete disregard for her authority!

Lin Wanqing smiled faintly. “Grandmother-in-law, this Nanny Li scolded me, your daughter-in-law, over your head. Does she despise you, or does she despise the general?”

“I am the legitimate daughter-in-law of the Lu family, the face of the Lu household. For a mere servant to so blatantly slap your face—it’s as if they think our Lu family has no backbone.”

Madam Lu was soft-hearted and easily swayed by others, but even the softest of ears have their untouchable limits.

And the men of the Lu family were her untouchable limits!

“Outrageous!” Madam Lu slammed the table.

Nanny Li was smug. How dare a newly arrived merchant girl move against her? Didn’t she know who Nanny Li was? She was the most trusted by Madam Lu and held great standing in the entire Lu mansion.

Before she could fully revel in her triumph, Madam Lu grabbed a teacup and hurled it at her. “You wretched dog, how dare you look down on the Lu family? Where did you get the gall?”

Nanny Li was stunned on the spot. In all her years in the household, she had never been treated like this by Madam Lu, so she was at a loss.

Lin Wanqing, standing nearby, poured fuel on the fire. “Grandmother-in-law, do you see? She doesn’t take you seriously at all. Perhaps she already considers herself the mistress behind your back; otherwise, how else could she dare to scold her daughter-in-law on your behalf?”

Nanny Li finally snapped back to reality. This merchant girl was trying to ruin her!

Cold sweat broke out, and she was nearly terrified out of her wits. Falling to the ground, she kowtowed repeatedly. “Madam, please see clearly. Your servant never harbored such intentions. I only spoke out in haste because the lady treated you so disrespectfully. I have served by your side for many years, with utmost loyalty. Madam, please believe me!”

Being an old servant, Madam Lu’s heart softened again.

But before she could speak, Lin Wanqing calmly added, “Was it really just a momentary overstep? Grandmother-in-law, think carefully—has this Nanny Li ever made decisions on her own without your consent?”

Madam Lu’s soft nature and the arrogance of her servants made it clear: Nanny Li’s audacity to reprimand her meant she was used to overstepping her bounds and clearly did not respect Madam Lu. Acting without permission, even making decisions without consulting her, must have happened many times.

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Sure enough, as Madam Lu pondered, her face darkened.

Lin Wanqing seized the moment. “Mother, outsiders all say you have a kind nature and do no harm. With a heart like a Bodhisattva’s, you wouldn’t harshly punish me, your daughter-in-law, even if I had erred. Yet today you act so out of character—it must be because that old hag whispered poison in your ear.”

“Grandmother-in-law, I just married in today, and the general was immediately sent to the frontier. Our household is at its most vulnerable moment. We should unite tightly to guard the general’s estate so he can focus on the battlefield. If rumors of discord between us mother- and daughter-in-law spread now, it would surely affect the general’s spirit. A soldier’s mind must remain steady; any distraction could be disastrous…”

Lin Wanqing stopped herself, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief, feigning deep worry.

Madam Lu feared nothing more than harm befalling her men on the battlefield. Her husband and two sons had died there, leaving only one son left. She could not bear any mishap.

The thought that she almost caused her son distress filled her with dread, but she would not blame herself. Instead, she cast all the blame onto Nanny Li.

“Bring those who harbor ill intentions to drag this old schemer away and give her twenty lashes!”

Nanny Li was terrified beyond reason, kowtowing desperately. “Madam, have mercy! I won’t dare again! I know my mistake! Please spare me!”

The servants sent to seize her deliberately loosened their grip so she fell at Madam Lu’s feet.

Nanny Li clung to Madam Lu’s legs, weeping sincerely.

Seeing her like that, Madam Lu’s heart softened slightly.

Lin Wanqing smiled faintly. “Grandmother-in-law, have you heard? She always knew what she was doing. That defiance comes from looking down on the entire general’s household.”

Madam Lu’s wavering vanished instantly. She kicked out. “Hurry and drag her away! Do you want to be lashed alongside her?”

Only then did the servants haul Nanny Li off.

Soon, the sound of lashes and Nanny Li’s screams echoed through the courtyard.

Madam Lu listened uneasily.

Lin Wanqing said to Zisu, “Go, gag her so she doesn’t scare Madam.”

Zisu went out immediately. Soon, only the sound of lashes remained.

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Lin Wanqing stepped forward and helped Madam Lu up. “Grandmother-in-law, you’ve had a long day. We can talk everything through tomorrow. Please rest now; no matter the urgency, your health is paramount. Only if you are well can the general fight with peace of mind. Isn’t that right?”

Madam Lu nodded repeatedly. “You’re right. I must take care of myself and not cause trouble for my son.”

Lin Wanqing accompanied her to the courtyard gate. Madam Lu said, “This is far enough. You’ve worked hard today—rest early. It won’t matter if you bring tea a little later tomorrow.”

Lin Wanqing took the opportunity. “Thank you, grandmother-in-law, for your consideration.”

After seeing Madam Lu off, Lin Wanqing had the maids close the courtyard gates.

She went inside, changed, and soaked herself in the bath barrel. Banxia and Zisu came in to attend her.

While massaging Lin Wanqing, Banxia said, “I didn’t expect the general’s household to be such a mess. Even a nanny dares to be this arrogant.”

Zisu added, “And it’s not just her. The servants band together fiercely.”

Banxia sighed, worried. “We’re outnumbered and weak. They are the old guard of the general’s household. If they unite against us…”

Lin Wanqing smiled. “What’s there to fear? No matter how arrogant, none can escape that binding contract. The sensible ones stay and serve; the stubborn ones get sold off and replaced.”

“You worry too much. That Nanny Li is one of Madam Lu’s favorites, yet I just put her in her place.”

“With her as the lead chicken, the other monkeys will think twice before acting wild.”

In Madam Lu’s courtyard,

Her mood had lightened considerably after Lin Wanqing’s words, and her steps were lighter as she returned.

Just as she entered the courtyard, a figure rushed toward her. “Mother, how did it go? Has that merchant girl been subdued?”