SBCEJM -Chapter 329 Strange Scene at the Lu Residence: The Matriarch Brings Her Son’s Mistress into the House as the Husband’s Concubine

Outside the tall walls of the Lu Residence, the dense shade of an old locust tree cast a cool patch of shadow.

Feng Zhaoyan and Liu Si had just hidden themselves in the cover of the tree when a carriage came galloping to a stop in front of the gate.

The curtain was yanked open, and a young man in fine robes jumped down.

He was handsome, but his hairpin was slightly crooked, his robe hem stained with dust from the journey, and his face dark with anger.

He stormed straight toward the vermilion gate, fury wrapping around him like a storm.

【Host, the main character has arrived! The second legitimate son of the Minister of Rites—Lu Ziang.】

The system spoke with a tone that clearly enjoyed the drama.

【He’s just returned from an official trip, and on the way he heard shocking news.】

【The woman he had kept outside as a treasured mistress for over two years—his beloved—has been “promoted” by his father into a concubine of his father’s household!】

【Now he’s back to settle the score in a rage!】

Feng Zhaoyan’s eyes lit up instantly.

【Oh? Right on time! Perfect timing!】

【We need to grab front-row VIP seats for this!】

Then she paused and thought to herself.

【But… who exactly is he here to confront? His father, or that woman who changed sides?】

【Host, do you even need to think about that?】 the system scoffed.

【Does he have the guts to question his father? When a father steals his son’s woman, if this gets exposed, the one who loses face is still him.】

【Everyone picks the softest persimmon to squeeze. That’s an eternal truth.】

Feng Zhaoyan signaled Liu Si with her eyes.

Liu Si understood immediately and pulled out a thick rope with a grappling hook from her bundle.

With full focus, she swung her arm—thud—the hook latched firmly onto the top of the wall.

After testing its stability, she gripped the rope and climbed up the wall with agile, practiced movements, clearly someone who had done this many times before.

When Liu Si reached the top and looked back to help Feng Zhaoyan, she found that Feng had already appeared inside the courtyard behind the screen wall.

Hands behind her back, Feng stood there calmly, her skirt spotless, watching her as if she had simply walked through a door.

Liu Si slid down and landed quietly inside.

When she looked at Feng Zhaoyan again, her eyes were practically shining.

She clenched her fists—not out of excitement, but because she was afraid she might squeal from sheer exhilaration and disturb this… divine leader of gossip-hunting.

The two moved like faint shadows, slipping deeper into the Lu Residence.

They passed winding corridors and rock gardens before quickly locating their target.

In front of a small, elegant courtyard, Lu Ziang was lurking suspiciously by the door, his ear pressed tightly against a crack, eavesdropping.

His fingers gripped the door frame so hard that his knuckles had turned white.

Feng Zhaoyan gestured, and the two of them circled around to the back, peering through a window slit.

Inside the room, a dignified and elegant woman was speaking to a young, beautiful lady.

The woman looked about forty, well-maintained, her features carrying the natural authority of a matriarch.

She was the official wife of Minister Lu—Madam Zhang.

At the moment, there was no jealousy or resentment on her face. Instead, she looked every bit the kind elder, smiling so warmly that fine lines gathered at the corners of her eyes.

“Good child, once you enter the Lu family, you are one of us.”

Madam Zhang patted the woman’s hand affectionately.

That woman was Lu Ziang’s former mistress—now Lady Hu.

Lady Hu sat demurely with lowered eyes, her expression shy and obedient, perfectly portraying a gentle and well-behaved demeanor.

“The master is getting older, his energy isn’t what it used to be. You should take more care of him and serve him well,” Madam Zhang continued.

As she spoke, she took out a pouch from her sleeve and placed it into Lady Hu’s hand.

“There are some nourishing prescriptions I’ve prepared for you. Have the kitchen stew them accordingly.”

“Do your best to bear children for the Lu family as soon as possible. If you give birth to a son, I’ll reward you with one hundred taels of silver. Even if it’s a daughter, you’ll still get fifty taels!”

She said it casually, as if discussing what to have for dinner.

【What the—! The main wife personally pushing childbirth quotas and even setting prices?!】

Feng Zhaoyan exclaimed inwardly.

【Her heart is huge! As big as the sea! No—bigger than the sea!】

【It’s more than that, Host.】 the system immediately jumped in with gossip.

【Madam Zhang has been married to Minister Lu for over twenty years and has already arranged six concubines into the household with her own hands.】

【Every single time, she smiled more sincerely than the groom himself.】

【This time, it’s simply because Minister Lu has been complaining about his back lately and keeps trying to “revisit old romance” with her. She found it annoying, so she quickly promoted a beautiful woman from her son’s mistress pool into the household—to distract him.】

【Two birds with one stone: she gets peace and rest, and maintains her reputation as a virtuous wife. Brilliant.】

Feng Zhaoyan’s jaw nearly dropped.

【Taking in a concubine just to redirect her husband’s attention and get a vacation?! What kind of operation is this?! I’ve learned something today…】

Beside her, Liu Si was already furiously writing in a small notebook with a charcoal pencil.

Very seriously, she recorded:

“Advanced matriarchal strategy #3: Avoiding spousal disturbance to improve quality of life.”

To be included in Chapter 3 of The Survival Guide for Elite Household Matriarchs…

Inside the room, Madam Zhang suddenly shivered.

She paused, furrowing her brows as her gaze swept around warily.

Who? Who was speaking just now?

The voice was clearly right beside her—distinct and clear—but there was no one in the room except her and Lady Hu.

A chill crept up her neck, and an inexplicable unease rose in her spine.

Losing interest in the conversation, she excused herself and stood up.

“You should rest well. I have other matters to attend to.”

Outside the courtyard, Lu Ziang heard footsteps and quickly hid behind a rockery.

When Madam Zhang left, his pent-up rage could no longer be contained. His eyes turned red as he stormed into the room.

Bang!

The door was slammed open violently.

“Speak!”

He rushed up to Lady Hu and grabbed her by the throat, his face twisted in rage, squeezing out each word through clenched teeth:

“Why did you betray me?! Why did you become my father’s woman?!”

His fingers tightened continuously. Lady Hu’s face flushed red, struggling for breath, panic flashing in her eyes.

But that panic lasted only an instant before being replaced by cold determination.

She stopped struggling. Instead, she grabbed his hand and forcefully pried his fingers off her neck with shocking decisiveness.

Straightening her disheveled clothes, her expression turned eerily calm.

She looked directly at the man she once loved, her lips parting slowly.

“It’s… because Madam offered too much.”

Lu Ziang’s fury froze in his throat, his face turning crimson.

A mocking curve appeared on Lady Hu’s lips.

“She promised me wealth and fine clothes, and a legitimate status. If I bear a child, I’ll have security for the rest of my life.”

She stepped forward, looking up at him.

“Master Lu, can what you gave me—your ‘monthly drizzle’ of silver—compare to that?”

“I stayed with you for two years. I lived in a broken courtyard outside the city, wore coarse clothes, and didn’t even have a decent piece of jewelry.”

“But after entering this residence for only three days, the gold hairpins and jade bracelets Madam gifted me already outweigh everything you gave me in two years combined.”

“Tell me—how was I supposed to choose?”