She got pregnant after the swap marriage, and the scumbag's family regretted it so much they cr

Lu Huan suppressed her tears and replied, "Yes, but it wasn't as dirty as it is now. This used to be my mother's courtyard. After she passed away, because I'm not used to sleeping in the same bed, we never moved. Later, they just gave it to me to live in."

She walked to the seat in the main seat, pointed to the seat next to her, and said to Gao Yan, "Sit down, let's deal with the person first."

He then instructed Lu Zheng, "Steward, please call everyone in."

"You're too kind, Miss!"

Soon, all the maids in the courtyard came in one after another.

In order to keep Lu Huan firmly under her control, Madam Li did not arrange for any elderly nannies to stay in Lu Huan's courtyard. Lu Huan's former wet nurse had also been sent away from the Lu family long ago, and it was unknown where she had been sent.

Lu Huan's gaze swept across their faces one by one, trying to recall their identities.

Xiangqiao, who was in charge, was the daughter of Lu Chengde's capable steward, and her mother was in charge of the main kitchen. Often, Lu Huan's words carried less weight than Xiangqiao's.

Lu Huan had never cared about these things before, or rather, she had been taught by Li Shi not to care.

Xiangqiao stood in front of the crowd, looking extremely impatient. Her eyes darted around, sizing up Lu Huan and his wife, or she would straighten her clothes.

So what if she's a young lady? Marrying a peasant only adds to her poverty and bad luck. If the head butler hadn't been here, she definitely wouldn't have come at his behest.

Just as they were getting impatient, Lu Huan spoke up: "Now that I'm married, and my husband's family isn't large, it's impossible for me to take you all with me. So I wanted to ask you yourselves what your plans are for the future?"

Xiangqiao rolled her eyes and thought to herself: Who would want to go to that rural place with you!

The other maids were also somewhat uneasy. Although their parents weren't as powerful as Xiangqiao's, they still had considerable influence in the household. After the news of the swapped marriage broke, their parents had some suspicions and knew the true nature of the Gao family.

Although I don't understand why the second young lady wanted to steal the eldest young lady's husband, the Gao family was definitely not a good place to go.

They remained silent, waiting for Lu Huan to continue.

Lu Huan didn't keep them waiting too long: "Whether this courtyard is left empty in the future, or given to my aunt, or my eldest brother's children, you can no longer stay here..."

"Why?" Xiangqiao interrupted Lu Huan before he could finish speaking.

Lu Huan smiled slightly: "This is also to save expenses for the backyard. I won't need you to serve me anymore, so why should I continue to keep you in my yard?"

Before Xiangqiao could respond, she continued, “There are three options now: one is to send you back to your parents, and then it will depend on your own abilities to find a job for you.”

The second condition is that you be released. Considering the time you've served me, I can plead with Father for a favor: let your whole family leave.

Lu Huan paused, waiting for the maids' reaction. Sure enough, one of them couldn't wait any longer: "What about the third one?"

"The third option, of course, is to follow me. I also have a estate as part of my dowry; those who wish to continue following me can go to my estate."

As soon as Lu Huan finished speaking, the maids standing below immediately began to whisper among themselves.

Lu Huan knew that this wasn't a decision they could easily make on their own. She slammed her hand on the table a few times, making a loud thud.

"You can go back and discuss it with your parents now, and let me know your decision in two hours. Otherwise, I will send them all to Li's courtyard."

Xiangqiao was the first to make a decision. She first curtsied, and then said, "Miss, I have thought it through. I will go back to my parents."

"Okay, go ahead!" Lu Huan simply nodded, showing no intention of stopping him.

Gradually, more maids came forward, indicating that they also wanted to return to their parents' side.

Lu Huan had the head butler write down all the names.

At this moment, Bao'er and Yuan'er stepped forward and said together, "Young Miss, we are willing to follow you!"

Lu Huan recognized the two women as the cleaning maids who had been purchased five years ago. They were of ordinary appearance, but their honesty and diligence were their strengths.

Before, when Xiangqiao and the others were playing around, it was the two of them who were cleaning the yard.

She smiled and tentatively asked, "Going to my estate means doing farm work. Can you handle it?"

"I can!" "I can!" they both exclaimed in unison.

Both of them were originally from farming families. They were sold by their families and moved around to several places before finally arriving at the Lu family.

Therefore, they had no objection to the arrangement of going to the village.

The remaining maids were different; they all took their leave, making an excuse to go back and discuss it with their parents, and Lu Huan agreed to it.

After they left, only the six of them remained in the main room, and Lu Huan felt that the air was much fresher.

Gao Yan took her hand and held it in his palm: "You could have just grabbed something and tapped it on the table a few times, why did you have to use your own hand? Let me see if it's red?"

Lu Huan quickly withdrew her hand, glanced at the others, and said coquettishly, "The head butler is still here!"

She cleared her throat and said to Bao'er and Yuan'er, "Let's go, let's go pack together."

The two quickly understood what Lu Huan meant by "tidying up": all of Lu Huan's personal belongings in his inner room and study needed to be properly disposed of, especially his clothes, purse, and letters he had written before.

Lu Zheng sensed something was off and advised, "Miss, it's not like you won't be coming back for short stays in the future, why take everything with you?"

Lu Huan pointed to the two large wooden crates that had been packed and said, "These are keepsakes left to me by my mother. Can't I take them with me?"

"Sure, sure!" Lu Zheng secretly wiped away imaginary sweat from his forehead, as if he had just remembered something. "Miss, I just remembered, there's something in the front yard that needs my attention. I'll be right back!"

"Go ahead." Lu Huan didn't even look up, continuing to throw the large characters he had written before into the brazier.

Lu Zheng must have gone to get reinforcements, but even if Lu Chengde comes, so what!

It is true that some families cherish their married daughters and will specially preserve the courtyards they had before their marriage, but the Lu family is not one of them.

Lu Huan and Li Shi had almost completely broken off relations, and in order to prevent Li Shi from using her things to cause trouble, Lu Huan had to take precautions.

She pursed her lips, tossed a few more large sheets of paper into the brazier, and looked up at Shi Gu, asking, "Do you still remember what my father looked like?"

"Go back to your employer, remember."

"Very good! Go and guard the courtyard gate. My father and the head steward are welcome to come in, as are women. But if any other men try to follow, just throw them out!"

"Yes!" Shi Gu excitedly ran out. Seeing a broom lying on the ground in the middle of the yard, he picked it up as if possessed.

Madam Li had previously sent people to secretly monitor Lu Huan's movements, and she was somewhat puzzled when she saw the maids leaving one after another.

Upon receiving the news from the front yard, Li could no longer sit still.

She slammed her hand on the table, gritting her teeth, and said, "This Lu Huan, is he really some kind of demon?! Let's go! Let's go see him!"