Clearheaded

"Don't you like the jade pendant your mother gave you?"

Qing shook his head. Of course he liked it.

Old Madam Lu continued, "Then why aren't you wearing it?"

Qing pressed his lips together, unwilling to speak.

Old Madam Lu held him and patiently coaxed him. "You're a good boy, Qing, and good children should respect their teachers and honor their teachings. Madam is not only your mother, but also your teacher. Since your teacher gave it to you, you should be grateful even if you don't like it, and you certainly shouldn't ignore it."

"Good boy, tell your great-grandmother why you don't want to wear the Jade Pendant."

The old madam was being so kind. Surely it would be all right to tell her?

Qing finally told the truth. "Mama made me throw away the brush zongzi, so I left the jade pendant in my room too. I don't want either of them."

"Brush zongzi?"

What was that? Old Madam Lu was utterly baffled.

Lu Zhengliu explained with a dark face, "It was Yun Wan's gift for his Enlightenment Ceremony."

Though she had never heard of such a thing, Old Madam Lu already had a bad feeling.

She did not want to say anything in front of the child, so she instructed Nanny Yan with a calm expression, "We'll be eating soon. Take Qing to wash his hands first."

"Yes."

Nanny Yan smiled as she walked over to Qing and held out her hand. "Young master, let me take you to wash your hands."

Qing had been hungry for some time and followed her with a smile.

As Nanny Yan left, she pulled the door shut behind her.

Old Madam Lu's face turned extremely grim. "Zhengliu, what is the brush zongzi for?"

Lu Zhengliu gave her a brief explanation.

When Ge Bao'er heard that its name sounded like "certain to pass," her face went pale.

It was an auspicious token for the start of her son's schooling, yet she had made him throw it away!

"Old Madam, I... I didn't know..."

Bang!

The old madam slammed her hand down on the table in fury.

Ge Bao'er's legs went weak with fright, and she nearly fell to her knees.

"Grandmother."

Seeing that the old madam's expression was no longer right, Lu Zhengliu hurriedly rose and went over to soothe her. He picked up a teacup and said, "Have a drink first."

"I won't. What a misfortune for our family!"

The old madam pressed her palms together toward the small Buddhist shrine and muttered, "Amitabha. Buddha, please protect him. The child was only being naughty for a moment. Please make certain he'll pass in the future. Amitabha..."

Ge Bao'er's delicate face was pale, and her eyes shimmered with tears. She looked very pitiful.

She truly had not known the zongzi had that meaning.

Lu Zhengliu turned and saw her looking like that, and could not bear to reproach her.

"Old Madam, Eldest Young Madam is here."

Everyone quickly composed themselves and put on a normal appearance.

As soon as Lin Yunwan entered, she saw Ge Bao'er with her head bowed. Even though she wore a veil, Lin Yunwan could tell that her complexion did not seem very good.

Had something unpleasant just happened?

She went in, paid her respects, and asked, "Old Madam, did you have instructions for me?"

Old Madam Lu was already smiling. "What instructions? I just asked you to come so our family could have dinner together."

They had not sent for her to make trouble for her?

Lin Yunwan found it very strange.

In her previous life, she had eagerly offered to teach Qing and had exhausted herself over his studies. Every one of them had feared she would not be devoted enough, and they had questioned her closely about matters large and small.

In this life, she had agreed to teach Qing only after making every excuse, yet now they were afraid of troubling her.

The human heart was truly difficult to understand.

Old Madam Lu instructed a servant, "Go and invite Madam over."

The maid had just gone out when Qing, having washed his hands, ran in.

"Great-grandmother, Father, I..."

He had just stepped over the threshold when he saw Lin Yunwan and froze for a moment.

The old madam reminded him, "Aren't you going to pay your respects to your mother?"

"Greetings, Mother."

Lin Yunwan nodded and asked casually, "Qing is here too? When did you arrive?"

Qing said, "Mother, I..."

He scratched his head, unable to work out how long he had been there, and said, "I've been here a long time."

He really did come often.

In fact, she should have noticed something in her previous life. It was simply that being a mother had gone to her head.

Now that she had cast off the role of mother in this life, she had suddenly seen many things clearly.

Lin Yunwan touched her teacup, looking thoughtful.

Could she have noticed something?

Old Madam Lu hurriedly added to Nanny Yan, "Go and call Chang Gong over too."

Soon, everyone in the Lu household except the Marquis of Wuding had gathered at the old madam's residence for dinner.

It really did look like a family reunion.

Ge Bao'er felt miserable.

"Old Madam, I... I'm not feeling well, so I'll go back first."

Lin Yunwan looked up at her. "Has the rash on your face still not healed? A young lady's looks are most important. I think I should invite a doctor to the residence to examine you tomorrow, Cousin."

"No, there's no need."

How could she dare let Lin Yunwan see her face now?

Ge Bao'er said in a fluster, "Thank you for your concern, Madam. I'm just having a little trouble adjusting to the local climate. It's nothing serious."

Old Madam Lu gave her a sidelong glance. "If you're not feeling well, why don't you hurry back and rest?"

"Yes."

Ge Bao'er turned away, laughter and cheerful voices behind her. She raised a hand to wipe her face as hot tears streamed down it.

After dinner, Wei Shi, the Marchioness, was the first to leave.

She had to care for her husband, who used a wheelchair. Although servants helped her, the Marquis of Wuding was sometimes of sound mind and also had a habit of losing his temper, so he could not do without her.

Old Madam Lu did not ask her to stay, but deliberately kept Lin Yunwan and Lu Zhengliu until last.

"Zhengliu, escort Yun Wan for me."

"Yes."

Old Madam Lu made a point of adding, "I know you're busy and have been staying in the outer courtyard. Escort Yun Wan back to Drooping Silk Hall."

Lu Zhengliu glanced at Lin Yunwan, pressed his lips together, and agreed. "...All right."

The two left the main hall. A sound of crying came from the side room, just loud enough for both of them to hear.

Lin Yunwan looked at the window of Ge Bao'er's room and said pointedly, "It seems Cousin Ge really should have a doctor examine her."

Lu Zhengliu said, "She's staying with Grandmother, so Grandmother will take care of it."

Was that so?

Lin Yunwan smiled at him.

Her smile had been faintly cool, but beneath the moonlight, it held a trace of tenderness.

By the time Lu Zhengliu recovered from his momentary daze, Lin Yunwan had already walked away.

He followed her.

When they reached the entrance to Drooping Silk Hall, Lin Yunwan turned to look at Lu Zhengliu and asked in surprise, "Are you really going to escort me back, Heir?"

After all, in her previous life, she had spent her whole life alone in an empty room!

She had been laughed at for it all her life too.

Later, she had taken concubines for him, and he had accepted them, yet he had left her alone.

"Grandmother told me to escort you."

How utterly ridiculous!

It was not the first time the old madam had said such a thing, so why was he willing to listen now?

Lu Zhengliu also felt that his reason was inadequate. Finding it somewhat difficult to face Lin Yunwan, he said, "Thank you for teaching Qing and Chang Gong these past few days. I..."

Lin Yunwan understood.

In the end, it was still for the sake of his and Ge Bao'er's sons.

Lin Yunwan said coolly, "Please go no farther, Heir."

Lu Zhengliu was taken aback and did not understand.

"I remember you said on our wedding night that marrying me was not what you wanted."

Lu Zhengliu nodded.

He had said it.

Lin Yunwan looked at him and said, "Though children should not defy their parents' commands and the matchmaker's arrangements, I am not afraid to tell you, Heir, that marrying you was not what I wanted either."

Lu Zhengliu asked coldly, "What do you mean?"

"Do you truly not know, Heir?"

"Know what?"

Lin Yunwan did not answer. She turned and went back into Drooping Silk Hall.

She even had a maid shut the gate.

Lu Zhengliu stared at the tightly shut gate, the veins on his forehead bulging, his face as cold as frost.

Could Lin Yunwan have already given her heart to someone before she married him?

Absurd!