She Came Back

"Why has the old man been so distraught these past few days?"

Ge Bao'er brought a bowl of soup to Lu Zhengliu's study.

He drifted off into thought again, and a blot of ink had already formed on his brush.

Now that the path of becoming a military general is blocked, he continues to study. Even if he doesn't pass the imperial examinations, he can learn the Four Books and Five Classics so that he will have something to talk about with his children in the future.

Lu Zhengliu put down his pen and asked coldly, "What are you doing here?"

It wasn't that he disliked her coming to his study.

Ge Bao'er entered with a smile, "Sir, I've come to discuss the marriage of the young master of the Lin Family. My mother said she's already told the Chang family everything that needed to be said."

"Oh, really?"

Lu Zhengliu looked at her.

Ge Bao'er nodded. "If Young Master Lin's marriage goes through this time, I'd love to have some wedding candy." She placed the soup on the table and sighed, "If Lin Family passes the imperial examination and gets engaged this time, it'll be double happiness!"

Lu Zhengliu curled his lips and sneered, "Don't you know if there's good news or not?"

Ge Bao'er was taken aback. "What do you mean, sir?"

Lu Zhengliu didn't bother beating around the bush with her. "The Chang family has already given up on the relationship with the Lin Family. Didn't your mother, Madam Chen, tell you?"

Ge Bao'er pursed her lips.

She wasn't guilty at all. Head bowed, she lifted the lid, steam billowing out. She frowned and said, "That's a pity. My mother has spoken highly of Young Master Lin to Madam Chang."

"Sir, how did you know the two families were no longer on good terms? Did the Lin Family tell you? Did the Lin Family say anything? Why would the Chang family suddenly change their minds?"

Lu Zhengliu looked at her and laughed.

He suddenly whispered, "If only I had known you were this kind of person sooner..."

He wouldn't have wronged Yun Wan, and he wouldn't have caused so much unpleasantness between Ge Bao'er and Yun Wan.

"Sir, what are you saying?"

Lu Zhengliu forced a smile, "It's nothing."

He warned Ge Bao'er, "Don't interfere in the Lin Family's affairs anymore. Yun Yi has his exams coming up soon. If anything happens to him and affects his exams, I won't let you off the hook."

Ge Bao'er was very angry. She coldly questioned, "So, you've decided it's me, sir?"

She retorted angrily, "I was clearly trying to be kind—"

"Kindness?"

Lu Zhengliu interrupted her, "The marriage between Yun Yi and the Chang family has been called off. Is this your way of showing kindness?"

Whether you have good intentions or not, you know it yourself.

Ge Bao'er felt only a slight sense of panic.

But now, she has absolute confidence in the Lu family!

"Sir, the Lin Family is weak and powerless, Chang family looks down on Lin Yunyi. No matter how much my mother says nice things, it will be useless."

"This isn't my fault!"

Lu Zhengliu lowered his head, too lazy to pay attention to her.

Ge Bao'er couldn't stand his cold attitude; it was as if he couldn't even see her!

She was trembling with anger. "Sir, from the moment I came in, all you've asked about is the Lin Family! Qing'er is your own son! You haven't even asked him how he's doing at the Mingshan Academy, or if he's having a good time!"

Lu Zhengliu said casually, "I don't only have one son. I have to be involved in the affairs of each one. As for the duties of the matriarch, I, as a man, might as well do them."

Ge Bao'er was speechless!

She said self-deprecatingly, "Yes... you have plenty of sons now."

His most beloved son was his adopted son, Lu Chang'gong.

Lu Zhengliu got up to leave.

Ge Bao'er couldn't help but ask, "Where are you going?"

Lu Zhengliu pushed her away. "Didn't you say I don't care about the children? I'm going to see my daughter."

Ge Bao'er couldn't stay in the study any longer.

When they arrived at Zhu Qing's place, Lu Zhengliu smiled and said, "Mu'er, come to your father."

Mu'er still wore her hair in a bun, with delicate features, and looked very much like a legitimate young lady raised in a scholarly family.

Zhu Qing said to her, "Mu'er, your master is calling for you."

Mu'er glanced at Zhu Qing before getting off the bed and bowing to Lu Zhengliu: "Daughter greets Father."

Lu Zhengliu wanted to hug her, Mu'er refused. "Father, I'm too old. My Concubine said that boys and girls shouldn't sit together after the age of seven, Mu'er I can't let Father hug me anymore."

Lu Zhengliu was very disappointed.

After Yun Wan's death, he was heartbroken and stopped caring about his family. He didn't want to take care of his children either. By the time he regained his senses, his daughter was no longer close to him.

He touched Mu'er's hair and laughed, "You won't be able to wear this bun for much longer."

Mu'er curtsied, stepped back, and nestled beside Zhu Qing, saying to Lu Zhengliu, "Because our daughter has grown up."

Zhu Qing, holding her daughter, said, "Grandpa, Mu'er is a timid child, please don't let her go..."

Lu Zhengliu raised his hand, signaling her to stop talking. He was very forgiving towards Zhu Qing and Mu'er: "She's my daughter, I won't take it to heart."

"Eldest Young Master."

Tong Liu bowed outside.

Lu Chang'gong has arrived.

He lifted the curtain and came in, initially with a slight smile, but upon seeing Lu Zhengliu there, his expression darkened considerably. He entered and said, "Father."

Lu Zhengliu nodded and said, "You've come to see Mu'er?"

Lu Chang'gong nodded, took a few books in his hand, walked in and placed them on the table, saying, "Mu'er wanted to read, so I found a few and brought them over."

Lu Zhengliu his shoulder, his voice gentle. "You're about to take the Provincial Examinations, why come all the way here for such a small matter? You could have just sent a servant."

Lu Chang'gong looked at Mu'er with doting eyes and said, "This girl insisted that I bring it here personally."

Mu'er was already looking at Lu Chang'gong and blinked.

She called out with a smile, "Elder Brother!"

Lu Chang'gong nodded slightly, his tone very soft. "These books should keep you occupied for a while. I have exams this Mid-Autumn Festival, so stay home and behave yourself. No crying or making a fuss."

Mu'er nodded obediently, "I won't cry or make a fuss. Mu'er knows that my Elder Brother will pass the imperial examination with flying colors, Mu'er is waiting at home for people to come and congratulate us with drums and gongs."

Who taught you that?

Lu Zhengliu smiled; this girl was surprisingly lively in front of his eldest son.

Mu'er glanced at him and whispered, "My Concubine taught me."

Lu Zhengliu knew his daughter was afraid of him.

He didn't want to stay any longer, so he got up and said, "Your Concubine taught you well; these are all kind words. You two can continue your conversation."

Before leaving, he patted Lu Chang'gong on the shoulder.

He had something to say to Chang Gong.

After Lu Chang'gong left, Lu Zhengliu before departing, saying, "Concubine, Mu'er, I'll be going now."

Zhu Qing and Mu'er got up to see him off. Mu'er tugged at his sleeve reluctantly, saying, "Elder Brother, hurry up and finish your exams. Mu'er is waiting for you to take me out to play."

Lu Chang'gong touched her hair in a bun and said to Zhu Qing with a faint smile, "Concubine, let's change her hairstyle after the Mid-Autumn Festival."

I've been watching this for years, and I'm tired of it.

Zhu Qing readily agreed, adding, "Eldest Young Master, please focus on your exams. Mu'er will definitely behave well."

Lu Chang'gong nodded and went out to chase after Lu Zhengliu.

Zhu Qing hugged Mu'er and said, "From now on, you must be this close to the Eldest Young Master, understand?"

Mu'er nodded. "Mother, I like my Elder Brother the most. Elder Brother's also the best to me."

Zhu Qing kissed her on the cheek, pinched her face, and sighed, "You little rascal, you were born lucky. I really don't know how you were born, you even look a bit like our Madam..."

"Mother, who is the madam? Is it Concubine Ge?"

Mu'er was still naive. She had heard gossip about things at home from the servants, but she had never heard her birth mother say anything about it, so she didn't know much.

"Pah! That woman surnamed Ge is a despicable wretch! She doesn't even dare to compare herself to Madam!"

Not wanting to say anything unpleasant in front of her daughter, Zhu Qing immediately said, "Madam is your Elder Brother's mother, the best person in the world. Just look at your Elder Brother; he's very much like her now."

Mu'er asked curiously, "Mother, where is that lady? Can I see her? I want to see my Elder Brother's mother!"

Zhu Qing shook her head, her eyes red, and said, "I won't see her anymore. I won't see her either... If you did see her, you should call her Mother."

She suddenly remembered that the Lin Family had already obtained the Divorce Deed, and her smile was tinged with sadness, "No, you can't call her Mother. She's no longer a member of the Lu family. She's just... just your Elder Brother's mother."

That affection existed only in their hearts and had nothing to do with the Lu family.

Outside.

Lu Zhengliu wanted to visit Old Madam Lu, and walked with Lu Chang'gong for a while, hesitating to speak.

Lu Chang'gong didn't want to pry into Lu Zhengliu's thoughts.

Upon reaching the Second Gate, he said, "Father, I'm going to study in the Front Courtyard."

Lu Zhengliu nodded, but couldn't help calling out to him, "Chang Gong, I... I think I saw... her."

"Who?"

Lu Chang'gong's voice was slightly deep.

Lu Zhengliu his mouth, a pang of sadness in his heart. "Your mother... that person... looks just like her."

Where did your father see it?

Lu Chang'gong spoke calmly.

"What I saw at Red Elephant Temple."

Lu Zhengliu smiled bitterly, "Perhaps I misjudged. How could it be her? She's already..."

He's already dead.

Lu Chang'gong sighed and nodded, "Father must have misjudged."

He bowed and said, "My son has passed away."

"Um."

As soon as he stepped out of the Second Gate, Lu Chang'gong's fingertips were trembling.

Mother is back.

His mother is back!

Does Mother still... remember him?

He dared not think about it.