Looking Down on Him

Ge Bao'er was also terrified and completely lost her composure.

She had just visited her sister-in-law Lady Liu, when she heard that Lu Zhengliu was harassing Prince Huan Consort at the Duke's Residence.

She wasn't close to Lady Liu, and both of them were so weak in the knees that they had to support each other as they walked over.

Supporting Madam Chen, Lady Liu first dismissed the servants and asked, her face pale, "Mother, what... what happened?"

She had no interest in her Great-Aunt's affairs.

But since it's under the guise of her family's name, she can't not ask.

If this gets out, how will she face people afterward? How will the Liu family face people afterward?

Madam Chen was furious and terrified. Her chest felt tight, and she pointed at Lu Zhengliu, clutching her chest and stamping her foot. She couldn't utter a single word.

After helping Madam Chen up, Ge Bao'er walked over to Lu Zhengliu and gasped, "How could you do something so foolish in the Duke's Residence!"

Lu Zhengliu motionless.

Ge Bao'er pulled him up and whispered a reminder: "You've caused such a big mess, do you still expect Mother to help the Lu family? You said you'd support the Lu family, and I'd stand by you to support the Lu family, is this what it means to be in charge?"

Lu Zhengliu slowly stood up and chuckled.

His voice was hoarse. "Do you know who Prince Huan Consort is?"

Ge Bao'er frowned and said coldly, "What does it matter to you whether she's Nine Heavens Immortal Maiden! The Princess Consort is a woman!"

Lu Zhengliu said no more.

He walked outside with his head down, muttering, "I was wrong. It was all my fault."

"What's the use of realizing your mistake now?"

Ge Bao'er was furious.

She looked at Lu Zhengliu now; his back was no longer straight, he had grown a short beard, and he no longer had the spiritedness she had when she loved him. He was utterly dejected.

She had once leaned on his shoulder to witness the prosperity of the Capital and the glory of the Marquis's Residence's mansion, but now she looked down on him somewhat.

But Lu Zhengliu is still Qing'er's father and the head of the Lu family.

She wanted to gain power in the Marquis's Marquis's Residence, raise her son, and couldn't live without him.

Ge Bao'er had no time to think further and turned to comfort Madam Chen: "Mother."

Although Madam Chen was frightened and agitated, she was still Ducal Madam, so she said to her eldest daughter-in-law Lady Liu, "There are still guests in the banquet hall. Your younger brother and sister-in-law are there. Go and help them."

Lady Liu herself felt uneasy, but she dared not disobey her mother-in-law's orders.

She curtsied and said, "Yes."

They went ahead with their servants to greet the guests.

Second Master Chen couldn't just leave his guests unattended, so he turned and left.

Ge Bao'er watched her half-brother's retreating figure, her eyes reddening, and softly said, "Mother, let me help you back first."

Madam Chen naturally saw what the Concubine-born Son was doing.

She scoffed, "He's gotten too big for his britches!" Then, turning gently to Ge Bao'er, she said, "I'll talk to him about it later."

Ge Bao'er said worriedly, "Let me help you back to rest. Master did such a thing at the Duke's mansion today... it's understandable that Second Brother is unhappy."

She always had a way of coaxing people. Madam Chen already doted on her, and a few words were enough to make her happy.

"Bao'er, you're still the most considerate one."

Ge Bao'er blamed herself, saying, "I've caused you trouble, but Mother, you're the only one I can rely on in this world."

Madam Chen told her not to worry, "The Duke's mansion is not a small or insignificant family; this little thing won't affect your brothers' futures."

After the mother and daughter calmed down, they asked the Stewardess to come over and tell them everything that had happened at the Second Gate.

Upon hearing the name "Yun Wan," Ge Bao'er immediately stood up, staring blankly at the Stewardess, and asked incredulously, "You... you just said that the master called the Princess Consort something..."

"Yun Wan."

The Stewardess looked completely bewildered.

She didn't mishear!

Madam Chen looked at Ge Bao'er with confusion.

Ge Bao'er was in a state of turmoil. She hurriedly left a few words and rushed back to the Wuding Marquis Residence to find Lu Zhengliu.

The banquet at the Duke's Residence ended hastily today.

The Crown Prince Consort returned to the palace full of suspicion and told the Crown Prince about the strange things that had happened that day, as if it were a joke.

The Crown Prince lay on the couch; it was almost July, and he was still covered with a thin blanket.

He held the book, lost in thought.

The young Duke's Residence Chen Heir Apparent, the Second Master Chen, and Lady Liu, along with their grown-up brothers and wives, came to Madam Chen for a chat.

Chen Heir Apparent, having broken his leg, leaned on his crutch and said angrily, "Mother, you're confused! I told you long ago that the Lu family is untouchable, but you're so protective of... so protective of my sister. But this isn't how you protect your sister. Look at today, you've offended Prince Huan Consort and the Young Heir Apparent. Even if the Prince doesn't mind, if the Young Heir Apparent complains to the emperor, Father probably won't be able to handle it."

Madam Chen was also worried.

But this did not make her abandon her daughter.

She said irritably, "You raised her with all the good food and clothes at home, but do you know what kind of life your sister had when she was little? If you, as her older brother, hadn't failed to take good care of her, how could she have ended up like this..."

Chen Heir Apparent shut his mouth.

He's the eldest brother; it's all his fault.

Lady Liu was wringing her handkerchief, her eyes red.

Seeing his wife's aggrieved expression, Chen Heir Apparent still mustered his courage and spoke up for her, "Well, we can't always say it's because the Eldest Young Madam -law of the Duke's Residence is a relative. That Lu family scoundrel is too wicked! What am I supposed to say if my father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, and brother-in-law ask?"

Lady Liu wiped away her tears.

Since being recognized as her Great-Aunt, she has suffered countless grievances.

Madam Chen glared at Lady Liu and said, "I knew it! Eldest son, why would you talk to your mother like that? It turns out your wife was the one stirring things up behind my back!"

Lady Liu knelt down in fear and trembling, "Mother, your daughter-in-law didn't..."

Chen Heir Apparent threw down his crutch and knelt down as well, his injured leg hitting the ground.

Madam Chen's heart clenched with worry.

But her son retorted firmly, "If Mother is to blame someone, then blame your son. I will tell Father the truth about what happened today."

Madam Chen was heartbroken and anxious. Clutching her handkerchief, she said, "You don't need to tell me! I will send someone to inform your father myself."

The Duke Xingguo is still stationed outside.

Not long after, Madam Chen's heart condition relapsed, and she fainted.

This was a chronic illness she had developed from missing her daughter for many years, and it only improved slightly for a few years after she found her daughter.

It's flared up again now.

Chen Heir Apparent was extremely anxious and quickly sent someone to fetch Physician.

Lady Liu bit her lip, not daring to cry anymore.

If she were to gain a reputation for being a mother-in-law who causes illness, no matter how much her husband respected and loved her, she probably wouldn't have the face to stay in the Chen family any longer.

Second Master Chen shook his head and sighed, deciding to wait until the commotion subsided before discussing what to do with Chen Heir Apparent.

"Elder Brother, someone is definitely going to accuse our Duke Xingguo's Residence of failing to properly manage the Inner Residence."

Chen Heir Apparent said, "That's not a problem. Every family has its share of troubles. What I'm worried about is that if the Prince, Princess Consort, and the Young Heir Apparent are upset, they might anger the Emperor, which would be even worse."

He made a quick decision. "Let's go to Prince Huan's Residence together as brothers to apologize, and then write a letter home to Father and see what he says."

Second Master Chen asked, "Elder Brother, have you decided how to apologize?"

"Younger brother, what are your thoughts?"

Second Master Chen hesitated and said, "Although Lu Zhengliu isn't very capable, he's not truly suffering from hysteria. I don't think he would go mad for no reason. Today's events are very strange. Elder Brother, you should find out what happened first."

He said tactfully, "Elder Brother, there are some things... you need to ask Mother and Sister yourself."

If he asks, his stepmother certainly won't tell him.

Chen Heir Apparent said, "I understand."

\

Ge Bao'er returned to the Wuding Marquis Residence, but did not see Lu Zhengliu. Instead, she saw Lu Changzong, who had slipped back at some point.

He didn't even keep Xiao Xuan company anymore, and sat in a daze at the entrance of the Drooping Silk Hall.

I have a piece of bamboo in my hand; I don't know where I broke it off from.

Ge Bao'er walked over and asked, "Qing'er?"

Lu Changzong did not respond.

"Qing'er?"

Lu Changzong looked up, startled, and cried out, "Auntie, Concubine!"

Ge Bao'er, with a long face, said unhappily, "There's no one else here."

Lu Changzong then changed his address to "Mother."

He looked down at the bamboo in his hand.

Ge Bao'er asked him, "Bamboo leaves can cut your hands, what are you going to do with that?"

Lu Changzong said in a low voice, "These are the same bamboo that used to grow in Mother's Courtyard."

Ge Bao'er suddenly felt her heart turn cold.

This is her biological son!

She poured her heart and soul into him, yet he resented and hated her, while still longing for the woman who had died.

Ge Bao'er suddenly realized and asked, "You saw her at the Duke's Residence just now too?"

Lu Changzong looked up, completely bewildered.

He said, "I... I don't know... I don't know if it's true..."

It's been too long.

He couldn't remember.

Ge Bao'er kicked open the courtyard gate of the Drooping Silk Hall and went to confront Lu Zhengliu.

She couldn't believe it; how could someone who had been burned to death possibly come back to life?