Favoritism

"You all care so much about Chang Gong, so why haven't I seen Qing? Sister-in-law, I hate to say this, but both boys are legitimate sons of the Marquis's Residence. How can you favor only one of them?"

Lu Jia spoke up without warning and added, "I heard you only teach Chang Gong yourself and don't personally teach Qing. You're being far too obvious about favoring one over the other."

She deliberately glanced at Lu Zhengliu, meaning to remind him not to forget which one was his own son!

Only then did Lu Zhengliu remember to ask Lin Yunwan, "Why didn't you bring Qing?"

It really wasn't right to leave Qing out on an occasion like this, when they were meeting relatives.

Lin Yunwan hadn't handled it properly.

Old Madam Xia didn't know the circumstances and looked at Lin Yunwan suspiciously as well.

Before Lin Yunwan could say anything, Ping Ye stepped forward. "Heir Apparent, Eldest Miss, only Young Master Chang Gong came to pay his respects to Madam this morning, so she brought him along on her way here. If Young Master Qing had come to pay his respects, Madam would have brought him along today too."

Only then did Lu Zhengliu remember that when he went to fetch Lin Yunwan, Qing hadn't even gone to pay his respects to his legitimate mother.

The boy really wasn't as filial as Lu Chang'gong.

But Lu Jia wasn't buying it.

Qing was her own nephew.

"I heard Qing studies under a teacher in the Front Courtyard. He works so hard at such a young age; it's only natural for him to be forgetful now and then. As his legitimate mother, you shouldn't be too hard on a child."

Lin Yunwan said calmly, "You're right, Eldest Miss. I wasn't thoughtful enough. Ping Ye, go tell Mr. Zhang that Young Master Qing has guests to meet today and ask him to excuse Qing from lessons for two days."

Ping Ye turned and went.

She soon returned, her expression strange. "Mr. Zhang knew there were important guests in the household and had already given Young Master Qing the day off."

Lu Jia asked, "If he has the day off, then where is he?"

Ping Ye couldn't understand it either. Puzzled, she said, "His attendant said he went to Cousin Miss's courtyard. I've already sent someone to call him."

Lu Zhengliu's heart tightened.

Hadn't I told her not to see Qing at a time like this? Why wouldn't she listen?!

"Cousin Miss? When did we get a cousin in the household?"

Lu Jia found it ridiculous and laughed aloud.

Lin Yunwan said softly, "You didn't know, Eldest Miss? She's Old Madam's distant grandniece. She was brought to the residence quite some time ago and lives in a side courtyard."

Lu Jia said, "Since she's family, you should have invited her over too, Sister-in-law, so we could all talk together."

Talk...

Could Ge Bao'er come over and talk?

What good could she possibly have to say?

Lu Zhengliu could no longer sit still. He said he had suddenly remembered something he had to attend to and couldn't stay. Afraid that Lu Jia would go too far if she kept talking, he looked at her and said, "I heard Grandmother say our cousin is ill and can't leave her courtyard. Elder Sister, don't meddle in her affairs anymore."

Lu Jia was baffled.

She had only asked after the girl. How was that meddling?

Why was her younger brother taking issue with her?

Old Madam Xia frowned as well. She was only a cousin, so why did the Lu family make so much of her? They had even put the mistress of the household in an embarrassing position. That really wasn't right.

After leaving Wei Shi's courtyard, Lu Zhengliu went straight to the side courtyard where Ge Bao'er lived.

His face was icy, and he looked terrifying.

"Is Qing inside?"

The old women guarding the gate went weak in the knees. Trembling, they said, "Heir Apparent, the young master is, is inside."

Lu Zhengliu's expression darkened further. "How do you do your jobs?"

Terrified that he would kick her, one of the old women said nervously, "Heir Apparent, Young Master Qing insisted on c-coming himself... We couldn't stop him."

"If you couldn't stop him, couldn't you open your mouths?! Didn't you know to report it to me and Nanny Yan?"

The old woman said, "Young Master Qing said he'd be out in a moment. When he still hadn't come out after so long, we were just about to report it to Madam..."

Tell Lin Yunwan?

As if he didn't have enough trouble already!

Lu Zhengliu frowned. "Get out of the way."

The old woman didn't dare stop him and could only say quietly, "Heir Apparent, this, this is a courtyard where a lady lives, after all."

She let him in anyway.

Lu Zhengliu entered with a dark face, only to see a peaceful scene.

Qing was practicing his calligraphy beneath the window, while Ge Bao'er held a brush and wrote alongside him.

Mother and son looked very happy together.

"Father?"

Qing put down his brush and rose to pay his respects. "Why have you come? To see me and... Cousin Aunt?" He couldn't openly call Ge Bao'er "Mother."

Ge Bao'er held her brush and looked up at him.

Lu Zhengliu pressed his lips together and said to Qing, "Go outside first."

Qing glanced hesitantly at Ge Bao'er.

With a cold face, Lu Zhengliu ordered Wu'er, "Take the young master outside."

Wu'er hurriedly took Qing by the hand and left. She went a good distance away and shut the courtyard gate, not daring to eavesdrop on her masters.

"Didn't I tell you not to see Qing for the time being?"

Lu Zhengliu kept his temper in check as he questioned her.

Ge Bao'er gathered the sheets of Xuan paper Qing had written on and said, her expression gentle, "I told him not to come, but he begged me, saying he only wanted to come practice his calligraphy. He said other children had mothers to dote on them, but he didn't. His own mother was right in front of him, but he couldn't see her or even dare call her Mother. He only wanted to stay by my side for a little while."

"I'm his mother. How could you expect me to harden my heart and send him away?"

She looked up at Lu Zhengliu, a little angry. "He only came to practice his calligraphy, not to help me do anything!"

Lu Zhengliu was silent for a moment.

"I'm not blaming you. Relatives in the household asked about Qing today, but he wasn't there."

"When it comes to studying and entering officialdom, having ability is one thing, but making friends among relatives and acquaintances of suitable standing to pave the way for the future is important too. I'm his birth father, Bao'er. I don't want my son to miss these opportunities."

Ge Bao'er smiled. "I know."

Her gaze looked innocent. "Brother Azhen, you've already promised me that as soon as the relatives leave, you'll give me a proper status."

"I spent seven years outside, raising Qing on my own. I endured all that, so how could I not wait this little while?"

"Qing is still young, and my heart ached for him. That's why I didn't listen to you, not because I wanted to stir up trouble."

"If you really don't want him to see me, then take him away now."

Lu Zhengliu nodded. "You and your son will have plenty of chances to see each other in the future. It doesn't have to be in these next few days." He turned to leave.

"Brother Azhen."

Ge Bao'er called him back and asked with a sweet smile, "You promised, so you won't go back on your word, will you?"

Lu Zhengliu hesitated.

"...No."

With that, he picked up Qing and left.

Qing was frightened. His father was always stern, and now his face was cold too. Qing didn't dare speak to him.

Seeing his son's timid gaze, Lu Zhengliu remembered what Ge Bao'er had said, and his heart ached for his son, who had no mother to dote on him.

Lin Yunwan really did favor Lu Chang'gong more.

And yet the one in his arms was his own son.

"Qing, I'm not going to punish you. But remember, from now on you must show your legitimate mother respect and observe the proper courtesies."

It took Qing a while to recover before he nodded and said, "I understand, Father."

Then he asked, "Father, can I... still go see Mother tomorrow? My brush and ink are still with her. I haven't brought them back. I want to get them back. Mr. Zhang chose them all for me, and I'm afraid I won't know what to say if he asks about them."

Lu Zhengliu thought for a moment and said, "Go get them tomorrow, then come straight back."

Qing immediately smiled. "Thank you, Father."

The corners of Lu Zhengliu's lips curved up as well.

He wanted to take Qing to meet the Xia family, but when he heard that Old Madam Xia and the others had already left Wei Shi's courtyard, he took Qing to pay his respects to Old Madam Lu instead.

When Old Madam Lu saw Lu Zhengliu and Qing, the first thing she did was ask Nanny Yan, "Has the household been peaceful these past few days?"

She had been feeling unwell and resting in her room, so she hadn't even spoken with the Xia family that day.

Though she was in her room, what she feared most was Ge Bao'er stirring up trouble behind her back.

Nanny Yan glanced at Lu Zhengliu, then quickly smiled and replied, "Everything is fine in the household. Please rest well. We're hosting a banquet tomorrow, and it wouldn't do for the relatives to see you looking unwell."

Old Madam Lu nodded and coughed several more times.

Nanny Yan brought over some soup to soothe her lungs.

Lu Zhengliu and Qing helped attend to her at her side. Neither dared bring up Ge Bao'er, acting as though they had paid her no attention these past few days.

With more people there, the room felt lively.

Lu Jia came to join them too. "Grandmother, are you taking medicine?" Her thoughts were on that distant cousin. In all her dozen-odd years at the Marquis's Residence, she had never heard of any such cousin and didn't know where this person had sprung from.

Nanny Yan said, "Eldest Miss, it's soup. Old Madam has had a bad cough since last night, but she's much better after two bowls of soup. It hasn't come to taking medicine yet."

"That's good."

Lu Jia sat down and gave Qing another gift just for him. She called him "my dear nephew" with great affection, as though she regarded him as her own son.

Old Madam Lu was so happy she couldn't stop smiling. "Bring Zhuo over another day to play with Qing."

Lu Jia said, "That little rascal? Wait until he's behaved himself for a few days, and then we'll see."

As they talked, she first brought up Lin Yunwan, saying she didn't dote on Qing enough.

"What do you mean?"

Old Madam Lu frowned.