Watching the Opera
"Tomorrow at the end of Chenshi (7-9 AM), your maternal uncle from the Xia family will come to examine your eyes. Please wait for him in the front hall beforehand, and don't be late and keep your uncle waiting for you."
"Son, you've remembered."
Lu Chang'gong rubbed his eyes.
"Still can't see clearly?"
Lin Yunwan told him not to rub his eyes and instructed Ping Ye to wet a handkerchief with warm water and wipe them for him.
Lu Chang'gong refused Ping Ye's help, took the handkerchief, and said, "Thank you, sister, I can do it myself."
I felt much better after wiping it on, and a smile even appeared on my face.
Lin Yunwan sighed, "It seems your poor eyesight isn't just a temporary problem. You really need to take it seriously. From now on, you're not allowed to sit at your desk for half an hour at a time."
She told Ping Ye to summon Lu Chang'gong's servant tomorrow; she wanted to give him the orders herself.
Lu Chang'gong, listening from the side, said, "... Mother, don't worry, your son will remember it himself."
Zhu Qing came again, and Lin Yunwan said to Lu Chang'gong, "It's getting late, let's go back and get some rest."
"Son takes his leave."
As soon as Lu Chang'gong left, Zhu Qing lifted the curtain and came in. As she passed him, she politely called him "Eldest Young Master".
What's the matter?
Zhu Qing came over and said to Lin Yunwan, "The Eldest Aunt asked around about the Cousin Miss last night." She added, "Young Master Qing went to the Cousin Miss again last night. Someone saw him take a pen, ink, paper, and inkstone out of there. But how could it take half an hour to get something?"
I wonder what they were saying in there.
Tao Ye came over to serve tea. Zhu Qing took the tea, held it in her hands, and pondered what Ge Bao'er was up to.
Lin Yunwan roughly guessed that he was simply using Qing to make a scene, which was practically walking into a trap!
The Lu family is a bigger headache for her than she is.
So Lin Yunwan said, "Let her be."
Zhu Qing took a sip of tea and said, "We can't let her do as she pleases."
"What you up to?"
Zhu Qing laughed, "If she can flirt with the Heir Apparent, who knows if she's flirted with other men too?"
Lin Yunwan moved her lips slightly, but said nothing.
Ge Bao'er really shouldn't have offended Zhu Qing.
"This concubine takes her leave."
Zhu Qing left with a smile.
They didn't hide anything from the maid. Ping Ye came over a little frightened and said, "I didn't realize that Concubine Zhu Qing was so obedient in front of you, but so rude to Cousin Miss."
Lin Yunwan sat down in front of the dressing mirror, took out her earrings, and Ping Ye and Tao Ye removed the rest of her jewelry.
She said casually, "She must have been mistreated and suffocated during those years on the estate."
Tao Ye said softly, "My Concubine has finally returned, and my Cousin Miss still tries to humiliate her behind her back. My Concubine is just taking this opportunity to vent her anger."
Front Courtyard.
After Lu Chang'gong returned, Qing was still awake, taking a walk in the Courtyard to digest his food.
However, it's too late at this time; it's not a good time to digest.
Qing walked over and asked Lu Chang'gong, "Uncle Xia family will be seeing your eyes tomorrow, right? When is that?"
Lu Chang'gong was wary and didn't want to answer him.
Qing pouted and said, "There will be so many guests at home tomorrow, I'm scared. I don't have the same standing with you in front of Mother. Let's go together, you're the older brother, you take care of me."
This request is not unreasonable.
Lu Chang'gong was already a little soft-hearted, thinking that if the brothers were harmonious, his mother would have less to worry about. Qing even came over and tugged at his sleeve, saying, "Let's go together. I heard from the Xia family today that Mother is biased towards you. If we go together, they won't misunderstand Mother."
"... At the end of Chen Shi (7-9 AM), my uncle came over."
Lu Chang'gong still spoke.
Qing nodded happily and said, "After you've had your eyes checked, we'll go see the guests together."
The next day.
Lin Yunwan got up very early.
Nanny Yuan was even earlier; she was waiting outside. While Lin Yunwan was having her meal, she said, "The Opera Stage and the Flower Hall are all set up. In a little while, the maids will lead the guests to tour the garden. You can accompany the Madam Young Madam watch a few plays, then sit in the flower Flower Hall and chat. It will be about time to go to the Flower Hall to serve the meal."
Everything was arranged perfectly.
Lin Yunwan nodded and sent someone to the Front Courtyard to check if Chang Gong had gotten up.
He was never late, but to be absolutely sure, she sent someone to inquire.
Ping Ye went there herself and returned to tell Lin Yunwan, "He got up early this morning. Young Master is practicing calligraphy in the Front Courtyard, waiting for Seventh Master Li."
Lin Yunwan dressed up and went to the Garden to see the Opera Stage.
The actors were already dressed and practicing their singing. Several two-person tables were set up under the stage, each with a booklet listing the names of excerpts from the plays.
As the sun rose, Old Madam Lu and the Xia family arrived.
The Wei Shi also attended in formal attire.
With so many people, the noise level rose, and the Lu family's children also came, including some teenagers and others who were crying and making a fuss, making the Garden lively all of a sudden.
Both Old Madam Lu and Old Madam Xia declined each other's offer, saying, "You go first, you choose one first."
In the end, it was Old Madam Lu, being older and of higher seniority, first requested a play about loyal ministers and virtuous generals.
She loved hearing about the Lu family's noble lineage.
Old Madam Xia then requested a play depicting maternal love and filial piety.
The other young wives requested a poignant and tear-jerking love story.
After several performances, it was Lin Yunwan's turn. She randomly pointed to one, not even remembering which one it was. Seeing that it was getting late, she asked Ping Ye, "What time is it?"
It's Chen Shi (7-9 AM).
Ping Ye whispered.
Lin Yunwan whispered to her, "Seventh Master Li should have arrived by now." With her mother and Lu Chang'gong's eyes on her mind, how could she concentrate on the opera?
Ping Ye said, "Young Master Chang Gong will come to listen to the opera after he finishes his consultation. You can ask him about his condition yourself."
Lin Yunwan nodded and focused on listening to the opera.
Front Courtyard.
Seventh Master Li had indeed examined Lu Chang'gong's eyes and said, "Young master, you've been growing rapidly lately, which has affected your eyes, but it's not too serious. Young master, you're still young. I'll prescribe some medicine and write down some things you should pay attention to in your daily life. Just remember them well."
Knowing that the other person was an elder, Lu Chang'gong was very respectful. "I remember what Uncle said."
Seventh Master Li sat down and wrote down the prescription.
Although he was Physician, he was decisive and efficient, writing with lightning speed. As he wrote, he asked, "Has the Heir Apparent not arrived yet?" He was in a hurry to go to the Lin Family.
Lu Chang'gong was taken aback and looked outside.
Why hasn't Father arrived yet?
The manager in charge of reception came over and reported, "... I'll send someone to the backyard to urge them right away."
They quickly sent someone to urge the second order, but for some reason, the Heir Apparent suddenly disappeared.
Qing sat next to Lu Chang'gong, watching him nervously.
Lu Chang'gong felt uncomfortable and turned to look at Qing, Qing quickly turned his head away and refused to look at him.
Lu Chang'gong pursed his lips.
He wondered if he was overthinking it, but he felt that Qing was acting strangely today.
After waiting for almost half an hour, Lu Zhengliu still hadn't arrived. Seventh Master Li lost his patience, got up, slung his medicine chest over his shoulder, and said, "I'm not waiting anymore." He then turned and left.
The steward was shocked. "You can't leave!" But he couldn't stop him.
Seventh Master Li turned and left.
The steward chased after him, calling out, "Seventh Master! Seventh Master!"
What should we do? We haven't even seen Madam Lin's eyes yet!
Lu Chang'gong's heart tightened, and he looked at Qing, asking, "Where did Father go?"
Qing said leisurely, "How would I know? Let's go to the Garden to watch the opera."