Sowing discord

"You found out?"

Zhu Qing rushed in, looking like she had something to say.

Lin Yunwan put down the book she had prepared for Lu Chang'gong and spoke to her first.

Zhu Qing shook her head and said, "The maids at Hall of Longevity guard the Courtyard very closely. By the time I managed to sneak in, everyone had already left, so I couldn't hear anything."

"But in the end, I did hear the Old Madam say that Qing should be properly disciplined."

Lin Yunwan gripped the corner of the book and said, "It's time to give Qing a good lesson."

He is now Ge Bao'er's only support.

Ge Bao'er will probably still be hoping to rely on Qing to turn her life around!

It's hard to say, but she still harbors the delusion of becoming the mistress of the house!

Zhu Qing walked over and sat down, asking, "Madam, don't you find it strange? How long have Young Master Qing and Concubine Ge known each other? Yet Young Master Qing listens to her so much."

Lin Yunwan smiled faintly, "What do you think is the reason?"

Zhu Qing shook her head.

She said, "Madam, I'm not trying to flatter you, but if Young Master Qing is to be close to you, he should be close to you."

"I really can't understand how he could get so close to Concubine Ge."

Lin Yunwan didn't continue the conversation with Zhu Qing.

Zhu Qing, however, having perhaps witnessed more of the sordid affairs between men and women, said with a mysterious yet terrified expression, "Madam, do you think Young Master Qing Concubine Ge might... Young Master Qing is only seven years old! Even if he were to have a maidservant to serve him personally, she should at least wait until he's ten."

This is getting more and more outrageous.

Lin Yunwan said, "Don't make wild guesses. The weather is getting cooler, and you've only been back at the manor for a short time, so you don't have many clothes. I've just sent over some new bolts of fabric; go and choose one yourself."

"I also have an old cloak that used to fit me perfectly, but now it doesn't quite fit anymore. You're slimmer than me, so it would be a good fit for you. It's about 80% new, so if you don't mind, you can wear it."

Zhu Qing smiled, "How could I possibly dislike you, Madam, who dotes on me? To be honest, I'm so grateful to you."

Tao Ye took out the cloak and said with a smile, "The lady instructed that it be washed, ironed, and scented before being given to you."

Zhu Qing accepted the cloak; it was made of very fine material, with exquisite patterns and superb embroidery.

"This humble servant thanks you, Madam."

She put it on immediately, Tao Ye helped her tie it up. Then she went to the storeroom and picked out a few bolts of blue and green fabric before returning to the Rain Apricot Pavilion.

Upon returning to the Rain Apricot Pavilion, a "neighbor" actually arrived.

The maidservant told her, "Concubine, Concubine Ge has moved in from the Side Courtyard."

Zhu Qing ignored her; there was no way she would take the initiative to be friendly with Ge Bao'er. She went straight back into the house without any politeness.

The maids serving in the Rain Apricot Pavilion used to serve only one master. Now that a new one has arrived, they still have to be mindful of the old master's feelings.

"Let's go, let's not look into Concubine Ge's room, lest she ask us for a hand later. Are we going or not?"

Who would dare go?!

Only Wu'er helped with moving things in and out.

Zhu Qing's maid looked at Wu'er and said regretfully, "Xiliu was originally a second-class maid in the Old Madam's service, but unfortunately she had no good fortune and ended up with Concubine Ge."

"Oh? You know Concubine Ge's maid?"

The maid smiled and said, "Please think of my name."

Zhu Qing read it aloud, "Tong Liu —did you enter the Lu family together?"

Tong Liu nodded.

Zhu Qing smiled and said, "Then you'll have to find a chance to take good care of your good friend."

Tong Liu said, "This servant will go right away."

Zhu Qing said, "Don't go empty-handed. Take these two plates of pastries with you all."

Tong Liu packed the pastries into a drawer and carried it to find Wu'er.

\

Old Madam Lu summoned Qing and personally reprimanded him.

"Why are you only arriving now? Didn't I tell you to come right after class?"

The Old Madam was rarely this serious, Qing was so frightened that he dared not make a fuss.

Moreover, with so many things happening in the family, the great-grandmother and father became increasingly indifferent.

He no longer dared to be as clever as before.

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

Old Madam Lu gave her a cold look. "She wants you to see her again?"

Qing dared not answer.

Old Madam Lu slapped the table, startling him so much that he stammered, "Yes, yes... I... I miss my mother."

"Mr. Zhang. Zhang teaches you so much every day, you can't even keep up with it all, how can you still have time to think about her?"

"Tell your great-grandmother honestly, is this really what you wanted to say, or did she tell you to say it?"

The birds kept under the eaves didn't dare to chirp, and the house suddenly became quiet.

Nanny Yan closed the door, Qing became even more frightened.

It would be better to slap his palm!

"If your mind isn't on studying, then you shouldn't bother reading at all. You won't learn anything from it anyway!"

Old Madam Lu turned her face away and said some harsh words.

Qing immediately burst into tears. "Great-grandmother, please don't be angry, I want to study, I want to go to school."

"I'm worried about Mom, but... I still want to study. Mom told me to find a way to see her, and I... I kind of want to see Mom too..."

However, he was too busy with his studies, so he only thought about it occasionally.

Moreover, Lu Chang'gong lives in the Front Courtyard. His biggest worry is that if he can't catch up with Lu Chang'gong no matter what, and even his great-grandmother and father prefer Lu Chang'gong, will the servants around him still treat him so well?

"Qing, your great-grandmother is going to set some rules for you. If you listen to them, your great-grandmother will still love you. If you don't, don't blame your great-grandmother for being heartless."

Qing was too young to understand the meaning of "ruthless," but seeing the Old Madam's ruthless expression, he knew he couldn't be willful anymore.

He tugged at the Old Madam's sleeve and said, "You said so, and I'll be a good girl."

Old Madam Lu said gently, "From now on, spend more time with your stepmother and learn how to conduct yourself from her. Stay away from your mother. Remember that?"

Qing nodded blankly.

The next day.

Qing and Lu Chang'gong went together to pay their respects to Lin Yunwan.

His stepmother had been very strict before, and he was quite afraid of her. But today was different; his mother actually took the initiative to ask him, "Why aren't you eating anymore? Are you full?"

"I'm full."

Lin Yunwan sighed, "You lied to me." She instructed Tao Ye, "Serve the Second Young Master another bowl."

Tao Ye ladled out another bowl of porridge, placed it in front of Qing, and said with a smile, "Young Master, have another bowl."

Qing took the porridge, somewhat bewildered.

"Thank you, Miss Tao Ye."

The mother and the maidservant beside her seemed quite kind.

After having breakfast together, Qing and Lu Chang'gong bowed to Lin Yunwan, "Mother, your son takes his leave."

"Go, all of you."

Lin Yunwan smiled faintly.

Qing and Lu Chang'gong went out together, and Lu Chang'gong took the initiative to speak to Qing, "Little brother, have you finished reading the 'Hundred Family Surnames'?"

"Finished reading, bro... Elder Brother, where did you get to?"

Lu Chang'gong smiled and said, "I learn a little faster."

Qing knew he was no match for Lu Chang'gong, so he dared not say any more, for it would be embarrassing to say more!

Seeing his expression, Lu Chang'gong said considerately, "I heard that Mr. Zhang is much stricter than my mother. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me. I'll teach you first, and then Mr. Zhang won't hit you."

"Really?"

Qing's eyes lit up.

Really?

Lu Chang'gong looked completely sincere.

"I'll ask you later. It's getting late, I need to see Mr. Zhang."

Lu Chang'gong nodded, and decided not to go back to the Front Courtyard with Qing.

Tao Ye chased after him and said, "Eldest Young Master, Madam is calling for you."

Lu Chang'gong returned to the Drooping Silk Hall.

Lin Yunwan asked him, "Why are you suddenly being so nice to Qing? Don't you hold a grudge against him anymore?"

Lu Chang'gong said, "Mother, didn't you treat him well too?"

Lin Yunwan said, "But you don't know why I'm so good to him."

Lu Chang'gong shook his head. "Your son doesn't need to know. Mother, you're busy, your son will go back first."

As soon as he left, Lin Yunwan sent someone to deliver the news to the Rain Apricot Pavilion.

"Young Master Qing and Madam are very close now, just like Young Master Chang Gong is to Madam."

"This is wonderful! With such a good stepmother like Madam, Young Master Qing should naturally be treated this way."

Listening from inside the room, Ge Bao'er asked Wu'er anxiously, "He still hasn't come to see me?"

Wu'er said with difficulty, "Young Master Qing said... he's busy. Mr. Zhang assigned a lot of homework."

Ge Bao'er bit her lip.

Is it because Qing is busy, or are they preventing him from seeing his birth mother?