Exposed

Today is Qing's birthday banquet, but Old Madam Xia is clearly more concerned about Madam Lin's affairs.

"Madam's eyes can see light now?"

Madam Lin smiled and said, "I can see a little better now, all thanks to your brother."

Old Madam Xia was also very pleased. "They're all relatives, it's only right."

Lu Jia was much more obedient by the side, keeping an eye on her illegitimate daughters and Concubine-born Sons, and no longer interfering in her family's affairs.

It's obvious they've learned their lesson recently.

Zhu Qing couldn't help but whisper to Lin Yunwan, "Madam, the Eldest Aunt looks so haggard."

Lin Yunwan glanced at Lu Jia, who looked more than just haggard; she was utterly exhausted.

Zhu Qing covered her mouth with a handkerchief and continued talking to Lin Yunwan, "I heard that the young master's mistress is extremely shrewd; she's very good at finding fault with people. Eldest Aunt Jia is always getting so angry with her, and neither the young master nor Old Madam Xia helps her. She's finally met her match."

Recalling Lu Jia's sarcastic remarks, Lin Yunwan felt no sympathy for Lu Jia whatsoever.

They were chatting happily, and Lu Chang'gong and Lin Yunyi, who were also very close, were playing Go in the Flower Hall.

Lu Chang'gong does not know how to play chess.

Lin Yunyi said patiently, "Your maternal uncle will teach you. Your mother will teach you later, and maybe we can play against each other next time we see each other."

Lu Chang'gong said modestly, "maternal uncle is good at everything he does. I'd like to play chess with maternal uncle next time we meet, but I think that'll be difficult."

Lin Yunyi smiled.

Being maternal uncle feels really great!

He took out a box and said, "This is for you."

"What?"

Today wasn't his birthday, so Lu Chang'gong felt he shouldn't accept gifts.

Lin Yunyi generously said, "Just accept it. It's only right for maternal uncle to dote on his nephew."

"Thank you, maternal uncle."

Lu Chang'gong first asked Tao Ye to help him keep it.

Just before the banquet was about to begin, Lu Zhengliu and Wei Shi arrived together. They hadn't come together; they had simply bumped into each other on the way.

Old Madam Lu smiled and Lu Zhengliu, then said to Qing, "Hurry up and see your father."

Today is Qing's birthday, and everyone is finally paying attention to him.

Qing stood up and bowed to his father.

Lu Zhengliu also gave him a Jade Pendant.

Qing forgot to answer, and kept staring outside the Flower Hall, but still couldn't see his mother.

"Qing?"

Lu Zhengliu frowned. Relatives were visiting today; his maternal grandmother and maternal uncle were both there. How could he be distracted and rude?

Qing accepted the Jade Pendant, forgetting to say thank you, and instead asked in a low voice, "Father, why hasn't Concubine Ge arrived yet?"

Lu Zhengliu gave him a cold look.

Qing dared not ask any more questions.

"Alright, everyone, please take your seats!"

They were all family members, but men and women sat at separate tables without being separated.

As soon as Lu Jia sat down, she asked, "Where is younger female cousin Ge?"

She wasn't asking provocatively; it was just a thoughtless remark, spoken in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft.

Zhu Qing overheard this and whispered, "My Eldest Aunt doesn't know, she's been ill since last time, and she probably won't be able to come today."

Lu Jia had only asked casually and didn't take it to heart.

"So he was ill."

Zhu Qing suddenly chuckled and muttered, "Maybe I'm going to die. Who knows?"

Die?

Is Mother going to die?

Zhu Qing's joking remark didn't scare anyone else, but it terrified Qing.

No wonder Mother touched his face like that; Mother wanted to die!

He didn't care about the banquet or not, and without saying a word, he left the table like a gust of wind.

He doesn't want his mother to die!

"What's this child doing? He's ignoring his maternal uncle when he talks to him!"

Old Madam Lu frowned. Lin Yunyi was a very learned young master, and it was rare for him to have a few words with Qing. Why did he suddenly run away!

Moreover, today is his birthday banquet, which his stepmother has painstakingly prepared for him and even invited the Lin Family. How could he be so rude?

If word gets out, it will ruin his reputation.

"Cough."

Lin Yunyi coldly put down his chopsticks. His sister's stepson was truly inferior to Chang Gong. Why did he, as her maternal uncle, run away in fright, as if he'd seen a ghost, when he was only halfway through his sentence?

Lu Zhengliu grim, ordered his men, "Bring Qing back to me!"

The Heir Apparent was enraged, Matron and maids, regardless of where they were from or where they worked, all rushed after him.

Lin Yunyi up and said, "I scared them away, I'll go after them."

Lu Zhengliu felt this was extremely rude and tried to persuade him to stay, "Brother-in-law, you don't need to worry about him. A servant will go and bring him back to apologize to you."

Lin Yunyi said calmly, "There's no need to make such a fuss, I'll go."

Anyway, this little nephew doesn't look like much, and he's an adopted child, so he doesn't care much about him. But he doesn't want his sister to lose face today.

Let's downplay the seriousness of the matter and let the minor issue disappear.

Since his brother-in-law was being so polite, Lu Zhengliu felt even more obliged to maintain appearances and insisted that Lin Yunyi not go. He frowned and said, "This child has been a bit spoiled in the past. Today, I will make him come and apologize to you no matter what."

His attitude was too harsh, and a small matter was about to escalate. Madam Lin said, "Forget it, he's just a child." She had also heard that this young adopted son was difficult to manage. In the end, if something went wrong, wouldn't it just cause trouble for her daughter?

Lin Yunwan stood up and said, "I'll go take a look."

Lin Yunyi, who always protected his older sister, followed her out and said, "Sister, I'll go with you."

Lu Chang'gong also wanted to go, saying, "My brother and I are easy to talk to; my persuasion might be effective."

Like a string of gourd vines, one or two people wanted to go, and in the end even Lu Jia and Zhu Qing went. However, since Lin Yunyi was an outsider, it was inconvenient for him to wander around the Inner Residence, so Lu Chang'gong stayed behind to accompany him.

Lin Yunwan took Lu Jia and Zhu Qing out to look for the person.

The Matron said, "Young Master Qing first ran to the Rain Apricot Pavilion, and then went to the Flower Garden."

When Qing heard that Ge Bao'er was not in the Rain Apricot Pavilion and had gone to the Flower Garden with her personal maid, he was terrified and chased after her.

Sure enough, he saw his mother and maid jump into the water together.

On such a cold day, the two of them fell into the water together.

He didn't care about status, his stepmother, or his brother anymore!

He only wants his mother!

Qing knelt on the bank and cried out at the top of his lungs, "Mother! Please save my mother! Save my mother!"

Seeing Lin Yunwan approaching, he scrambled to her feet and knelt down, pleading, "Mother, please, save my mother! My mother is drowning! Save her!"

Those who came with them were dumbfounded.

Lin Yunwan frowned and asked, "Who is your mother?"

Zhu Qing's eyes widened, and she asked impatiently, "Are you saying that Concubine Ge is your... birth mother?"

Qing nodded through his tears, "She is my mother. Mother, please, please save my mother." He continued to kowtow to Lin Yunwan.

Lu Jia's lips twitched, her face extremely pale.

Ge Bao'er is actually Qing's mother?

In other words, Qing was her brother's child before he got married?

He had a mistress before marrying his Principal Wife.

Good heavens, she thought Xia Ji was bad enough, but she never expected her younger brother to be even worse!