A Change in Status

"Oh my God..."

The Matron was terrified. How dare Concubine Ge smash her own head!

The manor ordered her to send someone to the estate, and if a living person turned into a dead one, she would be held responsible.

Stop right now!

The Matron slapped Ge Bao'er, her palm bleeding profusely.

Ge Bao'er held out the Jade Pendant in her hand and said weakly, "Pawn it for me, and I... I won't kill myself. Otherwise, I'll die by your hand!"

The Matron was furious and wanted to slap her again.

But Ge Bao'er looked too weak; if she got slapped again, she might really die.

Holding up the Jade Pendant, she asked, "Am I entitled to a share?"

Ge Bao'er nodded. "I'll give you half, but I want to pawn my ticket."

The Matron was very tempted and agreed.

Ge Bao'er leaned against the carriage, tears streaming down her face.

"Qing'er..."

She probably won't be able to come back until her son grows up.

That Zhu Qing is too vicious. She won't let her take anything with her. If she hadn't taken the Jade Pendant left to her by her birth parents, she probably wouldn't have been able to wait for Qing'er to grow up and come back to the manor.

"Qing'er..."

The more Ge Bao'er thought about it, the more heartbroken she became. Zhu Qing was vicious, Lin Yunwan was ruthless. Would her son even be able to grow up to be an adult?

She gradually lost consciousness and didn't even know when she arrived at the village.

The coachman and the Matron had taken the person back returned to the Wuding Marquis Residence. The leading Matron told Zhu Qing, "Concubine, the person has been delivered to the estate."

Zhu Qing asked, "Was it smooth sailing? Did she cause any trouble?"

The Matron hesitated.

Zhu Qing said sternly, "Has something really happened? If you don't tell the truth, I'll tear your mouth apart! If you do, you can take all the silver ingots in this purse."

The Matron recounted everything. "My Concubine was trying to kill herself, and she insisted that I pawn a Jade Pendant. I just helped her find a random pawnshop and sold it right away; it wasn't much money..."

Zhu Qing sneered, "You gave it all to her?"

The Matron said, "... half was given." Not daring to lie, she added, "A small portion was given. That money is just enough for Concubine Ge to get medicine at the estate."

Zhu Qing didn't mind.

Too many women have died in the village; I've never heard of a woman who could live a lifetime by taking medicine. Anyway Ge Bao'er is beyond redemption.

She gave the purse to the Matron, saying, "Take it."

The Matron smiled and took the purse before leaving.

After dealing with Ge Bao'er, Zhu Qing found an opportunity to tell Lin Yunwan about it. However, she didn't mention Ge Bao'er's suicide attempt to sell the Jade Pendant, as it was a minor matter.

Lin Yunwan no longer cared much about what a Concubine was like.

"Knew."

She gave a faint reply and continued teaching Chang Gong to read.

The child sat on a couch in her room, obediently taking out a pen and writing from memory. The candlelight shone on his delicate face, but he grew increasingly silent.

Lin Yunwan was worried that her situation had frightened him, so she sent Zhu Qing away and asked Lu Chang'gong, "Is something on your mind?"

Lu Chang'gong put down his pen, lowered his head, and said, "... No."

"Still saying no."

He was clearly depressed.

Winter was approaching, Lin Yunwan had someone bring over a hand warmer, placing it in Lu Chang'gong's hands, saying, "Your hands are all frozen white. Would you like me to make you a pair of gloves?"

"Want!"

He agreed very quickly.

Lin Yunwan smiled and shook her head, still acting like a child.

A hint of childlike gentleness finally appeared on Lu Chang'gong's face. He pursed his lips and said, "My son has something on his mind."

Lin Yunwan nodded and listened patiently.

Lu Chang'gong, clenching his fists under the small table, said with great restraint, "I hate myself for not being able to support my mother like my maternal uncle did."

He overheard the two clans discussing the possibility of divorce that day.

But Uncle Yunyi could stand up for his mother, he couldn't! He hated it so much! He hated his father, he hated Old Madam Lu! He wished they were dead!

He knew it was too outrageous, and he dared not tell anyone.

Lin Yunwan touched his forehead.

Lu Chang'gong looked up. His mother's smile was very gentle. He heard her say, "You can do it too. In a few years, you'll be able to support your mother."

"Mother."

He didn't know what to say, and let out a soft cry through his sore nose.

Lin Yunwan pointed to the contents of the book and said, "Are you tired? If you are, take a rest; if you are not, continue memorizing."

Lu Chang'gong said he wasn't tired.

He studied with Lin Yunwan for half an hour, but Lin Yunwan felt it was getting late and told him not to study anymore, urging him to go home. "Study again tomorrow, there's no way to finish reading all the books."

Lu Chang'gong rose and bowed, saying, "Your son takes his leave."

It was completely dark outside, and it was too cold. Lin Yunwan had someone bring a thick cloak for Chang Gong, and also had Tao Ye carry a lantern to escort him to the Second Gate.

Before leaving, Lu Chang'gong turned back and smiled, "Mother, don't forget the gloves you promised your son."

Lin Yunwan and said, "I won't forget."

That very evening, she began to split the thread to sew for him and his younger brother. Ping Ye helped draw the flower patterns, one pair embroidered with bamboo and the other with cypress, perfectly reflecting their personalities.

The next morning, Lu Chang'gong and Qing came to pay their respects.

Qing has lost a lot of weight and seems very absent-minded.

I heard that Zhang Feng'an has criticized him many times recently, and because of what happened to the Lu family, he is considering resigning.

"Mother."

Standing beside Lu Chang'gong, Qing's voice became much weaker.

Lin Yunwan's expression was cold. "You don't need to come and pay your respects anymore."

Qing looked at his stepmother in surprise, and asked with a wronged expression, "Mother, why?"

Lin Yunwan said calmly, "You should ask your birth mother that."

I don't want to talk to him anymore.

Ping Ye said bluntly, "Young Master Qing, please go back! The Eldest Young Master and Young Madam are about to have their meal."

Qing could only leave in tears.

He cried louder and louder, calling out, "Mother, Mother, Mother..."

My mother used to be so loving towards him, why has she changed? Mother, why?

He couldn't explain the reasoning clearly, but he already understood somewhat in his heart that if it weren't for his birth mother, he wouldn't have become like this. Now, the servants secretly call him the illegitimate Concubine-born Son raised by a concubine, his teacher looks down on him, and his legal mother and brother both hate him...

He is no longer as favored as his Elder Brother.

Hall of Longevity.

Even as she lay in bed, Old Madam Lu was still being informed by her informants; she was actually aware of everything happening in the mansion.

Nanny Yan asked, "Concubine Ge has already gone to the estate, should we still send her medicine?"

The culprit is Ge Bao'er; it would be best if she died!

Old Madam Lu said fiercely, "Didn't she pawn the Jade Pendant to buy medicine? Go tell the people on the estate to make sure she takes her medicine properly!"

Nanny Yan nodded and asked the Old Madam, "Would you like Young Madam to come and take care of me?"

Old Madam Lu neither said she didn't want it, nor did she dare to say she wanted it.

She desperately wanted Lin Yunwan to come over! As a granddaughter-in-law, Lin Yunwan was supposed to be subservient to her elders!

However, news of the Lu family heir's favoritism towards his concubine over his wife, leading to the stripping of his title, spread far and wide.

She really didn't dare to provoke the Lin Family again.

"Forget it. Let her teach Chang Gong and Qing a good lesson. Our Marquis's Marquis's Residence will depend on them in the future."

Without the title, all the Lu family's descendants will have to study hard and enter officialdom to get ahead.

Although Lu Chang'gong was not his biological son, he was a good student.

Old Madam Lu said helplessly, "We should treat Chang Gong better from now on."