“Chapter 1: Adoption”

"Chapter 1: Adoption"

"'Yunwan, what do you think of these five children?'"

"The scene before her eyes and the voices around her felt incredibly real."

"Lin Yunwan, in a daze, realized she had indeed been reborn."

"She was back in the year when she was twenty-three, seven years into her marriage at the Marquis of Wuding's residence, the Lu family."

"'Yunwan, I'm talking to you.'"

"Madam Lu spoke again."

"Lin Yunwan snapped back to reality, observing the five children on the corridor outside the main hall of Shoutang. All about seven or eight years old, dressed in new clothes, lined up, waiting for her to choose one to adopt as her legitimate child."

"Seeing her daughter-in-law silent, Madam Lu suggested, 'You've been childless for seven years. Why not adopt one for now? Maybe it will bring good luck and you'll soon have your own child. That would be a joy for everyone.'"

"Lin Yunwan said, 'Madam, when the old master passed away, the heir said he needed to observe mourning and left without a word to reside in the ancestral Lu house. He stayed there for three years.'"

"'Barely when the mourning period ended and he returned, he was commanded to go on a military campaign and has been on the border ever since. It's hard to make something from nothing; not to mention seven years, even ten years would not yield a child!'"

"Unbelievably, since marrying into the Marquis of Wuding's residence, she had never consummated her marriage with her husband, Lu Zhengliu."

"Madam Lu, embarrassed, turned her head to look at the child in the middle, smiling, 'I think Qingge'er is a good choice. What do you think, Yunwan?'"

"Lin Yunwan smiled strangely, 'Indeed, this child is quite exceptional!'"

"In her previous life, she had chosen Qingge'er to raise as her own child, cherishing him dearly."

"The child proved to be a prodigy, passing the imperial examination at a young age, bringing honor to the family."

"Yet, she could never forget how she died!"

"She devoted herself tirelessly to Qingge'er, and by her thirties, she was bedridden, too weak even to sit up."

"On the day the mansion celebrated his scholarly achievement, she just wanted to see him one last time. He was reluctant, coming only after being begged repeatedly by the servants."

"She knew it would be the last time she'd see him."

"Still, she tried to warn him, 'Qing, listen to me, that maid Xiaoxuan, she’s not what you think—'"

"Qingge'er coldly interrupted her, 'Do you know? She’s carrying my child!'"

"Lin Yunwan looked up to see a hatred in her adopted son’s eyes she had never seen before."

"He even accused her, 'You are truly malicious!'"

"'I never liked studying! Nor did I like you!'"

"'To tell you the truth, I’ve hated you every single day of my life! I’ve longed for your death!'"

"Lin Yunwan was stunned."

"She couldn’t fathom how the child she raised could hate her so deeply over a mere maid."

"Overwhelmed, Lin Yunwan could barely articulate her thoughts, tremblingly saying, 'Qingge'er, you can resent or hate me, but I am still your mother. You shouldn’t treat me this way.'"

"'My mother?'"

"Qingge'er laughed arrogantly, 'Thankfully, she is my real mother.'"

"'Only she would bring Xiaoxuan back for me.'"

"She? Who was she—"

"A familiar figure appeared before her eyes, her 'sister', the distant niece of Madam Lu."

"Reportedly of humble origins and pitiable circumstances, alone in the world but devotedly caring for Madam Lu, she was treated like a lady of the mansion."

"Yet her origins were modest and often subject to criticism."

"'Though she's a distant cousin, she has always been dutiful to my grandmother. Yunwan, why don’t you accept her as your sister? It would be a favor to me. Would that be alright?'"

"With her husband making such a request, how could Lin Yunwan refuse?"

"That was the first time Lu Zhengliu embraced her, whispering sweet nothings, 'Yunwan, having you is the greatest fortune of my life.' Using both tenderness and moral obligation to persuade her, she had no choice but to request her family to include this woman in the Lin family registry as her sister."

"But in the end?"

"When she was close to death, that woman stood beside her husband, their fingers interlocked, inseparable."

"Her husband even said matter-of-factly, 'You've held the position of the main wife for twenty years; it's time to pass it to Baor.'"

"Ridiculous!"

"Was someone of her status even fit to be the main wife of a marquis?"

"Her bed was stained with the blood she had coughed up, a vivid and striking sight."

"She lay there rigidly, using all her strength to watch them, a family of three, as Lu Zhengliu tenderly said, 'Baor, let's go, the banquet is about to start.'"

"Seeing Qingge'er affectionately holding the woman's arm, he said, 'Mother, this place is ominous. Let’s not disturb my celebration.'"

"Her bed was stained with the blood she had coughed up, a vivid and striking sight."

"'Till death, I was considering my adopted son.'"

"'And yet, to think the prestigious Lin family would stand as guarantor for such a lowly woman!'"

"'It was my own lack of judgment...'"

"She feared that as soon as she died, this woman would grandly be carried from the Lin household into the marquis' mansion, assuming the position of the legitimate wife."

"The family of three, reunited in legitimacy."

"Her life was truly a farce—"

A husband belonging to another, the position of the principal wife taken by another, even the son she raised to success belongs to someone else!

Twenty years of dedicated effort, handed over to others in a single night.

Her entire life's work was merely preparing a bridal gown for someone else.

She couldn't accept this!

"Yunwan, Yunwan? What's wrong with you?"

Madam Wei of the Wu Ding Marquis, full of concern, asked.

Lin Yunwan, pale-faced and slightly clutching her chest to ease the piercing pain, replied, "Mother-in-law, I'm fine."

Old Lady Lu said, "Yunwan, since you've taken a liking to young Master Qing, let it be him then. As soon as the heir returns, I'll arrange for the ancestral hall ceremony—"

Lin Yunwan interrupted her, pointing to another child, "I think this child is also not bad."

Standing at the far right, a young boy, Lu Changgong, with hair black as ink, clearly a refined and handsome youth. He kept his head down, always well-behaved, never once raising his eyes to look at anyone.

Old Lady Lu, taken aback upon seeing him, observed more closely and indeed found him to be an exceptionally outstanding child, even overshadowing her own great-grandson!

Finding herself in a difficult position, she rigidly insisted, "I still think Qing is better, he reminds me quite a bit of Zhengliu when he was young, very much to my liking."

After all, he is Lu Zhengliu's biological child, how could he not resemble him!

Lin Yunwan calmly stated, "In inheriting the family line, the child's character is of utmost importance. Other aspects are secondary."

Both Old Lady Lu and Madam Wei nodded in agreement. For families like theirs, raising a mediocre child wasn’t a concern, but raising a profligate could bring disaster to the family legacy.

Lin Yunwan continued, "Both children are around seven years old. If they have already been led astray, it will be difficult to re-educate them. It's best if they are like blank slates." She then turned to them and asked, "Have you ever attended school, read any books?"

Lu Changgong, despite being a distant relative in the Lu family line, came from a branch that had long since declined. His father struggled just to provide for him, let alone afford his education.

"He shook his head with embarrassment, 'Madam, I haven't been schooled.'"

"When it was Qing'er's turn, Old Lady Lu tensed up, wondering how her great-grandson could possibly be uneducated!"

"Yet, Qing'er spoke out loud and clear, 'Madam, I haven't been to school either.'"

"Old Lady Lu secretly breathed a sigh of relief; her great-grandson was indeed clever."

"Lin Yunwan raised an eyebrow and instructed her head maid, 'Ping Ye, check the middle fingers of their right hands.'"

"'Yes, Madam.'"

"Ping Ye first checked Lu Changgong’s hands. Both were without calluses, only some rough lines on his palms."

"She then examined Qing'er’s right hand, stretching out his middle finger for all to see. The boy, who had been learning for three years and could write, had a thin callus on his middle finger – a mark of a scholar."

"Ping Ye exclaimed, 'Madam, he's been educated! He can write!'"

"Old Lady Lu's expression shifted, almost blurting out something."

Lin Yunwan looked firmly and said, "Old Madam, this child is dishonest. He does not deserve to be a member of the Lu family."

"This..."

Old Madam Lu forced a smile and said, "I think he's a clever child. With some guidance, he'll be fine."

However, Lin Yunwan remained unimpressed, her expression rather cold.

Mrs. Wei frowned and added, "Old Madam, the child is only seven years old, he's too... cunning."

Old Madam Lu glared at her fiercely.

"What do you know! Fool!"

She had been afraid to tell Mrs. Wei the truth before everything was settled, fearing she couldn't keep a secret. And now, she was even siding with outsiders.

Although Mrs. Wei did not know the reason, she obediently shut her mouth and stayed out of the argument.

She had always been a person without her own opinion, following whatever the Old Madam and her daughter-in-law decided.

"The bloodline of the Marquis Wu Ding cannot possibly be lost to outsiders."

Old Madam Lu said decisively, "I like both children. Since you, Yunwan, prefer Changgong a bit more, let's make some effort. In the future, we shall adopt both children!"

"Alright."

Lin Yunwan surprisingly agreed very readily.

Qing Ge'er lifted his eyes, his black, curious eyes staring at Lin Yunwan.

"He'll be my legitimate son from now on," his father had said. "Only by acknowledging me as his mother can we three live together openly and honorably."

He had etched these words deeply in his heart.

Lin Yunwan's indifferent gaze shifted to the child's innocent face, her lips curling into a faint smile of satisfaction.

Of course, she intended to raise this child.

But this time, she wouldn't teach him to read, nor would she send away his beloved frivolous maid.

From now on, he only needed to grow up as he pleased under the upbringing of his birth mother!