“Chapter 40: Avoiding the Son”

"Chapter 40: Avoiding the Son"

"'Xi Liu is so unlucky to be serving cousin! Such a good person, and yet she unjustly suffered a beating. In this hot weather, her backside is all bruised.'"

"Ping Ye had been delivering ointment to Xi Liu for several days, returning each time with this lament."

"Tao Ye, tired of hearing it, advised, 'Your concern is enough. Don’t keep talking about it. If someone from Shou Tang Hall hears, it could stir up trouble.'"

"Lin Yunwan was busy arranging the house these days."

"Upon returning, she heard Tao Ye’s words and entered, lifting the curtain, 'Tao Ye is right. Ping Ye, be careful with your words.'"

"Ping Ye stuck out her tongue, 'I understand.'"

"Seeing Lin Yunwan's pale lips, Ping Ye quickly brought her tea, 'Madam, the water is just the right temperature.'"

"Lin Yunwan took the tea, asking, 'How is Xi Liu doing? Has she improved?'"

"Ping Ye replied, 'She’s better. But without a senior maid serving cousin, she has to go back to work as soon as she’s a bit recovered.'"

"Lin Yunwan instructed, 'Keep encouraging her. If she really gets desperate, you don’t need to rush to report back to me. Make your own decisions; her life is the priority.'"

"'Yes.'"

"Lin Yunwan closed her eyes, recalling the incident involving Xi Liu..."

"That day, just as she woke up and was preparing to head to the council hall for affairs, she heard that a maid had thrown herself into a well."

"In all her years at the Lu residence, it was the first time she heard of such a thing."

"Initially, she thought it was just a conflict between maids, acting impulsively in the heat of the moment."

"Now, it seemed likely that it might have something to do with Ge Baor."

"'Madam, Aunt Zhu Qing is here.'"

"A young maid serving outside came to deliver the message."

"Ping Ye commented, 'Again?' Her tone wasn’t one of disdain, but curiosity."

"After all, Lin Yunwan had instructed Zhu Qing to avoid suspicion and to be particularly vigilant about securing their household recently. Why was she visiting so frequently?"

"'Let her in.'"

"Ping Ye went out to usher Zhu Qing in. Zhu Qing's face was etched with worry, lacking her usual vibrancy."

"Lin Yunwan instructed the maids to serve tea and asked Zhu Qing, 'What happened? There are dark circles under your eyes.'"

"Zhu Qing gave a bitter smile, 'Madam’s observation is sharp. I haven’t been sleeping well these past few days.'"

"She glanced at the maids in the room."

"Lin Yunwan waved her hand to dismiss them, then asked Zhu Qing, 'Speak freely, what’s on your mind?'"

"Zhu Qing said, somewhat embarrassedly, 'Madam, recently the young master asked me to drink a concoction to avoid pregnancy.'"

"She said resentfully, 'It’s so strange. The main wife forbids me from taking such medicines, but the young master insists that I do!'"

"Lin Yunwan asked her, 'You’re not that young anymore, right?'"

"Zhu Qing said with heartache, 'I’m already twenty-five.' She was two years older than Madam and yet without any children of her own."

"As she spoke, she started crying, 'If I get any older, I don’t know if I’ll still be able to conceive. The young master really has no compassion.'"

"Lin Yunwan remained silent."

"It’s not that Zhu Qing couldn’t bear children, but her fertility seemed average at best. Despite being with Lu Zhengliu for many years, she only had one child."

"Of course, she was still better off than Lin Yunwan, who raised a child for others her whole life!"

"Wiping her tears, Zhu Qing mused to herself, 'Everything was fine before, why did he suddenly ask me to take the medicine?' She looked at Lin Yunwan, hoping for an answer."

"Lin Yunwan looked back at Zhu Qing and countered, 'What do you think?'"

"Zhu Qing paused, a strange thought flashing through her mind."

"She smiled, 'I am slow-witted. I don’t understand.'"

"Though she said so, upon returning to Yu Xing Pavilion, she pondered for a long time and began to have some suspicions."

\\

"A lucky day in July."

"Everyone in the Lu family went to pay respects to Old Madam Lu."

"Zhu Qing encountered Ge Baor and spoke to her privately, 'Cousin, you look radiant. Even under the veil, your skin seems glowing.'"

"Ge Baor touched her cheek, replying, 'It’s hot weather; I’m just flushed from the heat.'"

"She didn’t want to engage much with Zhu Qing; after all, Zhu Qing was just a concubine, while she was now a 'lady awaiting marriage.'"

"'Aunt, if there’s nothing else, I should attend to the Old Madam.'"

"Zhu Qing smiled faintly, not holding her back."

"Even after leaving, Ge Baor felt a chilling sensation, as if she was being watched!"

"That day, she went with Mama Yan to offer prayers at the temple, planning to stay there for a few days to pray and chant scriptures for her deceased foster parents."

"'May the Bodhisattva bless…'"

"Ge Baor knelt before the Bodhisattva, praying earnestly, not for her foster parents, but for her biological ones."

"'Bless me to see my parents soon, bless Qing Ge'er to meet his maternal grandparents…'"

"Despite knowing it was a slim hope, she still wished to reunite with her biological parents one day. Lu Zhengliu had told her the jade pendant she wore since infancy was valuable, not something ordinary families could afford."

"'The young master has arrived.'"

"Mama Yan appeared behind Ge Baor, whispering a reminder."

"Ge Baor immediately opened her eyes and went to the side room to meet with Lu Zhengliu."

"Mama Yan, standing guard outside, felt a pain in her ears."

"The purity of the temple was defiled by Ge Baor's actions."

"The young master, too! He indulged such a wretched girl."

"'Why are you still wearing this bracelet?'"

"Lu Zhengliu held Ge Baor’s hand, caressing the bamboo bracelet."

"Ge Baor smiled, reminiscing, 'When I was a young girl, you wanted to give me something valuable, but I refused. So you made this bracelet from a bamboo stick for me, and that's when I accepted it.'"

"Lu Zhengliu offered a faint smile, reflecting on how such an act was truly something of youthful naivety."

"Now, the idea of making such a thing for a woman seemed utterly impossible for him."

"'This bracelet is cheap, easily available,' Lu Zhengliu said. 'The Old Madam has given you jewelry; wear something nicer in the future.'"

"Ge Baor shook her head, embracing him and asking, 'A-Zheng, have you forgotten what this bracelet means...?'"

"'I haven’t forgotten.'"

"That very bracelet was what made this naive girl surrender her innocence to him."

"He had once promised, 'When I return, I will marry you and replace it with a jade bracelet.'"

"Later, he was forced to marry Lin Yunwan."

"And he never had the chance to replace Ge Baor's bracelet."

"Lu Zhengliu suddenly thought of Lin Yunwan, becoming somewhat distracted. If he had married Lin Yunwan first, would he still have made such promises to Ge Baor?"

"He was startled by his own question."

"'A-Zheng, what’s wrong?'"

"Lu Zhengliu snapped back to reality, his tone cool, 'Nothing.'"

"Thinking he was still upset about that matter, Ge Baor obediently admitted her fault, 'Aunt Zhu Qing bearing children for you is right, but I... just don't want any other woman to have children for you.'"

"'A-Zheng, I’m just that petty, you know it.'"

"She stated it assertively."

"'I know. I'm not angry.'"

"Because his decision to have Zhu Qing drink the contraceptive brew wasn’t influenced by Ge Baor's words."

"When Ge Baor returned home, it was already three days later."

"Coincidentally, she ran into Zhu Qing again."

"'Good day, cousin. You look radiant. It seems that praying to the Buddha really purifies the mind and improves the complexion.'"

"Ge Baor's face turned slightly unpleasant."

"What was Zhu Qing’s deal, always so sharply observant and fixating on her?"

"'If aunt feels restless, perhaps you could also try praying to the Buddha.'"

"Zhu Qing replied with a smile, 'I can't. I'm not as composed as you, cousin. I'm rather restless by nature.'"

"Ge Baor exchanged a few polite words and quickly left."

"Lin Yunwan approached and asked Zhu Qing, 'What were you and cousin discussing?'"

"Zhu Qing bowed, 'Madam, nothing much. What brings you to the Old Madam’s place at this hour?'"

"Lin Yunwan, looking serious and concealing something in her sleeve, said, 'I have come to discuss an urgent matter with the Old Madam. It’s good timing, you should come in with me.'"

"Zhu Qing followed, her face filled with confusion."