Chapter 99: Maternal Grandfather

Chapter 99: Maternal Grandfather

"Master Lu, Young Master Qing has overheard our conversation."

After Xian Ru and Lu Changgong finished their conversation and hid, they saw Young Master Qing rush to the Shou Hall to inform someone. The master and servant then stopped.

Lu Changgong pondered for a moment, then turned to Xian Ru, "Don't tell anyone else about this, or I will indeed punish you."

He had been the eldest young master of the Wu Ding Marquis Mansion for half a year, and was no longer the same as when he first arrived.

Although Xian Ru was a few years older than him, she dared not be presumptuous in front of her master.

She bowed her head nervously, "Rest assured, Master Lu, I won’t dare to speak of it!"

"Hmm."

As Lu Changgong walked ahead, he instructed, "Take the silver and oversee the kitchen, make sure the preparations for tonight's housewarming drink are done well."

The act must be convincing, without giving anything away.

Otherwise, it could ruin his mother's plans.

Xian Ru replied, "Yes, I'll take care of it right away."

Lu Changgong returned to his new room in the inner courtyard, arranging his study.

When it came to his studies, he preferred not to have servants intervene; he personally managed his books and writing materials.

He hung a portrait of Confucius in the study, next to which was a calligraphy piece, identical to one in Lin Yunwan's hall.

After hanging the calligraphy, he gazed at his own handwriting.

His writing wasn't as good as his mother's, but it was she who had taught him, and their hearts were in unison.

"Mother, what exactly are you planning to do..."

He murmured to himself, knowing that with his current age and insight, he couldn't fully understand.

Yet, he still curled up the corners of his mouth.

"I know, you won't leave me behind."

He had heard everything during the negotiation between the Lin and Lu families; his mother had intended to take him with her.

So, no matter what his mother planned, all he needed to do was to follow her instructions completely.

"Mother!"

Qing rushed through the cold north wind, running to Shou Hall to find Ge Baor.

Ge Baor was still frail, and it was too cold outside. She was warming herself by the fire indoors, not daring to step out.

Her complexion had improved significantly.

"Qing, you're here!"

She hugged her son joyfully, inviting him to sit in her lap.

Qing felt awkward, saying, "...I'm too old for this, Mother." He tried to sit beside her.

Ge Baor held him close, "There's no one else here."

Qing, missing his mother, nestled close to her and began to talk.

He told Ge Baor everything he had overheard.

"Mother, our maternal grandfather is the Duke of Xingguo! You are the legitimate daughter of the Duke's mansion!"

Young Master Qing was extremely excited.

"The legitimate daughter of the Duke's mansion?"

Ge Baor's mind went blank, her arms stiffening, unable to hold Qing anymore.

"Yes! I heard it myself from Big Brother, there's no mistake!"

"The legitimate daughter of the Duke's mansion..."

Ge Baor furrowed her brows, overwhelmed by the immense surprise, hardly daring to believe it was true.

"I am the legitimate daughter of the Duke's mansion! I really am!"

"No wonder..."

"No wonder!"

Ge Baor, overwhelmed with joy, hugged Qing, "Qing! Mother always knew, my origins couldn’t have been so humble!"

She cried, overwhelmed with emotion.

"I knew it... I always knew... Qing, I never felt like one of the village girls in Laiyang Village, I was different from them!"

Even when she worked as a maid in someone else's house, she always felt a sense of discord, as if she was meant to be the mistress!

How could she ever have been a maid serving others!

"Qing, it turns out that both our veins carry the noble blood of the Duke's mansion!"

Ge Baor was so excited, recalling her childhood, always feeling different from others.

She was never like the village girls, concerned only about their few acres of land.

She was born yearning for glory and wealth, naturally drawn to power and to men of high status like Lu Zhengliu. Even though he was a prince beyond her reach, she never felt unworthy of him.

All these were rightfully hers!

Had she not been lost, how could she have ended up as a country girl in Laiyang Village!

She knew it, knew that her origins were not ordinary.

"Qing, mother has finally—finally found my parents!"

Ge Baor's voice was hoarse from crying, her hands and feet trembling.

Qing said compassionately, "Mother..."

Wiping her tears and waiting for her to calm down, he whispered, "Mother, but Big Brother said that our mother intends to destroy your jade pendant."

"Mother, if the jade pendant is gone, will our grandfather come to claim us?"

"Big Brother said, without the jade pendant, you'll remain just a concubine. Is what he said true?"

Young Master Qing gazed eagerly at Ge Baor, longing for a powerful maternal grandfather.

If so, his great-grandmother would never dare to separate him and his mother again.

Ge Baor was stunned.

"Without the jade pendant..."

Right, she had pawned her jade pendant.

But how did it end up with Lin Yunwan?

Thinking about this now was pointless. As Qing said, without the pendant, she couldn't leave the Lu household, and would the Duke's mansion acknowledge her?

"Qing, your mother will retrieve the jade pendant."

Ge Baor said with a calm resolve.

Qing nodded, full of hope, "Mother, I'll also help you find a way to get the pendant back. Once we have it, we can go meet our grandfather."

Ge Baor smiled and agreed.

After her son left, her expression changed completely.

"Lin, Yun, Wan."

Sitting on the cushion, Ge Baor uttered the name through gritted teeth, then regained her composure.

Destroying her jade pendant and her identity wouldn't be so easy!

She must find a way to get the jade pendant back!

She refused to let her son be a concubine's child, to let other people's sons overshadow hers, to let Lin Yunwan stand above her!

What should she do…

She needed to stay calm, think deeply, and plan meticulously. She couldn't afford any more mistakes; she had to strategize carefully.

\\

"She's going out again?"

Old Lady Lu was displeased upon hearing that Lin Yunwan was going to visit Madam Lin.

A married woman visiting her maternal home too frequently seemed improper.

No matter how many times they talked about separation, as long as it didn’t happen, Lin Yunwan remained a wife in the Lu family, subject to the Lu elders' approval for her actions.

Madam Yan said, "I heard Madam Lin's eyesight has improved slightly. Madam Lu probably wants to visit her because of that."

Old Lady Lu huffed and said no more.

After thinking, she suddenly perked up, "It's good that she's leaving. Go to Chuisi Hall now and search it."

If they could find the jade pendant, that would be perfect!

Madam Yan hesitated, "But under what pretext should I…"

"What pretext do you need! It's Zhengliu's residence, he can go in whenever he wants!"

"Yes."

Madam Yan went to find Lu Zhengliu.

Lin Yunwan returned to the Lin residence and, together with Madam Lin, took a carriage to the Chi Xiang Temple. Approaching the temple, their carriage crossed paths with another, blocking its way.

"Peach Leaf, go and see what's happening."

It was inconvenient for Lin Yunwan to show herself.

Peach Leaf saw that their coachman was already discussing with the other how to pass by each other, but that carriage was unexpectedly…

"Madam, it's the Xia family's carriage."

She hurried back to report to Lin Yunwan.

Lin Yunwan lifted the carriage curtain, and a young man stepped out of Madam Xia's carriage, about the same age as the Huan King.