Chapter 229: Old Acquaintance

Chapter 229: Old Acquaintance

"Amitabha, benefactress."

A young monk emerged from inside, greeting her with hands clasped in prayer.

Lin Yunwan, wearing a veil, bowed slightly to the young monk, "Master."

Following her gaze to the couplets on the wall, the monk smiled, "Benefactress, this is the calligraphy of the eldest young master of the Lu family from his youth."

Lin Yunwan feigned ignorance, "Which eldest young master of the Lu family?"

The monk seemed surprised, "Does the benefactress not know? The eldest young master of the Marquis of Wuding's Lu family."

"Judging by your accent, you don't seem to be a local of the capital."

He then explained, "Lu Changgong, the eldest young master, is a student at Ming Mountain Academy. His clerical script is unparalleled. His calligraphy is now exceedingly rare; this piece has been in our temple for seven years."

Lin Yunwan looked up at the youthful handwriting, suppressing the surprise in her heart.

"So his works are now rare to find..."

What must Changgong's handwriting look like now!

She still seemed to recall teaching Changgong how to write stroke by stroke in the side room of the Chuisi Hall.

The young monk, feeling honored and excited, said, "Indeed, his calligraphy is in high demand. The abbot wanted another piece from Young Master Lu, but he said that this piece was the most precious in his life, so the abbot refrained. It has been displayed here ever since, never replaced."

That’s why the couplet looks old.

Lin Yunwan smiled, "I've learned something new."

Accompanied by her maid Cuiqin and other servants, she went to the main hall to pray, waiting for Lady Chang's arrival and to meet Lady Chen from the Xingguo Duke's mansion.

\\

"Master, are you heading out today?"

Ge Baor, though a concubine, was dressed extravagantly, not at all like a concubine should.

Hearing that Lu Zhengliu was leaving, she hurried to the Chuisi Hall.

Lu Zhengliu had already changed his clothes and grown a beard.

Long gone was his former charm and pride; now in his forties, he looked like a dispirited middle-aged man.

Lu Zhengliu spoke indifferently, "A batch of porcelain has arrived; I'm going to the docks to check the merchandise."

After being stripped of his title, the Lu family had become disunited, but he had to maintain the household.

Now, with the support of the Xingguo Duke's mansion, he had started engaging in trade.

"What are you doing here?"

Lu Zhengliu looked coldly at Ge Baor. He had moved to Chuisi Hall, but lived there alone.

Frowning in disgust, he said, "Didn't I make it clear? Without my permission, no one is allowed here."

Ge Baor, dissatisfied, protested, "Zhuqing can come, Changgong can come, why can't Qing'er and I?"

She restrained her anger and questioned, "Master, you just can’t stand me and Qing'er!"

"Say whatever you like."

Lu Zhengliu simply adjusted his cuffs with an air of indifference.

Ge Baor was filled with rage, but the man before her was still her husband, the father of her son.

Didn’t she have a say in all major and minor affairs of the Lu family now?

Why should she fuss over such trivial matters!

"Master, please don’t be angry. I didn’t come to argue with you. I have something important to discuss."

Ge Baor gave a soft smile.

Naturally beautiful, although aging, she was still charming when she was in a good mood.

Ge Baor tugged at Lu Zhengliu's sleeve and said softly, "It's good news."

Lu Zhengliu brushed her hand away, speaking flatly, "Go ahead."

Ge Baor gritted her teeth, forcing a smile, "Three years ago, Lin Yunyi suffered from diarrhea and missed the examination. His marriage was also delayed. Everyone at Ming Mountain Academy blamed it on my Qing'er."

"Even though Qing'er didn't do it, with everyone saying so, as a mother, I am helpless."

Lu Zhengliu looked at her with a teasing gaze, "Is it really not you?"

He had long been convinced it was her, and no matter what she explained, he would not believe her.

But he still wanted to ask this question.

"Of course not!"

Ge Baor was infuriated.

Seeing her anger, Lu Zhengliu showed no reaction, his beard remaining motionless on his cheeks.

The only thing moving on his face were his cold eyes.

Ge Baor sat down huffily, saying resentfully, "I know, whether it's me or not, you always think it's my fault."

"Whether it's me or not doesn't matter now, I just want our family to live in harmony."

"I heard that the Chang family, headed by the Prefect of Shuntian, wants to marry their daughter to Lin Yunyi. I had my mother visit Lady Chang to speak well of the Lin family."

"If this marriage happens, it would be best for both families to reconcile. You should talk to Lin Yunyi, ask the students of Ming Mountain Academy to stop bullying Qing'er!"

Lu Zhengliu laughed, "Reconcile?"

He seemed to be mocking her, "You've studied for a few years, but still haven’t understood the ways of the world."

"Do you really think that’s possible?"

Lu Zhengliu closed his eyes.

Every day since Yunwan's death, he lived with regret.

He shouldn't have, he shouldn't have brought Ge Baor back.

Nor should he have allowed Yunwan to leave...

Now, he wanted to talk to the Lin family, to understand Yunwan's past better, but he had no right to do so.

Ge Baor's face flushed with embarrassment.

She had been trying hard to do the things Yunwan once did, but the Lu family was always dissatisfied!

Lu Zhengliu was not satisfied, and neither was Qing'er!

Nothing she did seemed perfect.

"Regardless of whether the relationship between the two families can be mended, as long as Qing'er is well, I'm willing to do anything!"

Ge Baor couldn't sit still any longer; staying here felt like sitting on pins and needles.

She stood up, saying, "My mother is visiting Lady Chang at Chixiang Temple today. Please ensure the Lin family knows about this favor."

Lu Zhengliu emotionlessly instructed Xiliu, "Take this and burn it."

The cushion Ge Baor had just been sitting on.

Xiliu, who had been serving in Chuisi Hall for seven years and had grown from a young girl into a married woman, replied, "Yes."

Ge Baor returned to her courtyard.

Her maid asked her, "Madam, are you really going to ask your mother to speak well of the Lin family?"

Ge Baor scoffed, "Of course not!"

"How dare Lin Yunyi conspire with others to bully my Qing'er, and I should help him? No way!"

She couldn't swallow this indignation.

Ge Baor, feeling resentful, said with her nails digging into her flesh, "But I have to pretend to do so, otherwise both master and Qing'er will hate me even more..."

She couldn't understand, choking up, "I’ve given Qing'er the best. Every time the master wants to do business, I shamelessly ask my parents to help him. I manage this broken household for him. How am I inferior to her!"

Ge Baor was filled with hatred, "Seven years, and not a single person appreciates my efforts!"

Crying, she said, "When she just died, God knows how I managed... they all hated me... they all hated me..."

"My Qing'er... I am his real mother! Yet he still refuses to call me 'mother'."

Lu Zhengliu was even more heartless.

Whenever she broke down, he would simply ask indifferently, "Isn’t this what you wanted?"

Ge Baor wiped her tears and asked the maid, "How is the old madam?"

The maid replied, "Today she ate twice."

Ge Baor smiled, "Let’s go see the old madam."

Old Madam Lu lay on the bed, emaciated, and looked at Ge Baor as if she had seen a ghost.

"Her withered hand reached out weakly, unable to grasp anything, she hoarsely screamed, 'Witch... die... witch... die... you go... to hell...'"

"Ge Baor touched the splendid golden hairpin on her head."

"She bent down and whispered softly, 'Weren’t you the one who first poisoned me?'"

"'I just followed your lead. Isn’t living worse than dying to your liking?'"

"Old Madam Lu opened her mouth, drooling profusely."

"'Yunwan... Yunwan... come back... Yunwan...'"

"Ge Baor sneered, 'She’s dead! She’s already dead!'"

"The old lady kept calling, 'Yunwan, come back... come back... I was wrong...'"

"Ge Baor left emotionlessly."

\\

"'Master, aren’t we going to the docks?'"

"The coachman was puzzled."

"Lu Zhengliu declared, 'To the Red Elephant Temple.'"

"He didn’t believe Ge Baor had such good intentions, but he... once being Yunyi’s brother-in-law, couldn’t just stand by and watch Yunyi's marriage prospects continually delayed."