Chapter 11 FCADW? IRTBTMOTMM
FlamingoBees
Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)
Favoring Concubines and Destroying Wives? I Refuse to be the Mistress of this Marquis' Mansion
Chapter 11:
Instruction
“Madam, the two young masters are here to pay their respects.”
Early in the morning, Lin Yunwan had just finished grooming, not yet having time to arrange her hair. Ping Ye was tending to her in front of the dressing mirror. She turned and told Tao Ye, "When the two young masters come in, let them wait for a while; I need a bit more time."
Tao Ye left the room, and Lin Yunwan, hearing some unusual commotion outside, raised her hand to stop Pingye from inserting the hairpin.
© translations belonging to flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.
She walked to the window, keeping her figure hidden, and observed from a distance. Chang Gong, at the entrance of the Chui Si Tang, had just taken a tumble. He got up on his own, patted the mud on his knee, and laughed. Young Master Qing Ge'er, with a cheerful smile, looked at him, finding his disheveled appearance quite amusing. The personal servant, also a lad, who attended to them and caused Chang Gong's stumble, was apologetic on the side.
It seemed that Young Master Qing. Ge'er's servant deliberately tripped Chang Gong. Ping Ye came over and whispered, "Madam, the servants in the front yard have mentioned that the people below are bullying the young master. The Old Madam over there dotes on Young Master Qing Ge'er very much."
Lin Yunwan spoke in a calm tone, "Don't bother with it."
She had instructed not to intervene; pretending not to know was the best approach.
Ping Ye responded, "Yes."
However, she couldn't understand why, even though Young Master Chang Gong was the madam's personally chosen stepson, and the madam intended to take care of him, it seemed like she didn't notice when he was being bullied.
Under orders, Tao Ye was also standing in the corridor, watching. Although she felt a bit upset that Young Master Qing Ge'er was mischievous, she managed to restrain herself and only asked them to stand and listen to instructions.
After a quarter of an hour, Lin Yunwan finished dressing up, and a meal was set in the small hall of the Chui Si Tang. She then called for them, "Come in."
Young Master Chang Gong and Young Master Qing Ge'er came in side by side, no longer playing around, and both respectfully bowed, calling out, "Mother."
During these days in the front yard, the two of them received some coaching, and they performed this kind of etiquette to the elders quite elegantly.
The two children, dressed in splendid clothes, stood together in front of the table, looking very adorable.
Lin Yunwan didn't immediately start eating; instead, she asked them, "Have you both had your early meal?"
Young Master Qing looked up, smiled, and said, "Yes, Mother."
His eyes, not yet fully grown, were bright and dark like a child's, carrying a bit of cleverness and joy. This appearance was very much liked by the Old Madam.
However, Lin Yunwan was different. Her attitude was very distant and indifferent. After asking him, she turned her gaze to Chang Gong.
The Second Young Master Qing Ge'er was puzzled. Why was the madam so cold to him? He couldn't help but recall the day he was selected, feeling nervous.
Lu Chang Gong kept his head down, not daring to make direct eye contact with his elders. Respectfully, he said, "Yes, Mother, I have eaten."
His stomach let out a few grumbling sounds...
Ping Ye couldn't help but suppress a laugh. Was this what he called eating?
Lu Chang Gong blushed.
Lin Yunwan asked him again, "You have really eaten enough?"
Lu Chang Gong's fair and handsome face turned even redder. He hadn't eaten. Living in the same courtyard, they shared the same dining hall, and the kitchen sent their meals together. Servants always served his younger brother first, so every time, his brother ate before him. Today, his brother woke up late and ate late, leaving him hungry.
Lu Chang Gong didn't want to complain. He just whispered, "Yes, Mother, I've eaten... just not enough."
© translations belonging to flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.
Lin Yunwan said, "Since you haven't eaten enough, come and sit."
Lu Chang Gong's eyes lit up.
This was the first time he had shared a meal with his mother!
Qing Ge'er also wanted to join in. Seeing Lu Chang Gong approaching Lin Yunwan, he went forward, pulling her sleeve, and coquettishly said, "Mother, I haven't eaten enough."
Lin Yunwan pulled her sleeve away.
Ping Ye immediately scolded, "No manners! Did the madam invite you?"
Qing Ge'er looked stunned.
From his birth mother and the Old Madam, who wouldn't fall for his act? Why didn't his stepmother fall for it?
He pouted, looking at Lin Yunwan with a helpless expression, and called out, "Mother..."
Lin Yunwan showed no mercy, not a trace of softness. She knew too well that this child was most familiar with such tricks.
Perhaps due to living as a widow and feeling lonely in her past life, she thought having a lively child by her side would be good. So, she often fell for it. Little did she know, Qing Ge'er appeared close to her on the surface, but deep down, he already resented her.
Thinking about the resentment in the child's eyes before his death, Lin Yunwan asked him, "Didn't the Mama teach you that you should be respectful in front of your stepmother?"
Qing Ge'er lowered his head.
Ping Ye sternly said, "Madam asked you a question. Answer quickly. Either yes or no."
Qing Ge'er almost cried, "Yes..."
However, in front of the Old Madam and his biological father, he never had to follow such rules. Only Lu Chang Gong needed to be obedient!
Why did he have to follow the rules with his stepmother?
Lin Yinwan said, "Everyone, sit down and eat."
But how could Qing Ge'er still have an appetite? After sitting down, he became a foil[1].
On the other hand, Lin Yunwan and Lu Chang Gong enjoyed their meal, devouring the fish soup, stuffed melon, and salted almonds on the table.
After breakfast, Lin Yunwan didn't keep them and sent them away.
"Madam, let me go and check," Ping Ye offered, and Lin Yunwan agreed.
Soon, she returned and angrily recounted how Qing Ge'er bullied Lu Chang Gong, asking, "Madam, are you really not going to do anything about it?"
Lin Yunwan put down the book in her hand and fell into silence.
The fact that Lu Chang Gong's family sent him to the Marquis's mansion meant they were likely in dire straits. Since she had chosen to bring this child into the mansion, she would fulfill her stepmother responsibilities, ensuring he had enough to eat and wear, opportunities for education, and a chance to make a name for himself and establish his own household. It was better than his previous life.
In this way, she did not owe him anything.
However, she would never blatantly favor or support Lu Chang Gong.
Once bitten by a snake, one is afraid of even a rope for ten years, and Qing Ge'er had hurt her too deeply!
© translations belonging to flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.
Maintaining a proper distance in her interactions with the members of the Lu family, fulfilling her responsibilities without expecting anything in return, was more suitable without emotional attachment.
Lin Yunwan finally said lightly, "Let the housekeepers go to the council chamber."
"Yes."
Ping Ye still felt regret for Lu Chang Gong.
~
One day, when Lu Chang Gong and Qing Ge'er came to pay their respects, Lin Yunwan wrote a phrase with a brush, handed it to Ping Ye, and said, "After the ink dries, take it for mounting and hang it on the east wall of the small hall."
Ping Ye read aloud, "Aspire to lofty ideals, forget about trivial matters." She asked, "What does this mean?"
Lin Yunwan was cleaning her hands.
Tao Ye explained in a gentle voice, "It means having grand aspirations and not caring about trivial matters; don't let them bother you."
Lu Chang Gong stood aside, perked up his ears, and silently read the words once.
Ping Ye smiled and said, "Nice words. I'll go now."
Lin Yunwan came over after washing her hands and asked them to leave.
Qing Ge'er made a bow and left. Before Lu Chang Gong left, he said shyly, "Thank you for your guidance, Mother." Then he left.
Lin Yunwan looked at him in surprise. As the child turned away, he tightly pursed his lips, and his handsome face always had a reserved and quiet look.
Watching the small figure go away, she felt a sense of loss.
It turned out that in the Lu family, there was such an intelligent child.
~
Ping Ye took the mounted calligraphy to the front yard.
"Hurry and mount it, Madam wants it urgently."
The steward readily agreed.
On the day when the mounted calligraphy was delivered to the gate of the Marquis of Wuding's Mansion, Lu Zhengliu had just returned from outside. His face was gloomy, and his eyebrows were tightly furrowed.
No one dared to approach him when he was in a bad mood.
Without saying anything, it was certain that he was frustrated again because of the matter of inviting the teachers for the two young masters.
When the framed calligraphy flashed past Lu Zhengliu, he seemed to have seen something extraordinary. He dismounted and rushed over, asking the servant carrying the calligraphy, "Where is this from?"
He naturally had a stern face, and the servant answered nervously, "F-from Madam."
"And where did Madam get it?"
The servant didn't know the details...
Lu Zhengliu didn't care about that, as if he had found a treasure, he snatched the calligraphy, striding towards the Chui Si Tang to find Lin Yunwan.
Having been through education and being well-versed in military books, Lu Zhengliu could discern good handwriting. If someone could write such excellent clerical script, it meant that the person must be well-educated and qualified to be a teacher for his son.
If he couldn't invite those renowned teachers, why not try inviting this person?
As soon as he entered the Chui Si Tang, Lin Yunwan looked at him with a frown, asking, "Why is my calligraphy in your hands?"
"Yours? You wrote it?"
Lin Yunwan looked at him silently. Who did he think could write such a thing?
Lu Zhengliu confirmed that it was indeed her handwriting. He gazed at her and smiled, "It seems that I've found what I've been looking for."
In the midst of his joy, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Lin Yunwan sensed his relief and showed a cold expression.
She thought he was getting happy too early.
© translations belonging to flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.
•••
Comments
Post a Comment
What did you think of this chapter?