Chapter 4 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 4:
The Eldest Son
When Lu Zhengliu arrived at the Chui Si Pavilion where Lin Yunwan resided, she was in the midst of undressing for a bath. Her hair was loose, draping like silk on her fair, delicate shoulders in the soft candlelight.
"Ahem."
He had no intention of intruding on her privacy, so he turned his head expressionlessly.
Lin Yunwan turned around immediately, quickly dressed, and asked with a faint expression, "Does the heir have something to discuss?"
It seemed that only he felt uncomfortable.
Lu Zhengliu inexplicably felt a bit displeased. Standing in the room, he spoke in a stiff tone, "Grandmother's grand-niece has just come out of mourning. There is no elder at home to take care of her. Grandmother pities her loneliness and wants me to bring her to the mansion tomorrow. After I bring her back, we can return to the Lin family together."
Lin Yunwan unexpectedly responded with a simple "Okay."
It seemed she was eager to help them reunite under her watchful eyes! Not only did she want to facilitate it, but she also wanted their family of three to gather openly and everyone to know about it!
Afterward, she sat down by herself without offering him a seat or even preparing a cup of tea.
Lu Zhengliu looked at her with surprise.
He thought she might be somewhat upset or hurt, but he never expected her to be so indifferent.
Lin Yunwan looked up and asked, "Is there anything else, Young Master?"
"...Nothing."
Lin Yunwan stood up and said, "Since there's nothing else, the heir may leave as he pleases," leading her maidservant to the bathing area.
Lu Zhengliu, a well-known handsome figure in the capital with a prestigious status, had been raised with pride since childhood. He couldn't tolerate being ignored like this. When Lin Yunwan returned to her room, he had indeed left.
Ping Ye complained, "What's so extraordinary about this grand-niece? The heir had to personally go and fetch her. Even the return of the Young Madam to her family has to be pushed back."
The other maidservant, Tao Ye, worriedly said, "Madam, the heir rarely comes here..."
Lin Yunwan understood her concerns. A woman in the inner chambers relied on nothing more than the man by her side. In this life, she didn't want to repeat the same mistakes. No matter how Lu Zhengliu treated her, she would always consider him her husband and dedicate herself to the Wu Ding Marquis's residence, taking care of Qing Ge'er with all her heart and soul. In the end, she had a bitter fate.
She wouldn't tread the same path again!
Why waste her energy on a man?
Lin Yunwan comforted her maidservant in a gentle tone, "I can stand firm in my husband's family, without relying on my husband."
© 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.
Ping Ye smiled proudly, "Of course, madam, you rely on yourself. When the heir is not at home, you manage to earn yourself respect and honor. Everyone in the Wu Ding Marquis's residence, from top to bottom, respects you."
Indeed, at present, the Lu family couldn't do without the madam, not the other way around.
Tao Ye's heart settled a bit.
~
The next day, Lu Zhengliu set out to pick up the relative, and Lin Yunwan did not go to see him off.
After a full night's rest, a maidservant came to report in the morning, "Madam, the Second Young Master stayed in the Old Madam's courtyard last night, and the Eldest Young Master is in the front yard."
"Qing Ge'er has already stayed in the Yu Shou Tang?"
"Yes."
After Lu Chang Gong and Lu Chang Zong entered the mansion and officially completed the adoption process a few days ago, the Lu family had not paid much attention to them.
In her previous life, Lin Yunwan always thought that Qing Ge'er’s lively and clever personality endeared him to the Old Madam, which was why he was favored. As his adoptive mother, she was genuinely happy for her adopted son.
Now she realized that the Old Madam cherished her legitimate great-grandson from the bottom of her heart. Qing Ge'er was being favored, and it seemed like those days were still ahead.
"In these days, what has Young Master Chang Gong been doing in the front yard?"
"Madam, Young Master Chang Gong gets up early every day to practice calligraphy."
Lin Yunwan was very surprised. "Practicing calligraphy?"
The little maidservant nodded, "Yes. The stewards have prepared writing materials for both young masters. Young Master Chang Gong has started practicing calligraphy on his own, and he's been at it for almost half an hour now."
In a household where people were quick to elevate and depreciate others, and with Qing Ge'er being favored so quickly, it was uncertain how the staff was treating him. In such a situation, Lu Chang Gong managed to persist in practicing calligraphy without wavering.
"This child's temperament is indeed resilient." Lin Yunwan murmured a sentence, unable to help but recall her past life.
Choosing Lu Chang Gong as her adopted son was not without reason.
In her previous life, after falling seriously ill, she relinquished all control of the family affairs, and those who were competent around her were also removed. She became a powerless mistress. Although the Lu family allowed her to live in a distant and quiet courtyard, it was just a facade of elegance with insincere attendants. She could hardly speak to the servants.
At that time, Lu Chang Gong had just reached adulthood and took on the job of renovating the flowers, trees, and plants in the Lu estate. He even planted a few cold plum blossoms in her yard, conveniently facing her window.
She knew it wasn't a coincidence.
© 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.
During the times when the pain in her body kept her awake, she would look at the cold plum blossoms fluttering in the wind. Drawing strength from its unyielding spirit, she endured day by day.
Later, the plum blossoms withered, and she was driven to death by the three of them. She never knew how the child who planted plum blossoms for her fared later.
Consider it as cherishing the memories of those few plum blossoms from the past life.
Lan Yunwan paid a visit to Shou Hall.
Early in the morning, when Old Madam Lu learned that Lu Zhengliu had spent the night in the front yard, she thought he was too foolish. Her expression was grim. However, when she held Lan Yunwan's hand, her demeanor changed, and she kindly asked, "Yunwan, did you just say you wanted to visit Lady Guo?"
"Yes. She had frequent interactions with my grandmother in the past. When I was a daughter-in-law in the women's chamber, Lady Guo guided me. She can be considered half of my teacher. I heard she is not feeling well, so I want to pay a visit," replied Lan Yunwan.
Old Madam Lu frowned and said, 'But I heard that Lady Guo... seems to have remained unmarried?'
Women who choose not to marry go against the common norms of human ethics, and such behavior is generally not accepted. There are even many women who claim not to marry openly but engage in questionable activities in secret. Families like the Marquis Mansion dare not let their female relatives have contact with such women.
Lin Yunwan calmly withdrew her hand and said lightly, "Lady Guo has maintained her purity, leading a reclusive life. She has dedicated her whole life to safeguarding and studying the family letters left behind. Occasionally, she imparts knowledge to female students from honorable and literati families. Despite not being married, she is a person of loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness."
Lady Lu, born into a noble family, didn't understand such matters of literati. However, since her grandson always treated his wife coldly, if she were too strict, Yunwan might harbor resentment. Moreover, she was getting old and didn't have the energy to manage the household. Her daughter-in-law, Madam Wei, was incapable, and the Lu family couldn't do without Lin Yunwan.
She relaxed her grip, smiled, and said, "Since she is your teacher, you should visit."
She even instructed someone to prepare a small gift. Lin Yunwan, accompanied by a servant, left the Wu Ding Marquis Mansion quietly.
In the carriage, Ping Ye asked in confusion, "Madam, when did Lady Guo become unwell?"
Lin Yunwan said, "She is not unwell."
Ping Ye was surprised, "Not unwell? Then why did we leave the mansion..."
Lin Yunwan casually said, "With my husband treating me like this, do I still need to be wholeheartedly loyal and faithful to him?"
Ping Ye was even more shocked, and both she and Tao Ye exchanged glances.
"Madam, what, what do you want to do?"
Lin Yunwan just closed her eyes and smiled lightly.
The two maids soon calmed down. They were the accompanying maids of the madam, and whatever the madam wanted to do, they would follow suit, even if it meant going through fire and water to protect her.
© 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.
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