Chapter 50 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 50:

Biased

Lu Jia said, "Since we're all relatives, little sister, how come you didn't know to bring your cousin over? Let's all chat together."

Chat? Can Ge Bao'er really come over for a chat? What good words could she say?

Lu Zhengliu couldn't sit still. He suddenly mentioned having other matters to attend to, unable to linger. He was also afraid that Lu Jia would overstep her bounds in conversation. He looked at her and said, "Grandmother mentioned that our cousin is unwell and can't leave the courtyard. Elder sister, you don't need to concern yourself too much with her affairs."

Lu Jia felt wronged. She was just showing some care, why was it considered meddling?

Why was her younger brother targeting her?

Old Madam Xia also frowned. It was just a cousin; why was the Lu family so concerned? It was unnecessary to cause trouble and make the mistress lose face. They really shouldn't have.

Leaving the courtyard of Wei's residence, Lu Zhengliu went directly to the side courtyard where Ge Bao'er lived.

His expression was icy, extremely intimidating.

"Is Qing Ge'er inside?"

The gatekeepers were frightened, their legs trembling as they stammered, "Replying to the young master, the young master is inside."

Lu Zhengliu's expression became even more unpleasant. "How do you people carry out your duties?"

The gatekeepers were afraid he would kick them, nervously saying, "Young Master Qing insisted on coming by himself... the old servants couldn't stop him."

"Even if you couldn't stop him, don't you have mouths to speak? Don't you know to report to me and Yan Mama?"

The gatekeeper said, "Young Master Qing Ge'er said he would come out in a moment. The servants were about to report to the young madam..."

Report to Lin Yunwan?

He found it troublesome enough without her involved!

Lu Zhengliu frowned and said, "Get lost."

The servant dared not stop him and could only say in a low voice, "Young Master, this... after all, is the residence of the women."

He was not allowed to enter.

Lu Zhengliu entered with a dark and gloomy expression, only to see a peaceful scene. Qing Ge'er was practicing calligraphy below the window, and Ge Bao'er was holding a pen, writing alongside him.

The mother and son duo looked very happy.

"Father?"

Qing Ge'er put down the pen, got up, and greeted, "Why did you come? To see me and... my cousin?"

He couldn't openly address Ge Bao'er as "mother."

Ge Bao'er, holding the pen, looked up at him.

Luzhengliu pursed his lips and said to Qing Ge'er, "You go out first."

Qing Ge'er hesitated, glanced at Ge Bao'er, and then left.

Luzhengliu's face remained cold as he instructed Wu'er, "Take Young Master out."

Wu'er hurriedly led Qing Ge'er away. She went quite far, closed the courtyard door, and didn't dare to eavesdrop on the conversation between the masters.

"Didn't I tell you not to see Qing Ge'er for now?" Luzhengliu restrained his temper and asked.

Ge Bao'er, tidying up the parchment that Qing Ge'er had written on, spoke gently, "I did tell him not to come, but he begged me, saying he just wanted to come and practice calligraphy. He mentioned how others have mothers who care for them, while he doesn't get that maternal love. His own mother is right in front of him, yet he can't call her, so he just wants to stay by my side for a short while."

"I am his mother. How can I bear to drive him away?"

She looked up at Lu Zhengliu with some anger. "He just came to practice calligraphy, not to help me with anything!"

Luzhengliu remained silent for a moment.

"I'm not blaming you. Today, when relatives at home asked about Qing Ge'er, he wasn't present."

"Studying and entering officialdom, having one's abilities is one aspect, but making connections with relatives and friends from suitable backgrounds is also crucial for paving the way for the future. I am his biological father, Bao'er, and I don't want my son to miss out on these opportunities."

Ge Bao'er smiled, "I understand."

Her eyes looked very innocent. "Gege A'Zhen, you've already promised me. Give me a proper status once the relatives leave. I've been raising Qing Ge'er alone outside for seven years. I've endured through all that. Do you think I can't wait a bit longer?"

"Qing Ge'er is still young. I feel sorry for him. That's why I didn't listen to you, not because I wanted to cause trouble."

"If you really don't want him to see me, take him away now."

Lu Zhengliu nodded. "There will be plenty of opportunities for you and your son to meet in the future, just not in these few days." He turned to leave.

"Gege A'Zheng."

Ge Bao'er whispered him, asking with a sweet smile, "Once you've promised, you won't break your word, right?"

Lu Zhengliu hesitated.

"Yes."

After saying that, he carried Qing Ge'er away. Qing Ge'er was very scared; his father had always been serious, and now he still had a stern face, so he didn't dare to talk to his father.

Lu Zhengliu looked at his son's timid eyes, remembered what Ge Bao'er had said, and felt sorry for his son who had no mother to care for him.

Indeed, Lin Yunwan favored Lu Chang Gong more. Clearly, the one in his arms was his own son.

"Qing Ge'er, your dad doesn't want to punish you. But remember, in the future, you must show respect to your stepmother and never neglect proper etiquette."

Qing Ge'er took a moment to nod and replied, "Son understands."

Then he asked, "Father, um... can I go see Mother tomorrow? My writing tools are still there, and they were chosen for me by Teacher Zhang. I'm afraid if he asks, I won't know how to answer."

After some thought, Lu Zhengliu said, "Go tomorrow to retrieve them and come back."

Qing Ge'er suddenly smiled, "Thank you, Father."

Lu Zhengliu also curved his lips slightly.

He wanted to take Qing Ge'er to visit the Xia family, but upon hearing that Madame Xia and the others had already left the residence of Madam Wei, he decided to take Qing Ge'er to pay respects to Old Madam Lu instead.

Upon seeing Lu Zhengliu and Qingge, Madame Lu's first question was directed at Yan Mama, "Has everything been peaceful at home these days?"

Not feeling well, she had been resting in her room and hadn't spoken with the Xia family today. Despite being indoors, what worried her the most was the possibility of trouble brewing behind the scenes with Ge Bao'er.

Yan Mama glanced at Lu Zhengliu and quickly replied with a smile, "Everything is well at home. You take good care of yourself. Tomorrow, there's a banquet, and it wouldn't be good if the relatives saw you looking unwell."

Old Madam Lu nodded and then coughed a few times. Yan Mama brought over a lung-nourishing soup.

Lu Zhengliu and Qing Ge'er helped on the side, avoiding any mention of Ge Bao'er's matters, pretending as if they hadn't paid any attention to her these past few days. With more people around, the atmosphere became lively.

Lu Jia also joined in, "Grandmother, is this medicine?" She had been curious about that distant cousin of hers. In over ten years at the Marquis Mansion, she hadn't heard anything about such a cousin and wondered where this person had suddenly emerged from.

Yan Mama explained, "Madam, it's soup. Last night, the old madam had a severe cough, but after having two bowls of soup, she's much better now. It's not to the point of needing medicine."

"That's good, then."

Lu Jia sat down, looking at Qing Ge'er. She personally handed him another gift, addressing him affectionately, "My good nephew," as if he were her own son.

Old Madam Lu was delighted, and she said, "On another day, let's have Zuo Ge'er come over too, and they can play together."

Lu Jia added, "That rascal. We'll talk about it when he behaves for a few days."

Talking further, Lu Jia brought up Lin Yunwan, mentioning that she wasn't attentive enough to Qing Ge'er.

"What do you mean?" Old Madam Lu furrowed her brow.

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