Luo Yiliang stood outside the house.
Inside, maids and servants hurried about, paying no attention to them. Luo Chengzhang sat dazed on the luohan bed, while Concubine Qiao tried to comfort him, but he ignored her completely. Only the urgent sounds from within could be heard as he clenched his fists tightly.
He knew how much Lin Hairu wanted a child. He knew.
The arrival of a child should have been joyous, but now there was only urgency and anxiety. He was filled with guilt, and Lin Hairu’s earlier gesture of pushing him away made him realize one thing: Lin Hairu blamed him.
Yining stepped out of the main room. Standing on the steps, she looked down at Luo Yiliang. The lantern under the eaves cast a soft light on her, revealing an unusual composure and coolness.
“I’m usually easy to get along with,” Yining said softly, “but if someone crosses my boundaries, things won’t be so pleasant. Luo Yiliang, you’re born of a concubine. Do you know how miserable life can be for a child born of a concubine when treated poorly by the legitimate children?”
Luo Yiliang felt Yining’s gaze like a cold knife, full of mature indifference, entirely unlike a child’s eyes.
She involuntarily took a step back, her lips quivering, “Yining…”
“If something happens to Mother’s pregnancy,” Yining said softly, “your good days in the Luo family will be over.”
She walked back into the room.
Moments later, Luo Shengyuan arrived with servants and a doctor. He walked straight into the main room, his expression almost severe.
Seeing his eldest son by a concubine arrive, Luo Chengzhang’s face darkened further. He couldn’t help but call out, “Shengyuan…”
Luo Shengyuan urged the doctor to enter the room quickly. He noticed Yining standing by the latticed window, looking into the inner chamber with her head tilted, revealing her slender neck and calm profile. He had expected her to be panicked, but she appeared calm, only her slender fingers clutching her sleeve betraying her inner tension.
He knew all too well how much Yining loved Lin Hairu.
He had never seen Yining like this before. It seemed she was trying to grow up, no longer needing his protection.
“Yining…” he called softly.
Luo Yining turned to see Luo Shengyuan had arrived, gripping her hand tighter. That feeling of wanting to cry welled up again.
Yining suddenly remembered something. In her previous life, her stepmother’s younger sister cried often, always burying herself in her stepmother’s arms, even after getting married. She had advised her stepmother, “Sister Yuan is a married woman now, this isn’t appropriate.” But her stepmother had laughed and said, “She only cries in front of me. She doesn’t dare cry in front of others, not even her husband.”
Yining had pondered this silently at the time, smiling without comment.
Later, she realized it was true. Only in front of someone you completely trust and depend on can you let go of your restraint and cry out your grievances. However, in her previous life, she never had anyone she could depend on like that.
Now, she trusted Luo Shengyuan wholeheartedly. Not just because he would become the future Prime Minister, but because he was her third brother. The bond of siblings was unchangeable. If blood ties couldn’t be trusted, what could?
She wasn’t a child, and pretending to be one would only allow those villains to step on her and Lin Hairu. How could Yining forget the hardships of her previous life? Luo Shengyuan would eventually enter the cabinet and become a minister, inevitably clashing with Lu Jiaxue.
The Luo family wouldn’t always be peaceful, and she would eventually grow up.
Luo Shengyuan walked to her side, aware of her unease. He took the initiative to reach out and hold Yining’s smaller hand, comforting her, “With me here, Mother will be fine.”
Luo Shengyuan released Yining’s hand and turned to Luo Chengzhang.
Favoring a concubine over the main wife easily sowed the seeds of disaster, especially since Concubine Qiao was too clever and Luo Yiliang too ambitious. As a man, he shouldn’t interfere in household matters, but with such a significant incident, no one would dare criticize him for getting involved.
Luo Shengyuan said to Luo Chengzhang, “Father, at this point, I must say something.” He paused, then continued, “Xuan’er can no longer be raised by the concubine. If he continues to be raised like this for a few more years, he’ll be ruined.”
Concubine Qiao’s eyes reddened upon hearing this. She was about to speak when Luo Shengyuan gave her a cold look.
Luo Shengyuan’s display of true coldness was intimidating. She opened her mouth but could only manage to say, “My lord, Xuan’er has been raised by my side since he was young… I didn’t teach him to say those things… Besides, the madam is pregnant, how can she raise Xuan’er?”
Luo Chengzhang, however, flew into a rage upon hearing this. Pointing at Concubine Qiao, he said, “Shut your mouth! He’s so young, what does he understand? Whether Hairu is pregnant or not, you won’t be raising Xuan’er anymore!”
Luo Yiliang was raised by Concubine Qiao, and look how she turned out. If Xuan’er continued this way, it would be truly terrifying.
Yining stepped forward and curtsied, saying, “Daughter has an idea. Why not let Concubine Guo raise Xuan’er? Concubine Guo has a gentle nature and can teach Xuan’er well. Today’s incident with Xuan’er was truly excessive. If he grows up like this, he’ll become a person who does evil.”
Lin Hairu’s pregnancy was affected because of Xuan’er, so she definitely wouldn’t want to see him anymore. Yining herself didn’t want to see Xuan’er either, but despite her dislike, he was still a Luo family boy. After punishing him, they still needed to find a place for him.
Concubine Guo had been serving Luo Chengzhang since she was a young maid and was indeed very gentle. Luo Chengzhang could trust her.
Concubine Qiao felt her heart breaking upon hearing this. She cried and clutched at Luo Chengzhang’s sleeve, “My lord! Xuan’er can’t be separated from me! It’s all my fault, blame me if you must, but don’t blame my Xuan’er…”
Luo Chengzhang closed his eyes briefly and ordered the servants to pull Concubine Qiao away.
Concubine Qiao cried even harder. Yining coldly smiled and said, “Mother’s unborn child’s life hangs in the balance, and you’re still making such a fuss. Are you intentionally disrespecting the main wife?”
Concubine Qiao stared blankly at Luo Yining, who looked at her coldly and said softly, “Take her away.”
Luo Chengzhang said nothing, and Concubine Qiao was dragged away. Having Xuan’er taken from her had struck her deepest pain point, and her cries could be heard even outside the courtyard.
Luo Shengyuan had never seen Yining so resolute before. She was truly angry.
He continued speaking to Luo Chengzhang, “Father must surely see that thinking ‘they’re just women’ and indulging them a bit won’t matter is misguided. This is how the seeds of disaster are sown. Concubine Qiao’s daily allowance has been comparable to Mother’s, but that can’t continue. Without rules, a family cannot prosper. Father must think this through carefully.”
Luo Chengzhang was left speechless by his son’s words.
He had indulged Concubine Qiao because he cherished her, and he didn’t care about the conflicts between women. But thinking carefully, wasn’t Minglan’s death partly due to Concubine Qiao? Now Lin Hairu’s child was in danger, also because of his momentary indulgence! Concubine Qiao’s behavior was a result of his favoritism.
“I understand,” Luo Chengzhang said, looking weary with reddened eyes. Today’s shock had dimmed his entire demeanor, and he didn’t say another word in defense of Concubine Qiao.
The doctor emerged from the room, followed by Qingqu. Luo Shengyuan stepped forward to confer with them.
By midnight, the guests in the main house had retired. Chen Shi finally heard about the incident in the second house and came over with her maids and servants. Lin Mao, Madam Gu, and others followed her. Although Chen Shi often argued with Lin Hairu, as a fellow mother, she naturally understood the importance of a child. Hearing that Xuan’er had pushed Lin Hairu, she too became angry.
She despised how her second brother doted on Concubine Qiao. No matter how favored a concubine might be, how could she climb above the main wife? Chen Shi and Madam Gu hurried into the inner room to see Lin Hairu. Lin Mao, meanwhile, glared coldly at Luo Chengzhang.
He said coldly, “Uncle, I must say something. My Lin family has simple customs. Aunt grew up in the Lin family and never learned about scheming and plotting. She has the best temperament. Now that she’s in your family, enduring countless grievances is one thing, but you allow that concubine and her son to harm her? If you don’t like her, my aunt can divorce you and return to the Lin family. The entire Lin family will still treat her as their respected aunt. She will not be bullied in someone else’s house!”
Lin Mao had been angered by Luo Chengzhang, his tone becoming sharp.
Hearing the hurried movements inside the room and Chen Shi’s voice, Luo Chengzhang couldn’t utter a word of rebuttal. He let out a long sigh. Although Lin Mao was younger, he was Lin Hairu’s family, and Luo Chengzhang knew he was in the wrong.
Just then, Qingqu hurriedly came out of the inner room, her face finally showing a hint of a smile. She told Yining, “Seventh Young Miss, we’ve given the madam medicine, and now everything’s fine! The madam’s abdominal pain has also eased considerably…”
Yining quickly went into the room. Lin Hairu was lying on a large red begonia flower silk pillow, her face pale. But when she saw Yining enter, she turned her head towards her. Yining walked to her bedside, knelt, and held her hand, softly saying, “Mother, everything’s alright now.”
Lin Hairu smiled upon hearing this, but tears streamed down her face. She touched her abdomen with one hand while tightly gripping Yining’s hand with the other.
This child… was saved because of Yining.
In the future, when the child is born, she must teach it to be close to its sister and never grow apart from her.
Everyone in the room also breathed a sigh of relief. Chen Shi even spoke to Lin Hairu with rare gentleness, “I think this child is strong. It must be a boy.”
In the side room, Luo Chengzhang heard that the child was safe and wanted to come in to see Lin Hairu, but was stopped by the maid at the door. She calmly said, “My lord, the madam needs rest. We think you should come back tomorrow, lest the madam becomes emotionally agitated upon seeing you.”
Lin Mao, being a man, couldn’t enter the inner room. He just stood by, coldly looking at Luo Chengzhang before turning away, not wanting to deal with him.
A scoundrel, he couldn’t be bothered to look at him.
Luo Shengyuan met with the renowned Boding doctor, Physician Xiao, and accompanied him out the door. Physician Xiao told him, “The medicine I prescribed for your mother should be decocted and taken twice a day.”
Luo Shengyuan had a servant give Physician Xiao the silver for his house call. “We’ve been remiss in our hospitality, doctor. Another day, I’ll treat you to a drink.”
Physician Xiao waved his hand with a smile, “You’re Master Xuankong’s direct disciple. No need for such formalities.”
Luo Shengyuan smiled at this and asked Physician Xiao, “What do you think of the maid Qingqu who stands by my younger sister’s side?”
“She’s learned from a master but still needs experience,” Physician Xiao said. “I wonder why she’s working as a maid in your household?”
Luo Shengyuan didn’t say more, and Physician Xiao didn’t press further. The steward escorted him out of the courtyard. Luo Shengyuan walked back and saw an attendant standing under the eaves. He asked calmly, “Where’s the Fourth Young Master?”
“The Seventh Young Miss ordered him to kneel in the ancestral hall. The Fourth Young Master didn’t want to kneel, so the Seventh Young Miss’s maid forced him down by his shoulders. Do you want to have him brought here?”
Luo Shengyuan’s tone remained unchanged, “No need. Let him kneel.”
He walked into the room, his posture as straight as a pine tree, carrying an air of gentle composure… and coldness.