The day after returning from burning incense at Daci Temple, Luo Yixiu came to find Yining in a rage.
“That spoiled young miss, how dare she look down on me!” She angrily drank all the water in the teapot in Yining’s room and asked the maid to pour her more.
Yining put down her brush, took the handkerchief from Xuezhi’s hand to wipe her hands, and walked over to ask: “What’s wrong now?”
Luo Yixiu then told her what happened.
Yesterday during the incense burning, when Yining wasn’t there to see, Luo Yixiu had knocked over the incense burner, spilling ash on Zhao Mingzhu’s robe. Old and new grievances welled up, and Zhao Mingzhu immediately darkened her face. Knowing it was her fault, Luo Yixiu hurriedly apologized. The next day, forced by Madam Chen, sent two newly bought pieces of kesi silk fabric as a further apology. Luo Yixiu hadn’t even left the courtyard when she heard Zhao Mingzhu’s maid muttering softly: “…She ruined our young miss’s clothes, yet brings such inferior goods as compensation.”
If it weren’t for the maids holding her back, Luo Yixiu would have rushed back in.
Raised by Madam Chen since childhood, she had never suffered such humiliation.
“Zhao Mingzhu’s clothes were woven with peacock feathers, indeed more valuable than ordinary kesi silk,” Yining simply said, “Calm down.”
Luo Yixiu slammed the table again: “How capable she thinks she is! She’s just an adopted child, yet her nose is in the air. She’s not even from a truly noble birth. Your eldest sister is the heir’s wife, and her temperament is so much better than hers.”
Yining knew she was just venting and wouldn’t do anything. She took some paper and continued practicing her calligraphy.
After chattering on for a long while, Luo Yixiu finally stopped. Yining glanced at her with her eyes: “Are you done talking?”
“I’m thirsty…” Luo Yixiu rested her chin on her hand, looking utterly despondent.
She turned sideways to look at Luo Yining’s writing and exclaimed: “Your calligraphy has improved so much?”
Yining sighed: “Diligence makes up for lack of talent. It’s all thanks to my third brother.”
There are no geniuses, only those forced into it.
Seeing Yining’s calligraphy probably made Luo Yixiu even more unhappy. She stayed at Yining’s place until lunch before leaving, even mooching some of her desserts.
At noon, a servant came to relay a message that the third young master had returned.
Yining went to Feng Xie Tang and saw Luo Shenyu giving instructions to the steward, as some household matters had been neglected these past few days.
Luo Shenyu’s room was orderly. Previously attended by several young male servants, now it was several maids. Outside stood several stern guards, and the courtyard’s decor was extremely tranquil. Yining listened to him speak from the side. The maids serving him were personally chosen by Lin Hairu – capable and steady. Two of them were as beautiful as dewy flowers, smiling as they brought tea and snacks, respectfully saying: “Seventh Young Miss, please try some. Third Young Master has been enjoying this mung bean soup lately, so we’ve been making more of it.”
Yining took a cup and savored it carefully. The flavor was a bit light, to Luo Shenyu’s taste, showing how attentive these maids were.
After finishing his business, Luo Shenyu walked over to her: “Yining, come to the study.”
Yining followed reluctantly.
His study was larger than before, with a calligraphy piece hanging on the wall, written in an unrestrained style. Next to the desk was a half-old, half-new porcelain jar filled with scrolls. Beside it grew a pot of pothos, basking in the sunlight streaming in from outside, lush and verdant.
“Yining.” Luo Shenyu lightly tapped the corner of the desk, looking up to remind her, “Don’t get distracted again.”
He was having her recite the Analects from memory. Teaching Yining for the imperial examinations was impossible, but at least he wanted her to thoroughly read the Four Books, which she had nearly completed now. Last time, Lin Hairu had also asked him: “Why do you keep pushing Yining to learn these things? I think she’s already the most hardworking among her sisters.”
Luo Yiling had become increasingly depressed due to the matter with Concubine Qiao, while Luo Yixiu fell asleep as soon as she looked at a book due to her reasons. As for Luo Yiyu, she was just waiting to get married after the Mid-Autumn Festival – the Liu family had already sent people to set the date.
Originally, Madam Chen had wanted to wait for Liu Jing to take the imperial examination once more, as he had failed the previous metropolitan examination. But the Liu family disagreed. They had already waited for Luo Yiyu to complete her two years of mourning, which was more than fair. If they waited any longer, Liu Jing would be too old.
But Luo Shenyu knew in his heart that wealth is temporary, while literary achievements last for a thousand years. Those aristocratic families without much foundation would have nothing left if they fell from grace, but if one understood some principles and studied diligently, there would be nothing to fear even in times of change. What was truly fearsome were those families that were outwardly declining and inwardly completely decayed.
He wanted Yining to read more for her good. She was young now, but she would understand later.
However, Yining had never shown any opposition. Although her talent in this area was somewhat lacking, she never complained of hardship or fatigue. Sometimes when he asked her to practice calligraphy for an hour, she would bend over the table and practice, so absorbed that she didn’t even notice when he walked to her side.
Yining snapped back to attention and finished reciting the entire passage. In her previous life, she had suffered from a lack of knowledge, especially after marrying into the Lu family. When the daughters-in-law sat together composing couplets, hers were always the worst.
At that time, Lu Jiaxue didn’t understand her and laughed: “Are you perhaps hiding your true abilities?”
Everyone knew that her Luo family had produced a Grand Secretary in the past, and the old madam had allowed her to marry in partly because of her ancestral background.
Yining was so angry she didn’t speak to him for days. Lu Jiaxue even brought home a puppy to appease her. That puppy especially loved licking people’s fingers. Every time it heard Yining call, it would wag its tail happily. Later, after she died, the dog searched everywhere for its missing owner, refusing to eat no matter who fed it, and eventually died.
Luo Shenyu finally closed the book and asked after a pause: “What did you argue about with the Song family’s young miss last time?”
He knew about her argument with the Song family’s young miss.
That time, Yining had truly been provoked to anger, but thinking back on it later, she found it laughable – what was the point of quibbling with a little girl? But at that moment she was so angry that she spoke sharply to Miss Song, leaving her red-faced and unable to retort.
“She said something about Mother, and I couldn’t stand it,” Yining said, thinking he would scold her. She quickly added, “It won’t happen again. She even came to apologize to me afterward.”
Luo Shenyu reached out to pat her head. Why would he scold her?
They were both equally protective. She protected Lin Hairu, while he protected her even more. After all, she was his sister.
Luo Shenyu nodded: “I see. Do you want to come with me to see Mother?”
Lin Hairu was discussing the baby with Luo Yihui – whether the east or west warm room would be better after the child was born, what nickname to give if it was a boy, and who to choose as godparents. Lin Hairu stroked her belly and smiled faintly, full of anticipation for the child’s arrival.
Seeing Luo Yihui, Luo Shenyu bowed to her.
Luo Yihui steadied him, her gaze somewhat complex as she said: “You don’t need to bow to me anymore.” She looked back at Yining and asked in a low voice, “Do you know about the Emperor’s serious illness?”
Luo Shenyu had known about this for months, but since Luo Yihui brought it up, the matter must have become impossible to conceal.
“Father is about to take office. Recently, the Chief Grand Secretary Wang Jinwang framed and arrested several officials from the Crown Prince’s faction…” Luo Yihui told him, “Father studied under Master Sun, so he’s part of the Crown Prince’s faction. But now the Eldest Prince has been angered and is keeping a close eye on people from the Crown Prince’s faction. You must tell Father to be extremely careful.” Knowing this half-brother was intelligent, Luo Yihui didn’t say too much.
Luo Yihui’s information came from the Marquis’s mansion. These aristocratic families had many imperial courtiers, so their news was the most up-to-date.
Luo Shenyu said: “Father has been in close contact with Master Sun recently. Master Sun told Father not to worry, probably because someone was about to make a move. I’ve heard… that General Lu frequently visits the Eastern Palace.”
Luo Yihui’s expression showed a hint of surprise. She didn’t know that Luo Shenyu and Luo Chengzhang were also prepared.
Yining raised her head upon hearing this. She could tell them definitively that the Crown Prince would ultimately inherit the throne, but the process wouldn’t be so peaceful. The Eldest Prince would be shot dead during a hunting trip, though she didn’t know exactly when. But Lu Jiaxue was certainly the mastermind. Because of this meritorious service in supporting the new emperor, he would be promoted to one rank, and no other military official could rival his influence. He would also become the new emperor’s confidant.
As for families with distant connections like the Luo family, they wouldn’t even get an official position. However, Master Sun seemed to have been promoted and later repeatedly promoted Luo Shenyu…
At this moment, young Master Yu woke up from his nap and was brought in by his wet nurse. He was a bit disoriented after just waking up and fussed, wanting to find Luo Yihui.
Luo Yihui patted Yu’s back and stopped discussing the confidential matters of the court.
Yining took a rattle to entertain Yu.
In the afternoon, it suddenly began to rain heavily, with water pouring off the eaves and flowing down the roof ridges. Yu was delighted, pressing himself against the latticed window to watch intently. From the covered walkway came a person hurrying over, not even carrying an umbrella, his jacket completely soaked, saying he needed to see Luo Shenyu. Luo Shenyu walked to the corridor, and the man whispered in his ear: “Third Young Master, there’s an important guest at the mansion.”
Luo Shenyu, who rarely had a free afternoon, could hear the gravity in his voice: “Which important guest?”
“This servant saw unfamiliar guards outside the Luo mansion, at least two or three hundred, standing motionless in the rain. The Old Master put on his official robes and went to the front hall, but the Second Master wasn’t in the mansion right now. They didn’t even send a name card, but the attendant announced it was General Lu.” His voice tightened, “That is, the Marquis of Ningyuan. The Old Master just brought him into the front hall.”
Luo Shenyu told him to go to the yamen to find Luo Chengzhang first. He then entered the west side room and asked Luo Yihui, “Elder Sister, you said the Duke of Ying’s niece came back with you this time?”
Luo Yihui nodded: “She usually takes an afternoon nap, so I didn’t bring her over.”
“I think you’d better wake her up,” Luo Shenyu said softly. “Lu Jiaxue has come to our mansion.”
It was pouring rain outside. Why would Lu Jiaxue suddenly come?
Luo Shenyu didn’t know. Although he wasn’t unfamiliar with Lu Jiaxue as a person, he had never met him. After all, Lu Jiaxue was a general of the正二品 rank, not someone just anyone could meet.
Yining was suddenly stunned.
She looked up at Luo Shenyu: “Third Brother… who did you say is coming?”
Her eyes widened. Her eyes were already round, and that expression seemed to be that of a shocked child.
“General Lu,” Luo Shenyu ruffled her hair. “You don’t know him. Just keep playing with Yu.”
Yining’s hands and feet felt cold.
She suddenly remembered that yesterday she had inadvertently overheard Lu Jiaxue’s conversation.
If Lu Jiaxue wanted to know who she was, it wouldn’t be difficult. He would just need to ask around the temple.
But was he coming for her?
Yining didn’t know. This was Lu Jiaxue, after all.
When he had come to propose marriage to her before, he was a gentle and modest tall young man. After her death, he had become General Lu, whose power swayed the entire country.
Yining truly felt she had never understood him.