On the other side, ng Qianqian was also preparing to rest.
It’s said that this place is haunted, yet lying here, she actually feels a sense of peace.
When Nanny Li ca to call her for a late-night snack, she had already fallen into a deep sleep.
Nanny Li, feeling sorry for her, tucked in the corners of her blanket, lowered the bed curtains, and tiptoed out.
Tan’er, holding a big bowl of lamb-filled dumplings, whispered, "Sister isn’t eating? Then I’ll eat it all!"
Nanny Li said, "Eat, then."
The next morning, ng Qianqian was up early.
Nanny Li asked, "Why not sleep a little longer? Now that you’re in your own ho, no one will say anything."
ng Qianqian replied, "I’ve slept enough."
She was used to waking early in the military camp.
After breakfast, ng Qianqian took Ban Xia and Tan’er to the Lu Family estate.
The Second Madam and Lu Linglong were just about to leave; as soon as they saw her, they froze.
Lu Linglong asked irritably, "What are you doing at the Lu Family?"
ng Qianqian smiled faintly, "To collect debts. What else do you think I’m here for?"
Lu Linglong was speechless.
The Second Madam forced a sheepish smile, "Qianqian, ah, as for the family’s debts, our branch doesn’t know much about them. You should go to the main branch or the Old Madam!"
With that, she quickly pulled her daughter into the carriage and fled.
When the servants went to inform the stewards, no one wanted to co forward. In the end, Steward Liu invited ng Qianqian to the flower hall.
Steward Liu had worked under Lu Yuan and was one of the few stewards with clean hands. He had always treated ng Qianqian courteously.
"Eldest Young Madam, please wait here a mont while I report to the Old Madam."
Ban Xia corrected him, "Steward Liu, my lady is no longer part of the Lu Family. That title is no longer appropriate."
Steward Liu sighed, "In my heart, ng Miss is the only Eldest Young Madam of the Lu Family."
"Go ahead and inform the Old Madam," ng Qianqian said.
"Understood."
Steward Liu went off.
Upon hearing a debt collector had co to call, the Old Madam imdiately feigned illness and refused to et.
Steward Liu ca back to urge her three tis.
Eventually, upon hearing that even the Dowager had intervened, the Dowager called ng Qianqian to her courtyard, allowing the Old Madam to breathe a sigh of relief.
The Dowager was overjoyed to see ng Qianqian, though a trace of grievance also flickered across her expression: "Why did it take so long for you to return? Next ti, take with you!"
Before leaving the Lu Family, Nanny Li had secretly inford the Dowager that ng Qianqian was out visiting relatives and would bring back lots of interesting storybooks for her when she returned, lest the Dowager fall ill yearning for her.
How could the Dowager have known that this would drag on for two months?
ng Qianqian smiled and said, "Alright."
The Dowager instructed Xi Que to summon Lu Yuan over.
In the past, Lu Lingxiao was raised under the Old Madam’s care. The Dowager would often call Lu Yuan and Lu Lingxiao to her courtyard so Lu Yuan could see her son more often.
"Qianqian?"
Lu Yuan was startled.
She hadn’t known ng Qianqian had left the Capital City. In recent days, she had been missing ng Qianqian but didn’t know where she had moved to.
"Madam."
Though she could no longer call her "mother," ng Qianqian still regarded Lu Yuan and the Dowager as her lifeti kin.
Lu Yuan’s heart tightened with pain.
When Qianqian first arrived at the Lu Family at the age of twelve, she would feel lonely at night and miss her family, often crying secretly. When she cried, Lu Yuan would let her sleep in her own room. Later, when her son "died in battle," it was she who cried through the nights.
Qianqian would bring her own pillow over and watch over her all night, afraid she might succumb to despair.
If it weren’t for this child, Lu Yuan truly didn’t know how she survived those years.
"I thought... I thought you..."
Lu Yuan choked up.
ng Qianqian held her hand and looked at her sincerely.
So words don’t need to be spoken aloud; there’s already mutual understanding.
The Dowager sternly interrupted, "I haven’t cried, so you’re not allowed to cry either!"
Lu Yuan’s tears turned into laughter.
Lu Yuan’s health was frail; ng Qianqian had brought her many precious dicinal herbs, along with written recipes for their preparation.
For the Dowager, ng Qianqian had also brought so nutritional supplents and storybooks she had collected from various regions.
Lu Lingxiao had just arrived from Songzhu Courtyard; he was there to visit his great-grandmother. From afar, he could already hear bursts of laughter.
He couldn’t help but feel surprised—his great-grandmother’s courtyard rarely had such lively monts.
As he ca closer, his expression froze.
She was here?
The weather was quite nice today, and the courtyard doors and windows were opened for ventilation.
ng Qianqian sat with the Dowager and Lu Yuan in the spacious and bright main room. The three were chatting and laughing happily. Even his mother, who was always somber and lancholic in his mories, showed unrestrained joy.
Lu Lingxiao felt a mont of daze.
The maid at the door noticed him: "Eldest Young Master, would you like to co in?"
Lu Lingxiao pondered for a mont: "No, I’ll co later."
He returned to Songzhu Courtyard.
Lin Wan’er was sitting in his room.
He was startled for a mont. In the past, whenever he saw Lin Wan’er, he would feel a surge of joy. Now, her presence seed a bit inappropriate.
Lin Wan’er gestured: Yesterday it was my fault; I shouldn’t have argued with you. I ca to apologize. Please don’t be upset with , alright?
Lu Lingxiao’s expression softened as he sat beside her: "I’m not angry at you. I’m mad at myself."
Lin Wan’er gently signed: Whether or not you achieve rit, you’re still a hero in Wan’er’s eyes. As for ng Miss, you don’t need to worry for now. Lu Yuan’s target is you; ng Miss won’t be in any trouble.
Lu Lingxiao furrowed his brows but didn’t respond.
Xiao Die walked in: "Brother Lu, didn’t you go to visit the Dowager? You ca back so quickly? I heard ng Sister was there too—did you see her? Is she well?"
Lin Wan’er’s face subtly changed upon hearing this: You went to see ng Qianqian?
Lu Lingxiao frowned, "I didn’t!"
Lin Wan’er: Then why didn’t you co to see ? You clearly said last night that you would co to see today!
Lu Lingxiao replied, "I was about to, and then you ca here."
Lin Wan’er signed: From the Dowager’s courtyard to Songzhu Courtyard, you would have passed by my courtyard. Why didn’t you stop by?
Lu Lingxiao raised the brocade box in his hand: "I was carrying sothing and wanted to put it down before coming to see you!"
Lin Wan’er signed angrily: I don’t believe you! Do you regret it now? Regret bringing here, regret losing her?
Lu Lingxiao retorted, "Don’t be unreasonable! When have I ever regretted anything?"
Lin Wan’er: Then why did you go to see her?
Lu Lingxiao, frustrated, said, "I told you, I didn’t go to see her! I had no idea she was there before I arrived!"
Xiao Die anxiously tried to diate: "Brother Lu, Sister Lin, please stop arguing! Anger harms the body—Sister Lin, if not for yourself, think of the baby in your belly. And even if Brother Lu did et ng Sister, so what? They weren’t alone; there were so many people watching. Brother Lu and ng Sister are upright and blaless—what’s there to talk about?"
Lin Wan’er slamd the table and coldly signed: This is none of your business!
Xiao Die fearfully hid behind Lu Lingxiao.
Lu Lingxiao snapped coldly, "That’s enough!"
"I’m going to wash the laundry."
Xiao Die picked up Lu Lingxiao’s change of clothes and timidly left.
Lin Wan’er looked woundedly at Lu Lingxiao.
"I’ve got so matters to attend to at the barracks. I won’t be back tonight!"
In truth, there was nothing at the barracks—he just didn’t want to stay and argue with her. The Lin Wan’er in his mories was gentle, magnanimous, and understanding. But ever since his trip to the border, she seed to have changed, becoming suspicious and jealous.
As soon as Lu Lingxiao reached the gate, he bumped into ng Qianqian, who was coming from the Dowager’s courtyard.
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