The Grand Secretary's Child-Raising Diary

Lu Shiyan is not one to dwell on the past, but tonight, Lu Youning's commotion has unexpectedly brought back some memories of his childhood.

The Earl of Chengen did not have many women in his harem, but the Earl's wife was not satisfied with the small number of women. There is a common saying that the government will not punish the large number of people who break the law. This means that if there are many criminals, the government will not arrest and imprison them on a large scale.

This saying likely applies to the inner quarters as well. Because there aren't many people there, he, the illegitimate son born right after the legitimate son, seems particularly conspicuous.

The methods used in the inner quarters are cunning and underhanded. Without the Madam herself having to do anything, just a casual remark from her can make those who are ambitious and scheming rush to make things difficult for him.

Back then, in the inner quarters, only Qian Mama, who had served him since childhood, took care of him wholeheartedly. Whenever she saw him looking gloomy, she would think of ways to cheer him up. In winter, a bowl of hot goat milk would make him happy for a long time.

Later, when Qian's mother got older, she would always talk about how he didn't like drinking her breast milk when he was a child and insisted on drinking goat's milk instead.

Upon returning home today, he instructed Huaiyan to fetch some goat milk. Unexpectedly, the little brat not only drank it but also drank it with great relish, just like he did when he was a child.

The next day was a bright and sunny day.

But Beijing is located in the north, and even with the sun shining brightly in winter, it doesn't feel very warm. Moreover, with such a heavy snowfall a few days ago, the melting snow is the coldest time of year.

In this kind of weather, a child as old and frail as Lu Youning shouldn't be going out.

But just a quarter past 9:00 AM, someone came to the main courtyard saying that the third young master needed to see a guest.

Zhang, the wet nurse, was in a dilemma. The Second Master had just punished them with a board yesterday for not serving him well. If they were to take the baby out again today and the Third Young Master caught a cold, they would really be kicked out of the mansion.

The messenger from the main courtyard was Chunwu, a second-class maidservant serving the Madam. Seeing that the wet nurse from Songtao Courtyard was like a block of wood, she pouted and was about to reach out to hug Lu Youning.

The wet nurse hurriedly stepped in front of the cradle, saying with difficulty, "Miss Chunwu, our third young master is in poor health and it's really not suitable for him to go out right now. Could you please inform the madam..."

Before Zhang could finish speaking, Chunwu interrupted her, raising her eyebrows and saying, "Today's guests are distinguished guests from the Madam's family. The eldest young master, the second young master, and the third young lady have all gone to greet them."

"It's Madam's kindness to ask the Third Young Master to go; she cares about him. Why don't you ask him if he wants to go?"

Lu Youning: If he were to stand up right now and say he doesn't want to go, he would probably scare all these people to death.

Seeing Chunwu's arrogant demeanor, Zhang the wet nurse was in a real predicament. There was no proper master in this courtyard, and when the Second Master was on duty and not around, they and the Third Young Master were just left to be bullied.

Before, Chen's mother could help, but last night everyone was punished. Chen's mother is old and still can't get up from the kang (a heated brick bed).

No matter what, they couldn't hand the Third Young Master over to Chunwu. Although Zhang Nanny was scared, she still mustered up her courage to pick up Lu Youning. Afraid that Lu Youning would cry, she whispered to coax him, "Be good, Third Young Master. We'll go pay our respects to Madam and then come back."

Lu Youning wasn't afraid of anything. Not to mention that he was fearless in his past life, if this Madam had any brains, she wouldn't have attacked him in broad daylight in her own courtyard. Of course, if she was petty, she might make him suffer.

Songtao Courtyard was some distance from Madam Bo's Chunhui Courtyard. Along the way, Zhang Wet Nurse wrapped Lu Youning tightly in swaddling clothes, afraid that he would catch a cold.

When they arrived at Chunhui Courtyard, Chunwu blocked Zhang Wet Nurse outside the courtyard: "Please wait here, Third Young Master, while I go in and inform him."

Lu Youning: It's confirmed. Everyone in Chunhui Courtyard is petty and narrow-minded.

The wet nurse felt a lump in her throat. At this time of year, even servants and young men who came to report could wait in the side room with the charcoal brazier burning. The Third Young Master was the Second Master's only son.

Fortunately, after only a short while, Chunwu lifted the thick curtain and came out: "Madam is inviting the Third Young Master in."

Zhang, the wet nurse, took a deep breath and carried Lu Youning into the house with her head bowed.

Unlike the desolate Songtao Courtyard, Chunhui Courtyard was warm and cozy, with women chatting and laughing loudly, and a dozen or so maids and servants standing around serving them.

Chunwu, who used to be arrogant and haughty at Songtao Courtyard, was relegated to guarding the door and holding up the curtain here.

When the wet nurse Zhang entered alone, carrying a child, the people chatting and laughing in the room instantly fell silent.

The aunt fiddled with the teacup in her hand and said indifferently, "Since you're here, bring it over and let the guests see it."

Turning to a slightly plump woman on his right, he said, "My second son is capable; he now works in the Hanlin Academy. It's just that Wan'er is unlucky." The Wan'er that the aunt mentioned was Qin Wan, Lu Youning's birth mother, and also the aunt's distant niece.

Once they arrived here, Zhang the wet nurse had no say in the matter; the maids serving the aunt were there to take Lu Youning away. But Lu Youning wasn't a dog; he wouldn't wag his tail at anyone's beckoning.

The moment the maid reached out her hand, the previously quiet Third Young Master suddenly burst into loud sobs. After a night's rest and a full bowl of goat milk and rice porridge in the morning, Lu Youning was full of energy, and his loud cries seemed to lift the roof off Chunhui Courtyard.

The maidservant awkwardly withdrew her hand, and Lu Youning's crying immediately subsided, turning into soft sobs. Unconvinced, the maidservant reached out again, and Lu Youning cried again.

Zhang, the wet nurse, tightened her grip on him and knelt before Madam Bo, apologizing, "Madam, please forgive me. The Third Young Master usually needs to rest for half an hour at this time."

What was said in jest was taken seriously by the listener; the lady of the house, along with the woman to her right, subtly changed her expression.

To bring someone's baby, only a few months old, out in the freezing cold, and right when the baby is about to sleep—that's hardly the act of a kind-hearted elder.

The slightly plump woman quickly spoke up to smooth things over: "Oh dear, it's all my fault. I took a liking to the well-mannered children like the eldest, second, and third young masters of the manor as soon as I saw them. When I heard there was a third young master, I begged Madam to let me meet him. It was all because I disturbed the third young master's nap."

Lu Youning clicked his tongue in amazement. This woman from the inner quarters really had a sharp tongue. With just one sentence, she flattered the children of the main branch and belittled him, an eight-month-old infant who couldn't even speak, for being ill-mannered. If you thought about it more deeply, it was tantamount to saying that Lu Shiyan had failed in his parenting.

With the slightly plump woman offering a way out, Madam Bo cast a disgusted look at Lu Youning: "Since she's making a fuss, just take her back."

Lu Youning: Is that all? He was still preparing whether he should pee or poop if someone insisted on hugging him.

As if granted a pardon, Zhang, the wet nurse, hurriedly hugged Lu Youning, bowed, and took her leave.