The Grand Secretary's Child-Raising Diary

This problem.....

Lu Xin thought for a moment before saying, "Lord, don't think too much about it. Second Master is gone, but the two young masters are doing well in their studies."

What he wanted to say was that even if Lu Jingyan was no good, there were still Lu Qi'an and Lu Qichen. As long as one of these two was capable, the Lu family would not fall.

Lu Chong turned his head to listen to the funeral music outside: "I am a useless person, but fortunately I have a capable son. So I wanted to tie him to the Earl's Mansion. I thought that no matter what, having a capable younger brother would help his nephews and nieces out of blood ties when Shi Yan made further progress in the future."

I thought that since he was born out of wedlock, he should be content as long as his legal mother didn't mistreat him. But tell me, in those years when I wasn't watching, was Qin really good to him?

That year, Qin arranged for him to marry a girl from the Qin family. He came to me and said he wanted to postpone the marriage for a few years. I scolded him and said that Qin had a motherly heart towards him and told him not to be ungrateful. In the end, he didn't say anything. After marrying Qin Wan, he did not have any children for many years.

Then that year, because of that child, he said he wanted to abandon the Lu surname, leave the manor with nothing, and have no further connection with the Lu family. I wanted to make amends, but he didn't need it anymore.

It was late, and the study was unlit. Lu Xin couldn't clearly see Lu Chong's expression, so he could only offer a dry consolation: "Parents are never wrong, and even the Earl has his difficulties. Second Master will understand."

......

The petition from the Marquis of Chengen's residence requesting that Lu Youning be brought back to the manor to keep vigil for Lu Shiyan was only delivered to Emperor Chenghe early the next morning. The eunuch reported this in a low voice:

"The messenger arrived at the Marquis of Chengen's residence yesterday. The mourning hall was set up in the afternoon. The petition to bring Young Master Lu back to the residence was also sent in yesterday. Lord Jiang took it down and it was handed over this morning."

Emperor Chenghe threw the folded document back onto the table, his tone revealing no emotion: "The news came back from Jiangnan, but there wasn't even a body. Instead of sending people to search Jiangnan, they couldn't wait to set up a mourning hall. I think Lu Chong is getting more and more confused."

The eunuch also looked down on Lu Chong, but he neither dared nor would he express his thoughts in front of Emperor Chenghe: "Then Your Majesty, should we send Young Master Lu back?"

Emperor Chenghe snorted coldly: "Why send him back? He's just a four-year-old child, what can you expect him to do?"

If the child is sent back now, when Song Zhan returns after finishing his business, he might even dare to criticize him, the emperor.

Two more days passed, and Lu Youning adapted well to Chongwen Hall without being punished by Master Pei.

He already knew that the cats howling in front of his house at night weren't stray cats, but the study companions of the Eighth Prince's two military officers. However, seeing that the Eighth Prince always came to school looking unhappy, and that Lin Wu and Ding Ge's dark circles were getting heavier and heavier, Lu Youning decided to generously forgive them.

He also made a friend, Xiao Shubai, the chubby boy from the Prince of De's mansion.

In truth, he was the one who wronged the chubby boy. He used Lin Wu and Ding Ge's pranks as a lullaby, but the chubby boy, who was closest to him in the bedroom, suffered the most, hiding under the bed every night with the eunuch who served him, trembling with fear.

Perhaps it was his mature radiance that the chubby boy noticed unintentionally. On the third night after being threatened by the "wildcat," the chubby boy finally couldn't stand it anymore and knocked on Lu Youning's door with his pillow in his arms.

The poor thing had her eyes red from crying, so Lu Youning generously gave up half of her bed for her.

Perhaps he really does possess some unknown energy, because the little fat boy fell into a deep sleep the moment his head hit the pillow when he arrived at his place.

Children's feelings are that simple: if you share half of your bed with me, then you're my best friend.

Seeing that the chubby boy from the Prince of De's mansion, who had always been indifferent to him, was getting closer and closer to the son of an imperial censor, and that the restoration plan devised by Ding Ge and Lin Wu was not working at all, the Eighth Prince could no longer hold back.

After class that day, seeing Xiao Xiaopang following Lu Youning around like a puppy, the Eighth Prince and his men blocked Lu Youning's path and asked in a harsh tone, "Your father is dead, why are you still lazing around in the palace instead of going back? Aren't you supposed to be keeping vigil for your father?"

Lu Youning: Your father just died, and you're the one who should be keeping vigil.

He didn't take the Eighth Prince's words to heart. After all, in his mind, his adoptive father wouldn't die so easily, and if Lu Shiyan really died, the Chengen Earl's Mansion would definitely have received the news.

Seeing that Lu Youning walked forward without turning his head and did not take his words to heart, the Eighth Prince became anxious and shouted loudly: "You don't know yet, do you? The Chengen Marquis's Mansion has set up a mourning altar. Out of respect for the Chengen Marquis, even though your father was just a son of a concubine, my maternal grandparents' family still went to pay their respects."

"Imperial Censor Lu doesn't only have you as a son, yet you're staying in the palace instead of keeping vigil for him. You're truly unfilial."

Lu Youning paused, then turned around after a long while, her eyes calm and unwavering as she looked at the Eighth Prince: "Are you telling the truth?"

The Eighth Prince said with certainty, "Of course it's true. My maternal grandmother said this when she went to the palace yesterday. Your father is dead, and they haven't even found his body."

Lu Youning thought he was calm, but little did he know that his originally fair and delicate face had turned deathly pale.

Seeing his friend looking terrified, Xiao Shubai threw his book bag aside, pounced on him, and shoved the annoying Xiao Shizhen to the ground. He was quite bold, even trying to throw a punch, but was blocked by Cao Li and the others.

The commotion in the school attracted the attention of the superintendent. The group was scolded and dispersed. Lu Youning was carried back to the school dormitory by Xiao Linzi.

Xiao Linzi was a little worried: "Young Master, are you alright? Don't take the Eighth Prince's words to heart. Lord Lu will definitely be safe."

Lu Youning nodded: "Yes, I think so too. My dad is very capable. He also knows martial arts, so he won't get into trouble easily."

At noon, Lu Youning ate lunch as usual. He had a good appetite and ate about the same amount as usual. After eating, he dragged Xiao Shubai to play.

Xiao Linzi's heart gradually calmed down. It seemed that he had been worrying too much. No matter how intelligent Young Master Lu was, he was still only a four-year-old child. He probably couldn't understand what the Eighth Prince meant by those words.

Lu Youning and Xiao Shubai lay in bed. Seeing that Xiao Shubai was about to fall asleep, Lu Youning whispered, "Shubai, I want to leave the palace. Can you help me?"

Five-year-old Xiao Xiaopang clenched his fist without thinking: "Of course I can. My grandfather is His Majesty's uncle. I can help you."

No one knew how the two little ones, who were not even ten years old combined, planned it. In the late afternoon, Lu Youning took Xiao Linzi for a walk in the yard and then said he was tired and wanted to go back to rest. Xiao Shubai went with him.

When it was time for the court to end its duties, Xiao Shubai excitedly had a eunuch carry a wooden box, saying that he wanted to take his studies from this period back to show his grandmother.