The Grand Secretary's Child-Raising Diary

The wooden box was a bit heavy, but no one paid any attention. After watching the box being lifted onto Prince De's carriage, Xiao Shubai solemnly instructed, "Grandfather, the things in the box are for Grandmother. You are not allowed to open them casually."

Prince De always doted on this little grandson, so naturally whatever he said went.

Seeing the little guy's serious expression, he smiled and asked, "Alright, is there anything else you want to tell Grandpa?"

Xiao Shubai: "My grandmother loves Jinxiu Pavilion's pastries. I can't go out right now, so please bring some back for her when you go back, Grandfather."

Hearing of his filial piety towards his wife, how could Prince De not respond?

Turning to his attendant, he said, "Did you hear that? We must go to Jinxiu Pavilion to buy pastries today."

After the carriage from the Prince of De's residence had gone far away, Xiao Shubai returned to Chongwen Hall and went straight into Lu Youning's room. From time to time, the sounds of him reciting or speaking loudly could be heard from inside the room.

When it was time for dinner, Lu Youning still hadn't shown up. Xiao Linzi was a little worried, but Xiao Shubai said:

"A-Ning misses his father a bit. He said he wants to drink goat's milk. I want some too. Go and get some."

Upon hearing that Lu Youning was in a bad mood and wanted to drink goat milk, Xiao Linzi didn't have time to think about anything else and hurriedly went to the imperial kitchen himself.

In the evening, Lu Youning not only drank goat milk but also ate the same amount of food as usual, and then, as before, rested in the same room with Xiao Shubai.

Inside the room, Xiao Shubai clutched her round belly, feeling somewhat worried about Lu Youning.

As for Lu Youning, whom he was concerned about, he was probably blessed by the heavens and left the palace smoothly. He got out of the carriage in front of the Jinxiu Pavilion and ran towards the Chengen Earl's Mansion.

After he turned one year old, he would often pester Lu Shiyan to take him out. He also frequently visited Jinxiu Pavilion, so he knew the route well.

Rushing back to the Chengen Marquis's residence, Lu Youning's face turned icy as she saw the white banners hanging on the gate. After a moment's thought, she straightened her back and walked over confidently.

Lu Shiyan's mourning hall was set up in the front courtyard. The Eighth Prince said that many families in the capital came to pay their respects, but the Chengen Earl's Mansion only opened a side door. When Lu Youning approached, the gatekeeper was nowhere to be seen, and the entire mourning hall was quiet.

According to the Eighth Prince, tomorrow is the official day of the funeral, but there are no offerings or incense on the altar in front of the mourning hall, and the brazier that should have been burning paper money is out.

Looking at the mourning hall, Lu Youning felt it was utterly absurd.

Just then, two old women dressed in mourning clothes walked over quietly. When they saw the small figure standing in the mourning hall, they were startled at first, but breathed a sigh of relief when they realized it was Lu Youning. They exchanged a glance and then stepped forward:

"The Third Young Master is back. Come quickly and offer incense to the Second Master."

Lu Youning didn't move, but turned and ran towards Songtao Courtyard.

An old woman tried to stop them, but was blocked by another. The old woman lowered her voice and said, "Forget it, don't interfere. This third young master is really unlucky. He lost his mother not long after he was born, and now the second master is gone too. Judging from the madam's appearance, this child's life will not be easy in the future."

The old woman who had been stopped did not pursue the child any further, but she curled her lip and said, "I think what the lady said is right. This child is a cursed star. Otherwise, how could he have killed his mother at birth and now his father?"

At this time, Songtaoyuan

Qin Shi was surrounded by a group of maids and servants, sitting in the round chair that originally belonged to Lu Shiyan. Sun Mama and Banxia were forced to kneel in the courtyard, their faces red, swollen and ulcerated, clearly having been severely beaten.

Qin turned to the old woman beside her: "I seem to remember there being a wet nurse in this courtyard, where is she?"

The old woman was extremely obsequious: "Madam, if you remember correctly, there is indeed a wet nurse who takes care of that cursed loner. She's probably hidden away. These two maids must know where she is."

The old woman's gaze fell on Banxia and Rendong, making the two of them feel a chill.

Qin touched the ring on her hand and said slowly, "One wet nurse ran away, but the other two are quite good-looking. They could probably be sold to the brothels in the south of the city for some money."

The south side of the city is a famous red-light district in the capital, known to everyone in the city.

The old woman glanced at Ren Dong, then smiled obsequiously and said, "Madam, my good-for-nothing son is over thirty and still doesn't have a wife. Could you please be so kind as to give that young girl to my son? I don't ask for anything else, just that she bear him a son or daughter."

The old woman's surname was Lai. The reason her son was over thirty and still single was because he was an alcoholic. When he was drunk, he would beat women for fun. The woman he married before couldn't stand the beatings and hanged herself with a rope.

Since then, his reputation has been ruined, and no one is foolish enough to marry him.

Granny Lai served by Qin's side, so Qin naturally knew about these things. She smiled and said, "He's over thirty and still not married, it must be tough for him. Since you've asked, I'll reward you."

Ren Dong shuddered violently. Granny Sun stepped in front of the two girls and said loudly, "We are servants in the Second Master's courtyard. Our indentures are in the Second Master's hands. Even if the Second Master is gone, there is still the Third Young Master. How can you sell us off like this?"

Knowing that these words would anger Madam Qin, Madam Sun had no other choice. She couldn't just stand by and watch Banxia and Rendong, such good girls, be treated so badly.

Qin Shi was probably delighted that Lu Shiyan was dead without a complete body, so she didn't react much to Sun Mama's retorts, and stared intently at the direction of Lu Shiyan's bedroom and study.

A moment later, Chunwu excitedly directed two rough-looking women to carry a box and place it at Qin Shi's feet: "Madam, look, the account books and contracts are all here, quite a lot."

Madam Qin glanced at the box and saw that there was a thick stack of contracts alone. The thought of a concubine's son living such a wealthy life all these years made her furious. She said in a distorted way, "Hmph, he took the things given to him by the Earl's Mansion and raised a thankless wretch."

Mother Sun was heartbroken. She had heard of families seizing a woman's dowry before, but this was the first time she had witnessed it firsthand. Her second master's body was barely cold, yet everything he had left for her third young master had already been taken away. How could there be such a vicious woman in this world?

She was unwilling to give up and said with all her might, "Madam, those things are the private property of our Second Master and are meant for the Third Young Master. You can't take them all."

Chunwu walked over in a few steps, slapped Sun Mama across the face, and scolded, "What do you mean Second Master's private property? This is the Chengen Earl's Mansion. Of course, everything here belongs to Madam and Master."

Granny Lai chimed in, "That's right, that's right. Second Master is a son of a concubine, and everything he has was given to him by the Madam."

With these two mouths around, Madam Qin felt that the pent-up frustration that had been weighing on her chest for years was finally released.