The Grand Secretary's Child-Raising Diary

Xiao Linzi tucked the blanket around Lu Youning and then rubbed his eyes with his sleeve, saying, "Young Master is still a child, this servant doesn't blame you."

Lu Youning didn't say anything more. He was only four years old after all, and he was exhausted after making such a fuss all day. But knowing that his adoptive father was not dead, he could finally get a good night's sleep.

As for what he owes Xiao Linzi, it seems he'll be in the palace for quite some time now, so he'll surely find a chance to make amends.

Lu Youning did something bad and went to sleep, but the fire he started caused quite a stir in the capital.

Even though the fire brigade arrived quickly, the Chengen Marquis's residence still suffered huge losses. By the time the fire was completely extinguished, the sky was already beginning to lighten.

Seeing the once grand and majestic Zhu Gate now charred black, Lu Chong felt dizzy. If it weren't for maintaining his dignity as a nobleman, he probably would have fainted long ago.

The leader of the fire brigade had been busy all night and his face was covered in soot. He quickly washed his face with the last few drops of water from the water truck before coming over to speak to Lu Chong: "Lord, now that the fire is out, I will take the brothers back first."

Lu Chong had no time for pleasantries, so Lu Xin, who was beside him, quickly took out a purse from his sleeve and handed it over: "Thanks to the brothers of the Hidden Fire Team last night, take this money and let the brothers have some drinks."

The leader didn't refuse. Although the fire brigade also received a salary from the imperial court, firefighting was hard work. If someone was trapped in the fire, they had to risk their lives to rescue them. After the brothers worked all night, the sensible host family would usually give them some extra silver as a thank you.

He reached out and took the purse, then called to his brothers to pull the water truck and retreat. What happened next was none of their business.

Lu Jingyan had been staying by Lu Chong's side the whole time. He hadn't slept all night and his face was scorched by the smoke and fire, so he didn't look too good. But as a son, he couldn't just leave his father here to clean up the mess and go to the inn to rest.

"Father, please go and rest at the inn where Mother and the others are staying. I will take care of things here."

Although it hurt, the deed was done, and there was no use in feeling remorse. Lu Chong thought it best to go back and rest first.

But Lu Xin hesitated for a long time before finally asking, "Lord, Young Master, what about the Second Master's funeral?"

Lu Chong paused in his steps as he was about to leave, realizing he had completely forgotten about the matter.

Lu Jingyan was still annoyed whenever he thought about how the fire started in Lu Shiyan's mourning hall: "This place is a complete mess now, we can't even put together a proper funeral. And since there's no body in a hurry to be buried, I'd like to ask the master to choose a new date. What do you think, Father?"

Lu Chong rubbed his sore eyes and said wearily, "I'll do as you say."

He was about to leave again, but Lu Chong was destined not to get a proper rest today.

Before they had taken more than a few steps forward, a group of bailiffs dressed in dark blue round-necked, narrow-sleeved robes, with long knives at their waists, walked over in high spirits.

The team leader first bowed to Lu Chong, then said politely, "Lord Lu, regarding the fire at your residence last night, we would appreciate it if you could send someone with us to return to the Jingzhao Prefecture government office to provide an explanation."

The Jingzhao Prefecture was in charge of maintaining order in the capital, and was responsible for everything from major crimes like murder and arson to minor offenses like the crowing of chickens and the barking of dogs.

The fire at the Chengen Earl's residence burned all night, and it was routine for the Jingzhao Prefecture to inquire and record the incident.

Lu Chong readily agreed, pointing to Lu Xin: "This is my steward; let him go with you."

It was just a routine inquiry, and the foreman didn't care who went: "Then please have this supervisor come with me."

At this moment, the troubles of the Marquis of Chengen's family have only just begun.

At first, Lu Xin thought it was just a simple routine inquiry, but as the clerk from the Jingzhao Prefecture continued to ask questions, Lu Xin realized that something was wrong.

"Since Steward Lu said that the fire was caused by an accident in the mourning hall set up in the front yard, it doesn't make much sense."

Logically speaking, during any funeral, not only should the family members keeping vigil be alert, but even the servants keeping watch at night should be constantly vigilant, so the possibility of a fire is extremely low.

Even assuming that your master, who was keeping vigil for Master Lu, was asleep and the servants were slacking off, there should have been water jars in the mourning hall. Extinguishing the fire in time shouldn't have been a problem. How could you have waited until the fire was raging before you realized something was wrong?

Lu Xin gave an awkward smile, downplaying the issue: "Perhaps it's a coincidence, just a coincidence."

Lu Xin is still unaware that it was Lu Youning who set fire to the mourning hall, so he is even more curious than Wenshu. There wasn't even an incense stick lit in the mourning hall, so how could it catch fire?

The clerk, recalling his master's instructions that morning, changed the subject: "Then this matter is rather difficult. After all, Lord Lu was an official of the imperial court, and he has just sacrificed his life for the country. Yet his only young son was alone in a fire late at night and almost burned alive. The nature of this matter..."

Before the clerk could finish speaking, cold sweat broke out on Lu Xin's forehead. He understood what the clerk meant; they suspected that the fire was deliberately set by someone from the Chengen Earl's Mansion, with the aim of killing the Third Young Master in the fire.

Lu Xin: "We don't know when the Third Young Master returned to the manor, nor do we know why he appeared alone in the mourning hall late at night. Perhaps the Third Young Master accidentally started the fire while playing around."

The clerk's face turned cold: "Steward Lu, forgive my bluntness, but all the testimonies you have given so far are untenable. The Third Young Master is Lord Lu's only child. Even if the masters of your household are too busy to keep vigil for Lord Lu or take care of this child, where are the people who originally served the Third Young Master? Where did they go?"

And what do you mean you don't know when the Third Young Master will return to the manor?

Lu Xin was naturally aware of Qin Shi's great power in Songtao Courtyard, and he reported the matter to Lu Chong. However, Lu Chong just shook his head and said "never mind" without asking any further questions. Now he really didn't know where all the people who served the Third Young Master in Songtao Courtyard had gone.

Upon hearing this, the clerk put down his pen, shook his head, and said, "Steward Lu, there are many suspicious points regarding the fire at the Cheng'en Marquis's residence last night. I'm afraid you should go back and inform Lord Lu. This matter needs to be brought before the court for clarification."

Lu Xin's back was soaked with sweat. He wanted to say something, but the Prefect of Jingzhao was appointed by the Emperor and was always a powerful official. He was afraid that the more he said, the more the other party would pester him.

He hurried back to report to the Marquis and asked him to make plans quickly.

Watching Lu Xin's departing figure, the clerk serving him with documents and writing materials shook his head and said, "This Lord Lu is pitiful; he died without even anyone to keep vigil."

The clerk stroked his beard: "These noble families are very complicated inside."

The Chengen Earl's mansion was mostly burned down, making it uninhabitable. So, Madam Qin and her daughter-in-law, Madam Cui, booked an entire restaurant and squeezed in to settle down temporarily.

She could have returned to the Qin family, but ever since Madam Liu left home for Jiangnan three years ago and has not returned, her family has been coming to put pressure on her from time to time.

Lord Qin was frequently impeached by the Censorate, so he rarely associated with the Qin family.