The Grand Secretary's Child-Raising Diary

When Lu Youning woke up, she opened her eyes but did not see the familiar bed curtains. This was neither the Chongwen Hall dormitory nor the bedroom where she had lived for four years in Songtao Courtyard.

But Lu Youning was no longer flustered in the completely unfamiliar environment. He had just turned over in his quilt when Madam Zhang smiled lovingly and lifted the bed curtains: "Young Master is awake?"

Compared to his relationship with Lu Shiyan, Lu Youning was always more expressive when facing Zhang Shi. He reached out his hand to Zhang Shi and was picked up the next second.

Zhang held the boy in her arms, her voice choked with sobs she couldn't hide: "Our young master has suffered so much. Your wet nurse misses you every day."

Lu Youning had just woken up and wasn't very talkative, but he gently patted Zhang's shoulder with his small hand. The soft, gentle touch made Zhang feel extremely comforted.

After being separated for three whole months, Zhang was most worried that Lu Youning would not eat or sleep well, that he would suffer injustice in the palace and that no one would stand up for him. Sometimes she was also afraid that the young master would soon forget her and that when he came home, he would no longer like her, his wet nurse, to serve him.

Fortunately, everything is alright. The Second Master returned alive, and the Young Master hasn't forgotten her either.

Lu Youning still had some burdens on his body, so he only let Zhang Shi hold him for a while before struggling to get down. Banxia and Rendong brought in hot water to wash his face.

Banxia and the others had also suffered a lot of grievances this time. Living outside and living in fear every day, they had all lost a lot of weight. When they saw Lu Youning, their eyes reddened. Rendong wiped Lu Youning's hands and said, "Third Young Master has grown up a bit."

Banxia added, "That's right. Before he left home, he was just a three-foot-tall child, but now he's almost as tall as a table."

After Ren Dong finished wiping his hands, Lu Youning stretched out an arm, rolled up his sleeve, and held out his fist to Ren Dong to show her.

He has been exercising every day in the palace for the past three months, and now you can see thin muscles on his arms.

His original intention was to show Ren Dong his muscles, but Ren Dong not only ignored his meaning, but also wiped both of his arms with ease, and said in a coaxing tone, "Young Master, be good, just wipe them for now, and take a proper bath when you go to bed tonight."

Lu Youning withdrew his arm: "Playing the lute to a cow."

Once the atmosphere in the room had returned to a cheerful mood, Lu Youning noticed something was wrong: "Where's Aunt Sun?"

Although Sun Mama wasn't usually by his side to serve him as often as Zhang Mama, they had been through so much together recently, and it was like a long-awaited reunion. How could Sun Mama not be there at this time?

Hearing him ask about Granny Sun, Madam Zhang hurriedly said, "Young master, don't worry. Granny Sun caught a cold these past few days and is afraid she might pass the illness on to you. She'll come back once she's recovered outside."

Lu Youning looked at Banxia and the others suspiciously, and only breathed a sigh of relief when she didn't find anything wrong: "Since it's just a cold, you can come back and rest. Why stay outside?"

Speaking of this, Zhang also disagreed: "I also told her to come back and rest. If she was afraid of catching the illness, she could just stay in the house, but she's just stubborn."

Lu Youning was once again certain that Madam Sun had indeed caught a cold. He thought for a moment and said, "Tell Kuandong to go see her every day, and don't be stingy with the money for the doctor's prescription and medicine."

Everyone in this courtyard had watched Lu Youning grow up. Although they were just servants in their master's eyes, Banxia and Rendong were genuinely happy for Granny Sun that the child they had raised remembered them.

Having met a good family, it seems that they will no longer have to be sold and wandered from place to place for the rest of their lives, and Grandma Sun will be able to have a decent old age.

After getting everything ready, Lu Youning stood up to go find her adoptive father when she suddenly remembered to ask, "We didn't go back to the Marquis of Cheng'en's residence, where are we?"

When Lu Youning finally asked, Zhang Shi, who had been holding back for a long time, immediately beamed with joy: "This is a house that Second Master bought outside. Second Master said that we will not go back to the Chengen Marquis's Mansion anymore, but will live here."

Zhang was happier than anyone else to be able to leave the Chengen Earl's Mansion.

Although she had fled early after the incident at Songtao Courtyard, she had seen the injuries on Granny Sun and Banxia. Moreover, if she hadn't been worried about the people from the Chengen Marquis's Mansion coming to her door every day, Granny Sun wouldn't have fallen ill as soon as she heard that the Second Master was alright and was about to return to the capital. It was all because she had been on edge for too long.

According to Zhang's idea, the second master and the third young master should stay far away from that family of wolves from now on.

Lu Youning slept for quite a while, and it was already getting dark. Seeing his curiosity, Madam Zhang quickly comforted him, "Young Master, don't be in a hurry. We'll have breakfast first thing tomorrow morning and then we can go and explore the new house properly."

Although Lu Youning was somewhat tempted, he couldn't bring himself to go for a stroll around the mansion late at night.

There were only two masters in the house. Lu Shiyan and Lu Youning's courtyards were not far apart, and they arrived at their destination in no time.

Lu Youning jogged inside, but as soon as he crossed the threshold, someone scooped him up. Shouyan grinned and said, "Young Master has grown taller; he looks like a big kid now."

Lu Youning didn't mind being held by Shouyan. She peeked into the inner room and asked, "Where's my father?"

Shouyan: "Second Master has had a long journey and is still unconscious. Young Master, please go and have your meal first."

Upon hearing that her adoptive father was still asleep, Lu Youning immediately struggled to get out of bed and strode towards the inner room.

Inside the bedroom, Lu Shiyan had woken up the moment Lu Youning entered. During his months in Jiangnan, he had been burdened with worries and had hardly slept a full night.

I thought I could relax once things were settled and I returned to the capital, but the habits I had formed over the past few months were not so easy to break.

Before he could even utter a sound, a corner of the bed curtain was lifted, and Lu Youning, who had previously ignored him in the palace, peeked in and peered over.

The room was still dark, and before Lu Youning could even see if her adoptive father was awake, her face was cupped in a pair of large hands. With just a little effort, Lu Youning was sitting up on the bed.

Lu Shiyan touched Lu Youning's face and then his ears, making sure he didn't feel any dents or bruises before asking, "Did you start that fire?"

Lu Shiyan's tone was light and casual, as if he were asking about something unimportant, but having called him "Dad" for so long, Lu Youning believed he had a clear understanding of the old man.

He's probably going to get beaten up for that tone!

Realizing he hadn't managed to fool anyone, Lu Youning thrashed about, trying to escape. But he had already walked right into the trap, so how could Lu Shiyan let him get away?

He guessed right. The next second, Lu Youning felt a cold breeze on her bottom as Lu Shiyan's slap landed mercilessly.

When Lu Youning realized that Lu Shiyan was actually spanking her again, and with her pants down, she immediately couldn't hold back anymore. Unable to break free, she could only burst into loud sobs.