The Grand Secretary's Child-Raising Diary

Lu Xin had served Lu Chong for decades. Although he was a servant who had sold himself into servitude, everyone in the Chengen Earl's mansion treated him with utmost respect. Even the mistress of the house, Madam Qin, had never openly shown him any displeasure. Naturally, Lu Xin was displeased by Zhang's sharp rebuke today.

He frowned, looked at Lu Shiyan who was still eating with his head down, and reminded him, "Second Master, no matter how many faults the Earl has, it's not up to a servant to gossip about him."

Lu Youning paused in his eating, the egg custard in his spoon trembling as it fell onto the table. He irritably threw the spoon into his bowl, the clinking of the porcelain clearly expressing his displeasure.

Of all things under the heavens and earth, Lu Youning's mealtime is the most important. Zhang hurriedly stepped forward: "Young master, don't worry, your wet nurse will clean you up right away."

Aristocratic families have many rules and etiquette regarding their daily lives, and naturally, there are also many rules at the dining table. Making noise by clattering bowls and spoons is considered very ill-mannered. Lu Shiyan had just decided last night to be a strict father, but when he saw Lu Youning's tightly pursed lips, he put down his chopsticks and gave Lu Xin a very displeased look.

Having served in the court for many years, Lu Shiyan naturally possessed a strong aura of authority. After the Jiangnan case, his majesty only increased, and his gaze sent chills down Lu Xin's spine.

That one glance made all the excuses he had prepared before coming die in the womb. The servants in the room were busy serving Lu Youning, while Lu Xin was left standing aside but did not dare to turn around and leave.

Zhang gave Lu Youning new bowls and plates, and Lu Shiyan personally picked up a piece of soft cake for him, gently coaxing him, "Eat your food properly."

The father and son ate breakfast for a full quarter of an hour. Lu Youning waited for Banxia to help him wipe his hands clean before jumping off the stool to go for a stroll around the house. However, before he could move, Lu Shiyan raised his hand and pressed down on his shoulder.

Lu Shiyan gave Lu Youning's small shoulder a reassuring squeeze before looking at Lu Xin, who was hiding to the side trying to minimize his presence. His tone was calm, giving the impression that he was in a fairly good mood.

"My father misses me dearly and sent you to personally fetch me back to the manor?"

Lu Xin hurriedly cupped his hands in greeting: "Yes, Second Master, the Earl has been thinking of you. Ever since the news of your danger in Jiangnan reached the capital, the Earl has been unable to eat or sleep, and has lost a lot of weight."

After finally waiting for you to be safe and sound, and successfully uncovering the information about the smuggled salt case, the Earl is now worried every day that your great contribution will make you the target of jealousy, and he is going through another period of torment.

Second Master, for the sake of our many years of father-son relationship, please come back with me to see the Earl. What grudge between a father and son can't be resolved overnight?

Lu Xin spoke with such sincerity that if the people in this courtyard hadn't all stayed in Songtao Courtyard, they might have been fooled by his words and thought Lu Shiyan was an ungrateful and disrespectful son.

Zhang rolled her eyes at Lu Xin silently.

Lu Shiyan's hand remained on Lu Youning's shoulder, and Lu Youning felt as if she were the jade pendant that Lu Shiyan usually wore at his waist, mainly serving as an aid to her thinking.

He stood there obediently without moving, and Lu Shiyan didn't rush to speak either. Just as Lu Xin couldn't help but want to look up, Lu Shiyan spoke up, but not to him: "In that case, let's go back and take a look."

Lu Xin was overjoyed that Lu Shiyan had agreed so easily and quickly said, "Second Master, the carriage is already waiting at the gate."

Lu Youning did not refuse when Lu Shiyan helped her into the carriage.

He disliked the entire Chengen Earl's Mansion, and especially loathed Lu Chong, his adoptive grandfather. In his view, while Qin Shi was certainly hateful, Lu Chong was the one who truly deserved credit for Lu Shiyan and the Chengen Earl's Mansion's current predicament.

As a man, he couldn't control his own desires; as a father, he couldn't treat his children equally; and as the head of the family, he was utterly incompetent. The downfall of the Chengen Earl's Mansion began with him.

All of Lu Shiyan's misfortunes in his youth stemmed from Lu Chong.

If Lu Shiyan wants to settle things with the Chengen Earl's Mansion today, then as Lu Shiyan's son, he should naturally be present.

Thinking of this, Lu Youning unconsciously puffed out his chest, trying to make himself look more reliable. Lu Shiyan took in his son's little actions, and although he was a little puzzled, it didn't stop him from finding Lu Youning adorable.

Raising children is indeed as Tan Xiuwen said, the more you raise them, the more interesting it becomes.

The new house that Lu Shiyan found was not far from the capital city, and only a few streets away from the Chengen Earl's Mansion. The carriage stopped after traveling for half an hour.

Lu Xin personally lifted the carriage curtain and said with a smile, "Second Master, we've arrived."

He reached out to take Lu Youning's hand, but couldn't even touch the hem of her clothes. Zhang, who was standing nearby, thought to herself, "With the Second Master here, does he think he can be so attentive?"

Lu Shiyan carried Lu Youning down from the carriage, not even glancing at the newly renovated vermilion gates and red walls of the Chengen Earl's Mansion, and walked straight towards Lu Chong's courtyard.

At this moment, Lu Chong sat in his study, holding a book but looking somewhat uneasy. Lu Jingyan, who was sitting next to him, was even more nervous and kept drinking tea.

To be honest, he really didn't want to face Lu Shiyan unless necessary. Even though he was the elder brother and the rightful heir of the Marquis's mansion, he always felt intimidated whenever he faced Lu Shiyan.

The feeling was terrible, and with his mother, Qin, always fighting for him, he avoided Lu Shiyan as much as possible.

He didn't want to come today, but his father said he would mediate between the two of them and his attitude was firm, so he had no choice but to come.

Hearing the approaching footsteps and the servants' greetings in the courtyard, Lu Jingyan gulped down another mouthful of tea, his left hand unconsciously rubbing against his knee.

The bamboo curtain rustled softly as Lu Shiyan strode in.

Lu Chong looked up and saw that he was holding Lu Youning in his arms. His newly grown beard twitched, and he said sternly, "Why are you holding him? What will it look like if outsiders see this?"

Lu Jingyan followed closely behind: "Yes, second brother, you are, after all, an official appointed by the imperial court. This is indeed rather improper."

Lu Youning clung tightly to Lu Shiyan's collar: "They all look like they have some kind of serious illness."

Lu Shiyan pretended not to hear what the two said, and even after sitting down, he did not put the person down, but placed them directly on his lap.

Lu Chong usually lectured Lu Shiyan, but today he seemed to have something to hide, so he simply closed his eyes and said nothing more.

Lu Shiyan cut to the chase: "Lord, are you in such a hurry to have me back because you intend to return what your wife took from me?"

Hearing him repeatedly use the word "rob," Lu Chong's face stiffened drastically, while Lu Jingyan's expression darkened even more. He slammed his teacup on the table with a bang and said unhappily:

"What are you saying, Second Brother? When the news of your accident in Jiangnan came back, there were only a few servants left guarding your Songtao Courtyard. Mother was afraid that Youning was still young and those servants might have bad intentions, so she kept it for you."