The Grand Secretary's Child-Raising Diary

Mother Qian waved her hand, looking at Huaiyan with a very loving smile: "No need, no need, you are all busy. I am still healthy and can come to see you whenever I miss you."

Besides, my niece Qian Xiu was with me to take care of me, so I didn't suffer much on the journey.

Mentioned by Madam Qian, Qian Xiu, who had been obediently following by her side, gave a somewhat awkward curtsy to Huai Yan. Huai Yan returned the greeting with a fist and palm salute, saying, "Greetings, Miss Xiu."

There were no superfluous words.

Mother Qian pulled the person back to her side, clapped her hands reassuringly, and looked at Huaiyan:

"When will Erlang return home? It's been thirteen years since we parted, and I've almost forgotten what Erlang looks like."

Huaiyan felt a lump in her throat from the old man's words, and blinked hard before saying, "Second Master finished his shift at the beginning of the hour of You (5-7 PM) and went to the Chongwen Hall in the palace to pick up the young master. He won't be back at the mansion until 4:45 PM."

Second Master has been thinking of you all these years, waiting to return home and see you. He doesn't know how happy he will be.

Upon hearing Huaiyan mention the young master, Madam Qian's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly asked, "The young master has already started studying, so why is he going to Chongwen Academy?"

Speaking of these things, Huaiyan was very proud: "Our Second Master is amazing. He has been highly valued by His Majesty since entering the court. Some time ago, Second Master investigated the private salt case in Jiangnan. He was not only promoted to the fourth-rank Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, but also our young master was able to study at Chongwen Academy."

Jiangyin is located in the Jiangnan region, and even if Qian Mama didn't know the specifics of the commotion Lu Shiyan caused there, she had heard about it to some extent.

The thought of her child, whom she had raised, being so accomplished filled Qian's mother with pride.

He repeatedly praised Lu Shiyan for his promising future.

The two chatted about some old stories from the past years. When they mentioned Qin Shi, who had passed away four years ago, Qian Mama sighed: "Back then, Madam Bo chose a daughter from the Qin family for Erlang. I know Erlang was unhappy, but when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. If Erlang hadn't agreed, who knows what other tricks that person would have had up their sleeve."

After they got married, I hoped that Erlang and his wife could live happily together for a few days. But I never expected that Qin would die young.

"It's all been so hard on Erlang that he's become a widower. Why hasn't he remarried all these years?"

Recently, Sun Mama has been dragging him around to find a wife in various ways. When the topic of marriage comes up, Huaiyan unconsciously becomes a little embarrassed and avoids it. He scratches his head and says, "Second Master has been busy with official duties these past few years and hasn't had the time to think about these things."

Madam Qian frowned in disapproval but said nothing more. Seeing that she looked tired, Huaiyan stood up and said, "You must be tired from your journey. Please rest first. I will send someone to inform you when the Second Master returns to the manor."

After Huaiyan left, only two maids remained in the courtyard. Only then did Mama Qian get up and beckon Qian Xiu to go to the inner room.

Once they reached a place where no one could see them, Qian Xiu immediately grabbed her mother's arm and shook it, her face full of excitement: "Auntie, why didn't you ever mention before that your client in the capital was a high-ranking official?"

This house is even more magnificent than the county magistrate's residence.

Qian Xiu was the daughter of Qian Mama's younger brother. After Qian Mama returned to Jiangyin, she was sent to her side to be raised. She was engaged in Jiangyin when she turned fifteen. But who would have thought that on the eve of the wedding, the groom went out to do business and contracted a sudden illness. He was sent home and died a few days later.

A perfectly good young woman became a widow, though she didn't actually have to remain chaste for her deceased fiancé for the rest of her life, her marriage was still affected.

Nowadays, those who come to propose marriage are either middle-aged widowers with several children who have lost their wives, or old landlords who are too old to take young girls as concubines.

Although Qian Xiu was raised by her mother, her marriage still ultimately required the approval of her parents. Qian's mother knew very well what kind of people Qian Xiu's parents were and did not want her daughter, whom she had raised since childhood, to be treated so badly. Just when she was at her wit's end, news of Lu Shiyan's success in bringing down the three great families in Jiangnan spread throughout the region.

When Qian's mother heard the news, she was moved, but it was only a vague thought. What truly made her decide to bring Qian Xiu to the capital was something else entirely.

Qian Xiu's parents came to the door, saying that they had found a good family for Qian Xiu. The man was twenty-five years old and quite wealthy. His previous wife had died of illness and had not left any children.

Qian Xiu only needs to enjoy her life after marriage and have a child as soon as possible; she doesn't need to worry about anything else.

It sounded alright, but Madam Qian was someone who had lived in a grand mansion like the Marquis of Chengen's residence. She was cautious and said she would prepare a few new wedding dresses for Qian Xiu to appease her parents.

As soon as the person left, Qian's mother hurriedly went out to inquire, but the result she found out left both the aunt and niece dumbfounded. Among the eligible men in the family that the Qian family had mentioned, there was only one mentally challenged boy who was twenty-five years old.

Upon learning that her parents were going to marry her off to a mentally challenged man, Qian Xiu nearly cried herself to death, begging her mother to save her.

After much deliberation, Qian's mother realized that given Qian Xiu's current situation, it would be difficult to find a good family for her in the short term. If she stayed in Jiangyin, her troublesome parents might drag her back and force her to marry someone else. So, she gritted her teeth and took Qian Xiu to the capital overnight.

Just seeing the brand-new residence of the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Madam Qian knew she had come to the right place.

Madam Qian patted Qian Xiu: "Remember what your aunt told you. We've come here to seek refuge. We can't act as recklessly here as we would at home."

"These next few days, just stay in the yard and do your needlework. Your aunt will take care of the rest."

Although Qian Xiu longed for the beautiful scenery of the mansion, she wouldn't disobey her mother's words and obediently nodded in agreement: "Aunt, I understand."

Palace

As usual, Lu Shiyan went to Chongwen Hall to pick up Lu Youning. The evening in the capital at the end of October was already a bit chilly. The father and son were wearing matching cloaks, one big and one small, which made people happy to see them.

It was already dusk when they returned to the manor. Lu Shiyan carried Lu Youning out of the carriage, and as soon as they stood still, he heard a suppressed, trembling voice ask, "Has Erlang returned?"

Lu Shiyan and Shouyan, who was driving the carriage, both turned to look at the figure on the steps. Huaiyan, supporting Qian Mama, said to Lu Shiyan, "Second Master, look who's here."

Although they had been separated for thirteen years, Lu Shiyan had spent a considerable amount of time with Qianqian's mother, and he recognized the person in front of him just by looking at her silhouette.

Before Lu Youning could even understand what was happening, her cheap father put her on the ground.

He turned his head and saw his usually dignified and self-possessed father almost running towards another figure. Even Shouyan couldn't wait to chase after him, but when he reached out, he couldn't even catch a glimpse of his father's clothes.

Madam Zhang went to the kitchen today to make goat milk egg custard for Lu Youning, so she came out a little late. She saw the Second Master and the old woman who came to visit today standing together talking, while the young master was standing alone by the carriage. She hurriedly went forward and picked up Lu Youning.

She touched Lu Youning's little hand that was sticking out of the window, and said with concern, "Is the young master cold? Let me carry you inside."