The Grand Secretary's Child-Raising Diary

Madam Sun glanced in Lu Youning's direction and said with a smile, "My surname is Sun. Sister Qian can just call me Madam Sun. I've been favored by the Second Master and am now in charge of the young master's affairs in his courtyard."

Upon learning that she was the headmistress of Lu Youning's courtyard, Mama Qian immediately smiled and said, "So you're from Aning's courtyard. I knew it as soon as I saw you, sister. Aning has grown up so well since losing her mother at a young age, it must be the result of your careful care."

Madam Sun quickly waved her hand modestly and said, "Old sister, you don't know, the young master has been intelligent since he was a child. He is very considerate of the hardships we servants face. Rather than saying that we take good care of him, it's more accurate to say that this child is kind-hearted by nature and is an exceptionally good child."

Madam Qian's smile remained unchanged as she echoed, "Erlang's child is naturally beyond reproach."

With just these few simple words, Sun's mother understood why Zhang was so averse to the arrival of the Qian aunt and niece.

Madam Qian repeatedly called the Second Master "Erlang" and the Young Master "A-Ning," showing affection but inadvertently weakening the distinction between master and servant. This was hardly the behavior of an old servant returning to his former master; it seemed more like someone seeking repayment for a favor.

There's another thing. Although she only entered the manor to serve the young master in August or September, she knew that because of the late second madam's status in the Qin family, the second master was not very fond of the young master's birth mother. In the past few years, almost no one in the manor has ever mentioned the late madam. But this woman has mentioned the young master's birth mother's early death more than once since she entered the manor yesterday. What does that mean?

Why is it that just because the young master lost his mother, he deserves to grow up to be unreasonable, arrogant, and domineering? Or is this some kind of warning?

Madam Sun pondered to herself: This person has a long-standing relationship with Second Master, and we need to observe him for a few more days to find out whether his words and actions were intentional or unintentional.

When she returned, she had to remind Zhang and the others to be polite and courteous to Qian and her niece, lest the two quarrel as soon as they entered the mansion, which would further affect the relationship between the second master and the young master.

Having decided on these things, Madam Sun bypassed Lu Youning and began chatting with Madam Qian about Jiangyin, hoping to find out more about the Qian aunt and niece. As the old saying goes, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated."

Perhaps because they were close in age, Mrs. Qian and Mrs. Sun got along very well. Amidst the lively scene in the garden, they chatted happily for a while, feeling as if they had known each other for a long time.

Seeing that it was almost time, Madam Sun spoke first: "Old sister, the young master has guests coming today, I have to go back and keep an eye on the maids in the courtyard to prepare."

"When I have some free time tomorrow, I'll bring some tea and snacks to chat with you, older sister."

Mrs. Qian watched Mrs. Sun leave, her eyes thoughtful.

When Xiao Shubai arrived at the Shaoqing residence, he didn't need anyone to greet him. After finding out where Lu Youning was, he ran off to the back garden.

Accompanying him was Granny Qiao, who served Princess De. Upon seeing this, she hurriedly called to the maids and servants behind her, "Oh dear, hurry up and keep up with the young master, be careful not to let him fall."

With the arrival of everyone from the Prince of De's residence, the Shaoqing residence was once again thrown into chaos.

Xiao Shubai, dressed in a cloud-white brocade robe, with his round and chubby figure, ran like a glutinous rice ball that had come to life, leaving others far behind.

Upon arriving at the backyard, seeing that Lu Youning's plum grove was almost fully planted, she immediately became upset and started to whine and pounce on Lu Youning: "Hmph, A-Ning, you're bad! Didn't you say you'd wait until I came to plant them?"

Lu Youning now handles the chubby boy with ease. She shovels the small shovel she used to dig a hole into Xiao Shubai's hand, and quickly turns the little dumpling around to face the empty space that had been reserved for her next to the plum blossom tree.

"Look, the gardener said that trees should be planted when the sun isn't too strong. I saved a spot for you even though you weren't here."

After saying that, he frowned and looked at Xiao Shubai's expensive brocade fabric: "Be careful with your clothes." After planting the trees, the two of them still had to go out for a while.

Granny Qiao finally caught up and, upon hearing this, hurriedly said, "Young master, don't worry, this old servant has brought him a change of clothes."

Xiao Shubai was accompanied by this Granny Qiao when she last came to the Shaoqing Mansion. Lu Youning was not unfamiliar with her. The two had only exchanged a few words when Xiao Shubai couldn't wait to pick up a shovel and start digging a hole.

Even if the little glutinous rice ball were to come to life, it wouldn't have much strength. When Xiao Shubai swung the shovel, it was like scratching an itch in the soil, but it did stir up dust everywhere.

Granny Qiao was helpless against her little bandit, and could only keep calling out, "Oh dear, slow down, slow down, my little darling."

With the help of the servants, Qian Xiu planted his own tree and hung up a wooden plaque with his name on it. He felt extremely satisfied at the thought that his plum tree would eventually take root in this huge mansion.

Although it had only been a day and a night, she had already completely fallen in love with the capital and the Shaoqing Mansion, and wanted to take root here firmly, just like the tree she had planted with her own hands.

Seeing an unfamiliar young master near Lu Youning, Qian Xiu dusted off the dust on her skirt and moved to go over, but she was stopped by the little maid who had been following her.

The young maid, Lancao, whispered, "Miss Xiu, the young master instructed that when Young Master Xiao comes, no one except the ladies in his courtyard is allowed to approach him."

Qian Xiu wasn't annoyed at being stopped. She glanced in Xiao Shubai's direction and asked curiously, "Whose young master is that? He looks very noble."

When the servants of the Shaoqing Mansion talked about their young master studying at Chongwen Academy and befriending the young master of the Prince of De's Mansion, they felt their backs straighten a bit more. After all, all of this proved one thing: their master was extremely powerful.

Upon learning that the young man in brocade robes was actually a prince, and that the child who called her aunt was playing and befriending a prince, Qian Xiu felt a surge of excitement in her heart. Her heart, which had been adrift since arriving in the capital, suddenly found direction.

She returned to Aunt Qian's side, took her arm, and said with a smile, "Aunt, the trees are planted, let's go back first. I want to finish making the shoes as soon as possible."

After Qian's mother had seen enough, the aunt and niece went home hand in hand.

Although Zhang stayed by Lu Youning's side the whole time, she didn't forget to give Qian and her niece a look from time to time. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that the two of them didn't move closer to Lu Youning.

After all, Granny Qiao from the Prince De's residence was here. If the two of them forced their way in, they would inevitably have to explain where they came from. If Granny Qiao found out that there were two more people in their household, it would be troublesome.

Ever since Xiao Shubai learned that Lu Youning was going to build a plum grove in the mansion, he kept saying that he wanted to plant one too. Lu Youning couldn't persuade him and had to agree. But it was he who said he wanted to plant the trees himself, and it was he who was tired after swinging the shovel a few times.

In the end, it was only with the help of Granny Qiao and a few others that the little rascal was able to plant the tree.