Chapter 44 I Disagree
Lu Jinlan hurriedly said, "Help me ask for leave, I'll go back and check!"
Xi Mo came to the academy to report that Lou Yu Mian had suddenly fainted. Fortunately, Lin Cheng and Qing Er were by her side, so she wasn't hurt and had already been taken to Jiu An Tang.
Lu Jinlan rushed to the clinic. The doctor had just finished taking Lou Yumian's pulse and pricked Lou Yumian's philtrum with a silver needle. Lou Yumian then slowly woke up.
Yu Mian was both surprised and delighted to see Lu Jinlan when she opened her eyes. She quickly said, "Why are you back? I'm fine, don't worry about me. You should go back now, don't delay your business."
Lu Jinlan looked at his pale face and squeezed his sweaty hand. "It's alright, you rest first, I'll go ask the doctor."
The doctor and the shopkeeper were whispering to each other outside when they saw Lu Jinlan come out, and they quickly stopped talking.
Lu Jinlan frowned. "Is it some kind of rare or difficult illness?"
Ping Xiyu quickly replied, "No, that's not it, please rest assured, young master. It's just..."
Ping Xiyu pulled her to another room and lowered his voice, saying, "He's pregnant."
Lu Jinlan was stunned for a moment, then a smile gradually appeared on her face. She asked in surprise, "Isn't this a good thing? What? Are you afraid the child isn't mine?"
"No, no, no, Young Master Lou is a month and a half pregnant. We just calculated the dates, and it's the time when the young master is on leave at home. However, we don't know if you let him get pregnant by accident or on purpose. After all, Young Master Lou comes from a humble background. We wonder if you would allow him to give birth to the child."
Ping Xiyu lowered her voice even further as she said this, "If you don't agree, there's no need to make things difficult for him. The doctor can secretly give him the abortion pills, and he'll just think he's had an illness and won't notice anything."
*Smack!* Lu Jinlan slammed her hand on the table. “What are you talking about? I got him pregnant, so of course I’ll let him give birth. I’ve known about his background for a long time. I don’t care what others think, and I will not allow anyone to harm my child.”
Ping Xiyu apologized, saying, "Young Master, please forgive me. I had no such intention. It's just that I'm afraid the mistress will not be able to accept that a courtesan gave birth to your first child. If it's a boy, that's fine, but if it's a girl, she'll be recorded in the family genealogy. How should we record her father's identity?"
Lu Jinlan thought for a moment, "If it's really inconvenient, then register it under Lin Cheng's name."
Ping Xiyu said worriedly, "Uh, isn't this a bit inappropriate? If this happens, the child might become the eldest daughter of the legitimate wife. Will Young Master Song agree to that?"
Lu Jinlan said, "I'll talk to him, and he'll agree."
Suddenly, a strong voice of opposition came from outside the window: "I disagree!"
That sound...
Lu Jinlan tilted her head and looked outside. The man had already strode confidently to the door.
The newcomer was dressed in magnificent robes, tall and elegant, with a distinguished air. The weathered face and the lines etched by time made her look even more dignified, and even her travel-worn appearance could not hide her handsome eyebrows and phoenix eyes.
Lu Jinlan was overjoyed, "Mother! Why did you arrive early?"
She quickly stepped forward to greet her, saying, "Your child greets Mother."
Manager Ping hurriedly knelt down and said, "Greetings, old master!"
Lu Jinzhao hummed in agreement, her gaze falling on Lu Jinlan, her cold expression gradually softening. She sighed softly, raising her warm hand to stroke Lu Jinlan's head, then brushing a strand of hair from her forehead with her fingertips, smiling with a hint of helplessness, "You're always causing trouble, how can your mother have peace of mind?"
She grabbed Lu Jinlan's hand, "Get up quickly, let your mother see if you've grown taller."
The mother and daughter hadn't seen each other for four months. Lu Jinzhao carefully examined Lu Jinlan for a long time before saying with satisfaction, "You've grown taller and look more robust. Every time I hear news, people say you excel in both academics and martial arts, and it seems it's true. You've just gotten a bit tanned. Is it because you're working too hard every day? Tell me, why do you have to make yourself suffer so much? Who forced you to take the imperial examination?"
Ping Xiyu hurriedly said from the side, "Master, the young master is always ambitious. The Royal Academy is full of talented people, but the young master is always first or second in the exams. Such intelligence must come from you."
Lu Jinzhao was very happy to hear this, and he held Lu Jinlan's hand and boasted to Ping Xiyu, "Lan'er has been smart since she was a child. She used to be too lazy to study, but when she got serious, she was amazing. No one else could compete with her. You know, this child is good at both academics and martial arts, but she is just willful."
She looked at Lu Jinlan and complained, "You're so bold, leaving a letter and running off to the capital, making your father and me worry day and night. We heard about the incident at your cafeteria the other day, and your father cried several times. How could someone be so wicked?"
Lu Jinlan's nose tingled, and her eyes reddened as she said, "That matter is in the past."
Lu Jinzhao continued, "I told you, you shouldn't have come to school. You've never suffered like this since you were little. You refuse to eat anything you don't like. We raised you with such care, and now this has happened. I was really worried that you ate something bad and hurt your stomach. How are you? You haven't developed any illnesses, have you? People in the capital bully newcomers. Have you been wronged?"
Lu Jinlan held back, expecting Lu Jinzhao to first berate her, listing all her misdeeds over the past few days, then setting a series of new rules, saying things like: I'm so disappointed in you! Do you think you've lived up to all the hard work your father and I have put in? What can you do besides spend money? You've disgraced the family... and so on.
However, she didn't hear a word.
Lu Jinzhao looked at her with eyes full of affection, caring for her meticulously, massaging her bones and stroking her hair, staring at her intently with a gaze that was both proud and tender.
Having lived two lives, Lu Jinlan was experiencing such intense family affection for the first time. She had imagined having a huge argument with her mother, and planned how she would argue her point with sharp and persuasive words. However, she had never envisioned such a scene, and for a moment, she felt completely at a loss.
She bit her lip hard, but tears still fell uncontrollably.
Lu Jinzhao's eyes also reddened instantly. "You child, you're almost getting married, why are you still crying?"
She hugged Lu Jinlan and patted him gently, "Alright, alright, life in the capital isn't easy, let's go home."
Lu Jinlan quickly shook her head, "No, I just feel that you're too good to me."
Lu Jinzhao chuckled. "You're only flattering me now, is it for your brothel patron's sake?"
Lu Jinlan sniffed, then remembered this, "Why don't you agree?"
Lu Jinzhao sighed, "I really don't want to talk to you, but you've gone too far. How can you bring a courtesan home? It's one thing for you to play around with him, but you got him pregnant and had him give birth. Isn't that ridiculous?"
"Who is your mother-in-law? She is the renowned Tiger General of our Hua Kingdom, a first-rank general who commands respect throughout the land. Even the Emperor has to give her some face. Our family is wealthy, but frankly, this marriage is a step up for us. Before Lin Cheng even entered the family, your womanizing ways were already known throughout the land, which was enough to offend the Song family. And now you want to register the child under his name? Isn't that going too far?"
"If that Yu guy were just an ordinary man, his family wouldn't say anything. But for a courtesan and her son to serve you together, isn't that a slap in the face? It's an utter disgrace to your mother-in-law. She has a fiery temper and isn't someone to be trifled with. She'll probably make you chase him away as soon as she sees you."
Lu Jinlan pouted, "Then what should we do? Mother, can you give me some ideas?"
Lu Jinzhao glanced at her and said, "Come closer."
*
While Lin Cheng was comforting Yu Mian to take good care of herself, Manager Ping came over with a heavy heart and said, "Congratulations, Young Master Lou, you are pregnant."
"Really?" Lou Yumin was overjoyed. "No wonder I haven't had much of an appetite lately."
Lin Cheng hurriedly asked, "Where's Jinlan? Does she know?"
Manager Ping sighed, "I understand."
Seeing her expression, Lou Yumin was taken aback: "Is she... unhappy?"
"Well, I was actually quite happy. But my boss came over and happened to overhear, and now the mother and daughter are arguing about it."
"What?" Lin Cheng said urgently, "I'll go take a look."
Yu Mian quickly said, "I'll go too."
Manager Ping quickly pressed Lou Yumin down, "Don't go, you should rest." Lin Cheng went out the door and followed the sound to the outside.
Lu Jinzhao angrily said, "No matter what, a courtesan must never enter the Lu family."
Lu Jinlan retorted stubbornly, "I don't care, he's pregnant anyway, I'm determined to give him a proper status. If you don't allow it, I'll never marry again!"
Then Lu Jinzhao said helplessly, "Oh dear, why are you so stubborn? It's not that I don't want you to marry him, it's just that it would be too unfair to Lin Cheng. How could he agree to that?"
Lin Cheng hurriedly pushed open the door and went in. "Aunt Lu, I agree. Jinlan did this because she is loyal and righteous. I didn't misjudge her, so please approve it."
Lu Jinzhao was taken aback, then patted his shoulder with satisfaction. "Lincheng, you're a sensible and good boy. It's Lan'er's good fortune to marry you. However, I still can't agree to let that brothel man into the family."
Rin-chan hurriedly asked, "Why?"
Lu Jinzhao said, "Even if you don't mind, your mother definitely won't. I'm afraid of her temper."
Lin Cheng thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "Let's just not tell her. If you don't tell her, and I don't tell her either, how could she possibly know? By the time she finds out after we get married, it will be too late for her to bring up the past."
“This…” Lu Jinzhao touched his chin, seemingly embarrassed. “This isn’t right, is it? Your mother and I are close friends. I feel a little guilty for lying to her like this.”
Lin Cheng said urgently, "I know you are an honest person. Please, for my sake, tell a lie this time. I don't want to put Jinlan in a difficult position, and you want her to be happy, right?"
Lu Jinzhao pondered for a moment and then nodded.
Lu Jinlan excitedly grabbed Lin Cheng's hand and said sincerely, "I knew you would support me. I will definitely treat you well in the future."
She excitedly hooked her arm around Lin Cheng's neck and kissed him, causing Lu Jinzhao to frown. "Ahem!"
The two lowered their heads in embarrassment, their faces flushing.
*
Lu Jinlan has been in a particularly good mood these past two days. While helping Xiang Ruzhen organize books at the library, he even hummed a song with joy.
Xiang Ruzhen said, "You're going to be a mother, and you're so happy?"
Lu Jinlan smiled, "That's right, this is double happiness for me. Yu Mian is pregnant, and Lin Cheng and I are getting engaged soon."
Yan Wuxin hurriedly asked, "Will we be able to see your mother-in-law at the engagement banquet? Let us also catch a glimpse of the charisma of General Hu Piao."
"Don't even mention it. I thought I'd finally get to meet her properly. But then Lin Cheng received a letter saying that his mother said she can't come to the capital without an imperial edict, so I guess only my father-in-law can attend. By the way, don't mention Yu Mian when you come. She's staying at Jiu'an Hall these days, so let's cover it up."
As the three were talking, Yan Yu knocked on the window from outside. Seeing that she was carrying a bundle, the three hurriedly asked, "You don't have a day off until tomorrow, are you leaving now?"
Yan Yu said, "Something came up at home, so I had to go back early. I used my connections to report what we talked about last time to a high-ranking official in the court. I heard that His Majesty has decided to issue another round of disaster relief funds and has sent reliable people to the Northern Prefecture to investigate corruption."
Lu Jinlan laughed and said, "How reliable are you? Don't let anyone bribe you."
Yan Wuxin said, "Even if we aren't bribed, we might not be able to find out the truth. The Northern State is a treacherous place, full of connections. Anyone who goes there will have to be cautious, and who knows how to make a move?"
Xiang Ruzhen said, "We don't have any connection, so we can be carefree, but unfortunately no one is letting us go."
Yan Yu thought for a moment, "I'll go and inquire some more. Maybe the candidate hasn't been decided yet. I'm leaving now."
Lu Jinlan thought for a moment, and since there was nothing else going on at the academy, he said, "Then I'll be going too. My father-in-law should be arriving soon. Things haven't been peaceful in the capital lately, so I'll go outside the city to greet him."
In ancient times, there were no cell phones, so real-time communication was impossible. A letter could take seven or eight days to travel, and people relied entirely on intuition to meet each other.
Once she reached the outskirts of the city, she randomly found a large tree, hung herself high up on it, and swayed back and forth while waiting for someone to come. Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.
In a daze, he heard Xi Mo call out from below: "Young Master, Young Master Song's father has arrived. He didn't take this road. My mother sent me to tell you."
Lu Jinlan mumbled a reply, "Okay, you can go now, I'll be right back."
She regained her senses for a moment and was about to climb down the tree when she suddenly saw dozens of men in black running out from below, one of whom was even climbing up the tree where she was.
Could there be some excitement to watch? Lu Jinlan silently shrank back, hiding herself in the dense bushes.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
