Chapter 15 Leaving
After noon, Yun Wan took Asui to Cixin Hall, and then accompanied him to the East Courtyard and gave a jade pen mountain to Lu Changze.
Lu Changze was surprised and didn't understand why this little cousin who was loved by his grandmother suddenly gave him a gift.
Yun Wan explained to him, "You two are now both enrolled in the Hongwen Academy. Asui is still young and doesn't understand much, so I hope Ze'er will take good care of him and urge him to complete his studies. Brothers should help each other. Third Aunt thanks Ze'er here."
Ah Sui said crisply, "Cousin, my great uncle said you like jade. This pen mountain suits you the first time I saw it. I hope you like it!"
He was five years younger than Lu Changze and a bit shorter in stature. He held the brocade box in both hands and handed it forward.
Hearing that he had specifically asked his father and carefully selected it, Lu Changze felt much happier and said to Yun Wan seriously:
"Third Aunt, you are too kind. Changze is the elder brother and should take good care of his cousin. I will definitely not let Asui be bullied as long as I am here. I hope Third Aunt can rest assured."
Then he looked at Asui and said, "My cousin is thoughtful. I like it very much."
He had an upright stature and handsome appearance, like his biological mother, Aunt Zhong, but his gestures and movements carried some of the temperament of Duke Lu, as if he had deliberately imitated him.
The gift had been delivered, and it was getting late. Yun Wan said politely, "Third Aunt, your words will put your mind at ease. We will not bother you any more."
She walked back with Asui by her hand. Asui waved his hand and said loudly, "Goodbye, cousin!"
Lu Changze: "Third Aunt and cousin, take care."
Holding the brocade box, she returned to her residence. Aunt Zhong, who was fixing her makeup in front of the mirror, asked a few questions curiously. After receiving the answer, she sneered:
"She wants my son to take care of her son just for this little thing? That's too stingy!"
She put down the small bronze mirror in her hand, revealing a gorgeous face. She was adorned with gold and silver jewelry, but the expression on her face ruined her beauty.
Lu Changze frowned and said, "Auntie, you misunderstood. This was given to me by my cousin Asui. It's a token of his appreciation."
"That's stingy! I heard your Third Aunt's shops are making a lot of money. It's no exaggeration to say they're making a fortune every day, and yet this is all she gave me."
Aunt Zhong was disdainful and jealous.
Thinking back to when she came to Yun Wanxun to seek cooperation and planned to open an incense shop in her hometown of Yingzhou, she had everything planned out: her hometown would provide the shop, workshop and people, and Yun Wan would only need to provide the incense recipe, and the monthly profits would be split equally between the two families.
Her family provided money, manpower and land, but Yun Wan only needed to provide the incense recipe to receive 50% of the profits. Yun Wan refused such good conditions!
Thinking of this matter, Aunt Zhong became furious. Although she was a concubine, she was also a concubine of the Duke's Mansion. Her family was a distant relative of the old lady, and she gave birth to the Duke's only son. She had no mistress above her, and she was much more powerful than some of the wives of the main wives!
As a result, the widow Yun Wan didn't give her any face at all, obviously didn't take her seriously!
Lu Changze had heard a little about the rift between his biological mother and his third aunt. He had long been accustomed to it, so he said calmly:
"That's Third Aunt's dowry shop. What does it have to do with us? Besides, giving gifts is all about the thought. My son just needs a pen holder, so my cousin gave it to him just right."
Aunt Zhong glanced at him sideways, and said with regret: "You are the only one with a good heart. Be a good person and don't fight or compete."
She curled her lips and said, "My Lord, you're such a fool! It's good enough for you to be the prince's study companion, but now you've chosen someone from the third house. With Sui Ge'er here, if he gets the respect of the Third Prince and Consort Shu, won't you be left out?"
Glancing at her son, she snorted a warning, "You should also be more careful. Although you are the Duke's child, I treat Sui Ge'er well. Don't be so foolish as to let others steal your father's favor. You should spend more time to make your father see you and value you!"
What if her brother Ze becomes the prince of Duke Lu’s mansion, wouldn’t she have a chance to become the Duke’s wife?
Just thinking about it makes Aunt Zhong feel happy.
Lu Changze didn't know how many times he had heard such words. He became annoyed and interrupted her: "Auntie, please stop talking. Your son is going to read a book."
After saying this, he walked out holding the brocade box without looking back.
Although cousin Asui is favored by his grandmother and father, it is also because he has been without a father since childhood. Even though he is a legitimate son, he is still pitiful.
Lu Changze felt more sympathy for him.
So what if he's a legitimate son? His cousin still has no father.
Seeing him like this, Aunt Zhong's chest heaved with anger. She said angrily, "You child! How come you don't understand your mother's painstaking efforts?"
.........
In a flash, the tenth day arrived, and Cuiwei Garden was bustling with activity.
As soon as it was light in the morning, Asui woke up, washed up, and went to Yunwan's room to have breakfast together.
The carriage from the mansion was to depart at noon. Although everything was already prepared, Yun Wan was still worried and gave many instructions:
"When you get there, stay close to your cousin and follow the school registrar's instructions. The mother has checked that everyone she should take with her is not left behind."
"When you get to the dormitory, get along well with your classmates and behave confidently. Don't be timid or afraid. If you get hungry on the way, open the lunch box. Mother has prepared some snacks for you."
"It's only been a short time since spring, and it's getting chilly in the mornings and evenings. You should wear more clothes and don't try to stay cool..."
On the way, Yun Wan couldn't help chattering, fearing that she had forgotten to remind him something.
She finally understood the feeling of "a mother worries when her son is away from home", even though Asui was not "away from home".
Ah Sui held his mother's hand, his body only reaching Yun Wan's waist. He listened attentively with a serious face: "Don't worry, mother, I've remembered everything."
They arrived at the gate just in time. The carriage had been waiting for a long time. Lu Yuanduo, Lu Changze and Aunt Zhong were standing beside the carriage.
"You're just wasting people's time by dawdling..." Aunt Zhong muttered softly.
Lu Yuanduo glanced at her and she quickly covered her lips and kept silent.
Yun Wan nodded and greeted everyone, then sent Asui to the carriage.
Before the carriage departed, Ah Sui lifted the satin curtain and said in a baby voice, "Don't worry, mother. After ten days of rest, I can go home!"
Yun Wan suppressed the tears in her eyes and smiled at him gently: "Okay, mother will pick you up then."
Students at the Hongwenguan only had one day off every ten days. On weekdays, they lived in the school dormitory and ate and lived with their classmates.
Looking at the carriage in the distance, Yun Wan felt empty in his heart, as if a piece of flesh had been dug out.
The two most important people in her life are her mother and Asui. Both are blood relatives to Yun Wan, and they are the closest people in the world.
But the mother had already left Yunwan, and the child would grow up and gradually have his own life.
Although Yun Wan felt disappointed, she was more relieved.
In the years since her husband passed away, Asui has been her comfort and support. Now, he is also growing up slowly.
Yun Wan did not allow herself to be too immersed in her own emotions, because she also had her own beloved career to work on.
As they entered Cuiwei Garden, Yuezhi rushed in excitedly:
"Ma'am, there's good news!"
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