The old lady finally understood who her son had learned all those nonsensical things from.
She gave a cold laugh.
"If you want to be with one person for life, then go and marry a country bumpkin! Why do you have to cling to our Mingqian!"
"We truly love each other! I don't care about his status! Even if he were just an ordinary person, I would still love him!"
The old lady looked her up and down, then sneered.
Do you know how much silver this dress you're wearing is worth? And what a treasure that bracelet on your wrist is?
"Without Mingqian, do you, a mere commoner, even deserve to wear these?"
"Heh, don't look down on me. I'm just as good at making money as you are!"
The old lady chuckled.
"Then I'll see just how capable you really are!"
"Mingqian once said that being a steward is a tough job, and I was originally unwilling to get involved so much, but today I really want to try and see just how many things the Duke's mansion has to manage!"
Just then, someone suddenly walked in from outside.
When Deng Qiao saw this, a smile appeared in her eyes, but a faint trace of sorrow remained on her face.
"Ah Zhao, you're here. Come over and let your mother take a look at you."
As soon as Lu Gu walked over, Deng Qiao's eyes reddened.
"You've lost weight and gotten darker. It's all your mother's fault for making you face this dark place alone. I've caused you so much suffering and pain."
Now that Mom is back, I'll never let anyone bully you again.
Lu Gu cried in Deng Qiao's arms, his brows furrowed slightly, and he gently pushed her away.
"Mother, what are you saying? I'm doing very well here. I haven't suffered any hardship. Don't worry."
“You child, you’re just afraid I’ll worry. How could you not suffer here? Did that woman bully you? Tell your mother, and I will definitely avenge you.”
Lu Gu frowned even more, finding his mother's words to be incredibly harsh for the first time.
"No one bullied me. She...she was very good to me and didn't bully me. Mother, please don't overthink it."
"Now that you're here, please settle in comfortably. My mother... she's a good person. Even if she knows about our relationship, she won't make things difficult for you."
Jin Shu is such a good person, so tolerant and generous. She treats other people's children as her own, let alone her own husband's son.
During this time, Lu Gu also figured it out. The best way was to talk to Jin Shu directly. Jin Shu was such a good person, she would definitely forgive her parents.
But Deng Qiao suddenly stood up and glared at him.
"What nonsense are you spouting! What's wrong? Want to get a new mother?"
"No, I didn't, Mother. You're the only mother I have in this life. I'm saying this for your and Father's future, for your own good."
Deng Qiao stared coldly at her son.
He once suspected that Jin Shu had drugged his son.
"Ah Zhao, have you forgotten what you promised your mother? You said you would work hard to inherit the Duke's mansion, you said you would fulfill your mother's wishes, have you forgotten all of that?"
Lu Gu lowered his head silently, pursed his lips, and after a long silence, murmured something.
“I remember, Mother, you hated the feudal system and religious etiquette. I will inherit the Duke’s mansion, Mother, don’t worry.”
Hearing her son say that, Deng Qiao finally felt relieved.
"My dear child, Mother will never let you become a piece of scum from a feudal society!"
The old lady grabbed Lu Gu from the side and said in an unfriendly tone.
"What scum? The children of our noble family will all be outstanding individuals in the future!"
"Alright, Grandma, stop talking. You're all my family, and I hope you can get along well in the future, okay?"
The old lady, with a stern face, glanced at Deng Qiao.
"I'll let it slide for A-Zhao's sake. It's getting late, you should get some rest. If you want to be the mistress of the Duke's mansion, you still have a lot to learn."
Anyway, Jin Shu is completely out of control now, so this is a good opportunity to kick her out. In any case, Deng Qiao is definitely easier to control than Jin Shu.
At this time, everyone in the Duke's mansion had their own ulterior motives.
Jin Shu finished washing up and was applying floral dew in front of the mirror. This stuff was homemade, expensive but effective. In less than a month, the signs of fatigue and anxiety on the original owner's face were completely gone.
Jin Shu was doing her skincare routine while looking at the account book when Lu Mingqian pushed open the door to the side room.
Ayu silently withdrew, leaving the two of them alone.
Lu Mingqian deliberately chose a seat furthest from Jin Shu, plotting how to get rid of her as soon as possible. Just then, the woman who had been looking in the mirror with her back to him slowly turned around.
Under the pearly light, the woman's waterfall of black hair cascaded down, and her face, unadorned, was delicate and beautiful, appearing even more vibrant and full than that of an eighteen-year-old girl.
After all these years, her appearance hadn't changed at all, and her eyes and brows even had a more alluring charm that he had never seen before.
The man was slightly taken aback.
It was Jin Shu who finally spoke up and brought him back to his senses.
"It's getting late, you should get some rest."
When Lu Mingqian regained consciousness and looked at Jin Shu's appearance, he subconsciously said something.
“You haven’t changed at all over the years.”
"Hmm, you have changed quite a bit."
How have I changed?
"I've gotten older and uglier."
Lu Mingqian felt a lump in his throat, and his expression hardened.
“I know you blame me for not coming back all these years, but I’ve already told you the reason, I…”
"He suffered from amnesia after the war, I know. He suddenly regained his memory ten years later and then immediately went home, right?"
Lu Mingqian nodded reluctantly.
"Yes, that's right. I know you've worked hard all these years. Now that I'm back, you can finally put down the burden on your shoulders."
Jin Shu looked at him and nodded.
"Well, that's really not your fault. You have amnesia, and there's nothing you can do about it."
I've carried this burden for so many years, whether it's heavy or not, I'm used to it, and I don't feel tired at all, so it's okay, you don't need to feel sorry for me.
Lu Mingqian was surprised that she would say that. He thought that after they had a good chat in private, she would let down her guard and show her vulnerable side. He didn't expect that she would not open up at all. What was he supposed to say next?
"After all, I am the eldest son of the Lu family. Now that I'm back, I can't keep troubling you to take care of these things."
Okay, I'll help you with what I can first, that way I'll feel better.
Okay, so you really want to help her solve her problems, right?
"Alright then," Jin Shu nodded readily.
"Ayu has always washed my underwear. How about this, you can do this job from now on. Ayu can come and massage my shoulders and legs whenever she has time. That way, she can help me out. Is that okay?"
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