Xuezhi brought a plate of sliced watermelon to Yining, who bit into it while watching Mrs. Luo and Lin Hairu talking.
Old Mrs. Luo took Lin Hairu's hand and sat aside, asking her how she and Luo Chengzhang were doing recently.
When it comes to Luo Chengzhang, Lin Hairu's face turns unhappy.
Although she was the principal wife, Luo Chengzhang had an old relationship with Aunt Qiao, so he always felt more pity for her.
Mrs. Luo saw Lin Hairu's expression and understood the situation. Not to mention that Lin Hairu couldn't compete with Aunt Qiao now, but back then, Gu Minglan wasn't always so angry with Aunt Qiao that she couldn't speak.
Old Mrs. Luo advised Lin Hairu to hold back and told her about Gu Minglan, Yining's biological mother.
Yining was also very curious about her biological mother, and listened carefully to what Mrs. Luo said about the past.
Concubine Qiao was the descendant of a fallen official family. This was the official version confirmed by Luo Chengzhang. Anyway, since only Luo Chengzhang knew whether it was true or not, let's just assume that Concubine Qiao was indeed the descendant of a fallen official family.
At fourteen, she was sold to a wealthy family in Yangzhou to be raised. Seeing the girl crying pitifully after being scolded by her master, Luo Chengzhang bought her. At the time, he kept Concubine Qiao as a maid, but she was beautiful and graceful, a young girl. As Luo Chengzhang kept her close to him, he developed a special affection for her. By the time he brought her home, she was already over three months pregnant.
Old Mrs. Luo still remembers that day when Gu Minglan heard about this, he was almost stunned.
She and Luo Chengzhang had been engaged since childhood, and she had always been filial to the old lady and served her husband. How could she not like Luo Chengzhang? But seeing Luo Chengzhang holding Qiao Yuechan's hand, Qiao Yuechan was only sixteen years old at the time, as beautiful and timid as the dewdrops on the lotus in the morning. Gu Minglan felt it was glaring. That day, Gu Minglan came to see her, crying like a child.
Later, Qiao Yuechan's pregnancy showed signs of abnormality, and it was said that the fetus was unstable.
The maidservants around Qiao Yuechan mentioned, both openly and covertly, that Aunt Qiao started feeling unwell after eating the soup sent by the Second Madam. Luo Chengzhang then became suspicious and, although he didn't say it out loud, he did mention it in words.
How could Gu Minglan tolerate such suspicion?
She had been described as gentle and humble since she was a child. Even when Aunt Qiao was pregnant with her husband's child, she took care of her as much as she could. She felt that she had done her best, yet such obscene words were spread.
She took the initiative to suggest living in a temple so as not to disturb Qiao Yuechan's pregnancy.
Mrs. Luo was very angry at that time. How could a wife be forced out by a concubine? She firmly disagreed.
Until one day, Aunt Qiao slipped while climbing the stairs and almost got into trouble again. Facing Luo Chengzhang's gaze, Gu Minglan could no longer bear it and moved to the temple to live, saying that he would come back after Aunt Qiao gave birth.
It was Gu Minglan's proactive avoidance that allowed Concubine Qiao to take advantage. After Concubine Qiao gave birth to Luo Yilian, she became even more favored by Luo Chengzhang, which made Gu Minglan even more uncomfortable, and she didn't smile as much as before. Later, she reluctantly gave birth to Yining, but she also became depressed and passed away.
After hearing this, Lin Hairu thought about it for a long time.
Even Yi Ning was amazed. Aunt Qiao's rise to power was quite legendary. It would have been impossible without some scheming and cunning.
Mrs. Luo sighed and said, "Fortunately, you're not a suspicious person. Minglan is too suspicious. She would ponder for a long time even the most careless words from others. This only makes her feel anxious."
Mrs. Luo continued, "You're now controlled by Aunt Qiao, probably because you don't have a child. It's been several years and you're still pregnant, so we have no choice but to think of other ways." She lowered her voice, "I originally wanted to raise Xuan Ge'er with you. He's still young and will always be close to you. It will also make Aunt Qiao behave better."
Lin Hairu felt uncomfortable when she thought of Xuan Ge'er. She said reluctantly, "After all, Aunt Qiao is Xuan Ge'er's biological mother. No matter how much I raise him, as long as his biological mother is around, how can he get close to me?"
Old Lady Luo knew Lin Hairu was unwilling, and she didn't have the generosity to bear raising Aunt Qiao's child. She glanced at Yi Ning and continued, "Then there's only one solution left: register Shen Yuan under your name. Make him the legitimate child."
Lin Hairu was startled.
Not to mention Lin Hairu, even Yining was shocked by the old lady.
It is common for illegitimate children to be registered under the name of their legal mother, but this is usually only done for young children. However, my third brother is almost sixteen years old.
Lin Hairu also felt that it was inappropriate. Besides, she had never paid much attention to Luo Shenyuan. Although Luo Shenyuan was the eldest son of a concubine, he was raised by the nanny and at most he would pay his respects to her during festivals. And he was already so old.
Mrs. Luo continued, "This is a decision I've made after careful consideration. I haven't told the second son yet. But this idea is a good one. Shen Yuan is about to take the provincial examination. If he passes, you will be the mother of a successful candidate. With Shen Yuan around, you and Yining will have someone to rely on."
Lin Hairu was born into a merchant family, the kind that would be incredibly happy if someone passed the imperial examination. She was stunned by Mrs. Luo's sudden words, a bit incredulous: "Madam, this... this juren, does it mean that anyone can pass the imperial examination just by passing? Shen Yuan, that kid, doesn't seem... really that special, after all!"
Old Mrs. Luo opened her eyes, and her cloudy eyes were clear.
"Yining is young and has no brothers to support him, and you're childless now, so I'm worried," Mrs. Luo said. "Please think about this first. I'm not asking you to agree right away, but after much thought, I think this is the best option."
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