postpone
Lu Fei was rebellious by nature. Even if you told him not to come, he would insist on coming and would run to Ningxiang Residence whenever he had nothing to do.
Whenever he came, Mu Qing would always cover himself up completely and listen to his nonsense.
He talked his way from the capital to Weizhou, from the Lu family's private school to Wansong Academy, more talkative than any storyteller. In short, those who admired him had discerning eyes, while those who disagreed with him were poor and blind. He was a stubborn and unruly man, those who obeyed him prospered, and those who opposed him declined.
Mu Qing shook his head inwardly upon hearing this, but could only offer a few words of support.
That day, Lu Fei sat by the window cracking sunflower seeds, a smug look on his childlike face. "Do you know what everyone in the city is talking about?"
Mu Qing thought that some unlucky young master had probably taught him a lesson in public again.
She replied casually, "What is it?"
"Brother Zhong has found the murderer who assassinated Imperial Censor Qin."
"Who? Brother Zhong?"
Seeing Mu Qing staring at him, Lu Fei remembered their previous confrontation. He put on a stern face and acted mature, "That was all a misunderstanding before, don't take it too seriously. Imperial Censor Zhong is a good person, I know him well, and it's not strange for me to call him 'Big Brother'."
Mu Qing: "..."
Lu Fei felt uncomfortable under the stare, but feelings are strange sometimes. People who used to dislike him would suddenly become friendly with him, and the feeling would be completely different.
He said in a serious voice, "That's not the important thing. The important thing is that the person who assassinated Imperial Censor Qin last month has been found."
Remembering that Lu Tongxue had said he had been bribed by Zhong Linlan, Mu Qing calmed down for a while.
"Oh, who is it?"
"The murderer's true identity is still unknown, but he impersonated some...some official."
Lu Fei searched his mind for a moment, then looked at Mu Qing with a resentful gaze, as if accusing her of interrupting him and making him forget his official title.
Upon hearing the word "impersonation," Mu Qing's heart clenched. Ignoring his expression, she asked directly, "How did you know he was impersonating someone else?"
Lu Fei kept everyone in suspense, ate a few melon seeds, and then said, "Brother Zhong sent people to that official's hometown and invited several people to identify him in person. The man was recognized, injured someone, and fled."
Mu Qing nodded slightly. "But why would anyone suspect that an official has been impersonated?"
Lu Fei wasn't sure either, but he quickly found a way to cover it up, "That's because Brother Zhong is sharp-minded and has caught this person's true colors. The city gates have been sealed off, and it won't be long before he's brought to justice."
He spoke with pride, but Mu Qing felt a pang of sympathy for his kind.
"By the way, after Brother Zhong learned about your illness, he asked someone to prepare some medicine for you. I happened to run into him, so I brought it back for you." Lu Fei took out a brocade box from his pocket. "He said that this medicine was made from a folk remedy he obtained in his early years, and it has a miraculous effect on eliminating rashes."
Mu Qing's heart stirred, and she reached out to take the box of medicine. She opened it and saw several colorful pills emitting a bitter medicinal fragrance. It was indeed the medicine she had taught him to make back then.
To make her sick, and then send her medicine, is this some kind of show of defiance?
Seeing her clutching the box tightly with a pale expression, Lu Fei exclaimed, "Hey, what's wrong with you? You're going to break this box!"
The cardboard box covered with brocade couldn't withstand much force. Before it could be broken, Mu Qing noticed something was wrong with the box.
She held the box without moving and asked, "What else did he say when he gave you this medicine?"
Lu Fei said irritably, "What can I say? I just hope you get better soon after taking the medicine."
Mu Qing remained silent.
Her illness was slow to heal because the medication was not suitable.
After all, only a minority of people can't eat peanuts. She claimed to hate peanuts and hadn't eaten them since coming to the Lu residence, so no one knew that eating peanuts would make her sick.
But now that someone knows the truth, it's easy for him to trick her. Once she recovers, will he trick her again?
Lu Fei found it strange that she remained silent. He was about to ask her more questions when he heard a commotion outside the window. Peeking out, he saw that everyone in the courtyard was bowing. It turned out that the young prince had arrived.
He touched his nose. Although he was always reckless and dissolute, he had received a lot of education and knew that things belonging to men should not be handed to women in their private quarters, especially since his older sister was engaged. Seeing the young prince arrive, he became somewhat uneasy.
Lu Fei jumped off the chair and said urgently, "Put the medicine away first. If it doesn't work, just throw it away quietly."
Xiao Yu met him at the door, exchanged a few jokes, and seeing that he accepted it all with a very proper demeanor, he simply thought he was just a mischievous kid who occasionally acted recklessly, and let him go off to play.
The servants who had been dismissed by Lu Fei earlier filed in, serving tea and water, and attending to him again.
Xiao Yu sat down leisurely. "With a younger brother like this, aren't you never lonely?"
Mu Qing sighed softly, "It's not just not lonely, it's downright restless."
These days, Xiao Yu often visits the Lu residence and occasionally encounters Lu Fei. He has heard Lu Fei ramble on a few times and knows that he has some fallacies and heresies, but is still righteous at heart. So he doesn't pay much attention to him and just laughs it off.
"Is your face feeling better? Let me see."
"It's not itchy anymore." Mu Qing looked at him steadily. "We can only see you when you're fully healed."
Beyond the plain white gauze scarf, a pair of clear, bright eyes shone with unwavering focus.
Xiao Yu smiled and said, "Is it really getting better? It's hard to believe if you don't show us anything."
Mu Qing was a little annoyed. "If you don't believe me, you can ask the doctor. Also, the Princess Consort came to see me the other day, which can also be a testament to that."
"They've all seen it, so why can't I?"
"..."
Mu Qing lowered her eyes. The young prince had only seen her once before coming to propose marriage. She absolutely refused to believe that his affection for her had nothing to do with her appearance. Although he had visited her while she was unconscious, and everyone said he didn't care, perhaps he was just pretending.
Seeing her unease, Xiao Yu smiled and said, "The new wedding date is set for May. You'll have to show it to me then."
Without thinking too much about when that would be, Mu Qing smiled and said, "Okay, I'll definitely be fully recovered by then."
Meanwhile, elsewhere, the postponement of the wedding between the Prince's Mansion and the Lu family is also being mentioned.
In the mansion of a wealthy man surnamed Lu, lanterns and decorations were hung, and guests were arriving for a birthday banquet. The birthday celebrant was the man's mother, who was celebrating her ninetieth birthday.
The banquet had dozens of tables, stretching from the hall to the courtyard. The women alone filled the entire courtyard. Before the food was served, the women at each table chatted idly.
"I heard that the Third Madam will come in person to offer her birthday wishes."
"It's the old lady's 90th birthday, who wouldn't want to come and share in the joy?"
"It's fortunate that the Third Madam's daughter recovered from her illness; otherwise, she might not have come for her 90th birthday, let alone her 100th birthday."
"You're cured? Is the marriage with the Prince's mansion still on?"
"Yes, but I heard the wedding date has been postponed to May."
An old woman approached the group of women chatting and asked one of them, "Madam, is the Third Madam you're talking about the Third Madam of the Lu family in the east of the city?"
The woman glanced at the old woman and saw that she was about fifty years old, with an aged face, but it was still clear that she had been a beauty in her youth. Her clothes were simple but not vulgar, and she spoke Mandarin without any local accent, unlike an ordinary servant woman. So she patiently answered her.
"In Weizhou City, the only one addressed as the Third Madam is the one from the Lu family. And you, old woman, actually have to ask if she's from out of town?"
The old woman was Aunt Man. She nodded and said, "I'm from the capital."
The women chatting all glanced at her upon hearing her voice.
"From the capital? Madam Lu has invited a skilled musician today, who is said to be from the capital as well."
Aunt Man smiled without saying a word, and quietly walked away while they continued their chatter.
Lu Xier was checking her zither in the side room when she saw Aunt Man return with a big smile on her face. She couldn't help but smile and say, "Godmother, what happened? You seem so happy."
Overjoyed, Aunt Man told her, "The third wife of the Lu family is also attending the banquet today. You will be able to see her."
Lu Xier lost her smile. "Godmother, you're saying these things again."
“Xi’er, if you can’t force it, then so be it. But how can you not cherish the opportunity that comes your way? She could very well be your biological mother.”
Aunt Man restrained herself from making a definitive statement that the woman was her biological mother, so as not to cause a dispute.
Firecrackers boomed outside, drums and music filled the air, making the celebration even more lively. Aunt Man picked up her zither and told Lu Xier to put on her veil.
Before long, a maid from the mansion came to invite them, and they followed her to the hall.
The ninety-year-old lady, with a full head of white hair, sat in the main seat, while her tablemates were all elegant and wealthy ladies.
Lu Xier had no interest in watching. When it was her turn to play, she lowered her head and began to play the "Forget-Me-Not" melody from her designated spot.
As usual, when the music ended, everyone applauded and cheered. Just as she was about to take her leave, someone led her to the main table.
The wife of the wealthy man, who was over fifty years old, was wearing a bright red floral dress. Despite her gaudiness, she looked quite wealthy. When she spoke, she was full of energy: "She is only eighteen years old, yet she has such musical talent. How rare!"
The old lady was so old that she could hardly speak anymore. Looking at the veiled girl in front of her, she grinned, revealing her sparse teeth.
"Thank you for your kind words, Madam." Lu Xi'er curtsied and said, "May you live as long as the Southern Mountains and enjoy boundless happiness as the Eastern Sea."
One of the ladies present chuckled and said, "That voice, like a nightingale's, can she sing?"
Madam Lu frowned. "I already said, she comes from a noble family, and she will only learn music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She definitely won't learn singing. Third Madam, right?"
Lu Xier shifted her gaze and saw the lady sitting on the other side of the old lady speaking with composure.
"Even noble ladies can learn to sing, but they sing for their own enjoyment and not to entertain others."
Her hair was styled in a high bun, her makeup was beautiful, and she wore a crimson vest with gold trim. Her appearance and demeanor were extremely striking. When she saw Lu Xier looking at her, she smiled back, showing a hint of affection.
Madam Lu chimed in, "This girl is quite self-respecting. If we weren't all surnamed Lu and were considered family five hundred years ago, we wouldn't have been able to persuade her to come."
Afterwards, the ladies present praised her one after another, but the third lady did not speak again, only smiled and nodded from time to time.
Back in the side courtyard of Yiye Residence, Lu Xier took out the gold lock from around her neck and looked at it again and again.
Seeing her like this, Aunt Man smiled and stroked her temple. "The Third Madam comes from a Marquis's family. Judging from the banquet, she is indeed extremely noble."
Lu Xier said softly, "Godmother, you must be mistaken. How could the Third Madam, who is so beautiful, be my mother?"
Aunt Man picked up the dressing table, placed it in front of her, and pointed to the mirror, saying, "Look at your eyes, they are exactly the same as the Third Madam's. I wasn't entirely sure before, but after seeing the Third Madam, I'm certain that you are definitely her biological daughter."
"People say that Miss Lu and the Third Madam are cut from the same mold. My eyes are similar, but that's nothing."
"People love to exaggerate and agree; if they look only three or four parts similar, they can say they were made from the same mold. Why don't we believe what we see ourselves and instead believe what others say?"
That makes sense. Lu Xier thought of the Third Madam's appearance and felt a surge of admiration. She touched her own slightly square jaw.
"Godmother, does Master Lu have a square face?"
Aunt Man sighed and said, "If I had had the chance to see you, I wouldn't have failed to send you back. Back then in the capital, there were countless officials who indulged in brothels, but the Minister of Rites never set foot there. The Lu family had strict family rules; they wouldn't even take a concubine unless the wife was infertile by the age of forty. You were born into such a good family."
At this point, it was inevitable that the same old story would be repeated. Aunt Man suppressed her words and didn't continue. She made up her mind to send her back to the Lu family.
They had heard that Miss Lu was favored by the prince and would soon marry into the royal family. They couldn't afford to offend her, so they had no hope. But the fake young lady fell seriously ill before the wedding, which delayed the wedding until May. Wasn't this a blessing from heaven, giving them a chance?
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