Lu Jianshen looked at Song Zhiyao and saw only encouragement reflected in her eyes.
Lu Yanzhi’s gaze fell on the mother and children, dark and unreadable.
Lu Jianwei hugged her little lamb, holding onto Lu Jianshen’s hand and giving it a gentle tug. She didn’t speak, but her meaning was clear.
“Sister-in-law…” Lin Guanguan opened her mouth to speak, but Song Zhiyao cut her off sharply, “Shut up. I didn’t ask you.”Her attitude toward Lu Jianshen and Lin Guanguan was completely different.
“He fell by himself,” Lu Jianshen said quietly.
Immediately, he regretted it.
He had said the same thing that day, yet no one had believed him. Instead, he had been pushed into the icy lake.
As expected, Lin Guanguan instantly cried out, “Impossible! Lu Jianshen, honesty is the most important thing in life! How can you lie so openly?”
“Sister-in-law, but you personally said…”
“Did I?” Song Zhiyao countered, looking straight at Lin Guanguan.
She didn’t think Lin Guanguan had actually said it.
First, Lin Guanguan hadn’t offered any other witnesses. Second, after she had jumped into the ice lake to save Lu Yan and fainted, she was no longer in control of her body.
Lin Guanguan fell silent, realizing… she really hadn’t said anything.
“So, Lu Yan falling into the ice lake has nothing to do with my son,” Song Zhiyao concluded firmly. “Mind your words. I don’t want to hear such nonsense again.”
She was, of course, protecting Lu Jianshen’s reputation.
Lin Guanguan laughed angrily. “Dà sǎo, you—”
“Miss Lin,” Song Zhiyao interrupted, giving her no chance to speak, “you are neither the second madam of the Lu family nor Lu Jinyu’s concubine. On what grounds do you call me ‘sister-in-law’?”
Song Zhiyao had already figured it out.
Lu Jinyu claimed to reject gifts but accepted them honestly from “Song Zhiyao.” Lin Guanguan, meanwhile, kept praising Lu Jinyu in front of “Song Zhiyao,” hinting that she should give more gifts.
Neither of them was trustworthy.
Lin Guanguan’s face instantly drained of color. Tears welled in her eyes as she prepared to complain to Lu Jinyu, but Song Zhiyao struck first. “Lu Jinyu, have Lu Yan apologize to Jianwei.”
Lu Jinyu was furious, especially hearing the “humiliation” Song Zhiyao dealt Lin Guanguan.
His face darkened. “Song Zhiyao—”
“Lu Jinyu,” Lu Yanzhi’s cold, warning tone cut in, “she is your elder sister-in-law.”
The words “elder sister-in-law” were deliberately emphasized.
Lu Yanzhi’s words were like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing Lu Jinyu’s anger.
At that moment, Lu Yanzhi and Song Zhiyao stood on the same side.
They positioned themselves on either side, shielding Lu Jianshen and Lu Jianwei, facing off against Lu Jinyu’s family of three.
After a moment, Lu Jinyu could do nothing but say to Lu Yan, “Apologize.”
Lu Yan wanted to cry, but he was genuinely a little afraid of Lu Jianshen, so he forced a smile, pouted, and whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Then he turned and ran.
Lin Guanguan shot Lu Jinyu a resentful look and chased after Lu Yan, with Lu Jinyu following without a second thought.
The garden was left with just the four of them.
Song Zhiyao smiled brightly at Lu Jianshen and Lu Jianwei. “Jianwei, you were brave to protect your things. You did very well.”
“Jianshen, you protected your sister and were also very courageous. Mommy is proud of both of you.”
After praising them, she shifted her tone. “But you are still children. When something happens, you should first seek help from adults.”
“And compared to possessions, your safety is the most important.”
Lu Jianshen pursed his lips while Lu Jianwei gave Song Zhiyao a sweet little smile, reaching out her chubby white hand.
“Sister!”
Lu Jianshen quickly pulled his sister’s hand back, shielding her behind him. No one could distract his sister.
Peeking from behind her brother, Lu Jianwei’s big eyes fixed on Song Zhiyao.
Lu Jianshen, protective of his sister, looked at Song Zhiyao and said awkwardly, “Thank you for what you did just now. But don’t think this means my sister and I will recognize you as our mother.”
He definitely didn’t want this kind of mother!
Song Zhiyao wasn’t upset. She simply smiled brightly. “No need to thank me. It’s what I should do.”
She pretended not to hear his last remark.
To her, the progress so far was remarkably fast.
As the mother and children interacted, Lu Yanzhi’s gaze lingered on them, his thin lips pressed together, thinking of Song Zhiyao’s earlier condition.
Perhaps she really could improve the father-son relationship.
Although Lu Yanzhi had returned to the capital three months ago, Lu Jianwei still showed fear—but the woman who had caused chaos for years, Song Zhiyao, could now smile.
As for Lu Jianshen, though he still seemed wary of Song Zhiyao, his expression and emotional changes were unprecedented.
Was it… the natural closeness a child feels toward their mother?
Song Zhiyao noticed Lu Yanzhi watching her, lifted her gaze, and smiled radiantly.
Lu Yanzhi was momentarily stunned before lowering his eyes.
At that moment, a servant’s voice called out, “General, young madam, little master, little miss, the table is ready. You may take your seats.”
The four of them went to the main hall.
Just as they sat, Elder Lu and Madam Lu arrived together.
Elder Lu frowned slightly at Song Zhiyao but said nothing—he didn’t interfere in internal family matters.
He turned to Lu Yanzhi. “After dinner, come to the study. I have something to discuss with you.”
Lu Yanzhi acknowledged.
After checking on Lu Jianshen and Lu Jianwei, Lu Jinyu led Lu Yan inside.
Lin Guanguan did not come, nor did anyone inquire after her.
As Song Zhiyao had said, though she had borne Lu Jinyu’s child, without a legitimate status, she was not truly part of the Lu family.
The Lu household followed the principle of “no talking while eating or sleeping,” and the meal was silent.
Compared to Lu Jianshen’s maturity and Lu Jianwei’s obedience, Lu Yan fidgeted in his seat, drawing repeated glances from Elder Lu.
After dinner, Elder Lu repeated, “Yanzhi, Jinyu, come to the study. I have something to say.”
Lu Yan was escorted back by servants.
Song Zhiyao was about to take Lu Jianwei and Lu Jianshen, but Madam Lu called her aside.
The children were taken to the warm room by a nanny.
Madam Lu looked at Song Zhiyao and spoke directly: “Lu Yanzhi has already given you the divorce papers. Tomorrow, you may return home.”
“Mother!” Song Zhiyao immediately knelt, looking up at Madam Lu. “I’m not leaving. I truly know I was wrong before. I will change from now on.”
“I want to stay in the Lu family, watch Jianshen and Jianwei grow up, and be a good mother and wife.”
Song Zhiyao’s pleading eyes made Madam Lu’s heart skip a beat. The events in the main courtyard today had not escaped her notice.
She had also seen Song Zhiyao’s protective actions toward the children.
“Mother,” Song Zhiyao hugged Madam Lu’s leg, “please give me one last chance, alright?”
“Lu Yanzhi agreed,” Song Zhiyao added, wielding his authority.
Her immediate priority was to stay in the Lu household.
Mentioning Lu Yanzhi softened Madam Lu’s expression slightly, but she still said firmly, “This is the last time.”
Song Zhiyao beamed and thanked her, rising to embrace her like a close childhood friend. “Thank you, Mother. You’re the best.”
The sudden touch made Madam Lu slightly uncomfortable.
She only had one son, Lu Yanzhi, and no daughter. Song Zhiyao’s mother had been a longtime confidante.
In Madam Lu’s heart, Song Zhiyao was nearly like a biological daughter, and her feelings were complex.
Madam Lu sighed lightly. “Jianshen and Jianwei are still waiting for you. Go and take them back.”
Winter dusk came early, the sky dark, lanterns lit.
Song Zhiyao carefully helped the siblings put on their fox-fur cloaks and gave Lu Jianwei a soup warmer.
The three of them left the main hall.
Lu Jianshen refused to walk beside Song Zhiyao, so Lu Jianwei walked in the middle.
The children’s legs were short, so Song Zhiyao slowed her pace.
Gently, she said, “If you get tired, just tell me. I can carry you.”
“Who wants you to carry me!” Lu Jianshen huffed.
Lu Jianwei held her brother’s hand with one hand, hugged her little lamb with the other, and smiled sweetly at Song Zhiyao.
Madam Lu watched the three of them walk away, sighing softly.
They finally looked a bit like a family, but she worried Song Zhiyao might only be acting on impulse.
The nanny tied a cloak around Madam Lu and said with a smile, “Madam, the young madam struggled raising the children alone. Now that the general has returned, things will get better.”
Madam Lu replied, “Let’s hope so.”
If Song Zhiyao had remained her old self, she would never tolerate her so unconditionally again.
Song Zhiyao took the two children to the Zhimou Courtyard, enthusiastically offering to read them bedtime stories.
After being firmly rejected by Lu Jianshen, she left reluctantly.
Just outside, she saw a tall figure standing under the lamplight.
Lu Yanzhi, dressed in black, exuded an icy aura, blending almost seamlessly with the night.
Song Zhiyao, still smiling, was startled. “Lu Yanzhi? What are you doing here?”
His gaze fell on her. “Waiting for you.”
Blinking, she stepped forward. “What do you want to say?”
“I agreed,” Lu Yanzhi said bluntly.
“What?” Song Zhiyao was momentarily stunned.
He lowered his gaze. “You continue interacting with them and help ease the relationship between me and the children.”
Song Zhiyao’s face instantly lit up with a genuine, radiant smile. “Lu Yanzhi, you’re so kind.”
Lu Yanzhi remained unfazed. “This is your last chance.”
He would watch the siblings even more closely. If he discovered Song Zhiyao harmed them, he would immediately sever all contact.
Song Zhiyao nodded seriously. “Alright.”
Lu Yanzhi acknowledged and prepared to leave.
Having returned to the capital three months ago, the first day he came back to the Guipu Courtyard, Song Zhiyao had kicked him out. Since then, he had stayed in the outer study.
They weren’t headed in the same direction.
“Lu Yanzhi,” Song Zhiyao called again, stepping quickly to him, her gaze earnest. “Never let your guard down with me.”
She wasn’t sure if she might lose control again or if that mysterious presence in her body would return.
“If I ever do anything to hurt Jianshen or Jianwei again, please, immediately and without hesitation, drive me away.”
Mentioning Lu Jianshen and Lu Jianwei, Song Zhiyao smiled firmly, her eyes resolute.
Under the lamplight, Lu Yanzhi clearly saw her expression. Though she smiled, it didn’t reach her eyes. There was more… bitterness than joy.