Song Zhiyao’s eyes flickered as she asked Lu Jianshen, “Shenshen, you’ve been protecting Weiwei all these years, right?”
Lu Jianshen let out a light hum.
“But… I think you’re not that impressive,” Song Zhiyao teased, successfully making Lu Jianshen glare at her again.
“Don’t be angry,” she said gently. “I just want to ask—do you want to become stronger, so you can protect Weiwei even better?”
Lu Jianshen looked at her suspiciously.
“Go to your father,” Song Zhiyao continued. “Your father is the brilliant and mighty General. If he teaches you a few moves, you’ll become really strong.”
She was sure Lu Jianshen would agree.
Sure enough, the boy’s expression showed interest, though a hint of hesitation lingered.
“You can trust me,” Song Zhiyao added. “I’ll talk to him. I’m just asking if you want to learn.”
This would not only encourage more interaction between father and son, but also improve Lu Jianshen’s impression of her—a clever two-birds-one-stone strategy.
Song Zhiyao smiled warmly at him.
Lu Jianshen parted his lips, then shut them silently. Being looked at like that made his face flush red.
“I don’t need you to say it. I’ll talk to Father myself.”
Song Zhiyao pressed on. “Where are you studying now? At home or at the Imperial Academy? You’re five now—you should be ready.”
Lu Jianshen ignored her, staring toward the inner room.
Just then, Suxin entered, reporting, “Young Madam, the General says he’ll be here immediately.”
Lu Jianshen’s gaze immediately shifted to Song Zhiyao.
By now, Song Zhiyao had brought Lu Jianwei out from the inner room, dressed in a pink little jacket with her hair tied into twin buns and fluffy pink bows.
She held Lanxin’s hand and ran straight to Lu Jianshen.
The little girl clung to her brother like a small charm, completely dependent on him.
Lu Yanzhi arrived.
He entered, and Lu Jianshen immediately stood to salute, his voice polite yet distant: “Father.”
Lu Jianwei, on the other hand, hid slightly behind him.
Lu Yanzhi nodded slightly at Song Zhiyao. “What is it?”
Song Zhiyao nodded in return. “Breakfast is ready.”
Shortly after, the four of them sat down at a table filled with breakfast dishes.
Song Zhiyao said, “A family should eat together. And after breakfast, Shenshen has something to say to you.”
Her last words were directed at Lu Yanzhi, accompanied by a subtle blink.
Lu Jianshen couldn’t help glancing at Song Zhiyao, but still didn’t speak—he had something to say.
During breakfast, Lu Jianshen felt awkward, even hesitant.
He wasn’t familiar with his father and had never voiced any requests or concerns before.
Should he… just forget it?
But the moment that thought surfaced, he saw Song Zhiyao smiling warmly.
Immediately, his resolve strengthened: no, he must speak.
But he didn’t want to say it in front of Song Zhiyao.
So after the meal, he and Lu Yanzhi stepped outside, and he respectfully said, “Father, I want to learn martial arts from you.”
“Learning martial arts is hard. Once you start, there’s no turning back. Are you sure?” Lu Yanzhi asked.
“I’m sure,” Lu Jianshen said firmly. “I’m not afraid of hardship, and I won’t regret it.”
He wanted to protect his sister better.
Whether it was his father or the wicked woman, he couldn’t fully trust them.
He could only trust himself.
Lu Yanzhi nodded. “Very well.”
“But you are still recovering. Once you are fully well, I will teach you.”
He understood that Song Zhiyao must have played a role in prompting this request. It was indeed an effective way to foster relationships.
Lu Jianshen bowed respectfully. “Thank you, Father.”
While the father and son spoke outside, Song Zhiyao turned her attention to Lu Jianwei. Like a magician, she pulled out a pair of small bows from her sleeve and presented them to the little girl.
Lu Jianwei blinked, her large eyes filled with curiosity.
Song Zhiyao pointed to the bows, then to the little sheep plush.
Lu Jianwei slowly understood and reached out to take the bows, beginning to decorate the little sheep herself.
Song Zhiyao didn’t intervene, simply smiling at her from nearby.
When Lu Jianshen realized Song Zhiyao was letting his sister be alone with the “bad woman,” he rushed inside, only to see this scene.
Lu Jianwei kept her head down as she worked on the little sheep, calm and obedient, her face adorned with a sweet smile. It was clear she was happy.
Song Zhiyao squatted in front of her, eyes curved in a gentle smile, completely focused on Lu Jianwei.
Even Lu Yanzhi, following behind Lu Jianshen, saw this scene.
Father and son paused, both falling silent.
A shadow of thought crossed Lu Yanzhi’s eyes.
Years ago, at the border, upon receiving a letter that Song Zhiyao had become pregnant on her wedding night, he had allowed himself to imagine the child.
He didn’t know then if it would be a boy or a girl—any child would have been welcome.
But his imagined scenes of a daughter included exactly this moment.
Now, it seemed the dream had materialized into reality.
He stopped in place, unable to respond immediately.
Lu Jianwei quickly finished decorating the little sheep and proudly showed it to Song Zhiyao.
The bows and the little sheep matched perfectly.
“Beautiful,” Song Zhiyao praised generously.
Lu Jianwei offered a shy smile, her eyes reflecting a new sense of closeness toward Song Zhiyao.
Lu Yanzhi and Lu Jianshen finally returned to themselves, but neither spoke.
Lu Jianshen then stepped inside to sit beside his sister, determined to stay by her side.
Lu Yanzhi did the same.
Since today was arranged for Lu Jianwei to see a doctor, he had handled his official duties in advance, so he wasn’t busy.
Outside, the wind blew harshly, but inside the room it was warm. Song Zhiyao played with Lu Jianwei, telling her stories in her clear, crisp voice.
Though she mostly focused on Lu Jianwei, she occasionally asked Lu Jianshen a few questions, though he rarely answered.
At first, the presence of Lu Yanzhi made the children slightly uneasy, but Song Zhiyao’s ease gradually helped them forget it.
By late morning, Zang Feng brought the doctor in.
Lu Yanzhi had invited all the top doctors in the capital; this one came from farther away and had a notable reputation.
Seeing a stranger, Lu Jianwei turned pale and instinctively hid behind her brother, her little hand still holding Song Zhiyao’s sleeve.
“Don’t be afraid, Weiwei,” Song Zhiyao said gently. “We’re just checking. Father, Mother, and your brother are all here. No need to be scared.”
“Don’t be afraid, little sister,” Lu Jianshen added.
Lu Jianwei behaved obediently.
Though the children’s comfort mattered little to her, she appreciated their cooperation.
After examining Lu Jianwei, the doctor stepped aside to speak privately. Song Zhiyao and Lu Yanzhi followed.
“General, Madam,” the doctor said, “I’ve examined the young lady. She has no physical issues. She’s not making any sound… likely because she doesn’t want to.”
“Perhaps something significant happened in her early childhood, or she experienced a traumatic shock.”
“A troubled mind requires a remedy of the heart. I’m afraid I cannot help further.”
Song Zhiyao noticed the cold glance Lu Yanzhi cast toward her.
With no way to explain herself, she pressed, “Doctor, is there truly no solution?”
The doctor considered briefly. “Perhaps, if you find the root cause and resolve it, it may help the young lady.”
His words sounded cryptic, but Song Zhiyao and Lu Yanzhi understood perfectly.
They needed to uncover what frightened Lu Jianwei and find a way to ease her mind.
“Thank you, doctor,” Song Zhiyao said.
As soon as the doctor left, Lu Yanzhi’s eyes fell on her. “What did you do?”
Song Zhiyao: “…”
A good question—she wanted to know too.
She asked him in return, “Do you know?”
Lu Yanzhi frowned.
They stared at each other, silent for a long time.
After a while, Lu Yanzhi spoke, “I don’t know.”
So much had happened to Lu Jianwei, yet upon returning to the capital, he had immediately inquired and investigated.
But the Lu household knew nothing.
Lu Jianwei was naturally timid and quiet, usually well-behaved, so her silence didn’t raise concerns initially.
It was Lu Jianshen who first noticed the situation, though it happened on an ordinary afternoon and couldn’t be traced fully.
Lu Yanzhi had suspected this matter might involve Song Zhiyao.
Song Zhiyao said nothing.
At that moment, Zang Feng hurried in and whispered something to Lu Yanzhi.
Lu Yanzhi glanced at Song Zhiyao. “I have official duties,” he said.
He instructed Zang Feng to stay behind, then prepared to leave.
But just as he turned, Song Zhiyao called out, “Wait.”
Lu Yanzhi paused. “Something else?”
“If it’s not urgent, tell Shenshen and Jianwei as well,” Song Zhiyao said.
Lu Yanzhi was momentarily stunned, then turned to enter the room.
“Jianshen, Jianwei, I have official business and must step out,” he said, quickly leaving.
Song Zhiyao then entered, looking at the two little ones. “Now it’s just me with you.”
Lu Jianshen pouted. “Who cares?”
Lu Jianwei, however, smiled brightly, clearly delighted.
For the next two days, Song Zhiyao did not leave the Zhimò Courtyard, except for visits to attend official matters.
As promised, she continued making small toys for Lu Jianwei—bunnies, puppies, and more.
But the little girl’s favorite remained the little sheep.
One day, as Song Zhiyao prepared to go to the Zhimò Courtyard, Suxin entered, her expression grim. “Young Madam, there’s trouble!”
Song Zhiyao immediately asked, “What happened?”
Suxin’s face was pale. “Outside… there are rumors about you and the Second Young Master.”
Song Zhiyao frowned. “What are people saying?”
Suxin lowered her head. “These past years, your attitude toward the Second Young Master has been… special. Valuable things have flowed to him like water.”
“And they say that although you married the First Young Master, your heart still belongs to the Second Young Master. So you’ve been scheming to prevent him from marrying and intend to divorce to marry him instead.”
“…And also…”
Suxin’s speech accelerated as she carefully watched her mistress’s reaction.
Song Zhiyao’s expression darkened. “And…?”
“They’re also saying the little Master and little Miss… aren’t the First Young Master’s children.”
“They’re implying… it’s you and the Second Young Master…” Suxin couldn’t finish, but Song Zhiyao understood perfectly.
Earlier, she had restrained her anger, but now it erupted. “This is outrageous!”
They could criticize her—but what about Lu Jianshen and Lu Jianwei?
Harming her children? Unacceptable.
“Investigate this immediately,” Song Zhiyao commanded. She paused, then asked, “When did these rumors start?”
Suxin hurriedly replied, “Just these past two days, but they’ve already spread throughout the capital.”
As the Lu family’s Young Madam, family scandals shouldn’t go public. In the past, no matter how reckless Song Zhiyao was, the household kept silent.
Song Zhiyao took a deep breath. “Start investigating with Lu Jinyu and Lin Guan’guan.”
In the past, “Song Zhiyao” had acted freely without gossip. Now, behaving properly, rumors spread like wildfire.
Coincidence? Impossible.
And recently, the only people she had offended were those two.
Just then, a maid from the main courtyard entered. “Young Madam, Madam requests your presence in the main hall.”