Lu Jinyu froze for a moment, a chill running down his spine.
His elder brother’s gaze… it gave him an extremely bad feeling.
But before Lu Yanzhi could make a move, Lu Yan rushed toward Song Zhiyiao, shouting, “Bad traveler! Bad traveler! Don’t let Qihuwo be cold!”
Of course, Lu Yan couldn’t reach Song Zhiyiao’s battlefield.
With one hand, Lu Yanzhi lifted him by the back of his collar. Lu Yan flailed forward, his face flushed, but he could only move as dictated.
Frustrated, he tried to hit Lu Yanzhi—but being so small, his arms were too short to reach.
Lu Yanzhi didn’t strike him; he simply tossed him aside in front of the kneeling servants, who didn’t dare let the young master advance further.
Song Zhiyiao, on the other hand, showed no mercy and gave Lin Guan’guan a solid beating.
Lu Yanzhi remained hands-off, his cold gaze sweeping over Lu Jinyu. “Once you’ve recovered, we’ll have a proper sparring session.”
Lu Jinyu paled and shivered. That wasn’t a suggestion—he had no right to refuse or resist.
When Song Zhiyiao left Qingshan Courtyard, her steps were much lighter than before. The anger in her heart had finally been released.
Lu Yanzhi walked beside her, his eyes on her. “What did you say to Miwei?” he asked.
Song Zhiyiao’s brows lifted slightly. “That’s a secret between Miwei and me.”
Lu Yanzhi: “….”
He had noticed earlier, when Song Zhiyiao and Lu Jianwei came out, that she had been crying—her eyes red and watery like a rabbit’s.
He didn’t press further. A secret was a secret. Whether Song Zhiyiao’s change was genuine or feigned, as long as she didn’t harm Shenshen or Miwei, he could tolerate it.
Song Zhiyiao glanced at him, a hint of regret in her tone. “I thought you’d hit Lu Jinyu yourself.”
Lu Yanzhi said, “I won’t forget this.”
There was no need to beat him to death—he was lying in bed, immobile, and a proper beating could be meted out without worrying about killing him.
Song Zhiyiao smiled faintly. “Even if you forget, I’ll remember. I’ll remind you later.”
A parent’s duty is to teach. Lu Jinyu and Lin Guan’guan—neither of them would have an easy time.
After walking for a while, Song Zhiyiao said, “Lu Yanzhi, I can comfort Miwei, but Shenshen…”
Lu Yanzhi nodded. “I’ve already spoken with him.”
Song Zhiyiao nodded with satisfaction. “You have official duties, right? Go attend to them. I’ll stay at Zhi Mo Courtyard with Miwei.”
Lu Yanzhi acknowledged. “I’ll return later.”
Song Zhiyiao: ???
It wasn’t until she returned to Zhi Mo Courtyard that she realized Lu Yanzhi meant he would come back in the evening for dinner with them.
Meanwhile, at Qingshan Courtyard, Lu Jinyu was seething with anger but had nowhere to vent, forced to lie on the bed amid cries.
Lin Guan’guan and Lu Yan were both crying.
Song Zhiyiao had shown no mercy—Lin Guan’guan’s face was now swollen and puffy, her eyes barely open. She had gone from being pitiable and delicate to downright ridiculous. Even Lu Jinyu couldn’t help but look away.
He was irritated by the incessant crying. Turning to the servant, he asked, “Is it true that the second young master went to Zhi Mo Courtyard and struck first?”
The servant, wishing the ground would swallow him, lowered his head and stammered, “Yes… yes, second young master.”
Lu Jinyu: “….”
“Brother Jinyu,” Lin Guan’guan immediately interjected, “Yan’er is too young to understand any of this. He’s only a little boy. Even if he did hit Lu Jianwei, Lu Jianshen is his elder brother—how could he retaliate?”
“And how can Lu Jianwei compare to Yan’er? He’s a boy, while Lu Jianwei is just an insignificant girl—”
“Silence!” Lu Jinyu’s eyelids twitched as he cut her off sharply.
He had never imagined Lin Guan’guan could think such things, or even voice them.
Daughters are never worthless—they are always cherished.
Just like Song Zhiyiao. At her natal home, she had been the most pampered daughter.
Lin Guan’guan went pale at his scolding, looking at Lu Jinyu in disbelief as tears streamed down her face. “Brother Jinyu, you’re scolding me? Because of Lu Jianwei?”
Lu Jinyu said, “Never speak like that again. If Song Zhiyiao hears it…”
Lin Guan’guan shivered and fell silent.
She had once underestimated Song Zhiyiao, thinking her pure and naive due to her good upbringing. Today, she finally realized that Song Zhiyiao was far from simple.
Lu Jinyu thought of the beating yet to come, feeling annoyed, and impatiently ordered the servants, “Watch the young master carefully. Never let him go to Zhi Mo Courtyard again.”
…
Back at Zhi Mo Courtyard, Song Zhiyiao hurried to Lu Jianwei’s room. Once the chill left her, she sat by the bed.
She fetched her sewing materials and began making little sheep for Lu Jianwei again.
She wasn’t joking—she would make many more for Lu Jianwei.
Lu Jianshen hadn’t left either; he was in the inner room reading, occasionally sneaking glances at Song Zhiyiao. Each time, he was caught and met with her bright smile.
At first, he was surprised, then annoyed, thinking, What’s so funny?
But… he couldn’t help watching her.
He had some memory of a gentle voice reading to him while he was unconscious in the frozen lake. It sounded like the mother he imagined—a heavenly fairy, perhaps.
But after these past days of hearing her tell stories to Miwei, he knew it wasn’t a fairy. It was the “bad woman.”
He didn’t think she had changed, so he watched her closely, making sure she didn’t take advantage of his absence to harm his sister.
Miwei didn’t sleep early that night. Upon waking, her first action was to search the room with wide eyes. Seeing Song Zhiyiao immediately put her at ease.
Lu Jianshen witnessed this, feeling a pang of jealousy. He couldn’t understand why his sister now turned to the “bad woman” first.
“Miwei,” Song Zhiyiao said, placing a brand-new little sheep into her arms. “Look, it’s a little sheep.”
Miwei blinked, then hugged it tightly, a huge smile spreading across her face.
Song Zhiyiao lifted her, dressing her properly. “Are you hungry, Miwei? I’ve stewed some chicken soup—want a taste first?”
Miwei obediently nodded.
The three of them sat down. Miwei scooped the soup with a spoon, but didn’t drink herself; she first offered it to Lu Jianshen.
Lu Jianshen, who had still harbored some jealousy, immediately relaxed. “Drink, sister, I’ve already had some,” he said, patting his round belly to show he was full.
Miwei hesitated a moment, then offered the spoon to Song Zhiyiao, her big eyes shyly hopeful.
Song Zhiyiao was overjoyed. Miwei had fully accepted her now. She leaned closer to touch Miwei’s spoon gently. “Delicious! Thank you, Miwei.”
“Go ahead, Miwei, drink up,” she added.
Song Zhiyiao asked again, “Do you want mommy to feed you?”
Miwei hesitated, then nodded.
Song Zhiyiao happily took the bowl, blew on the soup, and fed it to her. Miwei sipped quietly, obediently, showing herself to be an exceptionally well-behaved little girl.
While the mother and children enjoyed this moment, the servants had already reported it to Madam Lu at the main residence.
After Miwei emerged from the cabinet, Madam Lu returned to the main house. As the matriarch, she had many matters to attend to.
Upon hearing the report, a faint smile appeared on her lips. “It should have been like this from the start.”
This was the Song Zhiyiao she knew.
The elder housekeeper added, “Later, the eldest young master will return to have dinner with the young mistress and the children together.”
Madam Lu nodded.
The elder housekeeper also mentioned Song Zhiyiao and Lu Yanzhi’s trip to Qingshan Courtyard, and how Song Zhiyiao had given Lin Guan’guan a thorough beating.
Upon hearing “Qingshan Courtyard,” Madam Lu’s expression immediately darkened. Previously, she hadn’t cared much, but now the mere mention of it irritated her.
“Fire all the servants who followed Lu Yan to Zhi Mo Courtyard today,” Madam Lu ordered.
The children at Zhi Mo Courtyard were sleeping and weren’t used to having people in the room. Yet the servants with Lu Yan had failed to stop him from striking Miwei. Such people no longer deserved to stay in the Lu household.
Though all were Lu children, only Lu Jianshen and Lu Jianwei were her true grandchildren. Madam Lu naturally favored them.
Moreover, these two children were entirely innocent in the matter.
The elder housekeeper continued, mentioning Lin Guan’guan’s remark that Lu Jianshen should always yield to Yan’er because girls were worthless.
Previously, Madam Lu hadn’t paid attention to Qingshan Courtyard. Today, however, she had inquired carefully.
She sneered coldly. “What nonsense is she spouting!”
“All our Lu girls are priceless treasures,” Madam Lu said firmly. “With such a background, such audacity, such absurdity… she must not be allowed to influence Lu Yan anymore.”
Lu Yan was already showing signs of becoming a little tyrant.
Though Madam Lu was disappointed in Lu Jinyu, he was still her own child, and as a Lu, he represented the family outside. She intended to correct him.
“Tell Lu Jinyu that he’s grown now. Choose a date to move him out of Qingshan Courtyard and into the outer residence to live independently.”
The elder housekeeper hesitated. “Madam, I fear that Miss Lin may not agree.”
Madam Lu paused. “Lu Jinyu should understand the reasoning. Besides, this is a matter of the Lu family—it’s not her place to interfere.”