“You!”
Old Madam Lu was so furious her chest ached.
“Are you blaming our Lu Family for making you a widow? For not letting you remarry? But if you hadn’t been the death of my son—”
Yun Wan interrupted her: “Mother, it was clearly you who brought about my husband’s death!”
“What did you say?!” Old Madam Lu stared at her in disbelief.
Tears welled in Yun Wan’s eyes, her face full of sorrow: “If you hadn’t neglected your health while pregnant with my husband, how could he have been born weak and sickly?”
“If not for that, how could my husband have died so young from illness? Leaving me widowed so early? When you think about it, my husband’s untimely death was all your fault…”
Mentioning this painful memory, Yun Wan was overcome with grief, her voice choked with tears as she looked at the old madam with accusing eyes:
“Mother, it was you who caused my husband’s death, who tore us apart, leaving us orphan and widow alone in this world…”
“Mother, if possible, this daughter-in-law begs you to return my husband to me—”
As she spoke, she pressed a hand to her chest, her face turning pale as if in unbearable pain.
A maid hurried forward to support her: “Are you alright, Third Madam?”
A Sui cried out in panic: “Mother!”
The properly seated old madam was greatly startled by Yun Wan’s outburst. “You, you, you! Preposterous!”
She hadn’t even done anything yet!
A Sui turned with tear-filled eyes: “Grandmother, Mother isn’t well. Could you please stop scolding her? If you must scold someone, scold your grandson instead?”
Seeing him, Old Madam Lu’s stern expression immediately softened, as if she had put on a different face entirely.
She beckoned to A Sui, her tone gentle: “Grandmother’s good grandson, come here quickly.”
A Sui stepped forward and bowed with clasped hands, polite like a little adult: “Your grandson pays respects to Grandmother, wishing you happiness, longevity, and good health.”
Old Madam Lu rose from her couch and personally drew him close, her attitude completely different: “Good child, rise quickly. How could this be your fault? Grandmother was just a bit impatient earlier and wrongly blamed your mother.”
She shot a sidelong glare at Yun Wan, lightly dismissing the matter with a few words, thus ending the previous topic.
Knowing when to stop, Yun Wan pressed her chest and took a moment to calm her breathing before speaking softly: “Mother, I came today for another matter regarding A Sui’s schooling.”
“A Sui is already four years old, which counts as five by traditional reckoning. Ordinary children begin their Initiation of Wisdom at three in school, Reciting Classics and Composing Poetry, yet A Sui hasn’t even set foot in a school.”
Thinking of the reason, Yun Wan’s eyes darkened slightly.
Originally, last year when A Sui was three, Yun Wan had planned to select a good school near their home for his Initiation of Wisdom.
Unfortunately, it coincided with Old Madam Lu catching a cold, her old ailments flaring up. She became temperamental, refusing daily medicine and disliking everyone. No one could persuade her—except A Sui.
Among her several grandchildren, Old Madam Lu doted most on A Sui, precisely because he was the only bloodline left by Yun Wan’s husband, Third Master Lu—the old madam’s frail, prematurely deceased youngest son.
During her illness, the old madam demanded to see A Sui every day and would only take medicine if he personally fed her, claiming she missed her youngest son too much and that seeing A Sui was like seeing him.
Naturally, no one could object, so A Sui’s schooling was delayed.
A year had passed, and the old madam had long recovered from her illness. There was no longer any reason for such confusion.
Yun Wan wiped the tears at the corner of her eyes and continued, “If we delay any further, I fear it will hinder A Sui’s future studies. That is why I’ve come today to discuss selecting a school for him.”
Though she called it a discussion, Yun Wan was determined that her son would begin his studies this year without falling behind other children.
It was already the third month of spring, and soon all the schools in the capital would hold their Entrance Ceremonies, after which they would no longer accept new students. Therefore, A Sui’s enrollment could not be delayed any longer.
Yun Wan’s attitude was resolute.
Old Madam Lu frowned, her lips pressed into a stern line.
She said gruffly, “A Sui is only four years old. What’s the hurry? Many children don’t start school until they’re five, and commoners’ children often begin at seven or eight. As a mother, how can you bear to make your child suffer?”
She was deeply dissatisfied with Yun Wan’s stance.
Bear to make him suffer?
Of course she couldn’t bear it, but compared to the old madam’s insistence on keeping the child by her side to mourn her youngest son while excessively indulging him, Yun Wan preferred to send him to school.
At least there, A Sui could make friends, learn to read and write, and broaden his horizons, rather than being confined to the inner quarters.
Instead of responding to her accusation, Yun Wan countered, “I know how much you care for A Sui, Mother, but he has always loved studying. Why not ask the child for his opinion?”
Since her mother-in-law disliked her, no matter how eloquently Yun Wan spoke, the old madam would always view it with suspicion. Rather than wasting breath trying to persuade her herself, it was more important to let her understand A Sui’s own wishes.
Fortunately, Old Madam Lu wasn’t truly senile. After hesitating with a dark expression for a moment, she looked down and asked A Sui, “Does Sui’er want to go to school to study?”
Out of sight, Yun Wan winked at her son in encouragement.
Remembering his mother’s instructions, A Sui climbed down from the couch and stood properly, nodding seriously.
With his childish, round face set in a solemn expression, he declared earnestly, “Grandmother, your grandson wishes to go to school to gain knowledge, make friends, and be like Elder Brother Changze.”
Changze was A Sui’s cousin, Lu Changze, the illegitimate son of the Lu Family’s eldest branch, who was five years older than A Sui and currently served as the Third Prince’s Study Companion at Hongwen Academy.
Recalling his mother’s instructions from the previous night, A Sui’s mind raced. His clear, bright eyes glistened as he gazed at the old madam:
“Didn’t Grandmother say that Father loved studying from a young age, was exceptionally talented, and was often praised by his teachers? Unfortunately, due to his frail health, he couldn’t take the imperial examinations and serve the court, leaving a lifelong regret?”
At this point, a look of sorrow appeared on A Sui’s small face, his tender voice slightly choked, tugging at the heartstrings.
The old madam was struck by realization, her expression nostalgic.
Then she saw A Sui press his lips together, his expression resolute as he declared:
“Grandmother, your grandson also wishes to be like Father—to read and write, learn the way of gentlemen, understand the principles of human conduct, and study strategies for governing the world. I want to excel in my studies, earn my teachers’ praise, pass the imperial examinations in the future, serve the court, and bring honor to our family!”
His expression was firm, his words ringing with conviction. From his small frame emanated tremendous determination, and his eyes shone with longing as he looked at the old madam: “Grandmother, though I never had the chance to meet Father in this life, I wish to carry on his legacy…”
Old Madam Lu was deeply moved, her eyes moistening. She quickly drew A Sui into her embrace, her face full of gratification: “Good, good, good! Truly a descendant of our Lu Family, your father’s child—so promising! Just like your father!”
“With a child like you, your father’s spirit in heaven must surely rest in peace.”
Having said this, she wiped the corner of her eye, composed herself, and said to Yun Wan, “Since it is the child’s wish, how could I, as an elder, stand in the way?”
A flicker of mockery passed through Yun Wan’s eyes—you certainly weren’t saying that earlier.
Old Madam Lu glanced at her sideways, raising the corner of her eye. “However, A Sui’s father is no longer here. Though you are his mother, you are but a woman of the inner household and a widow at that, making it inconvenient for you to appear in public. Therefore, I must discuss this with the Duke.”
“He is A Sui’s uncle, a high-ranking court official, thoughtful and thorough. It is most appropriate for him to select A Sui’s school.”
Most importantly, she recalled that not long ago, her eldest son had mentioned that the Third Prince still lacked a Study Companion.
Such a fine opportunity—she had no intention of letting it fall to someone else.
Yun Wan’s eyelid twitched, but this outcome was already better than she had anticipated. She nodded and said, “Mother speaks wisely. We shall trouble you and the Duke with the arrangements for A Sui’s schooling.”
With most of her worries resolved, she stayed another quarter of an hour until the old madam began to grow drowsy. Then, Yun Wan took A Sui and left Cixin Hall.
Passing through the covered corridor, she caught sight of a figure in dark clothing approaching from afar.
Yun Wan lowered her gaze, took A Sui’s hand, and turned onto another path.
As they walked, A Sui suddenly asked:
“Mother, do I look like Father?”