Marquise Dowager Xie was not persuaded by those around her. She felt very displeased, but having no other options, she could only let out a deep sigh.
After sighing, the Marquise Dowager remained silent for a moment before ordering, “Since the Heir is not dining here and I cannot finish all this food alone, have it sent to Yu’er in the second branch.”
Upon hearing this, Ruyue felt it was slightly inappropriate and subtly advised, “The Heir has just returned; would you like to send a few dishes to the Marquise’s courtyard?”
The Marquise Dowager waved her hand quickly, “The Eldest branch’s wife is not only the presiding Marquise but also a princess. The food from her small kitchen is only better than mine, not worse. Xuan’er does not lack these things; send them all to Yu’er. That child studies diligently, and the second branch’s wife is not as doting on her children as the eldest branch’s wife is; Yu’er has suffered quite a bit in his daily life.”
Although Ruyue did not agree with the Old Mistress’s words—after all, Young Master Yu’s physique did not look like someone who had suffered—she knew that once the Old Mistress had made a decision, it was not for servants like them to change. Since the Old Mistress ignored her subtle advice, she let it go. Ruyue then obediently went to make the arrangements.
After leaving the Deyuan Courtyard, Chu Yunxuan walked toward the main courtyard with cheerful steps. As he neared Lin Yanran’s courtyard, he heard his only younger brother shouting inside, “Mother, when will we eat? I’m hungry.”
Hearing his brother’s voice, Chu Yunxuan quickened his pace to the courtyard entrance. Looking from where he stood, he saw his brother, Chu Yunheng—who was reticent and laconic in his past-life memories—pacing around the table, looking as if he could drool at the sight of the food. In an angle hidden from his mother, Lin Yanran, Chu Yunheng even took a quick, sneaky bite. Rumei and the others who were setting the table saw it but let him be.
Just observing this atmosphere, Chu Yunxuan could feel how happy his brother was. He suddenly understood why his brother’s personality had changed drastically after their mother passed away in his previous life. Perhaps, in the mind of an adult, a mother is only a part of life, but to a young child like his brother, his mother is his entire world.
A thousand thoughts raced through Chu Yunxuan’s mind, but in reality, he had only paused for a brief moment. Before even entering, Chu Yunxuan spoke up, “Mother, my younger brother is eating with his hands.”
At his words, everyone in the courtyard looked toward Chu Yunxuan. Chu Yunheng ran over directly and hugged him, “Big Brother, you’re back?”
Chu Yunxuan disgustedly pushed away the hands Chu Yunheng had wrapped around him, “I saw you stealing food just now; you have oil on your hands.”
Five-year-old Chu Yunheng, while clinging to the Big Brother he hadn’t seen in a long time, defended himself, “I wiped my hands on my own clothes.”
The reasoning was strong; Chu Yunxuan could not reject his brother’s affection and was forced to change the subject, “Aren’t you studying at the clan school? Why are you back at noon?”
Chu Yunheng was embarrassed to say that the clan school’s food was getting worse while his mother’s food was getting better, so he preferred to come back to eat. “I came back to accompany Mother for lunch; otherwise, Mother wouldn’t enjoy her meal alone.”
Chu Yunheng’s little scheme was transparent to Chu Yunxuan, but he did not expose him, “If you don’t study well, just wait and see how I deal with you.”
Chu Yunheng immediately waved his hand, signaling it was nothing, “Don’t worry, when the time comes, I will earn a top scholar title for Big Brother and Mother.”
“Braggart!” Even Lin Yanran spoke up to tease the little brat.
Chu Yunheng did not fly into a rage from being exposed; instead, he smiled at his mother and Big Brother, “You’ll see when the time comes; even the master says I am a good sprout.”
Seeing Chu Yunheng’s confidence, Lin Yanran encouraged him, “Then study hard. As long as you pass the second grade of the imperial examination, Mother will reward you with that four-courtyard mansion nearby. That way, you can reach Big Brother’s house in a few steps in the future.”
Hearing his mother say this, Chu Yunxuan was deeply shaken. In his past life, his father had rewarded his mistress’s son with a house not far from this very street.
“Mother, have you already purchased that mansion?” Chu Yunxuan asked this not because he coveted the property, but because he wanted to resolve some doubts in his heart.
“It’s not that easy to buy a house in this vicinity. The one I have was part of my dowry from your maternal grandmother when I married. It is right on this street near the Marquis’s estate.”
Lin Yanran had indeed seen it while inventorying the original owner’s dowry a few days ago.
Chu Yunxuan: Sigh, another day of wanting to commit patricide.
Chu Yunxuan explained the value of the house to his brother, “Then you must study hard, younger brother. Houses in this area are priceless. If you miss this opportunity, you might have to wait until you are promoted to the third rank. For someone who can’t even pass the second grade, the chance of being promoted to the third rank is even lower than your chance of being reborn and passing the exam.”
Although Chu Yunheng was young, he wasn’t completely ignorant. He clenched his fists, indicating he would study hard in the future.
Looking at the table full of delicious food, Lin Yanran quickly called out to them, “Xuan’er, Heng’er, sit down quickly. Let’s eat, or Heng’er will be late for the clan school later.”
At the mention of eating, Chu Yunheng immediately became active and was the first to sit down obediently. Chu Yunxuan smiled and sat down beside his brother, Chu Yunheng.
Lin Yanran placed a helping of what she remembered the two brothers liked into each of their bowls, “You two, taste this.” After saying that, she also served herself some food she enjoyed.
Chu Yunheng had been eating with Lin Yanran for lunch and dinner recently, feeling perfectly at ease. He not only ate his own food but also served his Big Brother and mother. For a while, the three did not speak, only burying their heads in eating.
After they finished, Lin Yanran saw that Chu Yunxuan and Chu Yunheng did not intend to leave immediately. She took the initiative to bring up a topic, “This time, I have emptied your father’s private treasury. I don’t lack these things, so I have split them equally between you two brothers. Heng’er’s portion will stay with me for the time being. Xuan’er, would you like to try managing yours yourself?”
Previously, Lin Yanran had intended to manage it for the brothers until they were married. But now that she suspected her eldest son was reborn, she felt it was better to let him manage his own share. No matter what her eldest son intended to do, he would need money.
Upon hearing this news, Chu Yunxuan was shocked again. This had not happened in his past life. He wondered if his mother’s reaction to discovering his father keeping a mistress was so different because she had found out years earlier.
Chu Yunxuan maintained a skeptical attitude, and when he looked at Lin Yanran, his gaze was no longer so simple; it held a hint of scrutiny. He subtly guided the conversation toward things that happened when he and his brother were young—things that only happened when he was alone with the original owner.
Lin Yanran accompanied him, recalling the original owner’s memories. Chu Yunxuan then mentioned major events that only happened later in his past life. Seeing that Lin Yanran was unaware of them, he finally felt a true sense of relief.
Only after confirming that the person before him was indeed his mother did Chu Yunxuan happily indicate that he wanted to learn to manage his share.