Lu Chao and Lu Yuanyi had been playing with Lu Yuanzhao all morning, sharing amusing stories from their school to gradually bring a smile back to his face.
That day, Lady Lu unusually stepped into Father Lu’s study.
"Ankang mentioned he’s been keeping an eye on Yuanzhao’s daily routines, and there’s no issue there. But he doesn’t get along well with his classmates at the county school—always keeping to himself, growing quieter and thinner by the day."
Father Lu frowned.
"I inquired with a familiar teacher at the county school. Yuanzhao is in the top class, taught by Zhou Weilong, a provincial scholar from the 93rd year of the Dayuan era. The man is shrewd, well-regarded for his insights on current affairs, and never resorts to physical discipline. His reputation is decent."
Lady Lu fretted, "Should we pay him a visit?"
Father Lu waved his hand dismissively. "Unnecessary! A doting mother spoils the child. If he can’t handle such trivial matters, what future does he have?"
Lady Lu stood up anxiously.
"Master, Yuanzhao is barely eleven!"
"I know you’re worried, but neither his classmates nor his teachers have reported any harm done to him. How can we barge in demanding answers?"
Father Lu had once attended the county school himself. Most families who could afford schooling were respectable households, where outright bullying was rare—at most, some verbal taunts. Such minor squabbles were common unless they escalated to the teachers.
He suspected Yuanzhao’s introverted nature simply made adjusting to school life harder. Given time, things would settle.
"Enough. After dinner, I’ll talk to him. It’ll be fine."
Lady Lu had no choice but to suppress her unease and return to Clear Heart Courtyard.
"Where are the boys?"
Nanny Liu smiled as she helped Lady Lu remove her hairpins.
"The young masters are playing paper flower cards in Lingfeng Courtyard. They dismissed the servants—their laughter carries all the way to the courtyard gates. Even Ankang, who attends to the eldest, said it’s been ages since he heard the young master laugh so heartily."
Lady Lu relaxed slightly, remembering the soup simmering in the kitchen.
"Nanny, check if the ginseng chicken broth is ready. I’ll go see the children."
Just as Nanny Liu had described, Yuanyi’s boisterous voice greeted her the moment she entered Lingfeng Courtyard.
"Wow! Lu Chao, you tricked me! You kept a wild card!"
"Teehee! Serves you right for being gullible!"
"Eldest Brother! Hold him down—I’ll tickle him silly!"
Lady Lu couldn’t help but chuckle.
"You little rascals, what mischief are you up to now?"
Hearing his mother’s voice, Lu Yuanzhao sprang up like a fish leaping from water, hastily trying to peel off the paper strips stuck to his face—only for Lady Lu to catch him red-handed as she pushed the door open.
Pfft!
Lady Lu burst out laughing. It was the first time she’d seen her usually reserved eldest son so lively.
"Stay outside. No need to follow."
After dismissing her attendants, Lady Lu carried the soup inside.
"Mother~"
Lu Yuanzhao flushed, his tone unconsciously slipping into a whine.
"Don’t worry. Yuanyi and Chao have done this countless times—I’m used to it. And don’t fret, no one else saw!"
Lu Yuanzhao glanced back to find his younger brothers still wrestling on the bed.
"Hey! Why are you two fighting? Break it up!"
Like an exasperated nursemaid, he rushed to separate them.
Lady Lu, however, calmly took a seat and sipped her tea.
"Yuanzhao, leave them be. They brawl daily, then cuddle up to sleep together at night."
How is Yuanyi this heavy?! Lu Chao, pinned beneath him, rolled his eyes.
"Mother! Don’t spread lies! I’d never share a bed with him! Lu Yuanyi’s the one scared of ghosts, clinging to me!"
Lu Yuanyi stammered, "I-I only stay to keep you from nightmares! Ungrateful!"
"Oh, how generous of you!"
Lady Lu ignored their bickering.
"Chao, setting that aside—you rolled your eyes again. That’s 500 coins deducted!"
Lu Chao pouted, feigning heartbreak. When had his elegant, gentle mother learned such capitalist tactics?
How had Lady Lu discovered this habit?
Once, while Father Lu lamented his declining health, she’d urged Lu Chao to drink more soup—only to catch him mid-eye-roll. At first, she thought it a trick of the light. But upon closer observation, she realized: whenever Father Lu prattled on or voiced opinions Lu Chao disliked, her son would silently roll his eyes behind his back. It was equal parts amusing and exasperating.
Filial piety was paramount in their society. Fearing Lu Chao might slip up in public, Lady Lu had scolded and even punished him—but nothing worked. Then, remembering how his face lit up at profit-sharing, she hatched a plan.
Truthfully, as a budding tycoon, 500 coins meant little to Lu Chao. His dramatics were purely to amuse his mother.
The stricter the rules, the more flawless the facade must be.
He knew Lady Lu’s discipline came from love.
