Knock, knock, knock.
The sound of rapping echoed at the door.
"Come in."
Several pairs of eyes turned toward the entrance, but it was Xu Wei's page boy who stepped inside.
Head bowed, he placed a platter of roast duck on the table and turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Lu Yuanzhao pushed the dish back toward him.
"Take it back. Tell your master that undeserved favors are unwelcome. If Young Master Xu has money to spare, he might consider giving it to the beggars on the streets."
Huang Li curtsied timidly and whispered, "Young Master Lu, if I return with this, my master will punish me. Please show mercy—accept it, and you may do as you wish afterward."
Lu Chao, already aware of Xu Wei's unsavory inclinations, studied the page boy with curiosity. The boy stood barely half a head taller than Lu Yuanyi, his voice still unbroken—clearly not yet an adult. What a beast, he thought.
Noticing the whip marks on Huang Li’s hands, Lu Yuanzhao hesitated. Accepting the dish rankled him, yet refusing felt like leaving a thorn in his throat.
"Young man," Lu Chao piped up, darting to the hallway, "we’ve already bought our roast duck. Please inform Young Master Xu that we can’t possibly finish this much—it’d be a shame to waste it. Look at all the people still waiting downstairs! My father always taught us, ‘Every grain of rice, every thread of cloth, comes from hard toil.’ Surely Master Xu would agree."
His voice carried loudly, drawing stares from both floors.
"Oh, the young master speaks wisely—such a scholar’s bearing!"
"Don’t order more than you can eat! Some of us can’t even afford a bite!"
"I’ll remember that saying—perfect for teaching my picky son!"
"Eh, if the nobles can’t finish, how ‘bout sparing us a taste? Too pricey for folks like us!"
Next door, Xu Wei smashed a teacup to the floor in fury.
"Useless!"
"Lu Yuanzhao, so you’d rather have a fight than a toast?"
The roast duck at Osmanthus Tower lived up to its fame—crisp skin giving way to tender, juicy meat.
The three brothers polished it off and took two more portions home: one for Lady Lu, the other shared between their two half-sisters.
The sisters had recently taken up knotwork, gifting their handmade trinkets to every brother in the household. Returning the kindness, the boys saw no reason not to share the novelty of the dish.
Unsure whether Lady Lu knew of Xu Wei’s advances at the academy, Lu Chao decided a preemptive report to his benefactress was wise.
"Chaochao, you’re saying Yuanzhao’s classmate has tendencies?!"
Lady Lu nearly choked. This was the "secret" he’d whispered about? Thank goodness she’d dismissed the servants.
"Did he harass your elder brother? Wait—how does an eight-year-old even know the term ‘longyang’?!"
She felt her sanity fraying. What child his age discussed such matters with a straight face?
"Aunt Su told me," Lu Chao explained. "She said many monsters out there enjoy hurting children—men and women alike. I mustn’t take food from strangers, wander off alone, or leave my attendants."
Sorry, Aunt Su. You’re the best shield I’ve got.
"Your aunt is a woman of remarkable insight," Lady Lu murmured, regretting her past failure to befriend Aunt Su.
"And your elder brother...?"
"He stumbled upon that vile scene and was sickened. The man didn’t dare approach him, but today at Osmanthus Tower, Xu Wei called me ‘adorable’ and tried sending us duck. Eldest Brother refused and warned me to avoid him! He’s definitely one of those child-tormenting monsters!"
"Ever since meeting Xu Wei, Eldest Brother’s lost his appetite—he barely touched the duck. No wonder he’s so thin at the academy!"
Lady Lu’s face paled, then flushed. The sight of Lu Chao’s rosy lips and porcelain skin sent a fresh wave of dread through her.
"My clever boy! I’ll speak with Yuanzhao tonight. I’ll say I heard it from another student—your secret’s safe with me." She ruffled his hair, then grew solemn.
"I’ll investigate this Xu Wei. You mustn’t leave the manor unattended, Chaochao. If you see him, flee. But don’t fear—Mother will protect you."
Lu Chao nodded. He wasn’t the wandering sort anyway.
