Ever since Lu Yuanyi learned that his mother was pregnant, he had been grinning foolishly.
"Chaochao, do you think Mother is carrying a baby girl? If so, I’ll buy her so many pretty dresses!"
Lu Chao thought that if it were a younger sister, he would certainly dote on her too. Life was already hard enough for women in ancient times—how could he not protect her?
But it was still too early to speculate. The most important thing now was to take good care of Lady Lu.
"Whether Mother has a boy or a girl, our priority is to look after her and make sure she doesn’t overexert herself."
Lu Yuanyi nodded. "Of course."
Since Lady Lu was prone to drowsiness, the once-bustling Clear Heart Courtyard gradually quieted down. Minor household affairs were handed over to Aunt Zhou to manage.
Father Lu, for once, spent several days accompanying Lady Lu on walks. Knowing she had little appetite, he even had fresh fruits brought in for her. This made Lu Chao reconsider his opinion of his otherwise indifferent father.
When Lady Lu was four months along, after a banquet, Father Lu returned home with a young woman and took her as a concubine.
Lu Chao only learned of this when he overheard Nanny Yang gossiping about it.
He pressed for more details, but Nanny Yang merely shook her head. All she knew was that the concubine resided in the Quiet Repose Courtyard and was said to be quite beautiful—nothing beyond that.
When Lu Yuanyi heard Lu Chao’s questions, he also shook his head in confusion before dismissing it.
"She’s just a concubine. Father might gift her away after a while."
After a pause, he tugged at Lu Chao’s sleeve. "Chaochao, don’t go prying into Father’s harem affairs in the future. It’s really not appropriate."
Lu Chao was left speechless.
Worried that Lady Lu might be upset by the news, Lu Chao had dried peaches sent from the estate and brought them to the main courtyard.
Lady Lu was lounging on a recliner in the courtyard, basking in the sun while attendants massaged her legs and shoulders. She seemed entirely unbothered by the unpleasant matter.
"Mother, how are you feeling today?"
Lu Chao handed the dried peaches to a servant and bowed respectfully.
"Perfectly fine! What have you brought this time? You’re such a little worrier, fussing over everything like an old man. I’m doing just fine."
Lady Lu chuckled before instructing Nanny Liu, "Have someone bring out the mille-feuille pastries and brew a pot of fruit tea."
"The servants found some dried peaches. Since you’ve been craving sour flavors lately, I thought you might like to try them."
Unlike Lu Yuanyi, Lu Chao disliked overly sweet pastries. He preferred the slightly salty mille-feuille paired with tart-sweet fruit tea—enough to polish off half a plate.
Lady Lu took a bite of the dried peach and nodded approvingly.
"These are wonderfully tangy, and not too tough. Delicious!"
"I’m glad you like them. I’ll have more sent over when you finish. But I’ll leave these with Nanny Liu—no overindulging."
Lady Lu burst out laughing at his serious tone.
Seeing her in high spirits, Nanny Liu teased, "Rest assured, Third Young Master. This old servant will guard these peaches well."
The maids tittered in the background.
Unfazed, Lady Lu chatted cheerfully with Lu Chao.
"I heard you’re buying a shop in the west of the city? Are you short on funds?"
The west side was remote, with cheaper property prices. Shopkeeper Xu had advised against Lu Chao’s choice of a shop at the end of West Street, but Lu Chao, firm in his decision, ignored the advice. When the monthly accounts were reviewed, Shopkeeper Xu couldn’t help mentioning it to Lady Lu.
Lu Chao shook his head. "Mother, I have enough silver. I think that shop is a good opportunity—I want to give it a try."
In Lu Chao’s view, the west side wasn’t a bad location. Yingchuan City’s government offices were centrally located, likely because officials had claimed the surrounding land for convenience when the city was built. Wealthy families naturally clustered nearby, forming an unofficial divide from commoners, as the Yingchuan River looped around much of the area. The liveliest shops lined the riverbanks.
A disheartened scholar once wrote a drunken verse about the city: A river divides two worlds, each under the same sky.
The east and south districts were the busiest. The west, distant from both commoner and elite quarters, had little beyond a small tavern and a teahouse.
What Lu Chao didn’t mention was that he hadn’t just bought one shop—he’d purchased four or five adjacent ones. Su Yunzheng owned two nearby, Zhou Youcheng the ones across the street, and Xu Zhiren a few others. Lu Chao found their actions baffling, but these young masters had money to spare. They were likely just testing the waters.
"As long as you’ve thought it through. If you lose money, consider it a lesson. Just don’t neglect your studies. If you run short, I’ll provide more—don’t trade the big for the small."
Lady Lu didn’t press further. She knew Lu Chao had a knack for business, but in a society that prized scholars above merchants, she didn’t want him to regret his choices later. Even if the imperial exams weren’t his path, with his talents, he could still carve out his own future.
Lu Chao nodded obediently.
Lady Lu watched him lounge lazily on the rattan chair, quietly reading, and shook her head in amusement.
Yuanzhao and Yuanyi had been raised with strict discipline—they would never dream of reading outside the study, let alone slouching in a chair. Even the lively Yuanyi wouldn’t dare. But Lu Chao was different. Sometimes he’d munch on snacks while flipping through travelogues, infuriating Lord Lu enough to threaten a whipping.
The boy, however, was quick on his feet.
As he dodged, he’d argue back:
"Which law says you can’t eat while reading?!"
"The Lu family ancestors decreed it! Snacking while reading disrespects the books! It’s disgraceful!" Lord Lu bellowed, brandishing the whip.
"That makes no sense! I’m reading a travelogue—one I bought myself for 800 coins! It’s not some rare tome from the study! And I’m not even dirtying it! How does that warrant a beating?"
Lu Chao wasn’t about to stand still for punishment. He was nimble.
"You dare talk back?! Come here!"
When Lord Lu disciplined Yuanzhao or Yuanyi, they’d obediently present their palms for punishment. He’d never encountered a defiant child like Lu Chao and was left fuming.
"Show me the family rules! If this is written there, I’ll take my punishment! Otherwise, you’re just making excuses to hit me!"
Lord Lu couldn’t produce such a rule. The family code covered major principles—no household would specify reading postures.
As Lord Lu’s face darkened, Lu Chao had a sudden inspiration.
"Drinking beneath the moon, contemplating the sages’ wisdom—like an ancient sage, standing between heaven and earth."
These words had been penned by Lu Chao’s great-grandfather during his years of hardship, when he drank and read books in solitude.
