Lu Chao pushed the thought of beef from his mind and swallowed hard.
In these times, plow oxen were not to be slaughtered—the law decreed that commoners could not kill cattle without cause, and those who slaughtered plow oxen would receive fifty lashes.
Though the wealthy could raise cattle in their own estates for consumption, outside of sacrificial rites or special occasions, beef was rarely eaten.
"Second Brother, if things truly come to the dire state you described, what would you propose we do?"
Lu Yuanyi swayed with an exaggerated air, pacing like an official, his expression resolute as if he had made a momentous decision. He exhaled deeply and declared, "If it really comes to that, Eldest Brother has many connections and must go out to make arrangements. You’re bold yet meticulous, and quite skilled in managing affairs, so you should stay home to care for Mother. As for me, I’ll secretly follow Father and look after him. If any villain dares to bully him, I’ll draw my bow and shoot them!"
Lu Yuanyi had been practicing archery with a martial instructor lately and had made some progress—he could now draw a five-dou bow, though his aim was still shaky. With more practice, he was certain he could protect his family!
Lu Chao set aside his teasing demeanor and gave him a solemn thumbs-up.
Truly, this was the "thigh" he had latched onto—such foresight, such awareness, such courage! Flawless!
"Second Brother, you’re the best Second Brother in the world! You’re even more impressive than Su Xiaoxia!"
"Hahaha, I wouldn’t go that far."
Seeing his younger brother gaze at him with admiration, Lu Yuanyi puffed out his chest, savoring the sweetness of being an elder brother. But now wasn’t the time for idle chatter—he had plans to make.
"No time for this, Chao. Hurry to the front courtyard and gather more information. I’ll see how much silver I have left and give it all to Mother. There’ll be many expenses ahead, and I worry she won’t have enough."
"Alright, I’ll go scout things out. But you mustn’t breathe a word of this to anyone, or the household will be in chaos."
Lu Chao, still uneasy, pulled Lu Yuanyi aside and reiterated his warning.
"I know, don’t worry!"
With that, Lu Yuanyi dashed off in a hurry.
When Lu Chao arrived at the front courtyard, he saw Lady Lu holding her waist with one hand and a ledger in the other, speaking to Lu Yuanzhao, who nodded repeatedly as he listened.
Unsure of their conversation and whether he should intrude, Lu Chao stood obediently at the entrance, waiting for a servant to announce him.
Hearing the servant’s message, Lady Lu finally looked up and spotted Lu Chao standing ramrod straight with his back to the door.
"Chao, come inside quickly—it’s cold out."
At her call, Lu Chao entered. Before he could reach her, Lady Lu added, "You’ve arrived just in time. I was about to send for you and Yuanyi. Help your Eldest Brother however you can, or at least stay by his side and learn. It won’t do you any harm."
Lu Chao nodded, then leaned in and whispered, "Mother, I heard Father is preparing to return?"
"Your Second Brother told you that, didn’t he? That rascal thought he could eavesdrop unnoticed beneath the window. Just wait till I deal with him today."
Lu Chao: Another day of praying for Second Brother.
Remembering Lu Yuanyi’s determined expression, his steely heart softened slightly.
"Mother, maybe don’t punish Second Brother. He misunderstood the situation earlier—when he told me, his eyes were red, and he was frantic to fetch his savings to help you with expenses."
Lady Lu: ??? Expenses???
Lu Yuanzhao: How could my brother eavesdrop and still get it so wrong?!
"Explain properly. What exactly did that rascal tell you?"
Lu Chao rubbed his nose.
"He said Father is in trouble."
Lady Lu and Lu Yuanzhao: !?
"And that he’s being exiled to a wasteland, not even allowed to eat dumplings."
Lady Lu and Lu Yuanzhao: !!!!!
Is that what they said?! How could he interpret it like that?!
"That boy grows more reckless by the day. Where did he even learn to lurk under windows? And to misunderstand so badly?!"
Lady Lu angrily gulped down a mouthful of cold tea.
"Hmph. If he were a spy sent by the enemy, we might win wars without shedding a drop of blood."
Lu Chao glanced at Lu Yuanzhao. Who would’ve thought? Eldest Brother, usually so reserved, had such a sharp tongue.
"That scoundrel has no sense of propriety. As an elder brother, he’s not half as steady as Chao. What a headache."
Lu Chao guiltily rubbed his nose. His steadiness came from an old soul! At ten, he’d still been babbling nonsense.
"Mother, Eldest Brother, on the contrary, I think Second Brother is bold and generous, filial to his parents, respectful to his elders, and kind to his juniors. His youthful spirit and sincere heart outshine me by far."
Under Lady Lu and Lu Yuanzhao’s puzzled gazes, Lu Chao recounted the earlier events, even mimicking Lu Yuanyi’s mannerisms with vivid detail.
Lady Lu, a sentimental woman by nature, felt her anger melt into tears.
Her dear child had considered everyone—except himself.
Lu Yuanzhao sighed deeply and patted Lu Chao’s head.
"Eldest Brother is here. No matter what happens, I’ll protect both of you."
Lu Chao nodded. He believed it. Deep down, he felt the same—no matter what, he would shield the Lu family.
"Mother! Eldest Brother! Chao! I’m here!"
Lu Yuanyi burst in, taking in his mother’s reddened eyes, his eldest brother’s sorrowful expression, and Lu Chao’s subdued demeanor. Panic surged in him again.
"Mother! Don’t cry! I’ll give you all my savings—we’ll save Father! Justice will prevail! Like Su Xiaoxia, I’ll bring those villains to their knees!"
Lady Lu dabbed her tears with a handkerchief, eyeing her youngest son with a mix of exasperation and affection.
"Oh? Mother is a little worried."
Lu Chao’s heart sank. He frantically signaled Lu Yuanyi with his eyes.
"Mother! If Su Xiaoxia could rescue his father, so can we! Don’t worry, your son will bring Father home!"
Cough! Cough!!
Lu Chao fake-coughed loudly.
"Here, Chao, have some water."
Lu Yuanzhao gently handed him a teacup. Lu Chao accepted it with an awkward smile, sipping slowly.
"Su Xiaoxia’s father was in the same predicament as ours! Father must’ve been framed by villains! If we find evidence, we can save him! Wait—Mother, what exactly did Father do? What did the magistrate rule?"
Lu Chao retracted every word of praise he’d ever given Lu Yuanyi. This guy was a liability!
Seeing his mother and eldest brother’s increasingly stormy expressions, Lu Yuanyi finally caught on to Lu Chao’s coughing hints. He clamped his mouth shut and shot Lu Chao a pleading look.
"Who is Su Xiaoxia?"
At Lu Yuanzhao’s icy tone, Lu Yuanyi shivered and confessed meekly.
"He’s... the protagonist of a storybook..."
"Lu Yuanyi! With your father away, you’ve grown utterly brazen! Eavesdropping, hiding storybooks—what next? If the book told you to elope, would you do that too?! I—!"
Lady Lu’s tirade cut off abruptly.
The three sons looked up at her and saw Lady Lu, whose face had been flushed with anger moments ago, suddenly soften as she gently touched her slightly rounded belly.
"My lady! Has the baby moved?" Nanny Liu asked with delight.
"Eh? She can move inside there??" Lu Yuanyi exclaimed in amazement.
Lady Lu shot him a sidelong glance: "Of course she can!"
Time had flown by—it had been nearly five months now.
"I think your little sister heard me scolding you and is laughing at you in there."
Lu Yuanyi shamelessly leaned closer: "Mother, scold me some more—let's see if she moves again?"
Never before had she seen someone so eager to be scolded. Lady Lu gave Lu Yuanyi's head a frustrated tap.
"First, tell me why you were hiding under the window eavesdropping."
She knew her son understood the principles of not peeking or listening to what shouldn't be heard.
"Ten days ago, you seemed worried after receiving Father's letter but didn't tell us anything. Then yesterday another letter came, and I saw you and Eldest Brother looking uneasy. I was afraid something bad had happened to our family, so I eavesdropped."
"Mother, I'm sorry!"
Lu Yuanyi's earnest apology melted Lady Lu's anger.
"We're family. If you want to know something, just ask me next time—or ask your elder brother. I didn't mean to keep it from you..."
Before she could finish, commotion erupted from the front courtyard.
As she stood up, a man in a fur coat, his face covered in stubble, strode through the gate.
Lu Yuanzhao's face lit up at the sight of his travel-worn father. He was about to bow in greeting when his two foolish younger brothers suddenly flanked Lady Lu like bodyguards.
Then came Lu Yuanyi's booming challenge:
"Halt! Who goes there?! How dare you barge into the Lu Manor without announcement! Think you can take liberties just because my father's away?!"
Lord Lu: "..."
Lady Lu: "..."
Lu Yuanzhao: "..."
