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After chatting with Madam Cao for a while, Wen Ruyu got straight to the point.
She skipped over the incident involving Zhao Dahan causing a scene and only mentioned that Lu Ke had gotten Fen’er pregnant.
Upon hearing this, Madam Cao’s expression darkened. “Why didn’t your third son come himself?”
Since he was the one who made the mistake, he should’ve been present.
If Lu Ke was really hiding just because he was afraid of being scolded or beaten, then perhaps she had chosen the wrong son-in-law.
But Wen Ruyu explained, “He made a mistake and was punished with a cane yesterday. This morning he said he caught a chill and seems to have a cold.”
“Is it serious?” A trace of concern appeared in Madam Cao’s eyes.
After all, this was her daughter’s fiancé. Though she didn’t care deeply about Lu Ke’s health personally, she still had to consider the future son-in-law.
“It’s nothing serious. Considering the wedding is approaching, we let him rest at home.”
Madam Cao nodded. Then she asked, “So what do you plan to do about the maid’s child?”
If her daughter were to marry into the family and immediately be faced with a concubine’s son, that was something her family could never accept.
“He already had her abort the child,” Wen Ruyu replied.
Upon hearing that, Madam Cao’s expression relaxed slightly, and her tone softened. “So, sister, what brings you here today?”
Wen Ruyu didn’t beat around the bush and said directly, “After all, the maid worked in my courtyard. After going through all that and nearly dying from the abortion… my intention is to let Ke’er take her in as a concubine in the future.”
Madam Cao nodded, feeling it was unavoidable.
Since Wen Ruyu, the future mother-in-law, had made the request herself, they had no reason to oppose this matter of taking a concubine. Still, Madam Cao wanted to secure the best interests for her daughter.
“That may be so, but my daughter Xiaoyin cannot marry into the family and immediately face a concubine. I don’t mind the girl entering the house eventually—Xiaoyin isn’t the jealous type. But if there’s to be a concubine, it must be at least two years later. Or, if Xiaoyin gets pregnant, then it can be allowed.”
Wen Ruyu did a quick calculation—two years wasn’t long. By then, Fen’er would only be eighteen, still in her prime.
So Wen Ruyu agreed to the condition on the spot.
After all, the marriage between the Lin and Lu families had been in preparation for a long time. The wedding date was approaching, and the Lu family had already spent a great deal of money. Invitations had already been sent out.
Backing out now would be anything but simple.
Not to mention that the Lin family’s daughter had a reputation to protect.
Calling off the wedding last minute over a woman who posed no real threat to the official wife’s position? That wouldn’t make sense in the eyes of society.
Even if the breakup was peaceful, rumors would spread, and people would say the Lin girl was overly jealous.
Although Wen Ruyu had already guessed this would be the outcome, she still chose to explain things in person.
It was selfish, in a way. She just wanted to clear her conscience.
Being a matriarch for so long, she had learned to protect herself with verbal disclaimers.
Of course, her frankness about Lu Ke taking a concubine still caused Madam Cao some anxiety.
“Could it be that, sister, you don’t want our Xiaoyin to marry into your family?”
Wen Ruyu was surprised by this question. “How could that be?”
“I’ve always liked Xiaoyin. She’s beautiful, well-mannered, talented… A girl like her is rare to find. Sometimes I even wish she were my own daughter. I care for her deeply—why wouldn’t I want her to join our family?”
She sighed from the heart. “It’s just that our third son has been truly infuriating.”
Madam Cao tried to comfort her. “He’s still unmarried. It’s normal for young men to be a bit wild. Not just noble families—even in our Qinghe County, most men from decent families have had some affairs before marriage. Men tend to settle down afterward.”
While her words defended Lu Ke, Madam Cao was also trying to convince herself.
Otherwise, she might regret marrying off her daughter.
Emotionally, she worried her daughter might not have chosen a good husband.
But rationally, she knew it would not be wise to support breaking off the engagement.
She had thoroughly investigated the Lu family. Though some of the children were undisciplined, the main wife was capable and kept order in the household.
The family’s wealth was also growing. Xiaoyin would not have to suffer financially.
The Lu family’s matriarch had a good temperament, so Xiaoyin wouldn’t face trouble with her sisters-in-law either.
After all, marriage wasn’t just about marrying a person—it was marrying into a family.
As long as the family was decent, her daughter wouldn’t suffer too much.
And as for love?
It didn’t matter. Time would wear it down anyway. If the couple could at least respect each other, that would already be a success.
With that, Madam Cao reached out and took Wen Ruyu’s hand resting on the table.
“Sister, by coming here and being honest, you’ve shown me your sincerity. If this were any other family, they’d keep it a secret, let the girl marry in, then bring in the concubine a few months later. What could the bride’s family say then? At most, call them heartless behind their backs.”
“But seeing your openness today, I’m willing to trust your character. And thus, I’m willing to let my daughter marry into your family. When marrying off a daughter, it’s the family that matters. Even if the younger generation makes mistakes, if the elders can keep them in line, they won’t stray far.”
Wen Ruyu had nothing more to say.
Since the marriage was a done deal, once the daughter-in-law entered the house, she would treat her well.
She gently patted Madam Cao’s hand and said, “Don’t worry, sister. Once the girl joins our family, I’ll treat her well.”
If Lu Ke dared not to treasure Lin Xiaoyin, she would break his legs.
After wrapping up the matter regarding Lu Ke, Wen Ruyu stayed for lunch at the Lin household and chatted casually with Madam Cao.
As expected, Madam Cao, being the county magistrate’s wife, had sharper insight than most women Wen Ruyu had encountered.
After a while, the two developed a good impression of each other. When it was time for Wen Ruyu to leave, Madam Cao sincerely tried to persuade her to stay for dinner.
But Wen Ruyu still had matters to attend to at home and had to decline.
After getting into the carriage, Qingxue helped Wen Ruyu up. As they moved away from the Lin house, a heavy sigh came from inside the carriage.
Qingxue couldn’t understand why the matron would sigh—wasn’t it a good thing that the Lin family neither canceled nor caused a fuss?
At the Lin household.
That evening during dinner, Madam Cao told her husband everything the Lu family matron had said.
She also mentioned their agreement that Lu Ke would only take the maid as a concubine two years later.
Magistrate Lin’s face remained calm. “It’s just a concubine—not a big deal.”
Sitting nearby, Lin Xiaoyin felt her budding feelings of love instantly wither.
Her familiar parents suddenly seemed to wear strange, indifferent faces—as if they couldn’t wait to push her out of the house…
Meanwhile, back at the Lu residence.
When Wen Ruyu returned home, she glanced around and noticed someone missing.
“Where’s Rong’er? I haven’t seen him all morning,” she asked Qiumai.
Qiumai replied, “He vomited after coming back from Fen’er’s place yesterday—probably couldn’t stand the smell of blood. He tried to tough it out, but ended up with a fever this morning. Qingxue told him to rest. We wanted to assign a maid to look after him, but he stubbornly refused. Said he’d be fine resting alone. He should be feeling better now.”
“Should I go check on him?” Qiumai asked, knowing Wen Ruyu saw Qin Rong differently from the regular maids.
“No need,” Wen Ruyu answered without hesitation.
That little rascal, Chu Ying, had a tough life—he wouldn’t die that easily.
But she still instructed, “If he’s still feverish tomorrow, call a doctor. Let him rest for now.”
“Understood,” Qiumai responded.
After helping Wen Ruyu change clothes, Qiumai had nothing urgent to do, so she went to check on Qin Rong.
Though technically all served Wen Ruyu, Qiumai saw her relationship with Qin Rong more as that of sisters or coworkers—not just master and servant.
Outside his room, she saw Qingxue carrying a basin of water.
Since Rong’er refused to be served, they just fetched him water and left it for him.
The two girls smiled at each other and quietly entered his room.
Before they reached the bed, they heard a raspy voice calling out, “Father… Mother…”
Startled, Qiumai tugged on Qingxue’s sleeve. “Wasn’t he mute? Why is he talking?”
Qingxue shook off her shock and said, “The matron once said he used to talk. Something happened—he was bullied, I think—and then he stopped speaking.”
“Oh, I see. So he might be cured now?”
“Not necessarily. He might still stay silent after waking.”
“His voice sounds like a man’s,” Qiumai said.
Qingxue laughed. “You sound like a man too when you’re sick with a fever.”
Qiumai nodded. “I’ve gotten so used to him being silent. Now that he’s talking, it feels weird.”
Qingxue set the basin down and whispered, “Honestly? Same. It feels off hearing him speak.”
“He said ‘Father, Mother’ just now?”
A hint of sympathy flickered in Qingxue’s eyes. “Probably dreaming about them.”
“I heard he’s an orphan,” Qiumai said.
“Yes, his parents died young. No siblings either. That’s why the matron treats him especially well.”