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Wen Ruyu didn’t immediately agree. Instead, she first asked Lu Bainian, “When did you come up with this idea?”
Her son replied, “I’ve never had great ambitions. I’m no good at studying, worse at farming than real farmers, and I don’t have a knack for business. Besides, I don’t like the family business, so I’ve never put my heart into it. Lately, I’ve been thinking—why not put this brute strength of mine to use for the country?”
Wen Ruyu nodded. “So you’re thinking of joining the army, hoping maybe you have a bit of talent for military matters?”
“I just want to serve my country,” Lu Bainian said. “Talent or not doesn’t matter. I couldn’t make it in academics, but I do have some strength. I’ll do what I can.”
“That’s a good thought.” Wen Ruyu took the tea personally handed to her by Lu Mingzhu and continued, “But if you leave, the maids in your courtyard will need arrangements.”
Lu Bainian respectfully said, “Please help me find them good households, Mother. I’ll provide forty taels of silver—twenty for each maid—as their dowries. The rest I’ll use to buy supplies for joining the army.”
Wen Ruyu smiled, thinking her son really had planned it all out.
“The nation is at war. If you’re deployed to the Xiongnu border, you’ll likely suffer a lot. There’s even the possibility you might never return. And with the current unrest in the court and country… who knows—after a few months of war, there might not even be a court left.”
She glanced at Chu Ying, who was standing beside her, but didn’t finish the thought.
Lu Mingzhu had never imagined her second brother had such aspirations and now sat beside Wen Ruyu, watching him with worry.
“I understand,” Lu Bainian lowered his gaze and clenched his fist. “But I’ve made up my mind.”
Luckily, the Lu family had many sons. Even if he never returned, his mother wouldn’t be without care.
Lu Mingzhu, worried, tried to dissuade him: “Second Brother, Sister-in-law is pregnant, and Third Sister-in-law is busy managing the household. Big Brother and Third Brother are away. Fourth Brother isn’t yet of age. If you leave, what will we do?”
Wen Ruyu saw Lu Bainian frown, clearly conflicted, and sighed. “Alright, since your mind is made up, I won’t stop you.”
Hearing his mother agree, Lu Bainian finally relaxed his clenched hands. He looked up at her with bright, earnest eyes and said, “Mother.”
Wen Ruyu avoided sentimentality and simply said, “You’ve always been uncertain in nature. Now that you finally have a goal, I won’t dampen your spirit. But since you’re joining the army, you must plan well. ‘Before departure, every stitch from mother shows her fear of a delayed return.’ Of course I’m worried, but try not to make me worry too much. Take good care of yourself.”
Before Wen Ruyu transmigrated into this body, Lu Bainian had already had a good relationship with the original mother. But he was a playboy then and never truly considered her feelings.
Now that he’d matured, he could finally understand others.
Wen Ruyu’s words moved him so much that his eyes turned red. He stood up, knelt heavily before her, and kowtowed three times.
Wen Ruyu didn’t stop him. She felt she was worthy of receiving such respect—it wouldn’t shorten her life.
Chu Ying, who had been watching, quietly stepped out and stood in the courtyard, looking at a bird building a nest on a tree branch.
After a while, he drifted into a daze staring at the sky.
Just then, Fen’er and Fang’er came back with fresh flowers, planning to replace the ones in Wen Ruyu’s room. They saw Chu Ying daydreaming.
Fang’er teased, “Rong’er, watching the birds again?”
Fen’er chuckled, “Maybe someone’s sending you a message by pigeon—go catch a bird and see if it has a letter on its leg!”
Chu Ying looked up. Fen’er had unknowingly hit the mark, so his attention sharpened slightly.
Seeing they were just teasing, he ignored them.
They lost interest and went into the room laughing.
Inside, Wen Ruyu was still discussing Lu Bonian’s preparations. “You might miss something if you handle it alone. Better have Xiaoyin draft a list and purchase everything together.”
Lu Bonian agreed it was a good idea.
Wen Ruyu then called for Qingxue. “Go tell Third Madam that Second Master is going to join the army. Ask her to help buy a horse, saddle, and other equipment.”
Qingxue was still stunned from hearing the news and responded with wide eyes.
She immediately went to Lin Xiaoyin’s courtyard.
Lin Xiaoyin was equally shocked to hear about Lu Bainian’s plans. “Second Master is joining the army?”
Finally, someone reacted like a normal person. Qingxue thought the old madam had taken it too calmly.
“It’s true. He said it himself just now. These are Old Madam’s instructions.”
“She’s really letting him go? She must care deeply.”
Lin Xiaoyin thought, If it were me, I’d never let my child suffer like that. Especially now, going to war could easily mean death.
Then again, she had heard about Lu Bonian’s eccentricity before marrying in, though she’d rarely interacted with him since.
Someone like him wouldn’t walk the conventional path—this wasn’t surprising.
“When is he leaving?”
Qingxue tried to recall. “Probably in the next month or two. At the latest, after Eldest and Third Masters finish their exams around March or April. If soon, maybe even within a few days.”
Lin Xiaoyin nodded. “Alright. I’ll get things ready.”
After Qingxue left, a young maid came in and said, “Madam, your mother is here.”
That meant only her maternal family—the Lin household.
Hearing this, Lin Xiaoyin’s eyes lit up. “Mother’s here? Please, invite her in quickly!”
She immediately asked the maid, “Did she stop by to see Old Madam first?”
“No,” the maid said. “Old Madam said she needed to discuss Second Master’s enlistment and asked you to receive the guest instead.”
Wen Ruyu clearly knew why Madam Cao had come—just to see her daughter. They hadn’t seen each other in a month or two, so she let them talk privately.
When Madam Cao entered, she immediately looked at her daughter’s complexion. Seeing she looked well and her hands were warm, she finally smiled.
Before anything else, she asked the question weighing on her mind: “Did the doctor say whether the miscarriage will affect your chances of getting pregnant again?”
Lin Xiaoyin had miscarried at her parents’ home. The doctor at the time wasn’t very skilled and gave an uncertain answer.
Madam Cao had been deeply worried.
But Lin Xiaoyin calmly led her to sit and said, “The doctor said I’ll be fine. I’ve been recovering for a month and I’m much better now.”
Madam Cao finally relaxed. “That’s how pregnancy is. Your grandmother also miscarried once before having me. The first three months are the riskiest. You must be careful from now on—no more cold or raw food.”
Lin Xiaoyin replied, “My mother-in-law said there’s no rush.”
Madam Cao scoffed, “Of course she’s not in a hurry—it’s not her own son, and there’s already a concubine. If you don’t bear a child, someone else will. She doesn’t have to worry.”
“She’s been kind. See, she didn’t stop you from visiting me today. She knows I miss you.”
Madam Cao frowned, “She’s not avoiding me because of the miscarriage happening at our home, is she?”
“No, she’s not that petty,” Lin Xiaoyin said, surprised.
Madam Cao looked her daughter over again. Clearly, the Lu family had taken good care of her—she was well-nourished and recovering fast.
Still, she sighed. “I feel guilty. Everything was fine, but you lost the child while visiting home. The in-laws haven’t said anything, but…”
She grew misty-eyed at the thought of her unborn grandchild.
Lin Xiaoyin’s expression dimmed. “No one wanted this. That child just wasn’t fated to stay with me.”
She continued, “My mother-in-law didn’t meet you for a reason. This morning, Second Master announced he’s joining the army. The family doesn’t need him to work or eat, but he insists on going.
With my husband and Eldest Brother away, and now Second Master wants to leave too, she just asked me to help prepare supplies for his journey. She must be overwhelmed. So please, don’t take it personally.”
Madam Cao was comforted and, with curiosity, asked, “She’s really letting him go?”
“What choice does she have?” Lin Xiaoyin replied. “Lock him up?”
“First it was chasing a woman to the countryside, now it’s joining the army. If they refused, who knows what he’d do next—maybe run off in the night. Better to agree and at least know where he is.”