Chapter 203: Miss Ma

The amount of items startled Chen Feng. These didn’t belong to teaching equipment or consumables, and little Yan couldn’t possibly use them all.

However generous the master was, there was no reason for so many items. She shook her head and refused, “Mr. Chu, I can’t possibly make use of so many things.”

She was unwilling to engage in any ambiguous relationships of superior and subordinate. In such situations, it was always the woman who ended up at a disadvantage.

She couldn’t afford Chu Lingxuan’s approaches, having learned a painful lesson in her past life.

Chu Lingxuan smiled, “I rarely get to be at home. In the future, most of Yanyan’s days will be spent here. And if my grandfather comes to Tangyuan, he will likely spend most of his time here as well. Most of these items will be useful to them, and the rest is a gift for Fengyuan. Miss Chen has helped me and my family a great deal. It’s a kind of help that can’t be bought with money. I have accepted it with gratitude. Why are you still being so polite?”

With that, he started to tour the courtyard on his own.

The courtyard was larger than Luyuan, and much more exquisite and magnificent, with intricately carved railings and painted columns. The main building had three rooms and two side rooms, while the east and west wing building each had three rooms with two side rooms, totaling four rooms.

In the front yard, there were two cassia trees and some bamboo, while in the upper corridor outside the main building, there were two gardenia trees. In front of the east and west wing rooms were two rows of narrow lawns and potted flowers. The central area of the courtyard was relatively spacious, intended for the children to play.

On the way to the backyard from the side room on the east, there were several white magnolia trees planted in the corner on the right. Perhaps due to being recently transplanted, the trees didn’t have many flowers. Behind the upper corridor of the main building on the left, two small banyan trees had been transplanted. The middle area was filled with many odd things, with no stone paving but soft sand. Among these things, Chu Lingxuan only recognized the seesaw and the swing. What was that tall structure that didn’t look like a building? There were also various iron pipes standing like clotheslines, as well as differently colored large wooden balls and small wooden ladders fixed in the ground… What were all these things for?

Dabao and Hanyan saw Chu Lingxuan gazing at these items in a daze and proudly ran over to the small building.

One after the other, they climbed onto the small building, and Dabao slid down from a smooth metal sheet. There was a grass mat underneath, so he landed safely without getting hurt or dirty. Moreover, the maids were watching below just in case.

Then, Hanyan slid down as well. She stood up and smiled at Chu Lingxuan, “Daddy, this is a slide, it’s so much fun, I’m not scared at all.” She had a look of seeking praise.

So that’s what it was for.

Chu Lingxuan smiled, “My girl is great, well done.”

Dabao asked, “Uncle Chu, what about me?”

Chu Lingxuan smiled, “You’re a brave young man, you don’t need praise for that.”

Upon hearing this, Dabao climbed back onto the slide, lay on his stomach, and slid down headfirst, then looked back at Chu Lingxuan.

Before Chu Lingxuan could say anything, Hanyan admired Dabao, saying, “Dabao, you’re so capable.”

Receiving this praise from Hanyan, Dabao smiled with a twinkle in his eyes.

Chu Lingxuan also gave a thumbs up, saying, “Well done.”

Next, Luo Ming Cheng slid down. Following right after, Zhui Feng climbed up and slid down, letting out two proud howls.

Then, Qiqi and Gray also flew to the top and slid down, lying down as they did so. After landing, they imitated Zhui Feng’s howls.

Dabao wanted to coax Wangcai, who was watching, onto the slide, but Wangcai refused and ran around the slide with Dabao in pursuit, much to the amusement of Hanyan and the others.

As Dabao couldn’t catch Wangcai, he gave up and took Hanyan and Luo Ming Cheng to play with other things. Qiqi and Gray were particularly good at the horizontal bar, their big paws seemed to stick to the iron bar as they ran back and forth.

Chen Feng said, “These things can enhance the children’s coordination, strengthen their physique, and provide plenty of fun. They will enjoy it. Mr. Chu, do you think it’s not dignified for Yan’er to play with them?”

Chen Feng was most afraid that the traditionalists wouldn’t accept these.

Chu Lingxuan smiled, “Of course not. Noble ladies can ride horses and play Cuju. Children playing with these won’t blemish decorum.”

Saying this, he left the children’s playground and walked towards the back, passing through some banana trees and bamboo to reach the rear pavilion. He then walked along the wall, and Chen Feng had to accompany him.

After touring around, Chu Lingxuan stopped and said, “Not bad. It’s small but unique, a paradise for the children.”

Just as he finished speaking, a burst of laughter from the children and the sound of a maid cautioning “be careful” could be heard.

Chu Lingxuan lowered his head and looked at Chen Feng, saying, “Wherever Miss Chen is, it’s not just a playground for children. My grandfather, mother, and I all find joy here.”

This praise was a bit much. Chen Feng, gazing into his deep, dark eyes, turned modestly and said, “Not at all…”

Chu Lingxuan continued, saying, “Miss Chen, you don’t know what Yanyan’s health and happiness mean to me and my family. We never dared to imagine she could have such days.”

He sighed and then gazed at the western horizon. The sun had already descended into the clouds, painting them a deep crimson.

He continued, “Miss Chen, I’m not hiding anything from you. My parents were childhood sweethearts and deeply in love. Even when my mother faced complications giving birth to my sister and couldn’t conceive again, my father never considered taking a concubine. But our family’s happiness was shattered by a woman when I was fourteen…

“I had been serving as a tutor to the Ninth Prince. After the incident, I left that position and went to find my third uncle at the border. However, three years later, when I was seventeen, I received a decree from the Empress Dowager, who gave me a bride and ordered me to return to the capital to marry… Miss Ma, she was a relative of Lady Ma, a concubine. I can’t even remember what she looked like now… I stayed in the capital for three days and then returned to the border. The next year, I heard that I had a daughter, but Miss Ma died due to complications during childbirth… Three years later, when I returned to the capital, I learned that my daughter was mentally challenged. My grandfather wanted to bring the child back to the Marquis’s residence several times, but that woman refused, saying she cherished her granddaughter despite her condition. My grandfather let go because the child was related to that woman. Originally, I didn’t care about Miss Ma or the child she bore. But one afternoon, my father suddenly sent a message, warning that if I didn’t take the child away, she might not survive. I went to the princess’s residence, and that woman happened to be away. I was taken directly to a secluded courtyard. When I first saw Yanyan, I wished I had seen her earlier…”

At this point, Chu Lingxuan’s body began to tremble, his eyes turning red. He raised his hand and snapped a branch off a nearby tree.

“Mr. Chu…” Feng called out softly.