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Arriving at the side gate of the General’s mansion, the lanterns were lit. Wang Cheng noticed Chen Lu’s reluctant gaze and said, “Next time you have a break, come back to your uncle’s house to play.”
Chen Lu nodded with a smile and waved goodbye.
Sanquan knocked on the side gate, Chen Lu entered, and the donkey cart gradually disappeared into the twilight.
The gatekeeper who opened the side gate was the same one from the morning. Upon seeing Chen Lu, he smiled and said, “It’s Young Master. I’ve been here waiting to open the gate for you. Did you have a good time?”
Chen Lu nodded and smilingly handed the gatekeeper a small silver coin from his purse. The gatekeeper thanked him graciously. Seeing Sanquan’s eyes widen, Lu also gave him a silver coin. Sanquan, beaming, thanked him in return.
After escorting Chen Lu to the gate of Gui Courtyard, Sanquan bid farewell and headed back home. Chen Lu walked along the covered corridor to his teacher’s room, delivering the snacks he had bought for him before returning to his own quarters.
In addition to the snacks for his teacher, Chen Lu had also bought wooden chicken figurines for Dabao, Hanyan, and Li Xuan.
Inside, Lanhua anxiously waited for Chen Lu’s return. Seeing him back, she felt relieved. Noticing Lu’s dirty clothes, she quickly helped him clean up and removed his robe. She exclaimed, “Oh no, there’s a small hole in this robe. It’s the first time you’ve worn it!”
Chen Lu, feeling upset, realized it was one of his best garments. He explained, “It must have happened while I was on the donkey cart.”
Lanhua, annoyed, said, “Didn’t they arrange a carriage for you? Why did you end up on a donkey cart? I’ll go and inform Madam. These power-hungry individuals are too much.”
Chen Lu quickly stopped her and said, “Don’t bother my sister. She’s pregnant, managing the household, and already under a lot of stress. I don’t want to cause her any trouble. Besides, I’m not the legitimate master here. Can the servants respect me like they would a legitimate master?” Seeing Lanhua’s raised eyebrows, he added with a smile, “I know, Lanhua, you’ve always treated me like a legitimate master.”
Lanhua chuckled, “I’ll give you credit for that.” She added, “Madam sent word that if Young Master returns, I should inform her to ease her worries.”
Chen Lu said, “It’s still early, I’ll go to my sister and then deliver these small items to Dabao and the others.”
Changing into a slightly new robe, Lu, accompanied by Lanhua, headed to the main courtyard.
In the main courtyard, Dabao, Hanyan, Li Xuan, and the Pets were playing in the hall. Chu Lingxuan had already left for the military camp outside the city, likely for some urgent matter, planning to stay there overnight.
Upon seeing his uncle, Dabao eagerly approached and said, “Uncle, I’ve informed Fu Uncle, Liu’s brothers, and Qin’s brothers that if they post invitations again, they must include your name.”
Hanyan also chimed in, “Yes, that’s right! I told them that too, and they agreed.”
Chen Lu smiled as he presented the small gifts to them. He updated Chen Feng on his visit to Uncle Chen Shi’s house and mentioned that he planned to visit his uncle’s house during his next break.
Chen Feng, assuming Chen Lu was shy and not keen on mingling with unfamiliar noble children, imparted some advice on etiquette and behavior.
After seeing off the children, Chen Feng freshened up and went to bed. Once she dismissed the maidservant, she entered the secluded space, bringing a chair along.
With Chu Lingxuan absent for the day, she decided to rest in the secluded space. After days of physical and mental exertion, she felt quite tired.
Seated on the chair, she found solace despite the absence of the Golden Swallow.
Suddenly, she heard some movement in the trees. Could it be the Golden Swallow returning? How did she not know?
She stood up and looked towards the tree, where a two-story octagonal tower with a water-drop-shaped ruby at its peak, adorned with several cat’s eye gemstones on the eaves, seemed to move slightly.
“Baby, you’re back? Baby…” Chen Feng called out, but no one responded, and the house remained still. After a while, the house moved slightly.
Looking up, she recalled that Golden Swallow had placed the golden amber, Jinbei in this house. Her heart raced with excitement—had the golden amber changed?
Overjoyed, she couldn’t contain herself and dragged a chair next to the tree trunk, climbing up to reach the small golden house nestled on the lowest branch. With a dual layer, the house had some weight, making it challenging for Chen Feng to lift. Instead, she reached into the tiny door and carefully retrieved the golden amber.
Seated, she examined the golden amber closely. Its color had deepened, and the pointed beak seemed longer.
Amazed by the changes, Chen Feng placed her hand on her belly. Suddenly, as if in a miracle, the wings on either side of the golden amber seemed to twitch, attempting to unfold from its body.
Doubting her eyes, she looked at the golden amber again, but it remained motionless. Disappointed, she lowered her hand, only for the wings to twitch once more.
Observing her round belly, she wondered if the golden amber was drawn to the unborn child within. Placing the golden shell directly on her belly, both the wings of the golden amber and the movements of her child became more pronounced.
Excited by the discovery, she kept the golden amber on her belly until fatigue set in, after which she returned from the secluded space to rest.
The next morning, Chen Feng dealt with household matters in the council hall before returning to the main courtyard. There, Mama Luo, Mama Song, and Mama Wei were watching Hanyan, Li Xuan, and the Pets play in the corridor.
Typically, Mama Luo wouldn’t be in the main courtyard if Dabao wasn’t there, as she would be sewing in her courtyard.
Hanyan and Li Xuan affectionately embraced Chen Feng’s belly before she entered the house, with Mama Luo following.
Mama Luo seemed hesitant to speak.
Chen Feng teased, “Mama Luo is usually straightforward, why the hesitation now?”
Mama Luo chuckled and said, “Well, Madam, please don’t be upset.” Speaking in a lower voice, she continued, “Yesterday, my brother-in-law saw Young Master on the street. He didn’t take the estate’s carriage but hired a donkey cart to visit the Third Master’s house…”
Yesterday, Mama Luo witnessed Chen Lu paying for a donkey cart himself and inquired with her brother-in-law, Luo Fang, upon returning home. Luo Fang revealed that many servants in the estate looked down on Chen Lu, considering him a poor relative, young in age, and thus somewhat neglectful…
Enraged, Mama Luo immediately reprimanded Luo Fang, scolding him for not reporting earlier. She emphasized that even as a servant, they shouldn’t behave in such a disrespectful manner…