Chapter 24: The Stepmother’s Dilemma

Xu Qingyi treated both teachers equally.

She presented them with a gift of tuition fees.

She also told them that they were always welcome and saw them off as they returned to their respective homes.

The weather in the capital was getting hotter, and when they returned to the residence, both the adults and children were drenched in sweat.

“Take Heng for a bath,” Xu Qingyi could no longer stand it. She handed her little one over to the nursemaids and instructed them.

Then, thinking about it, the other two older boys would be home from school soon. Perhaps she should make something to quench their thirst?

Once she made up her mind, she rolled up her sleeves and headed to the kitchen.

But she wasn’t there to prepare a full meal.

Instead, she asked for some ice, fresh fruits, and honey, preparing to make fruit smoothies.

Making shaved ice smoothies was a skillful task.

In the end, she left it to the professionals.

The finished product was ready, and by then, Heng had finished his bath. Xu Qingyi first gave him a serving, feeding him a spoonful and asking, “Is it delicious?”

Heng’s eyes lit up even brighter. “Delicious!” he exclaimed, reaching out to take the ice bowl from Xu Qingyi’s hand.

“No, you can’t have so much.”

Xu Qingyi said this as she quickly ate half of it herself, then gave the remaining small portion to Heng.

Heng looked a little disappointed, but he was a good child and understood that getting something to eat was already a treat.

“Thank you, Mother.” He leaned in and gave Xu Qingyi a kiss on the cheek.

This had become a new habit over the past couple of days.

Every morning when they woke up and before going to sleep, Xu Qingyi would kiss the little one.

It seemed that Heng really enjoyed expressing affection this way.

“You’re welcome.” Xu Qingyi smiled, realizing that raising a well-behaved son felt this way.

Not bad at all.

A maid outside came to report that the two Young Masters had returned.

“Liu, take the ice bowl to Zhen.” Xu Qingyi instructed.

She herself carried a bowl to find Lin.

It wasn’t favoritism.

She simply wanted to see what Lin was wearing today.

Hopefully, they’d been mistaken…

As soon as she thought this, she encountered Lin in the courtyard.

He was wearing that familiar-colored outfit.

Xu Qingyi’s heart skipped a beat. It really was Lin.

Xu Qingyi’s mind was racing.

What to do if she found her underage stepson visiting a brothel?!

In ancient times, there was no internet—she couldn’t consult with other experienced parents. It seemed she’d have to handle this on her own.

“Mother.”

As she walked toward him, Lin couldn’t ignore her and greeted her faintly.

“Mm.” Xu Qingyi forced herself to smile, handing him the ice bowl. “The weather’s hot, so I made some ice treats to help quench your thirst.”

Lin lowered his gaze. He was indeed thirsty after returning from school, so he accepted it. “Thank you, Mother.”

Then he added, “I’ll head to the study to read.”

He turned and walked away, a soft breeze following him.

Xu Qingyi couldn’t help but feel that there was a faint scent of rouge and powder in the air.

Well, this was it. Xu Qingyi felt that she had encountered her first real challenge as a stepmother.

But she remained calm and reminded herself not to panic.

She needed to handle this matter carefully.

Lin’s activities outside the house remained unknown to others. The biggest issue was the lack of a bookboy following him around.

Finding a bookboy was something to note down.

Secondly, Xu Qingyi’s understanding of Lin’s social connections was quite shallow; she needed to find a way to learn more about them.

After a moment of contemplation, Xu Qingyi turned and headed for the Eldest Young Master’s room.

It had been a whole day out, and she hadn’t yet come to see the Eldest Young Master.

There wasn’t much to see, though.

It was the same as always—he was lying in bed like a sleeping beauty, waiting to be awakened by a kiss from a destined person.

Xu Qingyi knew that the destined person wasn’t herself, because she had tried—and couldn’t wake him with a kiss!

“Has the Young Madam arrived?” Guan Qi and Mo Yan greeted her warmly, quickly moving chairs and serving tea.

“No need to fuss,” Xu Qingyi said with a cheerful smile, looking as pleasant as always. “I just came to check on the Eldest Young Master.” And while she was at it, to see how he was doing.

Guan Qi and Mo Yan smiled at each other, thinking to themselves that the Young Madam really cherished the Young Master, visiting him multiple times a day.

“Well, of course!”

The Eldest Young Master’s face—who wouldn’t love to look at it?

Xu Qingyi glanced a few more times at the Eldest Young Master’s perfect features—cough, indeed, he was handsome.

If he were in the entertainment industry, he wouldn’t even need acting skills to become a top celebrity.

Since she was already this familiar with him, she casually reached out and touched his face, then pretended to ask, “Does the Eldest Young Master feel hot?”

Guan Qi suppressed a laugh and replied, “Since he’s not sweating, he should be fine.”

“Mm.” Xu Qingyi sat down beside the bed and then said to the two of them, “You both sit down as well. I have some questions to ask.”

The two of them hesitated for a moment but obediently sat down.

“I wonder what the Young Madam wants to ask?” they inquired.

It was probably about the Eldest Young Master, right? The Young Madam likely wanted to know more about him, and they were more than willing to share!

Xu Qingyi asked, “Before Lin came to the Marquis’s residence, was there anyone else in his family?”

Not only did Guan Qi and Mo Yan freeze for a moment, but so did Xie Yunzhi.

This Xu family woman said she came to see him, but it was all so fake.

After a brief pause, Mo Yan replied, “I think the Young Master once mentioned that Lin still has a father…”

At this reminder, Xu Qingyi also recalled.

Indeed, Lin had a biological father.

However, when the book mentioned this father… it was already after Lin had slit his throat.

Later, Xie Huaian punished Lin, and one of the charges was parricide.

As a result, Lin was sentenced to death by Ling Chi.

Ling Chi was bad enough, but to top it all off, he was also reviled by the entire world.

Xu Qingyi shuddered.

She continued asking, “Since Lin had a biological father, why was he adopted by the Eldest Young Master?”

In his heart, Xie Yunzhi answered, “Because Lin’s biological father was a worthless man.”

Xu Qingyi recalled that Lin had entered the Marquis’s residence at the age of seven, and his biological father was a good-for-nothing, indulging in all vices: gambling, drinking, and women.

Lin’s mother had been abducted from a prominent family, and she had mental issues, sometimes clear-headed, other times not.

Later, she was killed by Lin’s biological father right in front of him.

Lin’s grandfather had been an old soldier, one who had served under Xie Yunzhi in the past. Knowing his son was no good, the old man had told Lin that if things ever became unbearable, he should take his nameplate and go to Xie Yunzhi.

The first time Lin met Xie Yunzhi, he was covered in blood, his eyes burning with hatred like an angry wild beast.

Xie Yunzhi was moved and decided to take him in.

“That much isn’t clear,” Mo Yan said, not knowing all the details, but still making an educated guess. “It must be because his biological father is useless. If the father had been competent, the Young Master certainly wouldn’t have taken another man’s child.”

Guan Qi nodded hurriedly.

It made sense, and Xu Qingyi agreed.

She then wondered: Could Lin’s visit to the brothel today have something to do with his father?

“Is there anyone else besides his father?” Xu Qingyi asked.

“There shouldn’t be,” Guan Qi and Mo Yan exchanged a glance and both shook their heads.

Xu Qingyi asked again, “Do you know if Lin has any friends or close acquaintances outside?”

“…” The room fell silent.

This question, perhaps even Xie Yunzhi wouldn’t be able to answer.

Xu Qingyi understood and didn’t press them further.

From this, it seemed that Xie Lin really was a solitary person.

Just then, Liu came in, her voice crisp and clear from behind the screen: “Older Brother Guan Qi, Older Brother Mo Yan, the kitchen made the ice bowls just like the Young Madam showed them, and they’re delicious! I brought some for you two!”

The kitchen worked fast.

Xu Qingyi smiled, “The ice bowls are indeed delicious. You two go ahead and enjoy them. I’m leaving now.”

Xie Yunzhi felt Xu Qingyi’s skirt brush across the back of his hand, without a trace of hesitation.

It was clear now that her visit to see him was a lie.

But he could tell that she was worried about Lin.

What had happened?

As a father, Xie Yunzhi was also anxious, but unfortunately, he couldn’t help.

The fruit smoothie received unanimous praise from everyone in the Danhuai Courtyard.

Lin, who usually didn’t mind sweets, finished it all.

He felt significantly cooler all over, then went to bathe and change clothes.

He wasn’t actually very short.

It was just that his frame was slender, which made him appear shorter.

The maidservant had brought him new clothes today.

The soft fabric felt noticeably more comfortable than the ones he had worn before.

Their foster mother seemed to be a warm and generous person.

Not only was she good to them, but she was also kind to the servants around her.

Why was there such a stark difference between people, despite them all being human?

Lin seemed to have thought of something, his eyes cold as he tightly fastened his belt.

^[1]Parricide is the act of killing one’s parent. It’s a term that encompasses both patricide (killing one’s father) and matricide (killing one’s mother). Ling Chi, also known … Continue reading