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Staring at her eldest grandson, the Old Madam was momentarily at a loss for words. “…”
Xu Qingyi panicked, fearing she had done something wrong. “I’m sorry, Grandmother. I acted on my own.”
“It’s not your fault.” The Old Madam seemed to awaken from a dream, her eyes reddening slightly. “You did very well…”
She took a closer look at Xie Yunzhi, noticing he was clean and tidy, and couldn’t help but exclaim, “Allowing Yunzhi to marry you was the right decision; you take such good care of him.”
Xu Qingyi wouldn’t dare take all the credit. “It’s thanks to those around the Eldest Young Master. I merely lent a hand.”
“Hehe.” The Old Madam smiled at Xu Qingyi. “Silly girl, you are also one of the Eldest Young Master’s closest people now.”
She assumed Xu Qingyi was still adjusting to her new role since she had only recently entered the family.
Little did she know, Xu Qingyi had never viewed the Eldest Young Master as her ultimate destination.
“Come here, Heng.” The Old Madam waved at Heng.
Heng approached the Old Madam and was pulled into her embrace. He glanced back at Xu Qingyi, as if to say, “Mother, I’m closer to you; my relationship with Great-Grandmother is just for show.”
So adorable! Xu Qingyi smiled and nodded at him.
After teasing Heng, the Old Madam turned her gaze to Xie Yunzhi. “Come closer, let me have a good look at you, Yunzhi.”
Xie Yunzhi felt himself being nudged forward. He stopped, and a slightly trembling hand reached up to touch his cheek. It must be his grandmother.
He was overwhelmed with emotion.
“Qingyi, do you think… Yunzhi will wake up?” The Old Madam spoke, but then felt she had misspoken, realizing it was inappropriate to mention such things in front of his wife. “Forget it…”
“He will,” Xu Qingyi replied, showing no hint of sadness or despair. Her face was bright and cheerful, her voice filled with vitality. In the oppressive atmosphere of the Pingyang Marquisate, she stood out.
“Qingyi believes the Eldest Young Master will wake up, so you must take good care of yourself, Grandmother. Live a long life so that when he wakes up, he can continue to honor you.”
The Old Madam was momentarily stunned, finally understanding why Xu Qingyi was so endearing—she was vibrant and positive.
“Yes, you’re right,” the Old Madam said, her mood lifted. “Life will surely get better, and I look forward to seeing you and Yunzhi’s children.”
“Yes,” Xu Qingyi replied, lowering her head with a smile.
There was little shyness in her demeanor.
Heng stared at his mother’s abdomen, lost in thought. Was his mother going to have her own child?
Would she still be as kind to him?
Heng silently slipped from the Old Madam’s arms and back into Xu Qingyi’s embrace, his little hands clutching her dress until it wrinkled.
“What’s wrong?” Xu Qingyi looked down and saw that Heng seemed unhappy.
Heng tried to smile at his mother but couldn’t, eventually shaking his head.
“Heng, are you jealous?” Xu Qingyi pinched his little face.
“…” Heng didn’t deny it, hugging Xu Qingyi even tighter.
“You don’t need to be jealous. Even if Mother has another child, I won’t forget you,” Xu Qingyi said, amused but serious.
“I really love Heng very much.” Seeing that he still wasn’t smiling, she leaned down and kissed his forehead.
Heng finally smiled.
A warm atmosphere flowed quietly, and Xie Yunzhi, too, was affected, feeling relaxed.
On the way back to Danhuai Courtyard after dinner, Lin informed Xu Qingyi that he had bought a servant boy who knew some martial arts.
He deliberately gave such detailed information so that Xu Qingyi wouldn’t send anyone to follow him.
Xu Qingyi understood the implication in Lin’s words and chuckled inwardly, feigning ignorance. “That’s great. How about arranging him to stay next to Master Pei? Master Pei can give him some guidance.”
“As you wish,” Lin replied, reserved and distant.
He could simply use Abai to handle matters related to that despicable person. Even if Xu Qingyi sent someone to follow him, they wouldn’t know what he was doing.
Abai, after spending two days at the Marquisate, discovered that his young master wasn’t a victim of persecution at all. His background wasn’t ideal—he was adopted, and his adoptive father was paralyzed.
However, his adoptive mother was incredibly kind to him.
Abai also benefited from this kindness, receiving several gifts from Xu Qingyi—things he had never seen in his life.
Seeing Abai so cheerful, Lin coldly reminded him, “She’s just buying you off.”
Abai didn’t believe him. “The Young Madam is so good to you. She’s not that kind of person.”
Lin rolled his eyes. “You’ve already been bought off.”
Abai felt wronged and quickly declared his loyalty. “I haven’t! My heart is still with you!”
Lin took the opportunity to warn him. “If she asks about me, you mustn’t tell her anything.”
“Of course,” Abai immediately agreed.
At the same time, he wondered, ‘The Young Madam wouldn’t do that, would she?’
She doesn’t even have her own children yet; what kind of conflict of interest could there be between an adoptive mother and son?
The person Xu Qingyi had sent to watch Lin hadn’t obtained any useful information after a few days. Lin’s life seemed normal, except for Abai’s occasionally mysterious whereabouts.
After school today, Xu Qingyi found Abai and asked directly, smiling, “Lin asked you to do something these past few days, didn’t he?”
Abai jolted, finally believing his young master’s words.
However, he still didn’t believe the Young Madam had ill intentions toward his young master.
“You’re asking about that… I’m not comfortable answering…” He looked troubled, hoping Xu Qingyi wouldn’t make things difficult for a lowly servant like him.
“I’m not monitoring him. He’s still young, and I’m afraid he might encounter problems he can’t handle, leading to trouble,” Xu Qingyi explained.
“I see,” Abai felt relieved.
As long as the Young Madam didn’t have ill intentions toward his young master.
“I’ll give you a few more days to think about it. Weigh the importance of the matter and decide whether or not you want me to intervene,” Xu Qingyi said. These words were seemingly for Abai, but they were actually meant for Lin.
Abai didn’t understand, but when he relayed the conversation to Lin, Lin did.
He was just curious how Xu Qingyi knew he was dealing with a problem.
Perhaps she had good intentions, but for now, he didn’t want her involved.
If Xu Qingyi went to confront that despicable man, Lin knew without thinking what would happen. The man would be insatiable and would only spew nonsense.
“Young Master Lin, I think the Young Madam is right,” Abai, having been sent to deliver money and having learned from the despicable man that he was Lin’s biological father, said, “We can’t keep indulging this kind of person. We should use authority to suppress him!”
“You don’t understand,” Lin said.
He didn’t want this matter to become public and bring shame to Xie Yunzhi.
Any news about Xie Yunzhi would be amplified, and he, Lin, was a stain on Xie Yunzhi’s reputation.
He didn’t want to cause Xie Yunzhi to be criticized because of him.
His young master was stubborn, and Abai didn’t dare disobey him.
But after a few days, the man came again for money. Watching the silver being given to that wretch, Abai felt conflicted, feeling like he was about to betray his master.
This time, Lin gave him the money and instructed, “Ask him where he usually stays, if he has a place to live. If not, I’ll arrange one for him.”
Abai was furious. “My Young Master Lin, he’s so bad, and you’re still so kind to him!”
Kind?
A crazed smile flickered in Lin’s eyes. It “was” kind, but it would be the last time he showed kindness to that man.
Suppressing his murderous intent, he coldly instructed Abai, “After all, he’s my biological father. Do as I say, and don’t tell the Young Madam.”
Abai strongly disagreed but could only obey. “Yes, Young Master Lin…”