Chapter 2: The Cannon Fodder Fate of the Entire Family
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
Madam Xu was swept into a whirlwind of confusion and disbelief, her room filled with chaotic noises that she struggled to make sense of. Central to this turmoil was her daughter, a young girl whose mind was a complex maze of emotions and thoughts. Madam Xu labored to decipher these cryptic messages from her daughter, holding onto hope that she could uncover the truth amid the chaos.
The revelation she encountered was profound: her daughter, whom she had mourned as dead since birth, was miraculously alive. Even more astonishing was Madam Xu’s newfound ability to hear her daughter’s thoughts. This shock was compounded by the discovery of her husband’s anticipation of a child with his mistress.
Seized by panic, Madam Xu had always cherished her marriage into the Lu family as a harmonious and flawless bond. The revelation of her husband’s betrayal shattered her view of their relationship, forcing her to confront the painful reality that the man she considered a pillar of kindness and support had been deceiving her all along.
Noticing Madam Xu’s distress, Deng Zhi, the chief maid, approached with a mix of concern and confusion, “Madam, are you alright? You seem to be shivering. Is there a draft in the room?” She scanned the room, puzzled, as it was well-insulated.
Striving for composure, Madam Xu requested, “Please, bring in the wet nurse to feed the baby.”
Despite having three wet nurses prepared, the baby had rejected all their milk, resulting in coughing and spitting that left the nurses alarmed and confused.
One of the nurses approached Madam Xu hesitantly, “Madam, the young miss refuses my milk.”
The baby expressed her displeasure with whimpers and grunts. [I don’t want breast milk; I only want sheep or cow milk.]
Hearing this unusual request, Madam Xu suggested, “Perhaps we should try sheep or cow milk?” Their household always had sheep milk available, preferred for its taste once the strong odor was neutralized.
Deng Zhi quickly arranged for the servants to prepare the alternative milk.
Soon, the baby was taken to another room to be fed.
Later, a maid brought comforting news to Madam Xu, “The young miss consumed over a dozen spoonfuls and drifted off to sleep mid-feed. She is now peacefully sleeping.”
This brought a wave of relief to Madam Xu.
Later, the baby was brought back to her bedroom as Madam Xu wanted to keep her daughter close. “You’re the only one I trust.”
Though it was hard to suspect her husband, the distinct sound of her daughter’s internal voice strengthened her resolve that day.
“What’s wrong, Madam?” Deng Zhi asked, noticing her mistress’s unease. Her relationship with Madam Xu was more than just maid and mistress; it was a bond of shared history and loyalty, formed when Deng Zhi followed Madam Xu into the Lu family.
“Find two trustworthy people and investigate Qingyu Lane. I suspect my husband might be there,” Madam Xu commanded, her voice a mix of concern and determination.
Taken aback, Deng Zhi ensured privacy before directing Jue Xia and Ying Xue, “Stay by the door and ensure no one approaches.”
Her trust in them was solid, based on their shared origins in the Xu family and a contract of loyalty to Madam Xu under any circumstances.
“Yes,” they responded, ready to follow her orders.
Once the room was secured, Deng Zhi returned to Madam Xu, asking, “Why do you suspect the lord? Is there a problem?”
Madam Xu had devoted her life to the Lu family and her husband; he was her world.
“Let’s keep this between us. It’s crucial that no one catches wind of our suspicions,” Madam Xu whispered, her anxiety evident.
“Don’t worry, Madam. I’ll handle this discreetly and with care,” Deng Zhi reassured her, aware of the delicate nature of the situation. She then arranged for someone to take care of Madam Xu and set out to fulfill her mistress’s request.
Madam Xu felt a deep sense of isolation that lingered into the evening, intensified by her husband’s absence.
“Mom… Mom, I’m back. Where’s my sister?” Lu Yuan Xiao burst into the room, his energy uncontained.
“Third Young Master, please be cautious. The young miss is asleep; let’s not disturb her,” Jue Xia cautioned, stopping his approach.
Lu Yuan Xiao, an eight-year-old boy born during the Lantern Festival, was known for his vibrant and mischievous nature. His disdain for studies and love for food and mischief often clashed with his father, the Marquis of Zhongyong.
“I’ll keep it down. Where’s my sister?” he whispered, covering his mouth.
With a smile, Ying Xue pointed towards the cradle in the next room.
“Mom, you look so tired… Why are you so pale?” Lu Yuan Xiao noted, his young eyes observant.
“I’m just a bit worn out today. I’ll feel better after some rest. Why are you home so early?” Madam Xu managed a weak smile.
At that moment, Madam Xu noticed something concerning and asked, “Have you been skipping your classes again?”
Lu Yuan Xiao’s laughter revealed his carefree attitude, “It doesn’t matter. Grandmother always takes my side, and Father never really punishes me because he knows how much I hate studying.”
Watching her son with a mix of worry and hope, Madam Xu gently admonished, “Yuan Xiao, it’s time you started taking life a bit more seriously. Perhaps that would make your father show you more affection.”
She clung to the faint hope that her son might embrace change.
Yet, Lu Yuan Xiao remained steadfast, his stance clear. “Study? I’d rather meet my end than face those books!” His aversion to academic pursuits was unmistakable.
Madam Xu sighed in frustration at his stubbornness.
Silently, Lu Yuan Xiao moved to the next room to see his sister, Lu Chao Chao, whose startled reaction at his presence showed her surprise.
[Ah, so this is the brother fate has given me…]
[Despite being known as the family troublemaker, there’s something endearing about his round face and boundless energy.]
Lu Yuan Xiao paused, bewildered as he realized the voice he heard could only be his infant sister’s, with their mother watching from afar.
“Could it be some kind of special destiny that allows me to hear my sister’s thoughts?” he wondered aloud, struck with awe.
[Such a pity for my third brother, destined for a sad fate…]
[Spoiled from the outset, he grew up loathing education, a source of disappointment to our dishonorable father and a stain on the Marquis’s name.]
[Despite his noble lineage, his illiteracy has become a joke across the capital.]
[It appears Third Brother lacks wisdom. No wonder his life is marked by misfortune…]
Lu Yuan Xiao felt a tremor in his hands as he processed this, “Is my fate truly that bleak?”
[To suffer mutilation and be reduced to a ‘human pig’—a fate most dire…]
The thought sent a shiver through him, leaving him visibly shaken.
“What’s the matter?” Madam Xu, drawn back to the present, fixed her gaze on her son in the next room, puzzled by his sudden change in demeanor.
With a tremble in his voice, Lu Yuan Xiao managed, “I… I need to go to my room.”
Madam Xu watched, perplexed by his sudden shift.
“I’m going to start studying. Right now! Wuuu wuuu, this is just too heartbreaking. My fate is too grievous!” With tears streaming down his face, the young boy hurried out of the room, determined to change his destiny.
So….she gives a bunch of spoilers involuntarily and they immediately believe and act on them?
Ooookay…? Let’s see where this goes.
The mother believed it because of the circumstances while the brother is still a kid, you know