Chapter 5: Origins

After finishing breakfast, Lu Yanbei hurried away from the floral hall of the Nine-Turn Pavilion. His direction suggested he was heading toward Qi Xuefu’s Peace of Mind Pavilion.

Yan Shiyue rolled her eyes at his departing back, then smiled and called Lu Lan to her side, handing him the tally of the Duke of Yu’s estate.

"Mother?" Lu Lan accepted the tally with both hands.

"Fourth Son, from this day forward, I am entrusting the management of the household accounts entirely to you and your wife."

In noble households, the mistress of the house typically holds the reins, overseeing daily expenses, external businesses, landholdings, and shops. The head of the house, meanwhile, maintains social connections, serves in the court, or cultivates friendships to secure resources and honors for the family.

Yan Shiyue felt that Lu Lan had changed significantly since returning home; he was no longer the wayward, willful youth he once was. By handing over a portion of the household authority early, she hoped to show the Gu family the sincerity of the Duke of Yu’s estate and demonstrate the importance she placed on Gu Xingwan.

"Mother, how can I ever thank you enough?" Lu Lan knelt slowly, his heart heavy with a growing sense of guilt.

In his previous life, he had acted like a wretch, while his mother had suffered the agony of burying her child three times over.

Watching her youngest son—a man who bore such a tarnished reputation—Yan Shiyue gently stroked his cheek. She had waited and hoped for this moment, and her son had finally matured. Her voice choked with emotion: "Fourth Son, you are the apple of my eye; anything I do for you is only right. You are the future hope of the Duke of Yu’s estate. You used to call me 'Old Mother' all the time, but now I am truly old, and there is little I can do to help you in the days to come."

"You aren't old. You still need to hold your grandchildren and great-grandchildren," Lu Lan said, his nose stinging and his eyes clouding with mist.

Amused by his words, she helped him up and offered a piece of heartfelt advice: "Managing a household is a profound discipline. Though I have managed it with great care, the Duke of Yu’s estate is vast and complex, and the accounts are severely depleted. There is little silver left in the treasury to assist you, so you must find your own ways to generate funds. Just remember: you must never engage in illegal activities or conduct business that would bring shame upon our house."

Lu Lan nodded, a flicker of light in his eyes. He knew well that the deficits and mismanagement hadn't appeared out of thin air. A portion was indeed due to his own past profligacy, but a much larger share was the result of Qi Xuefu’s family, who had been meticulously draining the estate like parasites.

"Mother, I know what to do."

***

After Lu Lan departed, Nanny Fan helped Yan Shiyue into the inner chamber. Nanny Fan turned the candlestick three times, and with the soft click of a hidden mechanism, the wardrobe slowly slid to the right, revealing a memorial tablet.

Yan Shiyue sank onto the prayer mat, pressing her palms together, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Sister, do you hear? Your son is getting married."

"All these years, I have kept him far from the battlefield and the imperial court, living in constant fear that those venomous women in the palace might recognize him."

"Though he was known for his waywardness and arrogance, it was precisely that reputation that kept him from being seen as a threat in the capital. Everyone treated him as a joke, which, in turn, helped him preserve his life."

"As for that second daughter of the Gu family, I had my eye on her long ago. She is virtuous, wise, and carries the grace of a true noblewoman; she will surely make an excellent mistress of the house. Because of Fourth Son’s reputation, I never dared to dream of such a match, yet somehow, such an ethereal girl has fallen to our Fourth Son."

"Sister, may your spirit in heaven protect Fourth Son, keep him safe and happy, and ensure he never drifts into the strife of the court or the vicious infighting of the palace."