C19 Going to the Mother to Leave the Child

Wong Qinsheng leaned in, "His classes are always packed. They say being able to attend Libationer Gu's lectures is a blessing from a past life. He was exceptionally smart as a student and achieved top honors, the first in our dynasty to do so."

That person really achieved top honors?

Wong Qinsheng slightly lifted his seat and lowered his voice, "I also heard that he and Grand Preceptor Su's daughter, Su Waner, grew up together like childhood sweethearts. Su Waner is still waiting for him, refusing to marry anyone else."

Jing Bao was intrigued, "How old is Su Waner?"

Wong Qinsheng replied, "I think she's eighteen."

"Why hasn't the Libationer married her if they were childhood sweethearts?" she asked.

"Well..." Wong Qinsheng shrugged, "Who knows!"

After finishing their meal, the two walked out of the dining hall.

Wong Qinsheng was called over by some familiar classmates, leaving Jing Bao waiting under the corridor. She noticed a familiar servant nearby, likely one of Young Master Gao's attendants.

A chubby cook approached the servant, handing over a food box. The servant took it, passed over some money, and turned to leave.

Privilege sure has its perks!

At that moment, Wong Qinsheng hurried back. Jing Bao, not wanting to run into Young Master Gao during his meal, suggested with a smile, "Let's not head back to the room just yet. Let's take a walk somewhere else."

Wong Qinsheng: "When you came to eat, weren't you complaining about your leg hurting?"

Jing Bao squinted, "Once I'm full, it doesn't hurt anymore."

Wong Qinsheng laughed, "Really? I was going to offer to give you a massage."

A massage? Jing Bao turned his head and walked away.

"Hey, wait for me!" Wong Qinsheng followed, "Wenruo, from behind, you look so skinny."

Jing Bao: "My mom's skinny, my dad's skinny, so I'm skinny too."

Wong Qinsheng walked alongside, gesturing with his hand, "You only come up to my shoulder. You ate quite a bit just now, so how come you haven't grown taller?"

Jing Bao: "My mom's short, my dad's short, so I'm short too!"

"No worries, no worries!" Wong Qinsheng reassured, "Even if you're a bit short and skinny, you have a nice face. You'll still find someone to marry."

"..."

Jing Bao really wanted to shut him up; he was terrible at talking.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yan rushing toward him in the light.

"Sir!"

Yan stopped in front of Jing Bao, "There's a letter from Lin'an Prefecture."

Jing Bao didn't have a chance to respond before Wong Qinsheng wisely said, "I'll head back to my room. You two talk."

As Wong Qinsheng left, Yan quickly said, "Sir, there's trouble in Lin'an Prefecture."

Jing Bao felt a jolt in her heart. "What's going on?"

Yan replied, "There's a woman outside holding a newborn, claiming it's the Eldest Old Master's child."

Jing Bao frowned. "Is it a boy or a girl?"

Yan answered, "It's a boy. The mistress was so furious she wanted to rush back to Lin'an Prefecture immediately, but the eldest young lady persuaded her to stay. She wants you to make a decision quickly."

Jing Bao never imagined that on her first day at the Imperial College, her unreliable father would present her with such a big problem.

"Who is this woman?"

"She's a singer from a troupe, not from a respectable family."

"How did the Old Master get involved with her?"

"After hearing her sing a few times, he became infatuated and spent money to free her from the troupe."

"What did the Old Master say in his letter?"

"He didn't say much, just that he would follow the mistress's wishes."

He's not as foolish as he seems!

Jing Bao felt stifled, pondered for a moment, and then calmly said, "First, have Mother discreetly investigate the woman's background thoroughly. Second, verify if the child is indeed the Eldest Old Master's. I don't believe in those old blood tests. Third..."

Jing Bao's mind went blank for a moment, and she let out a ghostly chuckle. "I haven't thought of the third step yet. Give me some time."

Inside the Jing Mansion, lights were blazing.

Yan continued, "Seventh Master said that if the woman dared to come here with the child, she must be after something. It's likely money, or perhaps the wealth of the Jing family."

If it's the former, money will suffice; if it's the latter, she must want to enter the Jing Mansion. Seventh Master asked Madam if she could accommodate?”

Mrs. Lu felt a lump in her throat, unable to swallow or speak, overwhelmed with an indescribable grievance.

“What if I can accommodate? What if I can't?”

Yan replied, “Seventh Master said: if you can accommodate, then do so, but the child must be raised in front of you; if you can't, you don't need to intervene. Write a letter to the Master, keep the child, and let the mother go. Let the Master handle the rest, you don't need to clean up after him.”

Mrs. Lu's beautiful, elegant face twisted slightly as she forced out a few words through clenched teeth: “Raising another woman's child, I can't accept it.”

Yan continued, “Seventh Master said a baby in swaddling clothes knows nothing. The grace of raising is greater than the grace of birth. The child will surely be filial to you in the future, especially since this child is the Master's and a boy.”

The words "a boy" pierced Mrs. Lu's heart like a dagger, leaving her heart bleeding, a wave of sorrow surging from within.

After a long while, she wiped her tears and said through gritted teeth, “Keep the child, let the mother go!”