Chapter 275: Chapter 275: Can’t Afford to Lose
The thin sheet of letter paper, Lu Shi had read it over ten times, and the more she read, the colder she felt. In the end, her hand clenched tightly, crumpling the letter in her palm.
The letter was written by Song Zhiqing, and aside from explaining the reason for changing the steward, the rest contained greetings to the children, greetings to the elders at home, an apology to her, and then he mentioned being busy with official duties and possibly not being able to return to the capital for duty reporting this year.
The few words on the whole piece of letter paper didn’t make Lu Shi feel any sense of longing or separation sorrow within.
A woman’s intuition told her that something had happened over in Datong.
Thinking of this, Lu Shi felt as if she had been struck by an arrow in her chest, the dull pain was unbearable.
Tears of grievance slid down her cheeks. Had she not returned for a few months, yet he had a new person there?
Song Zhiqing, how cruel you are.
"Mother."
Song Ruwei walked in from outside, her face radiant with smiles, but her smile froze at the corners of her mouth when she saw Lu Shi shedding sorrowful tears.
"Mother? Why are you crying?"
Lu Shi turned to the side and wiped her eyes, smilingly saying, "It’s nothing, just now a flying insect flew into my eye. Did you just come back from clan school?" She then looked towards the door, not seeing the shadow of her son, and asked, "Where is your brother?"
"Second brother and third brother, upon hearing that second aunt is expecting, rushed to Liu Ting Pavilion, and Zhou’er also went there. I was afraid you’d worry, so I came back first to let you know."
Looking at her daughter’s fair and delicate face, Lu Shi thought to herself, coming back was worth it, her daughter’s skin had improved.
Thinking of Jiang Shi, she said, "Your second aunt is expecting, you should also go and congratulate her. Just send a maid back from here to relay the message."
"I was thinking to wait until after greeting you properly, then go back to my yard to get a small gift to give to second aunt as a congratulatory gift," Song Ruwei said with a bright smile.
"Good child, that’s a very thoughtful idea." Lu Shi licked her lips and advised, "Wei’er, your second aunt constantly wishes for a daughter, when you go, it’s best to wish her to have a little sister."
Song Ruwei was taken aback, then obediently nodded.
"Also, your second sister is already engaged; her husband comes from the Duke Mansion, of distinguished status. In the future, your marriage, no matter what, won’t be inferior. Since your sisters have good marriages, their families will also value you, so you should often talk to your second sister."
Song Ruwei: "But second sister is now so busy every day that she’s nowhere to be seen."
"Yes, your second sister is busy learning to manage the household and her dowry is rushed to embroider. When you’re free, you can help her embroider small items, like handkerchiefs, which are better than giving some expensive gifts."
Song Ruwei pursed her lips, a little reluctant, but still nodded her agreement.
Lu Shi asked her a few questions about how she was doing in clan school, reminding her to always listen to the teacher, ask more questions, and learn more.
"Wei’er, don’t blame mother for being strict with you. We don’t have enough status, so we need to work harder to make up for it. You must let people know that even as a daughter of a concubine, you’re no worse than others, understand? As for music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, mother doesn’t ask for mastery in all, but having some expertise in each is also good. That way, no matter what banquet you attend in the future, you can have something to present, so no one will look down on you. Of course, if you excel in one, that’s even better."
Lu Shi gently guided, holding her, and said softly, "Wei’er, for the latter half of mother’s life, I rely on you and Zhou’er, so you two siblings must strive."
Although not yet clear about what happened with Song Zhiqing, intuition told her it wasn’t good, and precisely because of this, she needed to pay even more attention to the upbringing of her two children.
She, Lu Ruxin, cannot afford to lose!