The Laid-back Life of a Stepmother

If Madam Lu had immediately denied it, claiming it was a slip of the tongue, Wen Ye wouldn't have thought much of it.

But she hesitated.

Even if not obviously.

This was interesting. Wen Ye just quietly gazed at Madam Lu, waiting for her to speak first.

The atmosphere was stuck for a long time before Madam Lu sighed and finally broke the silence: "Xuan'er is indeed not the biological child of the second brother."

When she heard Madam Lu say this out loud, Wen Ye momentarily didn't know what expression she should make.

Did Xu Yuejia know about this? If he didn't know, then wouldn't that mean...

Wen Ye couldn't help but dwell on it.

Madam Lu noticed the subtle expression that Wen Ye accidentally revealed. The sadness that had just welled up in her was dispelled.

"It's not what you're thinking," Madam Lu said helplessly.

Wen Ye quickly composed herself: "Sister."

Now that things had reached this point, there was no need to keep it a secret anymore.

Madam Lu gazed seriously at Wen Ye, thinking to herself that it was fortunate that she had married into the family.

"Lady Qi is also not Xuan'er's biological mother," Madam Lu spoke with difficulty. "Both of Xuan'er's biological parents are no longer alive."

Wen Ye had never imagined Xu Yuxuan had such a complicated background.

"Then who were Xuan'er's biological parents?" Xu Yuejia wouldn't have taken in a child for no reason.

"Xuan'er's father was surnamed Qi, from Wuzhou, where he was a renowned doctor. His name was Guangbai." Madam Lu recounted slowly.

Wen Ye was slightly astonished: "Also surnamed Qi?"

Madam Lu looked at her and said softly: "Yes, Yunqin is his biological sister."

Qi Yunqin was Lady Qi's full name.

Wen Ye paused.

Madam Lu continued: "Actually, in this Duke Xu's mansion, Jingrong and they should have had another aunt."

Wen Ye knew a bit about this. Old Duke Xu had two sons, Duke Xu and Xu Yuejia, as well as a daughter, a pair of twins with Duke Xu. Unfortunately, she died young and never grew up.

Madam Lu wouldn't mention this for no reason, so it must be...

Wen Ye looked at Madam Lu with questioning eyes.

Madam Lu nodded: "You're right. She is Xuan'er's biological mother."

"The unfortunate early death was just a cover-up. In reality, Jingrong's aunt disappeared by accident at a lantern festival."Madam Lu was young then, and she only knew these details years later after she married into the family.

At that time, Father and Mother secretly searched for two years but found nothing. To protect Jingrong's aunt's reputation, they had no choice but to announce that she had died of illness. This was a regrettable step. They had planned to adopt her into the family as a relative if they ever found her. Unfortunately, fate had other plans.

Wen Ye was silent for a while and then asked: "What happened next?"

Madam Lu sighed: "Afterwards, Mother became increasingly grieved, causing her health to decline. Just a month after Jingrong's aunt went missing, Mother was diagnosed with pregnancy. For the sake of the child in her womb, Mother had to suppress her sorrow, but in the end, she couldn't hold on, and the child was born prematurely."

"This child was the second brother. Although he was born somewhat frail, it wasn't serious. As for Mother, her condition worsened over time."

"She held on for a few years but ultimately passed away." These were things Madam Lu learned from Duke Xu after she married into the mansion.

In fact, Madam Lu had only met Old Duke's wife once, twenty years ago.

Her memory of the woman was blurred, but she faintly remembered her as a very gentle person.

"Your older brother said that the names he and Jingrong's aunt were given by Mother. Mingze and Mingyue—clearly a pair of siblings." Madam Lu was deeply moved. "If not for the second brother's exile to Wuzhou, Xuan'er wouldn't know where he'd be suffering now."

"Wuzhou?" Wen Ye suddenly remembered that Xu Yuejia had met Xu Baili in Wuzhou.

Madam Lu: "The specifics I only know about seventy to eighty percent, involving a murder case in the area. Xuan'er's father was implicated in it. The previous county magistrate was corrupt, took bribes from a wealthy merchant, and before Xu Yuejia took office, he secretly arranged for Xuan'er's father to die in prison."

"After Xu Yuejia took office, Jingrong's aunt went to the court to plead for justice for her husband."

At this point, Madam Lu paused for a moment: "She looked so much like Mother that Xu Yuejia immediately suspected. So, while investigating Xuan'er's father's case, he also traced back based on Jingrong's aunt's background and eventually confirmed her identity."

"Apparently, Jingrong's aunt was kidnapped by human traffickers from the south. She was kept in their hideout, a large courtyard, with almost all children under ten, both boys and girls. Every day, brothels or merchants would come to pick them, and the ones left behind were usually sold to unscrupulous brokers. Jingrong's aunt stayed in that courtyard until she was twelve, growing into a beautiful young girl quickly. She was soon chosen by a merchant.

To avoid being sold to the merchant, Jingrong's aunt behaved very submissively. After being chosen, the guards on her became less strict, and she took that opportunity to escape.

Later, to avoid being recaptured, Jingrong's aunt found a chance to work as a maid in a government official's household, saved money for a few years, changed her name, redeemed herself, and eventually met Xuan'er's father."

"That courtyard was still operating until Xu Yuejia found it."

"A family reunion should have been a joyous occasion, but when Xu Yuejia found Jingrong's aunt, she was already four months pregnant and in very poor health. Having experienced the pain of losing her husband, her body was extremely weak. Having a child at that time was the worst possible timing."

Wen Ye had almost pieced together the full truth by now.

"The doctors said that if they used medicine to terminate the pregnancy while the fetus was still small, the mother could still survive, but if she insisted on having the child, it would inevitably lead to a difficult birth. Not only the child but the mother might not survive either."

Madam Lu said: "And you can guess the outcome. Jingrong's aunt insisted on keeping the child, which is why Xuan'er exists."

She looked at Wen Ye: "Initially, I wanted to adopt Xuan'er under my and your older brother's name. It was Xu Yuejia's insistence, plus Lady Qi's life was also troubled. If not for her experimenting with medicines to earn money, Jingrong's aunt wouldn't have been able to save Xuan'er. After seeking her opinion, Xu Yuejia married her to let her be Xuan'er's mother.

At that time, Old Duke had an old subordinate who also surnamed Qi, so on the surface, Lady Qi was the daughter of that subordinate."

Madam Lu concluded: "Since entering the mansion, Lady Qi's health had always been poor due to experimenting with medicines. She struggled for a few months but eventually passed away."

After speaking, she added to Wen Ye, "I tell you these things because I want you not to feel too much sympathy for Xuan'er's background and end up sacrificing yourself."

"An uncle is also a father, but he shares no blood relation with you. I hope you can reconsider." Madam Lu spoke earnestly.

Although she loved Xuan'er dearly, she wasn't muddle-headed.

Wen Ye hadn't expected things to be so complicated.

If Xu Yuxuan wasn't Xu Yuejia's biological son, then why did he so easily agree not to have children?

Before discussing it clearly with Xu Yuejia, Wen Ye succinctly replied, "Sister, I need to think things over."@@novelbin@@

Madam Lu intended to call her over to clarify the issue of progeny and hadn't expected to slip up. Oh well, she said, "Go back and discuss it properly with Xu Yuejia. Regarding Xuan'er, my husband and I will support your decision."

Wen Ye nodded and returned to the West Courtyard with a heavy heart full of secrets.

When Wen Ye arrived back, Xu Yuxuan was in the courtyard, burning snow and playing joyfully.

Dressed warmly and accompanied by Nanny Ji and others, he didn't run up to Wen Ye as she returned.

Xu Yuejia had been waiting in the study for some time. When he heard footsteps approach, he looked up to see Wen Ye's brows furrowed with worry. Instantly, he understood: "Sister already told you?"

Wen Ye was surprised: "How did you know?"

Xu Yuejia replied: "Just a guess."

Wen Ye sat down, her gaze serious: "So, Xuan'er is really not your biological son?"

Xu Yuejia looked out the window at the small figure moving about and replied: "He should have addressed me as uncle."

Wen Ye looked out the window too, asking: "Then why did you choose to let him call you father?"

Xu Yuejia paused and calmly explained: "Procreating for me isn't a pressing matter. This choice was mainly to stifle outside rumors."

Wen Ye paused, saying: "That view is quite unconventional."

She seemed to have encountered a peculiar individual.

Xu Yuejia retorted, "People pursue different things in life; I am not the only one."

Wen Ye glanced at the children running around the courtyard and continued, "Then why did you remarry later?"

Xu Yuejia replied, "...Because of the Emperor."

"I ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‍did not hide the fact about Xu Yuxuan from the Emperor. A year after Xu Yuxuan's 'mother' passed away, the Emperor wanted to arrange a marriage for me."

"Arranged marriage?" Wen Ye turned to look at him. "So, which family did the Emperor choose?"

Xu Yuejia paused before answering, "The Crown Prince's cousin."

Wen Ye was curious. "Then why didn't you marry her?"

Xu Yuejia explained, "Before the Emperor proposed the arranged marriage, she had heard about it through the Empress and came to see me in private, expressing her reluctance."

"I had no intention of remarrying, but considering the Emperor's wishes, if I did not remarry, such matters would continue to arise."

Wen Ye understood. So, the reason she and Xu Yuejia ended up together was partly due to the Emperor's intervention.

"But why did it end up being me in the end?"

She had always been hidden in the shadows of the Duke Xu's mansion. Who had such good eyes to pick her out?

"It was a matter of chance," Xu Yuejia often thought about the concept of 'fate,' and here it was, "At that time, the Emperor ordered me to investigate the case of the Ninth Prince's remnants. I found that your half-sister had some connections with the Ninth Prince."

Upon hearing this, Wen Ye's expression tightened. "Our Wen Family is innocent."

Xu Yuejia replied, "I know that."

Wen Ye let out a slight sigh of relief. "Sir, you are indeed an upright and fair official."

Xu Yuejia remained silent.

Wen Ye continued, "What happened next?"

Xu Yuejia paused for a moment before saying, "You already know what happened next, don't you?"

Wen Ye retorted, "Didn't you fear that I too would be unwilling?"

Xu Yuejia admitted frankly, "At first, I did. But you soon dispelled that concern after you entered the household."

Before that, however, he had prepared himself to be the exemplary husband to a woman.

Apart from the bond between husband and wife, he would do his best to provide the best for her in all other aspects.

It was just that things took an unexpected turn.

In the end, it was he who needed that bond.

Hearing this, Wen Ye quickly interjected, "Husband, the past is behind us; we should look forward."

Xu Yuejia countered, "Why is your face so thin today?"

"I am merely considering your reputation, considering your performance back then—"

Wen Ye shot back, "Was quite mediocre."

Xu Yuejia admitted, "Indeed, we should look forward. So, what are your thoughts about Xu Yuxuan?"

Wen Ye almost wanted to say, Xu Yuejia, your topic shift is a bit abrupt.

"I have no particular thoughts. You are his father, and I am his stepmother. That's all."

Wen Ye paused, thinking for a moment before continuing, "As for his background, we'll decide whether to tell him when he's older."

After all, children should have a complete childhood.

"But Husband," Wen Ye probed, "you promised me."

Xu Yuejia continued, "Everything still stands as you wish."

Wen Ye added, "I'll take it for now, but if you ever regret it, be sure to tell me immediately."

Xu Yuejia suddenly wondered, "What if there ever comes a day?"

Wen Ye replied with complete clarity and honesty, "I will naturally arrange for you to take in a concubine."

If Xu Yuejia had never made her any promises, upon learning that Xu Yuxuan was not Xu Yuejia's biological son, she might have considered giving up on the idea of having children, given the era she was born into.

But now, she had already enjoyed the happiness and peace of mind that came with those promises.

And Madam Lu, how fortunate she was to meet such a wonderful sister-in-law.

Xu Yuejia stated firmly, "That day will never come."

Wen Ye still advised, "Husband, don't be too sure of that."

Xu Yuejia pondered for a moment, then agreed, "Indeed."

Wen Ye turned to him, puzzled. "Hmm?"

Xu Yuejia looked intently at her. "Let's leave everything to time."

Wen Ye thought it over and agreed, "Yes, future matters will be handled by our future selves."

For now, let's enjoy life.

...

Xu Yuxuan, having played enough in the snow outside, ran into the house and straight to his parents. After calling out "Mother" and "Father," he looked expectantly at Wen Ye. "Mother, I want to eat the big meat for dinner tonight."

The "big meat" Xu Yuxuan was referring to was the fried pork chops Wen Ye had made a while ago. Xu Yuxuan once saw it before it was cut into small pieces and had since referred to it as "big meat."

Knowing Xu Yuxuan's true background, even with a cool and detached nature, Wen Ye couldn't help but feel a pang of compassion for the child in front of her. So, she quickly agreed, "Alright, I'll have the kitchen prepare it for you."

Children are highly sensitive to emotions, and Xu Yuxuan looked at Wen Ye with a hint of confusion.

He didn't know why, but he felt that his mother was different.

Curiously, Xu Yuxuan continued, "Then I also want braised pork?"

"Sure."

"And roast lamb chops?"

Wen Ye agreed wholeheartedly, "As long as your little tummy can handle it, I'll get them all prepared for you."

Relieved, Xu Yuxuan's eyes lit up with joy. "Then tonight, I want to sleep with Mommy!"

"No can do," Wen Ye swiftly dispelled his hopes, "You were playing with fire earlier."

Although Xu Yuxuan didn't understand why playing with fire meant he couldn't sleep with his mother, he could sense the rejection.

Pouting instinctively, he huffed, "Hmph!"