The Old Madam had once been a bandit queen; there was no storm she hadn't weathered. What did it matter that her granddaughter had brought home two beggars? She immediately cast a glance at the inexperienced servant and said indifferently, "I know. Once the Second Miss has settled them in, ask her to come over."
Lin Hao instructed the steward, "Take A-Xing and Little Moon to bathe and change into clean clothes. Little Moon is ill, so arrange for him to take his medicine and rest first..."
The steward nodded as he listened, "Don't worry, Second Miss, I will go arrange it right away."
Lin Hao smiled at A-Xing, "I'm going to speak with my family first. I'll come find you in a little while."
A-Xing didn't make a sound; he was clearly extremely nervous.
He couldn't help but be nervous.
Such a large place, such bright rooms, and so many people dressed in fine clothes—carrying his younger brother, he felt like an alien who had stumbled into a fairyland, terrified and at a loss.
Was this her home? Did she want them to stay here?
Seeing A-Xing's tension, Lin Hao smiled, "I'll be back soon. Just listen to the steward's arrangements."
"You—" Seeing Lin Hao turn away, A-Xing took half a step in pursuit.
Lin Hao turned back, "What is it?"
A-Xing hesitated, then shook his head.
"Then I'm off."
A-Xing stared at Lin Hao's back as she disappeared through the doorway, his entire body growing even more rigid.
The steward’s attitude toward A-Xing was very polite, "Little brother, please follow me."
A-Xing remained expressionless, his hands tightening on his back where he carried his brother.
No matter how good this place looked, he couldn't let his guard down.
The steward frowned inwardly.
Why would the Second Miss bring two little beggars home? This older one looked a bit prickly; if he were really to be kept in the manor as a servant, he probably wouldn't be a docile one.
Despite these thoughts, because they were brought back by Lin Hao personally, the steward dared not be negligent and ordered people to help the two brothers bathe.
What surprised the steward was that after bathing and changing, the two brothers were actually quite good-looking; even though they were scrawny, one could see their refined features.
Especially the older one, who looked to be about the same age as the Second Miss; after changing his clothes, he could be called handsome.
And this was while they were wind-blown and sun-scorched, underfed and under-clothed. If they were raised for a while—
The steward shook his head violently, shaking off the thought that had suddenly popped up.
Impossible, impossible. The Second Miss wasn't that kind of person.
Since Lin Hao had brought people home, she naturally had to tell her elders. The Old Madam and Madam Lin were waiting with curiosity, especially Madam Lin, who was itching to go over and take a look, but was held back by the Old Madam.
As soon as Lin Hao entered the room, she was pulled over by Madam Lin, "A-Hao, I heard you brought two beggars back. What is going on?"
"I met them while wandering around today. The older brother is called A-Xing, and the younger one is Little Moon. The two brothers lived under a bridge. The younger one was sick, lying in tattered cotton batting, and the older one treated a bun as hard as a rock like a treasure for his brother to eat. I felt sad seeing it, so I brought them home..." Lin Hao explained the ins and outs, concealing the fact that A-Xing had tried to snatch her purse.
Madam Lin listened and sighed, "They are indeed pitiful. You did the right thing, A-Hao. Bringing them home and giving them a bite to eat is an act of charity. How old are they?"
"A-Xing looks about my age, and Little Moon is about five or six."
"I see." Madam Lin pondered for a moment, "Little Moon can be like the other children in the manor and study with a tutor for a few years. As for what work to arrange for A-Xing, do you have any thoughts, A-Hao?"
Lin Hao was silent for a moment.
Madam Lin smiled, "If you can't think of anything, just let the steward arrange it for now."
Lin Hao pursed her lips and voiced her plan, "Mother, I wasn't thinking of having A-Xing and his brother work as servants."
Madam Lin was stunned and asked in confusion, "Then what are you planning?"
Lin Hao blinked and looked at the Old Madam, "Grandmother, Mother, could I have A-Xing as my sworn brother?"
A-Xing had saved her; to bring a savior home and make him a servant would be inviting a lightning strike.
At this, both the Old Madam and Madam Lin were stunned.
They truly hadn't expected this arrangement.
After all, the General's Manor was not an ordinary household; adopting a son required caution.
The Old Madam and Madam Lin exchanged a look, and the Old Madam asked, "A-Hao, how did you come up with such an idea?"
Kindness shouldn't be without boundaries; surely her granddaughter hadn't been tricked by someone?
Lin Hao knew this proposal wouldn't be accepted immediately and said earnestly, "Perhaps it's fate from a past life. The moment I saw A-Xing, I felt that I was missing a brother like him."
A voice came from the doorway, "What brother?"
Cheng Shu strode in, sensing that the atmosphere in the room was a bit strange.
"Shu-er is back," the Old Madam smiled.
Cheng Shu looked puzzled, "Was A-Hao just talking about me?"
Lin Hao felt a bit guilty.
She had just said she was missing a brother—surely her eldest brother hadn't heard that, right?
Madam Lin had always been easygoing and said directly, "A-Hao brought two beggars home today and wants to recognize them as sworn brothers."
Cheng Shu froze, looking at Lin Hao with an accusatory gaze, "A-Hao, do you still remember your eldest brother who is on duty at the Imperial Palace?"
He had vaguely heard A-Hao say she was missing a brother and thought he had misheard—it was actually true!
Heart-wrenching!
Lin Hao reached out and tugged at Cheng Shu's sleeve, flashing a sweet smile, "Eldest Brother, you are my own brother in my heart; no one can compare to you."
Cheng Shu nodded subconsciously.
If she put it that way, it was fine.
The Old Madam watched the interaction between the siblings and sighed inwardly.
Chan-er would be marrying into the royal family next year. She had hoped that A-Hao and Shu-er would become a pair, with the two children inheriting the General's Manor and living a stable life.
Now it seemed there was no chance.
Cheng Shu was coaxed into a good mood by Lin Hao, but he didn't forget to worry, "A-Hao, do you know them? Recognizing a sworn brother makes them family; it's not the same as just keeping a few people in the manor."
"Your eldest brother is right," Madam Lin added.
She wasn't prepared to suddenly have two more sons.
"Mother, if you are worried, can we just recognize the relationship between A-Xing and me, and have no one else change how they address him? Would that work?"
Madam Lin had always doted on her daughter; defeated by Lin Hao's pleading eyes, she looked at the Old Madam.
The Old Madam held her ground for a moment, "Call A-Xing over and let us see him."
Recognizing the relationship between just the two children was fine, but she couldn't rest easy without seeing the person.
In fact, the Old Madam and Madam Lin trusted Lin Hao's judgment.
One had to know that it was A-Hao who discovered Wen Rugui was keeping a mistress, and it was A-Hao who discovered that the Marquis of Pingjia's heir was rotten on the inside despite his golden exterior. They couldn't believe her when she identified a villain but doubt her when she identified a good person.
What made the Old Madam and Madam Lin unable to make up their minds was simply the feeling that it was too hasty. Even if he was a decent child, there was no need to become sworn siblings.
Not long after, A-Xing was brought over. Not to mention the Old Madam and the others, even A-Hao couldn't help but widen her eyes, staring at A-Xing without blinking.
The old saying was true: a person really does rely on clothes like a horse relies on a saddle.
Madam Lin suddenly understood her daughter's decision: with such a beautiful child, recognizing him as a sworn brother wasn't a loss at all!
The Old Madam was a bit startled, thinking to herself that this youth was truly too beautiful—even more so than Wen Rugui had been back in the day. Keeping such a youth in the manor, recognizing him as a sworn brother was actually a good thing.
Once bitten, twice shy; she didn't want her granddaughter to be like her daughter, falling into a trap simply because she was taken by a man's appearance.
Recognize him, recognize him.
(End of chapter)