Chapter 7: Little Old Me

Yan Luo maintained a calm expression.

She met Chu Yue's gaze without a hint of fear.

The First Madam still possessed her senses and hurriedly ordered the servants to go and fetch a physician.

At that moment, she saw the people from the Third Branch and asked back, "Why are Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law here as well?"

The Duke of Zhong said irritably, "If it weren't for your Third Brother discovering it first, I'm afraid Lin Ren would have been lying on the ground for a long time!"

The First Madam's eyes flickered with suspicion and uncertainty.

The Third Madam, Tong Qingyu, said gently, "Yan Luo was pushing Third Master to the back garden to admire the flowers. When they passed the corner gate, they saw Eldest Brother lying on the ground."

"When we helped him up, we saw a pool of egg liquid and some eggshells where he fell. It might have been a bird's nest that fell from a tree, causing him to accidentally slip on it."

Slipping on eggs? Falling so hard he couldn't get up? That was far too strange!

The First Madam was full of questions, but she had no time to ask them.

The Eldest Master was groaning incessantly from the pain, and her heart raced along with his cries.

After the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the Second Master arrived first, bringing a physician with him.

"Father, what happened? I heard Eldest Brother fell, so I hurried to bring a physician to take a look."

"How is it that you just happened to be with a physician?" the Duke of Zhong asked.

The Second Master said, "Shiying had a headache this morning, and my wife asked me to fetch a physician for him. I just happened to hear from the gatekeeper that Eldest Brother had fallen, so I came."

Everyone hurriedly made way to let the physician examine the Eldest Master.

After a period of exertion, the physician shook his head.

"It has been delayed too long. If a physician had been called immediately to apply acupuncture to restore the flow of Qi and blood, then... even if he recovers in the future, he might end up a cripple."

Upon hearing this, the Eldest Master grew so anxious that he tried to leap out of bed to strike the physician.

"Say that to me one more time! I am the legitimate eldest son of the Duke's Mansion, a fourth-rank official of the imperial court, and you say I will become a cripple in the future?"

The physician hurriedly hid behind the Second Master.

The Second Master said, "Eldest Brother, calm your anger. Don't move around, or you might get injured further!"

"What kind of quack did you find! Are you trying to make things worse for me on purpose?"

"Eldest Brother, what kind of words are those? I brought a physician to treat you; am I in the wrong?"

The Eldest Master and the Second Master nearly came to blows.

The scene became momentarily chaotic.

At this moment, Yan Luo discovered that at some unknown point, the Third Madam, Tong Qingyu, had stepped in front of her, likely fearing she would be caught in the crossfire.

But in the next moment, Third Master Lin Li also silently pushed his wheelchair forward, shielding them from the front.

It had to be said, the two of them were very prescient.

Many maids and servants from both the First and Second Branches rushed in, attempting to mediate and pull their respective masters back.

Yan Luo saw the Second Master accidentally step on the top of Lin Li's foot.

The Second Master had a plump and sturdy build; in that instant, Yan Luo thought quite unfilially—

*Fortunately, Third Dad's legs have no sensation, otherwise he'd be crying from being stepped on.*

As more and more people entered, the Third Branch's presence was small, and they were pushed into a corner, unnoticed by anyone.

A roar from the Duke of Zhong caused everyone to stop their clamor.

"Second and Third, both of you return to your respective courtyards first."

The First Madam said through tears, "Someone, get my token! Go to the palace and request a royal physician!"

With nothing left to watch in the First Branch, Yan Luo reached out her small hands, wanting to push Lin Li out the door.

Who knew that Lin Li had long been on guard against the little fellow; he grabbed her small hands, gave a push, and tossed her into the arms of the Third Madam, Tong Qingyu.

He then let his attendants push him away.

Returning to the Third Branch's quarters, they went into the Third Madam Tong Qingyu's room.

Once the door was closed, the family of three, who were not particularly close, sat in silence.

Lin Li was the first to break the silence, asking Yan Luo coldly, "You suddenly burst into my study and pushed me toward the back garden. Did you know all along that Eldest Brother would fall?"

This morning, Yan Luo had headed straight for Lin Li's study.

Lin Li, who had just prepared to appreciate some calligraphy and paintings, was pushed out by her without any resistance, still holding a teacup he hadn't yet sipped from.

His legs were broken, so he couldn't struggle or escape; he could only watch helplessly as Yan Luo pushed him to the location of the back garden's corner gate.

"What are you doing!" Lin Li had scolded at the time, the veins on his forehead bulging.

Unexpectedly, Yan Luo had said in a milky voice, "Third Dad, wait for me, I'll call Third Mom over too."

She had bolted away, her little feet moving like flaming wheels.

Before long, the Third Madam, Tong Qingyu, was indeed dragged there by her.

While the three of them were staring at each other, they heard cries for help and groans from not far away.

Upon going over, they discovered it was the Eldest Master who had fallen.

The Duke of Zhong, who had been heading to the back garden via the corner gate to practice martial arts, happened to pass by and rushed over upon hearing the noise.

Thus, the Duke of Zhong didn't even enter the back garden, busy as he was with saving the Eldest Master.

Yan Luo had even taught the Third Madam, Tong Qingyu, to send someone to ask the First Madam for help.

"Tell them to ask the physician at Old Grandfather's courtyard," the little one had instructed.

The situation had been chaotic then, so the Third Madam hadn't thought much of it and simply instructed the maid as she said.

The Eldest Master's leg was broken, and even moving caused pain.

Lin Li was someone who had experienced a broken leg before; he knew that one shouldn't move around recklessly when a leg was injured, otherwise, a minor injury could turn into a major one.

Who could have imagined that the First Madam, who was usually steady and thorough, would fail to even fetch a physician today, leaving the Eldest Master to lie on the ground for a long time.

In the end, the Duke of Zhong had to harden his heart and have someone carry the Eldest Master back to his room on a stretcher.

Leaving him on the ground was not an option.

Yan Luo blinked her long, thick eyelashes. She thought for a moment before saying, "Third Dad, I had a nightmare. I dreamed that the person who was supposed to fall this time was Grandfather."

"He would have fallen very seriously and died due to delayed treatment. I pushed you over there because I originally wanted to save Grandfather, but I didn't expect Eldest Uncle to be the one who fell."

"It seems Eldest Uncle helped Grandfather avoid a disaster." Her voice was clear, full of a child's innocence.

The Third Madam, Tong Qingyu, sighed beside her, "It truly is a twist of fate. I don't know what happened to Eldest Sister-in-law today; she sent the physicians away and delayed Eldest Brother's treatment."

Third Master's cold, dark eyes stared at Yan Luo.

He had a feeling that things were not as simple as this little fellow was making them out to be.

"Don't touch my wheelchair next time, or you can get lost," Lin Li warned in a low, cold tone.

He had to act fierce, otherwise, this child would become increasingly clingy.

The Third Madam, Tong Qingyu, frowned.

How could he use such language in front of a child?

Yan Luo looked at Lin Li, her small hands clutching her sleeves, her large eyes beneath her straight bangs shimmering with an innocent light.

A moment later, she said cautiously, "This old guy knows..."

Both Lin Li and Tong Qingyu's eyes widened.

She couldn't take it anymore. No matter how good-tempered Tong Qingyu was, she couldn't help but scold Lin Li, "Third Master! Look at you, what kind of bad influence are you having on the child!"

Lin Li grew anxious, "Don't imitate me, you're a child."

Yan Luo looked aggrieved, "The little old guy knows..."

Before Lin Li could correct her again, Yan Luo twisted her small body and dove straight into Tong Qingyu's arms.

"Waaa, Third Mom, I'm scared! Why is Third Dad unhappy no matter what I say!"

Tong Qingyu was heartbroken. She picked Yan Luo up and patted her back to soothe her, "Don't be scared, don't be scared, Third Mom is here."

She shot a glance at Lin Li, her tone icy, "Third Master, let's go. Since you don't like Yan Luo, I will raise this child."

Lin Li was stunned.

Ever since Tong Qingyu had married into the family, she had always been gentle and composed, maintaining a calm demeanor even in crises.

She was actually turning a cold face toward him for the sake of this child?

"You raise her? You are also part of the Third Branch; can you raise her without my permission?"

"I am your legally wedded wife and the Third Madam of the Third Branch. I have the right to keep this child."

Yan Luo looked up with her large eyes, looking both aggrieved and adorable.

Her slender, fair little hands wrapped around Tong Qingyu's neck, and she rested her face against her shoulder.

Tong Qingyu's heart melted; she felt as if she were holding a ball of cotton that smelled faintly of milk.

"Be good, Third Mom will take you to see the flowers." Tong Qingyu carried Yan Luo away.

Lin Li suddenly felt isolated. He opened his mouth several times, wanting to say something, but held himself back.

"Do whatever you want!" He threw down those words and was pushed away by his attendants.

Meanwhile, inside the First Branch's room, which had finally grown quiet.

"Chu Yue, kneel down," the First Madam said expressionlessly.