Chapter 62

Lu Bao'er normally doesn't have to take care of a child; now that it's early summer, she thinks of fulfilling her motherly duty by giving the child a bath. By "bath" she merely means splashing water nearby and lending a hand, while everything else is the work of maids and wet nurses.

Xie Junling had just returned to the residence and saw no one to greet him; normally Lu Bao'er would run to him, but now that Jin brother was here, everything felt different. He felt uneasy and went straight into the inner chamber. Seeing Lu Bao'er squat down to wash the naked Jin brother, his complexion darkened instantly.

Lu Bao'er saw Xie Junling enter, her eyes brightened and her smile curved: "Husband, you're back?"

Lu Bao'er remained enthusiastic toward him, and Xie Junling's mood softened a bit, instructing: "From now on let the nanny wash Jin brother; you needn't do it yourself. A child should not grow up in a woman's hands and must not be spoiled from an early age."

Hearing that, Lu Bao'er was startled and said, "But…"

"Hm?"

Lu Bao'er said hoarsely, "Jin brother is only five months old."

"…" Xie Junling also felt the statement lacked persuasiveness, but he found Jin brother eyesore and didn't want Lu Bao'er attending to the boy all day.

Lu Bao'er sensed something, pursed her lips and smiled, "Husband, are you jealous?"

"Jealous of Jin brother?" Xie Junling gave a cold smile, "You hold him in too high regard; he isn't even worth my jealousy."

"Oh?"

"If this brat bothers me, I could father several more legitimate sons with you, and then the one who receives sole favor won't be this eldest legitimate son."

Lu Bao'er choked on a sigh, "…" Indeed, it was full of malice!

Days passed one by one; Xie Jin spoke early, and by age two could say a few words like "dad, mom." Perhaps fearing Xie Junling, he refused to call him "dad" no matter what, but his "mom" was clear and fluent.

So he's a little flatterer; Xie Junling realized this and found him even more off‑putting. Yet his displeasure only applied when the boy clung to Lu Bao'er; outside, Xie Junling would occasionally boast about this clever legitimate eldest son with a sense of pride.

However, Jiang was still sharp, and after another two years, under Xie Junling's strenuous efforts, Lu Bao'er gave birth to a legitimate daughter. A daughter naturally demands pampering, and Lu Bao'er felt she shouldn't spoil her son any longer, unlike before when she indulged his whims.

Xie Junling was relaxed throughout his body, and from time to time he would tell his four‑ or five‑year‑old son, "Mother likes your sister more because she's cute; understand?"

Xie Jin also smiled faintly, addressing his smiling‑tiger father: "Hmm, father is right. Mother likes sister more than me, even more than father does."

"Is that so?"

"Of course."

The adult and child faced each other with smiling faces, yet the atmosphere didn't seem very good.

Lu Bao'er told her well‑behaved little daughter that such a scene was a bit frightening and that they should flee quickly. Of course, that's a later discussion; for now, set it aside.

At this moment, three‑year‑old Xie Jin, seeing thunder and rain, hurried into the courtyard looking for Lu Bao'er, his face pale as he shouted "mom," and Lu Bao'er, feeling sorry, let Xie Jin lie on the couch and coaxed him to sleep.

Xie Junling saw that it was windy and rainy today and thought that with such weather, holding Lu Bao'er on the couch would be perfect. So, delighted, he changed into a bamboo‑green inner garment and got onto the couch, only to have Lu Bao'er wave her hand at him, saying, "Be gentle; Jin brother is asleep."

Hearing that, Xie Junling's expression immediately soured; he squinted and said, "Why does this boy sleep in his own courtyard and sneak into the inner chamber?"

Lu Bao'er looked at the son seeking her protection, her features softening: "Children are afraid of the dark, so they naturally hide in their parents' arms."

"A man should stand tall; even a little thunder can frighten him—what use is that?" Xie Junling also realized his words were overly harsh for Xie Jin, who was only two and understood nothing. Yet in the courtyard there were many maids and wet nurses attending him, and he still clung to Lu Bao'er—what kind of thing is that?

Nonetheless, Xie Junling did feel affection for the child; he said only that one sentence and said no more. At this point he turned a blind eye, letting Xie Jin sleep between them. The child was a burden; he couldn't get close to Lu Bao'er, nor could he drive him away, and the thunderstorm night felt indeed frightening, so staying with a close person was better.

Lu Bao'er said something to Xie Junling, "Honestly, the moment I gave birth to Jin brother, I deeply regretted having a child. Now that he's grown, his features have opened up, and seeing how much he resembles you, my heart feels a bit warm."

Xie Junling could not forget what happened that day; recalling it filled him with dread, fearing that Lu Bao'er might have a mishap. If that happened, don't blame him for being ruthless—surely the midwife would think of how to save the mother, and whether the child lived or not was beyond his concern. He only feared losing Lu Bao'er; nothing else truly frightened him.

Xie Junling also whispered, "Hmm, I take matters of offspring lightly; if that harmed your health, I would regret it. Fortunately, mother and child are safe, and nothing went wrong."

"The physicians and midwives in the residence are the best in Jingdu; the maternal grandmother specially summoned them for protection, so there's no need to worry." Lu Bao'er squeezed Xie Junling's slightly chilled palm, "Husband, look, am I not fine?"

"Hmm." Xie Junling looked at her face, seeing her eyes as bright as before, and felt a bit at ease. Then he slipped his hand over Lu Bao'er's back of the hand, pressed a kiss to her lips, "Fortunately you're unharmed; otherwise I would have given Jin brother a lesson."

Jin brother was woken by his parents; still sleepy, he asked, "Lesson… what?"

Xie Jin feared Xie Junling; he always thought his father was strict, even considering fleeing with his mother, not understanding why his mother lived with Xie Junling. Of course, he was still scheming; if Xie Junling discovered this little rabbit trying to coax Lu Bao'er away from the Xie residence to run off together, Xie Junling would certainly have his butt cracked open.

Hearing her son ask that, Lu Bao'er patted Xie Jin's head and said, "It's fine, Jin brother, are you awake? Want some porridge? Shall I have the old nanny steam the bean‑paste egg‑yolk rabbit buns you love?" Xie Jin was still at the age of loving cute‑looking pastries, and hearing his mother gently coax him to eat, he instantly pushed the earlier words from his mind.

He shouted with joy, waiting for Lu Bao'er to order the old nanny to steam the buns.

Xie Junling saw the boy becoming more demanding and still trying to stay, and his anger boiled over. He was most annoyed by anyone eating inside the inner chamber; previously Lu Bao'er ate there, and there was nothing he could do but indulge his delicate wife. Why should the son eat inside the inner chamber? Seeing him try again to drive the boy away, Lu Bao'er gave him a swift glance, and he helplessly pressed his forehead, his thoughts scattering.

Forget it; if he made things hard for Xie Jin, Lu Bao'er would feel sorry, and then Xie Junling would not only gain nothing but also be despised by his daughter‑in‑law, making it not worth it.

Clearly, children are a curse; if you can avoid having them, don't; a lifetime with just a pair of people is fine.

--------- Aside ---------

Wenwen will finish on the 11th~~ probably just a few days away~