The Laid-back Life of a Stepmother

In the sixteenth year of Qingde, during mid-spring.

At the back of Puqing Temple in the outskirts, the two-year-old Lu Yaoxin held a small bamboo basket in one hand while picking peach blossoms that had fallen on the stone wall with the other. Two maidservants followed closely behind, ensuring her safety.

Little Yaoxin took small, unhurried steps, picking the blossoms one by one. Just as she was about to reach the last peach blossom on the stone wall, she suddenly heard a faint, intermittent sound of crying.

Instinctively, she turned her head and said, "Sister Yunbi, the stone is crying."

The maidservant named Yunbi immediately went to investigate and found a boy, about four or five years old, hiding behind the stone wall. Judging by his attire, his family background must be quite distinguished. Yunbi recalled the prominent families who had come to Puqing Temple to offer incense that day. Among them, only Duke Xu and his wife had a child of this age.

Having a rough idea, Yunbi turned back with a smile and said, "Miss, it’s not the stone crying. There’s a young master hiding behind it."

After saying this, she crouched down and asked, "Young master, have you gotten separated from your family?"

The only response was the boy’s soft sobbing.

Yunbi was at a loss for a moment, then turned to her younger sister and said, "Yunxia, go back and report this to Madam." Little Yaoxin, however, refused to leave and insisted on staying with Yunbi.

She leaned closer and asked curiously, "Little brother, are you crying?"

Xu Mingze, having cried enough, wiped his tears with his sleeve and revealed his face, his eyes still red. "I’m not crying!" he declared. He was a man, after all—how could he cry?

Little Yaoxin covered her mouth and giggled, then pointed to the corner of his eye and said innocently, "You missed a spot here~"

Xu Mingze immediately reached up to wipe it, only to realize there was nothing there. He had been tricked. Flustered, he tried to cover his embarrassment with a glare, but when he saw that it was a girl even younger than himself, he calmed down and stubbornly insisted, "I wasn’t crying. You must have seen wrong."

Little Yaoxin tilted her head and asked, "Did something sad happen to you?"

At her words, Xu Mingze’s eyes welled up again, and he nodded. "My little sister... she’s sick."

Yaoxin understood what "sick" meant. She and her parents had come to the temple that day to pray for her grandfather’s health. "So you came here to pray too," she said.

Xu Mingze gave a low "Mmm" in response.

Yunbi noticed a group of people approaching from a distance and stepped forward to interrupt the children’s conversation. "Miss, Madam is coming."

Hearing her mother’s title, little Yaoxin immediately stood up and said, "Little brother, my mother will definitely help you find your family."

Xu Mingze shook his head. In truth, he remembered the way back to his family’s quarters. He had run out because he missed his sister too much. His sister was gone, but his father had told him to tell others that she was merely sick. Yaoxin, however, paid no heed and pulled him up. The approaching group included not only the Marquis of Ding'an and his wife but also Duke Xu.

When Xu Mingze stood up and caught sight of his father, he instinctively turned to run, but little Yaoxin, shorter than him, grabbed his arm. "Little brother, why are you running?" she asked.

For a moment, Xu Mingze felt even more sorrowful. "That’s my father," he said.

Yaoxin didn’t understand. "Then you shouldn’t run away."

Xu Mingze didn’t know how to explain that if he didn’t run, his backside would be in trouble. It was too embarrassing! But even if he could explain, it was too late—the adults were already there.

The next moment, Xu Mingze was lifted into the air. Little Yaoxin gasped in surprise, covering her slightly open mouth with both hands. Looking up, she saw a man even taller than her father.

"You must be Brother Lu’s daughter," the tall man said in a gentle voice, even as he held Xu Mingze in his hand. Yaoxin froze for a moment, then nodded.

Just then, the Marquis of Ding'an walked over, bent down, and picked up his stunned daughter. He smiled at the tall man and said, "Brother Xu, now that the child has been found, please don’t be too harsh on him."

The Marchioness of Ding'an chimed in, "Mingze is still just a child."

Duke Xu looked at his son in his hand for a moment, then said, "Very well, I’ll listen to Brother Lu and Madam."

However, as little Yaoxin boarded the carriage to go home, she heard a heart-wrenching wail coming from a carriage not far behind. She instinctively snuggled closer to her mother and looked up to ask, "Mother, didn’t Uncle say he wouldn’t hit him?"

The Marchioness of Ding'an exchanged a glance with her husband, who thought for a moment and guessed, "Probably because he didn’t want your aunt to hear, so he took him down the mountain to discipline him."

The Marchioness stroked her daughter’s head and said to her husband, "When you have the chance, talk to Duke Xu. The child is still young—he shouldn’t be punished so harshly."

The Marquis chuckled. "Don’t worry, Madam. Brother Xu knows what he’s doing. Mingze may seem a bit slow, but he’s not foolish. It’s always a lot of noise but little actual harm."

Little Yaoxin leaned against her mother, thinking to herself, "How silly he sounds when he cries."

A year later, little Yaoxin accompanied her mother to a wedding banquet at another family’s estate. In the backyard, near a rockery, she once again encountered a boy crying in secret.

She lifted her skirt and walked closer, then said, "Little brother, do you know me?"

Xu Mingze, hearing the familiar voice, looked up and saw her. "It’s you again," he said.

Yaoxin replied, "So you do know me! No wonder I felt like I’ve seen you before."

Xu Mingze wiped his tears and said, "How can you be even more forgetful than me? A year ago, we met at Puqing Temple. My sister was sick, and my parents and I went to the temple to pray for her."

Yaoxin couldn’t quite remember, no matter how hard she tried. "Really?" she asked.

Xu ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‍Mingze, who had grown taller over the past year, stood up and said, "Are you lost? Do you need me to help you find your family?"

Yaoxin shook her head and pointed to a maidservant standing in the distance. "Sister Yunbi has been following me," she said.

Xu Mingze: "..."

This wasn’t going as he had expected.

Then Yaoxin asked again, "By the way, little brother, why were you crying just now?"

Xu Mingze felt a pang in his chest. Facing her innocent expression, he somehow found himself confessing, "My mother just gave birth to a little brother."

Yaoxin’s eyes lit up. "I don’t have any younger siblings yet, but you already have both a brother and a sister. That’s so nice!"

Xu Mingze also felt that his thoughts were shameful, but he couldn’t help feeling jealous. He said dejectedly, "But ever since my brother was born, my mother hasn’t been paying much attention to me."

Yaoxin continued, "Your brother is still small, right? Can he walk yet?"

Xu Mingze shook his head. "He’s not even half a year old. He can’t even crawl yet. He’s so tiny and weak." He added that his brother had to drink medicine every few days. Xu Mingze had secretly tasted it once—it was black, bitter, and sour.

Yaoxin said, "Then you should protect him well."

Xu Mingze hesitated. "But my mother..."

Yaoxin suddenly stepped forward and touched the sash at his waist. "This pattern is so pretty. Did your family’s seamstress make it?"

Xu Mingze looked down and shook his head. "No, my mother made it for me herself."

Yaoxin said, "Then your mother must really love you, to make your clothes herself."

Xu Mingze’s expression softened for a moment.

Yaoxin patted his shoulder and asked, "Little brother, are you still crying?"

Xu Mingze wiped his eyes and said, "I’m such a bad son and brother."

Yaoxin smiled and said, "You’re not bad."

Xu Mingze’s heart stirred. "Really?"

Yaoxin nodded honestly. "You’re just a bit silly."

Xu Mingze retorted, "You’re the one who’s... never mind."

Yaoxin giggled for a moment, then asked, "Little brother, do you want me to help you find your mother?"

Xu Mingze: "...I came here with my aunt."

Four years later.

Lu Yaoxin's maternal grandmother's younger sister had recently come of age, and her grandmother was currently arranging a suitable match for her. To ensure her younger sister could marry into a good family, her grandmother had specifically invited her mother to help evaluate potential suitors, as well as to elevate her younger sister's status.

Lu Yaoxin, having spent a long time studying at home, felt a bit stifled and decided to join them for some fresh air.

It was a perfect day for a spring outing, and Lu Yaoxin accompanied her mother and grandmother to the Wangchun Pavilion in the outskirts of the city. Lu Yaoxin didn’t stay in the pavilion for long; soon, she wandered toward a nearby stream, with Yunbi and Yunxia following closely on either side.

As she watched the fish swimming in the stream, Lu Yaoxin turned and said, "Yunbi, Yunxia, let’s catch a few fish to bring back for grandmother. It’ll be a nice addition to the meal."

"Is that… Yaoxin?" a voice suddenly interrupted.

Lu Yaoxin turned toward the voice, her eyes flickering with surprise. "You’re Uncle Xu’s son, right?" Over the years, she had coincidentally seen him a few times.

Xu Mingze had initially thought he’d mistaken her. He quickly approached and said, "Yes, it’s me. What are you doing here, alone?" Lu Yaoxin replied, "No, I’m here with my mother and grandmother."

At just over ten years old, Xu Mingze was already growing tall and sturdy, having started martial arts training early. Lu Yaoxin’s first impression of him was that he looked so much like his father, Uncle Xu, both towering and strong.

Xu Mingze scratched his head and said, "Let me help you catch the fish." He then set down the half-picked flowers he was holding and began to take off his shoes and socks.

Lu Yaoxin, startled, took two steps back and quickly stopped him. "No need, we brought tools."

"Xu Mingze!"

Duke Xu suddenly appeared, picking up the flowers Xu Mingze had discarded. "Why did you throw these on the ground?" he scolded, his tone harsh.

Lu Yaoxin hurried to explain, "Uncle Xu, he was just trying to help me catch fish and put the flowers down temporarily. Please don’t blame him."

When Duke Xu turned to Lu Yaoxin, his tone softened naturally. "Uncle Xu won’t scold him," he said gently. Relieved, Lu Yaoxin asked, "Are you out for a spring outing too, Uncle Xu?"

She had rarely seen Duke Xu, and compared to the few times she had, she noticed he seemed to have aged quickly. Duke Xu smiled kindly and shook his head. "Your Aunt Xu wanted to see the flowers in the countryside, so I brought Mingze and Yuejia to pick some."

Lu Yaoxin immediately asked with concern, "How is Aunt Xu’s health? Has it improved?" Duke Xu’s smile faded slightly as he replied, "She’s much better. She’s even been able to get out of bed recently."

Lu Yaoxin said, "We’re planning to catch some fresh fish. Why don’t you take a couple back for Aunt Xu to make fish soup?" Meanwhile, Xu Mingze quietly slipped over to his younger brother, who had arrived a few steps later, and whispered, "Brother, Father has never smiled at us like that." Xu Yuejia glanced at him but said nothing.

Young Xu Yuejia appeared frailer than other children his age. Xu Mingze had long understood that their mother paid more attention to his younger brother because he was often ill.

Even though he had a younger brother, his mother’s love for him hadn’t diminished in the slightest. His role was to be a filial son to his mother and a good older brother to Yuejia.

Xu Yuejia held a small, neatly tied bundle of wildflowers, while Xu Mingze’s were a messy assortment.

...

In the end, Duke Xu left with two fresh fish, leading his two sons back home. Upon returning, he instructed the kitchen to prepare one of the fish into soup.

The Duchess, who had little appetite in recent days, surprisingly drank two bowls of the simple fish and tofu soup. It was just an ordinary soup, without any expensive ingredients. Sitting by the bed, the Duchess asked curiously, "What made you think of making fish and tofu soup?"

Duke Xu set down the empty bowl and said, "The fish was a gift from Lu’s daughter. She and her mother were out for a spring outing, and we happened to run into them."

The Duchess thought for a moment, a faint smile appearing on her pale face. "That little girl… She must be very beautiful and well-behaved."

Duke Xu immediately grasped his wife’s thin hand, his voice choked with emotion. "We’ll find her… we will."

After that spring outing, Lu Yaoxin seemed to run into Xu Mingze eight out of ten times whenever she went out.

When she was twelve, Xu Mingze suddenly told her he was leaving for the military.

The boy, now in his early teens, had changed dramatically.

Today was the first birthday celebration of Xu Mingze’s aunt’s second son. His uncle had once served as a deputy general under Lu Yaoxin’s grandfather, so the two families were close.

Lu Yaoxin had come with her aunt.

Xu Mingze stood at a distance from her, his head lowered as he stared at his feet. "I… I’m leaving soon," he said.

Lu Yaoxin, now a graceful young lady, replied gently, "Then I wish you success in the military, Brother Xu."

Xu Mingze glanced up briefly before looking down again, hesitating as he whispered, "I’ll be back in three years. Will you wait for me?" His voice grew softer toward the end, and Lu Yaoxin didn’t catch the last part. "What did you say?"

Xu Mingze pressed his lips together, unsure how to phrase it.

This feeling had been growing in him since three years ago, when he brought her to his mother’s bedside.

But she was still so young.

The atmosphere grew awkward.

Just then, Xu Yuejia, who had been passing by, suddenly spoke up. "Brother is asking if you’ll wait for him for a few years."

Xu Mingze’s face turned bright red. He turned to his brother, both embarrassed and furious, silently mouthing, "Xu Yuejia!!!"

Lu Yaoxin wasn’t faring much better, her cheeks flushing crimson.

Without thinking, she turned and ran.

No matter how Xu Mingze called after her, she didn’t look back.

...

"Yaoxin… Yaoxin, wake up."

Madam Lu stirred awake, her gaze falling on Duke Xu, who now looked decades older. For a moment, she was disoriented, realizing it had all been a dream.

Duke Xu helped her sit up and said, "You shouldn’t have had that drink with your sister-in-law last night. Now you’ve got a headache, don’t you?"

Madam Lu rubbed her forehead and retorted, "It was just one glass of iced drink. It’s not as bad as you’re making it out to be."

Duke Xu sighed. "I’ll call the physician to take a look at you."

Madam Lu replied, "If you’d stop nagging, my headache would go away on its own."

Duke Xu: "..."

In the past, she had always addressed him as "Duke" or, at the very least, "husband." But in recent years, influenced by who knows what, her attitude toward him in private had become rather "sharp."

Once she was settled, Madam Lu continued, "I just had a dream."

Duke Xu asked curiously, "What did you dream about?"

Madam Lu looked at his aging face, his eyes still as vivid as in her dream, and smiled. "I dreamed of when we were young, and you cried in front of me."

Duke Xu’s expression stiffened. "That was decades ago. How come you still remember?"

Before Madam Lu could respond, Qingxue hurried in. "Madam, Second Madam has an urgent matter and wishes to see you."

Madam Lu allowed her in and asked, "What’s the matter with Second Madam?"

Qingxue curtsied and replied, "Third Young Master and Third Young Madam have left their daughter, Zhen, behind and run off. Second Madam doesn’t know what to do."

Madam Lu: "… Didn’t Xuan’er and Qing just return less than half a month ago?"

Qingxue: "Tao Zhi said Second Madam had the house searched, and all they found was a letter Third Young Master left behind."

Duke Xu sighed at this. "They say Second Madam is Xuan’er’s stepmother, but she seems more like his real mother." Equally unreliable.

Xu Yuxuan had married at the age of twenty. His wife wasn’t from a noble family or the daughter of an official but a woman from the martial world, two years his senior.

Madam Lu had only met her twice: once at their wedding and the second time just half a month ago, when the couple returned to Sheng Jing with their daughter, born during his posting.

The Duke’s residence had been lively with the rare burst of new energy.

The lively atmosphere hadn't even settled when the couple ran off again, this time leaving their daughter behind. Madam Lu couldn't stop worrying about her sweet and gentle grandniece. She immediately said, "Qingxue, fetch my clothes. I need to go check on her." Meanwhile, in the West Second Courtyard.

Wen Ye tugged at the little girl's flower-shaped bun and asked, "Tell me, where did your parents go?"

The little girl was licking a stick of candied hawthorn and shook her head innocently. "Grandmother, I don't know."

Wen Ye wasn't convinced. "These little tricks of yours might fool your great-grandmother, but they won't work on me. You ate my candied hawthorn, so you have to tell me."

The little girl still shook her head and said, "Grandmother, do you not like Zhenzhen?"

As soon as she finished speaking, her eyes turned red.

Wen Ye thought to herself, "At such a young age, she's already learned how to play the victim. What has Xu Yuxuan been teaching her all these years?" She immediately turned to the person sitting at the head of the room and said, "Xu Yuejia, come here."

Xu Yuejia closed his book, stood up, and walked over. He bent down slightly, his eyes softening as he asked, "Tell your grandfather, where did your parents go?"

The little girl avoided the question and instead looked down at her candied hawthorn. "Grandfather, this candied hawthorn is so delicious. Zhenzhen has never had such a tasty snack before."

Xu Yuejia frowned. "Your father doesn't even buy you candied hawthorn normally?"

Wen Ye, hearing this, could only feel exasperated. "Great, another one led astray."

She looked up and asked Yunbi, "Go and see if sister-in-law has arrived yet."

The little girl asked curiously, "Is Great-grandmother coming?"

Wen Ye smiled slightly and said, "Yes, otherwise who will take care of you?"

The little girl showed an expression of "I knew it" and said, "No wonder Father said before he left that I should focus on pleasing Great-grandmother."

Wen Ye: "..."

Xu Yuejia gently patted the back of her head, his eyes smiling. "Tomorrow morning, during the court session, I'll ask him which county he went to this time."

Over the years, Xu Yuxuan had accomplished much in his official duties and could have returned to the capital long ago. However, compared to Sheng Jing, he preferred working in the provinces. With an uncle as the emperor, he had the freedom to do so.

Wen Ye gritted her teeth and said, "I'm going to send him two large boxes of dried cilantro."

Cilantro was Xu Yuxuan's most hated vegetable.

The little girl, with half a candied hawthorn in her mouth, nodded in agreement. Although she had promised her father to keep his whereabouts a secret, that didn't stop her from joining her grandmother in condemning him.

Meanwhile, Xu Yuxuan, who had already been out of the city for half a day, rode his horse against the wind and suddenly sneezed.

Qin Qing glanced back at him.

Xu Yuxuan quickly explained, "Hahaha, it must be Mother thinking of me. She must really miss me."

Qin Qing's usually cold expression softened for a moment. "Are you sure?"

Though she hadn't met Xu Yuxuan's mother many times, based on her limited understanding, that didn't seem likely.

Xu Yuxuan laughed and said, "What else could it be, Little Qingqing?"

Qin Qing's expression instantly returned to its usual coolness. "Shut up."

Xu Yuxuan's eyes gleamed with mischief as he shook his head. "No~" Even in his twenties, he was as childish as ever.

Qin Qing: "..."

The next moment, she suddenly whipped her horse, leaving Xu Yuxuan far behind. Soon, all he could see was the faint outline of her back.

As a child, he couldn't catch up to his mother; as an adult, he couldn't catch up to his wife.

—The End—