"Has the prime minister returned home?" Xu Shichu asked the housekeeper when he brought Du Zhao back.
"Back to Madam, the master has returned and is handling official business in the study." The housekeeper replied respectfully.
Xu Shichu walked towards Luo Changqing's study.
When he arrived at the door, he was stopped by Shu Qi who was guarding the door: "Madam, please stay. The master is discussing official matters with his subordinates and cannot be disturbed. If madam has something to do, you can come back later."
Xu Shichu nodded. She didn't feel humiliated after being stopped. After all, they were doing business. She asked, "How long will it take for him to finish?"
"I don't know. If Madam has something urgent, I can help you send a message to the master." Shu Qi said.
"It's not an important matter, it's just that I have adopted a child from a relative and will bring him back to live in my yard. All the supplies for the child will come from the income of my own shop and will not cost the Prime Minister's money. This matter When the Prime Minister has finished his official duties, just tell him and I won't wait any longer." Xu Shichu finished the matter neatly and left without waiting for Shu Qi's reply.
Only then did Shu Qi see the maid behind her holding a sleeping child of about two or three years old. He was startled and quickly replied: "I will report the truth to the master."
Although Du Zhao had already seen the imperial doctor, he was busy arranging his parents' funeral at Du's house and couldn't think of making medicine for him, so Xu Shichu hurriedly went back and asked someone to make medicine for him, otherwise the cold would drag him down for a long time. It won't be good if it becomes a disease.
Luo Changqing and his subordinates discussed business matters until nightfall. After everyone left, Shu Qi quickly returned to the study and told Luo Changqing about Xu Shichu:
"Madam brought a child back from outside the house today. She said it was an adopted child from a relative." After Shu Qi said this, when he was about to say the next sentence, he suddenly realized that Xu Shichu specifically pointed out that she had to pay for the cost of raising the child herself. The hidden meaning.
He knew the real relationship between the nominal couple, but he didn't expect that the lady would separate herself from the prime minister's house so much, but it was none of his business as a small subordinate.
Shu Qi still said the last words of Xu Shichu: "Madam also said that the prime minister's house does not have to pay for all the expenses for the child, she will pay for it herself."
There was no expression on Luo Changqing's face, as if what he heard was not that his wife was going to adopt a child, but other insignificant things, and he asked nonchalantly: "Is this the child of some relative of God? "
"This... madam didn't make it too clear." Shu Qi lowered his head and replied, uncertainly, "Maybe it's someone's child in Uncle Ning Yuan's house?"
However, Luo Changqing didn't think that Xu Shichu would still want to get involved with the people in Uncle Ning Yuan's mansion, let alone adopt a child from that mansion. Besides, there were so many people in Uncle Ning Yuan's mansion, why would a married aunt of her need to adopt a child?
Luo Changqing originally didn't want to take care of Xu Shichu's matter, but the situation in the court was unstable recently, and the princes' powers were complicated. He was afraid that the Prime Minister's Mansion would be plotted against Xu Shichu again, so he had to patiently say: "Let Madam come over. Let’s make this matter clearer.”
"By the way, let someone check on the child so as not to be fooled." Although Luo Changqing didn't think she would be fooled, it was prudent to investigate more. Luo Changqing has a high position and authority. Characterized by suspicion and caution.
Luo Changqing rubbed his temples. He had a headache from using his brain too much. Somehow, his mind suddenly thought of Xu Shichu's garden full of blooming flowers and the elegant, sweet and refreshing fragrance of flowers.
"Forget it, Madam doesn't need to come over. I'll go find her myself." Luo Changqing said. Although it was already dark and I couldn't appreciate the flowers all over the sky, the fragrance could be smelled without any hindrance. Go there for a walk , It would be good to take a walk and relax - Luo Changqing thought.
At this time, Xu Shichu had finished dinner, and Du Zhao also drank medicine and fell asleep. As soon as Luo Changqing arrived, he had to let the servants who had calmed down start busy entertaining him.
"Why is the Prime Minister here? Didn't you hear what your entourage told you?" Xu Shichu asked lazily, without getting up to salute. She was leaning on the chair and reading a book before - there was no way, the ancient way of entertainment at night was really Too little, she could only read books.
"I heard it, but adopting a child is not a simple matter. It would be better for Madam to explain things more clearly, such as the origin of this child." Luo Changqing held up the newly brewed tea, which was not too hot, and leaned in to smell it. Smell it, it is mint tea with a slightly refreshing smell, and you will feel refreshed immediately after smelling it.
Luo Changqing squinted his eyes slightly and enjoyed it. The corners of his usually tight lips relaxed, and he felt that all the fatigue he had felt before was gone.
There are always some unexpected surprises when you come to her place, Luo Changqing suddenly had such an idea in his mind.
Xu Shichu thought that Du Zhao was not a shameful child, and his identity and origins were very innocent, so he said directly:
"Du Zhao is the biological grandson of my mother's cousin. There are no relatives in the family anymore, and the family is unreliable. His parents died of illness one after another, so he was finally entrusted to me. I just finished the funeral for his parents today."
"Who are his family members? What do they do? Is there anyone left in his mother's family? Why did you entrust him to such a distant relative?" Luo Changqing asked a bunch of questions casually.
Xu Shichu rolled his eyes secretly in his heart, was he going to ask all the eighteen generations of his ancestors?
However, there is nothing worth concealing. Xu Shichu answered honestly: "His father's name is Du Qian. This year's Jinshi class fell ill just after leaving the examination room and passed away after more than a month. I don't know about his mother. However, their ancestral home is in Suzhou, Weicheng, so their mother's family is also there, right? The distant water cannot quench their thirst, so they have no choice but to look for me, a distant relative. His grandfather was the regiment training envoy of Suzhou, Weicheng, and his ancestors have evidence. It was checked, if you are worried, send someone to check again and it will become clear."
Luo Changqing pondered and nodded. Weicheng Suzhou is a border city, and the place is a bit sensitive. The regiment training envoy also involves military power, but the official position is so small, and all the people who can handle things are dead, leaving only a baby. Those people with all kinds of thoughts can't do it even if they want to, right?
Do those people think that I would do something irrational for the son of a distant relative of my wife? Luo Changqing sneered in his heart, does he regard me as a person who is so lustful that he is mentally retarded? That's too ridiculous.
Thinking of this, Luo Changqing has already ruled out the suspicion that Xu Shichu may have been plotted, so there is probably no problem with the child's identity.
"In this case, if Madam wants to adopt him, she can adopt him. All his supplies can be provided by the mansion, and the prime minister's mansion won't be able to raise a child." Luo Changqing said slowly.
"No, he is a relative of mine. I can just raise him by myself. I owe the Prime Minister's Mansion too much and I'm afraid he won't be able to pay it back in the future." Xu Shichu said with a fake smile on his lips.
Nothing in this world is free, and she doesn't want Du Zhao to get too involved with the Prime Minister's Mansion.
"That's up to you." Luo Changqing said nonchalantly.
