"Has the Prime Minister returned home?" Xu Shichu asked the housekeeper when he brought Du Zhao back.
"Madam, the master has returned and is handling official business in the study." The butler replied respectfully.
Xu Shichu walked towards Luo Changqing's study.
When she reached the door, she was stopped by Shu Qi who was guarding outside. "Please stay, Madam. The master is discussing official business with his subordinates and cannot be disturbed. If you have something to do, you can come back later."
Xu Shichu nodded. She didn't feel humiliated after being stopped. After all, he was doing business. She asked, "How long will it take him to finish?"
"I don't know. If madam has something important to tell you, I can help you pass the message to the master." Shu Qi said.
"It's not a big deal. I just adopted a child from my relative's family and want to bring him back to live in my yard. All the supplies for the child will be paid from my own shop income and will not cost the prime minister's mansion any money. You just need to tell the prime minister when he finishes his official duties. I won't wait any longer." Xu Shichu finished his words neatly and left with his men without waiting for Shuqi's answer.
Shu Qi then saw 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 physician, the Du family was busy with his parents' funeral and had no time to prepare medicine for him, so Xu Shichu hurried back to ask someone to prepare medicine for him, otherwise the cold would last too long and make him sick.
Luo Changqing discussed business with his subordinates until night fell. After everyone left, Shu Qi hurried back to the study and told Luo Changqing about Xu Shichu:
"Madam brought a child back from outside the house today, saying that he was an adopted child from a relative." Shu Qi said this, and when he was about to say the next sentence, he suddenly realized the implied meaning when Xu Shichu specifically pointed out that she would pay for the child's upbringing herself.
He knew the true relationship between the nominal couple, but he did not expect that the lady would separate herself from the Prime Minister's Mansion so much. However, this was none of his business as a small subordinate.
Shu Qi still repeated Xu Shichu's last words: "Madam also said that the Prime Minister's Mansion doesn't need to pay for all the expenses of the child, she will pay for it herself."
Luo Changqing had no expression on his face, as if he had heard something unimportant instead of his wife wanting to adopt a child. He asked nonchalantly, "Whose relative of God is this?"
"This... Madam didn't explain it very clearly." Shu Qi lowered his head and answered uncertainly, "Maybe it's the child of someone in the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion?"
However, Luo Changqing didn't think that Xu Shichu would want to have anything to do with the people in Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion, let alone adopt a child from that mansion. Besides, there were so many people in Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion, what child needed to be adopted by a married woman like her
Luo Changqing originally didn't want to get involved in Xu Shichu's matter, but the situation in the court was unstable recently, and the power of those princes was complicated. He was afraid that someone would plot against Xu Shichu again in the Xiangfu, so he had to be patient and said, "Let Madam come over and explain this matter clearly."
"By the way, have someone investigate the matter of that child, so that she won't be fooled." Although Luo Changqing didn't think she would be fooled, it would be prudent to investigate further. Luo Changqing was suspicious and cautious as he was in a high position of power.
Luo Changqing rubbed his temples. He had a headache from overworking his brain. Somehow, his mind suddenly thought of Xu Shichu's yard full of blooming flowers and the elegant, sweet and refreshing fragrance of the flowers.
"Forget it, there's no need for Madam to come. I'll go find her myself." Luo Changqing said. Although it was dark and he couldn't enjoy the flowers all over the sky, he could smell the fragrance without any hindrance. It would be nice to go there for a walk, relax and unwind - Luo Changqing thought.
At this time, Xu Shichu had finished his dinner, and Du Zhao had taken the medicine and gone to sleep. When Luo Changqing arrived, the servants, who had already quieted down, had to start busying themselves with entertaining him.
"Why are you here, Lord Prime Minister? Didn't you hear what your attendant told you?" Xu Shichu asked lazily without standing up to greet. She was leaning on a Hu chair reading a book - there was no other way, there were too few entertainment options at night in ancient times, so she could only read a book.
"I heard you, but adopting a child is not a simple matter. Madam, it would be better for you to explain things more clearly, such as the child's origin." Luo Changqing picked up the freshly brewed tea, not caring about the heat, and took a close sniff. It was mint tea with a slightly cool scent, which made him feel refreshed immediately.
Luo Changqing squinted his eyes and enjoyed it. The corners of his lips, which were usually tightly pursed, relaxed, and he felt that all the previous fatigue was swept away.
There are always some unexpected little surprises when I come to her place, this idea suddenly popped up in Luo Changqing's mind.
Xu Shichu thought that Du Zhao was not some shameful child, and his background was very clean and traceable, so he said directly:
"Du Zhao is the grandson of my mother's cousin. He has no relatives at home, and his family is unreliable. His parents died of illness one after another, and finally entrusted him to me. I just finished the funeral for his parents today."
"Who are his family members? What do they do? Is there no one left on his mother's side? Why entrust him to such a distant relative like you?" Luo Changqing asked a bunch of questions casually.
Xu Shichu secretly rolled his eyes in his heart. Is he going to ask about the other person's entire family
But there was nothing worth hiding, so Xu Shichu answered honestly, "His father's name was Du Qian, and he was a Jinshi this year. He fell ill right after leaving the examination room and died more than a month later. I don't know about his mother, but their ancestral home is in Weicheng Suzhou, so their mother's family is also there, right? Distant water cannot quench nearby thirst, and they had no choice but to find a distant relative like me. His grandfather was a militia commander in Weicheng Suzhou, and his ancestors are well documented. If you are worried, send someone to check it out."
Luo Changqing nodded after pondering. Weicheng Suzhou is a frontier city, a sensitive place. The Tuanlianshi also involves military power, but the position is so low-ranking and all the people who can handle the matter have died. Only a baby is left. Those who have all kinds of ulterior motives will not be able to plot against him 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, thinking that I was a person who was blinded by lust? That was too ridiculous.
Thinking of this, Luo Changqing had already ruled out 70% to 80% of the suspicion that Xu Shichu might have been plotted against, so there was probably no problem with the child's identity.
"In that case, if Madam wants to adopt him, then just do it. All his supplies can be provided by the mansion. A dignified prime minister's mansion is not so far away from being unable to raise a child." Luo Changqing said slowly.
"No need. He is my relative and I can support him myself. He owes too much to the Prime Minister's Mansion and I'm afraid he won't be able to pay it back in the future." Xu Shichu pulled up the corners of his mouth and said with a fake smile.
Nothing in this world is free, and she didn't want Du Zhao to be too deeply involved with the Prime Minister's Mansion.
"It's up to you." Luo Changqing said indifferently.