After transmigrating into the book, I helped my mother reconcile with her divorced husband.

Madam Lu forced a smile: "Yuan'er is my own granddaughter, but she is a bit weak and not suitable to be raised in the Marquis's mansion."

“It’s really not suitable.” Xie Chaoyun smiled. “Compared to the Marquis’s Mansion, the General’s Mansion is more suitable. It’s spacious, quiet, and free of all that messy stuff.”

Madam Lu's face stiffened, but she smiled and said, "Why are you throwing a tantrum all of a sudden? No matter how good the General's Mansion is, it still belongs to the Xie family. Yuan'er's surname is Lu, so she should live in our Marquis's Mansion."

Xie Chaoyun curtsied and said, "Mother is right. After all, Yuan'er is the only legitimate daughter of our Pingnan Marquis's Mansion. Wouldn't it be a laughing stock if she lived outside?"

Madam Lu's smile vanished, and her expression instantly turned cold: "It's true that Yuan'er is the only legitimate daughter of our Pingnan Marquis's mansion, but she is ultimately a girl, and she was born with a disease. I don't know if she will live to adulthood. This huge Pingnan Marquis's mansion still needs someone to inherit it. If you won't let Huai'er take a concubine, why not adopt one from outside?"

Xie Chaoyun asked coldly, "Where does Mother wish to be adopted? Has someone already been chosen?"

Madam Lu thought Xie Chaoyun was still as easy to control as before, so she hugged Lu Jingyuan and said, "I think Jingyuan is a good child. He has a lucky face and is also smart and clever."

Lu Huai glanced at Ji Wanwan and spoke at the right moment: "I have discussed it with my mother and we will adopt Jin Yao and Jing Yuan into your name. We will tell everyone that you asked for it yourself. From now on, Jin Yao will be the eldest daughter of my Pingnan Marquis's Mansion, Yuan'er will be the second daughter, and Jing Yuan will be the son. After we pass away, Jing Yuan will inherit the title of Pingnan Marquis's Mansion."

Xie Chaoyun sneered, "If I become their mother and you become their father, what will happen to their original mother? Is the Marquis going to take her as a concubine?"

Lu Jingyuan said, "My mother would never become my father's concubine!"

Madam Lu's expression changed slightly, and she quickly covered Lu Jingyuan's mouth.

Ji Wanwan stepped forward and curtsied, saying, "Don't worry, sister. Wanwan is just Brother Huai's cousin. She would never have any improper thoughts about Brother Huai under your nose."

She first glanced at Lu Huai, then symbolically wiped her eyes: "My aunt only did so because she saw how pitiful I was, unable to raise these two children, and because the Marquis's family has few heirs. That's why she suggested that the two children be adopted by my elder sister. My elder sister is a noble lady, and it would be a blessing for them, as well as for me, to have her personally teach these two children."

Lu Zhiyuan thought to herself, "What a beautiful white lotus flower, exuding the fragrance of tea."

Xie Chaoyun knew that the tea was fragrant and that white lotus flowers were beautiful, but she didn't know what these fragrant white lotus flowers were. She only knew that her mother-in-law and husband were in cahoots, trying to use her to give the children born to their two mistresses a legitimate status.

The eldest daughter and the eldest son—they really dare to dream!

Just as she was about to retort, Lu Zhiyuan gently pulled the candle. Their eyes met, and she heard her daughter say in a soft, sweet voice, "If Mother accepts Sister Jinyao and Brother Jingyuan as her own, wouldn't they become Grandpa's grandson and granddaughter, just like me?"

Xie Chaoyun was startled and abruptly looked up at Old Madam Lu. The latter's gaze darted away, deliberately avoiding the question, clearly indicating that she had this intention. Looking at Lu Huai and Ji Wanwan, they also knew what was going on.

They were all plotting against her, yet she, the one directly involved, remained oblivious. If her daughter hadn't reminded her, she probably wouldn't have realized until her death that what they wanted wasn't just the status and position of the Marquis of Pingnan's mansion, but also the support of the General's mansion. Even if her father disowned her and her brother refused to help, as long as they were registered under their names, they could use the General's mansion's name to do whatever they wanted.

That's quite a clever scheme!

"The matter of adoption must be handled with care, after all, it involves more than just my Pingnan Marquis's mansion." Suppressing her anger, she turned her gaze to Lu Jingyuan, who looked indignant and wanted to bite her. "I will take Jingyuan to live with me first. If we get along well, we can fulfill this mother-son bond. If we don't get along well, I will trouble Mother to take another look and choose a child from the Lu family's relatives."

Old Madam Lu's brows relaxed, and Lu Huai suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at Ji Wanwan, who was tossing a strand of hair at her temple, she looked both delicate and secretly delighted. Only Lu Jinyao and her younger brother Lu Jingyuan were unhappy.

Lu Jinyao was unhappy because Xie Chaoyun did not intend to adopt her.

Lu Jingyuan was unhappy because he didn't want to acknowledge Xie Chaoyun as his mother.

Unfortunately, they had no choice but to obey Xie Chaoyun's wishes and follow Madam Lu's arrangements.

Before it was time to eat, Old Madam Lu took the two children to Fulin Courtyard, with Lu Huai and Ji Wanwan following behind, looking just like a happy family of three generations, a family of five.

After they had gone some distance, Liu Ying couldn't help but ask, "Madam, are you really going to acknowledge that child? He's... he's the son-in-law's child with that Ji Wanwan!"

Lu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Don't worry, Mother is just playing with them."

"Play?" Liu Ying's eyes widened. "You can play with something like adoption?"

“If it’s Ji Wanwan’s child being adopted, what’s wrong with playing with them?” Lu Zhiyuan tapped her chin with her index finger. “Instead of firmly refusing, why not go along with them… and praise them to death!”

"What do you mean by 'praise to death'?" Liu Ying cupped her hands in her hands. "Is that so?"

"Yes, that's it, pick it up and then drop it." Holding Liu Ying's hand, he smiled casually, his eyes full of the excitement of a cat playing with a mouse.

In Fulin Courtyard, as soon as Old Madam Lu sat down, Lu Jinyao pulled Lu Jingyuan down to kneel down properly.

"Granddaughter Jinyao greets Grandmother!"

After saying that, he nudged Lu Jingyuan, who was kneeling beside him, playing with his fingers with his head down.

Lu Jingyuan pouted, reluctantly saying, "I already said it and knelt down when I entered the manor. Sister, my legs hurt."

Old Madam Lu looked distressed and urged Lu Jingyuan to get up quickly. Her gaze fell on Lu Jinyao, and she called her "good girl," adding a compliment that she was much more sensible than her own granddaughter.

Upon hearing the words "legitimate daughter," Lu Jinyao's face paled. She was an illegitimate daughter, not worthy of respect!

Old Madam Lu beckoned, and Ji Wanwan stepped forward, affectionately calling out "Mother." Old Madam Lu beamed, taking her hand and saying, "You're a sensible person. You and the child have suffered these past years. The adoption was my idea, so you can't blame Huai'er, and you certainly can't let this cause any rift between you and him."

“Wanwan is not wronged. Wanwan’s greatest wish is to be by Huai-ge’s and Mother’s side. As for titles and honors, Wanwan doesn’t care.” After saying that, she looked at Lu Huai with deep affection: “As long as Huai-ge has Wanwan in his heart, Wanwan is content.”

Lu Huai was deeply moved and immediately promised, "Don't worry, this mistress of the Marquis's mansion will definitely be yours."

Madam Lu immediately glared at Lu Huai: "I only know you care about Wanwan, but not just anyone can be the mistress of the Marquis's mansion. Xie Chaoyun is Xie Yuandao's daughter, the legitimate daughter of the General's mansion. Just that identity alone can help us accomplish a lot. Not to mention she has two older brothers who can also help our Marquis's mansion make money in business."

Lu Huai retorted, "But my son only has Wanwan in his heart."

Old Madam Lu picked up the teacup and smashed it on the ground with a "smash," cursing, "You worthless idiot!"