In the main hall, the Duchess was introducing her sons to Lu Shuo with a smile while discreetly observing him.
This boy knew little of etiquette, but he was very polite. Every movement was cautious, as if afraid of offending them in any way.
She had only seen such behavior in newly arrived servants.
But he wasn't here to be a servant; there was no need for such deference. The Duke Mansion wasn't a den of wolves. There was no reason to make things difficult for a child—especially one whose father had saved the Duke's life. He would be treated well from now on.
Her name was Zhang Yizhu, and she had raised four children of her own. Well-versed in social nuances, she saw at once that Lu Shuo's nervousness stemmed from his lack of worldly experience and his utter aloneness—no family to fall back on. He feared that one misstep would doom him forever.
For a child with such self-awareness, she felt that overwhelming him with solicitous care would only make him more flustered and might even breed resentment in her own children. The best approach was to treat him with ordinary kindness and let him adapt naturally.
With this in mind, Zhang Yizhu smiled at Lu Shuo. "You've arrived at a good time. We're about to have new clothes made. Since you're all boys, you can be measured together."
Helan Zhen, the seventeen-year-old eldest young master, who already looked like a grown man, chimed in, "Mother, I need a few dark-colored robes. Please don't make me any white or green ones this year."
Zhang Yizhu raised an eyebrow. "Light colors look better this season. You're not an old man—why wear such gloomy shades?"
Helan Zhen's eye twitched. "Light colors get dirty easily."
Zhang Yizhu thought to herself, 'It's not about getting dirty; he's just growing up and doesn't want to wear bright, youthful colors anymore. He wants to imitate adult sophistication. Honestly, why act so old at such a young age? When you're old, you'll wish you could wear youthful colors again.'
But she didn't call him out. "Fine, you can pick the fabrics you like later."
Then she turned to the twin sons. "What about you two? Any preferences?"
Helan Chang, the second son, shook his head and grinned. "Anything is fine, as long as it's not the same as Helan Rong's."
"I don't want to dress like you either!" Helan Rong, the third son, snorted.
Zhang Yizhu found it amusing.
The two had worn the same clothes, eaten the same food, and used the same things since childhood. They would cry if they found the other had something different. But from some year on, they seemed to have suddenly developed a sense of self and began insisting on everything being different, to avoid being mistaken for each other.
"I understand. No need to emphasize it." Zhang Yizhu looked at Lu Shuo. "They're getting summer clothes. Since we didn't know your measurements, we haven't prepared spring clothes for you either. We'll have both spring and summer clothes made for you today. Is that all right?"
Lu Shuo said softly, "The Duke already bought me two sets of new clothes on the way here."
The very clothes he was wearing.
Zhang Yizhu: "Two sets won't be enough." She glanced at his hemp garments and calculated the time. The heavy mourning period should have passed. Although he still needed to observe mourning, the restrictions were now looser—only plain clothes and vegetarian meals were required.
'Alas, such a thin body, and he has to eat vegetarian for so long... Not many people strictly observe this rule, and no one would check if he ate meat behind closed doors. But since I'm in charge of his meals now, openly serving him meat while knowing he's in mourning would look bad.'
She let it go for now, deciding to deal with it later.
Zhang Yizhu called for a servant to take the boys' measurements.
Her maid whispered, "Madam, last year the mansion had several sets of clothes made for Second and Third Young Masters. They didn't like them and never wore them. Since Young Master Lu needs clothes, those could be used as a stopgap. They're still new."
Zhang Yizhu murmured back, "You haven't checked if they fit."
Maid: "They can be altered—faster than making new ones."
Zhang Yizhu: "Never mind. It's not that the Duke Mansion can't afford new ones. With so many people talking, if he found out he was wearing castoffs from Second and Third, he might feel uncomfortable."
The maid said no more.
Lu Shuo noticed them whispering, and the maid seemed to glance at him a few times. He felt uneasy, wondering if his poor appearance had displeased them.
Before leaving his village, he hadn't thought there was anything wrong with how he looked. Many country children were dark and thin like him; he was even considered strong and wiry.
After being taken in by Duke Xuan, he had been surrounded by battle-hardened, dark-faced soldiers. He had only envied their robust builds.
But now, in the capital, in the Duke Mansion, even the servants were fair-skinned, with fewer calluses than him. Only then did he realize something was wrong.
Especially Helan Chang and Helan Rong, who were about his age—smooth-skinned, round-faced, with bright, spirited eyes. They had the unmistakable look of children raised in a noble household. In a few years, they would surely grow into elegant young gentlemen like their elder brother, Helan Zhen.
Compared to them, they were the sun and moon in the sky, while he was the mud on the ground.
And when the servant measured him, her surprised look confirmed his fear: he didn't meet the Duke Mansion's standards. The only reason no one said anything was likely because they were too polite, or because the Duke had instructed them.
After the measurements, Lu Shuo returned to his seat with his head down.
Then he heard Zhang Yizhu tell the servant, "Also measure Pei'er."
The servant acknowledged and withdrew.
Lu Shuo caught that but didn't dwell on it. Zhang Yizhu, however, felt that mentioning her daughter so briefly might seem dismissive. After a moment's thought, she said to Lu Shuo, "The Pei'er I mentioned is my youngest daughter, Helan Pei. She is eleven this year."
Lu Shuo was startled, then said, "The Duke mentioned her."
Zhang Yizhu cleared her throat. "She didn't come out today, not because she's rude, but because she's shy with strangers..." She paused, as if making a decision, then sighed. "Well, we're all family now, so I might as well tell you."
Before Lu Shuo could react, the three young masters across from him all adjusted their postures. Their previously relaxed expressions turned serious, and for a moment, all eyes were on him.
Lu Shuo sensed that something important was coming and became even more respectful.
Zhang Yizhu said, "My daughter... is perfect in every way, except for one flaw. When she was six, she had a high fever. The fever subsided, but it left a lasting affliction... Heaven is blind—such a young child, rendered unable to speak..."
The Duke Mansion was a prominent household, so many people knew about this. Even well-informed commoners were aware, but they tactfully avoided the topic. This was the first time in years that Zhang Yizhu had voluntarily brought up this painful matter to an outsider, and her eyes reddened.
Lu Shuo was stunned. His first thought was: how could a child from a family like the Duke Mansion end up in such a state? In his village, someone had once become a fool after a high fever, but that was because they were too poor to afford treatment. With money, a mere fever should be curable, especially with the capital's physicians.
But he knew better than to say that. Not knowing how to comfort her, he remained silent.
Fortunately, it had been five years, and everyone had accepted the reality. Zhang Yizhu didn't need comforting. After a brief moment of grief, she forced a smile. "Because she can't speak, she doesn't like to go out or interact with strangers. If you meet her and she ignores you, please don't take it to heart. She's actually a good girl. Once you get to know her, it'll be fine."
Lu Shuo quickly said, "I won't disturb the young lady."