klisemfg Chapter 416 The "Adulterer" Has Arrived in the Capital
Chapter 416 The "Adulterer" Has Arrived in the Capital
The next day, the Emperor summoned Lu Jiangnian.
"Lord Lu, I'm sorry to have wronged you."
The Emperor gently placed the teacup he was holding on the table, making a crisp sound.
Looking up at Lu Jiangnian, who stood with his head bowed, she spoke with a rare hint of "consideration".
“Jun’er has become increasingly outrageous lately.” He sighed, “He’s even defying his mother for the sake of the daughter of a disgraced official.”
"Liang Jingyou has just died, and I have just granted amnesty to the second wife. If I allow Jun'er to forcibly take Liang Yuhua as his wife, wouldn't this amnesty become a joke?"
Lu Jiangnian's hands, hanging by his sides, were clenched tightly, his knuckles turning bluish-white.
"That day, when the second branch of the Liang family was summoned to the palace, I learned that the girl had feelings for you..."
The Emperor paused meaningfully, "I had no choice but to do it."
These words were spoken from the heart, as if he truly cared for his subjects.
But Lu Jiangnian knew in his heart that this was nothing but crocodile tears!
"I do not have any interest in women, but I love my wife."
His voice was hoarse, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, "Your Majesty's 'favor' is too much for me to bear." Suddenly, he knelt on one knee, "Your Majesty...I am guilty."
This kneeling was a tribute to the crime of disobeying and resisting the imperial decree on the day it was received.
The emperor narrowed his eyes, sizing up this minister whom he greatly admired.
After all, it was his unexpected act and his unreasonable demands that made him suffer. It was already remarkable that Lu Jiangnian was able to swallow his anger.
"That's enough."
The Emperor waved his hand, his tone suddenly turning cold, "I know this matter is difficult for you. You handle it as you see fit, just make sure no one dies."
With a single, casual remark, it's as if Liang Yuhua is merely an object.
He held the lives of Liang Yuhua's entire family in his hands, and Liang Yuhua dared not disobey him.
As long as one is in the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence, one can always detect something amiss.
Lu Jiangnian seemed to breathe a sigh of relief: "Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty."
The emperor narrowed his eyes in satisfaction—this was exactly the effect he wanted.
Thunder and rain are both acts of imperial favor, and whether Lu Jiangnian is willing or not, he has to act according to his will.
-
On the very first day the Fifth Prince was released from confinement, he couldn't wait to block Lu Jiangnian's way home from court.
"Lu Jiangnian!"
Murong Jun grabbed Lu Jiangnian's sleeve, his eyes filled with twisted jealousy and hatred.
He gripped the other man's arm tightly with his fingertips, his voice low: "Liang Yuhua was the one I took a liking to first. You'd better be sensible and not touch a hair on her head."
Lu Jiangnian casually brushed his hand away, a mocking smile curving his lips: "If Your Highness has any objections, why not go and speak to the Emperor about it?"
"you!"
Murong Jun's temples bulged with veins, and he suddenly gave a sinister smile, "Don't think you can rest easy just because you have Father Emperor backing you up. One day..."
He leaned close to Lu Jiangnian's ear, his breath as cold as a venomous snake, "This prince will make sure you obediently send the person back."
"Oh?"
Lu Jiangnian suddenly raised his voice, "Bestowed by the Emperor..."
He frowned, really not wanting to get involved with Liang Yuhua, so he changed his tone: "Your Highness dares to ask for something from the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion?"
He feigned surprise and took a half-step back, saying, "This crime of disobeying an imperial edict is one I cannot bear—"
Officials passing by all turned their heads in surprise.
Murong Jun's face instantly turned ashen, and his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.
He stared intently at Lu Jiangnian's incomparably handsome face, wishing he could tear that hypocritical mask off right there and then.
"We'll see."
In the end, the Fifth Prince managed to squeeze out these few words through gritted teeth before turning away and leaving.
Watching Murong Jun's furious retreating figure, a hint of contempt flashed in Lu Jiangnian's eyes.
He actually held back and didn't utter any outrageous words?
However, with such limited cunning, does Murong Jun even deserve to compete with the Crown Prince?
Is His Majesty truly old and senile, or is it...?
Lu Jiangnian suddenly remembered Madam Zhaohua's rather striking face.
Could it be that the Emperor was indeed "blinded by lust," willing to support a good-for-nothing son just to please Lady Zhaohua? Even risking the fate of the nation?
He couldn't understand it before, but now that he has the woman he loves, he understands the emperor's thoughts.
The Emperor's affection for Lady Zhaohua was merely a matter of playing around.
If he truly loved her, how could he have allowed their son to grow up to be such a degenerate?
If the Emperor had put in even a little effort, Murong Jun wouldn't have been so incompetent.
-
As the days went by, after Liang Yuhua entered the Lu family, she lived a secluded life, disappearing into the deep mansion of the Lu family like a drop of water merging into the ocean.
She lived in a secluded courtyard, and no one would go out of their way to look for her.
Only the maid Yunxiu went to the kitchen to fetch meals three times a day; at other times, no one was around.
Ever since she fell ill from being frightened by a rat, Old Madam Lu never dared to mention promoting Liang Yuhua again.
Where did the rats come from that night?
Aside from that heartless couple at Lingshui Residence, I can't think of anything else.
Under these circumstances, no matter how much resentment Madam Lu harbored, she could only suppress it and not mention it.
July passed, and Lu Yun's wedding date was drawing near. On this day, the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence received a letter.
The letter said that the aunt of the Marquis's family, Lu Yuxiu, the old lady Lu's own daughter, was going to the capital with her son to visit relatives and attend her niece's wedding banquet.
Upon receiving the news, Madam Lu immediately perked up again.
"Yuxiu is coming back!"
Old Madam Lu's hand trembled as she gripped the letter, and a sharp glint flashed in her old eyes.
After all these years of her beloved daughter marrying and living in Jiangnan, she's finally going to bring her grandson back to Beijing!
She patted the bed and urged repeatedly, "Yuxiu loves golden thread dates the most, have the estate send ten baskets over!"
Madam Lu felt as if she had come back to life.
She couldn't count on her son, but her daughter was her warm little angel, and her daughter would definitely support her.
When Yuan Wanru received this news, her eyes remained devoid of any warmth.
It's finally here.
"Is my aunt taking my cousin to the capital?"
Yuan Wanru tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, a cold smile appearing on her lips.
The cousin who framed her for "adultery" in the original story is finally about to make his appearance.
This time, let's see if this cousin will still cause trouble even without Liang Yusong's mischief.
Lu Jiangnian wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on the top of her head: "Yes, I don't remember this cousin Zhou very well, but my aunt and grandmother have similar temperaments, so you might have to put in some effort, my wife."
Yuan Wanru snorted lightly: "Just don't mess with me, otherwise, I won't give her any face."
She didn't even care about Old Lady Lu, let alone an aunt.
-
The clatter of horses' hooves echoed across the bluestone slabs of Zhuque Street. Lu Yuxiu lifted the carriage curtain, and the bustling street scene of the capital city immediately came into view.
Zhou Mingjian's narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes widened as he greedily scanned the dazzling array of shops and the elegantly dressed pedestrians on the street.
"Mother!" He grabbed Lu Yuxiu's sleeve, his voice trembling with emotion, "You should have brought your son to the capital to broaden his horizons long ago!"
Lu Yuxiu snorted coldly, her nails, painted with henna, digging hard into his forehead: "Early? Those vixens in your father's backyard wish they could devour us alive!"
Remembering the concubines who were sold off before her departure, a glint of malice flashed in her eyes, "If it weren't for your future this time..."
Zhou Mingjian unfolded his gilded folding fan with a "whoosh" and waved it casually: "Mother, don't worry."
He squinted at a magnificent sedan chair that passed by, and through the gap in the curtain, he could vaguely see the delicate jawline of a young girl. "Don't you know how your son is capable?"