Empress Lu’s top priority was her son. As long as her imperial son was safe and well, she didn’t care about anyone else.
“What Song Tangning seeks is justice against the Lu family, and her grudge is with Lu Zhinian. I have never wronged her before. Given how she was able to refuse entering the palace the other day, she seems like a smart woman. That eunuch, Xiao Yan, wouldn’t let her go all out against my son and me.”
“After you give her this phoenix hairpin, tell her that as long as she is willing to let this matter go and doesn’t involve the Fourth Prince, I will personally annul her engagement with the Lu family and make Lu Zhinian apologize to her in person, without harming her reputation in the slightest.”
“Furthermore, I will ensure that the Lu family repays double whatever they took from her. She will not suffer any losses. This nine-tailed phoenix hairpin will serve as my token of sincerity. I will not go back on my word.”
Empress Lu knew that by offering this gold hairpin, she was giving others leverage over her, but she had to protect the Fourth Prince. She couldn’t afford to care about anything else right now.
She looked solemnly at Jinzhi. “Lu Chongyuan is not my biological father. My elder brothers may not necessarily sacrifice the Lu family’s interests for Zheng’er. Jinzhi, I only trust you.”
“Go on this errand for me. No matter what, you must not let Song Tangning escalate the situation.”
Jinzhi felt her heart tighten. She clutched the hairpin and nodded firmly. “Your Highness, rest assured. This servant will certainly appease Miss Song.”
…
At dusk, after a day of running around, the brothers of the Lu family returned home, filled with frustration and anger.
The sudden order from the palace to punish someone with the cane could not be concealed, especially with some people deliberately spreading rumors. Now, everyone on the streets knew that Lu Zhinian, the third son of the Lu family, had been punished by the Emperor.
Lu Zhinian, always pampered and delicate, had received twenty strikes. It was said his back was beaten bloody. The Lu family couldn’t visit him in the imperial prison, and when word of his condition spread, the already frantic members of the Lu family became even more anxious. The old matriarch, who had always doted on her grandson, was so worried that she burst into tears.
“How could the Emperor suddenly order such a punishment? How can Third Son bear it?” cried the old matriarch.
“He has to bear it, whether he can or not. It’s his own fault for acting foolishly!” Lu Chongyuan scolded.
The old matriarch didn’t dare to argue and could only weep behind her hands.
Her cries made Lu Chongyuan’s brows furrow in irritation. He was too annoyed to console her and instead asked Lu Zhao and the others, “Is there any news? Why did the Emperor lose his temper?”
Lu Zhao shook his head. “No news from the palace. The imperial prison only said that the Emperor had ordered them to beat him severely.”
No news was coming from the palace, and nobody knew what exactly Lu Zhinian had done to anger Emperor An, to the extent that he ordered such punishment the very next day.
Lu Chongyuan was so furious that he slammed his fist on the table.
“Master, someone has arrived from the palace.”
As someone entered to announce this, Lu Zhao quickly raised his head. “Who is it?”
“It’s Lady Jinzhi from the Empress’s palace.”
Lu Zhao’s face lit up with joy. “Quickly, invite her in!”
The Lu family was in the midst of a crisis. Hearing that someone from the Fengxi Palace had arrived, everyone was overjoyed, assuming that the Empress had sent good news. But when they saw Jinzhi enter with a grim expression, their hearts sank.
“There has been trouble in the palace,” Jinzhi began, prompting Lu Chongyuan to stand up abruptly.
“Miss Song has filed a complaint against you and the Lu family.”
Jinzhi, following Empress Lu’s instructions, took out a scroll from her sleeve and handed it to Lu Chongyuan, watching as the Lu family’s faces visibly froze.
Lu Chongyuan’s hands trembled as he held the scroll. He then heard Jinzhi say, “The Empress knew nothing about this. She was wholeheartedly pleading for Third Young Master. But who would have thought that the Emperor would publicly scold her and even struck her on the head with the scroll and other items.”
“The Emperor was extremely furious. He accused the Empress of aiding the Lu family in bullying the orphaned descendant of the Rong clan. Moreover, he said that the complaint was not only within the palace but had already been submitted to the Capital Magistrate, and who knows if the Censorate has received it as well.”
“Master, Miss Song is determined to blow this matter up. If we don’t resolve this today, I’m afraid by tomorrow’s morning court session, both the Fourth Prince, yourself, and your uncle will become the laughingstock of the court.”
Hearing Jinzhi’s words, Lu Chongyuan’s vision darkened, and he collapsed backward.
“Father!”
Lu Zhao panicked and rushed forward.
Lu Qin and the others also looked pale as they helped Lu Chongyuan into a chair. The Lu family could endure losing anyone, but not Lu Chongyuan. He was the backbone of the family. If he fell, the entire Lu family would fall with him.
The old matriarch could no longer care about her tears and hurried to help soothe him, panic-stricken. “Didn’t Miss Song agree to give us three days? It’s only the second day. How could she go back on her word?!”
Jinzhi spoke softly, “Miss Song did indeed agree to three days, but Master provoked the people of Jiyun Alley yesterday…”
“Shut up!”
Seeing Lu Chongyuan’s face grow even grimmer, his breathing labored, Lu Qin turned to berate Jinzhi. “How dare you speak like that, you wretched servant?!”
His face twisted with rage. “Father did all of this for the sake of the Empress and the Fourth Prince. If it weren’t to protect them, why would he risk targeting Xiao Yan? Now that things have gone wrong, your mistress dares to blame us for provoking Miss Song? She’s nothing but…”
“Second Brother!!”
Before Lu Qin could utter any further insults, Lu Zhao cut him off. But his own expression was equally stern.
“Lady Jinzhi, the Lu family has always acted in concert with the Empress, never slighting her in any way. We have always been devoted to matters concerning the Fourth Prince. The way your mistress is handling this now is truly disheartening,” Lu Zhao said coldly.
The other members of the Lu family echoed in anger, “Exactly! Even if she’s the Empress, she shouldn’t forget she’s still a Lu! The same blood runs in her veins!”
“Indeed! Her current status is largely thanks to the Lu family’s support. If the Lu family falls, how well could she fare?”
“We have never betrayed the Empress or the Fourth Prince. Now, because of this little issue, she’s distancing herself from the Lu family. Does she plan to turn against us?”
The Lu family was incensed, feeling that the Empress was acting ungratefully.
For years, the Lu family had stood by the Empress and her son, sacrificing manpower and resources to help the Fourth Prince gain power. They had always treated the Empress as one of their own. But now, facing a crisis, she was speaking such words. It was heart-wrenching.
Jinzhi’s face paled under their scrutiny, and she was overwhelmed by their accusations. The Empress couldn’t afford to sever ties with the Lu family, nor could she truly offend them.
Jinzhi quickly lowered her head and pleaded, “It was my fault for misspeaking. I beg your forgiveness, my lords. The Empress’s heart has always been with the Lu family, and she has no intention of shirking responsibility…”
“Ridiculous! If she doesn’t mean to evade, then what do her words mean?!” Lu Qin sneered.
Lu Zhao wasn’t convinced by Jinzhi’s explanation. He glanced at her deeply and said, “Tell the Empress she needn’t worry. It’s just a mere girl. The Lu family will not be made a mockery of, nor will the Fourth Prince. We will handle Song Tangning.”
Jinzhi bit her lip, wanting to ask how the Lu family planned to resolve this.
But under their sharp, cold gazes, she didn’t dare to speak further.
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