As Lu Chongyuan and Lu Zhao were just about to leave the Xiao residence, they were suddenly called back by Cang Lang, who had hurried out.
"Master Lu," Cang Lang said, standing at the steps and addressing Lu Chongyuan, who was being helped onto a carriage by Lu Zhao. "Earlier, my lady forgot to mention that she alone finds it difficult to choose the books, so in a few days, she plans to visit the Lu family along with Lord Cao and Marquis Wenxin. I hope Master Lu won't take offense."
"And one more thing, the Empress has agreed to annul the engagement between my lady and the Lu family. I must trouble Master Lu to prepare my lady's engagement letter and write the annulment letter as soon as possible. Once Lu Sanlang is released from prison, it should be delivered right away to avoid any further misunderstandings." He continued, "The Lu family is a century-old family that values sincerity. Don't forget to have Lu Sanlang come to Tang's residence and apologize. Three days — not a day less."
"You...!" Lu Zhao was furious.
"Enough," Lu Chongyuan forcefully grabbed his eldest son's hand, stopping him from voicing his anger. He looked up and said calmly, "Tell Miss Song that the Lu family understands, and she needn't worry. The Lu family will not go back on its word."
Cang Lang cupped his hands and smiled, "Master Lu, always generous. Safe travels, Master Lu; I won't see you off." With that, Lu Chongyuan, his throat bitter, boarded the carriage expressionlessly.
Once inside, Lu Zhao angrily drew the curtain and slammed it down, cursing, "That Song Tangning is simply outrageous! And that Xiao Yan is shameless beyond words! Father, how could you agree to such absurd terms? Our Lu family’s collection, accumulated over centuries, is going to be handed over to that ignorant girl for nothing?!"
"What else would you have me do? Don’t you understand what it means that she is establishing a school?"
"I..." Lu Zhao was furious because he knew exactly what it meant, which only made him angrier.
That Song Tangning had taken advantage of the Lu family's weakness, forcing them to hand over half of their collection. Once the academy was established, those books would become the biggest attraction of the school.
Everyone would praise Song Tangning's righteousness and generosity, but no one would remember that those books came from the Lu family. Song Tangning was clearly stepping on the Lu family to gain fame!
Lu Zhao was so enraged he could have killed Song Tangning. "That shameless Song girl — no wonder she and Xiao Yan are like two peas in a pod. How could our Lu family have ever arranged a marriage with someone like that?" The mention of this made Lu Zhao think of the Empress. If she hadn’t intervened, how would Lu Zhiyuan have set up the marriage with Song Tangning? And how would they have ended up in today’s predicament?
He covered the bruise on his forehead from where the Nine-Tailed Phoenix Hairpin had hit him and gritted his teeth. "Father, the Empress has gone too far this time. She knew that showing weakness to Song Tangning would allow Xiao Yan to take advantage, yet she still dared to act behind the Lu family's back, even sacrificing Sanlang to curry favor with Song Tangning and Xiao Yan. We can't let this slide!"
"And what would you suggest? Depose the Empress?!"
"Father..." Lu Chongyuan's tone was off. He clung to the edge of the carriage wall, his face pale.
Before Lu Zhao could ask, he saw his father choke as if unable to hold it back anymore, then suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, splattering Lu Zhao's face and head.
"Father!!!" Lu Zhao frantically held onto the collapsing Lu Chongyuan, his face drained of color. He anxiously propped his father up against the wall of the carriage, knocking on it and shouting, "Back to the manor, quickly! Hurry back! Get a doctor!!"
...
After visiting Jiyun Lane, Lu Chongyuan was carried back to the Lu mansion overnight. Even though the Lu family didn't call for anyone from the Imperial Medical Bureau and strictly controlled the servants’ tongues, the news still spread.
The next morning in court, Xiao Yan did not attend due to injuries from an assassination attempt, and Lu Chongyuan was also absent, claiming to have caught a cold.
The courtiers, who were accustomed to seeing the two clash from time to time, found the unusually quiet session unnerving.
The calm was broken when the Emperor brought up the matter of the bloodline of the Rong family — the young woman from Jiyun Lane who had toppled the Duke of Song's household — and her plans to establish an academy under the name of the late Grand Tutor Rong. The Emperor had already approved the academy, and not only that, he declared that the Lu family would "generously support it" by donating half of their book collection. The court erupted.
The Emperor continued, "The court has long needed more virtuous and capable people. If this academy can nurture talented individuals for the court, Miss Song's actions are commendable. Thus, she is hereby granted the title of County Princess of Yiyang, with a fief of three hundred households, in recognition of her noble deeds."
The Emperor's proclamation was like a thunderbolt, and while he returned to his alchemy and cultivation, the court was left in turmoil.
Not only was a monument going to be erected, and the academy founded, but the fact that Song Tangning had been suddenly granted a noble title and a fief shocked everyone, especially combined with the news of the Lu family’s “donation” of books.
"Has Lord Lu gone mad?" The aristocracy’s power rested in controlling the court because the commoners had no other routes to enter it, which was why the noble families thrived. But for the Lu family, the head of the noble houses, to support Song Tangning’s academy and give away half of their collection...
If the academy succeeded in producing talented individuals from the commoner class, it would undermine the aristocracy's control. The noble families would have no footing left!
Courtiers of noble descent were enraged.
"What is the Lu family thinking? How could they agree to such absurd demands?"
"Where is Lord Lu? Is he truly sick, or is he too ashamed to show his face after making such a ridiculous decision?"
"Unbelievable! Has the Lu family gone mad?"
"This is outrageous! I will go and demand an explanation from Lu Chongyuan. They are cutting off the noble families' path!"
While the nobles fumed and rushed to confront the Lu family, others, like Cao Dejiang and the more scholarly officials, were elated.
"Has Lu Chongyuan lost his mind, doing such a great thing?"
"Yeah, he actually parted with the Lu family's book collection and gave it to Miss Song?"
Those books had always been a source of envy among the courtiers. With that collection, the academy could attract countless scholars, invigorating the bureaucracy and reducing the aristocracy's overwhelming power.
Qian Baokun, a noble but from a family in the south, was leaning back with his hands in his sleeves, enjoying the gossip. "The books may not have been given willingly. Word is, Lord Lu visited Jiyun Lane last night and had to be carried back."
Everyone gasped, one instinctively asking, "Was it Xiao Yan who coerced him?"
"What nonsense!" Cao Dejiang shot a glare at the speaker. "Do you think Xiao Yan is stupid enough to attack Lu Chongyuan in Jiyun Lane?"
Lu Chongyuan was not like the old lady of the Song family; if Xiao Yan had truly harmed him and had him carried back to his home, the Lu household would have exploded long before court that morning. Would they still be giving out books? Did they look that easy to bully?
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T/N: Little did they know
You can read ahead to chapterr 234 here
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