The Lu family relented.
Xiao Yan was not surprised.
When Lu Chongyuan agreed to let Song Tangning visit, he was already prepared for the next day to be anything but peaceful. However, when he saw Cao Dejiang and the others accompanying Song Tangning and Xiao Yan, the dense crowd of court officials led by Marquis Wenxin, as well as the black-armored guards and city patrolmen transporting books, he almost couldn’t stand upright despite all his mental preparation.
“Song Tangning, this is too much!” Lu Qin and the others were furious, their faces twisted in rage.
“It’s County Princess Yiyang. Mind your words, Young Master Lu,” said Cao Dejiang, his remark further aggravating Lu Qin. Everyone knew how Song Tangning earned her title—by stepping on the Lu family’s bones to catch the emperor’s favor.
Lu Qin's eyes were full of malice, and he glared at Song Tangning as if he wanted to skin her. Watching the spectacle, Fu Laiqing, who had come to see the drama with his granduncle, stepped forward, visibly displeased:
“What’s with that look? What are you planning to do, staring at the County Princess like that? It was the Lu family who invited her over, and what, now you’re trying to back out? Have you no shame?”
“You brat!” Lu Qin burst out in rage.
Xiao Yan glanced at the unexpected interjection from the Fu family's brat, then turned his head away from Lu Qin and said to a visibly displeased Lu Chongyuan, “Since your family has already promised Tangning the books, she naturally needs to pick them carefully. I am not skilled in literature, so I had to invite Lord Cao and the others to assist in selecting the books. I trust there is no objection, Prime Minister Lu?”
What could Lu Chongyuan do? They were already there—he couldn’t just throw them out. Swallowing his anger, he said, “Let them in.”
Cao Dejiang smiled. “I’ve heard that the Lu family’s library holds over 100,000 volumes. Today, we’re sure to be dazzled.”
Song Tangning added sweetly, “The Lu family’s library is well-maintained, with cataloged inventories. Lord Cao just needs to browse and select.”
Upon hearing this, Cao Dejiang looked at Lu Chongyuan, who gritted his teeth and said, “Give them access.”
“Father…”
“I said, give them access!”
Lu Qin was so furious his lips trembled, his face turning dark, but in the end, he obeyed Lu Chongyuan’s order. He viciously flung the inventory list at Cao Dejiang and the others.
The courtiers frowned at this display, and Fu Laiqing couldn’t help but scold, “What’s the meaning of this? The Lu family has no manners! If you invite someone to your home to settle a debt, you should act respectfully, not arrogantly. Acting like this, who are you trying to impress?” Picking up the items from the floor, he muttered, “Acting like victims when they’re the ones at fault. If you had any guts, you wouldn’t have let the County Princess come over in the first place. Hypocrites…”
“Say that one more time!” Lu Qin lunged forward.
Fu Laiqing was about to retort when Cao Dejiang smacked him on the back of the head.
“Shut up,” he said. Did Fu Laiqing think he was Xiao Yan, speaking whatever he wanted without repercussions? If the Lu family decided to peel his skin off later, he wouldn’t even know why.
Cao Dejiang glared at Fu Laiqing, who shrunk back, and then said, “This young man has a straightforward nature and tends to speak without thinking. He meant no harm, so please don’t take it to heart, Young Master Lu.”
Fu Laiqing muttered under his breath, “You might as well not have said anything...” implying that if he was blunt, then the Lu family really was full of hypocrites. The Lu family members were nearly livid with rage.
Rolling his eyes, Fu Laiqing looked over and caught sight of Song Tangning not far away.
The young lady was dressed in a blue robe embroidered with silver threads in a water pattern, her face partially veiled. She appeared small and delicate, with a graceful figure. Her white, delicate chin was slightly raised, and her almond-shaped eyes sparkled brightly.
Noticing she was being stared at, Song Tangning turned her head.
Caught in the act, Fu Laiqing’s ears turned red. He instinctively looked away but then realized that was rude, so he quickly turned back and flashed a big, sincere smile, showing his bright white teeth.
“Pfft.” Song Tangning chuckled, thinking how strange it was that this famous Fu family youth, who was said to be on par with Song Jinxiu, seemed a bit silly rather than clever.
She smiled back, and Fu Laiqing's face flushed even redder, his neck almost catching fire. He stood there, smiling foolishly, clutching the inventory list, unsure where to look.
“Tangning.” Xiao Yan frowned at the sight of Fu Laiqing, who now looked as red as a ripe tomato. He subtly shifted his stance to block the young man’s view.* Just what was this Fu family brat trying to pull?
Seeing Song Tangning look over, Xiao Yan shot a sharp glance at Fu Laiqing and said to her, “It’s getting late. Let’s go in and start selecting the books.”
Not thinking too much about it, Song Tangning nodded, “Lord Cao, let’s head in.”
Fu Laiqing watched as she and Cao Dejiang entered the library, and his face finally cooled down a bit. But thinking back to the way her eyes had sparkled earlier, he still felt a bit dazed.
She’s… she’s really pretty…
Covering his chest, which felt hot, Fu Laiqing thought he must have been blind before. How had he not noticed how adorable Song Jinxiu’s little sister was?
Fu Laiqing instinctively stepped forward, wanting to follow them inside, but suddenly found Xiao Yan staring back at him from the doorway.
“Young Master Fu.”
“Yes, Lord Xiao?”
“You seem quite warm. Your face is rather red.”
Caught like a deer in headlights, Fu Laiqing was embarrassed and started fanning himself. “Yes, it’s… it’s a bit warm. Why is it so hot today…”
“If it’s that warm, then don’t go in.” Xiao Yan’s words made Fu Laiqing’s eyes widen. “The Lu family’s books are delicate; it would be a shame if they were ruined by sweat. Since you’re feeling hot, you can stay outside and help with moving the boxes.”
“But, Lord Xiao, I… I think I’m feeling cooler now. I promised to go in and help the County Princess choose books…” Fu Laiqing stammered, but his voice trailed off as Xiao Yan’s cold eyes fixed on him.
Those eyes were like shards of icy jade, making Fu Laiqing’s blood run cold, his bravado fading instantly.
“I-I’ll… I'll move the boxes…” he muttered, shrinking back, his face pale.
Xiao Yan nodded. “Young Master Fu is truly chivalrous.” He glanced at Cang Lang. “Don’t let his efforts go to waste. Make sure he stays occupied.”
Cang Lang couldn’t help but feel pity. Poor Fu Laiqing didn’t seem to know how he’d offended the chief, but with his skinny frame, could he even lift a box?
With a sympathetic smile, Cang Lang pointed to the boxes in the courtyard, “Young Master Fu, please proceed.”
Meanwhile, inside the library, Cao Dejiang and the others had entered, looking like mice in a granary, hardly paying any more attention to Song Tangning.
She stood aside, observing the eager officials poring over the books, sleeves rolled up, their eyes glistening. She tried to suppress a smile and turned to see Xiao Yan entering from outside.
Peeking past him through the open door, she saw Fu Laiqing, dressed in fine robes, bending down to lift a huge box, nearly tripping over his own feet.
“Brother, what is that Young Master from the Fu family doing?” she asked, puzzled.
Xiao Yan replied coolly, “He said he felt weak and wanted to build strength by carrying boxes.”
“Huh?” Song Tangning was confused, but deeply impressed.
=======
T/N: The start of Xiao Yan’s one sided beef with Young Master Fu
You can read ahead to chapterr 234 here
🤣poor young man, you've got no chance, sorry!
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