Lu Rong's lips moved slightly, feeling that letting Lu Zhinian go out might not be a good idea. However, Lu Zhao's face was filled with anger, and his tone was cold and stern. Despite his concern, Lu Rong didn't dare to say much and found an excuse to step down from the carriage, quietly instructing the Lu family's servant standing by the front of the vehicle.
"Follow Young Master San and watch over him carefully," he said, pausing for a moment before lowering his voice, "Keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't act impulsively and cause trouble." Seeing the servant hesitate, Lu Rong remembered how Lu Zhinian had confronted Lu Zhao earlier and frowned, adding, "If anything happens, you have my permission to intervene. Just don't hurt Young Master San." Whether by knocking him out or dragging him back, the Lu family could not afford any more disruptions.
Upon hearing this, the servant's expression relaxed, and he quickly replied, "Understood, I'll go right away."
...
In front of the Lu family residence, Xiao Yan, who had been conversing with Song Tangning, suddenly looked across the street.
"Brother, what's wrong?" Song Tangning asked, puzzled.
Xiao Yan's gaze lingered on a carriage that had quietly stopped at the end of the alley, and a cold glint flashed across his eyes. When he turned back, he said calmly, "It's nothing."
Song Tangning was about to speak when she heard a cheerful voice.
"Tangning!" A carriage came speeding down the alley and halted in front of the Song residence. As soon as the wheels stopped, a figure in a red dress jumped out, pulling aside the curtain.
Qian Qiyue, delighted to see Tangning, hopped down and darted over to her like a flower in full bloom, stopping right in front of her.
"Miss Qian?" Song Tangning said, pleasantly surprised.
Qian Qiyue pouted and glared at her. "What did you just call me?"
Song Tangning quickly corrected herself, "Sister Qian."
"It's Sister Ayue. Don't call me the wrong name next time!" Qian Qiyue insisted, beaming like a flower as she took Song Tangning's arm. She then glanced at Xiao Yan and said loudly, "Commander Xiao is becoming more majestic by the day." Without waiting for Xiao Yan to respond, she turned back to Song Tangning. "Did I arrive late? Have you finished moving all the books?"
She glanced at the carriages loaded with boxes and pouted, not waiting for Tangning to reply, and mumbled, "It's all my father's fault. I managed to sneak out, but he caught me and dragged me back, saying I tore the tassel on his money pouch and made me fix it before he would let me out."
That money pouch was an ancient item from who knows how many years ago, with the embroidery nearly worn out, but her father treated it like a treasure. He even insisted the tassel had to be identical, or he wouldn't let her leave the house. She had to beg, plead, and wheedle her way out, and by the time she got to the alley leading to the Lu estate, she saw the line of carriages already formed. She knew she was late.
Qian Qiyue huffed, "I wanted to come with you to pick out books from the Lu family, but I rushed over and still ended up too late." Her father was such a nuisance; even at his age, he was still so clingy. When she got home, she'd tell her mother that he had been out drinking with other women!
"No way! I haven’t even seen what the Lu family’s library looks like yet. They didn’t bully you, did they? Did you and Commander Xiao count everything carefully? Make sure they didn't try to trick you and shortchange you..."
The Lu family members glared at her. "Miss, when has the Lu family ever tricked anyone?"
Qian Qiyue snorted, "How should I know? After all, your family was the one that tried to seize the dowry of a young lady who hadn't even married in yet."
"You!!"
"You what? You’re denying it? Or are you saying you didn't try to sweet-talk Tangning? My Tangning doesn't hold grudges, which is why she’s magnanimous. But your Lu family did it, so why are you afraid of people talking about it?" The Lu family members were shaking with rage, and one of the younger ones, too hot-headed, pointed at Qian Qiyue and took a step forward to argue.
But Qian Qiyue was fiercer than anyone. With a "smack," she slapped the hand that was almost poking her in the face, planted her hands on her hips, and glared.
"What? The Lu family wants to hit someone now?" She rolled up her sleeves, "Come on, as if I'd be scared of you just because you’re a Lu!"
"You... you..." The Lu family members' faces turned livid, and one even looked ready to start swearing.
Song Tangning quickly pulled the fiery Qian Qiyue back a few steps, positioning herself between her and the Lu family members. She said to the younger Lu men, "A gentleman uses his words, not his fists."
Gentleman, my foot!
The Lu men’s faces twitched with rage.
Song Tangning ignored their reactions and looped her arm through Qian Qiyue's, saying, "Sister Ayue is kind and gentle; she would never get into a fight."
Qian Qiyue, who had been standing there with her sleeves rolled up and hands on her hips: "..."
Ahem!
She quickly lowered her sleeves, smoothed her skirt, and forced a smile, "You’re right. I’m such a delicate young lady. How could I ever get into a fight? It’s just that they were so infuriating..."
"Yes, Sister Ayue was just momentarily upset. But don't worry. We have Lord Cao and the others here, and the Lu family wouldn't dare play any tricks. We counted every volume, and not a single one is missing."
Qian Qiyue turned to her, "Really? But what if they hid some in advance?"
"..." Song Tangning was speechless for a moment.
Qian Qiyue pulled Song Tangning closer, whispering, "I’m telling you, the Lu family has no good people. They knew full well how Lu Zhinian treated you before, yet they pretended to be unaware. With such shamelessness, who knows if they secretly stashed some books?"
"You, young lady, are being too much!" One of the Lu family elders nearly fainted from anger.
Qian Qiyue was about to retort when Song Tangning quickly covered her mouth. Even Cao Dejiang and the others following them couldn’t help but twitch their lips. Xiao Yan, standing to the side, was also trying hard not to let his expression slip.
This young lady of the Qian family was truly the fiercest woman in the capital.
No wonder Qian Baokun had gone to great lengths to keep her from coming to the Lu residence. If she did come, with her knack for stirring up trouble, she might tear apart both the reputation and the fabric of the Lu family, leaving them at odds not with Song Tangning but with Qian Baokun himself.
Song Tangning had a vague understanding now of why Qian Qiyue had such a “ferocious” reputation. Besides Xiao Yan and Gu Helian, she had never seen anyone more formidable than Qian Qiyue.
With a mouth like that, it was probably only due to the protection of her father, the Minister Qian, that she hadn’t been beaten to death.
"Mmph, mmph..." Qian Qiyue's eyes widened.
Song Tangning pulled her farther away from the Lu family members before releasing her.
Before Qian Qiyue could ask why she had covered her mouth, Song Tangning quickly looped her arm through hers again and said, "Sister Ayue, the Lu family's books are all packed up, and Brother will send them to Jiyun Alley later. I’m going to check out the location where the academy will be built. Would you like to join me?"
Qian Qiyue's attention was instantly diverted, "Academy? Where is it?"
Song Tangning replied, "It’s temporarily set to be in the southern part of the city. The land was just designated, and the Jingzao Department will begin construction in a few days. Would you like to take a look beforehand?"
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You can read ahead to chapterr 234 here
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