Lu Zhinian lifted his eyes and sneered, "A father who would abandon his own son for the sake of profit?"
"You!!" Lu Zhao raised his hand, intending to slap Lu Zhinian across the face, but as his hand was lifted high, it met Lu Zhinian's bloodshot eyes. Those eyes held no trace of warmth; instead, they were filled with cold, bitter resentment.
Lu Zhinian tilted his head up, "Why aren't you hitting me, Father? If you could just beat me to death, wouldn't that be more convenient?" Lu Zhao's hand trembled. "Sanlang..." His lips moved, as if wanting to say something, but the mocking expression on Lu Zhinian's face silenced him. The more Lu Zhinian saw this, the colder he felt inside.
He knew his father too well. If he had guessed wrong, Lu Zhao would have lashed out angrily, but his guilty expression could only mean one thing: Lu Zhao and the others had truly decided to abandon him in favor of his younger brother, using him to quell the matter with Tangning and keep the Lu family safe. Lu Zhinian's eyes were filled with ridicule, and he couldn't help but find himself utterly laughable.
He had once been so arrogant, thinking the Lu family couldn't do without him. He had believed he was the shining star of the family, the one his grandfather and father valued the most. He had always looked down on Song Jinshu, thinking that even if he ended up in prison, he would never fall into the same pitiful state.
Yet now, he was nothing more than that.
In the past, everyone said the noble families were heartless, and he scoffed at it. But today, he finally understood—under the weight of power and profit, everyone was just a speck of dust.
To his grandfather and the others, he was no different from anyone else. When the time came, they would sacrifice anyone, including him.
...
"The Princess of Yiyang County is coming out."
A sudden commotion outside the carriage broke the tension, and the crowd that had gathered around the entrance scattered. Lu Zhinian, who had been arguing intensely with Lu Zhao, lifted his bloodshot eyes and saw a woman in a green dress stepping out from the Lu family estate.
She wore a veil over her face, her head slightly tilted as she spoke to the person beside her. The once cold and harsh man standing next to her had his eyes softened, like snow melting in the early spring.
A gentle breeze blew past, lifting the veil slightly and revealing her fair chin. It was nothing like the face full of festering sores that had haunted his dreams, but a delicate, glowing visage under the warm spring sun, her dark eyes bright with life and energy.
Song Tangning pressed down on the veil fluttering in the wind, but as she stepped forward, she accidentally stumbled on the stone steps. The man in a sleek outfit beside her immediately reached out, steadying her and keeping his hand hovering protectively at her waist.
"Watch your step," Xiao Yan frowned.
Song Tangning gave an embarrassed smile, but couldn't help laughing. "Brother, did you see the faces of the Lu family? They turned green, and Lu Chongyuan... he looked like he'd just recovered from a serious illness. I guess those rumors about him coughing up blood were true," she wrinkled her nose. "Serves them right for what they did to you!"
Xiao Yan chuckled, helplessly shaking his head at her petty, vengeful nature. "Keep your voice down."
Song Tangning noticed the Lu family members glaring at her from behind, and she batted her eyelashes, sticking her tongue out playfully behind her veil. She then pretended not to see them, focusing instead on the boxes piled on the carriages. "There's so many books—how are we going to sort them all?"
Xiao Yan, following close behind her, replied, "We'll send them back to Jiyun Alley first and have someone watch over them. Once the academy is built, we can move them there."
Song Tangning thought for a moment. "That sounds good. I saw a few interesting books; maybe Ah Ru could read them with me too."
As she walked, the young lady tilted her head and continued, "Even Lord Cao was excited when he saw some of the books earlier. I wanted to let him take them home and read them, but he refused, saying he would come by our place later or wait until the academy was built."
"He doesn't have to be so formal. I genuinely wanted to thank him." If it weren't for Cao Dejiang helping to select the books, it would have taken all day to sort them out. Besides, winning over people like Cao Dejiang was worth sacrificing a few books.
Xiao Yan glanced back at Cao Dejiang, who was still chatting with Marquis Wenxin, and said with a chuckle, "If you're truly grateful, you can find a private opportunity to gift him some books. Right now, he chose not to take any for your own sake."
Seeing Song Tangning's confusion, Xiao Yan lowered his head and whispered, "Cao Dejiang has a different status. He's the leader of the scholars in court. If he accepted your offer and took those books, then naturally, other officials would also step forward and ask."
There is no shortage of powerful families in the capital. Although Tangning holds the title of county princess, many have a higher status than hers. The books were safe in the hands of the Lu family, but once they were in hers, they became a coveted treasure.
If Cao Dejiang had taken some, everyone else would come asking for a share. If she lent them, there was no telling when they'd be returned; but if she refused, it would be like favoring Cao's family over the others.
Even though Xiao Yan could protect her, and he wasn't afraid of offending the nobles in the capital, Song Tangning still had to live here. Unless she wanted to hide forever in Jiyun Alley under his protection, she'd still have to socialize with other families.
If he offended everyone in the capital, how would she live on?
Moreover, Cao Dejiang's actions were not only meant to protect Song Tangning but also to build momentum for the yet-to-be-established academy.
Xiao Yan whispered to Tangning, "After all, you're a woman, and you've torn ties with the noble families. Considering how ruthless the Lu family has been, even if the academy is built, there will still be people who are wary of them."
"The power of noble families can't be eradicated in a day, but if people like Cao Dejiang go to the academy to read, it will put the students at ease, and the nobles won't dare to touch you easily. Besides, these people wouldn't just be visiting to read books. If the academy students could receive even a few pointers from these officials, it would be a tremendous boost for their future careers."
Song Tangning was stunned, "So Brother, you're saying Lord Cao is helping me?"
Xiao Yan nodded softly. "You could say that. Cao Dejiang may be a bit rigid at times, but no one in court is more upright. If you ever run into trouble you can't solve, you can go to him. Even if it's just for the goodwill you've shown by building an academy, he won't turn you away."
This was a way to leave Tangning with a safety net.
Song Tangning understood Xiao Yan's intention. She opened her mouth, "But I have you, Brother..."
"But I may not always be there to protect you. If there ever comes a time I can't, Little Sea Tang must learn to protect herself."
Looking at the young woman beside him, Xiao Yan felt his heart soften for the first time. The more he cared, the more he wanted to ensure everything was perfect for her. For years, he had schemed and maneuvered without a second thought, but now, with her around, he was more hesitant.
He knew every step he took was like walking on a knife's edge, with even the slightest misstep leading to ruin. Yet he still wanted to leave her with another option, ensuring that even if he fell, she would remain safe.
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You can read ahead to chapterr 245 here
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