Hua Wu led Madam Fu to the back courtyard, and after receiving instructions, several of the Fu family servants carried out the boxes they had previously brought into the room. Only then did Song Tangning allow herself to breathe a sigh of relief. She patted her chest and muttered softly, “That scared me.”
Standing beside her, Xiao Yan was in a somewhat sour mood. “What’s there to be scared of?”
“Of course it’s Madam Fu! I originally thought she was just coming by for a casual visit and felt it was overly polite of her to bring so many things. Who would’ve thought she’d…?” Just recalling the previous conversation made her feel incredibly awkward, and she couldn’t help but murmur under her breath, “Who knows what the old lady was thinking, actually taking a liking to me…”
Despite prevailing over the Lu family, the rumors about her had never ceased. Some said that while she had earned the loyalty of scholars from humble backgrounds, she was overly assertive toward the Lu family and heartless toward her own family, the Song clan. She knew people said she was neither dignified nor demure, often making a scene in public.
The Fu family was by no means an ordinary household in the capital, and Madam Fu was someone who valued propriety above all. How could she have possibly taken a liking to her?
Though Xiao Yan disliked that Fu family brat harboring intentions toward his little one, he couldn’t help but frown when he heard her self-deprecate. “What’s there not to like about you? Why belittle yourself?”
Song Tangning looked up at him, her white neck arched. “Of course, Ah Xiong sees no fault in me, but not everyone feels the same.”
“But you just said they’re ‘others.’” Xiao Yan’s voice was steady. “There are only two kinds of people in this world: those who matter to you and those who don’t.”
“Leaving aside those irrelevant people, those who truly care about you will naturally see your worth. As for those who don’t care, why waste your thoughts on their opinions? Moreover, those who freely criticize others aren’t necessarily doing so because the person they’re criticizing is genuinely flawed. They simply want to elevate themselves by putting others down, to appear morally superior as they stand in judgment.”
“Such people are no better than flies on rotten food. Why give them a second thought?”
Song Tangning froze for a moment. She hadn’t actually felt upset or cared about what people said. Their rumors had no impact on her. Her earlier remark had merely been a passing thought, wondering why the Fu family had taken an interest in her. Yet the person in front of her was earnestly encouraging her not to pay attention to the outside world, as if determined to prevent her from devaluing herself.
Feeling warmth bloom in her heart, Song Tangning whispered, “Ah Xiong, I don’t care what they say as long as you don’t despise me.”
The softness of her voice was like honey, her almond-shaped eyes clear as spring water. Her affectionate smile seemed capable of drowning him.
“I only care about you, Ah Xiong. No one else matters to me.”
Her words lingered in the air, the gentle, endearing tone wrapping around him like silken threads. Xiao Yan paused, his gaze faltering as his breath inexplicably caught. As he watched her tiptoe up, her face close to his, her delicate neck slightly arched, he suddenly looked away, his jaw tightening as his throat constricted.
Seeing his unusual reaction, Song Tangning asked, “Ah Xiong, you won’t despise me, right?”
Xiao Yan’s back straightened. “Of course not. I’m your elder brother.”
He rarely invoked their sibling relationship, even though he always treated her like a child. But now, by deliberately reminding her of it, he wasn’t sure if he was warning her or himself, trying to tamp down his suddenly unruly emotions.
Almost as if to convince himself, he murmured, “No matter what happens, as your elder brother, I will protect you.”
Unaware of his fleeting discomfort, Song Tangning broke into a bright smile. “I knew Ah Xiong cares for me the most! I like Ah Xiong the best!”
Xiao Yan’s pulse, just calmed, skipped again. This time, even his heartbeat was thrown into disarray.
...
Xiao Yan hadn’t kept the palace matters from Song Tangning; when she asked, he told her everything, even mentioning that Song Jinshu had been reinstated to his former position. Although she didn’t like Song Jinshu, she understood that his role in taking on the brunt of the noble families’ ire helped Xiao Yan and didn’t question it, leaving it entirely up to him.
As she listened to the shifts in court politics, hearing how Xiao Yan and Qian Baokun contended with the nobles, she softly voiced her thoughts while analyzing the current political landscape based on his insights. She was growing rapidly, no longer the naive girl from before. Xiao Yan, watching her speak so intently, found his mind wandering, his gaze settling on her pink, supple lips as they moved. How could her features be so dainty? Her eyes sparkled, her skin was entrancingly fair, and her lips were so small…
His focus narrowing on her, Xiao Yan unconsciously raised a hand to her lips, as if drawn there by her words.
“Ah Xiong?” Song Tangning tilted her head. “Was I correct?”
He tensed, snapping his hand back and furrowing his brow. What nonsense was he thinking?
Seeing his unexpected change in expression, Song Tangning hesitated, wondering if she had misspoken. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” he replied quickly. “You were correct. Now that there’s discord among the noble families, this is a rare opportunity.”
“Cui Lin has long coveted the position of the head of the noble families and resented Lu Chongyuan’s dominance as Grand Chancellor. He’s been unhappy with the Lu family’s consolidation of noble power to support the Empress and Fourth Prince for their own gains. By secretly betraying the Lu family, he originally wanted to use me to suppress Lu Chongyuan. But who could have expected it to break the Lu family entirely? Once the other noble families realize what Cui Lin has done, he’ll be left with no standing in the court, and he’ll find himself attacked on all sides by those same noble families.”
"The Lu family, with its deep foundations over many years, still has the power to retaliate. Cui Lin fears both revenge from Lu Chongyuan and isolation from the other noble families. His only option now is to completely crush the Lu family, making Lu Chongyuan and his allies the stepping stones for the Cui family’s rise, just as the He family was once destroyed. That’s why he’ll spare no effort in helping me gather ‘evidence’ against the Lu family.”
Whether fabricated or true, no one understands better than the nobles themselves what they've done over the years. That account book, along with the items Qian Baokun presented to His Majesty, isn’t enough to completely bring down the Lu family. But if we add in what the Cui family holds…
It will be enough to spell the Lu family’s doom.
Though Xiao Yan's thoughts were a storm of complexities, he maintained a gentle tone toward Song Tangning. “So, you needn’t worry. Those nobles only care about their interests. Once they see that the Lu family has no chance of resurgence, those who pleaded for the Lu family today will be the first to turn against them, like ravenous wolves tearing them apart until nothing remains.”
Hearing this, Song Tangning asked in a low voice, “And Minister Qian…?”
“Rest assured, he will be safe,” Xiao Yan replied. Qian Baokun was one of the rare officials who was both competent and genuinely concerned for the people. Even when Xiao Yan had first thought of involving him, he had left a path open for Qian to retreat if needed.
Relieved to know that the fate of the Lu family was sealed and that Xiao Yan and the Qian family were safe, Song Tangning finally let go of her worries. She then turned her attention to concerns about the Cheng Princess Consort.
She had no romantic feelings for Fu Laijing, nor did she have any intention of remarrying. She was worried that Madam Fu might say something inappropriate to the princess consort or that news of the princess consort’s pregnancy could leak and cause complications. Anxious, she hurried toward the princess consort’s quarters.
Watching her retreating figure, Xiao Yan’s lips tightened.
“Master, do you think the Fu family has their eye on our lady?” Cang Lang entered from outside, his face full of gossip. “I saw the boxes they carried out from the Fu family earlier. They were filled with rare treasures—hardly the kind of gifts you bring for a simple visit. And that Fu Langjun—I’d say he deliberately took a detour to the southern part of the city out of admiration for our lady, trying to cozy up to her.”
Xiao Yan’s expression grew colder, and his fierce aura intensified as he looked at Cang Lang.
Cang Lang, however, remained oblivious, eagerly chattering beside Xiao Yan. “Madam Fu seemed like she came to propose a marriage. She looked as if she couldn’t wait to settle things right away. Do you think she might be talking with the princess consort about the lady’s marriage now, so she can come back in a while to finalize the engagement?”
“Honestly, I think Fu Langjun and our lady make a good match—close in age, and the Fu family is respectable. Way better than those scoundrels in the Lu family. With Madam Fu so fond of her, I bet our lady would be well taken care of if she married into the Fu family…”
Jing Yun, noticing Xiao Yan’s face growing darker and darker, quietly stepped back.
In the next moment, Xiao Yan stood up abruptly and kicked Cang Lang in the shin.
Thud—
Cang Lang stumbled, nearly hitting his head on the table. As he steadied himself, he saw Xiao Yan, radiating a cold, intimidating aura, striding away with his robes billowing behind him. Cang Lang looked bewildered. “What’s wrong with Master?”
Jing Yun sighed. “…Just stop talking.”
Cang Lang: “…”
“What? I didn’t say anything wrong.” The Fu family was clearly interested in Song Tangning. Madam Fu couldn’t have come just to see her, could she?
Seeing that Cang Lang was still clueless, Jing Yun closed his eyes briefly in exasperation. Forget it. One day, his own stupidity will be the death of him.
You can read ahead to chapterr 300 (100+ extra chapters) here
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