Seeing the Fourth Prince frown, Empress Lu continued speaking.
"Your father is naturally suspicious and would never easily trust anyone. But Xiao Yan always manages to predict His Majesty's will perfectly. Before Xiao Yan appeared, your father was dissatisfied with the aristocratic families but kept the appearance of harmony. However, after Xiao Yan rose to power, the relationship between the royal family and the aristocratic families became like fire and water."
"Instead of saying Xiao Yan helped your father eliminate the aristocratic families and clear the court, it would be more accurate to say that he gradually led your father to distrust the aristocratic families, stirred up resentment on both sides, and manipulated your father into severing ties with the aristocracy, which led to the current situation."
Empress Lu thought about Xiao Yan’s actions, and a sense of emotion appeared on her face.
"I actually suspected his identity earlier. His methods against the Lu family were too harsh. If he were only trying to please your father, with his intelligence, he would never have left himself without any escape route. It wasn’t until I sent people to investigate that I discovered his true background."
"Even if he’s not from the He family, he is definitely connected to them."
The Fourth Prince's expression fluctuated constantly.
Empress Lu looked at him. "Zheng'er, losing the Lu family isn’t a big deal. The aristocracy won’t always remain stable. The Second Prince might be in power for now, but as long as Xiao Yan is willing to assist you, you still have a chance. Don’t be discouraged or lose your fighting spirit."
The Fourth Prince, who had been uneasy, felt his heart gradually settle after hearing Empress Lu’s words. He even felt a hint of secret joy. "It’s my fault. Thank you, Mother, for making plans for me."
"We are mother and son. There's no need for thanks," Empress Lu said, her face softening as she saw his spirits lifting.
"Although Xiao Yan has promised to assist me and I may make him Regent in the future, there’s still some distance between us. That eunuch has no family connections; the only thing he cares about is Song Tangning. I want to send her into your household as a concubine. What do you think?"
The Fourth Prince froze, and a delicate image appeared in his mind.
A small, fair face like porcelain, skin as smooth as fine white china, her almond eyes sparkling like water when she smiled.
The Fourth Prince swallowed, remembering the faint scent he had caught on the carriage ride with her. That girl’s fragrance lingered in his thoughts for days.
Although Song Tangning was not like the obedient girls he used to prefer, her beauty certainly moved his heart. If she could enter his household...
"I would naturally agree. Xiao Yan treats Song Tangning very well. If she enters the household, Xiao Yan will definitely pay more attention to my affairs. But, Mother, Song Tangning is no ordinary woman. She’s ruthless toward the Song family. When she broke off her engagement with the Lu family, she was extremely decisive. She probably won’t want to become just a concubine."
If the position of consort were still available, he might have had some confidence. But as just a concubine...
He instinctively felt that Song Tangning would never agree.
Empress Lu smiled when she heard this. "Don’t worry, Mother has a way to make her agree."
The Fourth Prince’s curiosity piqued. "What way?"
Empress Lu beckoned him closer. Once he leaned in, she whispered a few words to him.
The Fourth Prince’s face changed as he processed her words. When she finished, he couldn’t help but look up. "Will Princess Leyang really do that?"
"She’s a fool. She’s been obsessed with finding a good match for her son and has already treated Song Tangning as her own prize. If she realizes that the normal approach won’t work, she’ll definitely use underhanded methods."
Empress Lu sneered before continuing. "You don’t need to worry about this matter. I will arrange everything. You just need to focus on recovering."
"Also, Xiao Yan was injured when he saved His Majesty yesterday. He probably won’t be attending court for some time. After you leave the palace, go visit him. This will show your sincerity toward him and give you a chance to interact with Song Tangning. If you can win her favor, it will benefit you in the future."
The Fourth Prince thought of Song Tangning’s face and couldn’t help but say, "Mother, please make sure Princess Leyang doesn’t truly ruin Tangning’s reputation..."
Empress Lu paused, then broke into a laugh. "Oh? So you’re interested in her?"
The Fourth Prince’s face immediately turned red. "Mother!"
Empress Lu smiled. "Alright, alright, I won’t tease you. If you like her, I will naturally ensure that her reputation remains intact. You needn’t worry. I’ll make sure that she only suffers some slander and is not actually tainted. I will make sure she enters your household with a clean reputation."
The Fourth Prince was overjoyed upon hearing this. "Thank you, Mother."
...
Xiao Yan was seriously injured and unable to move, so he stayed at Tang Ning’s residence to recuperate. Although there were rumors outside, the fact that Madam Qin was temporarily staying there made it seem less unusual.
When Tang Ning heard the gossip about Lu Qin’s secret illness spreading outside, it was already afternoon.
"How did the Cui family know about Lu Qin’s condition?" Rong Yue asked curiously.
Gu Helian scoffed. "It was Lu Qin who said it himself. After he was captured last night, he was interrogated overnight. To avoid being blamed for attempting to harm His Majesty, he confessed that he only intended to deal with our little haitang, but to justify his attempt to kill, he had to come up with an excuse."
Although Tang Ning and the Lu family had longstanding grievances, the idea that Lu Qin might kill someone over something so trivial seemed implausible. Initially, he claimed it was because he resented Tang Ning for humiliating the Lu family, and he only wanted to teach her a lesson, not kill her. However, this excuse didn’t convince the authorities.
Once Lu Qin was taken to the court of justice, no one could keep their lips sealed. After being tortured, Lu Qin admitted to his impotence. The aristocracy had long been investigating, and the officials merely leaked a little bit of information, which the Cui family quickly caught wind of.
"I heard that after Lu Chongyuan argued with Cui Lin at the palace gates, he went back and summoned the family doctor. When he got out of the carriage, he needed someone to help him stand up." Gu Helian couldn’t hide his glee. "Cui Lin is useless. He didn’t even manage to make Lu Chongyuan die of anger."
If this had happened to him, he would have mocked the Lu family and its members endlessly. If Lu Chongyuan wasn’t enraged to death, he would have lost.
Rong Yue sighed helplessly, while Tang Ning couldn’t help but smile. "Cui Lin certainly isn’t as good as my uncle."
With my uncle's sharp tongue, no one in the entire capital could match it—well, except for my elder brother.
Gu Helian, unashamed, raised his chin. "Naturally."
A servant came in to announce that members of the Lu family had arrived, and Rong Yue furrowed her brow. "What do they want?"
"They said they’re here to apologize to Director Xiao on His Majesty’s orders."
Tang Ning asked, "Who’s here?"
"Lu’s second son, two medical officers from the Imperial Medical Bureau, and... the Fourth Prince."
Tang Ning was truly surprised. She had anticipated the Lu family’s arrival. The presence of the strange second son of the Lu family didn’t surprise her, but why was the Fourth Prince here?
Wasn’t he injured in the fall before? Such serious injuries were hard to recover from, so why would he come now?
Gu Helian noticed her frown and said, "Is something wrong? Should I meet them?"
"No need." Tang Ning shook her head. "Since the Lu family is following orders from His Majesty, my elder brother will definitely meet them. As for the Fourth Prince, let him in first. Let’s see what he wants."
She instructed the servants to invite them in, then stood up. "Aunt, Uncle, I’ll go meet them first."
Rong Yue nodded. "Be careful. If anything happens, have someone call for us."
Gu Helian added, "Since the Lu family is here to apologize, don’t give them too kind of a reception. The relationship has already soured, so there’s no need to pretend. Xiao Yan is seriously injured, and if you don’t make the Lu family suffer a little, don’t ease up."
When the pigs come to the door, you must slaughter them.
Tang Ning nodded, understanding the unspoken message. "Uncle, rest assured. I will handle it."
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