Lu Family of Fanyang

“You’ve always been a stickler for the rules, so I thought this guild would be run by either the eldest brother or the second brother.”

Pei Qingzhu helped her into the carriage, his face expressionless, and said, "I stole it. There can be no order without rules, and rules are for people, not for animals."

Pei Qinglian, dressed in plain clothes, patted his back impatiently and sighed, "The Lu family won't let me off easily."

The whole family is petty and narrow-minded.

"Father and Lord Cong have made great contributions together and are enjoying immense prestige. Lord Cong is even going to be called Prime Minister Cong one day. Father's reward has not yet been given. His Majesty will not make things difficult for us because of the Lu family. Mother has prepared your favorite dishes at home. Let's go home first."

Pei Qinglian paused for a few seconds, then smiled and said, "Okay."

She had very few belongings at the Lu family's house; she only took a few pieces of clothing and a box left behind by Lu Songjin.

That evening, the Pei family was filled with laughter and joy, all blessings for Pei Qinglian's escape from suffering.

Pei Qinglian retorted in kind. The Duke of Pei, who was quite drunk, said to her, "How hateful! How hateful! That scoundrel Cong Lan doesn't even have a son. Otherwise, I would guarantee to introduce you to someone."

"It's a pity we can't be in-laws in this life. He looks down on my sons and specially brought over a young disciple from Jingzhou to train a husband for his daughter. It's too perverted, too perverted."

"Even the eldest disciple is no good. The Cheng couple are no good either. The others got married early, so they're not interesting at all."

He drank more and more, and talked more nonsense, which made Madam Pei so angry that she wanted to throw him into the lake to sober him up.

Pei Qinglian watched the servants busily preparing hangover soup, and a smile curved her lips.

Seeing Pei Qingzhuo walk over and clink glasses with him, he said, "I heard that Ayan just came to see you."

"Hmm." Pei Qingzhu responded, looking up to drink. "My mother wants us to get engaged, but she doesn't want to marry me because I want to investigate cases."

"You agreed?"

"She agreed halfway. She went to investigate the case properly, and I will persuade Mother to postpone the wedding."

Pei Qinglian lifted her eyelids to look at him, then chuckled, "Ayan has always loved investigating cases alongside Lord Ning since she was little, so it's only natural that she would refuse you. I never expected you to have so many hidden agendas. Tell me, when did you start having designs on Ayan?"

"We've been childhood sweethearts, it would be strange if I didn't like her." Pei Qingzhuo had drunk too much, and the smell of alcohol made the area behind his ears flush red.

"Heh, if you're so capable, go and say it to Ayan. You're acting like a coward." Pei Qinglian picked up her wine and continued drinking, seemingly lost in thought.

She ignored Pei Qingzhuo's ulterior motives. She was like a fool, enjoying herself immensely as she fell in love, but she became like a wooden stake in front of Pei Qingzhuo's wife, not saying a word.

Returning to her long-missed boudoir, Pei Qinglian lay on the bed for a while before getting up again to look at the box left behind by Lu Songjin.

She hadn't opened it yet. In her drunken state and under the cover of night, Pei Qinglian opened it in a daze and the first thing she saw was a letter.

"To A-Lian"

We were betrothed in our youth, yet we had never met until the night of our wedding. I knew this was a forced marriage arranged by my mother to bring me good fortune. Initially, I was unwilling to be bound by this marriage, but alas, I was powerless to disobey. At that time, all I could do was prepare a divorce decree, so that after my death, you could be free.

But fate played a cruel trick on me. I ended up staying overnight with you time and time again, sharing a room with you. Your talent in poetry and prose filled me with admiration. After two years of spending every day together, feelings gradually took root, and I even had some delusional thoughts. However, I felt ashamed of my appearance and my long-term illness meant that I didn't know when my soul would return to the void. Therefore, all my feelings were hidden in my heart, and I dared not utter a single word.

That day, you asked me if I had anything to say. My heart was surging with emotion, and a thousand words choked in my throat. I never expected that you would confess your feelings first, saying that you were fond of me. I am haggard and frail, and I am truly unworthy of your favor.

What's stored in this box is my life savings, a meager fortune, though not abundant, I hope you won't find it lacking. If there is an afterlife, I wish to hold a broom and brew tea for you, to repay the deep affection and friendship of this life.

Shiro's final work

"The full moon of the first month of spring in the twenty-fourth year of Jianwu"

Pei Qinglian buried the letter in her bosom, lowered her head and sobbed, "Lu Songjin, you bastard, boohoo—"

Uncontrollable sobs echoed in the boudoir. The maid at the door was extremely anxious, but Pei Qinglian had locked the door when she entered, so she couldn't get in.

When the maid ordered someone to break down the door, Pei Qinglian was found lying asleep on the floor, surrounded by countless letters and bank receipts.

At the bottom of the box that had been tossed aside, there was a jade lotus hairpin.

The maids sighed, helped Pei Qinglian to the bed, and cleaned up the mess on the floor.

This alarmed Madam Pei in the front yard. She rushed over and looked at Pei Qinglian, who was fast asleep on the bed, with a worried expression. She muttered to herself, "She didn't even know to drink some hangover soup before going to sleep. She'll have a headache tomorrow."

In her dream, Pei Qinglian recalled his eyes, his face, and indeed, his way of speaking and his face were completely different.

Upon waking in the morning, Pei Qinglian remained silent and began preparing for the palace's female official examination.

Madam Pei was worried about her, so she called Cui Wan and Ning Yan to comfort her.

Pei Qinglian thanked them for their kindness and continued preparing through the night. Although her parents intended to support her for the rest of her life, she couldn't stay there forever. In the future, the young master of the Pei family would eventually have to get married.

Madam Lu was never willing to accept this, but many of Minister Lu's connections in the court had been severed, and the Lu family was like a piece of duckweed in the wind, facing a crisis.

If it weren't for his extensive experience, he would have almost lost his position as Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

The feud between the Pei and Lu families was finalized after Pei Qingzhu punched Lu Dalang.

Pei Qinglian had just finished the selection exam for female officials in the palace when she learned that Pei Qingzhuo and Lu Dalang had gotten into a fight as soon as she left the palace.

Pei Qingzhuo and Ning Yan happened to be present when they learned from the maid that Lu Jia's eldest son had publicly humiliated her, and the two started fighting.

Yunlai Tower, located in the East Market, has always been admired by aristocratic families and literati in Chang'an.

"Kai remembers that the matter caused quite a stir at the time, and both Fan Langjun and Lu Niangzi had to intervene."

Sui Zhixu looked up and said, "You know quite a lot."

Puyang Kai smiled slightly, "It's a coincidence. I just happen to run into them every time. When there was trouble at the Pei family's door, I just happened to be looking for my teacher and ended up attending the wedding banquet of the Pei and Lu families. I was also fortunate enough to attend the poetry gathering that year. As for Yunlai Tower, I had a meal with my senior brother Cheng and several other fellow disciples."

She put down her teacup and said, "Continue."

Coincidentally, less than a day later I heard news about Lu Kou.

Fate, you are always so coincidental; this is hardly something I can control myself.

"I don't remember it very clearly, but I vaguely recall that Third Master kicked Lu Dalang off the second floor and bumped into Fan Langjun and Lu Niangzi, who were handling the matter. Lu Dalang was drunk and behaving recklessly, and he was very rude to Lu Niangzi. Fan Langjun then called the government officials, and the Pei and Lu families went to court. In the end, the Jingzhao Prefecture ruled that the Lu family should compensate Pei Niangzi, and the relationship between the Pei and Lu families became even worse."

"When the Pei family was imprisoned, Duke Pei tried to stop the Dali Temple from arresting Madam Pei on the grounds that the harm should not befall married daughters. Minister Lu argued against this, and that's how Madam Pei was arrested and imprisoned."

Puyang Kai added, "Since Lu Dalang's words were so filthy that day, I won't offend your ears here."

Sui Zhixu nodded. Originally, according to the way the Pei and Lu families handled things, they should have resolved it privately. Unexpectedly, Fan Lingzhang invited people from the government, and the two families moved from the background to the public eye.

"Now that you've discussed the feud between the Pei and Lu families, tell me what you've found out." Sui Zhixu sat at the head of the main courtyard, gazing calmly at Puyang Kai, who sat below him.

Just like Sui He, who held great power in the Sui family.

Perhaps compared to Sui He, this young master Sui Zhixu lacked a bit of human warmth, after all, she spoke too little and was too aloof.

Puyang Kai thought of the comments the other members of the Sui family had made about her in private, and for some reason lowered his eyes and chuckled. Remembering that he had to talk about something serious, he suppressed his laughter and said, "Minister Lu has a connection with a certain lady in the palace."

"They meet monthly in the northwest corner of Xingqing Palace. The northwest corner palace is dilapidated, with a dog hole in the corner. Minister Lu usually talks to a lady around the 7th, 17th, or 27th of each month. The young master apologizes, but Kai did not know how old the lady was."

"The last time I met Minister Lu was on June 27th, and this time it will most likely be on the 7th." Puyang Kai stood up, cupped his hands, and began to explain.

After he finished speaking, Sui Zhixu scrutinized him from head to toe. Pu Yangkai's lips never fell, and he remained humble and polite, letting her look him over.

Sui Zhixu chuckled lightly, "So you came to me to curry favor."

The northwest corner was mostly occupied by the late emperor's concubines. The late emperor had three thousand concubines in his harem. After his death, the empress dowager abolished the custom of burying concubines of the previous dynasty with him. Most of them followed their husbands and wives to their fiefdoms. Those who had no children could only live alone in the northwest corner palace. They were alive, but their lives were not very good.

The power in the harem was in the hands of the princess. If Chu Ke and Cheng Zhijie wanted to see the Dowager Consort, they needed the princess's permission. Since she held the princess's token, she represented the princess herself, which made things convenient for her.

Why should she be the first person he thinks of? Even if he succeeds by going to Chu Ke's side, she might still suspect him. It's better to come here and curry favor with her.

This is quite similar to Cong Lan; no wonder he is the youngest disciple he has raised since childhood.

“Kai was originally the young master’s man, so naturally he was trying to curry favor with the young master.”

Sui Zhixu got up and walked to the door, then suddenly turned around and asked her, "You said you saw Madam Lu?"

Puyang Kai was surprised when she suddenly turned around. He quickly took two steps back and bowed his head, saying, "Yes."

What kind of person is she?

The delicate fragrance of jasmine filled the air around Pu Yangkai, along with a hint of cool bamboo scent, making him slightly dazed.

"Is it hard to say?" Her peach blossom eyes opened and closed, her gaze shifting.

Puyang Kai quickly shook his head, "No, a gentleman has things he should and shouldn't do. I shouldn't talk about other people's wives in private, especially since Madam Lu has already passed away."

Sui Zhixu: "Just a few words won't hurt."

Anyway, the person was right in front of him.

“Yes, please think about it, Rong Kai.” Pu Yangkai thought for a moment before saying, “I remember hearing that Madam Lu was not in good health and often stayed at home to recuperate. She must have been feeling much better that time before she went out, but she ran into Lu Dalang… which disturbed Madam Lu, so Fan Langjun came to the government.”

"As for Madam Lu herself, aside from hearing that she and her husband have a very good relationship, the impression she gave Kai at Yunlai Tower was that she resembled Master Chu, like a lone wolf. These are all just Kai's private speculations. Young Master, just listen to them and don't take them to heart."

Sui Zhixu shook his head. "Let's go, come with me to the palace."

Lone wolf.

I really didn't expect that.

She suppressed all her emotions once again, remaining calm and composed as always.

He raised the token and stepped through the palace gate.

"Since it is the Dowager Consort, we might as well find out first whether she is related to the Lu family of Fanyang."

"Young master is intelligent."

Sui Zhixu glanced at him and said, "There are account books in the palace. I'll get them from the princess's palace."

"Then Kai will wait here for the young master."

Soon after, Xu returned, saying only, "There is no concubine with the surname Lu in the palace. However, the mother of the Prince is from the Lu family of Fanyang, and she is currently in her fiefdom in Xuzhou."

Coincidentally, Yang Siqing, the governor of Luozhou, was also from Xuzhou.

"Let's go take a look first."