Chapter 114 Taking Advantage

The man who had spoken earlier was actually embarrassed by his own stupidity the moment he opened his mouth. After hearing Cao Dejiang's scolding, his face flushed even more: "What is the Lu family's reason?"

"Yeah, it can't be that Lu Chongyuan is being kind-hearted." Others were also discussing it.

Cao Dejiang vaguely guessed something and looked at Qian Baokun thoughtfully, "Minister Qian, is the Lu family's matter because of those things that Miss Song asked them for a few days ago?"

Qian Baokun laughed. "Master Cao is indeed wise. I heard that Governor Xiao was seriously injured in an assassination attempt outside the capital the day before yesterday. Yesterday, Miss Song filed a complaint with the Jingzhao Prefecture and the palace, accusing the Lu family of defrauding her of her maternal grandfather's belongings by using a marriage contract, and demanding repayment. Secretary Lu went to Jiyun Lane overnight, and later vomited blood and was carried back. This half of the collection of books is most likely paid for those things."

Everyone around was shocked when they heard this: "How much did the Lu family steal from the Yiyang County Lady? How could they possibly not pay it back with their wealth?"

"Who knows?" Qian Baokun shrugged.

Qian Baokun stopped talking briefly, leaving the others with endless room for imagination, and then he walked away leisurely with his hands folded.

His clingy daughter asked him to help the little girl from the Song family. That should be enough. If he says more, the Lu family will come back to trouble him.

That stinky girl stole his private money and caught him drinking with some colleagues. If his wife knew he was looking at other girls, she would pull his ears off.

Qian Baokun left, but his words were like a pot of hot water poured into boiling oil, making everyone else boil.

I originally thought that something had happened to the Lu family and they suddenly did a good deed, but it turned out that they were "giving" books because they coveted other people's things and couldn't pay them back.

Oh!

Someone mocked: "You are still a noble family, yet you are greedy for the dowry of a young girl who has not yet married."

"How dare they say they're giving away books? Ugh!"

Don't be ashamed!

Regardless of their background, none of them would dare to take the dowry of a woman from their family. Some couldn't help but curse, "No wonder the Yiyang County Lady wanted to break off the engagement with the Lu family and made such a big fuss about it."

"I originally thought this young woman was being too ostentatious, but now I know she's being pushed into a corner by the Lu family. It's a good thing the Yiyang County Lady saw through the Lu family's true colors early on, otherwise, wouldn't they have gnawed her to the bone after she married into the family?"

A group of people were talking, their words were full of sarcasm and contempt for the Lu family.

Cao Dejiang had heard his sister talk about the Lu family and Song Tangning earlier, and he couldn't help but frown and show disgust. Although he didn't join in the discussion, he also despised the Lu family.

The ministers in the corridor were all talking about the Lu family. The sensation caused by the Lu family's previous "gift of books" was overshadowed by the fact that they embezzled the dowry of their unmarried daughter. When they arrived at the second gate, before the ministers had time to disperse, a man saw them from afar and quickly came forward, standing in front of Cao Dejiang and Wen Xinhou.

"Wait a minute, Lord Cao."

"Who are you?"

"I am Shun'an, and I have a request from Lord Cao and Lord Wenxin on the orders of the Governor."

Cao Dejiang and Wen Xinhou both looked surprised. They had never had any contact with Xiao Yan, and they were not on good terms. What could Xiao Yan possibly want from them?

The young eunuch named Shun'an hung his head. "You two should have known about the matter between the Princess of Yiyang and the Lu family during the morning court session. The Princess of Yiyang did not want to fight with the Lu family over money, and she also deeply felt the difficulties faced by students throughout the world in pursuing education. Therefore, she agreed to allow the Lu family to exchange half of their collection for the items they had previously taken. These books, as well as the rare ancient books left by Grand Tutor Rong, will all be given to the academy for students to borrow in the future."

"My governor is at odds with the Lu family, and his knowledge is not as good as yours. The Yiyang County Lady is young and inexperienced. The governor is afraid that she will be deceived by the Lu family, and also afraid that the Lu family will go back on their word and find some random things to fool my girl. Therefore, I would like to ask Lord Cao and the Marquis to take the time to accompany the Yiyang County Lady to the Lu family's library to select books. I also want to ask Lord Cao to write an inscription on the Wende Monument on the day the academy opens."

After Shunan finished speaking, he looked up at the court officials behind Cao Dejiang and others.

"Of course, you all are talented people. The Lu family has a vast collection of books, and it would take more than one or two people to select suitable academies. My supervisor said that if any of you are willing to go to the Lu family, you can come along. After the academy is built, your achievements will be recorded on the Wende Monument. In the future, all students who borrow books from the academy will be grateful to you."

As soon as Shunan finished speaking, all the court officials fell silent.

Cao Dejiang's eyes flashed, and Marquis Wenxin's face was also moved. The other court officials seemed quiet, but their eyes were all on Cao Dejiang and the other two. However, their suddenly tense jaws and slightly excited eyes showed the unrest in their hearts.

Not to mention how coveted the Lu family's collection of books is, those things are never open to the public by the Lu family, and it is even more difficult for those who are not of the Lu family's bloodline to set foot in the Lu family's library. But now you have the opportunity to go and take a look.

What's more, the books that were selected with help will be sent to the newly built academy in the future. The academy has the collections of books from the Rong and Lu families, which are enough to attract students from all over the world. It will surely become a holy place for students in Beijing in the future. The Wen De Monument was bestowed by His Majesty himself. If I can leave my mark on it, it will be a chance to leave a good reputation for generations to come.

Who wouldn't want to?

Not to mention the court officials, even people like Cao Dejiang, who usually don't care about things, couldn't help but feel excited.

Cao Dejiang said, "Since Governor Xiao has made such a request, and it is for the benefit of students all over the world, I naturally have no choice but to accept it."

Marquis Wenxin also quickly said, "Although I am not as knowledgeable as Lord Cao, I can help with some of the moving. When the Princess of Yiyang goes to the Lu family, just send someone to let her know, and I will definitely accompany you."

Seeing that the two agreed, other court officials also spoke up.

"So can I."

"I can go too."

"Sir, please tell Governor Xiao that we are all willing to accompany the Yiyang County Lady to the Lu family."

"Yes, Governor Xiao, don't worry. With us here, the Lu family won't be able to fool the Yiyang County Lady, and we will definitely not let her suffer any loss."

Shunan listened to the court officials who usually acted arrogant and conceited, talking at once and wishing they could go to the Lu family immediately. He bowed slightly and said with a smile.

"Then I, on behalf of my Lord Governor and the County Lady, would like to express my gratitude to you all. I don't know when the Lu family will be able to prepare their collection of books. When they invite the County Lady to their house, I will send someone to inform you all."

Everyone hesitated when they heard this, and Cao Dejiang's eyes narrowed slightly.

Children from wealthy families have always had no shortage of ways to advance, and those books are not that important to them, but for students from poor families, they are like a blessing from heaven, opportunities that they could never have asked for in the past.

The Princess of Yiyang County was righteous and willing to sacrifice her own interests for the benefit of students from poor families. Even though there was more or less Xiao Yan's calculation to deal with the aristocratic families, those students were able to gain tangible benefits.

But could the Lu family really be willing to part with so many books? What if they deliberately delayed, or even took the opportunity to deny...

Cao Dejiang's face darkened.

These books must be given to the Lu family even if they don’t want to!

If they want to delay, we will force them to stop.