At Xiqin Academy, Lu Tianlin had just returned to the academy when his father, Lu Xian, the academy's dean, summoned him to the main hall.
As soon as he stepped into the hall, he saw Lu Xian sitting at the table with a cold and gloomy face.
As soon as Lu Tianlin stepped across the threshold, he began to berate him, “You unfilial son! You spend your days loitering around, doing nothing but causing trouble everywhere. You have truly disgraced the Lu family and Xiqin Academy. How dare you come back?”
Lu Tianlin remained unfazed; he was already used to his father's admonitions. From childhood to adulthood, his father had never taken almost anything he did seriously, never listened to his explanations, and only ever reprimanded him.
Lu Tianlin and Lu Tianjiao are twin siblings. Their mother, Lu Shi, had a difficult childbirth when they were born, but fortunately, Yi Shangyun's parents, Yi Shangkun and Nian Shi, rescued them.
So the two families arranged a marriage between their unborn children: if the Yi family had a daughter, the Lu family's son would marry her; if the Yi family had a son, the Lu family's daughter would marry him.
However, to everyone's surprise, Lu Tianlin took it upon himself to cancel the engagement after growing up, which made Lu Xian feel extremely guilty.
The Lu family had passed away when the Lu siblings were still young. Without their mother's love, Lu Tianlin became increasingly rebellious, showing no interest in any of the teachers' studies at the academy.
On the contrary, their daughter, Lu Tianjiao, is exceptionally intelligent and proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She is also meticulous and has become outstanding over the years. As the saying goes, a girl changes a lot as she grows up, and she has become more and more beautiful, dignified, and elegant.
Lu Xian had been feeling guilty about Lu Tianlin's decision to break off the engagement, and now that Xuan Yuan Yue had brought it up again, he realized that the matter was much more serious than he had imagined, and that probably everyone in the palace already knew about it.
People are surely gossiping behind their backs that the Lu family is ungrateful and heartless.
Seeing his father's anger, Lu Tianlin tried to back away and sneak away.
Lu Xian coldly said to his retreating figure, "Princess Yue has come to visit and brought up your annulment of the engagement today. You'd better have already thought about how to quell the gossip when you were announcing the engagement."
Lu Tianlin seemed completely unconcerned, only pausing for a moment before turning away without looking back after Lu Xian finished speaking.
Immediately, Lu Xian picked up a teacup from the table and smashed it hard in the direction Lu Tianlin had left, shattering the cup on the floor.
Then, all that could be heard was a long, helpless sigh as he shook his head, "Alas, what a misfortune for our family."
It was already dark when Xuan Yuan Yue and Lu Tian Jiao were chatting in the flower hall about the changes in Butterfly Valley over the past few years, with Yi Shang Yun and two other palace maids serving them closely.
Lu Tianlin heard the lively sounds from afar and came over. As soon as he entered, he respectfully bowed to Xuan Yuan Yue.
"Oh, Young Master Lu, you're finally back, you busy man! I wonder which noble lady you've taken a fancy to this time?" Xuan Yuan Yue was clearly provoking him.
"Your Highness, it's been a long time. What brings you to this?" Lu Tianlin feigned an innocent expression.
"Hmph, back then, Master Yi and Madam Yi, to save your mother from a difficult childbirth, upon receiving the Emperor's dispatch, traveled day and night from the capital to Xiqin Academy. Not only was the journey arduous, but because of the strict separation of men and women, Master Yi even had his wife personally assist your mother in successfully giving birth to your twins. Your parents were extremely grateful and arranged a marriage between you before you were even born. But you, how could you be so shameless? Taking advantage of the girl's illness, you couldn't wait for her to wake up and eagerly tried to marry the Prime Minister's daughter, even going so far as to come to the Yi residence to break off the engagement. Now that you've broken off the girl's engagement, who would dare to marry her? Is there anyone in the world as shameless and ungrateful as you?"
Xuan Yuan Yue scoffed and reprimanded Lu Tian Lin.
Yi Shangyun looked at Xuan Yuan Yue and was shocked by every word she said. This princess was indeed as she had thought, righteous and awe-inspiring.
“Your Highness, you are mistaken. Miss Yi has been bedridden and in a coma for a year. How could anyone be in a coma for so long? The Yi family must be trying to frame me. I wonder what their intentions are?” Lu Tianlin said angrily.
"Hmph, Young Master Lu, you think too highly of yourself. Let's not even talk about others, but among all the royal and noble children studying at Xiqin Academy, where do you rank, Young Master Lu? What value do you have to be humiliated?" Xuan Yuan Yue said contemptuously.
"You..." It was clear that Lu Tianlin was furious to the extreme, yet he hesitated to speak, leaving him speechless. He knew he was speaking to the emperor's most beloved princess, and no matter how angry or aggrieved he felt, he couldn't truly retaliate. He could only remain silent, his face filled with defeat.
However, Xuan Yuan Yue's words were still incisive, and Lu Tian Lin felt that every point she made hit the sore spot.
Seeing the tense atmosphere, Lu Tianjiao stepped forward and hurriedly advised, "Your Highness, it's all my brother's fault. What's done is done, and further arguments will be futile. Now that the engagement has been called off, I only wish that they can both be well. Please, Your Highness, don't be angry anymore."
"Hmph, since I've come this far today, I'll just say a few more words to you on behalf of your mother in the afterlife, to teach you a lesson as an unfilial son. Stop thinking all day about being ignorant, lazy, and greedy for wealth."
Xuan Yuan Yue said fiercely to Lu Tian Lin, "The wealthy don't need to buy fertile fields, for books contain abundant grain. The peaceful don't need to build grand mansions, for books contain houses of gold. When going out, don't lament the lack of attendants, for books contain carriages and horses in abundance. When seeking a wife, don't lament the lack of a good matchmaker, for books contain beauties like jade. If a man wants to fulfill his life's ambition, he should diligently study the Six Classics by the window."
After speaking, Xuan Yuan Yue gave a cold snort to the brother and sister, then strode away from the flower hall with her head held high and chest out.
Yi Shangyun and two palace maids followed him out the door. As Yi Shangyun passed by Lu Tianlin, she glanced at him briefly.
Lu Tianlin was speechless after being rebuked, but he also pondered every word of Xuan Yuan Yue's reprimand. He stood there blankly for a long time without moving, as if he had really listened to Xuan Yuan Yue's words and was deep in thought.
It took a while before he was awakened by Lu Tianjiao's voice, "Brother, brother..."
However, Lu Tianlin didn't say a word to her. As soon as he came to his senses, he walked towards the door of the flower hall and quickly disappeared into the dark night fog.
“Princess, what you said just now was brilliant, every word was powerful. With you protecting that girl, I believe she will definitely wake up,” Yi Shangyun said to Xuan Yuan Yue as they walked through the corridor pavilion. She was truly grateful for the princess’s reprimand on behalf of the original owner.
"Hmph, that absurd young master of the Lu family is utterly absurd! He repays kindness with enmity, putting such a great benefactor in such a predicament. How is the young lady supposed to face the world after this? I wish I could lock him up for life and let him taste the bitterness of being unspeakable!" Xuan Yuan Yue was still furious when she thought about Lu Tianlin's unrepentant words and actions.
"Princess, please don't be angry. Look how furrowed your brows are," Yi Shangyun said after noticing her expression.
"I'll be returning to the palace at daybreak tomorrow, so everyone should go back and pack your things," Xuan Yuan Yue said somewhat displeased. She loved the air and freedom outside the palace, and now she was going back to be locked in that golden birdcage, which made her unhappy.
But as a member of the royal family, this was something she couldn't choose.
The next day at daybreak, Lu Xian brought his two children to see him off.
"Your Highness, I am truly ashamed of my poor upbringing of my son. I hope you will not take offense," Lu Xian said with a helpless expression.
"Your Highness, I will certainly remember your teachings and strive to improve myself in the future," Lu Tianlin said impatiently, which startled everyone present, especially his father, Lu Xian.
Lu Xian was still unaware of what had happened. He stared intently at Lu Tianlin. These were the most earnest words he had heard from his son in over a decade, and now a tear glistened in his eye.
He knew his wife had passed away early, and he felt guilty for not doing enough for his children. But hearing his son's words now, he could tell they came from the bottom of his heart.
Xuan Yuan Yue, somewhat softened, gave Lu Tian Lin a meaningful look. She uttered the final words, "Don't let your youth slip away in vain, only to regret it later," before boarding the carriage and heading towards the imperial city.
Watching the two cars drive away, the father and his two sons gazed at each other, a profound moment in their eyes.
Meanwhile, Yi Shangyun and Xuan Yuan Yue were completely unaware that danger was quietly approaching them.
......
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