Chapter 108 The Lu Family's Rebellion
The most important thing in Queen Lu's heart is her son, as long as her prince is safe.
She doesn't care what other people do.
"Song Tangning wants justice for the Lu family, and she hates Lu Zhinian. I have never treated her unfairly in the past. She must have been smart to refuse to enter the palace that day. That eunuch Xiao Yan wouldn't let her fight to the death with me and my son."
"After you give her this phoenix hairpin, tell her that as long as she is willing to let this matter go and not involve the Fourth Prince, I will cancel the Lu family's engagement for her and have Lu Zhinian personally apologize to her. I will not harm her reputation in the slightest."
"Besides that, I will make the Lu family pay double for what they took away. I won't let her suffer any loss. This Nine-tailed Phoenix Hairpin is a token of my love for her. I will never break my promise."
Empress Lu knew that giving away the hairpin would be like giving someone a handle to use against her, but she had to protect the Fourth Prince and could not care about anything else at the moment.
She looked at Jinzhi calmly: "After all, Lu Chongyuan is not my biological father. My elder brothers may not sacrifice the interests of the Lu family for Zheng'er. Jinzhi, I only trust you."
"You go on this trip for me. No matter what, you must not let Song Tangning make this matter worse."
Jinzhi thought about it and nodded heavily while holding the golden hairpin: "Don't worry, Madam, I will definitely comfort Miss Song."
…
As it was getting dark, the Lu brothers, who had been running around all day in vain, returned home full of anger.
The news of the sudden imperial decree of caning from the palace could not be concealed at all, and with the deliberate exaggeration of some people, now everyone in the street knows that the Third Son of the Lu Family was caned by His Majesty.
Lu Zhinian was a delicate and fragile person. He was beaten with twenty sticks. It was said that his back was bleeding. The Lu family could not enter the imperial prison to visit him. When the news came out, the already worried Lu family members became even more anxious. Old Lady Lu, who always loved her grandson, was so anxious that she burst into tears.
"Why did they suddenly order caning? How could Sanlang bear it?" Old Lady Lu cried.
"He has to bear it even if he can't. It's his fault for acting so foolishly!" Lu Chongyuan cursed.
Old Madam Lu didn't dare to refute and could only cover her face and cry.
The crying made Lu Chongyuan frown in annoyance. He didn't bother to pay attention to Madam Lu and only asked Lu Zhao and the others, "Is there any news? Why is His Majesty so angry?"
Lu Zhao shook his head. "No news has come out of the palace. The Imperial Prison only said that His Majesty sent a message to have them severely beaten."
No news could be leaked from the palace, and no one knew what Lu Zhinian had done to anger Emperor An again, and why he was ordered to be punished with a caning a day later.
Lu Chongyuan was so angry that he slammed the table hard.
"Master, someone is coming from the palace."
When someone came in to announce something, Lu Zhao quickly looked up and asked, "Who's here?"
"It's Aunt Jinzhi from the Queen Mother's palace."
Lu Zhao was immediately overjoyed: "Quickly invite the person in!"
The Lu family was in a state of panic. When they heard that the palace maids from Fengxi Palace were coming, everyone was happy, thinking that the Queen had brought some good news. However, when they saw Jinzhi coming in with a serious look in her eyes, Lu Zhao and the others were startled.
"Something happened in the palace."
Jinzhi's words made Lu Chongyuan stand up suddenly.
"Miss Song has sued the Master and the Lu family."
Following Empress Lu's instructions, Jinzhi took out the roll of papers from her arms and handed it to Lu Chongyuan. Then she saw that the faces of the Lu family members froze visibly.
Lu Chongyuan held the petition in his trembling hands as he heard Jinzhi say, "The Empress was unaware of this matter and was intent on pleading for Sanlang. Unexpectedly, His Majesty publicly rebuked her and even hit her forehead with this petition and the other thing."
"His Majesty was extremely furious and severely criticized the Empress for helping the Lu family bully the orphan of the Rong family. He also said that this petition was not only in the palace, but had also been submitted to Jingzhao Prefecture, and it was unknown whether it was in the hands of the Censorate."
"My dear, Miss Song is really determined to make this a big deal. If we can't resolve this today, I'm afraid that at tomorrow's morning court session, Your Highness, you, and my uncle will all become the laughing stock of the court."
When Lu Chongyuan heard Jinzhi's words, his eyes went dark and he fell backwards.
"Father!"
Lu Zhao was frightened.
Lu Qin and others also looked pale, and helped Lu Chongyuan sit on the chair in panic. Anyone in the Lu family could fall, but Lu Chongyuan could not. He was the pillar and backbone of the Lu family. If he fell, the Lu family would be finished.
Madam Lu couldn't care less about crying. She hurriedly tried to calm Lu Chongyuan down, and said angrily, "Didn't Song Tangning agree to a three-day deadline? Today is only the second day. How could she go back on her word?!"
Jinzhi whispered, "Miss Song said it would take three days, but the young master angered the people in Jiyun Lane yesterday..."
"Shut up!"
Seeing Lu Chongyuan's face getting even uglier, Lu Qin's breathing quickened. He turned around and yelled at Jin Zhi, "How can you talk like that, you little dog slave?!"
His face was grim. "Father did this for the Queen and the Fourth Prince. If it weren't for them, why would he have taken the risk to touch Xiao Yan? Now that something's happened, your master is blaming us for angering the Song daughter. She's simply..."
“Second brother!!”
Before Lu Qin could utter any bad words, Lu Zhao quickly stopped him, but his expression was not much better either.
"Aunt Jinzhi, the Lu family and the Queen are always in the same boat. They have never treated us unfairly. They have always been dedicated to the Fourth Prince's affairs. It is too disheartening for your master to speak like this." Lu Zhao said in a cold voice.
The other members of the Lu family were also furious: "That's right, even though she is the queen, don't forget that she is also a member of the Lu family and has Lu family blood flowing in her veins!"
"Yes, her current status is largely due to our Lu family's efforts. If something happens to the Lu family, how can she be any better off?"
"Our Lu family has never betrayed the Queen and the Fourth Prince. Now that such a small incident has happened, the Queen has become so estranged from the Lu family. Is she going to turn against the Lu family?!"
Everyone in the Lu family was extremely angry, and felt that the queen was too cold-hearted.
In the past, the Lu family always sided with the Queen and her son, and invested so much manpower and resources to help the Fourth Prince find a job. They always regarded Queen Lu as their own and used the whole family's strength to help the Fourth Prince seize power. But now that they are in trouble, the Queen actually said this.
This is really disheartening.
Jinzhi's face turned pale when she was looked at by everyone, and she was a little at a loss because of what they said. The Queen Mother could not leave the Lu family, and she could not really offend the Lu family.
Jinzhi quickly lowered her head and said anxiously, "It was my fault for speaking out of turn. Please forgive me, uncle. The Empress has always been loyal to the Lu family and has no intention of shirking responsibility..."
"What a joke! If she wasn't trying to evade responsibility, what did you just say?!" Lu Qin sneered.
Lu Zhao didn't comment on Jin Zhi's words. He looked at Jin Zhi deeply and said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, Her Majesty, it's just a little girl. The Lu family won't become a laughing stock. The same goes for the Fourth Prince. The Lu family will handle Song Tangning's affairs."
Jinzhi pursed her lips and wanted to ask the Lu family what they planned to do, but the gazes of everyone in the Lu family made her scalp tingle and she dared not say anything.
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