Chapter 115: Internal strife among the noble families
No one knew what Cao Dejiang had done. All they knew was that within half a day after the morning court session, the entire capital knew about the dispute between the Lu family and the newly appointed Yiyang County Master in Jiyun Lane.
The news that the Lu family donated books to pay off their debts spread throughout the streets and alleys, and the news that Song Tangning was planning to build an academy and was willing to place the Lu family's collection of books and the rare copies left by Master Rong in the academy for students all over the world to borrow and read also spread widely.
Song Tangning's reputation improved instantly. When students in teahouses and taverns talked about him, they were all grateful and praised his righteousness.
The Lu family was the opposite. Not only did they not gain any benefit from donating half of their collection of books, but it also became a stepping stone to elevate Song Tangning.
Everyone sneered at the Lu family when they mentioned them, saying that the Lu family was hypocritical and that they had cheated unmarried girls out of their dowries. There were also rumors that although the Lu family had appeased Song Tangning with promises, they were unwilling to really give her the collection of books, saying that they just wanted to gain a good reputation and wanted to go back on their word.
The Lu family was pushed to the forefront of public opinion in just a short period of time. Lu Chongyuan finally came to his senses, but when he heard the rumors outside, he vomited blood again.
He was so angry that he was shaking all over. He clutched the edge of the bed tightly and hissed, "Let Song Tangning come. Let her come tomorrow."
The Lu family was willing to give away those books, and they would never let anyone gossip about them!
Lu Chongyuan hissed, "Tell her and Xiao Yan to come tomorrow... cough cough cough..."
"Father, Father, please don't be angry..."
Lu Zhao quickly calmed him down, turned around and glared at the talkative manager, and asked someone to go to Jiyun Lane to tell Song Tangning to come tomorrow.
Lu Chongyuan coughed violently a few times, feeling as if his heart, liver, spleen, and lungs were all fighting. He was so pale from the pain that he finally managed to suppress the sweet and fishy taste in his throat. Then, with a pale face, he asked, "How many people have come from the aristocratic families?"
Lu Zhao hesitated: "They are all here."
Seeing that he was hesitant to speak, Lu Chongyuan took a deep breath and asked, "Did they make a fuss?"
Lu Zhao pursed his lips and dared not speak.
Lu Chongyuan said coldly, "Tell me, what's going on outside?"
Seeing his anger, Lu Zhao dared not hesitate any longer and spoke carefully, "The academy's affairs are known throughout the city. I don't know who is behind this, but the Lu family has been given a bad reputation. The other families have been implicated to some extent. In addition, with the Lu family's gift of books, they all want to know why my father agreed to let Song Tangning give up his interests to support those poor students."
"The others are fine, even though they didn't dare to make too much noise because of my second brother. But the Cui family directly questioned whether this matter was related to the Queen. Cui Lin seemed to know what the Fourth Prince had done. He said that our Lu family was using the interests of all the noble families to fill the Fourth Prince's mess and pave the way for those poor students. He also said..."
"What else?"
Lu Zhao lowered his voice: "They also said that you are too selfish and unfit to lead a noble family."
Lu Chongyuan's chest heaved and his vision went dark.
Lu Zhao had been keeping an eye on his condition. Seeing this, he was frightened and hurried to calm him down. After finally seeing the stiffness and blueness on his face fade a little, he said anxiously:
"Father, please don't be angry. Cui Lin has long harbored ambitions and discontent with you. He even had private dealings with the Second Prince. Father, you, out of consideration for our family's unity, have not bothered with them. Don't worry, I won't let Cui Lin continue to cause trouble..."
"No, let him make a fuss."
"Father?"
Lu Zhao cried out in surprise.
Lu Chongyuan panted, grabbed Lu Zhao's wrist tightly, and said in a hoarse voice, "The Lu family has incurred public wrath this time. If we insist on suppressing them, it will only make them resentful. Moreover, the Queen's actions this time are too disheartening. The Fourth Prince has been doing well these years, which has made them forget who they rely on."
He thought of the nine-tailed phoenix hairpin that the Queen had given him, and the humiliation he had suffered last night. His breathing became faster, and a stern look appeared on his face as his chest ached.
"Since Cui Lin wants to assist the Second Prince, then let him go. If they want to choose another master, that's up to them."
Lu Chongyuan breathed slightly, "Just explain it clearly to the other families. Under the imperial power, it is taboo to waver and serve two masters at the same time. Some of them have long been tied to the Fourth Prince. Even if they switch sides with the Second Prince, it will be difficult to gain his trust. Lending power to him temporarily may make him rely on you, but if the Second Prince gains power in the future, he will definitely be resentful of what happened today."
"If they are not afraid of a future conflict between the emperor and his subjects, they can just follow Cui Lin."
Those families have always been cautious and would not take any risks until they see the rabbit. They cannot afford to take the risk. Even if they really have the intention, they dare not follow Cui Lin openly.
Now that the Lu family can't suppress them, it's better to let them go. This way, they can use them to intimidate the Queen and her son, letting Queen Lu know that the Lu family doesn't necessarily need them, and it also allows them to vent their dissatisfaction.
As for the others, after this incident, he will naturally find a way to appease those people. As long as there are enough benefits, they will be reluctant to abandon the Lu family and join the Cao family.
Lu Zhao whispered, "Father, how should we deal with the Queen?"
Lu Chongyuan said: "The queen is of the Lu family bloodline."
"But she doesn't consider herself a member of the Lu family at all."
Lu Zhao couldn't help but feel dissatisfied. "This incident has caused such a big stir. Everyone knows you're ill. Even people from the noble families have come to visit you. But the Fourth Prince has never come to visit you from beginning to end. The Queen has not paid any attention to you and shows no concern at all."
They were indeed not Queen Lu's blood relatives, but at least they were from the same clan, and in the eyes of outsiders, she was also her father's daughter.
But the Queen and the Fourth Prince are unwilling to even put on a show. How can people not feel disgusted by their coldness?
Lu Chongyuan's breathing was hesitant, and he was disappointed with Empress Lu: "The Empress is of the Lu family's bloodline, but the future Emperor may not necessarily be the Fourth Prince."
Lu Zhao raised his eyes suddenly: "Father is saying..."
"Holding the emperor hostage to control the princes has been a practice since ancient times."
Lu Chongyuan's face was pale, and his words were particularly cold. "Before, the one sent by our clan to the Fourth Prince's palace failed to conceive for a long time. I just thought it was fate that hadn't arrived. But now it seems that they and their son have been wary of the Lu family for a long time. You can choose two more people to send in. You don't have to let the Fourth Prince know about their relationship with the Lu family. Just make sure they leave the Lu family bloodline as soon as possible."
He paused.
"Go and tell the pharmacist in the palace to prepare some fertility-inducing ingredients for them. Don't worry about the Fourth Prince's health."
Since the Queen doesn't care about the Lu family, the Lu family doesn't have to treat them too well. They can still assist the Fourth Prince, but who will be the future emperor is up to them.
Lu Chongyuan looked at his eldest son and said, "This matter must not be known to anyone except you and me, not even your mother and second brother. You must personally select the people sent to the Fourth Prince's residence. They must be easy to control. As for the pharmacist who prepared the medicine for them, kill him immediately after the job is done to avoid future troubles."
Lu Zhao's expression tightened: "Don't worry, father. I understand."
Lu Chongyuan took a deep breath and looked out the window. The night outside was as dark as water, and the full moon was high in the sky. "Tomorrow when Song Tangning comes to visit, you should go to the Imperial Prison."
Lu Zhao was surprised and suspicious: "But Xiao Yan is blocking me, so I can't see Sanlang..."
"He'll let you see."
Lu Zhao opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing that Lu Chongyuan had already lowered his eyes and stopped talking, he could only suppress the doubts on his lips and replied in a low voice, "Yes, I will go tomorrow."
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