Chapter 86: Breaking off the engagement in exchange for Song Tangning's relenting
"What did you say?"
Queen Lu's originally nonchalant expression froze in an instant. When she looked at Lu Zhinian and the other man in disbelief, her hands trembled and she almost tore the things in her hands to pieces.
Jinzhi on the side was also stunned. Is the old lady crazy?
Madam Lu couldn't bear Empress Lu's gaze, and shrank back palely as she said, "The Rong family is extremely wealthy, and Rong Qian'an left behind so many things. I only asked Song Tangning to take a few rare ancient books and calligraphy and paintings, thinking that she would marry into the Lu family sooner or later. We are all family, and it would be an honor for her if these things could help His Highness. How could I have known that she would suddenly rebel..."
“You are confused!!”
Queen Lu stood up suddenly, her face shaking with anger as she clutched the object in her hand: "Are you helping Zheng'er? You're trying to kill him!!"
She was so angry that she wanted to yell and curse, and wanted to throw the list in her face, but the person in front of her was her mother, her blood relative, so she could only turn her head and yell at Lu Zhinian.
"Your grandmother is confused, and you are confused too. How could you allow her to do such a thing?"
"The things Rong Qian'an left behind are good, and who wouldn't want them? But have you ever seen anyone dare to attack the Rong family? Song Tangning hasn't even married into the Lu family yet, and you dared to embezzle so much of her things, and even gave them to the Fourth Prince. Where have your brains gone?!"
Lu Zhinian remained silent while being scolded and did not argue at all. Instead, Mrs. Lu quickly stood up when she saw her distressed grandson taking the blame for her.
"Your Majesty, Sanlang is unaware of this. I had no intention of giving the gift to the Fourth Prince. It was actually when the Fourth Prince came by our house that he saw it..."
That day, her nephew from her mother's side came to visit and had an argument with Song Tangning over some trivial matters. The quarrel became a little unpleasant, and she got angry and scolded Song Tangning for not having the attitude of a mistress of the house. The next day, Song Tangning sent her nephew a red jade bed with a golden toad holding a pearl, along with a set of paperweights and inkstone drips as an apology. As a result, she was caught by the Fourth Prince.
During that period, Emperor An ordered the Fourth Prince to revise the classics. The Fourth Prince was famous for his erudition and also wanted to gain prestige among the scholars. He tried several times to invite the great scholar He Yun for help but was unable to get the nod. Countless gold and silver items he sent to him were returned. When he was worried about this, he was overjoyed when he saw the set of things.
He Yun had a grandson who was about to enter school, and the Fourth Prince sent the set of cultural treasures to him. This time, he successfully entered the He family. Although He Yun still did not enter the court to help him, he referred several of his disciples to the Fourth Prince, and they entered his mansion as guests to help him revise the classics. After revising the classics, he not only won the favor of Emperor An, but also earned a good reputation outside.
After that, the Fourth Prince tasted the sweetness, and Old Madam Lu also realized that this future granddaughter-in-law, whom she had originally looked down upon, had such advantages.
She handed over the things sent by Song Tangning to the Fourth Prince without hesitation. The Fourth Prince naturally accepted everything and became even closer to her, his grandmother, after receiving those things.
Madam Lu's explanation not only failed to appease the Queen's anger, but made her even more annoyed: "Then have you told him the origins of these things?!"
"I……"
Mrs. Lu choked up. How could she possibly let Song Tangning stand out? Naturally, she had lied about the Lu family's treasures. She whispered in defense, "A daughter of the Song family married into the Lu family, so her things naturally belong to the Lu family..."
"Is she married now?" Queen Lu shouted.
Madam Lu’s face was pale.
Seeing that her usually shrewd mother was so confused, Queen Lu was so angry that her body shook and her chest rose and fell.
Seeing this, Jinzhi hurried forward to support her and help her breathe. After she finally calmed down, Queen Lu looked at the scroll in her hand with anxiety and said to the two Lu family members in a cold voice: "How much of this stuff was given to Zheng'er?"
"Fifty to six out of ten." Lu Zhinian lowered his head. "Except for those left in the mansion, almost all of them were taken away by His Highness."
Empress Lu felt a tightness in her chest. "You said that many people knew about this when Song Tangning sent this order to the Lu family?"
Lu Zhinian lowered his head even more: "Beat the gongs and drums, and everyone in the city will know."
Queen Lu's eyes went dark for a while, and before she could recover, she heard Lu Zhinian whisper:
"These things are almost all the dowry that Taifu Rong left for Madam Song. They are registered with the government. If Tang Ning insists on asking us to return them, the Lu family will not be able to escape."
"She resents the Lu family for not wanting to reconcile, and only gave them three days. With Xiao Yan instigating this, and the incident at the Duke of Song's mansion before, Grandfather is worried that Tang Ning will be so cruel as to take this thing to the government office to file a complaint."
Lu Zhinian knelt on the ground with his eyes lowered and spoke slowly.
"I'm afraid the things His Highness has given away cannot be taken back. If this matter becomes a bigger issue than His Highness, it will not benefit the Lu family. The Lu family can only gather a small part of the items on this list. Grandfather means that this matter cannot be concealed from the Empress. I wonder if you can come forward to discuss with Tang Ning and offer a marriage contract between the two families in exchange for her dropping the matter. The Lu family can then exchange the items for gold and silver at a 30% premium over the original price to compensate her."
When he said this, he clenched his fists tightly in his sleeves, thinking of how the little girl who had followed him since childhood would look at him sarcastically. Even though he tried his best to keep his voice steady, most of the blood drained from his face.
"Tang Ning is determined to distance herself from the Lu family, but the marriage between her and me was agreed upon by you personally and cannot be dissolved. If the Queen offers this in exchange, perhaps she will relent."
Empress Lu was originally extremely angry with the Lu family, and she hated Old Madam Lu for implicating her son. She also felt resentment towards her nephew whom she loved very much in the past. But when she heard Lu Zhinian's words, and saw the young man who was originally bright and handsome like jade, and said with embarrassment and paleness that he would exchange his marriage contract for Song Tangning's withdrawal, her anger stagnated.
"Sanlang, is there really no possibility for you and Song Tangning?" asked Queen Lu.
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhinian wanted to say that it was not impossible. He could still go to see Song Tangning and find a way to make her remember their past feelings. How could years of affection be wiped out in such a short time? But he thought about what his grandfather said to him before he entered the palace.
Lu Zhinian's lips were pale and he lowered his eyes as he said, "Your Highness and the Lu family come first. We can't afford to gamble."
Upon hearing this, the last bit of resentment in Empress Lu's heart disappeared. If the Lu family had concealed the truth from her after the incident, or even put her son at risk, she would naturally be resentful. However, now that the matter had not become completely out of hand, they had not concealed anything at all. Moreover, even someone as arrogant and conceited as Lu Zhinian was willing to give in for the Fourth Prince's future and reputation. Her expression softened.
"You are a good person. Your aunt has loved you for many years."
Queen Lu said softly, "Get up quickly, the ground is cold."
Empress Lu's attitude changed significantly, but Lu Zhinian seemed to be accustomed to it. He just said calmly, "It's my fault. I have implicated His Highness the Fourth Prince."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com