They had already agreed not to tell anyone when they got back to the manor.
Seeing that their expressions seemed genuine, Su Wanyan had no choice but to give up and get back to the main topic: "Bring me your pass logs so I can take a look."
"Your Majesty, please wait a moment."
Qiuye ran downstairs and came back in a short while later with the passbook.
Su Wanyan took it and flipped through the pages one by one, and sure enough, she had completed all of them.
"If Your Highness likes it, this servant will give it to you."
Su Wanyan shook her head and returned the booklet: "You guys worked so hard to collect these stamps, so you should keep them safe. They might become collectibles in the future."
I may envy her, but since she didn't complete the game, it wouldn't be very meaningful for me to get it.
Just then, Wang Zhang's voice rang out from outside the door: "Your Majesty, Miss Lu from the Lu family requests an audience."
Lu Chao?
Su Wanyan was slightly taken aback.
She thought that the matter concerning the Lu family was over for now.
Yu Nanqing went to the military camp early this morning. Su Wanyan thought for a while before saying, "Tell her to wait in the flower hall."
"Your Highness, if you don't want to see Miss Lu, this servant will send her away." Knowing that Lu Chao's intentions were not right, Qiu Ye's tone was not very friendly.
"She's a smart woman. If we don't meet her today, she'll think of another way."
Qiu Ye pouted and could only helplessly say, "Then this servant will do Your Highness's makeup."
In the flower hall, Lu Chao was dressed much more elegantly today.
When Su Wanyan arrived, she saw her standing properly in the hall. Upon seeing Su Wanyan, she curtsied and said, "This humble woman greets Your Highness, the Princess."
Su Wanyan stepped forward, bypassing her, and sat down. She picked up her teacup and took a small sip: "I just met Miss Lu yesterday. I think Miss Lu won't use such a clumsy excuse as 'it's been a long time since we last met' today."
Lu Chao slightly raised his eyes, revealing a slightly self-deprecating smile: "Your Majesty holds a high position and wields great power, so there is naturally no need for flattery. How could I not wish to be straightforward?"
She looked at Su Wanyan and said, "But I have never thought of harming Your Majesty. If Your Majesty were in the same position as me, I would definitely rack my brains and do everything I can to climb up the social ladder."
Su Wanyan listened quietly, without offering any opinion on her words.
Lu Chao hadn't experienced what she had gone through, yet he made hasty judgments about her. This alone made Su Wanyan lose all desire to continue the conversation.
Furthermore, Lu Chao was just an insignificant person to her, so she didn't intend to say anything heartfelt to him.
The indifference in Su Wanyan's eyes made Lu Chao's fist clench slightly in his sleeve.
No matter what she said, Su Wanyan seemed indifferent, which made her feel both unwilling and helpless. Su Wanyan didn't say a word in response to her words. She originally wanted to provoke her emotions, but in the end, Su Wanyan's indifference made her lose her composure.
She was truly unwilling to accept this. Born into a prominent family, she could only reach this point. If she had the power and status of Su Wanyan, what couldn't she do?
“If Miss Lu has nothing else to say…” Su Wanyan instructed calmly, “Qiuye, see the guest out.”
Lu Chao took a deep breath, and as Qiu Ye stepped forward, he suddenly lifted his robe, bowed his head, and knelt down: "If we can gain the favor of Your Highness and Your Highness, the entire Lu family will serve Your Highness and Your Highness, even if it means going through fire and water."
Su Wanyan watched quietly, and Qiu Ye paused and looked at Su Wanyan.
After a long while, Su Wanyan finally spoke: "What kind of care does Miss Lu mean by 'taking care'?"
Su Wanyan didn't really understand. Given the Lu family's current achievements, as long as they didn't do anything reckless, the next few generations would live in luxury. Furthermore, her father, Lu Chao, held the position of Education Commissioner, a highly sought-after position with many students and considerable influence.
The Lu family, being so large, could not possibly be without an heir. The Great Jin also had an imperial examination system. If one could pass one or two of the examinations, while not guaranteeing a high social standing, it would certainly bring honor to one's ancestors and ensure a life of comfort and security.
Furthermore, Fuzhou is rich and prosperous. When Lu Chao said this, Su Wanyan searched her mind, wondering how Lu Chao intended to take care of her, what power and status she was referring to, and where the Lu family was really headed.
Just as they were wondering about this, Lu Chao spoke up: "Imperial nobles hold the highest positions among officials."
Su Wanyan raised her eyes slightly and suddenly laughed: "You really dare to say that."
"Your Majesty speaks frankly, and I dare not conceal anything." She tried to be tactful, but Su Wanyan remained unmoved.
She had figured out her personality before she dared to speak so frankly.
Lu Chao actually thought about it all night. She considered avoiding Su Wanyan and going directly to Yu Nanqing, or using Bai Jiaojiao's method to contact Yu Nanqing first.
But coming from the Lu family, her inherent pride wouldn't allow her to do that, and with Bai Jiaojiao as a cautionary tale, she simply didn't dare take the risk.
She had also considered having her father negotiate with Yu Nanqing. They had already investigated and found that although Yu Nanqing wielded immense power, he had virtually no connections in the capital's court.
To conquer an empire, one needs military power; to seize the throne, one must win the hearts of the ministers and the people.
Their family happens to hold the position of educational administrator, and they have many students in their household. Countless people have received their help to go to the capital to take the imperial examinations. Yu Nanqing is certainly aware of the advantages and disadvantages of training in Fuzhou and then sending them to the capital.
These thoughts lingered in her mind for a long, long time, but she dared not gamble in front of Yu Nanqing.
Without saying a word, he wiped out the entire Bai family. Not only her, but even if she told her father about these thoughts, he wouldn't dare to gamble.
That's why she came to find Su Wanyan today. Since she couldn't get through to this, she might as well get straight to the point. Surely Su Wanyan should know the pros and cons of this.
Su Wanyan understood the pros and cons, of course.
Unfortunately, Prince Gong's mansion was not a pushover.
Su Wanyan smiled faintly: "Royal and noble, in the end, you still want to enter Prince Gong's mansion."
Unless the Lu family has made great contributions to the Great Jin Dynasty, she couldn't think of any other way to get the Lu family to associate with the imperial family.
Lu Chao did not deny it, and bowed again while kneeling on the ground: "As long as Your Majesty is willing to grant my request, I will not utter a single falsehood today."
Lu Chao felt he had shown enough sincerity, and Su Wanyan had no reason not to agree.
However, Su Wanyan's expression slowly turned cold.
With a calm gaze, she looked down at Lu Chao kneeling on the ground: "Miss Lu means that only if the Prince agrees to your demands will Lord Lu do his best for the court?"
Lu Chao's heart suddenly clenched!
Almost instantly, she understood the meaning behind Su Wanyan's words and quickly looked up: "That's not what I meant!"
Su Wanyan didn't give her a chance to speak, her eyes narrowing slightly: "Lord Lu receives a salary from the imperial court and should serve the country wholeheartedly, even unto death. Now, Miss Lu, what is the meaning of saying these words to me?"
"Lord Lu, is your position as the Education Commissioner not for the benefit of students and to impart knowledge, but rather to curry favor with the Emperor and rise to the highest ranks of officialdom?" Su Wanyan's voice was calm and cold, yet it sent a chill down Lu Chao's spine.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
