After Wei Tingsi left, Luo Hu and Prince Yong rushed over upon hearing the news. Zhao Shu happened to be on her way back to Qionghua Academy when the three met on the road. "Father, Teacher," she greeted them with a curtsy.
Luo Hu spoke first: "I saw someone rushing out just now, but I didn't see clearly. Was it Chang'an?"
"Yes, did the teacher hear that too?" Zhao Shuying and the other woman found a nearby pavilion to sit down and asked Chu Chun to serve tea.
The three sat down around the stone table. It was Luo Hu again, and he seemed quite anxious. "What do you think of this matter?"
“Of course, someone took the opportunity to frame him. Actually, it’s not hard to find the person behind it, it just requires some bold guessing. What do you think, teacher?” Zhao Shu said, expressing her thoughts and then asked.
Luo Hu and Prince Yong exchanged a glance, and Luo Hu said, "I am relieved that you think this way. It is difficult for Wei Chang'an to live in peace. It is pitiful."
Unlike Luo Hu, Prince Yong was straightforward and honest. If one had to categorize people as good or bad, he would be considered a good person. After listening for a while, he still didn't quite understand. "Can you two be a little more direct with yourselves?"
Luo Hu poured him a cup of tea, a pre-Qingming Longjing tea that had just been delivered from the palace. "That day, my student stood up for his teacher, and somehow someone saw him as someone who could be used, so they took the opportunity to get rid of Wei Chang'an. Do you understand now?"
Prince Yong still didn't quite understand, and was completely confused. "If anyone should be eliminated, it should be you or me. What does it have to do with Wei Chang'an?"
Zhao Shu felt embarrassed after hearing this and lowered her head. Luo Hu glanced at her and sighed slightly, "You have to ask him. After all, he's the one who got dragged into this. But now is not the time to dwell on this issue. How should we handle the current situation?" He then asked Zhao Shu.
Zhao Shu had already considered countless countermeasures in her mind, both those she had used before and those she had never used before. However, since all three families had been injured, unless it could be proven that the three were injured in an accident or that they were deliberately faking their injuries to frame her, none of them would work.
However, the other party obviously wouldn't stand up and engage in a verbal battle with her; they would only silently remember it in their heart and then create opportunities to attack her, even if there were none.
Luo Hu chuckled lightly across from him, "Serves you right."
Prince Yong glanced at him, and this time, as if possessed by Zhuge Liang, he nodded, "He certainly deserved it, but it's a pity the injury was too minor."
"But what should General Wei do?" Prince Yong thought for a long time before he figured out the key point and asked. He was still very concerned about Wei Tingsi. This was naturally what Zhao Shu and Luo Hu were thinking at the moment. The next moment, he said, "Ajun can't be implicated for no reason. He has to give an explanation. I've always thought this boy wasn't a smooth person. Now look what's happened. He's even dragged my daughter into this. He's really unreliable."
Zhao Shu: ...After organizing her thoughts, she said, "Father, General Wei has helped your daughter many times. You mustn't forget that."
Luo Hu did not offer any opinion on the matter, but his expression clearly showed that he sided with Prince Yong.
Upon hearing Zhao Shu's words, Prince Yong snorted, "He actually colluded with you in secret? That little brat, I'll go and cripple him!"
"No, no." Zhao Shu hurriedly waved her hands and shook her head in denial, trying her best to appear sincere. "Father, really no. General Wei is deeply trusted by the Emperor, and his secret dealings with A-Jun are not beneficial, are they? So, really no, you've forgotten about the Crown Prince."
Luo Hu tapped his fingers on the stone table, saying with considerable worry, "When men gain fame and fortune, they start to overthink." He didn't want his disciples to get involved in the Wei family's affairs. Wei Tingsi had been kind to them, and they could repay him in other ways, but it was absolutely unacceptable for his disciples to offer themselves in gratitude.
Prince Yong nodded in agreement, "What you say is absolutely right." He glanced at Zhao Shu's features and thought she resembled him by about 80 percent, both being extremely beautiful. The remaining 20 percent was inherited from Jiang Ying's good looks. His daughter was extremely beautiful, and he mustn't let anyone take her away so easily.
"Aren't you two overthinking this? If people hear this, it'll be a laughing stock. You two need to be careful with your words and actions, lest you ruin your reputation in your later years," Zhao Shu kindly reminded them, her tone extremely sincere and earnest.
Prince Yong glanced at Luo Hu and said, "I'm not old, but Brother Luo, you'd better be careful."
"I'm old?" He was quite unconvinced, and began an epic battle with Prince Yong over "where I'm old," which relieved Zhao Shu.
However, she only breathed a slight sigh of relief before Luo Hu said, "It's time for your master to leave the mountain. I'll be going to the capital tomorrow."
Zhao Shuyi stiffened, then nodded. "Where does the teacher plan to go?"
“Not far, at the foot of Nanshan Mountain. I’ve even thought of a name for you, so I’ll call you Old Man of Nanshan.” He emphasized the word “Old Man.”
Before Zhao Shu could speak, Prince Yong was about to nod in agreement that he was indeed getting old when Bi Qiao came to report, "Your Highness, Princess, and Master, the Fourth Prince's residence has sent an invitation, inviting Your Highness and Master to attend the Hundred Flowers Banquet on June 6th to judge the ranking of the poems of the young ladies and gentlemen."
He was invited to be a judge? This was the first time Prince Yong had been invited to such a banquet as an elder to offer his critique. After considering his own limited knowledge, he said, "I will not go."
Luo Hu also said, "I won't go."
After listening to their conversation, Bi Qiao thought for a moment, gritted her teeth, and finally spoke up, "The people from the Fourth Prince's residence said that the Fourth Prince has obtained a copy of Fei Changfei's 'April Manual' and wants to give it to you, sir."
“I won’t go then. Am I the kind of person who gets excited about books? I’m leaving the capital tomorrow and don’t have time.” He was clearly reluctant to leave, and the eagerness in his eyes was almost overflowing.
Prince Yong was on good terms with him, and seeing his pitiful state, he said, "I'll go and get that book for you."
“You’re no match for the Fourth Prince’s cunning schemes. You shouldn’t go. It’s just a book; it can’t fill your stomach. If he doesn’t give it to you, fine. I’m not so desperate that I can’t live without a book.” Luo Hu shook his head, strongly disapproving of Prince Yong going to the Fourth Prince’s residence.
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Besides, how can one expect to escape by simply hiding?" After saying this, Prince Yong looked at Zhao Shu, "Has A-Jun also accepted the invitation?"
"Yes, I received it." The invitation she received was even earlier than that of her father and teacher, which means that there was no one to judge her at the beginning. They must have heard about the three leaders of the old party before sending out the invitation.
If that's the case, then we must go. Retreating is no longer the best strategy; we must take the initiative to attack in order to break the current stalemate.
"On the sixth day of the sixth month, Ah Jun will go with Father King. Teacher, you don't need to worry. I will protect Father King myself." Zhao Shu knew that Luo Hu was worried that Prince Yong was not as cunning as others and that he couldn't outwit them with his schemes.
Luo Hu sighed and instructed, "I know you are close to that girl from the Sun family, but the Sun family is too despicable. You should mind your own business. At worst, you can open another shop in the future and help her out. You can't interfere in the Sun family's affairs, understand? Since ancient times, the easiest places to cause trouble are banquets like this and that."
"Don't worry, teacher, I understand." Life in Guanzhou was much more leisurely. Although there were some annoying people, I could still use my power to intimidate them. But in the capital, I couldn't do that.
But is there really no way to resolve this? Not necessarily.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
