Chapter 69: Overly Reassured About the Jade Ring
Putting Lu Yunzhi aside, if she changed clothes and disguised herself after going ashore and fled far away, Shen Hegui's horse might not be able to catch up with her.
Even if, unfortunately, Shen Hegui and Lu Yunzhi meet and her true gender is revealed, she has already boarded the ship and has been traveling by water. Even if they meet on a narrow path, Shen Hegui, who is not good at swimming, will be helpless against her on the water, unless he can transform from a human into a fish or an amphibian that swims very fast.
Pulling himself back to reality, Lu Wensheng said, "Life on the island is good, but Mother, don't forget that 95 percent of the people on the island were originally ordinary people from the coast. They were forced to go to sea because they couldn't survive there. Who doesn't want to go home?"
Song Zhiyun looked worried: "But this burden is too heavy. We agreed that it was just a try, and it didn't necessarily have to succeed."
“But if it weren’t for my adoptive father, I would have drowned at sea the year Lu Yunzhi disappeared. Moreover, in recent years, the Japanese pirates along the coast have become increasingly rampant, and it is only a matter of time before the court settles a score. The people of Yanjing do not understand the situation at sea and think that the Japanese pirates are all one family. Since they have me as their master, I have an obligation to find a way for them to survive.”
She grasped Song Zhiyun's hands and explained the pros and cons: "This family is my weakness. If you control the family, you control me. So we shouldn't stay in Yanjing. Let's pack up today, and tomorrow at dawn, I'll trouble you to take Yingniang and the others to the sea to find our godfather."
Song Zhiyun asked incredulously, "You're going to stay in Yanjing alone? What about Lu Yunzhi and the others?"
"Mother, don't worry. I'm letting you go because I have to fight Lu Yunzhi and the others. His arrival was suspicious, so I can't leave any weaknesses within the enemy's reach."
Song Zhiyun nodded repeatedly: "I understand the reasoning, but what if something happens to you while you're alone?"
Meeting Song Zhiyun's worried eyes, Lu Wensheng hardened his heart: "I have someone to take care of me. I'll go and tell the Imperial Guards to summon them."
She strode towards the Imperial Guards, asked for paper and pen, and wrote a letter to Shen Hegui on the spot. Then she carefully instructed, "No rush, give it to His Highness when he is free. It doesn't matter if it's late. If His Highness is really busy, just write a reply."
If Shen Hegui isn't brought here, her mother definitely won't leave. With His Highness the Crown Prince personally taking care of her, her mother should be relieved!
Imperial Guards: "Yes!"
Lu Wensheng turned to Song Zhiyun and said, "I'm going to the woodshed to see Lu Yunzhi. I have some questions I want to ask him."
Song Zhiyun said with a worried expression, "Go ahead, Yingniang and Chengsang are both inside keeping an eye on things."
Sheng Sheng doesn't have many friends in Yanjing. Who can she call? Could it be a Minister, an official higher than a Vice Minister? But a Minister doesn't seem to be very high-ranking, only a second-rank official, just a little higher than Sheng Sheng.
The hinges of the woodshed door creaked dryly. After sending Cheng Sang and Ying Niang away, Lu Wensheng removed the gag from Lu Yunzhi's mouth.
In March, it was warm outside but cold inside. Yingniang and Chengsang set up a small charcoal brazier in the center of the room to keep warm. Around the brazier were round little taro, and several pieces of golden-brown glutinous rice cake were pasted on the iron mesh above. The aroma of food lingered in their noses, and the roars of hunger rose and fell.
Lu Wensheng used a dagger to stab a piece of rice cake and held it under Lu Yunzhi's nose. "Are you hungry? Turn left after you walk out of Luanshu Hutong. There's a century-old shop that sells roast duck. It's fresh, fragrant, and crispy, and the ingredients are top-notch. Further ahead, there's Aunt Zhang's glutinous rice lotus root, which is tender, soft, and delicious."
Lu Yunzhi turned his head and blurted out two words: "You rebellious daughter! If you're so capable, then tie me up for life!"
A roaring sound came from the side. Lu Wensheng chuckled and turned to look at Qian Yuechi and the two children.
Pulling the handkerchief out of Qian Yuechi's mouth, Lu Wensheng looked at her and said slowly, "Since your surname is Qian, what is your relationship with the Qian family of Zhuzhou along the coast?"
Qian Yuechi, looking pitiful, swallowed hard a few times before speaking in a sweet voice, "I am the second daughter of the second wife. I haven't had a drop of water since yesterday morning. Could you give me something to eat?"
Seeing Lu Wensheng's indifferent expression, she timidly changed her words, "It's fine if you don't give them any, the children are innocent, please share some food with them."
Meeting the child's eyes, filled with fear and hatred, Lu Wensheng chuckled and said softly, "The first two lines of the Three Character Classic are, 'At birth, people are inherently good. Their natures are similar, […]' When they are first born, they are innocent, but after years of parental upbringing and environmental influence, they are anything but innocent. I have been in Yanjing for four years and have offended many people, but this is the first time I have seen such blatant hatred."
Lu Wensheng tore the rice cake off the dagger and threw it far away on the ground, his meaning clear: he wouldn't even give it to them.
Lu Fugui, who had been squatting to the side at some point, saw the fragrant and sticky rice cake fall to the ground and swallowed it whole in one big bite. Then he began to watch Lu Wensheng with longing eyes.
Qian Yuechi forced a smile and tried to establish a connection: "It's my fault for not teaching them well, it's my fault, you're their older sister..."
A sharp, cold glint touched Qian Yuechi's neck, startling her into silence.
Lu Wensheng said coldly, "Don't try to pull strings. I don't want to go to jail with you and have my entire family executed!"
Qian Yuechi's expression suddenly turned somewhat unpleasant. "What do you mean by that? We are a respectable family."
"Is that so?" Lu Wensheng asked sarcastically. "Last month, at the Yanjing Merchants' Mansion, I encountered a few people surnamed Qian. They harmed my good brother. Therefore, I sent people to investigate their background. I learned that they came from the Qian family of Zhuzhou. They were both thieves and merchants, and had connections in both the legal and illegal worlds. They could be called the uncrowned kings who dominated the southeast coast."
Lu Wensheng sheathed his sharp dagger and looked at Lu Yunzhi, who was pretending to be dead: "So stop looking so pitiful, young lady from a bandit family! A person won't starve to death if they don't eat for a day or two."
Qian Yuechi struggled a bit, arguing, "You need evidence to speak! Anyone can make up stories and throw mud at you!"
After carefully observing Lu Yunzhi's expression, Lu Wensheng understood. It seemed he knew everything.
Pulling out a freshly printed divorce agreement from his sleeve, Lu Wensheng cut Lu Yunzhi's thumb and forced him to put his fingerprint on it.
Lu Yunzhi suddenly looked up: "What did you make me sign?"
Lu Wensheng: "This is the letter of divorce I wrote for you on behalf of my mother."
Lu Yun was furious: "Utterly absurd!"
"Likewise." After putting away the letter of divorce, Lu Wensheng gently stroked Fugui's head, a cold smile playing on his lips, and suddenly asked, "Who instructed you to come to Yanjing?"
Lu Yunzhi turned his head away, unwilling to answer.
Lu Wensheng paused in stroking the dog's head and said coldly, "Fugui, bite his leg!"
If Lu Yunzhi had died a few years ago, there would still be some lingering affection. But he didn't die; in fact, he married a new wife in comfort, enjoying good food and drink. And to make matters worse, she was his mortal enemy, Qian Shi.
Lu Fugui rolled his eyes at Lu Wensheng, then reluctantly opened his mouth and bit down.
A shrill male voice rang out, and Yingniang, who was tending to the medicine furnace, couldn't help but rub her arms. It had been so long since she'd seen her husband use such methods to interrogate someone; after being a law-abiding citizen for so long, she'd almost forgotten what it felt like to hold a knife.
The sunlight was slanted, and after an unknown amount of time, Lu Fugui, with its tail between its legs, lay down by the water vat to wash its mouth. Song Zhiyun beckoned and gave it some soap.
After locking the woodshed, Lu Wensheng went back inside to change his clothes. He then instructed Cheng Sang to apply medicine to Lu Yunzhi and to keep an eye on the family.
There was food by the pigeon coop, and the pigeons, which had been raised for several years, took a stroll and then returned.
Lu Wensheng released several birds before finally letting out a slow breath.
"I traveled all the way to Yanjing for you, but the Crown Prince is too soft-hearted and let the tiger return to the mountain; he is destined to be the loser..."
"...Resigning from your official post and getting married is the right path. I'm doing this for your own good. The gift list was given to me by the governor of Yingtian. The Qian family has already made peace with His Majesty. The Crown Prince's bloodline is impure; he can never ascend the throne! Once Prince Su ascends the throne, the Qian family will become imperial merchants!"
“I have already spoken with the Qian clan chief and arranged your marriage. It’s to the second son of the eldest branch… You’ve gone crazy from studying too much. It’s better to raise an obedient dog than to raise you.”
"They've really grown up, their wings have hardened..."
Lu Yunzhi was recruited by Prince Su. If she were a traditionalist, she would truly be in a difficult position. After all, filial impiety and disobedience are ten heinous crimes. If she ignored an imperial edict and was impeached by a censor, she could very well lose her position.
Since Lu Yunzhi favors boys over girls and belittles her, then she'll make sure Lu Yunzhi watches the Crown Prince ascend the throne and she sits on the high seat! Qian Shi indirectly ruined Shang Lian's leg and committed countless evils, yet she still wants to clear her name and go back on her word—dream on!
Just as she was trembling with anger, a familiar fragrance wafted over, and a warm hand enveloped Lu Wensheng's tightly clenched fist, gently smoothing the knuckles that were digging into her flesh. "Why are you so angry? What happened?"
Meeting Shen Hegui's narrow phoenix eyes, Lu Wensheng was slightly surprised: "I thought His Highness would come after nightfall."
Shen Hegui: "It's better to send away the weak point sooner rather than later."
The warm, moist breath brushed against his palm, and Lu Wensheng felt uncomfortable and tried to pull his hand away, but his wrist was instead gripped tightly.
Shen Hegui's expression was gentle, his eyes questioning. Then he slowly inserted his long fingers into hers, the coolness and warmth blending together, and the anger that had been building up in her heart inexplicably began to subside.
Lu Wensheng pursed his lips and asked directly, "May I know why Your Highness has delayed ascending the throne?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Wensheng felt a little regretful.
His cultivation was insufficient, and he was still influenced by Lu Yunzhi's words.
Just as she was about to make amends, Shen Hegui spoke up.
"What did someone say to you?" He raised his hand to tease the homing pigeons beside him, secretly examining the pigeon feed.
Rice, crushed beans, sorghum, wheat, sunflower seeds, bok choy, egg crepes—Lu Wensheng's pigeons are eating quite well.
The cages were very clean, with no odor at all; the staff clearly knew how to take good care of the animals.
Lu Wensheng observed Shen Hegui's expression and only dared to speak when he saw that he was not displeased: "Lu Yunzhi said that the Qian family of Zhuzhou has already made peace with His Majesty. Once Prince Su ascends the throne, the Qian family will become the imperial merchants. Moreover, he insisted that Your Highness will not be able to ascend the throne. At present, filial piety and family ties are highly valued. If Your Highness is in a difficult position and cannot do it, I can help Your Highness!"
"I was truly enraged." Turning his gaze away, Shen Hegui lightly flicked Lu Wensheng's forehead with his slender fingers and explained, "It's not that I couldn't bring myself to do it. There are reasons why I haven't ascended the throne. If you want to know, you'll have to exchange secrets. For example, I'm quite curious why you keep so many carrier pigeons?"
Seeing that Lu Wensheng suddenly became nervous, Shen Hegui tried to salvage the situation by saying, "I was just asking casually. I won't investigate why you're raising pigeons. If you don't want to talk about it, you can talk about it when you want to."
"Your Highness, please allow me some time to think." She couldn't help but rub the hem of her dress.
She was a businesswoman at sea, and all the people she killed were those who deserved to die. However, the Qian family often demanded protection money from passing merchant ships, attempting to monopolize the shipping routes. They also colluded with Japanese pirates to plunder people and property, either directly trafficking people or extorting huge ransoms. They also frequently disrupted coastal defenses.
Therefore, the Qian family must be very wealthy. If she were to take advantage of the situation and hand over the evidence to Shen Hegui, and then cooperate with him, wouldn't it be possible to eliminate this malignant tumor that has taken root on the coast and replenish the national treasury in the process?
Since His Majesty has already chosen Lady Qian, then Prince Su will surely follow suit. She and Lady Qian are enemies, so she can only choose Shen Hegui, and from now on, she and Prince Su will be locked in a life-or-death struggle.
Seeing Lu Wensheng deep in thought, Shen Hegui thought for a moment and pulled him into the sunlight.
The warm sunshine felt comforting on his body, and he squinted his eyes, unable to resist gently hooking his hand around Lu Wensheng's.
Once things settle down, every early spring he will snuggle up to Lu Wensheng and bask in the sun.
He closed his narrow phoenix eyes and recalled his conversation with Song Zhiyun.
Song Zhiyun: "You're the man who brought Sheng Sheng back that night? You're the Crown Prince?!"
Shen Hegui: "Yes, I am the Crown Prince."
Song Zhiyun: "You like our Sheng Sheng."
Shen Hegui: "Can't I like it?"
Song Zhiyun: "But she's a man!"
Shen Hegui: "I love a man named Lu Wensheng, regardless of gender. I am not into homosexuality, but if the person is Lu Wensheng, I am willing. I hold supreme power and possess wealth that ordinary people cannot accumulate in ten lifetimes. I am handsome and intelligent. Apart from being unable to bear children, I am far superior to those women confined to their chambers. If you put aside your worldly prejudices, you will find that I am the best choice."
Recalling Song Zhiyun's deeply shocked expression, Shen Hegui couldn't help but laugh.
After admiring the newly acquired jade ring for a while, Shen Hegui leaned down and kissed Lu Wensheng's cheek.
Lu Wensheng's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by Wen Ruan's gentle touch. He subconsciously looked up and his gaze fell on the ring.
She rubbed her eyes hard, startled, and immediately shook off Shen Hegui's hand: "Isn't that the ring I left for my future...wife? Why is it in His Highness's hands?!"
Shen Hegui spun around twice, as if showing off: "Did your mother just give this to me?"
Lu Wensheng: "?" Is there something wrong with her ears?
Yes! It must be something wrong with her ears.
Shen Hegui said to himself, "To raise you to be so outstanding, you must be no ordinary person. Before I could even tempt you with benefits or reason with you, your mother agreed to our relationship. She's truly open-minded!"
Lu Wensheng rushed outside in a panic.
No, in such a short time, what kind of bewitching potion did Shen Hegui give her mother!
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Author's note: I added half an ellipsis, but it's still a □□, sigh! It's the fourth line of the Three Character Classic.
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