Dingguo Mansion in Beijing
Lu Minghan returned to the study in the front yard and saw the housekeeper Lu Fang coming towards him.
"Where's the Madam? What did she do today?"
"My Lord, today the eldest daughter sent back news that she is three months pregnant. Madam went to the Dingnan Marquis's residence after hearing this."
Lu Minghan smiled slightly when he heard this. "Well, that's great. Did the Madam say when she will be back?"
Butler Lu Fang shook his head.
"Well... Madam didn't say, but I think it will be evening at the latest. Duke, you know that the eldest lady has been married for three years, and this is her first child, so Madam is bound to be a little nervous."
Hearing that his daughter was pregnant, Lu Minghan, who had been in poor health for the past two years, finally let go of the worry he had been carrying, and his slightly pale face also had a hint of redness.
"Okay, send some people to wait outside the Dingnan Marquis's mansion. Once Madam comes out, escort her back to the mansion."
Lu Fang nodded in agreement and then said goodbye and left.
After sending Lu Fang away, Lu Minghan sat down at the desk and began to read official documents, but his brows began to frown as he read.
As the Minister of War, Lu Minghan has been very busy recently. Some time ago, the Tatars in the north invaded the border, and the Qiyan Pass in Bingzhou Prefecture was lost. The defending general Lin Chaoran died in the battle of Qiyan Pass. However, this was not Lin Chaoran's fault. It was Prince Qing who concealed the battle report sent by Lin Chaoran, causing the Dayu Dynasty to lose the initiative. This allowed the Tatars to successfully invade the border and enter the uninhabited area all the way to Suzhou Prefecture. By the time the court received the news, it was too late.
In the early stage, Xichang Hou Shen Laiqing was sent to stop the Tatar troops. Who knew that this idiot would desert the battlefield, killing many Kunzhou people, and also causing many people in Bingzhou and Kunzhou to die under the Tatar cavalry.
Now Xichang Marquis Shen Laiqing is missing, and the entire Xichang Marquisate has been imprisoned, which has cut off one of Prince Qing's arms. Not only have the 100,000 soldiers suffered heavy casualties, but many of them have also disappeared. The emperor and several old ministers are all wondering whether the remaining 50,000 soldiers were taken away by Shen Laiqing and hidden somewhere, so that they can be used as an army for Prince Qing's rebellion in the future.
Of course, this is just a guess for now and cannot be accurate, but this is the strangest thing about this matter. The best plan now is to quickly mobilize troops to Suzhou to stop the Tatar troops from continuing to move south.
Today, the Emperor proposed that Prince Jing, who was stationed in the southern border, return to the capital and lead his troops to Suzhou to resist the invasion of the Tatars. However, Prince Jing is now engaged in a fierce battle with the rebels in the southern border, and it is unlikely that he will be able to return in a short period of time.
I have not been in good health these years and cannot fight on the battlefield like my grandfather and father. This is my biggest regret.
Thinking of my father and mother, I don’t know how they are doing in the villa. It’s September now, and I guess they will be back soon.
"Duke, the Third Master is here."
Upon hearing this, Lu Minghan frowned, his face full of impatience.
"Just tell him I'm busy and don't have time to see him, and ask him to come less often in the future."
Lu Fang raised his eyebrows. He knew that the Duke would have this attitude. It was true that the Third Master had been dishonest over the years, jumping around like a clown. Wasn't it because the Duke had no children? If the Duke's Mansion wanted to continue, it could only adopt his son, right?
The third master Lu Minghong is the illegitimate son of the old Duke. He was born to a palace maid awarded by the late Queen, now the Empress Dowager. Now the old concubine has long died, and the old Duke has also given the third master away.
However, over the years, Mr. Lu San has always believed that only his son can inherit the entire Duke's Mansion, so he comes to the house every few days to make his presence felt.
"What? You said Big Brother didn't have time. Is it because you, an old servant, didn't want to inform me and lied to me?"
Lu Fangqiang laughed.
"Look at what you are saying, Third Master! I am only a servant after all, and I don't have the guts to lie to you! Third Master, you should know that the court has been busy these past two days with the Tatar invasion, and the Duke is also very busy with this matter, and really has no time to see you, Third Master!"
Lu Minghong thought about it. He knew about the Tatar invasion. After all, he was just a small official of the fifth rank, so he knew this information.
"Okay then. I'll go back first. I'll come back to chat with you in a couple of days."
After sending Lu Minghong away, Lu Fang curled his lips and said, "Humph, you really think you're a piece of cake. If you weren't the descendant of the old Duke, I wouldn't have allowed you to live until now. When the incident happened, I would have killed you and your concubine together."
Dingnan Marquis Mansion.
When Cui came out of the Dingnan Marquis Mansion, she saw a row of guards standing not far from the mansion. She raised her eyebrows and asked.
"What's going on? Why are they here too?"
Aunt Qian beside her hurriedly whispered.
"Madam, the Duke knows you've arrived at the Marquis' Mansion, and since it's getting late, he sent them over to escort you back home!"
Cui shook her head in amusement. "We are already in the capital, and it's all in the inner city. Why do I need these people to come and protect me?"
Aunt Qian said with a smile.
"It's because the Duke feels sorry for you and is afraid you'll be frightened that he did this."
Although Cui said this, she was still happy in her heart.
"Okay, enough talking, let's go quickly, it's probably already the twilight hour now."
Cui returned to the Duke's Mansion smoothly. Instead of going back to the inner courtyard, she went directly to the study in the front yard. When she arrived, Lu Minghan had already finished processing the official documents and was reading a book.
"My Lord, I'm back. Today, the Dingnan Marquis' Mansion sent a letter saying that our sister Lian is pregnant. It's already been three months, and they just told us now."
Lu Minghan stood up with a smile and pulled Cui to sit next to him.
"How is Sister Lian? Are you feeling unwell? Also, could you bring some medicinal herbs from the warehouse?"
Cui said angrily, "Look at what you said. That's your daughter, isn't she also my daughter? How can I not worry about her? Don't worry, I've brought all the herbs."
Lu Minghan nodded and said, "I am sorry for you and your mother. My body has not been good enough over the years and I have not been able to give birth to a son for you."
Cui's eyes suddenly turned red. The suffering she had endured over the years was relieved by Lu Minghan's words. She lay directly in Lu Minghan's arms and cried.
Lu Minghan patted Cui's back silently. He was in poor health as he had been poisoned when he was a child. Although he had recovered a lot after so many years of recuperation, he had only given birth to a daughter. He was already 42 years old and was afraid that there was no hope for him to have a son in this life.
Now that my daughter is pregnant and I am about to become a grandfather, the idea of having a son has faded.
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