Chapter 53: No Way to Write to You
Thinking of Lu Yao’s outrageous words that night, Yunniang’s face suddenly turned dark.
"Go away, go away. Mother has a headache just thinking about it."
Yunniang gently pushed Lu Mingchao out of the kitchen and closed the door with a snap.
Lu Mingchao touched his nose and smiled silently.
"Got a training?"
Lu Yao poked his head out from the half-open window, and his voice was clear yet with an imperceptible softness.
Lu Mingchao shook his head and complained first, saying crisply, "Second brother, mother said that she gets a headache whenever she thinks of you, so I guess I am being dragged down by you."
Lu Yao raised his lips slightly, revealing a faint smile, and then he gently closed the window and put the book in his hand aside. He carefully arranged his robes and pushed the door open to leave.
The long green gown did not look heavy, but still made her look tall and slender, like a green bamboo standing under the bright moonlight.
Lu Mingchao let out a light sigh. No wonder Gu Zhen, who was used to seeing noblemen from the capital, was still bewildered by Lu Yao's face.
If they were not siblings, she might also be disturbed.
What a sin! What a sin!
"Second brother, I really hope that you will become the third place in the imperial examination tomorrow when I open my eyes." Lu Mingchao sighed with a frivolous expression.
Lu Yao raised his eyebrows, his cold eyes were tinged with liveliness. "I guess I don't like summer or winter."
"Huh?" Lu Mingchao was puzzled.
"Chunqiu can dream big, and there is everything in his dreams." Lu Yao smiled faintly, "Let alone becoming the top scholar, as long as you dare to think about it, I, your second brother, will be a high-ranking official."
Lu Mingchao: ...
Humph, Lu Yao is not only cunning, but also eloquent.
Such a person would be wasted if he didn't work in government.
Lu Mingchao rolled his eyes at Lu Yao, pushed the door open and walked into the main room first, Lu Yao smiled and followed closely behind him.
Xie Jingyi's eyes suddenly lit up.
The corner of Lu Mingchao's mouth twitched. Her second brother's looks were really good.
"Jingyi, Ru'an, this is mother's second brother."
"Second uncle." Xie Jingyi trotted and hugged Lu Yao's calf, looking up and blinking her big eyes, mumbling softly, "Second uncle, you look good."
Lu Yao was caught off guard.
This sudden enthusiasm made him a little overwhelmed.
Lu Mingchao gave Lu Yao a helpless look and came to Old Lady Lu's side. "Grandma, are you feeling better?"
Old Lady Lu's eyes were full of kindness, and her cloudy eyes were filled with smiles. "Much better, much better."
Lu Mingchao squatted on the ground with his knees bent, massaging Old Lady Lu's legs, thinking in his heart that he had to go to the city to invite a good doctor to give Old Lady Lu a thorough diagnosis.
"It's great that the family is living in harmony." Old Mrs. Lu gently stroked Lu Mingchao's bun.
She couldn't remember how many years it had been since she had been so harmonious and happy.
"Grandma, everything will be harmonious and happy from now on." Lu Mingchao said with a smile.
The small house is filled with innocent and clear smiles.
Amid the laughter, time seemed to pass exceptionally quickly.
Before I knew it, it was time for lunch.
Lu Mingchao drank the soup in the bowl in small sips, watching her father holding Xie Yan's hand and giving her instructions, and Xie Yan promised her every word.
Xie Ru'an sat obediently beside Yunniang, happily and contentedly accepting the food from her new grandmother.
My grandmother is as gentle as my mother Lu.
After dinner, Lu Yao called Lu Mingchao and Xie Yan back to his room.
Lu Yao's room is just like him, cold and quiet.
All that comes into view is books.
What enters your nose is the scent of ink, and nothing else.
Lu Mingchao casually flipped through a book. The handwriting was thin, the opening and closing were moderate, and it did not lose its style.
"Brother, these books?"
"I copied it down." Lu Yao said calmly.
It is very expensive to buy a book in a bookstore. If you want to read ten thousand books, how can ordinary people afford it?
Books are themselves a rare resource.
Lu Mingchao suddenly recalled the preface to Ma Sheng of Dongyang.
I have loved studying since I was young. My family was poor, so I had no access to books. I would borrow books from people who had collections of books, and copy them by hand, and return them on a certain date. It was very cold, and the inkstone was frozen, so my fingers could not bend or stretch, but I never stopped. After copying, I would run back to the bookstore, not daring to exceed the deadline. As a result, many people borrowed books from me, and I was able to read a wide range of books.
It is difficult for a noble man to emerge from a poor family. It is generally true.
Lu Mingchao sighed and closed the book.
"It's not easy for the second brother."
Lu Yao's expression was still as calm as the breeze. "I don't feel any pain."
"My second brother specifically called me and Xie Yan to talk. Is there something big going on?"
Lu Mingchao sniffed and the rich scent of ink filled his face.
Lu Yao nodded. “Two things.”
"The second young master of the Sun family in Changhe County."
"Zhen Guogong Mansion, Gu Huai, and the Crown Prince Gu."
When he heard the name Gu Huai, Lu Mingchao felt a little embarrassed.
After all, the original owner had been chasing after Gu Huai for years, and everyone in the family of officials in the capital knew about it. She was deeply in love with Gu Huai and had no regrets. Her biggest obsession in life was to marry Gu Huai.
Who made her the Lu Ming Dynasty now?
Lu Mingchao tugged at Xie Yan's sleeve and said, "That's not the real me."
Xie Yan: …
Lu Yao: …
Xie Yan gently patted the back of Lu Mingchao's hand, signaling Lu Mingchao to rest assured.
Lu Yao continued, "Young Master Sun's notoriety has spread far and wide. He will not let it go easily after suffering a setback in Changxi Village. He will definitely wait for an opportunity to take revenge."
Lu Mingchao informed Lu Yao of everything that Sun Ershao had proposed yesterday and her attitude towards it.
Lu Yao commented: “Although it is not rational enough to weigh the pros and cons, it is correct enough.”
"Then he will be angry and want revenge."
Lu Mingchao said frankly, "If the firewood is removed from under the cauldron, without the Sun family, how can he continue to be a playboy?"
"Second brother, after discussing with Xie Yan, I plan to open a grain store to sell grain."
Lu Yao frowned and lowered his eyes. “You can’t do business on a whim.”
Lu Mingchao said slowly, "Brother, we have a stable source of rice and grain, and it is of good quality and cheap. As the Art of War says, we should gather our own strengths, find the enemy's weaknesses, borrow the power of heaven, unite the weak, and defeat the strong with the weak. If we cannot fight against the Sun family alone, we can unite with other grain stores."
"Second brother, the history of the Sun family's rise to wealth and their behavior over the years show that they will eventually perish if they continue to do evil."
Lu Yao's eyes flickered, "Chao Chao has surprised my second brother again."
Lu Mingchao raised his eyebrows and said calmly, "Did you find that I am both beautiful and smart?"
Lu Yao and Xie Yan both smiled.
"What about the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion?"
Compared with the huge Zhen Guogong Mansion, the Sun family is just a flea on the back of a tiger.
Lu Mingchao suppressed his smile, frowned slightly, and quickly sorted out the part of the original owner's memory about the Zhenguo Mansion.
"When he was young, the Duke of Zhenguo often fought in battles. Although his heroic spirit has faded with time, he is not the kind of person who bullies others by taking advantage of his power." Xie Yangu spoke immediately.
"Gu Huai will not dare to easily disturb the Duke of Zhenguo."
Lu Mingchao glanced at Xie Yan with an inexplicable look, and then added, "The old lady of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion dotes on Gu Huai the most and always responds to his requests."
"The wife of the Duke of Zhenguo comes from a prominent family. She is very proud of her family background."
"When Lu Miao returns to the Yongning Marquis's Mansion, he will also try every means to secure this marriage. I think he will definitely not sit idly by and allow Gu Huai to mess around."
"It's not easy for Gu Huai to get away and come to Changhe County."
Gu Zhen complained]