After bidding farewell to the people sent by the Li family in Longxi, Lu Qi was worried that his wife and daughter would be frightened at today's banquet, so he stepped forward to lift the curtain and help his wife out of the carriage. Unexpectedly, Mrs. Li showed no mercy, raised her hand and threw down the curtain. She led her daughter out of the carriage. She almost even looked at her husband beside her.
The couple, who had usually been living together as husband and wife, were now walking in tandem without saying a word, just like two strangers. Lu Qi knew in his heart that his wife was complaining about his concealment and did not dare to argue, so she could only accompany Xing Xing into the main courtyard with him.
Lu Bingzhen, on the other hand, was driven back to Liuchunwu by Li's soft words but firmness.
As soon as they entered the main courtyard, Li's confidant maid Manao immediately left the room, even if everyone had no stake in her life. She also carefully excused herself after everyone else left, and then closed the door of the main courtyard before leaving. Li Shi had been pretending to have a dignified and gentle smile for a day, but now her cheeks were stiff and she could no longer pretend to smile at all.
Mrs. Li, who had an ugly face, suddenly turned around and asked her husband sternly, "Did you know this earlier and just tried so hard to hide it from me? When we got married, you promised me that 'wives are the same', but now it concerns you and my children." , is this how you treat me?"
"Yes, An Niang, it is my fault that I concealed this matter from you."
Seeing that he could no longer hide it, Lu Qi told the whole story. "The Crown Prince informed me and my father of this matter when he came home that day. However, I saw that His Majesty had not issued an order yet, so I thought there was room for change in the matter. I did not want to inform you of the matter in advance to save you from worry."
"Haha", Mrs. Li sneered twice, "Since you don't want me to worry, why not leave the fifth lady's marriage to my two great-aunts as well, so that I can free up my time to prepare for A Rui. .”
Even her father Lu Zhi didn't know what the Fifth Lady said to His Highness the Crown Prince that day. But for some reason, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince specifically informed Lu Qi of this matter. At present, Lu Qi has lost his last bit of patience with this niece.
But Lu Qi still didn't want this matter to affect his wife's virtuous reputation. He wanted to persuade her a few more words, but was forced back by Li's look and could only shut up in confusion. That night, Lu Qi was kicked out of the main courtyard by Mrs. Li and spent the night in a cold and hard study.
The next day, Lu Qi was overjoyed to see Agate who came to treat him. He thought Li had figured it out overnight and went to the main courtyard with him happily.
As soon as he entered the main courtyard, Lu Qi thought that he had not slept well last night, so he was dazzled and saw the wrong thing. Otherwise, how could he have seen his two sons who had been studying at Lushan Academy appear in the main courtyard.
"Bingzhen, Bingxi, aren't you two studying in the academy? Why did you suddenly come back, but what happened in the academy?"
The two young men whose names were called were originally facing the main courtyard to greet Mr. Li. After hearing these questions, they turned back to look at their father outside the courtyard gate and happily greeted his father.
The father and son, who had not seen each other for a long time, were quite emotional. Before they had time to express their longing, they heard Li's stern voice coming from the room.
"I sent someone to invite you two to come back to discuss matters, but the three of you, father and son, chatted first."
Lu Qi vaguely guessed Li's intentions and politely advised, "Ms. An, Bingzhi and Bingxi are not light on their studies in the academy. Why don't we have a meal at home and let them go back to the academy to continue studying."
The three fathers and sons heard Mrs. Li sneer and said, "There is no need to study these days. If His Highness the Crown Prince is really trapped in it because of the personal expedition for his father, then the Fan Yang Lu family will be more than half ruined. By then, Bingzhi and Bingxi will no longer have to go to the academy to study, and it will be a blessing to be able to return to their hometown of Fanyang and work as farm shepherds safely."
Lu Qi certainly understood this truth, but he always couldn't bear to let his children be involved in the struggle for power prematurely. Lu Bingzhi and Lu Bingxi have not yet entered the officialdom, not because they were not talented and failed to pass the imperial examination, but because Lu Qi watched His Majesty's suspicions getting worse day by day, so he did not allow his two sons to enter the court at this time. official.
Lu Qi is different from most fathers nowadays. Most men nowadays believe in "caring for grandchildren but not for children". Few of them are very doting on their children, let alone young men of Bingzhi and Bingxi's age. Take more care of it. Lu Qi has always cherished all his children, not only doting on Lu Bingzhen, but also caring for his two sons Bingzhi and Bingxi.
Therefore, at this age, the two young men, Bingzhen and Bingxi, still have a bit of innocence and scholarly temperament.
Li's ideas are slightly different from Lu Qi's.
If the family is prosperous and smooth, it will naturally allow the children to be innocent and ignorant of the world under the wings of their parents. But now, with the help of the old patriarch Lu Zhi, the Fan Yang Lu family has long been tied to the same boat as His Highness the Crown Prince.
If His Highness the Crown Prince unfortunately dies on the way to fight for his father, and even the entire Lu family of Fan Yang is dragged down by this incident, then neither Lu Bingzhen, the future Crown Princess, nor the two brothers Lu Bingzhi and Lu Bingxi are innocent and innocent. The qualifications to be familiar with the world.
Thinking of this, Mrs. Li hardened her heart and coldly asked the three of them, father and son, to enter the house.
Lu Bingxi, the seventh generation seventh son in the family, asked in confusion, "What did mother just say? Is His Highness the Crown Prince going to fight for his father in person? This rarely happens, could mother have made a mistake?"
Li said in a cold voice, "Ask your father, he knows a lot more than I do." Lu Qi could only tell his two sons the cause and effect of the matter.
After hearing this, Bingzhi and Bingxi's first reaction was to look around, and when they saw that Lu Bingzhen was not there, they said anxiously, "In other words, my sister A Rui also knows about this matter. For my sister, this matter is really a piece of cake." Thunder."
Agate stepped forward at the right time to report, "Two young gentlemen, the Ninth Lady was summoned to the palace early this morning by the Queen's decree."
The family of four thought about it for a long time in the main courtyard, and finally Lu Qi made a decision.
"An Niang, go check out the Bolingcui family. If the other party has no intention of going back on his word, push Bingzhi's marriage forward. Bingzhi is already eighteen years old this year, and marriages are common. If the other party If you want to keep another daughter at home, you can make a small decision first."
After saying that, Lu Qi turned to his son, "Bingxi, you will take the imperial examination next year. It's time. Fan Yang and the Lu family need to become officials. As for you, Bingxi, you can follow the path of Yinguan and become a minor official outside Beijing." .”
This means that one of the two sons will sacrifice his life for the family and become an official, and the other will go to a remote place far away from power to preserve the family bloodline.
And the Queen's Palace was not peaceful at this time.
The Empress sat on the phoenix throne, and Concubine Gu below spoke openly, "In terms of filial piety, it must be His Highness the Crown Prince. Empress, you have really raised a good son. Now even on the battlefield where the sword has no eyes, If you dare to go for your father, I think the second prince who died young will be able to feel at ease when he sees him in the sky. He doesn't have to worry about no one to honor his father after his unfilial son is gone."
Queen Wen only had two sons and one daughter in her life. Her daughter's marriage was manipulated to control the younger son, and the eldest son died young. This was the most painful thing in Queen Wen's life.
The youngest son finally grew up to be a virtuous prince in both the government and the public. Now he has to fight for his father in a military expedition. He doesn't even know if he can come back alive. Queen Wen hated her husband so much that she gritted her teeth.
However, facing the provocation of her old enemy for many years, Queen Wen naturally would not fall behind. "What my sister said is absolutely true. The prince has always been extremely filial. Even if my sister is busy serving His Majesty every day, she still has to find time to worry about her son." Ah. A few days ago, I heard that the King of Yu caused a headache to His Majesty by riding his horse in the street and hurting people. In the past few days, the imperial censors outside have repeatedly complained that the King of Yu is not worthy of the throne, and they want His Majesty to depose the King of Yu. Where is the position of prince?"
The women in the palace were not polite when they picked up each other's scars. Lu Bingzhen watched from the sidelines, which once again deepened the impression of intrigues in the palace.
After Concubine Gu left angrily, Lu Bingzhen listened to the conversation between Queen Wen and Xiu Xin, and after a while he tentatively said, "Empress, did you just want to persuade His Majesty to temporarily surrender King Yu as the King of Yu County?"
Queen Wen liked Lu Bingzhen very much and was not angry when she heard her interrupt. In addition, His Highness the Crown Prince had repeatedly said that Lu Bingzhen was very intelligent these days. Now, Queen Wen patiently asked Lu Bingzhen's opinion.
"My servant believes that temporarily surrendering the King of Yu as the King of Yu County will actually solve the problem for His Highness the King of Yu. It may even change the arrogant and domineering image of Concubine Gu and His Highness the King of Yu in the hearts of the government and the public, and even the people. In the long run, it will be beneficial to His Highness Prince Yu.
The difference between His Royal Highness the Prince of Yu and His Royal Highness the Prince of Yu County is only one word, and the difference between His Majesty and His Majesty is only one thought. Now that His Majesty the Crown Prince is about to leave for a long journey, the Empress should think more about His Majesty in front of His Majesty.
What's more, His Majesty is getting older, and what he wants to see is brotherly respect, not brotherly hatred. In the past, His Majesty did not have no father-son affection for the Crown Prince. His Royal Highness, Prince Yu, also lived in your palace for a period of time. If His Majesty, Prince Yu, could use His Majesty's incident to evoke a hint of father-son affection and conjugal affection. Maybe it would be more beneficial to the prince as well. "
Queen Wen was thoughtful, and after a while she smiled at Lu Bingzhen and said, "No wonder Min'er said you are extremely smart. It is true." When mentioning His Highness the Crown Prince, Queen Wen couldn't help but sigh. She patted Lu Bingzhen's hand, " I just hope that you and Min'er will get along well with each other in the future, not like your Majesty and I."
Lu Bingzhen held Queen Wen's hand in return and said seriously, "Don't worry, Your Highness, your visit will be safe and sound." Hearing this, Queen Wen became more sentimental and pulled Lu Bingzhen to tell the story of the prince's childhood.
When Lu Bingzhen left the palace and returned home, the sky was already dark. As soon as she returned home, she knew her father's arrangements for her two brothers today. The two brothers also comforted her, "Sister, don't worry about us. As members of the Lu family, we knew this would happen. But my sister has really sacrificed a lot for the family."
