"What did you say?"
Empress Lu's expression suddenly turned dull. When she looked at Lu Zhinian and the two of them in disbelief, her hands shook and she almost tore the things in her hands to pieces.
Jin Zhi on the side was also full of astonishment. Is the old lady crazy?
Mrs. Lu couldn't bear Empress Lu's gaze, and she shrank with a pale face: "The Rong family has a very strong family background, and Rong Qian'an left so many things. I just asked Song Tangning to take a few rare ancient books and calligraphy and painting treasures, thinking She will marry into the Lu family sooner or later. We are all one family. It would be an honor for her if these things can help His Highness. How could I have known that she would suddenly rebel..."
"You are confused!!"
Queen Lu stood up suddenly, pinching the things in her hands and her face was shaking with anger: "Are you helping Zheng'er? Are you trying to kill him!!"
She was so angry that she wanted to yell and curse, and wanted to throw the list in her face, but the person in front of her was her mother, her blood relative, so she could only turn her head and yell at Lu Zhinian.
"Your grandmother is confused. Are you also confused? How could you allow her to do such a thing?"
"The things Rong Qian'an left behind are good, and no one in the world would want them, but have you seen anyone who dares to attack the blood of the Rong family? Before Song Tangning married into the Lu family, you dared to covet so many things from her? You actually dare to hand it over to the Fourth Prince, where has your brain gone?!"
Lu Zhinian remained silent after being scolded and did not argue at all. Instead, Mrs. Lu stood up quickly when she saw her distressed grandson taking the blame for her.
"Your Majesty, San Lang doesn't know about this, and I didn't expect to give the thing to His Highness the Fourth. In fact, His Highness happened to see it when he was passing by..."
That day, her natal grandnephew came to the house and had a dispute with Song Tangning over some trivial matter. The two of them had an unpleasant quarrel, so she got angry and scolded Song Tangning for not having the attitude she should have as a matron. Song Tangning gave her a golden toad title the next day. The Zhu Fei Jade Ink Bed, along with a set of paperweights and inkstones came to apologize to her grandnephew, but the fourth prince happened to look at her.
During that time, Emperor An ordered the four princes to compile canons. The fourth prince was named Bo Wen and wanted to accumulate prestige among the scholars. He tried several times to invite the great scholar He Yun to help, but it was difficult to get in. He sent gold and silver to countless people. After being returned, I was overjoyed when I saw the set of things when I was worried.
He Yun had a grandson who was just entering school. The fourth prince gave him the set of literary treasures. This time he successfully entered the He family. Although He Yun still did not come to the court to help him, he recommended several of his disciples. He was given to the fourth prince, and became a guest in his mansion to help him cultivate the scriptures. After practicing the scriptures, he not only won the Holy Heart of Emperor An, but also gained a good reputation in the outside world.
After that, the fourth prince tasted the benefits, and Mrs. Lu also discovered that this future grandson-in-law, whom she originally despised, had such benefits.
She handed over the things Song Tangning sent to the fourth prince without hesitation. The fourth prince naturally accepted all comers and became closer to her grandmother after getting those things.
Mrs. Lu's explanation not only failed to relieve the Queen's anger, but made her even more angry: "Then have you told him the origin of these things?!"
"I……"
Mrs. Lu suddenly choked up. There was no way she could make Song Tangning stand out. Naturally, she lied about the Lu family's treasures. She defended in a low voice: "The Song family's daughter married into the Lu family, so her things naturally belong to the Lu family..."
"Then is she married now?" Queen Lu shouted sharply.
Mrs. Lu's face turned pale.
Seeing that her always shrewd mother was so confused, Queen Lu shook her body and her chest heaved in anger.
Jin Zhi on the side saw this and hurriedly stepped forward to support her and calm her down. After finally regaining her breath, Queen Lu looked at the roll in her hand full of anxiety and said coldly to the two Lu family members: "What's inside?" How many things were given to Zheng'er?"
"Fifty-six out of ten." Lu Zhinian lowered his head, "Except for those who stayed in the mansion, almost all of them were taken away by His Highness."
Empress Lu felt a lump in her chest: "You said Song Tangning knew a lot of people when he sent this list to the Lu family?"
Lu Zhi Nian lowered his head even lower: "Bang the gongs and drums, and everyone in the city will know."
Queen Lu's eyes were filled with darkness. Before she could recover, she heard Lu Zhinian whisper:
"Almost all of these things are the dowry that Grand Tutor Rong left to the Second Madam Song. They are registered with the government. If Tang Ning really insists on asking us for return, the Lu family will not be able to escape."
"She resented that the Lu family was unwilling to repair the matter and only gave it three days. With Xiao Yan on the side and the affairs of the Duke of Song Dynasty taking place, my grandfather was worried that Tang Ning would be cruel and take this thing to the government. Yamen."
Lu Zhinian knelt on the ground and lowered his eyes, speaking slowly.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to take back the things that His Highness sent out. It won't be good for the Lu family if the matter is bigger than Your Highness. The Lu family can only collect a small part of this list now. My grandfather means that this matter cannot be hidden from the Queen." Madam, let’s see if you can come forward to negotiate with Tang Ning and exchange a marriage contract between the two families for her to drop the matter, and the Lu family will return those things to her in exchange for gold and silver at 30% higher than the original price.”
As he said this, he clenched the palms of his sleeves hard, remembering how the little girl who had been following him since childhood would look at him sarcastically. Even if he tried to keep his voice steady, most of the color on his face had faded.
"Tang Ning wholeheartedly wants to draw a clear line with the Lu family, but the marriage between me and her is a gift from you and cannot be canceled. If the Queen Mother exchanges this, she may be able to let go."
Empress Lu was originally extremely angry with the Lu family, and she even hated Mrs. Lu for involving her royal son. She even resented her nephew, who she loved so much in the past. But when she heard Lu Zhinian's words, she looked so happy When the handsome young man, full of embarrassment and said palely in exchange for his engagement to Song Tangning, gave up, the anger in her heart stagnated.
"Sanlang, is it really impossible for you and Song Tangning to be together?" Queen Lu asked.
When Lu Zhinian heard this, he wanted to say that it was impossible. He could still go to see Song Tangning and find a way to make her remember the past love. How could the relationship of many years be wiped out in such a short period of time? However, he thought about what his grandfather said to him before entering the palace. if.
Lu Zhinian's lips turned pale and he narrowed his eyes as he said, "His Highness and the Lu family come first in everything. We can't afford to gamble."
After hearing this, the last trace of grudge in Empress Lu's heart was gone. If the Lu family concealed something from her after something happened, or even took risks with her prince, she would naturally be angry. However, the matter has not yet completely escalated and they have not concealed it at all. Moreover, as arrogant and arrogant as Lu Zhinian was, he was willing to compromise for the sake of the fourth prince's future and reputation. Her expression softened.
"You are a good person. My aunt has loved you all these years in vain."
Queen Lu said softly: "Get up quickly, the ground is cold."
Empress Lu's attitude changed obviously before and after, but Lu Zhinian seemed to have been used to it for a long time. He only said calmly: "It's my fault that I have brought down the Fourth Highness."
