The scholars dispersed. Only then did Zhu Su report in a low voice: “When buying the small firecrackers just now, I discovered a shop with high prices that was hiding prohibited items inside.”
According to Great Chen law, civilian firecracker specifications had clear limits—they couldn’t be too large. If there were firecrackers exceeding specifications, they might be Nan Chu agents laying groundwork. Even if not, there were still hidden dangers.
Lu Huating’s eyes showed a slight chill: “Go investigate.”
Zhu Su departed with the order. Juan Su said, “Are we returning?”
“Wait for Zhu Su.” Lu Huating had drunk much tonight and walked slowly through the crowd.
Near year’s end, the streets were noisy with lights and lanterns, people coming and going.
Walking all the way to a secluded area, Lu Huating suddenly turned his head. Someone had been following him the entire way and now walked before him: “Lord Lu, it’s been a long time. Ahead where the stone lions are is my humble residence. I wonder if my lord would do me the honor of coming in to sit and have a cup of tea?”
Lu Huating recognized the young man bowing before him in invitation—it was Consort Lü’s younger brother, Marquis Lü Wanhu.
This person had persistently sent letters to Prince Yan’s residence, just wanting Lu Huating to sell him that plot of land in the western suburbs at a low price. It seemed today’s invitation was again to discuss this matter. Lu Huating smiled at him: “No need.”
No matter how he invited, Lu Huating politely declined. Marquis Lü Wanhu’s smile stiffened slightly: “We’ve already walked all this way. Can’t you just consider it resting your feet? I’ll have a maidservant brew you some sobering tea.”
Lu Huating smiled: “This person is a subordinate of Prince Yan’s residence. You are a favored consort’s blood brother. If this person frequently visits your door, when it reaches the sage’s ears, I fear it would implicate Prince Yan.”
Marquis Lü Wanhu’s expression changed slightly. He muttered, “What rotten idea did Examination Official Qun come up with? Drank so much wine but won’t take even a bit of bait.”
Hearing Qun Qing’s name, Lu Huating’s expression became focused. A mocking smile curved at his lips. He stepped forward, but from the corner of his eye saw Marquis Lü Wanhu make a signal toward the darkness.
There were still people hidden in the shadows.
Lu Huating’s face changed slightly. Juan Su’s short sword had already left its sheath, blocking in front of him. In the blink of an eye, seven or eight men in black leaped down from that high wall and fought with the two in a tangled melee.
After blocking two strikes, Lu Huating sensed these people carried killing intent—their skills far exceeded ordinary household servants. He found a gap to push Juan Su out to report, then smiled coldly at Marquis Lü Wanhu: “Drinking tea requires such an invitation? This person will go in then.”
Speaking thus, he crossed alone through that vermillion gate.
Seeing him compromise, Marquis Lü Wanhu finally put on a smile and had those people withdraw, ushering him inside.
Lu Huating walked into the front courtyard and saw four maidservants had already prepared brush, ink, and seal paste, surrounding a stone table. Spread on that stone table was a sheet of paper—at a glance, it was actually a land transfer deed document.
“Is this how Marquis Lü Wanhu receives guests? Not even offering a cup of tea.” Lu Huating remained impassive, glancing at Marquis Lü Wanhu. “Could this also be an idea from Examination Official Qun?”
Being stared at so directly, Marquis Lü Wanhu also felt somewhat nervous, but the arrow was on the string and had to be released: “Please sign, Lord Lu. Tea will be served afterward.”
Lu Huating said, “Pour the tea first.”
“Sign first. Tea afterward.”
Lu Huating smiled: “What if this person doesn’t sign?”
Marquis Lü Wanhu made up his mind and signaled with his eyes. Those masked men surrounding them actually rushed forward all at once, forcibly pressing down Lu Huating’s arms, about to dip them in the seal paste to press his handprint.
But they saw Lu Huating struggle with all his might. Several people couldn’t hold him down. With a “chi” sound, he drew the gleaming saber from one person’s waist. In the chaos, someone forcefully pushed Marquis Lü Wanhu forward, and this blade sank into Marquis Lü Wanhu’s abdomen.
Marquis Lü Wanhu touched the blood. His eyes widened extraordinarily large as he began to wail.
—
Qun Qing was pushed awake in the middle of the night. Yinzi’s expression was panicked: “Examination Official Qun, quickly go to the main hall. Consort Lü summons you.”
Qun Qing threw on her clothes and rose, carrying a lantern to the main hall. Consort Lü sat in the main seat wearing her outer robe, the teacup in her hands making faint sounds from constant trembling. She raised her reddened eyes. Upon seeing Qun Qing, she angrily scolded: “It’s all because of your rotten idea. See how this palace will deal with you!”
This accusation coming out of nowhere made Qun Qing’s heartbeat suddenly accelerate: “Your Ladyship, what idea did this subject give?”
“Earlier you had this palace’s younger brother invite Lu Huating to visit from time to time. Tonight he invited Lu Huating to the residence for a cup of tea. Who knew—who knew that the one surnamed Lu would be so bold as to stab Marquis Lü Wanhu with a sword.” As she spoke, she began to cry. “So much blood came out. This palace’s younger brother’s life and death are now uncertain. If he loses his life, I’ll have you buried with him. Someone come, bind her first for this palace.”
Hearing this shocking turn of events, Qun Qing suspected she hadn’t woken from her dream yet. She pinched her palm, forcing herself to stay clear: “Wait! This subject has something unclear.”
“This subject only told Marquis Lü Wanhu to invite the chancellor as a guest, to make the sage suspect Prince Yan’s residence of associating with consorts’ maternal relatives—just visiting as a guest. If he was unwilling, he didn’t have to go. How did it escalate to the point of injuring someone? Your Ladyship, there were other matters in between, weren’t there?”
But she still understood Lu Huating fairly well. This person was deeply calculating and never acted impulsively. Injuring someone in Chang’an would implicate his official career.
Being stared at like this, a guilty look flashed across Consort Lü’s face: “You know the Lü family has always wanted that land, but the one surnamed Lu absolutely refuses to yield. Marquis Lü Wanhu merely prepared the land transfer deed at home, wanting to use the opportunity to have him sign it.”
Qun Qing hadn’t expected Consort Lü was still fixated on that land. She’d actually tried to be clever, forcibly pressing Lu Huating to sign the contract. She barely managed to calm herself and said, “When the chancellor goes out, he generally brings hidden guards from Prince Yan’s residence. The guards could have intervened—why would he personally hold a sword to stab someone? Is Your Ladyship’s information accurate?”
“How could it not be true!” Consort Lü laughed coldly. After a long moment she said, “The Meng family knew of this matter early on and lent death warriors to this palace’s younger brother, forcibly pressing Lu Huating to sign. The one surnamed Lu proved formidable—even in that situation he refused to sign the contract and instead stabbed Marquis Lü Wanhu…” As she spoke, tears flowed down again.
The night before her eyes was quiet and peaceful, but Qun Qing’s heart contracted in waves. Minister Meng had schemed in this—clearly a pit had been dug waiting for Lu Huating to jump in: “This subject never told Marquis Lü Wanhu to prepare a land transfer contract, much less to use death warriors to force signing. Your Ladyship shouldn’t have tried to be clever. The matter has blown up.”
Consort Lü suppressed her fear and laughed coldly: “So what if it’s blown up? Examination Official Qun, this matter was planned by you from the start—it has nothing to do with this palace. Do you understand? Prepare yourself to await the sage’s judgment.”
“Where is Lu Huating now?” Qun Qing interrupted her words.
“After injuring someone with a weapon, could he be tolerated? He was caught red-handed by people from the Ministry of Justice and taken away.”
So it was Minister Meng Guangshen’s trap.
She and Lu Huating had schemed to send Meng Guanlou to prison. She’d known early on that Meng Guangshen would retaliate, but hadn’t expected it this quickly.
The Ministry of Justice didn’t work night shifts. That they could arrive at just the right moment meant they were definitely prepared in advance. The purpose was to take Lu Huating away, and they definitely wouldn’t let him off easily.
In her current circumstances, she could barely protect herself. If this person truly died, there would be no one to threaten her with a confession, but in the future she’d have no companion for revenge.
If he truly died, Li Huan wouldn’t let her off either.
Thinking this, Qun Qing suddenly raised her eyes: “Does Your Ladyship think pushing this subject out to suffer punishment will be enough? When Prince Yan learns of this matter, he’ll definitely strive to rescue him. If Lu Huating doesn’t die, this small player is insufficient to dissipate his anger—the fire will definitely burn to the Lü family.”
Consort Lü forcibly suppressed her panic: “Even if Prince Yan’s residence wants to protect him, they must be able to.”
“How could they fail to protect him? When officials commit crimes, according to law they should first be handed to the Court of Judicial Review, not the Ministry of Justice. Even if the sage learns of this matter tomorrow morning, he’ll transfer Lu Huating to the Court of Judicial Review. Prince Yan’s consort’s younger brother Xiao Jingxing is the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review—wanting to protect Lu Huating would be effortless.”
Being reminded to this level, Consort Lü’s lips turned pale: “Moreover, Minister Meng has already sent this palace a message that this matter won’t implicate this palace.”
“Why does Your Ladyship trust Minister Meng’s promise so much?” Qun Qing said mockingly. “If Minister Meng sincerely cooperated with Your Ladyship, with his death warriors present, why would Marquis Lü Wanhu be stabbed by Lu Huating?”
This interrogation immediately forced tears from Consort Lü.
“Minister Meng doesn’t care at all about Marquis Lü Wanhu’s life or death—he didn’t even instruct the death warriors once to protect him. Your Ladyship, the Lü family—you’re nothing more than tools for him to achieve his purpose. When Prince Yan’s residence and the sage investigate, will Your Ladyship be protected or abandoned? Weigh it yourself.”
Consort Lü finally wavered. Her face pale, she asked Qun Qing, “Then what method do you have?”
Moonlight outlined Qun Qing’s profile, condensing on her lashes. She slowly raised her eyes. Her gaze was calm, overwhelming Consort Lü: “Having reached this point, we can only go all the way. Lu Huating must die. Only if his crime is unforgivable and the sage’s anger cannot be quelled will Prince Yan’s residence not dare investigate—they can only abandon him.”
—
By the third watch, the lamps in the interrogation room hadn’t been extinguished.
Several broken thorny branches had fallen to the ground.
Lu Huating lowered his lashes. Seeing the torturers were all tired from beating and sitting under the rack to rest, he couldn’t help but curve his lips mockingly. This pulled at his wounds. Soon blood from his forehead dripped down along his lashes, blurring his vision.
Meng Guangshen understood better than him that time was limited. Once dawn came and the various departments took their posts, if Prince Yan found a way to rescue him, they’d have to release him. So Meng Guan dispatched people to hurry and torture him, the purpose being to force him to sign and seal.
Sign and seal admitting that the land Lu Huating and Marquis Lü Wanhu争抢ed over—he’d bought it to raise private soldiers for Prince Yan.
Once the crime of Prince Yan raising private soldiers was established, Prince Yan’s residence would suffer a heavy blow. By that time, Prince Yan would find it difficult to prove his innocence and would be even less able to spare effort to rescue him.
Lu Huating closed his eyes. His fingertips moved slightly. The pain throughout his body was like tongues of fire licking over him.
The last time he’d felt such pain was when Qun Qing had poisoned him with lovesickness引.
They were also fated to clash—every time something unfortunate happened, it was related to this woman.
He refused to make a sound, also refused to sign and seal. Someone went out to report. A moment later, Meng Guangshen personally stepped in to look at him, his official robe clean and unstained: “You’re quite pleased with yourself for sending Ninth Son to prison, aren’t you? Ninth Son is in prison with someone looking after him—he won’t suffer like Lord Lu.”
Lu Huating’s cotton garment bloomed with large patches of blood. The sword wound on his arm was deep enough to see bone. Seeing him hanging his head, Meng Guangshen lifted the slightly curled hair at his temples, stroking his cheek, but inadvertently smeared the fresh blood at his lips, drawing a vivid red line like a grotesque smile.
Lu Huating’s face rested against his hand, yet those pitch-black magnificent eyes stared straight at him—not like a person, but like a beast full of provocation.
“You’re quite good at concealing your abilities.” Meng Guangshen looked at him with a sinister sigh. “When did you discover that I’m a remnant of the Lu family bloodline?”
Lu Huating’s lashes trembled slightly: “I discovered it when in Huaiyuan.”
“At that time you were only a few years old—truly clever indeed. I never expected that among my children, though Ninth Son and Baoshu both received careful cultivation, neither matched you who never attended even one day of school.”
Meng Guangshen smiled: “You exhausted all your schemes, toppled Siye Tower, obtained evidence from the Cui family, hinted to the sage that my identity was suspicious. You thought the sage would be angry, would judge me for the crime of deceiving the sovereign by changing name and lineage? Let me tell you—the sage knew my identity when in Huaiyuan. How do you think the Li family’s realm was obtained? Without the financial support of the Lu family’s private treasury, how could they have seized power from Princess Changping?”
In the nearly stagnant air, Lu Huating just looked at him that way.
“Back then when Changping exterminated my Lu family, it was precisely to accumulate military funds. It’s just unfortunate I didn’t choose her. When I escaped, I wanted to select an emperor I could control—the sage was one such. The sage won’t kill me, the Crown Prince even less so, because I control the Lu family’s private treasury—three Siye Towers couldn’t match it, and this is precisely what Great Chen’s national fortune needs.” Meng Guangshen’s amber eyes overflowed with cold laughter. “Qilang, what do you have to fight me with? With this bit of cleverness of yours?”
But Lu Huating smiled slightly, spat out the congealed blood in his mouth, and said lightly: “If your private treasury truly has so much remaining, why must you amass wealth everywhere, doing business all the way to Jiangnan Circuit? How many trump cards you have left—you know in your heart.”
Meng Guangshen’s expression changed slightly: “Pressing step by step. For Lu Wan, is it?”
“Having come to this point, this old man can tell you.” Meng Guangshen gouged at him with his eyes. “Among that batch of orphans and widows who fled to Chang’an back then, your mother was of suitable age and strong physique, so she was hired as a wet nurse for the Li family. Why did I marry her, say I’d care for her? Apart from using her to get close to the Li family, it was merely because she also happened to be surnamed Lu. That way, if she bore children, the Lu family line would continue.”
Finishing speaking, hearing Lu Huating’s breathing quicken, he seemed pleased with himself and smiled slightly.
“The sage knew early on that Lu Wan was merely a minor figure I used to approach the Li family. He never regarded her as my wife. Ask yourself—a wet nurse versus a noble daughter from the Xie clan family, whose assistance would be greater? I’ve already been benevolent and righteous—I even thought to demote Lu Wan to a common concubine. It was your mother herself who insisted on staying in Huaiyuan. The incident happened because of your fault. You ask me for revenge—why not ask the sage for revenge, ask yourself for revenge?”
Meng Guangshen said coldly, “Your eldest brother wasn’t my seed to begin with. That I spared your life—you should be grateful you have my blood flowing in your body. However now, I do regret it. Had I known back then, I would have had Master Zengjia treat you as an evil demon and eliminate you.”
Lu Huating only gazed at him with those cold eyes.
Having failed to crush his spirit, Meng Guangshen became angry. He again picked up that confession and had Lu Huating sign and seal: “Sign and seal, and this old man will spare your life. Otherwise tonight’s injuries will shorten your life later—you know I never exaggerate.”
Lu Huating smiled, his fingers clenching into fists.
Seeing him like this, Meng Guangshen wasn’t surprised either. He signaled with his eyes. Four young servants unlocked the chains and dragged Lu Huating into the inner room. Before long, the muffled sounds of whipping came from inside again.
Meng Guangshen straightened his long robe and sat in the chair. Though rarely afraid or flustered, perhaps because of his advancing age, after emotional agitation there was also a moment of guilty conscience.
After a short while, someone came to report: “Young Lady Qing has come on the Crown Prince’s orders, requesting to see the Minister.”