Chancellor Lu had always known that his eldest son, though understanding he couldn’t take over his current position and knowing he had decided to support Lu Jin’s rise while fully backing him, still wanted to develop the Lu family’s presence in Great Zhou’s court until it became deeply rooted with flourishing branches and leaves. That’s why… Lu Jinxian would say at this moment that if both Yuanpeng and Prince Gaoyi had feelings for each other, they should arrange a good match.

Chancellor Lu felt his son was fundamentally wrong in his thinking. If he didn’t correct this now, letting things develop naturally would lead to an uncontrollable situation in the future.

Under Lu Yuanpeng’s eager and passionate gaze, Chancellor Lu steadied his mind and surprisingly asked an unrelated question: “Are your two younger brothers here, as well as children like Yuanqing?”

“The two younger brothers are here, but Yuanqing is on duty and hasn’t returned yet…” Lu Jinxian said.

Chancellor Lu remained silent for the moment, threw the feather duster in his hand aside, and looked at Lu Yuanpeng hiding behind Lu Jinxian: “If you had taken a fancy to an ordinary family’s daughter, even if she was from a commoner background, even if she was from a family that made their living in the fields, if you wanted to marry her as your wife, Grandfather would fulfill your wish. But Prince Gaoyi is not acceptable!”

“Is Grandfather worried that marrying Bai Fourth… Prince Gaoyi would make me a prince consort and bring disgrace to our Lu family’s reputation?” Lu Yuanpeng was somewhat anxious. He had considered this problem before and felt that the biggest obstacle to being with Bai Jinzhi was that Bai Jinzhi was now Prince Gaoyi.

Moreover, even Sima Ping had said that whoever married Bai Jinzhi in the future would be labeled as Prince Gaoyi’s consort, just like how women after marriage are called… someone’s wife. The Lu mansion was of what standing—it was the Chancellor’s mansion… for the Chancellor’s grandson to become a prince consort felt strange somehow.

However, men who married current princesses would also be called that princess’s consort afterward. Not to mention… Bai Jinzhi was the Great Zhou’s Prince Gaoyi. Once Bai Jinzhi married, she would certainly establish her mansion, and her husband would have to move with Bai Jinzhi to live in Prince Gaoyi’s mansion. In plain terms, this was no different from marrying into the wife’s family.

Seeing his grandfather remain silent, Lu Yuanpeng became even more convinced this was the reason, and quickly said: “Grandfather, but I truly like Prince Gaoyi. In the Bai Family Army, we always have small quarrels. Yuanpeng truly must marry Bai Jinzhi and no other! Please grant my wish, Grandfather!”

As he spoke, Lu Yuanpeng knelt again, kowtowing with loud thumps.

Seeing his grandson like this made Chancellor Lu’s heart ache, but he still hardened his heart. Keeping his composure, he helped Lu Yuanpeng up and said: “The Lu family has never counted on you to support the household, so… Grandfather’s expectations of you aren’t high. That you can secure a place for yourself in the Bai Family Army makes Grandfather very happy! But… only regarding Prince Gaoyi, Grandfather cannot agree to this!”

“Grandfather?!” Lu Yuanpeng’s face turned deathly pale. “Why is this?”

Chancellor Lu gently patted his young legitimate grandson’s hand and said earnestly, “However, you have indeed reached the age for marriage arrangements. Continuing to delay you like this isn’t proper! Grandfather has already found a good match for you. As soon as the woman agrees, we’ll settle this matter, so you can have peace of mind.”

Chancellor Lu didn’t mention that he had arranged for Lu Yuanpeng to marry Wei Bugong’s legitimate daughter, since the woman hadn’t agreed yet. Speaking rashly about it now would be unseemly if it ultimately failed… it would ruin the young lady’s reputation.

Lu Yuanpeng’s expression grew even worse. No wonder Sima Ping had told him to hurry back and find his grandfather. Sima Ping never spoke without purpose—he must have heard something.

Lu Yuanpeng was startled and knelt again: “Grandfather! I want no one except Bai Jinzhi!”

Seeing this, Lu Jinxian also spoke up: “Father, why don’t we ask the Bai family’s Third Madam’s opinion? If Prince Gaoyi and Little Six truly have mutual feelings…”

“Shut your mouth!” Chancellor Lu lost his temper for the first time like this.

Seeing his father truly angered, Lu Jinxian quickly knelt as well: “Please calm your anger, Father!”

Chancellor Lu couldn’t discipline his son in front of the younger generation, so he looked at Lu Yuanpeng and shouted: “Someone come! Take the Sixth Young Master to the ancestral hall to kneel. Without my orders, no one is allowed to let him out, nor send him food. Don’t give him even a sip of water!”

Confining Lu Yuanpeng at this time was the right thing to do. Lu Yuanpeng had an impulsive nature—if he discovered pleading here was useless and went to the Bai mansion gates himself to propose marriage, there would be no room for maneuvering then.

The guards stationed at Chancellor Lu’s study door were among the mansion’s top experts. Lu Yuanpeng’s meager martial arts skills were nowhere near sufficient, and he was quickly seized and dragged outside.

“Grandfather! Grandfather… Grandfather, please, I’m sincere toward Prince Gaoyi!”

Chancellor Lu didn’t even look at Lu Yuanpeng. Soon, Lu Yuanpeng’s shouts disappeared from outside the study.

Chancellor Lu looked down at Lu Jinxian kneeling on the ground and spoke: “Jinxian, I know… ever since you understood that after I step down, you cannot sit in my position… knowing that I would strongly support Lu Jin, you had no complaints and helped me elevate Lu Jin! When I said our Lu family’s daughters and sons must not marry above their station, you listened! You’ve never defied me, but deep in your heart, you’re not convinced by what I said. Is this not so?”

Originally, both father and son understood this matter tacitly, just never piercing through that layer of pretense. On the surface, they remained a loving father and filial son, with the son following everything the father said.

Lu Jinxian’s expression also looked unpleasant. As if making a firm decision, he raised his head to look at his father: “Father, your son isn’t fighting for personal power. Your son is thinking of our Lu family’s future, thinking of our Lu clan’s future. Father, our Lu family looks flourishing now because you are here. You say that as long as our family’s sons are outstanding like Yuanqing, why should the Lu family worry about decline? But Father, our Lu family also has descendants who aren’t as good as Yuanqing—should we not care about them? Do we, elders, truly live only for our generation? We live for our children and grandchildren, to make the Lu family flourish with many branches and leaves!”

Chancellor Lu quietly looked at his son without refuting his words, just quietly watching him…

“Your son will speak an unfilial word: now that Father is the current Chancellor, your position could pave better roads for descendants, yet to make His Majesty see that you are a lone loyal minister with unshakeable integrity like the former Duke Zhenguo Bai Weiting, you’ve cut off your own descendants’ prospects. Your son believes Father is too selfish. Even the former Duke Zhenguo never suppressed his offspring from marrying into high families or marrying into high families!”

“Moreover, our current Majesty is not a narrow-minded person like the Jin Dynasty emperor. His Majesty would not develop wariness toward our Lu family because of whom we form marriage alliances with! Little Six… the Chancellor’s legitimate grandson, is perfectly matched with His Majesty’s cousin. How could this not become a good match?”