With the great mansion about to fall, how could Lu Ying eat? She said, “Mother, let the two sisters-in-law and second sister continue eating with the children. Everyone else, follow me to the ancestral hall to talk.”
The Lu family had over ten children—besides the Lu family’s nephews and nieces, there were also the Yan-surnamed children brought by second sister and her husband, as well as two nephews who had been expelled from their birth father’s family by the Duke of Yan Sheng of the Kong family. They had all changed to their mother’s surname and now bore the Yan surname. For ten years, all these people had lived peaceful days under the Lu mansion’s protection.
Upon hearing these words, Li Yiren, the two brothers Lu Yi and Lu Cai, and second brother-in-law Yan Shaoting all put down their chopsticks and went anxiously to the ancestral hall.
Lu Ying first lit a stick of incense for her father, steadied her nerves, and said, “Cabinet Chief Minister Gao Gong is about to move against our Lu family.”
Everyone was shocked.
Third brother Lu Yi was the first to stand up and say, “Fourth sister, where does this news come from? I’ve heard nothing of it in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and even Commander Zhu has never warned me.”
Fourth brother Lu Cai couldn’t believe it: “Fourth sister, are you mistaken? Who has better intelligence than the Embroidered Uniform Guard? Commander Zhu wouldn’t ignore us.”
After Lu Bing’s death, Lu Yi was enfeoffed by Emperor Jiajing as Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, working under Commander Zhu Xixiao. Lu Yi had mediocre abilities, so Zhu Xixiao didn’t dare entrust him with important tasks for fear he would cause trouble. These past years, he had only been given clerical work. Though nominally the Lu family’s pillar, in character he was still a pampered young master who knew nothing of hardship.
The youngest brother Lu Cai was also a pampered young master from a wealthy background. However, for a prominent family like the Lus, having two male descendants who, though not particularly accomplished, kept themselves clean, never caused trouble, and were well-educated and reasonable was already considered a family blessing.
The two naive brothers questioned Lu Ying’s source of information, but second brother-in-law Yan Shaoting, who had experienced his family’s decline from prosperity, believed Lu Ying’s words were definitely not unfounded.
Yan Shaoting said, “Back when our Yan family was still in its heyday of cooking oil over fierce flames, we were also impeached. At that time, I never thought the Yan family would fall. Impeachments happened often, and my father was used to them. Moreover, my great-uncle Ouyang Bijin had just become Minister of Personnel on my grandfather’s recommendation—everything seemed to be getting better and better. But then…”
Both father and grandfather were stripped of their official positions and banished to their native Jiangxi. The Yan family’s property was confiscated, and the inventory list was titled “Record of the Tianshui Iceberg,” meaning “when the sun rises, the iceberg falls”—comparing Xu Jie, who brought down the Yan family, to the sun and the Yan family to an iceberg. It was compiled and published, and the property confiscation list alone contained over sixty thousand characters, becoming a bestseller at all major bookshops in the Ming Dynasty. The world was shocked by the Yan family’s wealth.
The power of words is infinite. With “Record of the Tianshui Iceberg” circulating in the world, the Yan family would likely be reviled for ten thousand years.
Life was not easy. Yan Shaoting sighed and said, “You all know what happened afterward. The Yan family collapsed completely with no hope of recovery. Such a great family that seemed to have iron walls and beautiful brocade, cooking oil over fierce flames—actually, upheavals often come silently. Fourth sister is right; we must make plans early.”
Though Yan Shifan was utterly corrupt, his son Yan Shaoting was well-raised—unmoved by wealth and unbent by adversity. The Lu family treated this son-in-law as one of their own, unlike the Duke of Yan Sheng who added insult to injury when his in-laws fell.
Li Yiren only managed domestic affairs and knew nothing of political changes. She panicked momentarily, grasping Lu Ying’s hand: “Ying’er, what do we do now? Gao Gong is the Emperor’s teacher and Cabinet Chief Minister. If he wants to move against our Lu family, aren’t we like fish on the chopping block?”
Though there were three grown men present—Lu Yi, Lu Cai, and Yan Shaoting—Li Yiren instinctively felt her daughter was most reliable and turned to her first for help.
Over these ten years, she had watched her daughter’s step-by-step career achievements, the hardships she endured, and the scars on her face. Lu Ying was twenty-eight this year—women this age in the capital were already grandmothers. Li Yiren no longer threatened death to force her to marry as before, because though Lu Ying was rebellious, she had walked a path no other woman had walked.
Li Yiren had already converted Lu Ying’s prepared dowry into fields and property that could directly collect rent. In the future, Lu Ying could rely on this for her old age. Li Yiren believed that even when Lu Ying’s hair turned white, she could still protect herself without needing a man.
Women of the inner quarters were all like dodder flowers, needing to cling to men and families to survive. Lu Ying was different.
Lu Ying grasped her mother’s hand in return: “Mother, don’t panic. Our Lu family is not to be slaughtered at will. Third brother, quickly write a letter and have a servant ride fast to deliver it to the Xu family in Jiangning, Songjiang Prefecture. Though Elder Xu has retired to his hometown, his students and old friends still serve in court. Elder Xu can help.”
Lu Yi immediately spread out paper to write the letter. Behind Elder Xu was the power of civil officials.
Lu Ying said, “Fourth brother, go immediately to the Duke of Chengguo’s mansion. Say that Mother Li Yiren is feeling unwell and invite eldest sister and brother-in-law home. Remember, you must not leak that Gao Gong is about to move against the Lu family—only our own people need to know.”
The Lu family’s eldest daughter was the wife of the heir to the Duke of Chengguo. Duke of Chengguo Zhu Xizhong was Grand Commander of the Five Military Commissions and a minister of the testament, while Duke of Chengguo’s younger brother Zhu Xixiao was Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Behind the Zhu family were military generals and old noble families.
Lu Cai immediately set out to invite eldest sister and her husband.
Only Yan Shaoting remained among the men in the ancestral hall.
Yan Shaoting said, “Mother Li Yiren, fourth sister, I am the descendant of a criminal official. The Yan family has a notorious reputation in both official circles and among the people. The Yan family has many weaknesses. If I continue staying in this household, Gao Gong will certainly use this as an opportunity to create trouble, using me as a pretext to attack the Lu family. Disasters should not extend to wives and children. Let Third Lady and the children stay in the Lu mansion, but I should return to my Jiangxi hometown. I alone will bear the Yan family’s sins.”
“Absolutely not!” Li Yiren and Lu Ying said in unison.
Li Yiren quickly said, “My child, how can you say such things? I have lived my life without sons and have always regarded you as my own son. Our Lu family is not like the cowardly Duke of Yan Sheng’s Kong family. When there’s trouble, we face it together. There’s no obstacle we can’t overcome—we’re working on solving this right now, aren’t we? Don’t be anxious.”
Lu Ying, who had conspired with Wei Caiwei and Wang Daxia to kill Yan Shifan at Mount Wudang, held no ill feelings toward Yan Shaoting. She was someone who clearly distinguished between gratitude and grudges, saying, “Second brother-in-law, heaven’s net has wide meshes. Even if you returned to Jiangxi alone and severed ties with our Lu family to distance yourself, could someone as calculating as Gao Gong really find no pretext?”
“Not only that, if you rashly return to Jiangxi and fall into Gao Gong’s hands, under severe torture, even if you could endure the punishment, you might faint and have your handprint pressed on a confession without knowing it.”
No one understood these methods better than Lu Ying, who worked in the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Lu Ying said, “So what second brother-in-law needs to do is protect himself—stay home behind closed doors and read with the children.”
With Lu Ying arranging everything step by step and actively responding, Li Yiren felt as if she had found her anchor. Her panicked heart gradually calmed down: “Ying’er is right. We mustn’t panic. We should live as we always have. Our family must work together as one to steady our position.”
Lu Ying comforted her mother and brother-in-law: “Though Gao Gong holds high position and great power, we also have people above us. I cannot reveal the source of this top-secret information now, but you will understand in the future.”
The messenger was Eunuch Chen from Noble Consort Li’s side, and Eunuch Chen’s source was Eastern Depot Director Feng Bao.
Feng Bao had twice failed to be selected as Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, both times due to Gao Gong. Feng Bao revealed this information because the enemy of one’s enemy is an ally—since they were all on the opposing side of Gao Gong, they could cooperate.
Meanwhile, Wei Caiwei was meeting Wang Daxia after his shift ended. The couple returned home together, going to a lakeside tavern at Jishuitan to eat seasonal river delicacies. The summer heat was intense, so they rented a pleasure boat to cruise on Jishuitan, where cool breezes swept across the lake and light mist swirled around.
Wang Daxia lifted his wine pot to drink alone. Wei Caiwei pressed her hand over his: “Stop drinking. You still have to go to the office tomorrow.”
Wang Daxia couldn’t enjoy himself fully: “I’ve long wanted to quit. I’m just going through the motions—being a monk for a day and ringing bells for a day. Commander Zhu keeps refusing to let me go, so I have to be lazy and slack off, arriving late today and leaving early tomorrow, letting everyone see my intention to quit and responding negatively. Only then will Commander Zhu believe I’m serious—just let me drink one more pot.”
Wei Caiwei still wouldn’t let go: “Wait until Lu Ying and Ding Wu are married. Then I’ll prepare medicine for you, claiming you’re ill. I’ll take you out of the capital under the pretext of seeking medical treatment. Could Commander Zhu really not spare a sick man?”
“My wife is brilliant, rescuing your husband from the sea of suffering!” Wang Daxia took the opportunity to pour two cups of wine: “Come, I toast my wife.”
This cup couldn’t be refused. Wei Caiwei said, “Just this one cup—no more drinking.”
Both became slightly tipsy and returned home to Shichahai. Chen Jingji had to return to the palace before the gates were locked and couldn’t wait indefinitely, so he wrote a secret letter for the butler to pass to the couple.
Wei Caiwei opened the letter, and her previously drowsy head immediately cleared!
In this life, Gao Gong was still going to move against the Lu family!
Wang Daxia also read the letter and said, “To ask me to sever ties with Lu Ying for self-preservation—that’s impossible. Loyal Earl showed me great kindness in recognizing my talents, and Lu Ying has been beyond words, saving me several times and helping me avenge my father’s death. Now that her family faces trouble, how could I stand by and watch?”
“Moreover, no matter how formidable Gao Gong is, could he be more terrifying than Yan Shifan? We’ve overcome so many difficulties—we can manage this time too.”
Wei Caiwei held the secret letter over the candle flame to burn it, saying, “Don’t underestimate the enemy. Gao Gong is harder to deal with than Yan Shifan. When we brought down Yan Shifan before, at least Emperor Jiajing maintained a neutral stance and wouldn’t take sides. Moreover, because of Loyal Earl, Emperor Jiajing always took good care of the Lu family. When the Yan family fell, Emperor Jiajing also tacitly allowed Yan Shaoting’s family to seek refuge with the Lu family.”
“But now the emperor on the dragon throne favors his teacher Gao Gong. Furthermore, Emperor Longqing was suppressed by Emperor Jiajing for too long and has rebellious thoughts—whatever Emperor Jiajing liked, he dislikes. Since Emperor Jiajing treated the Lu family so favorably, Emperor Longqing prefers to listen to his teacher and bring down the Lu family.”
Wang Daxia jumped up anxiously: “That can’t be! When the Prince Yu’s mansion was haunted by black spirits, it was Lu Ying and we who saved his life! When the Crown Prince was infected with smallpox by the Jade Guanyin in his childhood, it was Lu Ying who uncovered the truth. And this time, crushing the White Lotus Sect and the Longqing Accord, restoring peace to the borders—Lu Ying made great contributions. How could Emperor Longqing turn his back on people and suppress meritorious officials?”
Wei Caiwei sighed, “The imperial family is heartless—do you think they’ll reason with you?”