Lu Xingyan’s laughter echoed loudly through the hall, making Prince Su’s face darken as his tone grew displeased. “Third Young Master Lu, if you have something to say, speak directly.”
Lu Qing did not stop his son. His heart ached for his granddaughter, and he was angry about the situation. However, their current position made it impossible for him to express his frustration.
The Lu family’s precarious situation meant they couldn’t afford to offend Prince Su, as that could invite further trouble.
To keep the peace, some things that he couldn’t say himself could be spoken by his youngest son.
Lu Xingyan gently wiped the tears from his niece’s face before turning to Prince Su. “I had assumed that today’s meeting between Your Highness and my father was to discuss important matters, which is why my father brought me here.”
“But for the injuries sustained by a child in our family, Your Highness deems twenty lashes sufficient? Does this mean my father’s status is only worth twenty lashes?”
Prince Su’s lips tightened into a thin line. He hadn’t expected that Lu Qing’s youngest son would be so sharp-tongued.
“Third Young Master Lu, you misunderstand. Twenty lashes is no light punishment. The men involved are already bedridden. How about I have them brought here to personally apologize to Miss Lu?”
Gu Xingzhao chuckled. It was obvious to anyone with half a brain that those men hadn’t really been whipped.
King Su was merely banking on the fact that neither Lu Qing nor Lu Xingyan would push to have those men dragged out.
But Lu Xingyan wasn’t someone who played by the rules. He glanced at his father and said, “Father, it seems that the Lu family has fallen so low that anyone can trample over us.”
Prince Su frowned deeply. What was Lu Xingyan getting at?
Lu Qing, observing his youngest son, couldn’t help but feel that bringing him today had been the right choice. If it had been his eldest son, Lu Zhou, they’d likely have swallowed this humiliation. And if it were his second son, Lu Yang, there would’ve already been a brawl with Prince Su.
Prince Su wasn’t someone the flattery techniques of Lu Xingyao would work on.
Only his youngest son could stand before King Su without groveling or being overly confrontational, using his wit to make a point.
Lu Xingyan, with a disappointed expression, said, “I thought Your Highness was a fair man. But it seems that even when my niece is injured this severely, there’s no justice to be had. Father, must we continue to suffer humiliation here?”
Lu Qing hesitated for a moment, glancing at his granddaughter and then his son. His son’s words echoed his own sentiments—there was indeed a sense of dishonor in the air.
“Your Highness, please forgive me for the offense, but it seems we are no longer welcome here. May we take our leave?” he said, ready to depart with his son and granddaughter.
Understanding the underlying message in Lu Qing’s words, Prince Su quickly became anxious. “Lord Lu, wait!”
What Lu Qing and his son were implying was that they were willing to pledge allegiance to him but were dissatisfied with how Miss Lu had been treated and insulted by the lenient punishment of twenty lashes.
Though Prince Su had hoped to protect the men who had served him loyally for many years, they were nothing compared to what Lu Qing could offer.
If Lu Qing truly pledged his loyalty to him, helping him win the throne and the people’s hearts, it wouldn’t matter if a few of his men were sacrificed. Even those who had performed great deeds could be discarded.
The emperor in the capital didn’t understand the political landscape and saw the Lu family as a thorn in his side.
Little did he know, securing Lu Qing’s loyalty would mean securing the hearts of the people.
A ruler without the people’s support was a ruler ripe for rebellion.
Prince Su wanted more than just the throne. He wanted the hearts of the people. He wanted to surpass his father and become a legendary emperor who future generations would revere.
He wanted to prove that his father had chosen the wrong heir. It should have been him, not Xiao Zhan—a bastard born of a lowly palace maid—who sat on the throne!
Though no one dared look directly at Prince Su, Gu Xingzhao, being invisible, could observe him closely. The malice in his eyes startled her.
There was no mistake—this man was dangerous. It was no wonder the late emperor had chosen Xiao Zhan. After all, if you’re sifting through trash, you’re not likely to find anything good.
Gu Xingzhao couldn’t help but think that Princess Shunyu had a real chance to outsmart both of her brothers one day.
Prince Su quickly had the four men who had abducted Lu Youtang brought into the hall, forcing them to kneel before Lu Qing and his family to apologize.
These four men were loyal subordinates of King Su. Handing them over to Lu Qing was a significant gesture of goodwill.
To make sure Lu Qing and his son understood, Prince Su said coldly, “These four men are at your disposal. Whether they live or die is up to you, Lord Lu. I will not interfere.”
The four men stiffened, terrified. They didn’t want to die.
Lu Qing remained silent, so Lu Xingyan spoke up, “My father is kind-hearted and does not wish to harm anyone. But as his son, I must speak on his behalf. I hope Your Highness will not take offense.”
Prince Su nodded, granting Lu Xingyan permission to speak. In fact, he was beginning to admire Lu Qing’s youngest son. He had initially thought that only Lu Xingyao resembled Lu Qing in temperament, but now it seemed this sickly son was the one most like his father.
Lu Xingyan gently covered his niece’s eyes, speaking softly, “The Lu family only seeks fairness. Since my niece was injured, it would only be right if these men bore some marks of their own.”
Gu Xingzhao was taken aback. Lu Xingyan stood there, looking as calm and gentle as ever, his face as serene as a peaceful landscape, his voice soothing and warm. But what he was actually saying was that these men should bash their heads against the wall until they bled.
“…” How was this man from the same family as Lu Zhou and Lu Yang?
Gu Xingzhao realized her previous understanding of Lu Xingyan had been too shallow.
Even Lu Qing, as a father, was momentarily stunned. But he quickly composed himself—his granddaughter had been injured, so it was only fitting that these men pay with blood.
The four men exchanged fearful glances. None of them wanted to die, so they turned to Prince Su, hoping for mercy.
But Prince Su didn’t even look at them. His voice was cold. “Did you not understand what Third Young Master Lu said?”
Chilled to the bone, the leader of the four lowered his head and spoke with a trembling voice, “We understand.”
With that, he charged headfirst into the nearest pillar. The impact was loud and brutal, and blood immediately poured from his head.
The other three followed suit, the sound of their heads hitting the stone pillars reverberating through the hall. Blood flowed down their faces, soaking into their clothes.
Staggering, the four men approached Lu Youtang, their voices weak. “Miss Lu, we deeply apologize for injuring you today. Please forgive us.”
Lu Youtang trembled, clearly frightened, and tugged at Lu Xingyan’s sleeve. “Third Uncle…”
A young girl like her wasn’t used to such bloodshed.
Lu Xingyan patted her head gently. “They’ve been punished enough. Let’s end it here.”
Prince Su turned to Lu Qing. “Lord Lu, are you satisfied now?”
Gu Xingzhao looked at the four men, their faces covered in blood, beaten and broken. They had guts, certainly more than Prince Su himself. It was a pity they served the wrong master.
Leave a Reply