Chapter 216: Winter Passes, Spring Arrives

Chapter 216: Winter Passes, Spring Arrives

"Coincidentally, the Yongning Marquis's household is in turmoil, and it's quite normal for an eccentric old Taoist like me to add fuel to the fire."

Lu Mingchao tentatively asked, "Patriarch Xu, do you have any past grudges with the Yongning Marquis?"

The gleeful satisfaction on his face was impossible to miss.

Patriarch Xu pouted, "Do I look like the kind of person who holds grudges and seeks revenge over every little thing?"

Lu Mingchao: Aren't you?

"Not at all."

"A Taoist is as free as the wind, open-minded and clear-minded."

Patriarch Xu: If you disagree, fight back; an eye for an eye.

"During the palace coup, the Yongning Marquis's household was too weak-willed."

Lu Mingchao frowned and asked, "I wonder what the latest trouble has erupted at the Yongning Marquis's household."

Patriarch Xu's eyes gleamed with excitement. "You asked, so I’m not forcing this on you."

"It is said that at the Qin family's plum blossom banquet, Lu Minghua was found alone in a room with the fifth Miss Qin."

The fifth Miss Qin?

Lu Mingchao was stunned.

In the original host's memory, Lu Minghua was infatuated with the third Miss Qin, Qin Fuxi. It was truly love at first sight for him.

After searching for her in the crowd countless times, he suddenly turned back and saw her standing in the dim light of the lanterns.

During the palace coup, the Qin family climbed over the blood and bones of the Xie family and Emperor Jingxiang to become the top aristocratic family in Daqian.

Although the Yongning Marquis's household is a noble family, it is still far behind the Qin family.

But it just so happened that during the Lantern Festival, Lu Minghua caught a brief glimpse of Qin Fuxi and was smitten for life. He refused to consider any other women, delaying his marriage year after year.

Not long ago, Xie Yan mentioned that the Qin family's attitude had softened, and it seemed they were considering a marriage arrangement with the Yongning Marquis's household.

Now, the third Miss Qin has become the fifth Miss Qin in the story.

Lu Mingchao sighed inwardly, thinking Lu Minghua probably had no chance to win the beauty's heart.

Patriarch Xu was keenly observant of every subtle change in Lu Mingchao's expression.

When he mentioned the Yongning Marquis and the Yongning Marquis Madam, Lu Mingchao's eyes were cold and dismissive.

But when Lu Minghua came up, Lu Mingchao's expression softened with warmth and concern.

"Do you have a close sibling relationship with Lu Minghua?" Patriarch Xu asked lightly.

Lu Mingchao answered evasively, "Lu Minghua is a rare genuine person in the Yongning Marquis's household."

Patriarch Xu suppressed the smug satisfaction on his face.

"Let's go eat; we shouldn't keep them waiting."

The banquet made the guests feel right at home.

Once the banquet ended.

In the carriage, Lu Mingchao handed Xie Yan the dusty ring and repeated Patriarch Xu's exact words.

Xie Yan rubbed the ring and said, 'This is my aunt's ring.'

"My father has one that's almost identical."

"I never imagined the Runan Xu Clan was my aunt's secret backup."

Lu Yao frowned and said, 'Now's not the time to acknowledge Empress Dowager Xie.'

"Shu Yuan said Changning Palace is swarming with the emperor's people, inside and out."

"Even a whisper could be fatal."

Xie Yan looked away from the ring and said, 'We can't acknowledge her.'

"I thought we could use the Runan Xu Clan to protect ourselves amidst the Shouzhan Pavilion and Chu Family conflict, but it dredged up old issues."

"Xu Qingxing really opened a can of worms."

Xie Yan knew his aunt wouldn't let things slide once she found out where he and Huaiqian were.

He'd lose control over many things.

His aunt would push him to head north ASAP, planting her confidants around him under any pretext.

For guidance and to keep an eye on him.

If she could use the Runan Xu Clan, she surely had other resources.

Patriarch Xu told him to lay low, but his aunt might not wait around.

Rushing leads to mistakes.

We can't afford to take risks!

Huaiqian's young, unremarkable, and a nobody.

To rally thousands, he needs something worth following.

"I'll personally talk to Patriarch Xu."

The carriage crept forward.

Days slipped by.

Chaofu Grain Shop served porridge for three straight days, from New Year's Eve to the second day of the New Year.

Some who made it through the winter thanks to free clinics and porridge set up longevity tablets for Lu Mingchao at home.

Praying for blessings, health, fortune, prosperity, and safety.

Spring light pierced the clouds like golden threads. The months of harsh winter quietly passed, and the dawn of March turned into drops of molten gold flowing in the clear blue sky.

The spring breeze is like a pair of scissors, shaping the delicate leaves on the willow branches.

Under the spring sunlight, they shimmer with flecks of gold.

Spring has arrived.

Lu Mingchao spent her first harsh winter in this unfamiliar time.

After the New Year, Lu Mingchao moved away from Changxi Village and into a house just a street away from Qingyun Academy.

She also purchased and merged the neighboring courtyard, relocating the Lu family there.

"Prince Duan has sent another secret letter pressing us."

Xie Yan strides with vigor and confidence, yet remains steady, as striking as a painting.

Lu Mingchao grimaced, not wanting to take the letter at all.

"Does he have nothing better to do?"

"One letter a day, rain or shine, without fail."

"He might not be tired, but the messengers sure are."

"During the New Year, didn't we hand over the barely survived Lu Chunhe to him? Why is he so fixated on me instead of investigating Yongning Marquis's estate?"

"Everything in Lingnan has been taken care of."

"I don’t have wings or a crystal ball. How can I always know the progress of the Chaofu Medical Clinic in Lingnan?"

Lu Mingchao was truly on the verge of exploding from Prince Duan's constant pestering.

Xie Yan poured Lu Mingchao a cup of hot tea, smiling, "He really has too much time on his hands."

"Gu Huai stirred up some trouble, and the Emperor put Prince Duan under house arrest to reflect on his actions."

"As for why he hasn’t gone after Yongning Marquis's estate, maybe he thinks silencing witnesses won’t do much damage."

At the mention of Gu Huai, Lu Mingchao’s expression grew even darker.

In Changhe County, she was known as a kind and compassionate little Bodhisattva, but in the capital, she was viewed as a shameless troublemaker, always entangled with Gu Huai and never content.

Gu Huai kept trying to break off the engagement, but Lu Minghui stood her ground.

The two caused quite a stir over the engagement, with Lu Minghui playing the victim in public and quietly pinning the blame on her.

It’s baffling!

She’s not even in the capital, yet rumors about her are everywhere.

What a load of nonsense!

With all her skills, why doesn’t Lu Minghui just seal the deal with Gu Huai?

Lu Minghui: She tried, but it didn’t work out.

"Prince Duan wrote in his letter that the Emperor granted the Shangfang Sword, naming Gu Huai as an imperial envoy to inspect Yicheng."

Lu Mingchao sipped her tea, her expression inscrutable, "Is Gu Huai the Emperor’s secret son?"

Otherwise, how could he be allowed to get away with this!

Ignoring the Daqian law, he became an imperial envoy with the authority to execute first and report later, wielding the Shangfang Sword, and even forced Prince Duan to reflect behind closed doors, unable to leave.

If he’s not the emperor’s illegitimate son, there’s no explanation for this.

Xie Yan chuckled, "If these words reach the ears of the Wu Xing Shen family, they’d come after you with everything they’ve got."

"The Shen family cares deeply about their image and reputation above all."

"Gu Huai, through Princess Qingyu, introduced two stunning beauties to the emperor's harem."

"Rumor has it the emperor was quite taken with them."

"Pillow talk, you mean?" Lu Mingchao retorted.

Xie Yan, "Not only that, Gu Huai also had the Wu Xing Shen family present a white deer as an auspicious sign to the emperor."

"The 'Records of Auspicious Signs' say that the white deer appears when the king’s wisdom and benevolence touch the people."

"She’s pregnant."