Chapter 293: Heart as Clear as a Mirror

"Then I'll leave this matter to Uncle Lu."

Lu Mingchao placed another piece on the board.

Neither she nor Lu Minghua had been able to locate Matron Wang, and now they could only rely on the Yongning Marquis.

The Yongning Marquis captured a piece, the jade stones clinking like a clear spring flowing over rocks.

"Zhaozhao, after much deliberation, I still believe the Winding Stream Banquet at Grand Tutor Qin's residence is dangerous with ill intentions. You must be cautious and stay vigilant."

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Lu Mingchao remained composed.

"The only thing in my possession that might move Grand Tutor Qin is the Morning Blessing Treasure Pavilion."

"Uncle Lu, rest assured, I already have a countermeasure."

The Yongning Marquis raised an eyebrow slightly, he said amusedly, "You've never given me reason to worry."

"Grand Tutor Qin dotes on Miss Qinwu's mother. From what I observe, Miss Qinwu seems to harbor some genuine affection for Ming Hua. In an emergency, you might seek Miss Qinwu's assistance."

"Even a little delay might save the situation."

Lu Mingchao looked down silently.

Lu Minghua held not an ounce of affection for Qin Wanrou.

Whether the marriage would happen was still uncertain.

If she accepted Qin Wanrou's favor, it would only strengthen Qin Wanrou's position, making things even harder for Lu Minghua.

"Zhaozhao, you're distracted."

"It's your turn to move."

The Yongning Marquis rapped the board lightly with his knuckle.

Lu Mingchao scanned the increasingly tense game, deliberated her move, and then ventured, "Uncle Lu, can it still be changed regarding Eldest Brother's marriage?"

The Yongning Marquis made a surprised sound. "Zhaozhao, that was a poor move."

Lu Mingchao was startled.

She couldn't tell whether the Yongning Marquis was referring to the game or to her and Lu Minghua's real feelings.

"Do you also look down on Miss Qinwu's background?"

"It's not that I think Miss Qinwu's background is unworthy of Eldest Brother."

Lu Mingchao absentmindedly rubbed the game piece. "Rather, I believe this marriage is an insult to Eldest Brother—it's unfair to him."

The Yongning Marquis threw his piece back in the box and sighed deeply, studied her carefully. "Zhaozhao, when did you become so naive?"

"Ming Hua is too trusting, and this mistake is undeniable."

"As the old saying goes, 'Fair maiden, gentleman's desire.'"

"But the opposite is equally true," he added.

"He's renowned for his grace, like jade trees and jasper branches, as the heir of the marquis' household, studying under Headmaster Yu's junior fellow disciple. Now at the age of marriage, he naturally attracts many secret suitors."

"As the saying goes, 'A graceful maiden is a gentleman's desire.'"

"The same goes the other way around."

"He is the heir of the marquis' household, known for his elegance akin to jade trees and jasper branches, studying under Headmaster Yu's junior fellow disciple. At the age of marriage, many desire him."

"He thinks himself a gentleman, and assumes the world is full of gentlemen."

"Not alert when he should be, hesitant when decisive action is called for."

"Humiliation?"

"Injustice?"

"You witnessed scholars being snatched after the exam results in your youth."

"Not all scholars who endure hardship are willing to take shortcuts, but think about what happens to those who are selected but refuse."

"Held back from advancement, stripped of the official positions and opportunities rightfully theirs."

"Slowly eroding their integrity and self-respect, forcing them to watch as their fellow scholars flourish while they struggle in frustration and obscurity."

"Then appearing to give back what was rightfully theirs—what they could have earned through their own merit—yet expecting groveling gratitude in return."

"Tell me, is this not humiliation?"

"Tell me, is this fair?"

"When scholars lack power, they must choose between shattering like jade or compromising like clay. The bureaucracy both tempts scholars and traps them."

"For Ming Hua, his reputation cages him."

"Even the Yongning Marquis' household cannot rival the Qin family, who have risen to absolute power."

"In the realms of officialdom and noble families, nothing's ever clean."

"Ming Hua is naive, and so are you."

Lu Mingchao felt a cold wave wash over her, her blood turning to ice.

The Yongning Marquis had exposed how power corrupts with such casual yet piercing clarity.

The Yongning Marquis continued, "Had he firmly insisted on being framed during the plum blossom banquet, Qin Wu would've become just a concubine at best."

"Another possibility is that Grand Tutor Qin, deeming Qin Wu disgraceful, might have sent her back to their ancestral home."

"He fell into the trap first and lost his chance to act afterward."

"What recourse did he have?"

"He had no choice but to accept the marriage."

Lu Mingchao's eyelashes trembled slightly, her heart in chaos.

When the scales of power are uneven, there is no fairness to speak of.

"Before, I always thought Uncle Yongning contested the heirship because of my elder brother's marriage." Lu Mingchao smiled self-deprecatingly.

She wasn’t the only one.

The Marchioness and Ming Hua shared the same view.

"In officialdom, good men never get far." The Yongning Marquis had picked up a chess piece at some point and now slammed it down hard.

"A meek, rule-following good man can’t bring back the marquisate’s former glory."

"Ming Hua is gifted but lacks ambition."

"A single marriage contract left him dazed and defeated, drifting like a ghost for dozens of days, wallowing in wine and self-pity day after day."

"How could someone like Ming Hua shoulder the marquisate’s future?"

"Does the bastard son live up to Uncle Lu’s hopes?" Lu Mingchao asked solemnly.

The Yongning Marquis stiffened. "He’s nothing like Ming Hua."

"Quick-witted and daring."

Lu Mingchao pressed, "Then why the hesitation, Uncle?"

The Yongning Marquis pursed his lips. "He goes too far."

"His recklessness scares me—he could topple the marquisate overnight."

"Chaochao, quit probing your father."

"Now that Ming Hua’s snapped out of it, I’ve already abandoned the idea of changing the heir."

Lu Mingchao smiled faintly, seeming somewhat awkward.

The talk was an eye-opener for Mingchao.

She had never known that the cold, selfish, and bootlicking Yongning Marquis was so clear-minded.

So how’d the Marchioness and Minghui fool him?

"Chaochao, when will your husband arrive in the capital?"

"Leaving you alone in the capital? What a flake."

"Had that whole fake heiress mess not erupted last early winter, you and Gu Huai could’ve been happily married by now."

Bringing up the past, the Yongning Marquis’s voice still carried deep regret.

Yes, regret over the marquisate’s missed jackpot.

Unlike the hollow reputation of the Yongning Marquisate, the Duke commands actual troops.

Troops mean clout.

One bad call led him to choose Minghui over Chaochao.

He had always believed that his own flesh and blood would stick by him and be more willing to support the marquisate.

Yet in the end, not just a wasted effort—the whole plan blew up in his face.

Any fool could see that Gu Huai wasn’t over Chaochao.

He completely botched a winning hand!

Lu Mingchao said solemnly, "Father Lu, Young Master Gu and I have long been unrelated."

"There is no place for him in my heart."

"Rumors are terrifying—repeated slander can crush bones."

The Yongning Marquis laughed sheepishly.

That was a dumb thing to say.

Just moments ago, the atmosphere had been warm, with Mingchao being so demure—almost making him forget how much had changed.

"Back to chess, back to chess."

After two rounds, Lu Mingchao rose to leave.

"Uncle, please make finding Nanny Wang your priority."

"You might be pleasantly surprised."

A letter from home is priceless.