"You are forbidden from leaving your courtyard from now on!" Lord Lu exclaimed, stamping his feet in exasperation.
"What have I done now? You're confining me! Are you keeping me from leaving the courtyard so you can fool around with those little vixens?" Madam Lu was also furious.
"I can't be bothered to argue with you, you foolish woman. You'll bring trouble upon me sooner or later. If I don't restrain you properly, am I supposed to risk the entire Lu family?" Lord Lu said. "Guards, watch the courtyard closely. If Madam leaves, I will hold you accountable."
With that, he flicked his sleeve and stormed off in a huff.
Lord Lu sat in his study for a while, prepared gifts, and set out to visit the Prefect. After all, she was his legitimate daughter. At such a young age, he couldn't bear to see her live a miserable life in her later years. Moreover, if the Prince's manor sent her back, it would be a disgrace to him and would also affect the reputation of his other children.
Prince Qin and Lord Lu arrived at the Prefect's manor one after another.
Prince Qin showed no deference to Lord Lu, his face as cold as ever, not uttering a single word.
If he didn't speak, Lord Lu couldn't remain silent. Lord Lu was of the same generation as the Crown Prince, and Prince Qin was his elder.
"Is Your Highness also here about Ah Ning's matter? It is my fault as a junior for not raising my daughter properly, making her ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth and causing trouble. Now, she is even making Your Highness run errands for her. I am ashamed and don't know how to face Your Highness." Lord Lu adopted a very humble posture.
With Lord Lu being so contrite, Prince Qin could not ignore him. He was already feeling annoyed, and he used this anger to speak, "Lord Lu, you yourself are learned, but you have indeed failed to raise your daughter well. This time, if it weren't for the fact that I, along with the Princess Consort, shamelessly pleaded with His Majesty, and she went to apologize to the Crown Princess of Nanchang, the situation with the Crown Princess of Nanchang alone would have been unmanageable! If a war were to break out between the two countries, your good daughter would become a sinner for all eternity."
Lord Lu's face was filled with shame. "Your Highness speaks the truth. I will definitely call Ah Ning back to the Lu manor and teach her properly again."
As they were speaking, the Prefect arrived.
Prefect Sun hurried to pay his respects to Prince Qin, and Lord Lu also cupped his hands in greeting to Prefect Sun.
Their intentions were the same, and upon arriving, they both wished to see if there was a way to resolve the matter. Therefore, they did not beat around the bush.
Prefect Sun looked troubled.
"If this were an ordinary matter, as long as the victim's family did not pursue it and received adequate compensation, there would naturally be no problem. But this is different. The victim's family has explicitly stated that they do not want money."
"His Majesty is aware of this matter, so we certainly cannot act rashly."
"Is there truly no way?" Prince Qin asked.
"Logically speaking, with sufficient money, one could move that family," Prefect Sun added.
Prince Qin immediately understood the implication. The key lay with the Crown Princess of Nanchang.
As a member of the royal family himself, if someone were to scheme against him, he would not forgive them easily. It had nothing to do with anything else; it was the pride of a royal descendant.
A sincere apology might perhaps elicit a reluctant forgiveness.
With Madam Lu's behavior, if it were him, he would not forgive either.
Thinking of this, Prince Qin glared fiercely at Lord Lu, wondering why he had married such a fool.
"Then I shall not disturb you further, my nephew." Prince Qin rose.
"This subordinate will escort Your Highness," Prefect Sun said, following closely.
Lord Lu felt awkward. He put down his gifts and also hurried to follow.
"If Lord Lu has any good ideas, perhaps you could share them," Prince Qin said to Lord Lu, who was following him closely.