Chapter 142 Marquis Gone?

"The Marquis is gone?"

He Sisi walked over and asked with some surprise. She had originally thought that Zheng Fan would stay for dinner, at least to accompany her man for another meal and a few more drinks.

The butcher's daughter had been a princess for several years, and her horizons were naturally different.

She clearly knew what kind of situation her man was facing now.

Even,

what kind of choice their whole family was facing.

She didn't try to persuade her man not to fight, wouldn't it be nice to just live a plain life?

Because she remembered what her father had said in Nan'an County:

This street can only have one butcher shop, and that's the He family's!

A butcher has to wield his pig-slaying knife to compete for a storefront; how could a prince retreat from contesting the throne so easily?

To advise him to retreat at this time would be truly foolish.

"Yes, he went back."

Ji Chenghao nodded with a smile.

In fact, Zheng’s visit involved a lot of trouble, including disguises and the Sword Saint's shielding of his aura. It seemed to have no effect and didn't give him any clever plans.

But his ability to come was the greatest support.

His whole state of mind had also been adjusted.

This was the power of a true friend. It sounded a bit pretentious, but when Ji Lao Liu was facing the Eastern Palace alone, even the almost suffocating pressure formed by the Dragon Throne,

having someone run behind you, even if it's just to kick you in the butt, is precious support.

He Sisi could see that her man's mood had improved a lot.

The words "Zheng" were often on her man's lips, so naturally they were especially different. Even, it could play a role that she, as a woman, couldn't.

"Lingxiang."

"Yes, Master, I'm here." Lingxiang came out from behind He Sisi.

"Go to the Fengxin Madam's residence, send some more clothes to Chuanye, and some gifts to the Old Madam. By the way, didn't a new batch of medicinal herbs arrive from the west? I've already prepared them. Send them to the Old Madam to replenish her body.

Go generously, make it look like our family is about to fail and is now making arrangements for entrusting orphans."

"Yes, I understand."

That's what she said, but there was no shock or fear on the faces of the two women, because the tone of their man's voice still carried the feeling that everything was under control.

"Also, please give my regards to the Old Madam, and wish her good health."

Lingxiang was slightly surprised. She instinctively knew that there must be a deeper meaning in this sentence, but she couldn't guess it. But it didn't matter, she had already married into the royal palace and was Ji Chenghao's person.

At dusk,

a carriage came out of the royal palace.

In the carriage was a side consort who had given birth to a son and had been conferred a title.

The Lu mansion opened the main entrance and led the carriage inside.

Lingxiang soon entered the ancestral hall in the backyard of the Lu mansion.

Yesterday, Ji Chuanye went to the Grand Prince's residence with Ji Chuan Shi, and later didn't return home. He was sent back to the Fengxin Madam's residence by He Sisi.

At this time,

Ji Chuanye was sitting there practicing calligraphy,

while the Old Madam leaned against the bed, twirling Buddhist beads in her hand.

The atmosphere in the Buddhist hall was very peaceful. In front of the Old Madam, Ji Chuanye didn't dare to be playful at all, completely different from the excitement he showed when he saw Marquis Pingxi yesterday.

A maid led Lingxiang in, then left.

From beginning to end, none of the other family members of the Lu family showed their faces.

It wasn't that they deliberately didn't meet, but the Old Madam had given orders in advance that if someone from the royal palace came, they should go directly to her place, and no one else should delay them.

Her body is in the Buddhist hall, but her heart cannot be at peace.

The matter of the Grand Assembly only took half a day, but in the capital, it had already been widely spread.

The Sixth Prince had won a great victory, and the Crown Prince had suffered a great defeat;

but the Crown Prince's foundation had become more and more stable, while the Sixth Prince's party was like an eggplant beaten by frost.

The situation in the court was treacherous and unpredictable, and this was actually the most typical microcosm.

To be honest, the Lu family's family style was just so-so. The Old Madam was very clear about this;

after all, she had relied on being the emperor's wet nurse to make the Lu family rise. It wasn't a family of military generals, nor was it a family of scholar-officials. Her son, Lu Bing, was very excellent, but he was just a clear lone sprout in the Lu family. The others were all crooked melons and cracked dates. Family background and intelligent, demon-like children naturally didn't exist. There weren't that many excellent seeds falling into the Lu family; they would have to cultivate them for another two or three generations at least.

Earlier, the Lu family thought their relationship with the Sixth Prince was good, and they hoped that the Sixth Prince could overthrow the Eastern Palace, and their family could share the benefits by relying on He Sisi's "mother's family" relationship;

now that their expectations were higher, their disappointment was naturally greater. The Old Madam really didn't want to have to distract herself at this time to slap those younger generations in the face, and she was also afraid that they would show some disdain or even say something mindless, so she simply put them under house arrest.

"This servant greets the Old Ancestor."

Lingxiang knelt down in front of the Old Madam.

She had been a maid by the Old Madam's side. When He Sisi got married, she took the Lu family as her family, and Lingxiang was the personal maid that the Old Madam sent over, which was the so-called bed-warming maid.

Now,

she had finally made it through.

The Old Madam sat there and accepted this kneeling.

"Cough cough..."

Afterwards, the Old Madam coughed and tried to get up. Because there were no other servants in the room, Lingxiang immediately got up and came over to help the Old Madam up.

"Come, this old woman will also return the courtesy."

"Absolutely not, absolutely not, Old Ancestor, are you trying to force this servant to die?"

"Sigh."

The Old Madam sighed, shook her head, and then nodded solemnly. Lingxiang, who was supporting the Old Madam, noticed that the Old Madam's center of gravity was pressing downwards.

Then,

she lay back on the couch.

The meaning was that the etiquette had been performed.

"Girl, in principle, you grew up with me. It's only right and proper for you to kowtow to me. But to be frank, how long do I have left to live?

If you give me a few proper kowtows, once I'm gone, the relationship between the Lu family and you will fade.

So, your courtesy, however many times you perform it, I will return it as many times, and save it for your children and grandchildren."

"Old Ancestor, what are you talking about? The Lu mansion is this servant's family, and the Lu family members are this servant's family members."

"Alright, alright, you're also a royal consort now, aren't you? Your status is different. This old woman only asks one thing of you, for the sake of the opportunity I gave you, for the sake of my constant reminders, and also for the sake of my warning to you not to serve the bed before the He family's daughter gives birth to a prince;

if in the future, the Lu family's children look like they're not completely beyond redemption, just lend them a hand.

If they're really hopeless, then just let them go."

"Old Ancestor, rest assured, rest assured."

"Alright, girl, sit over here."

Lingxiang sat next to the Old Madam on the couch, and a surge of joy welled up in her heart.

It wasn't joy that the Old Madam treated her as an important person, nor was it joy that the Old Madam was so polite to her,

but it was joy that the Old Madam said she hoped to support the Lu family in the future;

what did this mean?

It meant that in the Old Madam's eyes, she, Lingxiang, this side consort, and also the entire royal palace, that is, her husband, the Sixth Prince, could still have a future!

This was a very clear relationship chain, and she was at the very bottom.

If her husband was gone, what would she be?

Immediately, Lingxiang woke up again;

what was meant by letting her support the Lu family? Those words seemed to be said to her, but in fact, the Old Madam's intention should just be to let her be a messenger, to pass the Old Madam's conditions and the Lu family's conditions back to her husband.

She,

was actually just a carrier pigeon.

It was laughable that she had been so complacent before.

The Old Madam reached out and took Lingxiang's hand, saying:

"In the early years, this old woman saw many exquisite maids, with beautiful faces and clever hearts, and they were very pleasing."

"Old Ancestor, who are you talking about?"

"The late Empress, and Consort Min."

"........." Lingxiang.

Lingxiang realized that next would be a warning.

"Girl, this old woman won't have many more opportunities to say these things to you in the future. I hope that you can live well. Now that you've married into the imperial family, you have to learn four words: Contentment brings happiness.

It's not to say that I'm telling you to never compete, nor is it to say that I want you to live your life like me.

Before making a decision, you have to think about yourself, you have to think about your children.

Think again about Consort Min, and the late Empress.

You are blessed, Xiao Liu Zi is different."

Different from whom?

Naturally, different from His Majesty.

"Contentment, be content."

"Yes, Old Ancestor, this servant will remember."

"Mm."

The Old Madam nodded and then opened her mouth, saying: "Do you have anything to say?"

Lingxiang nodded,

saying:

"His Highness asked this servant to greet the Old Ancestor and wish her good health."

"Aiya."

The Old Madam clicked her tongue,

saying:

"Xiao Liu Zi is being pushed into a corner."

"Old Ancestor, please help my husband, he, he is having such a hard time."

"Who in this world is living easily?" The Old Madam closed her eyes, "Go back and say that this old woman's body is afraid that she won't be able to have good health for much longer."

"Old Ancestor?"

The Old Madam, who had already closed her eyes, waved her hand.

Lingxiang got up, kowtowed twice under the couch, then stood up and walked out of the Buddhist hall.

"See off Madam."

Ji Chuanye politely saluted Lingxiang.

Lingxiang stopped in front of Chuanye, bent down, reached out and touched his head,

saying:

"Chuanye, be good, okay?"

"Mm."

Lingxiang left. Her carrier pigeon mission was completed, but she didn't know what would happen next.

After Lingxiang left, a man in armor walked into the back door of the Buddhist hall, holding a mask in his hand.

"Mother."

"You're back."

"Yes, your son is back."

Lu Bing had returned. He was very busy today, but his mother had still sent someone to ask him to come back.

Lu Bing had always admired and trusted his mother. This wasn't a purely emotional bond between mother and son, but rather a mutual appreciation between the only two intelligent people in the entire family.

"Did you hear what I just said?"

"I heard it, Mother."

"Do you remember what Xiao Liu Zi said to you yesterday?"

"I remember."

"What are your thoughts?"

"Your son is still listening to your words. Your son is only loyal to His Majesty."

Wei Zhonghe's Secret Intelligence Division was in the open,

and Lu Bing's department was in the shadows.

Every prince knew that if they could get Lu Bing's support, it would be a great help.

The elderly emperor had been recuperating in the back garden for so long, and he was able to quickly grasp the situation when he returned, partly because of his majestic authority, and partly because the Secret Intelligence Division and Lu Bing's department were still helping him to firmly grasp the tentacles of power.

The Old Madam shook her head.

Lu Bing was puzzled.

"His Majesty will eventually leave. His Majesty's body is already failing. This time, the return of the two Kings of the North and South has relieved the breath in His Majesty's heart."

With that breath gone, his days would naturally be numbered.

"What does Mother mean by saying this?"

"Son."

"Here."

"As your mother, I want to continue a relationship for our Lu family."

"Mother."

Lu Bing knelt down,

his forehead touching the ground,

saying:

"Mother, it was your son who personally captured Ji Changwang's whole family today."

Ji Changwang, wasn't he also trying to continue a relationship?

What dragon robes and jade seals, could Lu Bing not know if they were real?

The Old Madam didn't speak.

Lu Bing waited for a long time,

then raised his head,

and found that his mother, leaning against the couch, was looking at him.

"Mother..."

"Did His Majesty drink Ji Changwang's milk?"

"........." Lu Bing.

"His Majesty drank my milk."

"Yes, Mother." Lu Bing could only agree with this.

"You all think His Majesty is heartless, but as your mother, I know best that His Majesty values sentimentality."

"........." Lu Bing.

After all, it was a conversation between mother and son,

and as the head of Yan Emperor's special service, he wouldn't be unable to defend even his own home and be eavesdropped on,

so,

Lu Bing didn't agree with this sentence.

The Old Madam sighed, moved her gaze away from her son, and instead looked at the beams of the Buddhist hall.

"My son, you once climbed over the walls of the Tian family's courtyard with His Majesty and Liang Ting; and you also met that girl from the Min family. That girl gathered in front of Mother back then, calling Mother so smoothly.

His Majesty,

was watching from the side and smiling.

As your mother, I can feel that

the two women that His Majesty favored most in this life were these two girls, and His Majesty was sincere towards them."

The Old Madam opened her mouth,

then sighed,

saying:

"Everyone says that King Nan destroyed his entire family, and even you have said in private that King Nan is living a very hard life, but even if Tian Wujing is bitter, he can still charge in the borderlands and gallop on the battlefield.

His Majesty, on the other hand,

can only move from the palace to the back garden, and then from the back garden back to the palace.

He has to live, live in front of the world, he has to let his ministers, let his people, see him from time to time, know that he is still there, still standing there.

As soon as King Nan returns to the Marquis's residence, he can cleanly hide himself in the depths of the mansion, and he doesn't even accept imperial decrees, but His Majesty still has to go to court, still has to face the civil and military officials.

That day, His Majesty took a nap here, and as your mother, I saw the spots on His Majesty's body.

It is said that,

the late Emperor ate these pills and collapsed and died."

"Your son is foolish, what does Mother mean?"

"Your mother has always wanted you to be His Majesty's knife. You can only be loyal to His Majesty. The saying that each emperor has his own ministers is indeed a fixed rule. While His Majesty is still here, you, as this knife, must uphold His Majesty's will.

His Majesty hasn't said anything, but His Majesty doesn't have much time left.

His Majesty is nostalgic, and as your mother, I have always kept this relationship for you, for the Lu family. Whether or not it can be passed down depends on you."

"Mother is still forcing her son to take sides." Lu Bing shook his head, "Please forgive your son for disobeying, but this time I won't listen to Mother. The Lu family in the previous generation was just a family of commoners, but now they are living much better than in the past.

Your son thinks that the Lu family doesn't have the life of nobles, and the current days are good enough, and we should be content."

The Old Madam nodded upon hearing this.

"Your son still has things to do outside."

Lu Bing stood up, turned around, and prepared to leave.

At this time,

the Old Madam opened her mouth and said:

"Son, a knife, when you don't plan to use it, will you hide it, throw it aside, or... destroy it?

Because, if you place it casually, you will still worry that one day, it will be picked up by someone else and hurt yourself?"

"........." Lu Bing.

The Old Madam smiled:

"When His Majesty was in his prime, you didn't step down. Now, do you think you can still step down if you want to? There are indeed quite a few ministers in the court who don't need to take sides, and can just stand there and watch the situation become clear.

But, son, you can't.

If you don't take sides, you're just waiting to die, waiting for the Lu family to be destroyed.

The new emperor will be wary of you, and you have no relationship with him. What would an emperor do with a knife that has no relationship with him!

Your mother isn't telling you to betray His Majesty,

your mother means that

the opportunity,

His Majesty actually gave it to you a long time ago.

My son,

maybe you've been a minister for too long, and you've ultimately become estranged from His Majesty, and you can't guess His Majesty's intentions anymore."

Lu Bing turned around and looked at his mother.

"The matter of Ji Changwang, handing it over to you, even to the point of letting you appear in court wearing armor, what was it for, don't you know?

His Majesty is giving you a chance,

giving you a chance to stand in the sunlight.

Wei Zhonghe's position will inevitably be replaced;

but you,

are different.

Since you are standing in the sunlight,

either,

become the new Grand Commander of the Secret Intelligence Division, merging the two departments for the new emperor's use;

or,

just be dried and baked to death by this scorching sun!

What is an emperor,

an emperor will prepare a pot of boiling oil for you while giving you grace!

Do you think you can stand there, do nothing, and just seek peace of mind?"

Lu Bing closed his eyes, hesitating and struggling.

"Listen to your mother, son, when the time comes, His Majesty will be here, and your mother will be here too, and you will be here too. When the time comes, you can personally ask His Majesty.

To put it simply,

our Lu family, don't look at the number of people, but you and I, mother and son, are the only two sensible people.

Those stupid things have enjoyed so many years of blessings from the Lu family with you and me, mother and son. If it's really us two, mother and son, who have made the wrong move and taken the wrong side, and disaster strikes the whole family, it's what they deserve.

There's no reason to enjoy the blessings, but when trouble comes, you can't share it together."

"Mother, there's something that your son has always wanted to ask Mother."

"Ask."

"Mother actually intended to side with the Sixth Prince from the beginning, didn't she?"

"As your mother, I have always stood on His Majesty's side."

"Yes, your son understands."

"This is the list of gifts. Look at the medicinal herbs on the list. Remember that you used to read some medical books."

Lu Bing reached out and took the list of gifts that Lingxiang had sent from the tea table in front of the Old Madam, scanned the line of medicinal herbs, frowned slightly, and said:

"Some of the medicines seem to be for replenishing qi and blood, and their medicinal properties are also mild, but if they are mixed together, they will cause the qi and blood to flow in reverse and become chaotic, causing people to fall into a coma."

"Go and decoct the medicine. In two days, prepare to report it to the palace, whether or not to come and visit is up to His Majesty himself."

"Mother's body is old and may not be able to withstand this medicine. Your son can't watch Mother hurt herself like this for the sake of the Lu family's fate.

Your son still has this conscience, this bottom line."

Lu Bing refused very simply.

"Your mother is old, really old."

"No matter how old, you are still my Lu Bing's mother. Your son will never do such a thing, absolutely impossible."

A smile appeared on the corner of the Old Madam's mouth,

saying:

"Your mother means that your mother is old, her body is not good, and it's normal for her to die, isn't it?"

Lu Bing continued to shake his head.

The Old Madam then said: "So, His Majesty will also think it's normal, because His Majesty is also old, maybe His Majesty will simply wait to go down below and call for your mother to fan him, and he will be too lazy to come and see."

"This..." Lu Bing felt that he seemed to have misunderstood something.

"Xiao Liu Zi asked Lingxiang that girl to ask about your mother's well-being. Your mother is well, but this Buddhist hall doesn't just house your mother alone."

Speaking of this,

the Old Madam called out to the outside;

"Chuanye, have you finished practicing today's calligraphy?"