The civil and military officials all stepped forward to donate silver.

An assistant official from the Ministry of Revenue was in charge of recording the donations.

When all the court officials had finished, he loudly announced: “The entire civil and military court of Great Wei has donated a total of 123,850 taels of silver for the disaster relief in the northern regions!”

Out of this 123,000 taels, 100,000 came from the Marquis of Xiangyang’s residence.

When court was dismissed, the Minister of Revenue specially approached Li Suifeng, the Marquis of Xiangyang.
“Marquis, by taking the lead in this donation, you’ve solved a major problem for our ministry. I will remember this favor.”

Many high-ranking officials nearby gathered around to praise him.

“So the Marquis of Xiangyang is truly a benevolent man!”

“Donating a hundred thousand taels — this is great virtue; surely the marquis’s household will be blessed for generations.”

Li Suifeng hurriedly cupped his hands in humility.
“Oh, not at all, not at all. Relieving the court’s burdens and helping the people — this is simply my duty.”

His expression was full of modesty — but inside, he was practically floating with pride.

After all, those praising him were high-ranking first-, second-, and third-rank officials.

Normally, if he tried to join their conversations, they would brush him off as a mere brute.
But now, they were all crowding around to praise him!

Last night, when Yue Niang handed him a banknote for 100,000 taels, asking him to donate it to the court, he had been one thousand times unwilling.

Yue Niang had said, first, it was for the people.

Second, the Marquis’s household needed to give away some wealth; otherwise, they would remain a thorn in others’ eyes.

Plus, it would win them a good reputation.

Sure enough, news from the court quickly spread to the streets.

“My heavens! The Marquis of Xiangyang waved his hand and donated a hundred thousand taels!”

“Think about it — the court only allocated fifty thousand taels for disaster relief, yet the Marquis alone could give double that!”

“Well, the marquis’s household has made so much money; isn’t it right for them to give some back?”

“Heh, if you made a pile of silver, would you give it all away to others for free? No, right?”

“By the way, how much did Miss Lu donate the other day when she led the donations?”

“I think it was over five hundred taels altogether.”

“Can’t be helped; Miss Lu comes from humble origins, and the ones following her in donating were all ordinary folks like us. To scrape together five hundred taels was already quite something.”

“Now it’s all up to the Marquis’s hundred thousand — if that money is used well, maybe the refugees in the north can survive.”

The people on the streets were abuzz, all praising the Marquis of Xiangyang’s great righteousness.

And the once-admired Miss Lu, from humble origins, was instantly forgotten by the crowd.

When the news reached the secluded courtyard of the Song family, Lu Jingxue was tallying accounts.

This time, she had raised over 1,500 taels for charity, of which she had publicly donated 500 taels to the court.

The remaining 1,000 taels had become her private funds.

She was in desperate need of money.

Even if her methods weren’t so glamorous, she had no choice.

The fact that she had led the fundraising among the people had indeed reached the ears of the Fourth Prince.

Last night, the Fourth Prince had visited Grand Tutor Song and specially asked to meet her.

At this thought, a blush crept over Lu Jingxue’s cheeks.

Just then, a little maid rushed in. “Miss, I heard that at this morning’s court assembly, the Marquis of Xiangyang donated 100,000 taels for the northern disaster. Now the whole city is praising the marquis’s great virtue.”

“What?!”

Lu Jingxue’s face changed at once.

She had finally come up with a way to turn the situation around — why did the Marquis have to copy her charitable act?!

Originally, she had been the model of a humble young lady, winning many hearts. But now, with the Marquis’s massive donation, her little fundraising effort looked like a giant joke!

She had done all this for the sake of the Fourth Prince.

And the Marquis — was he just trying to crush her?

Her father had died saving the Marquis, yet why was the Marquis’s household now pressing her like this?!

Lu Jingxue bit her lip hard.

At this moment, Madam Zhen-shi (her mother) stepped in.
“Xue’er, how far did you get with the Fourth Prince last night? When will he make you his wife?”

Lu Jingxue felt unsure.

She pressed her lips together and said, “Royal matters are hard to say for sure.”

“I’m counting on you to rise up,” Zhen-shi said worriedly. “Then we can beg the Grand Tutor to let Shi Tou (your half-brother) officially join the Song family. Ever since I became a concubine in the Song family, Shi Tou was sent away — I don’t even know how he’s doing now. I’m so worried… I want him to take the Song surname and become a Song child. Xue’er, do you think the Grand Tutor will agree?”

Lu Jingxue sneered. “The Grand Tutor has four sons already, and grandchildren. Why would he recognize an illegitimate son? Unless Shi Tou can bring something valuable to the Song family — can he?”

“But you’re his sister!” Zhen-shi pleaded. “If you marry into nobility, Shi Tou can benefit too…”

“What a ridiculous dream!”

A cold, icy voice interrupted from outside, making Zhen-shi jump up in fright.

She quickly stood up and lowered her head. “Sixth Miss…”

It was the Song family’s youngest legitimate daughter, Song Liu.

In the past, she had been grateful to Lu Jingxue for saving the old madam’s life, and they had been close. But later, they were bitten back viciously.

Now, just seeing Lu Jingxue and Madam Zhen-shi irritated Song Liu to no end.

She said coldly, “Letting Lu Jingxue live in the Song family was merely out of gratitude for saving a life. You want to bring an illegitimate child into the family and even change his surname to Song? You’re dreaming in broad daylight!”

Madam Zhen-shi’s lips trembled, but she didn’t dare say a word.

Song Liu turned to Lu Jingxue and smirked.
“Get ready. A month from now, the Fourth Prince’s household will send the wedding sedan to bring you over. Remember, you’ll be leaving from the Song family, and you represent the Song family’s face. If you disgrace the family outside… well, as for what happens to Auntie Zhen, I can’t guarantee.”

Lu Jingxue was suddenly overwhelmed with joy.

The joy surged over her like a tide.

When the Grand Princess had arranged the marriage, she had thought it was settled — but then the Grand Princess had fallen.

She had been like a drifting duckweed, always swaying with the wind, never finding a real home.

Finally, everything was about to be settled.

After the rush of joy came clarity.

She raised her eyes. “Sixth Miss, are you threatening me?”

“You didn’t hear wrong. I am threatening you,” Song Liu sneered. “You and your mother used the Song family to climb higher — well, the Song family can also use you to connect with the Fourth Prince. Remember your place, and stop dreaming of things that don’t belong to you!”

With that, she flung her sleeves and left.

Lu Jingxue was so furious her chest heaved violently.

What did they mean, things that didn’t belong to her?

As long as she fought, as long as she schemed — one day, she would make everything hers!

In less than half a month, all the silk that Li Zhiyue had hoarded was sold out.

The 160,000 taels turned into 800,000 overnight.

Of this, 100,000 had been donated to the court; the rest filled back the private savings of her grandfather and parents, and the official account.

And then, there was the Cheng family’s money.

Previously, Cheng Wanfeng had given her a total of 28,000 taels.

Multiply that by five — that would be 140,000 taels.

But surely the Cheng siblings wouldn’t accept that much.

Better to settle on 100,000.

Li Zhiyue asked Moxu to prepare a silver note for 100,000 taels and place it in a small box.

She decided to take Li Muyun with her to the Cheng family.

These days, her older brother had been cooped up in his room, studying hard for tomorrow’s grace examination.

Bringing him along would not only help him relax, but also give him a chance to chat with a former top scholar — maybe he could get some valuable advice.