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When Qin Sheng returned, his wife had set up a small study next to his main study. He glanced over; the large desk, chair, bookshelf, antique display cabinet, daybed, and long woolen carpet were all neatly arranged, creating a comfortable space.
Lu Songli was organizing documents at the desk. Seeing that Qin Sheng had successfully obtained what she wanted, she smiled at him. “You’ve worked hard. Go change your clothes, and then we’ll go visit Mother.”
Qin Sheng acknowledged with a nod, his eyes involuntarily scanning the documents on her desk.
He hesitated and asked, “Are you gathering evidence against the Xie and Zhao families?”
Lu Songli had eagerly opened the brocade box she received and scanned the contents quickly. At his question, she casually replied, “Yes, I’m almost done. The evidence I have should be enough to make them fall hard—possibly not get up.”
“Just now, when I was leaving the Xue residence, Xue Huaimin told me to warn you to be careful of Xie Zhan.”
Lu Songli immediately realized that Xie Zhan had sided with the Fourth Prince. She had reviewed everything multiple times, trying to identify the new strategic adviser by the Fourth Prince’s side. She felt she had overlooked something, and Xue Huaimin’s warning made her realize her mistake.
She had suspected that the Xie and Zhao families had been unusually quiet lately. The death of the Crown Prince in the Northern Border was such a significant event; she didn’t believe Xie Zhan could resist taking advantage of the chaos. He must have used the wedding preparations to handle a lot of significant matters.
However, it didn’t matter. Even if she hadn’t anticipated this, she had already prepared countermeasures against the Xie and Zhao families.
Qin Sheng looked skeptical, his mouth opened and closed as if unsure whether to speak.
Noticing his strange expression, Lu Songli curiously asked, “What’s wrong? If you have something to say, just say it. We’re married; I won’t hide anything from you.”
“Didn’t you and Xie Zhan agree to a truce?” Qin Sheng asked.
Lu Songli immediately understood he must have overheard their conversation at the Hongsheng Restaurant that day. He had arrived just as their discussion was ending.
She couldn’t help but chuckle, finding the situation increasingly amusing.
Her husband was truly naive; both she and Xie Zhan didn’t believe in the truce agreement between their families, but Qin Sheng did.
Qin Sheng felt numb. It was the first time he questioned whether his keen senses were a blessing or a curse.
Lu Songli eventually stopped laughing and said seriously, “People who play political games are dirty; don’t believe their words. A gentleman’s agreement from someone like Xie Zhan has no binding power—anyone who believes it is a fool. Naturally, it has no binding power over me either.”
Qin Sheng: So, I’m the fool, then.
“Then why does Xue Huaimin believe you?”
“What kind of person am I? Xie Zhan has already taken action, and I haven’t moved yet. Your suspicion is valid, but don’t say such things in the future,” Lu Songli said, unable to resist pinching his face.
“As for Xue Huaimin, he had no choice but to believe. After so many years of effort, to end up as a mere pawn for someone else—do you think he can just swallow that anger? I’ve already arranged for his concubines and illegitimate children in Xinghua Hutong to be relocated.”
So, his concubines and illegitimate children were living in Xinghua Hutong. Qin Sheng felt conflicted; the legitimate children of the Xue family had suffered because of him, while the concubines and illegitimate children were protected and could live comfortably.
“So you can rest assured. I’ve always been a person whose word is worth a thousand gold,” Lu Songli said earnestly.
Qin Sheng: …
After Qin Sheng tidied up, the two of them went to visit Madam Qin. At this time, Qin Heng and his wife were also present.
As the new bride, Lu Songli served tea to everyone and addressed them respectfully.
After everyone had finished the tea she served, they each gave their return gifts.
With that, the wedding rituals were complete.
Next, Madam Qin invited them to the main courtyard for breakfast.
At this moment, the servant announced that the head of the Lu family, along with Lu Mingzhi, had arrived.
Madam Qin quickly instructed the servant to invite them in.
Qin Heng glanced at the sky, guessing that Lu Desheng had come directly to the Qin residence right after court.
Lu Desheng felt that visiting alone might be inappropriate, so he brought his younger son along.
When Lu Desheng arrived, Madam Qin and Qin Heng chatted with him for a while before letting Qin Sheng and Lu Songli take Lu Desheng and his son to their own quarters.
Lu Songli led them straight to her study.
As soon as they sat down, Lu Desheng glanced at Qin Sheng and his own son.
Before he could speak, Lu Songli asked, “Father, is something wrong?”
Lu Desheng realized his daughter wanted the two young men to stay, so he decided not to clear the room.
“Daughter, let me tell you about today’s court session…” Lu Desheng began explaining the situation to his daughter.
Qin Sheng tightened his lips upon hearing that people at court were shouting for his father to make the Qin family take responsibility.
Lu Mingzhi felt a sense of suffocation when his father mentioned that the Empress Dowager had blocked him from meeting the Emperor. The Empress Dowager seemed to dislike the Lu family, the Fourth Prince wanted to crush the Qin family, and although the Emperor had shown favor to his father, wasn’t he on the brink of death? With only the new Emperor and the esteemed Empress Dowager left, neither of whom had a good opinion of their families, the future looked bleak.
“Father, don’t worry. I happened to find something interesting. Let me show you,” Lu Songli said, pulling out a document and handing it to her father.
Lu Desheng looked at it and asked with excitement, “Is this real?”
Lu Songli nodded, “Absolutely true.”
Lu Mingzhi leaned in to take a look but was pushed aside by Lu Desheng. He was pleased, saying, “Great, with this, that person won’t get away with it.”
With that, he stood up, “Daughter, I’ll leave now. It’s better to act sooner rather than later. I’ll arrange things as quickly as possible!”
Lu Songli agreed, standing up to see him off.
After Lu Desheng and Qin Sheng exchanged pleasantries, Lu Desheng hurriedly left with his son.
“What did you give Father?” Qin Sheng asked, puzzled.
Lu Songli whispered a few words, and Qin Sheng’s expression turned to one of surprise, “Xue Huaimin has evidence like that?”
Lu Songli smiled faintly and said nothing. It was clear that Xue Huaimin had some unknown trump cards up his sleeve. If she were Xie Zhan, she would try to extract these cards before Xue Huaimin’s exposure to the Emperor and then eliminate him. After all, the Emperor wanted Xue Huaimin dead; even if he accidentally died, the Emperor wouldn’t pursue it further.
So Xie Zhan had made a miscalculation. He probably thought his plan was flawless.
She couldn’t save those the Emperor was determined to take, like her father-in-law Qin Yue, but she could certainly send more people to the Emperor to fulfill his needs, which was something she could manage.