Chapter 49: One Hundred Acres of Land

The Xie family was quite surprised by this request.

That hundred acres of land had been gifted to the Xie family last year by someone trying to curry favor with them. Since the land was located in the far northern region, close to the borders of foreign territories, it wasn’t very valuable. Additionally, the land wasn’t entirely flat, so despite its vast size, it was only worth around twenty thousand taels.

Xie Zhan’s mind was working quickly. Shangyang County was located in the far north of Da Li, bordering the Xianbei to the northeast and adjacent to Shanggu County on the left. In terms of safety or other factors, there was nothing particularly outstanding about the area.

The reason the Lu family knew about this land was quite coincidental. During a gathering he attended with Lu Songli, there was a game of floating cups and a banquet where Shangyang County was mentioned. The hundred Acres of land was gifted by someone at that time. Unfortunately, he had been drunk then and couldn’t recall any useful information even after trying hard to remember.

What was so special about that land that made the Lu family so interested?

He suspected that the Lu family’s true intentions lay elsewhere. On the surface, it seemed like the Lu family initially wanted sixty to seventy thousand stones of grain, but after being refused, they appeared to settle for the hundred Acres of land in Shangyang County as a second choice. However, in reality, what they always wanted was that hundred Acres of land in Shangyang County.

“That land may be a hundred Acres, but it’s not worth even thirty thousand taels,” Xie Zhan cautiously probed.

“Do you think we asked for too little? We’d like to ask for more, but would you give it? People like you are always so suspicious,” Madam Jiang replied with a sarcastic tone.

Lu Desheng was furious. “We’re leaving!”

Madam Jiang was also angry. “Let’s go! This compensation was something they offered on their own, and now they’re making it seem like we forced them!”

“Give it to them!” Xie Mingtang made the decision.

Xie Mingtang could see things clearly—regardless of whatever value might lie in that hundred Acres of land, the Lu family insisted on having it. If they refused, the Lu family would likely flip the table, and the negotiations would collapse.

He also thought it through—if they refused, wouldn’t that give the Lu family a perfect excuse? With Lu Desheng’s capabilities, taking down a few members of the Xie family’s faction would be a simple task, something the Emperor would likely be pleased to see.

Xie Zhan said nothing, but after agreeing to give up the land, he had a lingering feeling of unease. Yet he couldn’t quite figure out why.

In the end, under the witness of Prince Gong and the Imperial Censor Zhou Chengzhong, the Xie family handed over the land deed. Xie Zhan also took out a ten-thousand-tael banknote from a wooden box. The land deed was considered compensation from the Xie family to Lu Songli, and the ten thousand taels were added as part of her dowry.

Madam Jiang accepted them without hesitation. After all, after this, their family and the Xie family would be even.

After Lu Desheng and his wife left, Xie Mingtang, along with Xie Zhan, personally escorted Prince Gong and Zhou Chengzhong out.

When they returned to the discussion hall, the Xie family’s eldest lady had also gone off to attend to other matters, leaving only the father and son in the hall.

“Lu Desheng is a knife we can’t afford to keep around,” Xie Mingtang remarked, his words carrying a deeper meaning.

Xie Zhan remained silent.

Now that the Xie and Lu families were no longer related by marriage, and with Lu Desheng harboring resentment toward the Xie family, they were no longer on the same side. Furthermore, the Lu family had never shown any leniency toward the Xie family.

******

When Lu Desheng and Madam Jiang returned to the Lu family, they immediately called for Butler Chen and instructed him to personally deliver the marriage proposal letter to the Qin family.

Once this matter was settled, the two of them finally breathed a sigh of relief. They were now completely free from any ties to the Xie family. They had secured a new in-law, and as it seemed, the new in-law was quite promising. Their youngest daughter’s future was finally secured.

“In the future, our family will be in-laws with the Qin family. I’ve heard that many civil officials in the court are quite hostile toward military officers. You’ll need to support our in-laws more,” Madam Jiang said.

Lu Desheng agreed, “Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone bully our in-laws.”

As the couple continued chatting, they inevitably brought up the compensation from the Xie family. There wasn’t much to say about the ten thousand taels of silver notes.

“Husband, what do you think our daughter wants with such a distant piece of land?” Madam Jiang asked, holding the land deed they had acquired from the Xie family. She looked it over repeatedly, feeling quite puzzled. The distance between Chang’an and Shangyang County was vast, making the land difficult to manage. The thought of it made her worry.

Lu Desheng couldn’t figure it out either. His daughter had only mentioned that the land had some kind of treasure, but what kind of treasure could it be? Gold? Silver? He quickly dismissed the thought. Whatever was on that land, it was something his daughter rightfully deserved.

Moreover, his daughter had mentioned that she wouldn’t do anything with the land in the short term. This was a wise decision, as the Xie family would surely keep an eye on any movements in that area for a while.

Lu Desheng, not wanting his wife to worry too much, said, “You, don’t think so much about it. When our daughter returns from the Tian family, we’ll give her the land deed, and she’ll handle it herself. There’s no need for you to stress over it.”

Their daughter had mentioned to them that the land held some kind of treasure but didn’t specify what it was, and Madam Jiang didn’t press for details. She preferred not to know too much—after all, the more she knew, the more she would worry. As long as their daughter had a good reason for wanting that land and didn’t suffer any losses, that was enough for her.

Madam Jiang wasn’t someone with a strong need for control. Over these past few days, her daughter had proven to be quite capable, handling things on her own and even helping her father with some matters.

Since her daughter had relieved her worries, Madam Jiang’s attention shifted quickly when Lu Desheng mentioned the Tian family. “I wonder if Xiaoxiao and Dandan are comfortable with the food and lodging at the Tian family.”

Lu Desheng wasn’t surprised by her question. Both he and his wife had been preoccupied with their daughter’s affairs lately. Now that everything was settled, and her mind had eased, it was only natural for her to start thinking about their beloved grandchildren.

“Don’t worry. When our eldest son and daughter-in-law return, I guarantee they’ll bring back a pair of plump, healthy grandchildren for you.”

Lu Desheng wasn’t worried at all. What was there to worry about with the two little ones by their parents’ side? To put it bluntly, even if his eldest son and daughter-in-law might neglect themselves, they would never be so heartless as to mistreat their own children.

“You have such a carefree heart!” Madam Jiang gave him a look. As the saying goes, raising a child for a hundred years comes with ninety-nine years of worry. Their eldest grandson was the apple of his grandparents’ eye—how could she not worry when they weren’t around?

Despite being given a sideways glance by his wife, Lu Desheng remained cheerful. He had a pragmatic view: whoever raises the children takes care of them. Just like during this recent time when their daughter’s marriage had so many ups and downs, their eldest son and daughter-in-law stayed at the Tian family to help, and he didn’t blame them for it. He took on the responsibility himself as much as he could. He did miss his grandchildren a bit, but he wasn’t overly concerned about them.

If Lu Songli knew what her father was thinking, she would probably agree. Her father’s approach was his own version of “let the children live their own lives.”

Meanwhile, in Chang Le Palace, the Empress Dowager had fallen ill.

For two consecutive days, the Empress Dowager had stood at the highest steps of Weiyang Palace.

Behind her, countless eunuchs and palace maids stood silently.

The Empress Dowager was waiting. What was she waiting for? She was waiting for Lu Desheng to storm into the palace! She had issued an imperial decree, annulling his daughter’s marriage to Xie Zhan and instead betrothing her to the Qin family’s youngest son, Qin Sheng. While she had done this partly out of spite, she also had another purpose.

Lu Desheng was known for his deep love for his daughter, and he had a reputation for being quick-tempered and impulsive. The Empress Dowager had prepared carefully, planning that if Lu Desheng appeared at the palace, she would have a way to charge him with the crime of great disrespect. She would then take the opportunity to force him to use the Imperial Pardon Medal, a rare token that could save him from execution once.

The night before, she had tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Early in the morning, she issued those two imperial edicts, and it wasn’t entirely out of a fit of pique.

That night in Chang Le Palace, Lu Songli hadn’t even glanced at Qin Sheng, clearly showing her disdain for him. So, the Empress Dowager deliberately decided to pair her with Qin Sheng.

Just from that brief encounter, the Empress Dowager had seen that Lu Songli was rebellious and full of pride. While others might not notice, she could see it clearly! Even though Lu Songli hadn’t been openly disrespectful after the initial inquiries during that day in Chang Le Palace, her relentless pursuit of Zhao Yutan had, in the Empress Dowager’s eyes, been an affront to her authority. It was as if she had slapped her in the face, deeply offending her. The Empress Dowager didn’t believe that Lu Songli would be willing to marry Qin Sheng.

The Empress Dowager was counting on this father-daughter duo to rely on the Emperor’s favor and become arrogant.

However, when the messengers returned with news that the Lu family had happily accepted the decree and had already engaged in proper negotiations with the Qin family regarding the marriage, the Empress Dowager realized her plans had failed. The next day, the Lu family had even gone to the Xie family to retrieve the betrothal gifts and marriage proposal letter. They had also accepted compensation from the Xie family, all witnessed by credible parties.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager knew that her schemes had fallen through.

What a pity, she thought, wondering who the clever person was that had talked him out of it.

And so, the Empress Dowager fell ill, unable to vent the anger that had been festering in her heart.