https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-336-A-Battle-of-Wits-and-Bravery/12945179/
Chapter 335: The True Father
Chapter 335: The True Father
As Meng Qianqian was about to meet Lu Yuan at the banquet hall, she happened to see Xun Qi stopping Lu Yuan.
Meng Qianqian said, "I'll wait for you ahead."
Lu Yuan nodded.
Xun Qi and Lu Yuan walked to a small garden near the banquet hall.
"Let's talk here," Lu Yuan suggested, not wanting to go too far.
Xun Qi mocked, "You're not worried that our conversation will be overheard?"
Lu Yuan replied fearlessly, "What's there to worry about? If it's revealed that I'm the adopted son of the Chancellor, wouldn't that confirm my years of being a treacherous minister, all under his manipulation? I have the courage to admit it; I'm just afraid you don't have the courage to speak up."
Xun Qi scoffed, "If you're truly fearless, why not go to the yamen and confess yourself?"
Lu Yuan calmly said, "I was just about to go there."
"You—" Xun Qi was so furious that he turned upside down.
He took a deep breath to calm down and asked Lu Yuan, "I don't understand why you would betray your adoptive father?"
Lu Yuan sarcastically replied, "So, in your eyes, not being content with being his dog is considered betrayal."
Xun Qi, filled with righteous indignation, said, "If it weren't for your adoptive father picking you up from the streets back then, you would have starved to death!"
Lu Yuan pointed to his head, "Xun Qi, do you believe yourself when you say that someone with my brain would starve on the streets?"
Xun Qi choked, "Regardless, your adoptive father has raised you for so many years."
Lu Yuan placed his hands behind his back, "Someone shelters you from the wind and rain, but you're unaware that the wind and rain are all bestowed by that very person. Xun Qi, I don't understand why you're so loyal to him, even willing to die for him. I don't want to know. Everyone has their choices, and I'm not one to teach others. You do as you please."
Meng Qianqian hadn't walked far when she overheard their entire conversation.
Seeing Lu Yuan approaching, she said in surprise, "I didn't expect you not to persuade him."
Lu Yuan said, "He's a smart man. If he insists on going down a path of no return, it means he has no way out."
Meng Qianqian said, "This is the first time I've heard someone describe a hopeless situation so refreshingly."
Whether Xun Qi truly had no choice, she wasn't sure, but following the Chancellor was definitely the worst choice.
What made Lu Yuan valuable was that he didn't interfere with others' destinies.
Someone had once told her, "When you intervene in someone's cause, you'll have to bear their consequences."
"Where's the old man and my mother?" Lu Yuan asked.
Meng Qianqian replied, "Grandfather said he wanted to personally escort the Chancellor to the Ministry of Punishment to prevent anyone from hijacking the prison carriage on the way. Mother is hungry, so she went back with Tan Er and my younger sister."
After all, acting was exhausting, especially crying scenes, which were physically draining.
Meng Qianqian asked again, "What are your plans now?"
Lu Yuan said, "Today, the people outside the Chancellor's Mansion are all witnesses. The next step is to strike while the iron is hot and dismantle his reputation among the commoners."
This step was crucial and, from a strategic perspective, as important as obtaining evidence.
Speaking of evidence, Meng Qianqian asked, "Should we hand over the evidence to the Ministry of Punishment?"
Lu Yuan said, "Let's take a look at it ourselves first."
Meng Qianqian understood his intention, "That's right. We must check if there's any trickery hidden within the evidence, just in case."
As they talked, they unknowingly reached the entrance of the Chancellor's Mansion.
Just as Lu Yuan stepped over the threshold, he stopped and told Meng Qianqian, "You go and wait for me in the carriage first."
Meng Qianqian turned back and saw a familiar figure. She understood and said, "Okay."
After the matter was settled and the officials bid farewell to the Emperor, they gradually left the Chancellor's Mansion.
General Zhou sighed, "Old Lin, you still care for your student! He's no longer the weak scholar he once was; he's full of bad intentions. Why put yourself through this?"
"Cough, cough!" Censor Wang coughed heavily twice.
He was straightforward, not heartless.
The Zhou family spoke ill of others behind their backs, causing great embarrassment to those involved.
General Zhou raised his head and bumped into Lu Yuanfeng.
"Old Lin, I'm leaving first!"
General Zhou fled in embarrassment.
The Zhou family's female relatives were close to Meng Qianqian, especially Zhou Nanyan, who treated Meng Qianqian like a sister. However, General Zhou was stubborn and always believed that Lu, the grand chancellor, was a despicable person.
"Well, I'm leaving too."
Censor Wang flicked his sleeves and climbed into the carriage.
The former teacher and student, now strangers, looked at each other in silence.
Lu Yuanfeng had come to express his gratitude.
If it weren't for Scholar Lin's suggestion to have Censor Wang reprimand the Majestic King, the king might not have delayed for so long.
However, when he stood before Scholar Lin, he couldn't utter a single word.
His throat felt a little swollen and painful.
Scholar Lin glanced at him and left without expression.
"Why did you do that?"
"Of course, it's for wealth and glory, for a bright future."
"Isn't it better to be down-to-earth?"
"Why not take a shortcut? Do you want to be like your teacher, spending your whole life teaching at the Imperial Academy? I want to be above others, but can you provide that?"
"How many times do I have to tell you, Director Liao is innocent! How many more lives will you wrongfully take?"
"The Imperial Bodyguards never care about innocence when arresting people. If I say he's guilty, he's guilty!"
"Our teacher-student relationship is severed!"
...
"Husband, husband."
Meng Qianqian shook Lu Yuanfeng's arm.
Lu Yuanfeng snapped out of his thoughts, "Hmm?"
Meng Qianqian pointed outside, "We're home."
"Get down."
Lu Yuanfeng stood up aloofly and stepped out of the carriage.
Meng Qianqian shook her head and sighed, "Every time I see Scholar Lin, I feel sad for a long time. A teacher for a day is a father for life. Compared to Chancellor Xun, who only knows how to use others, Scholar Lin is the true father figure in his heart."
"Miss, you're talking about Brother-in-Law. Aren't you the same?"
Wuge'er spoke up.
"Huh?"
Meng Qianqian was taken aback, "What about me?"
Wuge'er said, "When Brother-in-Law is sad, you also feel worried."
Meng Qianqian pointed at herself, "Me?"
Wuge'er nodded seriously, "Yes."
"I..."
As a loyal follower, she was naturally concerned about her employer.
Wuge'er scratched her head, "Miss, you weren't happy in the Lu family. After coming to the Duke's Manor, you seem like a different person. We all like the current you, and we also like Brother-in-Law. Seeing your relationship with him so good, I'm truly happy for you!"
Meng Qianqian smiled.
-
Lu Yuanfeng's return to the manor brought the greatest joy to Nursemaid Li.
The more she had despised Lu Yuanfeng in the past, the more she cherished him now.
Nursemaid Li vowed never to curse Brother-in-Law in her heart again, thinking that his bad luck might be due to her curses.
She asked Lu Yuanfeng with concern, "Brother-in-Law, didn't you go to Miaojiang to treat the disease?"
Lu Yuanfeng replied calmly, "Oh, I got better on the way."
"Braised pork is here!"
"Glazed pork knuckle is here!"
"Chinese yam and coix seed porridge!"
"Lily and lotus seed soup!"
"Nonsense—"
Nursemaid Li glared at Nursemaid Wan, who was listing the dishes as she served them.
Nursemaid Wan smiled awkwardly, "Shrimp and egg stir-fry, a new dish Lady Du learned."
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