Lu Song had already contemplated the matter that he was about to speak on for many days. He had already personally gone to take action. He said to Lu Ping: “You are no longer young. In the past, it was because you had a hidden illness, and the family did not have too many hopes when it came to your marriage. Later on, your face was ruined, and father was even more helpless when it came to you. Now, your face has healed, and while you still have a hidden illness… hah! I’ll say it like this! At present, you are the only child left in the Lu family. That’s why, even if you have a hidden illness, considerations must be made for the family. Father has taken interest in a marriage for you, but it’s just an interest. As for whether or not it can succeed, it will be up to you and your own effort.”
Lu Ping knew what the planned marriage was, and she faintly said: “Father is joking. The right to the initiative should not lie with us, right? I have a hidden illness, and even if I am the daughter of the left prime minister’s manor, I fear that marriage will not be up to me to decide. No matter how much effort I put in, what is there that I can do?”
Lu Song waved his hand, “No, the Ren family’s young master is different from other men. During the times that father observed him, young general Ren is an upright person. He is not one to pursue lust and beauty. If some feelings can bloom between you two, he definitely will not mind your hidden illness. General Ping Nan’s manor is one of the houses to support the ninth prince. That family’s young miss of the first wife is also very close with Imperial Daughter Ji An. Ping’er, if things work out between you and young general Ren, and you two can get along well after getting married, our Lu family will no longer need to worry about not being accepted by the ninth prince.”
Lu Ping looked at this father then looked at the scheming head wife. The question that she had held in for many years was finally asked: “Could it be that the Lu family raises its daughters for the sake of sending them out to help open up doors for the family? Then what are we? Goods?”
Ge shi snorted coldly and replied with a question: “Then you tell me, which family’s daughter is not this way? Even the current Palace Princess Wu Yang, why is it that His Majesty has never married her off, even so long after she became of age? I’ll tell you. Don’t think that it’s really because His Majesty dotes on her. That’s just to improve her image. In truth, it’s just to continue figuring out her true worth. Just wait and see. By the end, the person that Palace Princess Wu Yang marries will definitely be of use to Da Shun. It’s definitely impossible that he will be a normal man.”
These words stuffed Lu Ping and left her not know what to say. This was because Ge shi was right. In Da Shun, the daughters of all families were like this. Regardless of whether they were born of the first wife or of a concubine, as long as it was a daughter, they were tools to be used by their families to gain power or standing. Those with good luck would be able to obtain their husband’s love. Those with bad luck would end up suffering from the vexation of seeing concubines being brought in. She did not know what sort of person Ren Xitao was; however, she had always been quite opposed to these sorts of actions by the Lu family. In this life, the thing that she wanted the least was to be dragged around by her family, but no matter how much she hid, would she end up unable to avoid her destiny?
Lu Ping did not say anything else, nor did she nod or shake her head. It was as though she had not heard Lu Song’s suggestions. She just quietly sat there and thought about something.
Lu Song glanced at her then just said: “You should think about it carefully. Father will also do everything possible to create some chances for the two of you. That expensive fragrance should soon have a place to be used.”
The new year was about to arrive. In General Ping Nan’s manor, the male servants at Ren Xitao’s side were sent out repeatedly to buy things. The things that were brought back were carried directly to Ren Xitao’s courtyard. Most of the items were medicine.
Ren Xifeng came to her older brother to talk about something. Upon entering the room, she smelled the medicine. Looking again, an entire table was covered with medicine. Among the medicines, there were quite a few expensive ones. She had seen them before, and they were medicines that were only sold by Hundred Herb Hall. She was confused, “Elder brother, what are you doing? Are you reselling medicine? Is elder brother lacking for money?”
Ren Xitao waved his hand, “Not to mention lacking, but even if I was lacking, relying on these would not make much money. Good younger sister, you came at the perfect time. Brother has something to ask you.” He had Ren Xifeng sit down in a chair then sat down across from her before saying: “This medicine has been prepared for Prime Minister Lu. Although I don’t interact too much with him in court, as I am a military officer, but there was a bit of fate with our previous meeting. He was feeling unwell, and it’s about to be the new year, thus I was thinking of going to visit. Say, aside from some medicine, what else should I prepare? Going at the end of the year, only giving some medicine is not great, right?” Ren Xitao spoke with an earnest expression and was very serious about this matter.
But Ren Xifeng exploded upon hearing this. She pointed at her elder brother and glared, saying: “Have you gone crazy? Why are you sending a gift to the Lu family for no reason? Even if you did meet the previous time, it’s him that owes us a bit. If there is a gift to give, it should be him gifting General Ping Nan’s manor. What is your intention with rushing to give a gift?”
“Last time, Prime Minister Lu already gave a gift. This time… it can be considered a return gift!” He found an excuse for himself.
But Ren Xifeng argued back: “The gift was given to father. If there should be a return gift, it should be father who gives it. You should just back off from it.”
“No, no, I have already prepared these things.”
“Then just give them to father and have him bring them along.” Ren Xifeng became angrier and angrier the more she looked at the medicine on the table. She angrily rolled her eyes at Ren Xitao then said: “Elder brother, don’t think that I don’t know what you are thinking about. Going to see Lu Song? That’s just an excuse, right? Going to see Lu Ping is the real goal.”
Ren Xitao’s face turned red from what she had said, but he was a straightforward person, and he was also an honest person. Since he had been exposed by his younger sister, he would not deny it. Instead, he cheerfully nodded then said: “Indeed, I am a bit curious about the Lu family’s eldest young miss. This includes the matter that younger sister brought up last time about her face being ruined. I have never asked about things in the capital, and I don’t have much of an impression of most madams and young misses. But thinking about it later on, it seemed to be something like that. That young miss Lu Ping fell into the water for the sake of saving the Yao family’s eldest madam, and that caused her face to become ruined. But when I saw her last time, her face was indeed undamaged. This also captured my attention.
Ren Xifeng’s expression was extremely ugly. When her brother brought up the matter with Lu Ping, she could notice a hint of a different look in his eyes. She was familiar with that look. Thinking back to when Feng Yuheng spoke about the ninth prince, her eyes also seemed to have this sort of twinkle. Ren Xifeng felt a little flustered, as she grabbed her brother and seriously said: “Put away your curiosity. Regardless of whether the Lu family’s young miss is good or bad, you and her being together is impossible. Although the current Lu family is different from how it was in the past, the left prime minister’s manor still has too many areas where it is not proper. Did you not hear what father said? The reason that Lu Song changed in court is entirely for the sake of finding a way out for his family. His change of heart has a very clear goal. They are not like us, who have only had one idea from beginning to end. If you don’t believe me, just watch. The Lu family is doing it like this for now. Once they have seen some benefits, the Lu family definitely will not continue to be like the current Lu family. Their original character will definitely reveal itself.
“Isn’t younger sister getting too wrapped up in a conspiracy?” Ren Xitao furrowed his brow, “Why is it that when this matter comes to you, it becomes so complicated? also, Lu Song is Lu Song. Lu Ping is Lu Ping. They are different.”
“They are father and daughter! How are they different?”
“Younger sister also hasn’t interacted with the Lu family’s eldest young miss, isn’t that right?” Ren Xitao directly pointed out a critical fact, “You’re just basing your speculation on the Lu family’s previous conduct. I feel that is unfair and baseless.” Ren Xitao tried to convince his younger sister, “Elder brother has never asked you for anything. For just this one thing, help me out, or at the very least, don’t stop me. Let me go and gain an understanding of the Lu family’s eldest young miss. Is this alright?”
“Have elder brother’s affections really been stirred?” Ren Xifeng just could not understand it, “You only met her once.”
Ren Xitao waved his hand, “It can’t be considered affection. Right now, it can’t be considered that. It’s just curiosity. It really is just curiosity.” What he said was the truth, “I am not a rash person, and even father said that I am a cautious person, but I must admit that I have never been this curious about a woman before. If you say that it’s because of her exceptional beauty, I must admit that it, but I feel even more that that young miss is holding onto some sort of secret. This includes her face and that strange smell that comes from her body. I just can’t figure it out. Why would a daughter of a dignified left prime minister’s manor use that sort of fragrance? And use so much of it?”
The more Ren Xitao said the more he felt that his curiosity toward Lu Ping was too much. Ren Xifeng saw that it might be impossible to drag her brother back and was exceedingly shocked but recalled the reason that she had come today. She curled up the corners of her lips and smiled, saying: “Those are elder brother’s personal matters, and it would not be convenient for younger sister to say too much. It’s almost the new year, and I was preparing to go to Ji An Prefecture to celebrate the new year. First, it will be to visit Furong. Second, it will be to admire the Ji An Prefecture that A-Heng established and manages. I already told father about it, and father agreed, but he is worried that it will be dangerous for me on the way there, thus he wanted elder brother to send me over. The two of us might as well celebrate the new year over there.”
Ren Xitao did not have any objections to this. He had always been protective of his younger sister. Ji An Prefecture was far away. If he let Ren Xifeng go alone, he really would not be at ease, thus he quickly nodded: “Alright, elder brother will go with you. When will we set out? It’s almost the new year, and we need to leave quickly. How about I visit the left prime minister’s manor tomorrow then set out the day after that!”
“The date has already been set.” Ren Xifeng stood up, “We’re leaving tomorrow. Father already agreed to it. Elder brother, prepare yourself and bring some more clothes. Also, choose some attendants to bring along!” After saying this, she did not stay any longer and left.
Ren Xitao was stunned by what he had heard. They would leave first thing tomorrow? But he was planning to visit the left prime minister’s manor on that day? How about going today? But there were still some things that he had not finished buying. Also, it was getting late in the day. Going to visit now would definitely be inappropriate. He could not help but become conflicted…
Ren Xifeng did indeed want to visit Ji An Prefecture. It was for no other reason than to go out for a bit. The atmosphere in the capital was oppressive. Thinking of how her good friend Bai Furong was enjoying her life over there, she arranged to go and visit her. Normally speaking, General Ping Nan did not want to let his children spend the new year away from home, but when Ren Xifeng brought it up with General Ping Nan, he actually agreed. Ren Xifeng thought about it later on, and the reason that her father had been so frank was likely a result of the current situation in court. In the current situation, who knew when things would get chaotic. The new year was a special day. If things went sideways at this time, it would be best if they left now, thus he agreed.
Right now, she did not care what her father was considering, as she needed to hurry and take her brother away. She must not allow Ren Xitao to be led astray by the Lu family’s young miss. With Lu Ping looking like that, it made others feel a little uneasy.
At this time in the Imperial Palace, the Emperor had spent many nights in a row with Imperial Concubine Yuan Shu. Given his old age, Zhang Yuan became frightened and arranged for an imperial physician to be stationed outside Zhao He Hall every night…