CHAPTER 138: CHAPTER 136: HIS WIFE CANNOT SPEAK (THIRD UPDATE)

Lu Yanqing’s "cordial invitation" ultimately ended with Song Wei’s firm attitude.

Song Wei entered the lecture hall and began his class. Lu Yanqing didn’t stay long; after standing for a while, he stepped away.

At noon, after class, Song Wei bumped into Xu Shu, and they prepared to head to the dining hall for a meal. On the way, they saw Prince Consort Lu Xingzhou.

Behind Lu Xingzhou followed Lu Yanqing.

Lu Yanqing’s gaze towards Song Wei was as sinister as ever, leaving no doubt that if given the chance, he would kill Song Wei without hesitation.

Out of formality, Xu Shu and Song Wei paid their respects to Lu Xingzhou.

Lu Xingzhou glanced at the two. "Are you heading for a meal?"

Song Wei nodded with a hum and asked if there was any matter for the Prince Consort?

Lu Xingzhou said, "I’ve booked a table at a restaurant outside. I wonder if you two would honor us with your presence?"

His words were very polite, coupled with Lu Xingzhou’s face showing no trace of malice, making it hard to discern his true intentions.

Xu Shu spoke, "We have classes in the afternoon, so we might have to miss the Prince Consort’s kind offer."

Lu Xingzhou wasn’t annoyed, smiling mildly, "The restaurant isn’t far, just across from the Imperial College."

The stance was set so low; it seemed the other party had decided that no matter what, they must be invited to the restaurant today.

Song Wei didn’t refuse again, "Alright."

Xu Shu glared at him: Alright what? Are you tired of living?

Song Wei looked back at Xu Shu with a particularly tranquil gaze, signaling him to stay calm.

Xu Shu was perplexed; it was clear that Lu Yanqing was targeting Song Wei, even dragging his father into it. Today’s event was clearly a trap from which they might not return.

At such a time, why was Song Wei venturing into the fray? Wouldn’t the best strategy be to avoid the Lu Family?

But Song Wei thought differently.

Since he was already targeted by Prince Consort, even if he evaded this time, he couldn’t escape forever. To have a peaceful time at the Imperial College after today, he couldn’t avoid this banquet.

Lu Xingzhou said to Xu Shu, "If Young Master Xu has matters to attend to, feel free to go!"

Initially, Xu Shu didn’t want to go, but hearing Prince Consort Lu, he straightened his back and stood firmly, "There’s always time for a meal."

Nothing matters more than brotherhood.

Song Wei was resolute in going, and he couldn’t let him go alone regardless. Otherwise, if something happened to Song Wei, who would help him with his studies later? If he couldn’t submit his papers, his father would peel his skin alive!

Lu Xingzhou chuckled, "Then, please, both of you!"

Xu Shu and Song Wei exchanged a glance, then stepped forward to follow Lu Xingzhou.

Lu Yanqing deliberately slowed down, speaking in a cold tone to Song Wei and Xu Shu, "Dare to report my wrongdoings from behind; let’s see how you die later!"

Xu Shu’s face didn’t look good, instantly considering convincing Song Wei not to go.

Lu Yanqing had already marched forward to walk alongside his father. Song Wei glanced at his back and said lightly, "If he truly wanted to kill me, the Prince Consort wouldn’t be so blatant."

Clearly, Lu Yanqing’s words were merely intimidation.

Perhaps Xu Shu might be scared, but in Song Wei’s eyes, it was just a child’s desperate threat.

The restaurant wasn’t far indeed; crossing the long street, they were there after a few steps.

Lu Xingzhou had already booked a private room and ordered dishes. Just as they sat, the waiter successively brought trays, filling the table with delicious food.

Lu Xingzhou picked up the wine pot, then reconsidered and handed it to Lu Yanqing, "Yanqing, pour wine for your two senior brothers."

Lu Yanqing refused, lounging lazily in his chair, "They have hands and feet; can’t they pour it themselves?"

Song Wei stood up politely, "Since the Prince Consort is the host, we should first offer our respects to you with this cup."

Saying so, he walked over to take the wine pot from Lu Xingzhou’s hand and first filled the cups for the Prince Consort and Young Master Lu, then poured one each for Xu Shu and himself.

Then, he and Xu Shu raised their cups simultaneously, finishing them in a toast.

Lu Xingzhou looked at Lu Yanqing sitting by, with a faint smile, "It seems you’ve forgotten what your mother told you before leaving, and what promise you made to her."

The tone was light, yet upon close listening, it carried the undeniable authority he wielded when commanding troops in his day.

Lu Yanqing’s face turned pale.

...

There were rumors outside that ever since Lu Xingzhou handed over military power and married Princess Changping, he turned from a glorious and mighty General Marquis into a "virtuous husband" who spent all day in the mansion sipping tea and admiring flowers with the princess, and a "virtuous father" playing birds and dogs with his son.

These words were actually meant to satirize Lu Xingzhou.

What young man with ambition, especially a general skilled in strategy like him, wouldn’t want to use his talents to earn extraordinary merits and have his name recorded in history?

Once you marry a princess, no matter how capable you were before, from now on the princess is your world. Without the princess, you will have nothing.

Marrying a princess as a wife is not necessarily a good fortune for the men of Great Chu, especially when Lu Xingzhou married the coldest Princess Changping, the Empress Dowager’s youngest daughter and the Holy Emperor’s sister by the same mother.

Is that really marrying a wife? It’s practically inviting a living Bodhisattva to worship at home.

When the royal decree for marriage was issued, several generals under Lu Xingzhou were deeply grieved and advised him to ask the Emperor to rescind the decree. They argued that losing the command of 200,000 troops for a woman was not worth it.

However, Lu Xingzhou stared at the royal decree for a long time and said, "One cannot defy the emperor’s edict." Then he put down his burdens and prepared to marry Princess Changping with the grandest bridal procession.

...

In Lu Yanqing’s impression, the Prince Consort was indeed a kind father. He might occasionally chide him for going overboard, but he was never harsh.

But it was the first time he was directly threatened by his father’s words like just now.

Undeniably, the Little Overlord, who was always brazen wherever he went, was intimidated by his father’s aura.

Pressing his lips together, Lu Yanqing dared not confront his father again. He slowly lowered his arms and sat upright.

However, when his gaze swept across Song Wei and Xu Shu opposite him, a disdainful and irreverent look immediately appeared in his eyes.

Sitting at the same table and eating with these two, he felt it was beneath his dignity, no matter how he thought about it.

Xu Shu, already hungry, didn’t care what kind of look Lu Yanqing gave him. He picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

Song Wei merely moved his chopsticks a couple of times, but had little appetite. He was pondering the real reason why the Prince Consort had summoned him here today.

Surely, it wasn’t just to have a meal.

Lu Xingzhou sipped some wine and looked at Song Wei with a smile, "I heard Mr. Song excelled in the entrance examination, directly entering the second-year inner class. Indeed, a talented young man, quite a figure to reckon with!"

Song Wei replied softly, "I was merely lucky, Prince Consort overpraises me."

"Luck is also a form of strength."

Song Wei remained silent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Lu Xingzhou’s gaze shifted to Xu Shu, then he spoke again, "I also heard that Mr. Song tutors Young Master Xu daily, and he has improved significantly lately."

Xu Shu paused his eating, looked up at Lu Xingzhou, thinking why his father had such a big mouth, telling everything.

But then he thought, given that his father was once a general under Prince Consort Lu, it wasn’t surprising that he’d share this matter with him.

Knowing that Song Wei was quite cautious and fearing that this would cause him trouble, Xu Shu proactively explained, "I’m friends with Song Wei. After school, I often go to his place to hang out, and occasionally have him help me with my studies. Being around him often naturally helped me improve, nothing more."

Lu Xingzhou smiled faintly, "Just as the saying goes, ’those who are around cinnabar become red.’ This principle is indeed timeless."

Noticing the situation turning unfavorable, Xu Shu cursed himself silently for being loose-lipped. But it was too late to retract his words.

Taking advantage of the moment, Lu Xingzhou went straight to the point, "Mr. Song, you are an outstanding student from a local district. Achieving such results, I believe you have a unique study method. The reason I invited you today is to request a favor."

Song Wei understood the gist, "Is Prince Consort hoping that I will also teach Young Master Lu?"

Lu Xingzhou nodded, "You can name any terms and conditions; I will do my best to satisfy you."

Hearing this, Xu Shu lost his appetite altogether, put down his chopsticks, and frowned deeply.

It’s all over now; I had told him not to come, but now he’s in big trouble. Everyone in the Capital knows the character of that Young Master Lu. Anyone who gets involved with him is bound to suffer!

Lu Xingzhou remained silent, quietly waiting for Song Wei to state his conditions.

Song Wei, almost without thinking, responded directly, "I’m sorry, I may not be able to help the Prince Consort."

Lu Xingzhou was somewhat surprised he refused so decisively, "Is there an unavoidable reason?"

"Yes." Song Wei spoke truthfully, "Young Master Xu can attest, there is a young lady in my family who cannot speak, and she needs my care. After school, I have limited time, and besides taking care of my lady, I also need to find time for my own studies. Even tutoring Young Master Xu is only occasional. If I were to tutor regularly, it would indeed be beyond my means."

Xu Shu, realizing the situation, quickly nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes, yes, I can testify. His family’s young lady cannot speak. Didn’t they recently even invite a doctor for her treatment? Song Wei doesn’t even have time to tutor me, let alone teach others."

Lu Xingzhou showed a hint of regret, "That’s really a pity."

Suddenly, Lu Yanqing sneered, "Well, what did I say? Those scholars are arrogant. Even if you offered him a mountain of gold, he wouldn’t accept it."

"Shut up!" Lu Xingzhou’s eyes carried a warning.

Lu Yanqing, with disdain, turned his head down.

Lu Xingzhou looked back at Song Wei, "May I boldly ask, what caused Miss Song’s mutism?"

If the Princess Mansion arranged for someone to help cure the young lady’s illness, perhaps out of gratitude, Song Wei might change his mind and accept his request.

Song Wei had nothing to hide, "When she was young, she lost her voice due to a severe fever and has been unable to speak since."

Lu Xingzhou, puzzled, asked, "Why wasn’t a doctor consulted timely in those days?"

Song Wei shook his head, "Our old home is in the countryside, and even if we could consult a doctor, it would only be an ordinary one, insufficient to treat this ailment."