CHAPTER 141: CHAPTER 139: MASTER’S TRUE IDENTITY (6TH UPDATE)

Knowing that sending a letter to the Capital was no easy task, Granny Song didn’t dare to delay. After reading the letter, she had Song Yuanbao quickly write a reply.

"We’ve never sent a letter to the Capital!" Granny Song said worriedly. "Who should we ask for help?"

Old Song said, "When Third Son and the others left, they went with a merchant convoy to the Capital. We can spend some money and ask the convoy to take it for us; the Imperial College is such a big place, they’re sure to find it."

"Let’s do that then!" Granny Song decided, changing her clothes and preparing to take a trip to the county town, with plans to buy some New Year goods on the way.

Old Song drove the cart, and Granny Song pulled Song Yuanbao along, letting him pick some snacks he liked, and also buying a few yards of fabric to make him new clothes for the New Year.

As soon as the ox cart entered the county town, the three of them ran into Song Wei’s master, Old Man Lu.

Old Man Lu was riding on a tall horse, sitting straight-backed, having replaced the old cotton jacket he wore at the Song family home with a dark-patterned brocade robe, looking affluent.

With that attire and air, who dared to call him "Old Man Lu" directly? Anyone who saw him had to respectfully address him as "Grand Master."

If Old Man Lu hadn’t spoken first, Old Song and Granny Song wouldn’t have recognized him.

Seeing the dumbfounded expressions on the faces of the old couple, Old Man Lu chuckled, "I’m heading back to the Capital. Do you have any letters to send to that rascal? I can take them for you on my way."

Granny Song still couldn’t quite believe it, "Um... Are you, are you really Lu... Third Son’s master?"

Old Man Lu raised an eyebrow, "Doubt if I’m an imposter?"

"No, no, no, I just feel it’s a bit sudden."

The old man who was constantly mooching off their hospitality and couldn’t be chased away had suddenly transformed into a dignified grand master; it was hard for anyone to immediately reconcile this change in relationship.

Old Man Lu laughed, "I’m pressed for time. Do you have a letter to send or not? If not, I’m leaving."

Suddenly, Song Yuanbao spoke up, "Grandpa Lu, you still haven’t returned my painting!"

Old Man Lu rode up, leaned down and patted his head, "Your father is in the Capital, right? As for the painting, I won’t return it to you; I’ll take it directly to the Capital and return it to him in person."

Song Yuanbao didn’t believe him, "What if you go back on your word?"

Before Old Man Lu could respond, Song Yuanbao continued, "Grandpa Lu said when he was at our house that once a teacher, always like a father. Well, there’s also a saying you must’ve heard: if a father isn’t benevolent, the son won’t be filial. If Grandpa Lu dares not to keep his promise, I’ll write to my father, telling him such a master has issues with character and shouldn’t be followed, and he won’t need to show filial respect to you. Otherwise, he’ll follow your example and will be dishonest and play tricks on me when he’s old."

Song Yuanbao immediately went to a booth where someone was writing letters for others and borrowed paper and pen to write an additional letter, telling Song Wei that the painting had been taken by his master. Grandpa Lu said he’d return it face-to-face when he reached the Capital, and told Song Wei to remember to collect it then.

Old Man Lu: "..."

Unexpectedly, he, Marquis Wu’an, was actually being thwarted by a little brat!

But well, writing letters? Who couldn’t do that?

——

Thus, on the morning of New Year’s Eve, Song Wei received three letters.

The first was a family letter, in the tone of his parents, penned by Yuanbao, telling him everything was fine at home, and he needn’t worry. They urged him to study hard at the Imperial College, hoping he could pass the county examination as a scholar next year and fulfill the promise to give the villagers land.

Additionally, they mentioned having children, urging the couple to hurry up.

Song Wei estimated his mother must have said more than just these few lines, but Yuanbao had simplified it, picking some key points.

The second letter was from Song Yuanbao, stating that a painting from the study was taken by Old Man Lu, who said he was borrowing it for copying and would return it face-to-face in the Capital.

Song Yuanbao also said he threatened Grandpa Lu, insisting if he wasn’t benevolent, Song Wei shouldn’t be filial. If Grandpa Lu dared to play tricks, Song Wei was to cut ties with him, and not recognize such unscrupulous old man as a master.

Song Wei couldn’t help but chuckle as his eyes landed on the words "unscrupulous old man."

The third letter was personally written by Old Man Lu, even more succinct than the previous two, containing only one sentence—Grandson, the New Year gift you pay respect with, Grandpa accepts it.

What does this mean?

Song Yuanbao said, if a father isn’t benevolent, the son won’t be filial.

Old Man Lu simply discarded the "father-son" relationship, directly making Song Wei his grandson.

In the end, he still profited, gaining both the painting and a grandson.

Song Wei was already accustomed to Old Man Lu’s occasional mischievous behavior and wasn’t too surprised. He was just somewhat intrigued that the master had proactively come to the Capital, something he was never willing to mention before.

What made Song Wei even more curious was the master’s identity.

Although none of the three letters explicitly stated it, he had a vague feeling it wouldn’t be simple.

Had Yuanbao not mentioned it in his letter, Song Wei wouldn’t have even known his master’s surname was Lu.

Lu...

Could it be related to the Lu family of the Prince Consort?

——

At this moment, inside the Wu’an Hou Mansion of the Lu Family Old Mansion, the servants were already neatly standing in line, ready to welcome the Old Marquis.

The news had also reached the Princess Mansion.

Knowing that the Old Marquis, who had been hidden for years without a word, suddenly returned to the Capital, the Eldest Princess, as a daughter-in-law, had to go over to pay her respects and greet him.

After bathing and changing clothes, Lu Xingzhou and the Eldest Princess took Lu Yanqing and set off for the Marquis Mansion in a carriage.

Because the Old Marquis had not been in the Capital for many years, Lu Yanqing did not have a deep impression of this grandfather, only knowing from others that he loved antiques and paintings, was crazy about these old things, and for this reason, he retired from the court early to travel and collect antiques.

It was said that his grandfather secretly had a large place dedicated to collecting antiques and paintings, filled with treasures, but no one really knew its exact location.

Lu Yanqing looked up and asked his mother, "Has it been many years since grandfather returned to the Capital?"

Upon hearing this, the expressions on the Eldest Princess and Prince Consort Lu’s faces turned somewhat unnatural.

The Eldest Princess instinctively clenched her slender fingers.

Many years ago, if the Old Marquis hadn’t broken his promise and left the Capital suddenly, everything that followed wouldn’t have happened.

Her turbulent life was entirely due to the actions of three people: Lu Xingzhou’s biological father, Old Marquis Lu, another was Lu Xingzhou’s eldest sister-in-law Su Yi, and the last one, her biological mother, Empress Dowager Renyi.

Lu Xingzhou knew his wife didn’t genuinely like the Old Marquis or Sister-in-law Su, so he sighed helplessly, "Ah Yin, why don’t you stay at the Princess Mansion? I’ll go myself, and I’ll just say you’re not feeling well and can’t attend."

The Eldest Princess slowly released her clenched fingers and suddenly laughed, "He is my father-in-law, and he’s the one who pushed me to this point. Now that he’s back, how can I not be there? Besides, today is New Year’s Eve, as the daughter-in-law of the Lu family, I should properly sit down and have a reunion dinner with you all."

Lu Xingzhou didn’t persuade her further, knowing she was not one to be easily swayed.

Lu Yanqing listened with a confused face, looking up at Lu Xingzhou and then at the Eldest Princess, "Father, Mother, what are you talking about? I don’t understand anything."

Lu Xingzhou’s expression slightly darkened, "It’s an adult matter, children shouldn’t ask too many questions."

With his mother present to hold the fort, Lu Yanqing dared not retort and wisely kept quiet.

By the time the carriage reached the Marquis Mansion, a servant woman was already waiting outside.

Leading them was Lu Xingzhou’s eldest sister-in-law Su Yi.

Su Yi had long heard that Zhao Xunyin was coming and had asked her mother-in-law for permission to personally come out to greet them.

When she saw Lu Xingzhou dismissing the maids of the Princess Mansion and personally helping Zhao Xunyin down, the smile on Su Yi’s face became somewhat stiff, gripping the handkerchief in her hand, she stepped forward a couple of steps and had to force out a smile, "Sister-in-law, you’ve come! The Old Marquis and the old lady have been waiting in the flower hall for a long time."

As she spoke, she affectionately reached out to hook her arm around the Eldest Princess’s.

The Eldest Princess deftly avoided her, looking cold, "Eighteen years ago at the Marquis Mansion’s birthday banquet, Sister-in-law helped me once, which facilitated my good affair with the Prince Consort, and also your love affair with my elder brother. Do you want to use the same trick again today? Sister-in-law, now that you and I are both married women, please show some respect."

Being humiliated in public, Su Yi’s outstretched hand was left hanging in mid-air, struggling with whether to withdraw it or not.

After a while, she came back to her senses and looked at the Eldest Princess, her eyes glistening with tears, showing a pitiful expression, "Does Sister-in-law have some misunderstanding about me?"

"Whether there’s a misunderstanding or not, Sister-in-law knows better than anyone. Stop pretending to be weak and pitiful, and if you dare cause any more trouble, don’t blame me for speaking frankly to you in front of our in-laws later."

The Eldest Princess moved forward without letting go of Lu Xingzhou’s arm.

To others, they appeared as loving as could be in that moment.

Su Yi turned around, staring at Lu Xingzhou’s handsome and upright back, a spark ignited in her eyes.

That man should have belonged to her!

——

Once inside the gates, the Eldest Princess gently pushed away the Prince Consort’s hand and gazed at every grass and tree in the grand courtyard of the Marquis Mansion, past memories surged in her mind.

She and the Prince Consort had been in love long ago, but the Empress Dowager did not allow it and declared harshly that if she dared to associate with Lu Xingzhou again, she would find an excuse to eradicate the Lu family.

Thus, eighteen years ago at the old lady’s birthday banquet at the Marquis Mansion, she had sneaked in disguised as a maid, only to be discovered by Lu Xingzhou’s admirer, Su Yi.

Su Yi pretended to support her, secretly drugging her with an aphrodisiac, originally intending to ruin her life.

But it backfired, and the one who ended up with her in bed was Lu Xingzhou.

By a twist of fate, Su Yi had hatefully handed over the man she loved dearly and the woman she despised so much to the same bed, going to sleep plotting revenge against Zhao Xunyin.

Knowing that the Empress Dowager did not approve of Lu Xingzhou and Zhao Xunyin being together, Su Yi, leveraging her family’s status as relatives of the Empress, entered the palace to plead with the Empress Dowager, facilitating her union with Lu Xingzhou.

With the Empress Dowager’s nod, a tragedy for everyone was sealed.