Not long after Lu Zan returned, Ye Zhen's imperial edict arrived.
Although she intended to put Lu Zan in an important position, Ye Zhen felt that he was not suitable to enter the court as an official. It was most appropriate to let him work for her outside. She rewarded Lu Zan with a large house and 50,000 taels of silver. On the surface, it was only a reward for his cousin, but in fact, only Lu Zan knew what it meant.
What he did for the Empress could not be known to others. Others only thought that the Empress was taking care of her family. Only Lu Zan knew what was going on.
"Zan Zhi, did I hear it right?" Lu Zan's second wife was helped up. She was still a little dazed. Just now was the Empress's imperial edict. Did she really want to reward their second branch with a large house?
"Yes." Lu Zan held the golden imperial edict in his hand. His mood was not very calm. Did the Empress finally trust him?
The other meaning of this reward was to believe in him.
Lu Zan's second wife couldn't help but take Lu Zan's hand and kept saying, "The Empress finally found her conscience. She knew that she grew up in our Lu family. Old Madam was so good to her. She should have done this long ago …"
"Mother, you also know that Yao Yao is now the Empress. Do you know that a loose tongue can cause trouble?" Lu Zan looked at his mother lightly and said.
"Shut up! This time, the Empress's mansion was awarded to Zan Zhi. Don't you understand? It is Zan Zhi's meritorious service. The Empress still treats us the same. " Lu Shixun scolded his second wife with a sullen face. Now was not the same as in the past. Lu Yaoyao was no longer the adopted daughter of the Lu family. If she spoke carelessly, she could lose her life at any time.
After being scolded by her husband, Lu Zan's second wife remembered the content of the imperial edict just now. It seemed that the big house was awarded to her son. There was no mention of the other members of the second branch at all. She secretly scolded Lu Yaoyao for being narrow-minded. After so many years, she still couldn't let go of the past. "I didn't say anything."
Lu Zan glanced at them. "Father, mother, let's worship the Empress's imperial edict on the incense table first."
It was a great thing to be rewarded by the Empress. At least for them, it was a turning point for a new start.
Lu Shixun was unwilling to sell the Lu family's mansion, but in the end, he still had nothing. If it weren't for Lu Zan's business support, they wouldn't have been able to live. After so many years, Lu Shixun had long lost his original ambition. At first, he looked down on Lu Yaoyao, thinking that no matter how beautiful she was, she would never be as lucky as Lu Wushuang. Who knew that he was wrong, Lu Yaoyao was the luckiest.
"When can we move out?" Second Madam Lu was most concerned about this. The dilapidated house they lived in was small and damp, and they could not afford a big house. Every day when she lay down, she would miss the days when she was in the Marquis's residence. Not only was the place they lived in spacious and bright, they had maids to order around. Now, she did not need maids at all.
"I'll decide after I see it." Lu Zan said in a low voice. "Tomorrow, we still have to thank the Empress."
Second Madam Lu's eagerness did not affect her son at all. She helplessly glared at her son. After putting the imperial edict on the incense table, she pulled Lu Zan back to the room, intending to interrogate her son carefully.
Because she was too impatient, she did not see the patience in Lu Zan's eyes.
Lu Shixun originally wanted to help his son, but thinking that he did not know what the Empress was doing today, he did not speak. He wanted to know what his son was doing for the Empress.
"Mother, what do you want to ask?" Lu Zan sighed in his heart. In fact, his mother had something to do with their family's current situation. It was only because of his mother that he did not want to argue. For so many years, third uncle often helped them, but his mother felt that it was third uncle's fault that they ended up like this, and refused to have any contact with third uncle's family.
Second Madam Lu smiled and let him sit down. "I ask you, what does Lu Yaoyao want you to do? Why did she give you such a great reward? "
"Mother, the person you are talking about is the current Empress. Not to mention you, even third uncle doesn't dare to call her by her name." Lu Zan said coldly.
"Good, good, good. What does the Empress want you to do? What service did you make for her? " Second Madam Lu remembered that Lu Yaoyao had to bow to her in the past, but now, she couldn't even say her name at home.
Lu Zan said lightly, "Nothing, I just did something. Mother, don't ask."
"Since she needs you, why didn't she give you an official position? What's the use of a big mansion?" Second Madam Lu curled her lips.
"Mother!" Lu Zan's voice sank. "It is a blessing to be able to work for the Empress. I have no scholarly title or merit. Why should the Empress give me an official position? If you still want to tire the whole family out, feel free to complain. "
Second Madam Lu was so frightened that she did not dare to speak again.
After a while, Lu Zan asked in a low voice, "Mother, why don't I see sister?"
"She was taken by Pei shi." Second Madam Lu snorted with an ugly expression. She didn't like Pei shi. Ever since the two of them were daughters-in-law in front of Old Madam Lu, Pei shi had already suppressed her in every aspect. She even teased Pei shi for raising Lu Yaoyao as her adopted daughter, but in the end, she was the daughter of a sinner. In the end, Lu Yaoyao became the Empress. The most hateful thing was that even though Lu Yaoyao was her biological daughter, when she grew up, she liked to run to Pei shi's side and didn't take her words to heart.
Lu Zan smiled when he heard this. "It's naturally good for sister to have third aunt looking after her."
Second Madam Lu was very unhappy when she heard this. What did he mean? It was good for her daughter to be looked after by Pei shi, was it bad for her to have her by her side? "Go and bring your sister back. Where is her home? It's not appropriate for her to stay there every day."
"Third aunt has hired a teacher for sister. Let her stay there for a few days." Lu Zan was very fond of his innocent and lively sister. Fortunately, she wasn't raised astray by their mother. A few years ago, he met third aunt outside. Third aunt often sent people to pick her up for a short stay and even hired a teacher to teach her. It was no different from the teaching she received in the manor. Lu Zan was very grateful to third uncle and third aunt.
"Pei shi is trying to drive a wedge between us mother and daughter. Are you going to watch your sister be taken away by others?" Second Madam Lu stomped her feet in anger.
Lu Zan said lightly, "I'm going to see my sister. If she wants to come back, I will naturally bring her back."
"No matter what, you must bring her back." Second Madam Lu shouted angrily.
"There's one more thing." Lu Zan reminded indifferently. "Don't have too much contact with Jing 'er in the future. If she was considerate of you, she wouldn't have let you live in this place."
Second Madam Lu snorted. "You think I don't know that she's just watching a joke? But she is still the concubine of the fifth duke."
Lu Zan's lips curled into a mocking smile. He didn't say anything more.
...
(Nine-headed Bird Academy)
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
