Lu Ming naturally knew he couldn't wait any longer.
It wasn't just Lu Zhaoyun's age that couldn't wait; the Emperor had already found a wife candidate for the Second Prince.
If they hadn't come up with a way to delay the matter, the Second Prince would have already been married.
"The marriage contract must be found. If it's not, Consort Shu won't acknowledge it," Lu Ming slammed the table.
"Consort Shu is also abandoning us after crossing the river. Back then, she was almost relegated to the cold palace. At that time, she desperately begged to arrange a marriage, and now that she's gained power, she's completely put on airs!" Madam Lu snorted.
Lu Ming said impatiently, "Shut up. Is Consort Shu someone you can criticize? That mouth of yours will cause trouble sooner or later!"
He stood up. "Tonight, I'm going to Fragrant Jade Courtyard."
With that, he flicked his sleeves and left.
"My lord! Come back!"
Madam Lu's face turned green with anger.
Yao Xiangyi really was a slut! Her daughter was already fourteen, and she herself was past her prime, yet she could still lure her husband to her room every other day.
Yao Xiangyi was the Second Concubine of the Lu Residence, and Lu Zhaohua's mother.
Lu Zhaoling received three hundred taels of silver, giving ten taels each to Qingyin and Qingbao, and letting them use the rest to buy new clothes and other things.
Feeling refreshed, she got up and drew talismans again.
She took the several Peace Talismans she bought and walked around the courtyard, burying them in various spots.
"Miss, what's this for?" Qingyin and Qingbao didn't quite understand.
After buying the jade tablets, Lu Zhaoling had placed them on several talisman papers, saying they needed to "nourish" for two days, and then told them to bury them.
"Setting up a formation, a Spirit Gathering Formation."
The formation she set up gathered not only the spiritual energy of heaven and earth but also the Aura of Wealth.
If any spirit-infused birds happened to land in her courtyard, they'd have to leave a wisp behind; the main idea was "no goose leaves without shedding feathers."
This way, she could recover faster.
Qingyin and Qingbao didn't understand, but the moment all the jade tablets were buried, they both felt a gentle breeze sweep past, and the surrounding air seemed much fresher.
Even the flowers smelled sweeter, and the wind felt gentler.
For some reason, their mood suddenly improved significantly.
Lu Zhaoling looked at them and smiled slightly.
It was also her fate with these two girls; by staying with her here, their bodies would greatly improve, and their martial arts progress would be faster than others.
For the next two days, Lu Zhaoling continued to eat, drink, and sleep.
Madam Lu, having lost three hundred taels, and waiting for Lu Zhaoling to attend Princess Changning's banquet, naturally dared not try any more tricks.
However, the news that the Lu family had brought back a second young lady from the countryside, who was also bestowed a marriage to Prince Jin, finally spread throughout the capital.
Even during the period of national mourning, such news was enough to make everyone curious and eager for gossip.
Lu Ming was first "besieged" by his colleagues.
He then discovered that even men, men in officialdom, could be quite gossipy.
What people were most curious about was—
"Lord Lu, I've never heard that you had a daughter raised in the countryside before? This official remembers that your second daughter has always been in the capital? What was her name, oh, right, Lu Zhaoling."
Lu Ming cursed inwardly.
Why did they even remember his daughter's name? Lord Censor, you're too dedicated!
"Lord Lu, how did your country-raised daughter come to know Prince Jin?"
Lu Ming: I'd like to know too!
"Lord Lu, why is Prince Jin still so indifferent when he sees you? You're going to be his father-in-law soon."
Lu Ming was exasperated.
Just then, Prince Jin and the Crown Prince walked over from the front.
All the officials immediately fell silent.
They were not familiar with the adult Prince Jin. But many here remembered Prince Jin from childhood.
He was a master who, relying on the Retired Emperor's favor, didn't put anyone in his eyes.
Once, a certain Grand Secretary's grandson caught a small golden carp from the palace and accidentally killed it. The Retired Emperor at the time said it was unintentional by a child and didn't pursue it, but the young Prince Jin directly stuffed the carp into the child's mouth.
To this day, that child still dares not eat fish.
There was also an official who remarked that Prince Jin's mother had been immodest in her youth. Prince Jin directly went to their house and stayed for a day,
just watching how "modest" their family was. When the official dropped a grain of rice while eating, or accidentally let out a fart, Prince Jin almost flipped their house over.
In short, he was a little devil-king.
There were many such incidents, and later, when Prince Jin left the capital, many people breathed a sigh of relief.
"Are you talking about this Prince?" Prince Jin had already walked over.
He walked slowly, but each step seemed to carry a low pressure.
The officials gasped.
No way, from so far away, he heard them?
Everyone dared not reply, all looking at Lu Ming.
Thus, Prince Jin's gaze followed theirs and landed on Lu Ming.
Back then, Lu Ming was not qualified to attend court, so he wasn't very familiar with Prince Jin.
He thought that since the Imperial Marriage Edict was real, and he was now considered Prince Jin's prospective father-in-law, he straightened his back and met Prince Jin's gaze.
But upon meeting Prince Jin's deep, ocean-like eyes, he still involuntarily trembled.
Prince Jin was so young, yet his eyes were so profound!
"Your Royal Highness, they heard about His Majesty's bestowed marriage and came to congratulate this official."
With Lu Ming speaking, another military general next to him grew bolder and asked, "Did Prince Jin and the Second Miss Lu know each other for a long time?"
Prince Jin's lips curled slightly. "Not long. This Prince met her the day I returned to the capital."
Hiss.
That was only a few days ago?
Someone, seeing that Prince Jin's attitude seemed okay, quickly asked again, "Second Miss Lu was raised in the countryside, so she must be lacking in etiquette. Can such a girl be a good Imperial family matron? She mustn't tarnish the Imperial family's reputation in the future."
This person seemed to be from Prime Minister Shen's faction. Lu Ming saw clearly that this was likely Prime Minister Shen trying to get justice for his daughter.
Lu Ming also felt embarrassed; a daughter raised in the countryside, what face could she earn him?
Prince Jin's gaze swept over, and he suddenly raised his foot and kicked the official.
Bang.
The official was kicked and fell to the ground, looking up in shock and anger.
Everyone else was also startled, instinctively stepping back two paces.
The Crown Prince sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"Imperial Uncle..."
Prince Jin's voice was cold. "See? This Prince can't even be a good Prince. Second Miss Lu just needs to be worthy of this Prince."
After speaking, his gaze swept over Lu Ming's face again.
"If she was raised in the countryside, shouldn't Lord Lu be the one to blame? Lord Lu, how did you act as a father?"
Lu Ming's face changed again when asked that.
"This, Your Royal Highness, actually, sending Zhaoling to be raised in the countryside was unavoidable, back then..."
Prince Jin interrupted him, "Do I have to listen to you spin a tale? In any case, from now on, if anyone dares to criticize her for lacking etiquette, I will blame you."
After saying that, he left with the Crown Prince.
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