Chapter 2, Vulgar Tactics
The young girl originally appeared to be淡淡清清, resembling a 'fairy beyond the world' who seemed indifferent to the myriad affairs of the mortal realm.
"Do you still have any shame? Is this what you call approaching your father-in-law?" Madam Hu forcefully struck the armrest, loudly reprimanding, "How is it that among the Lu family of the Tian'en Marquisate, there emerged such a shameless and despicable person, who is solely focused on clinging to wealth and power?"
Bai Qiong let out a cold snort, playing with the lid of the teacup in her hand, still not uttering a word
Madam Hu, with a sullen expression, forced a smile, then struck the armrest of the large chair with her right hand and pointed forcefully at Lu Zhen.
When she married Lu Tai, her family provided a substantial dowry, which could be considered a perfect combination of a low-end version of 'wealth' and 'power'. Coupled with her considerable beauty, Lu Tai's decision to marry her was undoubtedly influenced by her appearance as well.
As Master Lu stated, when this marriage contract was signed, neither of our fathers had been born yet. Ultimately, this marriage contract was merely the result of a momentary whim of the two elderly gentlemen after a few drinks.
shameless and sycophantic towards wealth and power
If an ordinary clan member is punished by Lady Hu, it is indeed tantamount to being killed, and the government of Dayin has no authority to intervene in the internal affairs of the clan
However, she was born into a family of small merchants and has never received an education since childhood, not even recognizing a few characters.
However, for four consecutive years, Lu Jun's philosophical topics for Lu Zhen have been life-threatening
Lu Zhen also could not help but glance at the young girl a few more times
Madam Hu was at a loss for words
Another individual, of a similar age to Lu Zhen, was dressed in a grand palace skirt adorned with a white base and ink plum blossom patterns, complemented by a silver fox fur vest. She had red lips and white teeth, willow-like brows and large eyes, with a tall and slender figure, exuding a delicate charm akin to a gentle breeze caressing a fragile willow.
Lu Zhen wanted to speak, but Madam Hu was already scolding from the side: "Be quiet, listen to what the young lady of the Bai family has to say"
Bai Qiong said in a sarcastic tone: "If you are someone who seeks to improve yourself, my Bai family would naturally be pleased to arrange this marriage with you"
On that visit, Lu Zhen did not meet any other members of the Bai family; only Bai Lu's grandfather, Bai Changkong, came out to see him.
Lu Zhen took a deep breath, slightly lowered his head, and assumed a posture of attentive listening
Lu Zhen stands nearly nine feet tall, with broad shoulders, a slender waist, and long, powerful limbs. His figure is as upright as a green pine, and coupled with his resolute appearance, he exudes a masculine and imposing presence, distinctly different from the refined demeanor of the handsome men he usually associates with.
Lu Zhen widened his eyes, looking at Madam Hu and the other two with a mix of shock and anger, ultimately fixing his gaze on the man Bai Qiong
From a pair of impressive sword-like eyebrows, to a pair of bright eyes that shine like cold stars, and then to a straight nose, strong lip line, and skin of a light brown hue akin to ancient bronze.
Bai Qiong shook his head and sighed, saying: "I am a person of utmost straightforwardness, always speaking frankly and never afraid of offending others. The family school of the Duke of Lai is not considered good in the entire city of Gaojing; to call it third-rate would be somewhat harsh, but to say it is merely second-rate would be quite appropriate."
Lu Zhen's forehead was pulsating with veins.
Lu Zhen prepared gifts for the first time and went to the Bai family to pay a visit.
Shaking his head, Bai Qiong tapped the tea cup with the lid, producing a clear 'ding ding' sound.
However, upon suddenly seeing Lu Zhen, the girl's eyes brightened instantly, her gaze fiery, fixated tightly on Lu Zhen's upright, resolute, and distinctly masculine face
However, when it comes to reasoning with her or directly refuting others, she lacks the ability to do so
However, this girl is indeed beautiful, yet she resembles a beauty from a painting, a reflection of flowers in water, always giving a sense of unreality
Lu Zhen's forehead veins throbbed violently as he pressed his lips together firmly
Five years ago, Lu Zhen had just turned ten years old. According to the customs of the Dayin dynasty, a ten-year-old boy is referred to as 'Xiao Lang', which means he can be regarded as 'half an adult' and is qualified to represent his family in visiting old acquaintances and making new friends.
In the lavishly decorated hall, Madam Hu, the matriarch of the Tian'en Marquisate, sat in the central position with a sullen expression on her face
Bailu smiled faintly, her gaze like fire, sweeping once again across Lu Yan's handsome face
Before Lu Chen could speak, Madam Hu pointed at the young girl and said: "This is Miss Bai Lu, you should know her name as well" www.hetushu.com.com
In the sixteenth year of the Jiayou era, your clan's academic evaluation at the end of the year was poor
What Young Master Lu said is not false; indeed, the marriage contract between you and me was established by our fathers back in the day
Do you not feel ashamed, do you not think that the marriage contract signifies that you are weak in life and lacking in fortune, and that you are unable to bear such a burden
After a slight pause, Madam Hu pointed to the man and said, "This is Lord Bai Qiong Bai, you should have some impression of him"
A surge of anger rushed to Lu Zhen's heart, causing a prominent vein to bulge in the center of his forehead, beating rapidly with a 'thump thump thump' sound
He raised his head and looked seriously at Bai Lu, who was as beautiful as a flower and had a face full of smiles, and then glanced at Bai Qiong, who appeared proud and impatient, with her legs crossed and constantly shaking.
She slightly adjusted her sitting posture, reined in her expression, and returned to her original demeanor, which was cool and serene, akin to the elegance of an orchid in a secluded valley
Madam Hu looked at him with disgust and said, "A shameful thing."
With a forceful clap of her hands, Madam Hu coldly said: "You are not worthy of him, therefore, hand over the marriage certificate and write a letter of withdrawal stating 'I am ashamed of my lack of talent and virtue' to him, and put an end to this matter!"
Lu Zhen was startled by Madam Hu's sudden reprimand. He looked at Madam Hu in astonishment and clasped his hands, saying: "Aunt, where has your nephew gone wrong?"
Do you think you can make a name for yourself across the world
Madam Hu impatiently scolded from the side: "Alright, the toad wishes to eat swan meat, but doesn't even consider whether it has that fortune!"
Lu Zhen respectfully saluted Madam Hu with cupped hands and addressed her as 'Aunt'
In the marquis's residence, relying on her status as the mistress, she wielded power and authority, and she was exceptionally skilled at it
Tian Enhou Lu Dan is the head of this branch of the Lu clan
However, look at how you have wasted your time over the past few years, neglecting your studies, and you can be said to have achieved nothing. I am not wronging you, am I
Alright, Lord Bai, Lady Bai, I will take charge of this matter
However, the young girl soon realized her own lapse in behavior
This year, the 18th year of Jiayou, your clan's academic evaluation at the end of the year has shown some improvement, but mhetushu.com still remains at a low level, with results that are still unworthy of mention
Do you think you are worthy of the young lady
In a second-rate family study, you can only achieve a low evaluation
Bailu interrupted Lu Zhen's words, looking at him with a smile as radiant as a flower: "After all, that was decades ago; let's not mention the past, but rather focus on the present, shall we?"
Although she is the matriarch of the Tian'en Marquisate, she is also a marquise of the highest rank in the current dynasty
Then, she quickly measured Lu Yan's stature with her gaze—her eyes suddenly brightened again
Her voice was crisp and sweet, like jade beads falling into a silver plate, producing a delightful 'ding ding dong dong' sound that was truly pleasing to the ear. Even the anger in Lu Chen's heart inexplicably diminished by a few degrees.
Bailu smiled faintly and said, "We need not speak of the events of the past. However, regarding the matters at hand today, do you still remember what my ancestor said to you when you first visited five years ago, Young Master Lu?"
Bailu looked at Lu Zhen and smiled, saying, "What do you think, Young Master Lu?"
Lu Zhen's heart skipped a beat
Madam Hu has suddenly transformed from a gray sparrow into a phoenix perched on a branch, her spirit and demeanor are markedly different from those of years past
He usually studies at the Lu family academy in the Duke of Lai's residence and has seen the young ladies of the Duke of Lai's family from a distance a few times
Upon seeing Lu Zhan, who stood in the center of the hall, tall and plump, with a beauty that rivaled the blossoms of peach and plum, possessing a striking appearance of about eighty to ninety percent, only to be met with a cold snort from Madam Hu, whose triangular eyes appeared somewhat harsh, as she scrutinized him with an extremely critical gaze from head to toe
According to the laws of the Dayin clan, the life and death, as well as the honor and disgrace, of the thousands of Lu clan members within the Tian'en Marquisate are entirely at the discretion of Madam Hu
In the seventeenth year of the Jiayou era, your clan's academic evaluation at the end of the year was subpar
I never expected that she would have such fortune; after marrying Lu Dan for less than two years and just giving birth to two sons for him, Lu Dan unexpectedly achieved great merit and was granted the title of 'Marquis of Heavenly Grace' by the current emperor.
With a flick of his right hand on the clean hem of his long robe, the man spoke softly: "Madam Hu, you are the matriarch of the Marquis's residence. The entire family and the scholars of the Tian'en Marquisate are under your authority and management. For this matter, I kindly ask you to take charge."
Do you think you can attain high office and nobility
Those young ladies of wealth and privilege possess ample riches, yet lack in grace and refinement, their temperament and demeanor falling significantly short compared to the girl before them
In the words of Lu Jun, ethnic studies is about 'teaching according to one's abilities', therefore, at the end of the year evaluation, each person's topic of discussion is different
The girl's gaze seemed as if coated with glue, sweeping over Lu Zhen's face inch by inch, thread by thread
Tian'en Marquisate, Reception Hall
He recalled the years he spent in the Lu family studies, and the theoretical topics assigned to him by the academic head, Lu Jun, during the annual evaluations at the end of each year
Admitting to being 'immoral and unscrupulous', in the era of the Great Yin Wu Dynasty, this would ruin one's future and squander one's life!
The man beside him placed the lid on the teacup and set the teacup down on the small table beside him
"Aunt, how can you say such a thing?" Lu Zhan's voice gradually rose as he sternly rebuked, "I do indeed have a marriage contract with Miss Bai, but this contract was left by my grandfather. At that time, not to mention me, even my father had not yet been born. How could Lu Zhan be so 'shameless' and 'cling to wealth and power'?"
"Yes, Mr. Bai told me five years ago to study diligently and strive for progress. He also said that if I did not achieve anything noteworthy, it would not only be a disgrace to myself but also a shame to the Bai family's reputation, bringing embarrassment to Miss Bai as well." Lu Zhen's smile gradually became radiant: "Therefore, I have not visited since then."
According to the lineage of the clan, Lu Zhan's great-grandfather and Lord Tian'en Lu Tai (pronounced 'Tai', meaning 'great' or 'sunshine')'s grandfather were half-brothers sharing the same father. Lu Zhan is indeed a legitimate nephew of Lord Tian'en, making the term 'aunt' particularly appropriate.
"Is it the father-in-law in person?" Lu Chen's voice turned cold
Ding-dong
Madam Hu let out a satisfied cold laugh
In the hall, besides Mrs. Hu, there are two other guests
At the Bai family, Lu Chen only drank half a cup of lukewarm 'cool' tea. After receiving a few indifferent and bland 'earnest teachings' from Bai Changkong, he was 'politely sent away'.
A girl of such colors, Lu Chen is also a rare sight in this life
Madam Hu came from an ordinary merchant family. Given her background, as a woman, she did not receive a serious education and lacked the refinement typical of a well-bred lady. Moreover, she was naturally bold and sharp-tongued
He knocked on the tea cup with force and Bai Qiong said: "In the fifteenth year of Jiayou, your clan's academic evaluation at the end of the year was poor."
Lu Zhen, it is evident that you are a fallen seed devoid of fortune
Bai Qiong's expression changed slightly as he picked up the teacup and took a large gulp of tea. He remained silent, even too lazy to say a word to Lu Chen.
Lu Zhen certainly remembers
Lu Zhen, hand over the marriage certificate, and then according to my wishes, write a letter of withdrawal from the marriage on your own accord. This matter is settled as such
I acknowledge my own limited abilities and shallow knowledge, and that is acceptable
A man dressed in a blue silk robe, wearing a three-beam blue gauze crown, appeared to be in his early thirties. He sat in the guest seat to the left of Madam Hu, holding a delicate porcelain teacup with both hands, crossing his legs in a relaxed manner, displaying an air of arrogance, and casting a disdainful sidelong glance at Lu Chen.
Tian Enhou Lu Tan, at that time, was merely a minor branch of the Duke of Lai's family, with abilities and character that were quite ordinary. Among the vast number of relatives in the Duke of Lai's household, he was not outstanding, and he only gained a small officer position in the Yulin Army through the influence of the duke's family.
Bai Qiong tossed the teacup onto the small table, stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked in front of Lu Zhen, his gaze piercing as he stared at Lu Zhen: "Do you think you have a future?"
Bailu stood up, elegantly positioned in front of Lu Zhen, her enchanting eyes fixed on his handsome face
Lu Zhen tucked his hands back into his sleeves, gazing at Bai Lu with a deep look in his eyes, and said coldly: "In a moment of inspiration after drinking, such words are rather frivolous. Back in the day, Bai family's master..."
Bailu nodded at Lu Chen, also smiling and bowing her head: "Our ancestors have said that you should study diligently, strive for progress, and seek a promising future, so that you may fulfill the marriage contract"
Lu Tai is currently leading the defense outside, while the Tian'en Marquisate is under the management of Madam Hu, the head of the household
Bailu let out a soft sigh, her hands clasped tightly on her knees, her red lips slightly moving as she began to speak