24: Lu Family's Schemes

The Lu Family estate was situated in the eastern part of the Capital City.

As the head of the four great Families in the Capital City, controlling chamber of commerce businesses in the Great Xia and several surrounding nations, their accumulated wealth over thousands of years was enough to rival a nation.

Coupled with the fact that the Lu Family's Young Master had married into the imperial palace and become the Imperial Husband, receiving endless favor, the Lu Family's status in the Great Xia was at its zenith, and their prominence was unparalleled.

Every day, an endless stream of people came to beg for favors or offer gifts. It was rumored that even a third-rank court official had to send word in advance if they wished to sit inside the Lu Residence.

On this day, the fragrance of tea swirled within the reception hall of the Lu Family.

A middle-aged woman dressed in brocade robes and lavish ornaments was sipping fragrant tea. Her narrow, long eyes flickered with shrewdness and calculation; at a glance, one could tell she was a ruthless character in the business world.

This person was none other than the current head of the Lu Family, Lu Jubao.

She laughed out loud and praised, "The taste is mellow and fragrant, with an endless aftertaste. Prime Minister Lin, this is excellent tea!"

The woman sitting beside her wore loose cyan casual clothing. With grey hair, she was an elderly woman whose wrinkled face carried a faint air of authority. She was the first-rank court official, Prime Minister Lin Xiulan.

Lin Xiulan revealed a humble smile and said, "This tea comes from the Little Dragon Mountain of the Big Dipper. It has the effect of prolonging life and nourishing Qi and blood. A single grain is worth a thousand gold. If the Imperial Father-in-law likes it, this Old Woman can have someone send it over!"

"With such a heavy gift, Prime Minister Lin must be plotting something significant, right?" Lu Jubao examined the teacup in her hand closely. She recognized it as a precious antique from the previous dynasty, something priceless and rare.

"It is not really a big deal!" Lin Xiulan did not stand on ceremony and said directly, "This Old Woman has a daughter who serves as a prefect in Liangzhou. Today, Your Majesty has pacified Qingzhou, and it is a time when people are needed. My daughter hopes to go to Qingzhou to display her talents and show loyalty to the imperial court!"

Unlike Liangzhou, Qingzhou was located in the south of the Great Xia. The soil was fertile, the economy prosperous, and it bordered various southern countries, facilitating trade. Most importantly, Qingzhou had just been pacified, and Su Xuemei and her group had been purged, which would inevitably leave a large number of official positions vacant. The potential for manipulation and the opportunities here were simply immense.

"This matter might be a bit difficult to handle!" Lu Jubao drew out her tone, her face showing a look of difficulty. "Qingzhou is a vital stronghold for Your Majesty; it is likely difficult for anyone else to make Your Majesty change her mind!"

In reality, she was thrilled. Don't look at the Lu Family as having been merchants for generations with wealth rivaling a nation; without the protection of military force and power, in this world, they were like delicious fat meat that everyone wanted to take a bite of. Never mind a first-rank court official like Lin Xiulan; even a random fifth-rank official in the Capital City would dare to give the Lu Family a cold shoulder.

But now it was different. Her precious son had married into the palace. Who in the world did not know that her precious son was the Great Xia Imperial Husband, the only man of Your Majesty! Even first-rank officials had to be polite to her and respectfully call out, "Imperial Father-in-law!" This was the wonderful experience brought by power!

"Imperial Father-in-law, this matter might be extremely difficult for others, but for you, isn't it just a matter of a single word!" Lin Xiulan's eyes lit up, and she said eagerly, "As long as you let the Imperial Husband whisper in Your Majesty's ear, regardless of whether it succeeds or not, this Old Woman is willing to present a pair of white Han jade porcelain from the former Song Dynasty!"

"Alright then, since Prime Minister Lin's beloved daughter intends to contribute to the imperial court, in a few days I will have Lu Xiaoming go and help introduce her!" Lu Jubao agreed lazily. Anyway, she would pocket the treasure first. Even if the matter didn't succeed, she didn't believe Lin Xiulan would dare to ask her for the treasure back!

"Then this Old Woman thanks the Imperial Father-in-law in advance!" Lin Xiulan cupped her hands. Just then, a male servant trotted in and whispered into Lu Jubao's ear. Lu Jubao stood up in shock, her expression changing instantly.

"Imperial Father-in-law, has some difficult matter occurred?" Lin Xiulan asked hurriedly. Lu Jubao cupped her hands towards the other person and said, "This Old Woman has something that needs to be dealt with; I must excuse myself from Prime Minister Lin today."

"No matter, Imperial Father-in-law, please go ahead and get busy. This Old Woman will take her leave as well!"

"Hmm!" Lu Jubao nodded and then left quickly.

Passing through the beautiful and secluded corridor, she arrived at the back of the estate and stopped in front of an elegant small courtyard. This was Lu Xiaoming's boudoir. Even though he had been sent into the palace, the small courtyard had been preserved, though he rarely returned to stay there.

Just a moment ago, she had received news from the male servant that the Young Master had returned to the Lu Family with red, swollen eyes, crying. Something major must have happened inside!

Thinking of this, Lu Jubao did not dare to delay and hurried into the room. She saw that behind the thin bed curtains, the man's graceful body was trembling and twitching, accompanied by bursts of sobbing.

Seeing her beloved son crying like this, Lu Jubao was both angry and heartbroken. She hurried forward, gently patting the man's shoulder, and comforted him, "Xiaoming, don't cry, don't cry. Where have you been wronged? Tell Mother, Mother will go and vent your anger for you!"

Hearing the movement, Lu Xiaoming's sobbing grew louder. He let out a whimper and threw himself into his mother's arms. In a short while, his tears had soaked through her thin clothing.

Lu Jubao's brows furrowed tightly. She suddenly remembered that today was the day the Empress returned to the Capital City. Her heart couldn't help but tighten, and she couldn't help but guess, "Xiaoming, could it be that Your Majesty bullied you?"

"Yes, it is her!" Lu Xiaoming lifted his tear-stained face, which looked like pear blossoms in the rain, and choked with sobs, "It is that heartless woman, the Empress, who abandons the old for the new!"

"Where does this come from?" Lu Jubao asked nervously. All the power she possessed today came from the Empress's favor. If something went wrong there, she would not be able to accept such a massive drop in status.

"She returned to the palace today, and... and she brought a man back with her!" Lu Xiaoming sobbed.

"A man! Mother thought it was something major!" Lu Jubao's brows instantly relaxed, and she let out a long sigh of relief, gently stroking Lu Xiaoming's head, comforting him, "Xiaoming, in this world, it is very normal for powerful women to have many husbands, let alone for the Empress!"

"Xiaoming, as the Great Xia Imperial Husband and the master of the inner palace, you must have the capacity to tolerate others. Given the Empress's status, it is impossible for her to belong only to you. Look at the previous Empresses of the Great Xia; which one of them didn't have dozens of husbands!"

She subconsciously assumed it was her son's male jealousy at work, that he was just being jealous and throwing a tantrum.

"Mother, I... I understand all of this. But, but the Empress brought back the third son of Su Xuemei from Qingzhou, and she even let him move into Luofeng Hall!"

Lu Xiaoming wiped away his tears and said, feeling quite aggrieved, "Wasn't the Su Residence executed and the decree announced to the world? How... how could she bring the son of a condemned official back into the palace!"

Hearing this, Lu Jubao's expression changed drastically. She was a shrewd person who had lived for nearly fifty years; how could she not guess the implications hidden within? Her brows were once again shrouded in dark clouds, her lips pursed tightly, and she remained silent.

Immediately, Lu Xiaoming's eyes became sinister, and he whispered, "Mother, why don't you secretly send some people to kill that fox spirit!"

"Unwise. This move is too risky. If this person holds a very important position in the Empress's heart, then our Lu Family might risk ruin!" Lu Jubao shook her head and directly refused.

"Then... what should we do? I am now worried that that male fox will hook the Empress's heart, and even... depose me from my position as Imperial Husband. Then our Lu Family will still be ruined!" Lu Xiaoming was also at a loss. His purpose in returning to the Lu Family was to ask his shrewd mother for some strategies.

"That possibility is not very high!" Lu Jubao tapped her fingers against the bed frame and thought carefully, "Over these years, our Lu Family has performed great meritorious service for the Empress's grand cause. When she needed money, we gave money; when she needed people, we gave people, without a single word of complaint!"

"And based on Mother's understanding of the Empress, she is not the type to discard the donkey once the grinding is done, nor is she heartless and unrighteous. As long as you don't commit a major mistake, the Empress should not depose you from your position as Imperial Husband!"

This was also why she had just refused to directly assassinate Su Quan, because that was a desperate move that could only be used when it was a matter of life and death.

"Then I can only watch helplessly and do nothing?" Lu Xiaoming showed a bewildered expression.

"It seems we have to use that thing ahead of schedule!" Lu Jubao murmured, turned around, and walked out of the room. A moment later, she returned carrying a beautifully decorated jade box.

"Mother, what is this?" Lu Xiaoming curiously leaned in.

"This is a treasure of the Immortals!" Lu Jubao kept him in suspense, then opened the jade box. Inside was a small pinch of golden powder, shrouded in a mysterious glow.

"This item is a treasure that Mother spent a terrifying price to obtain from an Immortal Sect in the Western Regions some years ago!"

"Immortals!" Lu Xiaoming revealed a look of longing. Their Great Xia was merely a mortal nation in a remote place. Although they possessed powerful Martial Artists of the Celestial Realm like the Empress, who could split mountains and rocks and lift a thousand catties, compared to those Immortals who stepped on Immortal swords, flew through the sky, and sought longevity, they were far too inferior.

It was said that the Immortals also possessed all sorts of inconceivable means, such as scattering beans to create soldiers, turning stones into gold, and so on.

"The effect of this item is that it can ensure a woman will conceive a child during intimacy!"

"Mother, you mean..." Lu Xiaoming's eyes lit up.

"Correct. As long as the Empress conceives your Phoenix child, then your position as Imperial Husband cannot be shaken by anyone!" Lu Jubao nodded slightly, her face full of self-satisfaction.

"Didn't Mother have a eunuch send you a precious aphrodisiac earlier? That is also something used by Immortals. Tonight, find an opportunity to add these two medicines into wine and let the Empress drink it, and the grand plan will succeed!"

"This child will definitely not let Mother down!" Lu Xiaoming beamed with joy, grabbed the jade box, and left impatiently. Having married into the palace for three years, he was extremely hungry for the stunningly beautiful Empress.