Chapter 108

Chapter 108: The man named Lu is faithless

Chun Zhi and her group returned to Song Manor, leaving Lu Jing Yun far behind as the main gate shut tight.

After telling the gatekeepers not to let that man named Lu in, Song Wan’er walked inside with Chun Zhi.

Song Wan’er asked Chun Zhi: “Sister, what exactly is going on between you and that man named Lu?”

Chun Zhi said: “It all happened a long time ago.”

She had not thought of Lu Jing Yun for a very long time. Ever since Huo Zheng appeared, her world had been filled by him, and she had no room left to think about anyone else.

Clinging to Chun Zhi’s arm, Song Wan’er coaxed her: “I love it most when sister tells me stories, sister tell me one, please.”

Chun Zhi said helplessly: “There’s really nothing to say between him and me.”

Song Wan’er begged her: “Just a few words, only a few words.” [Given how Top Scholar Lu looked at her today, there had to be a story.]

Chun Zhi did not know where to start.

“Wan’er.” Right then, Song An Lan passed through the front court, called to his sister, and signaled with his eyes for her to come over.

Song Wan’er muttered: “Elder brother…” She still wanted to hear about Chun Zhi and Top Scholar Lu, and she did not want to go to her elder brother.

Just then Qing Ye came over and said to Chun Zhi: “Miss, the young master is awake.”

Chun Zhi said: “I’ll go check on Little Xing Hui,” and she headed back to the courtyard.

As she passed Song An Lan, she called: “Elder brother.”

Song An Lan said warmly: “Taking care of Little Xing Hui comes first; go on ahead.”

Chun Zhi answered “Alright” and went on, leaving only Song Wan’er and Song An Lan standing in the front court.

Song An Lan stood where he was and said: “Wan’er, come here.”

Song Wan’er walked forward slowly and said softly: “Elder brother.”

He would not let her cling to sister Chun Zhi to ask about the past. But Song Wan’er loved storybooks more than anything and loved hearing her sister tell stories; she really could not help herself.

Song An Lan asked: “Who did you meet when you went out today?”

Song Wan’er told her elder brother: “A man with the surname Lu. Shopkeeper Qian of the Gold and Jade Tower called him Top Scholar Lu. As soon as he saw sister, he rushed forward without a word and almost startled her. I figured they were old friends, so I asked sister…”

Song An Lan frowned and said: “I told you not to ask about Chun Zhi’s past.”

Feeling wronged, Song Wan’er said: “Elder brother knows everything, so of course you won’t ask, but you won’t tell me anything either. I can only ask sister.”

Curiosity in a person is hard to hold down. Before, when Chun Zhi got involved with Prince Chang’an, Song Wan’er had already been shocked. Who knew that after coming to the Capital there would be a Top Scholar Lu waiting too.

Song An Lan had always spoiled this sister, and she was the sort who wanted to know more the less others told her. Tugging his sleeve, Song Wan’er coaxed him: “If elder brother will tell me, then I won’t ask sister.”

A bit helpless, Song An Lan lowered his voice and told her: “From the age of nine, Chun Zhi was raised in the Lu Clan as Lu Jing Yun’s child bride. Chun Zhi made and sold tofu to pay for Lu Jing Yun’s studies for the Imperial Examinations. Later, Lu Jing Yun placed first as Top Scholar and married the Chancellor’s Daughter, forsaking Chun Zhi. After Chun Zhi left the Lu Clan, she met Prince Chang’an while he was inspecting Nanzhou, and that led to everything after that…”

Hearing this, Song Wan’er said at once: “So that man named Lu is a faithless man?”

Song An Lan nodded and said: “You could put it that way.”

After bringing Chun Zhi back to Dongzhou, he had sent people to Nanzhou to ask about her past, so he knew what had happened between Lu Jing Yun and Chun Zhi. These days Lu Jing Yun kept sending visiting cards to Song Manor; Song An Lan had been the one suppressing them. He knew Chun Zhi would not see Lu Jing Yun. No matter how many cards he sent or how many times he came to Song Manor, it was useless.

“To think I actually felt sorry for him a moment ago because he looked like he was about to cry; turns out he failed sister Chun Zhi first and now he dares to bother her again,” Song Wan’er said as she turned to order the gatekeepers: “All of you listen up. If that man named Lu comes again, beat him out.”

The gatekeepers answered in unison: “Yes.”

Just hearing this made Song Wan’er angry for sister Chun Zhi, and she even regretted it as she said: “If I had known, I should have had the servant maids beat him just now.”

To rush at another family’s womenfolk out in public like that, even a Top Scholar would not escape a beating. It was only her first time facing such a thing, and she had not handled it better.

Song An Lan felt both amused and helpless. He raised a hand to tap Song Wan’er on the head and said to his sister: “The Capital is not Dongzhou; you must not act recklessly.”

Back in Dongzhou, whatever Song Wan’er did, Song An Lan could cover for her. The Capital was different. It was full of imperial kin and noble ladies, and if you offended the wrong person by accident, the trouble would be huge.

“Alright, alright, I’ll go out less,” Song Wan’er said.

She had been badly startled by Top Scholar Lu while shopping with Chun Zhi today. Next time, without her elder brother along, she would not dare go out alone with Chun Zhi.

Speaking gently, Song An Lan asked exactly what that Top Scholar Lu had done to Chun Zhi, and Song Wan’er told him one by one. Song An Lan’s brows drew together; that Top Scholar Lu must be regretting things now. The emperor had already granted a marriage between Chun Zhi and Prince Chang’an, yet this Top Scholar Lu still refused to let go of the past. It was hateful.

When Chun Zhi returned to the courtyard, Little Xing Hui had just woken up and was waving his arms, looking everywhere for his mother. Even in the wet nurse’s arms he could not be soothed. Seeing Chun Zhi come back, the wet nurse’s eyes lit up as she said: “Little Xing Hui, look, mother is back.”

Chun Zhi took Little Xing Hui and said: “Mother is back. Mother will hold you.”

Little Xing Hui blinked, and as soon as he entered his mother’s arms he stopped fussing. He burrowed against her, wanting milk.

Chun Zhi told the wet nurse and Qing Ye to step out, then lifted her clothes to nurse Little Xing Hui.

After eating his fill, Little Xing Hui fell asleep. Chun Zhi laid him on the couch and patted his back gently.

Looking at Little Xing Hui, Chun Zhi’s whole heart turned soft. After more than two months, he had filled out. Now he was fair and tender. His eyes and brows looked a bit like Chun Zhi’s, but his nose and lips looked like Huo Zheng’s. Just looking at him made her feel calm and steady.

That afternoon, Princess Royal Anyang Manor sent an invitation, inviting the two young ladies of the Song Clan to a flower-viewing banquet three days later. Song An Lan knew that Song Wan’er was only included by the way; the real guest they wanted was Chun Zhi, the future Princess Consort of Chang’an.

So he personally brought the invitation to Chun Zhi and asked her: “For the Princess Royal Anyang Manor flower-viewing banquet, will you go or not?”

After thinking a moment, Chun Zhi said slowly: “I will discuss it with Huo Zheng and then decide.”

Song An Lan said warmly: “That is fine.”

Toward evening, after finishing his duties, Huo Zheng came to Song Manor. Chun Zhi showed him the invitation and asked him: “Princess Royal Anyang Manor sent an invitation for a flower-viewing banquet three days from now, inviting me. Do you think I should go?”

Huo Zheng asked her in return: “Chun Zhi, do you want to go?”