Chapter 236: Chapter 236: Hidden Motives (Part 2)
Lu Xuan could no longer smile.
He stared intently at Lu Cong’s face, as if he wanted to see through it and peer into all his thoughts.
Unfortunately, Lu Xuan, who had lived many years of comfortable and leisurely life, had not developed any commanding presence. Lu Cong, having navigated the officialdom for many years, lacked nothing in terms of strategy and breadth of mind.
Lu Cong looked back sincerely: "I know that saying this may upset you, Prince Consort. However, this is the reality. I also ask you, Prince Consort, to be patient for a bit longer. Until I earn the Commandery Princess’s trust, take on real responsibilities, and firmly establish myself in the Nanyang Prince Mansion. By then, Prince Consort, should you have any tasks for me, I will never refuse."
Lu Xuan took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and said blandly: "As long as you remember what you’ve said."
After a pause, he mocked with a slight smirk: "Even if you can’t remember, you should at least know your own surname. From the moment you came to the Nanyang Prince Mansion, you’ve been tied to me, a useless Prince Consort. If you want to achieve anything, you can’t do it without me, the Prince Consort. I’m sure you’re very aware of this."
Lu Cong responded without hesitation: "The words I said that day, I’ve remembered them word for word, without a moment’s forgetfulness."
"In the future, I will certainly work for the Prince Consort. If the Prince Consort still doesn’t believe it, I can swear an oath right now."
Lu Xuan did not stop him, watching coldly as Lu Cong swore an oath. Then he faintly smiled and said: "Why are we swearing oaths over some casual brotherly talk? How could I not trust you, cousin? After all, there’s only one Lu in our name. In this entire Nanyang Prince Mansion, we’re the only ones with the same mind."
Lu Cong responded repeatedly in agreement.
Lu Xuan contemplated for a moment, then lowered his voice: "At tonight’s banquet, Chief Historian Chen and Chief Historian Feng talked about the new grain yield, with fourteen dan per mu of corn. Is this true?"
When the bountiful harvest of the new grain was mentioned, a gleam appeared in Lu Cong’s eyes: "Absolutely true. For the past half month, I’ve been at the field manor, personally harvesting corn. I was also involved in the drying, threshing, and weighing. The highest yield per mu was sixteen dan, and the lowest was twelve dan. Fourteen dan is the average number from ten mu."
"Even so, Mr. Cui said the yield did not meet expectations. Once selection and cultivation systems are developed in the coming years, the yield will be even higher."
This is a great merit that could save countless people.
When Lu Cong mentioned Cui Du, his tone naturally conveyed respect.
This is the deserved respect for someone with true capability and skill.
Lu Xuan seemed to realize something as his eyes lit up.
Seeing Lu Xuan’s unusual expression, Lu Cong’s heart stirred quietly, and he whispered: "The Commandery Princess has already issued a strict order not to publicize the corn harvest. It should be reported to the court after it is promoted throughout Nanyang County. Prince Consort, do you have other plans?"
Lu Xuan’s eyes shone brighter, and his voice was filled with unusual excitement: "I am thinking of quietly presenting the new grain to the Emperor. Through this achievement, I could gain imperial commendation."
Lu Cong’s eyebrows twitched, and he hurriedly advised against it: "This absolutely cannot be done."
"Why not?" Lu Xuan was somewhat displeased and gave Lu Cong a stern look.
Lu Cong had to speak some harsh truths: "This Nanyang Prince Mansion belongs to the Commandery Princess, and no one dares to disobey her orders. If you secretly send a message to the court, have you considered what would happen if the Commandery Princess finds out?"
With Jiang Shaohua’s temperament, she would surely turn against him!
Lu Xuan’s mind was filled with the image of Jiang Shaohua’s cold face, as if a basin of icy water was poured over him, cooling him down considerably. His face remained stony, and he held his silence.
"Even if we step back and say we can hide it from the Commandery Princess, all the new grain is stored in the field manor’s grain silos. There are guards day and night. How would you manage to obtain the grain and the specific data?" Lu Cong continued to inquire.
Lu Xuan remained silent, just giving Lu Cong a glance.
Lu Cong was speechless as well.
Lu Xuan wanted him to be the vanguard. Does he not think that as the Commandery Princess Attendant, if he dared to do such a treacherous thing, the trusted aides around the Commandery Princess, each with one punch, could turn him into a pulp? How could he undertake any tasks afterward?
That’s not how you use people!
Internally grumbling, Lu Cong spoke even more sincerely: "This matter must not be done. We must remain patient and wait for the right opportunity."
It’s just a matter of continuing to endure! Lu Junma is well-versed in enduring. He endured for more than ten years, and he should just continue enduring.
Lu Xuan snorted from his nose, suddenly losing the interest to speak: "The hour is late, cousin, you’ve traveled a long distance and worked hard, go back to rest early!"
Lu Cong responded with a smile and rose to take his leave.
Stepping out of the study, there was an unexpected joy.
A teenager, about fifteen or sixteen, was waiting outside the study. This young man was tall, handsome, and refined, with a resemblance of five to six points to Lu Cong.
It was Lu Cong’s son, Lu Yun.
"Father!" Lu Dalang approached joyfully, greeting with a hand gesture: "I haven’t seen you in half a year, Father has become leaner."
Lu Cong was also full of joy and quickly assessed his son with a glance: "Let’s go back to the courtyard first, and we’ll talk."
...
"You’ve been at the Prince Mansion for three months now."
The father and son spoke with less formality, and Lu Cong directly led his son into the bedroom, asking with a smile: "How have these days been treating you?"
Lu Dalang replied with a smile: "Very well adapted. Cousin Ying reads every day, and I just accompany him."
Lu Ying was still young, naturally quiet, and rarely left the Prince Mansion. Although Lu Dalang said he came to serve, he actually had no real tasks.
Lu Cong advised with a smile: "Even though you are cousins, remember there’s a difference in rank, and you should respect Lu Ying."
Lu Dalang nodded in agreement and, hesitating for a moment, then said in a low voice: "Father, there’s something I need to tell you. The teacher who instructs Cousin Ying also teaches me literature and writing, alone after teaching Cousin Ying every day."
Lu Cong was taken aback, then reacted: "This must be the Commandery Princess’s intention."
Lu Ying’s teacher was hired at great cost by the Commandery Princess, and as a scholar, he was more than capable of teaching Lu Dalang literature.
"I couldn’t resist secretly asking the teacher once, and indeed it was the Commandery Princess’s instruction," Lu Dalang said happily: "I receive a stipend every month, live and eat at the Prince Mansion, and receive four new outfits each season."
"Living in the old residence was about the same, but really, in the old residence, uncles and elders often pointed fingers at me with contempt in their eyes. But here at the Prince Mansion, everyone treats me with courtesy and respect."
"Father, I like the Nanyang Prince Mansion. I know I am not qualified to take the Imperial Examination again, but I still like studying. In two years, when Cousin Ying goes to study at Jingzhou Prefecture School, I will accompany him as a reading companion."
Seeing his son’s radiant face, Lu Cong felt both comforted and slightly inexplicably sorrowful.
After a moment of silence, he urged his son to go back and rest. Then, he went into the study alone.
The candles in the study burned until the fourth period of the night.
The next morning at the fifth hour, Jiang Shaohua, practiced martial arts for an hour, as usual, and upon exiting the martial practice room, saw Lu Cong respectfully waiting with a towel in hand.