"I should have suspected it earlier, when you married Lingyue's elder sister into the Mansion of the Assistant Regent."
"Publicly, it was said that the heir of the mansion had ruined elder sister's reputation. So, for the sake of her life, you were willing to put aside your hostility towards the Assistant Regent and marry your daughter into his mansion.
"But if you really regarded the Assistant Regent as a political enemy, how could you bear to marry elder sister into his mansion? Weren't you afraid that the whole mansion would take their grievances against you out on her?"
By the end of his words, Lin Zihan's eyes were bloodshot.
The Prime Minister Zhang's mansion had two daughters. The eldest legitimate daughter, Zhang Lingwan, had been married into the Mansion of the Assistant Regent years ago and had given birth to a son. So, Prime Minister Zhang and the Assistant Regent were actually in - law relatives.
However, in everyone's impression, these two had always been political enemies.
Even after his own daughter was married into the Assistant Regent's mansion, Prime Minister Zhang still openly opposed the people of the Assistant Regent's faction in the court. So, many people had forgotten the in - law relationship between them.
But it was no wonder those people didn't notice. After all, he, as Prime Minister Zhang's student, had only recently seen through this.
Lin Zihan couldn't help but let out a bitter smile. He was waiting for his teacher to refute him, to loudly tell him that things were not as he thought.
However, it didn't happen.
What he waited for was a heartfelt sigh from Prime Minister Zhang: "Zihan, actually, I didn't mean to hide this from you."
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so straightforward in telling him not to interfere in Fang Qinhu's case.
To Prime Minister Zhang, Lin Zihan was not just a student without blood relation. He had already regarded him as his own son and was training him as such.
For this reason, he even planned to hand over his political influence in the court to Lin Zihan after he retired.
But judging from his beloved student's current attitude, this wish might be difficult to achieve.
Seeing the regretful and pained expression on his teacher's face, Lin Zihan forced himself not to look. He said coldly again,
"So, teacher, the 'cultivate the noble spirit and behold the grand spectacle of the world' you once taught me. In your opinion, is deviating from the emperor's orthodoxy the so - called noble spirit?"
"Zihan, I did say that. But I also said that 'a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall'."
In the current Great Qi, the Assistant Regent held great power. Even though Prime Minister Lu whole - heartedly assisted the emperor and tried his best to resist, he was just barely holding on.
So, to him, the emperor's orthodoxy was the "dangerous wall", and a gentleman should not stand under it.
"Zihan, I've been teaching you the way of loyalty to the king for all these years. So, I understand that you can't accept this for the time being. I won't urge you. But just stay away from the cases in the capital."
Prime Minister Zhang's implication was obvious. This matter must be related to the Assistant Regent.
Lin Zihan didn't respond. He took a deep look at his teacher and then turned around resolutely and left.
"Hongrui, hasn't father come back yet?"
The sun was high in the sky. Lu Yinxi was sitting in the main hall, her eyes always looking towards the door.
She had made an agreement with her father yesterday that he would tell her about the events of that year after he returned from the court today.
However, it was almost noon, and there was still no sign of Prime Minister Lu.
"Miss, this servant has already sent someone to watch at the gate. If there is any news, they will surely come and report."
"Okay."
Absent - mindedly taking a sip of the cold tea, the young girl didn't seem to know whether she had heard or not. She had a premonition that it might not be so easy for her to know the truth of that year.
She had used the language spirit yesterday. According to the usual practice, she would surely be haunted by bad luck these days. Like last time, she had fallen into the water and almost lost her life.
While deep in thought, Hongrui, who had just gone out, suddenly ran into the main room: "Miss, Lu Wen, who sent Master to the court this morning, is back."
Lu Wen? Where was her father? Why didn't he come back?
Suppressing the uneasiness rising in her heart, the young girl immediately said, "Quickly bring him in."
Lu Wen was soon brought in, but there was no sign of Prime Minister Lu around him.
"What's going on? Where's father?"
Seeing Lu Wen's bitter face, the young girl's heart skipped a beat. Could her premonition come true?
"Miss, the Assistant Regent forcibly took Master away!"
"The court was adjourned late today. Master was detained by the emperor for a while before leaving the palace gate. Before this servant could help Master into the carriage, the people of the Assistant Regent suddenly appeared."
The Assistant Regent?!
Why was it the Assistant Regent again?!
All kinds of terrible conjectures suddenly flooded into Lu Yinxi's mind.
Why did Shang Mozheng take her father away? What was his purpose?
Was it because of her? Or was it just a political discussion? Or was it related to the events more than a decade ago?
If so, how would he treat her father? Would her father be in danger?
"Ah, miss, your hand..."
Hongrui let out a startled cry. Only then did Lu Yinxi notice that her four sharp fingernails had all dug into her palm, leaving it a bright red mess.
The pain was still there, and the young girl's mind finally cleared up a bit.
Now, Concubine Wang was under confinement, Madam Lu was bed - ridden, and her elder brother was traveling. So, she was the only one who could make decisions in the Lu Mansion. She mustn't panic!
She lowered her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes again, all the panic on Lu Yinxi's face had disappeared.
"Hongrui, help me prepare the carriage. Come with me to the Jing Prince's Mansion."
"Hongmei, you stay in the mansion and keep an eye on things. Keep the news that father was taken away by the Assistant Regent from mother for now."
Although Madam Lu always had a bad attitude towards Prime Minister Lu, the young girl could feel her feelings for him in their daily interactions.
It was just not obvious because there were too many external factors interfering.
"As for Third Miss and the Rongjing Courtyard, don't let the news spread there. After we leave, call Lu Hu over. If they want to make trouble after they know, just beat them into submission!"
"Yes."
After calmly arranging everything, the carriage prepared by Hongrui was already ready. When she got into the carriage, the young girl's straight back finally slumped.
If the Assistant Regent really wanted to harm Prime Minister Lu, among everyone in the capital, the only person she could turn to for help was Shang Luoshu.
Her second elder sister was pregnant, and Lu Yinxi didn't want to disturb her.
"Would your master usually be at home at this time?"
Halfway through the carriage ride, the young girl just remembered that when she suddenly went to someone else's mansion like this, she couldn't be sure if Shang Luoshu was there or not.
In the carriage, there were only Lu Yinxi and Hongrui at this time.
Hearing this, Hongrui was startled. Was Miss Four asking her?
Soon, the young girl gave her the answer.
"I didn't completely pass out yesterday."
With just half a sentence, Hongrui understood what she meant. Immediately, she stopped pretending, and her lively little face instantly became serious.
"Normally, the master would be at home.
Even if he's not, once Hongmei hears that Prime Minister Lu has been taken away by the Assistant Regent, she will surely send a message to inform him. So, even if the master is not at home, he will come back as soon as possible."
It had to be said that Lu Yinxi was quite lucky today. When the carriage stopped at the Jing Prince's Mansion, Shang Luoshu had just returned from outside.
"Yin... Miss Lu Four? Why are you here? How's your health?"
Before she could respond, the man looked around and stopped in time. Then he said, "This is not the place to talk. Let's go inside first."
Lu Yinxi didn't refuse. The two of them went to the study in the mansion together.
After sending the servants away, the young girl didn't beat around the bush and said straightforwardly, "Please, Your Highness the Jing Prince, save my father!"