Lu Xiang didn't answer his daughter's question directly. Instead, he threw it back at her. "What do you think, Xi'er?"
"I think it's better to believe there is something than nothing," Lu Yinxi replied.
Although she had only met Shang Mozheng once, Lu Yinxi had a very deep impression of him. He was a typical scheming and power - hungry court official.
A man like this should not allow any accident to disrupt his plan.
Lu Wenhan didn't directly affirm his youngest daughter's answer, nor did he deny it. After all, he was not the Assistant - Regent himself. How could he know what he was thinking?
But he would always remember the day Xi'er was born!
The jade seal was brought to the Eastern Palace by Lord Qian and Xu Zhengdao. Shang Mozheng couldn't ascend the throne legitimately. At the same time, he had a large army in his hand, and the border needed his troops to suppress the rebellion. So the others couldn't do anything to him.
The two sides were at a stalemate. Neither was willing to back down, and war seemed imminent. Just then, Kongshi stepped in to mediate again.
Regarding this well - known holy sage, both the common people and the court were willing to give him some face.
Finally, both sides made concessions.
The young emperor was too young to handle state affairs. The imperial advisors were willing to let the Assistant - Regent exercise imperial power on behalf of the emperor until he could take over state affairs, on the condition that he hand over his military power.
A spark of turmoil was thus nipped in the bud.
But everyone knew that this was only a temporary calm. A greater storm was bound to come in the future.
Things turned out as expected.
When Lady Lu was seven months pregnant, she suddenly fell in her own yard. Then she had a difficult childbirth and suffered massive bleeding. One doctor after another who entered the mansion shook their heads.
At the critical moment, Master Kongshi appeared again. He exhausted his life - long medical skills and finally pulled the mother and daughter back from the gates of hell.
At that time, Prime Minister Lu was detained in the palace on official business. When he returned to the mansion, his youngest daughter had been safely born. The large pool of blood in the delivery room stabbed his eyes.
That year, Lu Xiang was not the only court official whose family had an accident. The Zhang family was also in turmoil. Zhang Xiang's mother and wife were attacked by mountain bandits when they went to Anguo Temple to offer incense and almost didn't make it back.
Everyone knew who was behind these things, but no one dared to move against him, until three years later...
"Three years later?"
At this point, Lu Xiang couldn't hold back his sobs. Vaguely, Lu Yinxi saw the moisture in his eyes.
Suddenly feeling a pang in her heart, the young girl couldn't bear to listen anymore. "Father, you don't have to say any more. Stop!"
Her grandparents who had passed away thirteen years ago, her uncle who was forced to stay in Longxi, the original owner who was suddenly sent away thirteen years ago, and Shang Mozheng in the court. The young girl could almost imagine what Prime Minister Lu had suffered at that time.
"I'm fine. Since I promised you, I must finish the story," Lu Wenhan said.
Wiping the moisture from his eyes with the corner of his robe, Lu Wenhan calmed his emotions and continued. "Xi'er, you may not know that your mother was from a general's family back then."
Don't be deceived by Lady Lu's current gentle and weak appearance. When she was young, she was a bright and carefree girl. Even thirteen years ago, she was a heroic woman who was not inferior to men.
At that time, in order to prevent the Assistant - Regent from getting his hands on the military power, Prime Minister Lu and Xu Zhengdao entrusted the important task of guarding the border to General Su.
However, not long after, news suddenly came from the border that General Su had colluded with the Southern Chu to subvert the dynasty. The evidence was conclusive, and he would be escorted back to the capital soon.
Before anyone could react, the day after General Su returned to the capital, Shang Mozheng ordered his beheading. All the members of the Su family, except Lady Lu, who had married into the Lu family, and Lu Yinxi's uncle, were executed at the Meridian Gate.
In the same year, Lady Lu, who had just lost her parents, found that her youngest daughter couldn't speak. But Master Kongshi, the highly skilled doctor, had passed away in Anguo Temple.
It seemed that there was no one in the whole dynasty who could stop the Assistant - Regent's ambition.
No, there was one!
Lu Yinxi, the youngest daughter of the Lu family!
Although she was just a babbling little girl, at that time, almost all the royalists pinned their hopes on her.
Master Kongshi's prophecy couldn't be wrong. The Assistant - Regent was doomed to perish in the future!
On a warm spring day, Shang Mozheng, who rarely had a moment of leisure, recalled what had happened more than a decade ago.
He never believed in fate in his life. Otherwise, how could a child born to a palace maid have reached his current position?
In Shang Mozheng's mind, his own future would always be determined by himself, and had nothing to do with others.
But when it came to Lu Yinxi, he hesitated.
Her round face had not fully grown, but he could vaguely see the shadow of someone.
When Master Kongshi made the prophecy, this little girl hadn't been born yet, but he had already been able to determine that the fourth child of the Lu family would be a daughter.
So in the future, would he really die at the hands of this little girl, just as the bald monk had said?
Shang Mozheng didn't believe it, but he still entered Prime Minister Lu's mansion, intending to adopt her as his god - daughter. Although he was finally thrown out by Lu Wenhan.
After that, Lu started all kinds of small tricks. First, he caused trouble for him in state affairs. Then, regardless of his wife's suicide attempt, he stubbornly sent his three - year - old youngest daughter to a manor on the outskirts of the capital.
At that moment, Shang Mozheng really wanted to kill him!
But before he could act, he received news that someone from the Su family in Longxi had come.
Only then did he see Lu Wenhan's intention. This man was trying to send his daughter to Longxi right under his nose!
The Assistant - Regent immediately laughed. Back then, he respected the old General Su and was willing to leave a descendant for the Su family, but it wasn't for them to cause him trouble.
Finally, under Shang Mozheng's intervention, the people from the Su family in Longxi not only failed to take Lu Yinxi away, but also lost a few people.
The next day, the young Prime Minister Lu received a warning from the Assistant - Regent.
"Prime Minister Lu, the scenery in Longxi is not as good as that in the capital. Why do you send your youngest daughter to such a remote place? In my opinion, the manor on the outskirts of the capital is quite nice. Miss Lu Si should be raised there from now on!"
With just a few words, he decided the life of a three - year - old little girl.
"Why is Father sleeping here?"
When Zhang Lingwan, the Crown Princess, entered the room with the nourishing soup, she saw her father - in - law dozing in the armchair, looking exhausted.
"Although state affairs are important, Father should also take more care of his health."
Rubbing his forehead, Shang Mozheng acknowledged his daughter - in - law's concern and replied casually. "I was thinking about some things in the past, so I accidentally fell asleep. Where's Luoyin?"
Shang Luoyin, the heir of the Assistant - Regent and his only son, was currently reporting his duties in the Ministry of Works.
"Husband hasn't returned home yet today. Does Father have something important?"
"It's not urgent. When he comes back, tell him to come to me."
"Yes."
Zhang Lingwan replied and left. The large room was left with only Shang Mozheng again.
The past was all told, and the afterglow of the setting sun shone into the yard.
Lu Yinxi was squatting beside Prime Minister Lu. Her legs had lost all feeling. Tears unconsciously fell from her eyes and soon formed a pool. Her chest felt like something was about to explode, and the pain was unbearable.
Opening and closing her mouth, after a long time, the young girl finally heard her own voice. "Father, I don't want to go to Longxi!"
In the Jing Prince's Mansion
The candle had been lit. Shang Luoshu put down the writing brush in his hand and frowned at the paper full of Yan - style calligraphy on the table.
The events of more than a decade ago were too tragic for the Lu family. He was hesitating whether he should tell Lu Yinxi about this.
The familiar sound of knocking on the door interrupted the man's train of thought. Chen Guang carried a pigeon into the study.
"What's the matter?"
"Your Highness, there's news from Prime Minister Lu's mansion."
It seemed that this night was destined not to be peaceful.
Draped in the night, Lin Zihan rode his horse on the long street. Finally, before the palace gates were locked, he saw the emperor who was still reading memorials.
"Minister Lin comes to see me so late. Do you have something important?"
"Your Majesty, I want to impeach the Assistant - Regent. He deliberately plotted against court officials and deserves to be executed!"