Inside the Prince Liang's Mansion, the Princess Liang had cried herself red - eyed. Lu Jinxuan knelt on the ground. "Father, if you're reluctant to let elder brother go, then let your son go instead. You're getting old. How can you continue to take risks?"
The Prince Liang held a heavy sword and waved it. Then he beckoned to Lu Jinchen. "Chen'er, come here and lift this sword."
With a solemn look on his face, Lu Jinchen walked over, picked up the sword, and waved it just as the Prince Liang had done. A potted plant nearby was cut in half.
The Prince Liang showed a smile. "I thought you only knew how to fool around, but it seems you've got some skills. Xuan'er, come here and lift this sword."
Lu Jinxuan hesitated for a moment, then got up and tried to lift the sword. His face turned red, and he could only manage to pick it up but not wave it.
The Prince Liang frowned. "With your weak - looking appearance, you still want to lead troops? You might lose your life before even reaching the Northwest. Starting tomorrow, add an extra hour to your daily practice. Do you hear me?"
Lu Jinxuan quickly lowered his head. "Yes, Father."
Lu Jinchen bit his lip, reached out and took the sword from Lu Jinxuan's hand. His hands were covered in bulging veins, and he clenched his jaw tightly. "Father, let your son go."
Somehow, Lu Jinchen hadn't called him "Father" for a long time. This single call made the Prince Liang extremely excited. He sized Lu Jinchen up and down and nodded heavily. "My son has grown up. I can rest assured leaving the Prince Liang's Mansion to you."
The Princess Liang felt a pang in her heart and immediately cried out. "Your Highness, what are you saying? You're still in your prime and the backbone of the mansion!"
The Prince Liang smiled. "I'm the prince, the emperor's younger brother. Chen'er, you're right. The greater the glory we enjoy, the greater the responsibility we should bear. Great Zhou is our home, and the common people are our children. Protecting them is the responsibility of all the royal family."
Lu Jinchen lowered his head. "Your son remembers."
The Prince Liang reached out and patted him hard on the shoulder. "You used to be reckless, but now I can feel a bit more at ease. I'll take care of myself on this trip. I'm leaving the mansion to you."
Lu Jinchen looked up. "Father, your son has grown up. When I pleaded outside the palace today, it wasn't for you. It was all my sincere intention."
The Prince Liang's hand was reluctant to leave Lu Jinchen's shoulder, but his eyes were full of a gratified smile. "But, I'm the prince to the world, yet your father."
He called out loudly towards the outside. "Liang Zheng!"
Liang Zheng immediately walked in. "Your Highness, your subordinates are all ready."
The Princess Liang's tears flowed even more fiercely. "Your Highness, Your Highness, your concubine hasn't prepared many things yet. Your Highness might as well leave early tomorrow morning."
The Prince Liang waved his hand. "Leaving an hour earlier might save a few more common people. I'm leaving. Don't worry about me. Chen'er, I know you bear a grudge against me in your heart. But she is also my wife. Since I've married her, I'll surely treat her well."
Lu Jinchen listened quietly to this admonition without showing the same disdain as before.
The Princess Liang cried uncontrollably, but she couldn't change the Prince Liang's determination to leave.
Lu Jinchen didn't say a word. He turned around and walked out, planning to return to his own courtyard. As he was going out, he saw Lu Jinxuan crying under a tree with tears streaming down her face.
He hesitated for a moment and was about to leave.
Lu Jinxuan called out, "Elder brother."
Lu Jinchen turned to look at her, squinting his eyes. "What is it?"
Lu Jinxuan was holding a parcel in her hand. She must have run here, as there were fine beads of sweat on her face. "This is the hand - warmer I made for Father. I didn't have a chance to give it to him..."
Without much hesitation, Lu Jinchen took the parcel, ordered someone to prepare a horse, and then left the mansion, heading in the direction the Prince Liang had gone.
When he returned to the mansion, Lu Jinxuan was still waiting there. Seeing Lu Jinchen coming, she quickly stepped forward. "Did elder brother catch up with Father?"
Lu Jinchen nodded. "I gave it to him."
"Thank you, elder brother."
After that, they had nothing more to say.
Lu Jinxuan rubbed the corner of her clothes and walked inside with Lu Jinchen. She said timidly, "From childhood to adulthood, Father has always been in such a hurry. I've always wanted to do something for him, but I've never managed to catch up."
"..."
Tears welled up in Lu Jinxuan's eyes and fell one by one. "Father only has you and second elder brother in his eyes. I've always been a bit envious when I saw him scolding you two."
"It's very late," Lu Jinchen looked back at her. "You should go back to your courtyard and rest."
Lu Jinxuan shrank back, wiped her tears with a look of grievance, and walked towards the inner courtyard.
Lu Jinchen returned to his room, rubbed his tired eyes, and leaned on the couch to take a short rest.
After a while, a servant quietly walked in and whispered, "My lord."
Lu Jinchen opened his eyes. "You're back? Do you have any news?"
The servant nodded. "We've found that woman. She's not doing well now. After promising her a large sum of silver, she's willing to return to the capital... But, just having this one witness might not be enough to prove... And in the subordinate's opinion, that person might be deliberately framing Lady... Shu for the sake of money."
Lu Jinchen said coldly, "Once we tear open a gap, there will always be a way to get to the truth. I've been investigating for three years, and finally, there's some news. How could I give up?"
Seeing that the tea on the table had gone cold, the servant turned around to make new tea for him and said, "My lord's actions outside the palace today were really a bit reckless. If the prince hadn't finally stepped in and the emperor had really sent you to the Northwest, what would you have done?"
Lu Jinchen said, "When I went to plead today, I had already thought about it. I really wanted to go."
The servant's hand trembled. "My lord, you're not the prince. And the second young master has an engagement with the Qi family. This move was clearly aimed at you. You're already in a difficult situation. If you take such a risky trip to a dangerous place and something really happens, won't it let the villains succeed?"
Lu Jinchen tightened his lips and gave him a fierce look. "Do I need to ask for your opinion on what I do?"
The servant quickly knelt down. "My lord!"
Lu Jinchen sneered. "Don't worry. I'm not stupid enough to leave without making proper arrangements. Moreover, although it's dangerous there, I'll always take care of my own safety."
The servant said in a low voice, "Accidents are hard to prevent."
"But I haven't gone yet."
The servant pursed his lips and said again, "That Miss Shu... If my lord is willing to play along with her, perhaps we can find out more."
Lu Jinchen glanced at him indifferently. "Are you suggesting that I sell my looks?"
The servant said cautiously, "I just think that since there's a shortcut, why go through more trouble?"
"Shortcut? Do you think that Shu Mingzhu, who just came back, knows much? Also, I, Lu Jinchen, haven't fallen so low as to rely on a woman to get things done."
Lu Jinchen got up impatiently. When he was about to go wash up, he became puzzled. He reached up to touch the ribbon on his head, then searched on the table and the bed. "Have you seen my ribbon?"
The servant hesitated for a moment. "Did you leave it at the heir's mansion?"
Lu Jinchen shook his head. "I remember I brought it here. I used it a few days ago..."