Mrs. Fu hesitated for a long time before saying, "Xuan'er, Lu Wanning's betrothal letter has been returned. This engagement is off."
Fu Rongxuan's eyebrows didn't move. "Yes, I see."
Mrs. Fu was anxious. She could hardly stand still. She walked up to her son and grabbed his hand. "Xuan'er, this engagement was bestowed by the Empress Dowager. If we break it off like this, once the Empress Dowager finds out, our Fu family will be in big trouble..."
Fu Rongxuan raised his eyebrows. "I've decided to marry Shi Aohan from the He family."
Mrs. Fu stared at him with wide eyes, her hands trembling. "What did you say? You... you unfilial son! That woman is a vixen. She's always so improper, walking around in mourning clothes all day long. Isn't she afraid of bringing bad luck?"
Fu Rongxuan frowned. "Mother, you used to like Miss Shi the most. Why are you saying such things now?"
Mrs. Fu did like a gentle woman like Shi Aohan before. It was because of the contrast with the unreliable Lu Wanning. She was forced to accept Lu Wanning as her daughter - in - law, and she was extremely reluctant. So, when she looked at Shi Aohan, she naturally thought everything about her was good.
But now, Shi Aohan had caused their Fu family to be scolded by the Empress Dowager. How could she have any good feelings for her?
Mrs. Fu was furious and threw out a sentence. "The He family sent a message some time ago, but your father rejected them. Your father will never agree to you marrying a wife who can't help our family in any way!"
Fu Rongxuan narrowed his eyes slightly. "Rejected by father? Such an important matter. Why didn't you discuss it with me?"
He immediately got up and was about to go find his father to have a good talk.
Seeing this, Mrs. Fu softened her heart again. She grabbed him and said, "Xuan'er, your father is very angry now. You mustn't go against him. Although your father rejected them, mother knows what's on your mind. I didn't completely cut off the conversation with the He family. As long as you marry Lu Wanning as your legitimate wife, you can take Miss Shi in as a concubine."
Fu Rongxuan hesitated for a moment. Marrying Lu Wanning was a last - resort. The Fu family was not highly regarded in front of the emperor. The title of Duke Zhongyong was the achievement of their ancestors. Now that the Fu family was in the capital, the words "loyal and brave" didn't quite match. If they angered the Empress Dowager, they might even lose their title.
As the eldest son and the heir, how could he watch the family decline?
Anyway, he would just marry Lu Wanning back and keep her well. The only one on his mind was Aohan.
Seeing that her son's expression softened, Mrs. Fu quickly advised again. "We have to take it one step at a time. Now the Lu family is angry with you. You should be more careful and coax Lu Wanning back. As long as Lu Wanning changes her mind, everything else can be solved."
After the engagement was broken off, the entire Lu family was in high spirits. As soon as Lu Hannian came back, he rushed to his younger sister's courtyard and said to her, "Don't worry, sister. Even if we can't find a good match in the capital, there are many good young men in Luocheng. They're all very familiar with me. I'll definitely pick the best one for you."
Lu Wanning propped her hands on the table. Her hair was casually coiled up, and her long hair fell on her shoulders. She was sitting at the table, boredly thinking about things before and after she time - traveled. Hearing what her second brother said, she immediately smiled with her eyes narrowed.
"Okay, brother is so good to Ning'er."
Lu Hannian was stunned. He and his elder brother had gone to Luocheng to fight with their grandfather and father when they were very young. His elder brother was the heir of the prince and had more time to return to the capital, but he could only go back once every few years and had few chances to see his sister.
In his childhood memories, his sister was a crybaby and very delicate. He was naughty when he was a child and made her unhappy. When he came back later, she still held a grudge and didn't like to talk to him very much. But this time, she seemed to have changed a lot.
Lu Wanning greeted Lu Hannian. "Second brother, come and sit quickly. These are the honey oranges bestowed by the palace. Such honey oranges are rare in the severe winter. Mother sent most of them to me. Come and have some."
Lu Hannian gave a simple and honest smile and sat with Lu Wanning to eat the honey oranges. Then he was pestered by her to talk about things on the battlefield for a long time.
Lu Wanning's eyes were big and full of surprise. "So, second brother has to practice martial arts every day? Is it that hard and diligent? The battlefield is so dangerous, second brother..."
Seeing his sister's concerned look, Lu Hannian was both happy and embarrassed. He thought such things were not suitable to talk to a girl and waved his hands repeatedly. "Actually, it's not that bad. I'm father's son and at least a general. The most dangerous ones are not me but the soldiers on the front line. As for practicing diligently, all generals are like this. Look at father. Even at his age, doesn't he have to get up before five every day?"
There was a momentary daze in Lu Wanning's eyes. It was a touch related to the original owner. In the original owner's memory, she didn't have much feeling for Lu Hongxi. She also had no feeling for the fame and fortune that the Lu family had fought for desperately on the edge of the knife. Instead, she thought that everything of the Lu family was bestowed by the Empress Dowager and the emperor.
In the book, when Lu Wanning was demoted from a legitimate wife to a concubine by Fu Rongxuan because of the Lu family's rebellion, the person she hated was not Fu Rongxuan but Lu Hongxi.
That stupid woman probably didn't know what her father and brother had sacrificed.
Seeing his sister in a daze, Lu Hannian became even more embarrassed. He scratched his head and asked, "Did my words scare you, sister? It's all my fault. I shouldn't have told you these things..."
Lu Wanning came back to her senses and asked, "Second brother, you tell me, what are you fighting so hard for?"
Lu Hannian didn't understand. "Defending the country is the mission of a general. Is there any other reason?"
Lu Wanning asked again, "But look at the Fu family. They are also generals, but they stay in the capital, take care of all kinds of affairs in the capital, guard the capital defense and the imperial city, and they also have great glory. In terms of achievements, both the Duke of Fu and father are first - rank generals. In terms of family background, although the Lu family is one level lower, it's not much worse, right?"
Lu Hannian shook his head seriously. "Ning'er, I don't agree with your statement. I know that many people nowadays think that only poor and useless people will rely on brute force to go to the battlefield and fight with their heads and blood to pave a way for their families. But I never think so. It's the Fu family's business how they choose. I grew up by my father's side since I was a child. The thing my father told me most was that as generals, we should remember that our bodies were born for the people of the Great Zhou. As long as we are here, the border defense of the Great Zhou cannot be broken, and the people can live in peace."
Looking at Lu Hannian's honest face, Lu Wanning felt both excited and indignant. If a few days ago, she still had some doubts in her heart, wondering if Lu Hongxi had really rebelled, now she knew that it was absolutely impossible.
Lu Hongxi and his three sons had dedicated all their enthusiasm to their family and the country. They would never do such a rebellious thing. There was not much description of the Lu family in the book. She had no way to find out the truth, but she only knew that Lu Hongxi must have been framed.