When Fu Rongxuan returned home in the evening, Mrs. Fu sized him up from head to toe. She deeply felt that her daughter was right. Wasn't Shi Aohan just a vixen? She had bewitched her son so much that he was completely infatuated.
Think about how noble Princess Zhaoyang was. It was true that she had a bit of a temper, but it was also true that she had humbled herself in front of Xuan'er. Such a beautiful girl would even make a woman like her feel tempted. How could Xuan'er not be tempted? It must be because he had been bewitched by that vixen, Shi Aohan, that he had become like this.
Fu Rongxuan looked at Mrs. Fu in bewilderment and asked, "Mother, is there something inappropriate about me today?"
Mrs. Fu wasn't very good at keeping her composure when facing her son. Immediately, she asked, "Where did you go? Why did you come back so late?"
A faint blush crept onto Fu Rongxuan's cheeks. Where could he have gone? After days of mourning in the palace, he was physically and mentally exhausted. He just wanted to find a place to relax. Somehow, he ended up in a brothel. It was in that very brothel that he had first met Shi Aohan. The madam of the brothel had seen Aohan's beauty, drugged her, and tied her up. Fortunately, he had come across her and rescued her.
Today was also a coincidence. On his way, he had met the pitiful - looking Shi Aohan, and he had taken her with him... Naturally, he had spent the time with her, which was why he had returned so late.
When Mrs. Fu saw his reaction, she understood everything. Immediately, she scolded, "That vixen. Didn't she go to the palace to become the adopted daughter of the Empress? How could she still come out and seduce you? She must be afraid that if she didn't see you for a long time, her charm wouldn't be able to attract you anymore and you would come to your senses. That's why she managed to escape from the palace!"
Fu Rongxuan was extremely annoyed. "Mother, what are you talking about? Since you know that Aohan is the daughter of the Empress, how can you call her a vixen? She is the most innocent and kind - hearted girl I've ever met. How could she be a vixen?"
Mrs. Fu got even angrier. "Innocent and kind - hearted? I spit on that! Losing her virginity during the mourning period and seducing someone else's fiancé, you call that innocent and kind - hearted? And you say she is the daughter of the Empress. Let me ask you, is she a princess? A county princess? She's neither. She's not even recorded in the imperial genealogy. What kind of daughter is she?"
"Mother!" Fu Rongxuan said sharply. "Have you listened to what others have said? Outsiders are just spouting nonsense. How can you believe them?"
Mrs. Fu was shocked. She stepped forward and grabbed Fu Rongxuan. "Xuan'er, so you know? You already know that both His Highness the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince have had an affair with her? Oh, my son. If you know, why do you still want such a woman to enter our family? How can such an unchaste woman be a wife of the Fu family? Once she enters the family in the future, won't you..."
How could Fu Rongxuan tolerate his mother speaking so ill of the girl he loved? Immediately, he gave a strong push. Mrs. Fu, caught off - guard, almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, Fu Qingwei, who had rushed over, managed to support her.
Mrs. Fu got even angrier. "You pushed me without a second thought just for her?"
Fu Rongxuan flicked his sleeves. "Mother, since you have so much free time, why don't you take good care of the second younger brother? He causes trouble all day long. Where is there any trace of a noble family's young master? We've finally found a position for him. If he continues like this, I'm afraid he'll lose his job!"
Mrs. Fu watched her son's back as her eyes flickered. She had already made up her mind. For a woman like Shi Aohan, if she entered the family, it would be difficult to control her. Even before she entered the family, she had already bewitched her son to the point that he dared to push her. Once she entered the family, even as a mother - in - law, what could she do to her?
It would be better to keep her at a distance. She must find a way to cancel this engagement.
The next day, Mrs. Fu visited people everywhere. She tried almost every connection she could find. In short, she just wanted to cancel the engagement.
When Fu Rongxuan heard the news, he rushed back angrily and questioned, "Mother, I've finally managed to be able to marry Aohan. What are you doing?"
Mrs. Fu didn't even lift her head. "As long as I'm alive, that woman will never enter this family. What's her status? She's not worthy of you at all. I'm not saying that you have to marry a high - profile woman. Even the concubine - born daughter of an ordinary family is much better than her!"
"Mother, do you know what her... what her status is?"
"You're going to say that she's the adopted daughter of the Empress again, right?"
Fu Rongxuan pursed his lips and remained silent. He stared at his mother coldly for a long time before turning around and leaving.
Mrs. Fu chased after him and shouted, "I will never agree to this. Fu Rongxuan, tomorrow I will submit a request to enter the palace. I must meet the Empress in person and ask the Empress to revoke her decision!"
After Lu Wanning returned to the mansion, she still kept a low - profile and stayed in her courtyard all day to mourn. The Empress Dowager had passed away, and she didn't have many emotions about it. But because she was worried about the family affairs, she was thinking of ways every day.
The Empress Dowager couldn't persuade Lu Hongxi, and neither could she. What on earth should she do to make Lu Hongxi hand over the military token?
In the late afternoon, as usual, she carried the spring tea and went to the martial arts field to watch her father practice.
Little Lu Cheng also followed suit and practiced seriously. Lu Hongxi was very meticulous and much stricter than an ordinary father. But there was not a trace of unhappiness on Lu Cheng's face. He gritted his teeth and persisted.
Lu Hongxi stopped his movements and bent down to pick up Lu Cheng. Maybe because he was tired these days, he found it quite strenuous.
Lu Wanning quickly ran over. "Father, Chengcheng has grown much heavier. You mustn't hurt your back."
Lu Hongxi chuckled. "In the past, not to mention Chengcheng, I could even lift two of you, Ning'er, with ease. But now..."
Lu Wanning complained. "Father, look at your age. Don't be so boastful. Chengcheng, come here and put on your clothes."
Lu Hongxi took the clothes and put them on. Watching Lu Wanning carefully dress Lu Cheng, he smiled again. "Ning'er has really grown up. You're so considerate."
Lu Wanning pouted. "Father, don't you know that I'm your little cotton - padded jacket?"
The father and daughter chatted and walked into the house. Lu Wanning asked, "Why didn't elder brother come?"
Lu Hongxi frowned when he heard this. "He was summoned to the palace by the Emperor at noon and hasn't returned yet. I don't know what's going on. It's so urgent."
He looked out into the distance. His heart was pounding. It wasn't for anything else. He was worried that there was a war in Luocheng.
They had delayed for so long. If it weren't for the passing of the Empress Dowager, he should have resigned long ago. He had gone to the palace yesterday and wanted to talk to the Emperor about it, but the Emperor only talked about the Empress Dowager. He felt embarrassed to bring it up.
Just as they were talking, they saw the attendant beside Lu Hanchi come over and invite the prince to the front hall to discuss matters.
Lu Hongxi told Lu Wanning and then rushed to the front yard in a hurry. Seeing his son looking serious, he quickly asked, "Hanchi, what did the Emperor summon you to the palace for?"
Lu Hanchi raised his head. His lips were trembling. "Father, the Northern Desert has really come back again."
Lu Hongxi said without hesitation, "Then what are we waiting for? We'll set off tomorrow."
Lu Hanchi shook his head. "Father, you can't. Do you know that there have been signs of movement in the Northern Desert as early as a month ago."
Lu Hongxi asked in surprise, "That shouldn't be right. If there are signs of movement in the Northern Desert, the Shao family should have sent us the news. Why did the palace know about it, but we didn't?"