Lu Xian and Lu An began a lively discussion about the various flavors of stinky tofu, such as extra spicy, moderately spicy, mildly spicy, numbing and spicy, fragrant and spicy, and sour and spicy.
In the frying pan, the chunks of stinky tofu sizzled loudly as the big man busied himself, grinning with great delight.
"Brother Xian, I told you, those scholars from your clan's school must be blind. You, being so smart, how could you not understand those mediocre books?"
Hearing the praise from the doctors from the Imperial Academy, Lu Xian felt as if he had hit the jackpot.
Overjoyed, he fried an extra three servings of stinky tofu as a gift for Lu An.
Lu An was overjoyed.
Lu Xian stood on the side, casting a sidelong glance at the big man, looking like a fool and a spendthrift.
Meanwhile, in the northwest corner of Min'an District, in the East Street of the Duke of Lai's Manor.
Similar to Rain and Dew Alley in the Marquis of Heaven's Grace's Manor, the entire street of the Duke of Lai's Manor was inhabited by various branches of the Lu clan.
Among them, there was a two-courtyard building located closest to Lu's clan school. In the main room of the north-facing front courtyard, Lu Jun, with a white cloth tied on his forehead and dogskin plaster on his temples, shivered under the quilt, angrily looking at the visitor sitting by his bedside.
Bai Lang, the eldest of the second generation of the Bai family, had a stern expression as he looked at the haggard Lu Jun.
He tapped the table beside the bed with his finger and casually said, "That's it for this matter. Brother Lu, please bear this infamous name for a while longer!"
Lu Jun's face turned dark. "Blind fools! The infamous name that tarnishes my reputation, I cannot bear!"
He furiously continued, "Five years ago, it was Senior Bai Qing who invited me to 'take good care' of Lu Xian in the clan school. And now, they want me to bear the blame for everything. I... I..."
Bai Lang let out a cold snort. "Six months, at most six months. The people who handled the deficient funds during your tenure will undoubtedly be exposed. They will ensure your innocence and reinstate you to your position with honors!"
Lu Jun's face turned pale. He looked at Bai Lang skeptically. "Back then, the Duke of Lai's Manor didn't have the power to help me investigate this matter. And you?"
Bai Lang smiled faintly and waved his hand. "Although the Duke of Lai's Manor is indeed a prestigious family, the current dynasty has changed. The martial families have fallen out of favor. Those who hold real power now are the disciples of the scholarly class. No matter how powerful the Duke of Lai's Manor is, they won't be able to uncover the case of your missing funds."
Changing his tone, Bai Lang casually said, "But my father wants to help you. It's a simple matter for him. Countless students and disciples have run around to make it happen. Some corrupt officials have been dealt with, and the manipulations of Shangguan Mou for personal gain have been exposed. Finding out about such trivial matters is a piece of cake."
Lu Jun clenched his teeth and asked, "Can I be reinstated in my official position?"
Bai Lang smiled slightly. "That's just a small matter."
Lu Jun's face turned red, and he struggled to sit up, gritting his teeth. "In that case, I will bear this infamous name and admit that my old eyes were blind, delaying the talent of Lu Xian."
Bai Lang nodded in satisfaction. "That's good. The Lu clan school is a mixed bag of good and bad. Who is without fault among ordinary people? A momentary lapse won't do much harm to your reputation, Brother Lu."
He tapped heavily on the table, got up, took out several thumb-sized gold nuggets from his sleeve, and placed them gently on the table.
"Take good care of your health, Brother Lu. You're in your prime, and your future prospects are naturally bright."
After hesitating for a moment, Bai Lang lowered his head, moved closer to Lu Jun, and lowered his voice, looking curious. "My brother and you, Brother Lu, both fell ill for several days. Ah, my brother and the magistrate both fainted without understanding what had happened. Brother Lu, did you see clearly who injured you?"
Lu Jun's slightly flushed face turned pale again, and his body trembled unconsciously.
He turned his head, coldly staring at Bai Lang, and said in a deep voice, "Lord Bai, if you're curious about this matter, why not investigate thoroughly with the 'Imperial Palace Guards'? Honestly, on that day, even I didn't understand what had happened. My body just suddenly became cold, and I fell ill when I got back."
"Afterwards, the Imperial Palace Guards came to ask about this matter. After all, Magistrate He was also seriously injured and bedridden." Lu Jun revealed, "If you want to know the cause and effect of this matter, in this vast Gaoling City, they are probably the only ones who can give you an answer."
Bai Lang's face turned ugly, showing the expression of stepping on a cow dung immediately after putting on new shoes.
At the same time, in the study room of Duke Lai's present Duke Lu Yu.
The study had a very antiquated and heavy atmosphere, without any sense of luxury or extravagance. Lu Yu, who was over forty but still had smooth and tender skin, had a round and plump face that exuded an air of wealth. He was dressed in a light blue water and moon Taoist robe, carrying the air of a 'leisurely person.'
The Jingyang branch of the Lu family was the top-tier aristocratic family of Da Yin.
The Lu family of the Duke of Lai's lineage was a prestigious lineage of Da Yin, the founding military noble family of Da Yin, which had created the crimson cloaks and purple robes and had great influence.
The direct line of the former Duke of Lai had also been mighty martial experts who could swallow mountains and rivers and dominate all directions. Using their physical strength, they could raze cities and seize territories, which was an ordinary matter.
However, with the passage of time, the world of today had seen the rise of the scholarly class and the decline of martial arts.
With the decline of martial arts came the shrinking power and declining influence of the traditional aristocratic families in Da Yin.
The present Duke of Lai's Manor had only a few heads of household and a few members with a power level above the twelfth level.
However, starting from three generations ago, the present Duke of Lai and the other gentlemen below him had devoted themselves to literature and scholarship. They regarded themselves as 'literati and refined scholars'!
In the present generation, Lu Yu and his brothers had even abandoned the family's secret martial arts skills. Lu Yu couldn't even ride a slightly spirited horse or shoot a half-pound recurve bow. He was truly a 'scholarly disciple,' a genuine 'scholar'!
As for Bai Chang Kong, the vice principal of the National Academy, he was the leader among the eminent scholars in Gaoling City!
Bai Chang Kong came to visit in person, and Lu Yu naturally felt 'honored.' He made every effort to hospitality.
"I truly studied under Master Bai's tutelage." Lu Yu smiled brightly. "When Master Bai first entered the National Academy, I happened to be assigned under Master Bai. However, I was dull-witted and wasted time in the National Academy. I couldn't comprehend the books. That's why Master Bai doesn't have a deep impression of me, and that's why."
He cleared his throat and assured Bai Chang Kong, "I truly didn't expect my nephew to have such a connection with Master Bai. This is the glory of my Lu family, the glory of Duke Lai's Manor, and the glory of the Marquis of Heaven's Grace!"
"Master Bai, please rest assured that I will personally handle the marriage between Lu Xian and the Bai family's young lady. I will definitely ensure that everything goes smoothly and that Miss Wei Shuang will not suffer the slightest injustice."
Bai Chang Kong nodded with a faint smile. "Then, let it be so. I request the Duke of Lai's Manor to take good care of them. Oh, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is an auspicious day."
Lu Yu was stunned. It was already the seventh day of the first lunar month. There were only a few days left.
It was a bit rushed.
However, the person in front of him was Bai Chang Kong, the most prestigious scholar in Gaoling City and the leader of scholars in people's hearts.
In ordinary times, if Lu Yu wanted to establish a relationship with such a person, the other party would not even bother with him!
Now Bai Chang Kong personally came to ask and sought his approval for the marriage of a lesser branch member of the Lu clan!
It was truly a 'gentleman's manner,' truly the 'virtue of a gentleman,' truly 'a gentleman's promise worth a thousand gold coins'!
Lu Yu pursed his lips and nodded firmly. "Master Bai, rest assured, I will immediately arrange for someone to take care of this matter. Lu Xian will marry the Bai family's young lady on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. I guarantee that everything will be done splendidly and that Miss Wei Shuang will not suffer any grievances."
At the same time, in the reception hall of the Marquis of Heaven's Grace's Manor.
Madam Hu had a grim face, like a rusty Buddha statue, expressionless as she looked at Bai Qiong, who was coughing softly.
Six thousand taels were gone.
The cooked duck had flown away flapping its wings!
Madam Hu's mood was sad and haggard.
Heartbroken, Madam Hu couldn't help but sigh, "How shameless can you scholars be? What happened to breaking off the engagement? What happened to a nobleman's promise worth six thousand taels?"
"Do you, the Bai family, have no shame?"
Madam Hu's lips trembled, her triangular eyes gleaming with ferocity. She wanted to call someone in and beat Bai Qiong out!
Bai Qiong coughed lightly and tremblingly took out a document from his sleeve, handing it to Madam Hu.
Impatiently, Madam Hu dropped the document on the ground and coldly said, "I don't know how to read. What is this useless thing you're showing me?"
Bai Qiong smiled and pointed at the document on the ground, gently saying, "The law of Da Yin states that salt and iron are state-run industries, and anyone who touches them without permission will be executed."
Madam Hu raised her head lazily, not bothering to pay attention.
"This is an official salt lease contract issued by the Ministry of Imperial Household." Bai Qiong's voice was very soft and weak.
Madam Hu, who had a smile on her face, stood up personally, respectfully picking up the document.
"With this document, the Marquis of Heaven's Grace's Manor can open a salt shop in Anle District and sell official salt." Bai Qiong said in a low voice, "If managed well, it can earn tens of thousands of guan in revenue per year, which is an easy and routine matter."
Madam Hu smiled brilliantly, her eyes brimming with tears. She got up and treated Bai Qiong with the utmost respect, "Ah, Lord Bai, this, this... hey, change the tea cups, change to the best Emerald Sparrow's Tongue and steep it!"
Bai Qiong coughed heavily. "As for Lu Xian and Miss Bai's marriage, I trouble Madam to make the decision."
"On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, an auspicious day, let them get married quickly."
Bai Qiong looked deeply at Madam Hu. "What do you think?"
Madam Hu firmly held onto the document, her eyes shining brightly like spring water, falling onto Bai Qiong's face, "Alright, alright, Lord Bai, rest assured, even if this old lady has to tie him up, I will send man into Miss Wei Shuang's bed! Hehe!"
This statement!
Bai Qiong's face spasmed, and he suddenly wanted to kill someone.
(End of the chapter)