Chapter 484: Chapter 481: Da Jin Is Beyond Saving

After leaving the Imperial Palace, He Xuran went to the Grand Tutor Mansion for lunch.

This place had a courtyard prepared especially for him.

He was travel-worn, exhausted from many days on the road. Jiasan didn’t hold him up with conversation and just sent him off to rest.

When He Xuran came out after a good sleep, it was getting late. Having regained his energy, he was much more alert.

He Xuran was just about to pay his respects to Jiasan.

Since he returned, the siblings hadn’t spoken. But he hadn’t even entered the main courtyard when he heard voices inside.

"Is it true that the Lu Family is planning to move back to the capital?"

It was Jiasan’s surprised voice.

One couldn’t blame her for being surprised; years ago, the Gu Family and the Lu Family had good relations.

Mr. Lu and Gu Fuju were of similar age and entered the court as officials together, each a prominent figure.

But years ago, he had stepped down from his official robes, steadfastly kneeling outside Yangxin Hall in a plain white inner garment, placing his ivory stylus neatly in front of him and setting his dark official hat to his right, to tender his resignation and leave the palace.

— "I originally wished to exhaust my loyalty to repay the heavenly grace, but my talent is shallow and my nature impetuous, making it difficult to fit the times. Each thought of this makes me restless with shame. I humbly beseech the Holy Emperor to approve my resignation from office and return to my hometown, hoping to slightly atone for my dullness."

Without any warning.

Everyone thought Lord Lu had gone mad.

Was it simply because Emperor Ying promoted Yang Changzheng, whose capabilities were far inferior, to the position of Minister, causing dissatisfaction?

Gu Fuju’s gaze lingered slightly at the arched gate outside the courtyard, pretending not to notice the corner of He Xuran’s garment there: "Yes."

"But Lu Huaizhang should come first, and the women of the family will temporarily remain in the old home."

"Although he has a residence in the capital, he should avoid moving ostentatiously to avoid being monitored. I intend to let him stay at our mansion for a while."

Jiasan was pleased and readily agreed.

"I’ll have someone prepare the guest room right away."

As she spoke, something occurred to her.

"I remember that girl from the Lu Family is quite nice. I wonder if she’s engaged? Xuran’s marriage arrangements haven’t been settled yet, and this familiarity..."

He Xuran had a headache and couldn’t listen anymore.

Turning around, he left, avoiding further nagging.

Jiasan didn’t know someone had been there. She wondered aloud, "But when he left so decisively back then, was it to return to the officialdom or..."

Gu Fuju spoke gently, "I’ve been in correspondence with him over the years."

"You know Huaizhang’s disposition; he couldn’t have left just to sulk. At the time, the Holy Emperor actually favored him more, but he wasn’t greedy, had no extraneous thoughts, and was hard to manage."

Those despicable deeds could not be done for Emperor Ying.

"In the end, it was unfulfilling. Although he served in the court for years, he remained clean and deserving of his conscience, not for showcasing his talents."

Purely—for his official robes never tainted, with untouched loyalty originating from the people.

But positioned high for too long, all he saw was filth.

The Prince Yan Mansion was exiled.

The Old Master Lu was beaten to death with sticks.

Duke Shun succumbed to a cold and passed away.

...

Too many.

"When Brother Lu left those years ago and I went to see him off, he left me with one sentence."

Jiasan asked, "What did he say?"

Gu Fuju looked at his wife and said word by word.

"Da Jin is beyond saving."

He was the one who called him back.

At the same time, it was also Wei Zhao who spoke first.

"The Lu Family also hails from an aristocratic lineage, and Lu Huaizhang’s father once served by the late Emperor’s side. He might have something Wei Zhao wants."

Jiasan was taken aback.

She knew better than anyone how abnormally busy Gu Fuju had been these days.

"Then his return is..."

She stood up, stutteringly, "Is it..."

Gu Fuju nodded, "It’s as you think."

He smiled a little, "It shouldn’t be far off now."

He clasped Jiasan’s hand tightly, "Just wait a little longer, it’s almost time."

Duke Shun Mansion.

Wei Zhao wielded the brush with furrowed brows, writing swiftly at the desk. The wolf hair hovered over the rice paper, sketching like the wind, the ink barely drying.

"General."

Chi Yu relayed, "There’s news from the Grand Tutor’s side that Lu Huaizhang will arrive in the capital in three days."

Wei Zhao wasn’t surprised. Without lifting his eyes, he continued handling the letters.

Chi Yu paused momentarily.

"The Grand Tutor suggests letting Lu Huaizhang stay at the Gu Family."

Wei Zhao’s writing hand paused slightly.

He pulled at the corner of his mouth, chuckling softly.

"Old fox."

He needed to see Lu Huaizhang. Gu Fuju was clearly letting him meet at the Gu Family.

Wei Zhao put down the pen and rubbed his sore wrist.

He calculated the days.

In a calm voice.

"Tell Rong Di, all hidden posts should seize the opportunity to act."

The hidden posts under Wei Zhao’s name were contacted and managed by Rong Di.

Mostly distributed openly across Da Jin in the form of blacksmith shops, densely located near the borders, like in Ze County and other such places. These... were places heavily affected by flooding, remote areas.

In closer areas, like the capital, Jiangnan, and other prosperous places, Wei Zhao need not intervene. Gu Fuju and Ying Fuyan had forces underneath them and knew what to do.

Chi Yu understood the implication of this and promptly replied respectfully.

"Yes."

————

Lan Garden.

Yu Tingwan lay on a golden rocking chair in the courtyard, with a white scarf embroidered with crabapple flowers covering her head.

As she breathed lightly, the petals gently rose and fell with the scarf.

The passing servants all instinctively lightened their steps, fearing to disturb the Young Madam’s nap.

Tan Jiang came over with account books from Ning Suxuan, hearing from afar a servant coming out, speaking in a low voice.

"I think the Young Madam might be expecting."

The speaking matron was elderly, and Tan Jiang recognized her; she was from the kitchen.

At this hour, she should be delivering candied sculptures and creamy almond soup. The former is candied fruit carved into flowers and birds, and the latter is a sweet broth made with milk and almonds.

The General and the Madam were never fond of eating, and the kitchen always felt constrained in their cooking.

Since the Madam returned to the mansion, the chefs had been very enthusiastic. The food they sent over rarely repeated.

But wait?

Tan Jiang: ???

The Madam is expecting?

What are you talking about?

The matron assumed no one was listening and spoke in a lower voice to the person beside her: "I’m not lying. The Madam’s belly is slightly rounded, probably less than three months along. The masters might have avoided announcing it due to superstition."

Tan Jiang: ...

That’s because the dishes you delivered at lunch, the Madam ate them all voraciously!

The matron continued, "The Madam is also fond of sleeping! Look, she’s still asleep at this hour."

She gestured to another maid delivering sweets to turn around and look.

"Though the General’s health is poor, the kitchen brews remedies each day; recovery should be gradual. Look. The Young Madam still has her hand on her belly; there’s no mistake."

She was just too full after eating and was too lazy to walk and digest, lying there unwilling to move.

Tan Jiang: ...

The supplements you brewed all went into the Madam’s belly.

Every time the kitchen prepared supplements for Wei Zhao, Yu Tingwan was never left out.

Initially, the couple each had a bowl.

In the following days, Yu Tingwan always woke up late, legs trembling when she climbed down from the bed. Since then, she started eating alone.

Tan Jiang didn’t understand.

But the General, indeed, didn’t require supplements.

As for the Madam, it couldn’t be said.

Though clearly strong, someone who wouldn’t tire from mountain climbing, who couldn’t stay idle, sometimes inexplicably found herself entirely weak.