eurekapd Chapter 122 Lu Mubai returns to Beijing
Chapter 122 Lu Mubai returns to Beijing
Tang Qini's grandfather went to the palace to plead with the Emperor to summon Lu Mubai back to the capital for their marriage. The Emperor issued an edict, and Lu Mubai, accompanied by his guards, returned to the capital at top speed.
Ever since he met Wen Yuxia in Xinchuan County, her beautiful image has been etched in his mind, and he thinks of her every day.
Although the engagement was not dissolved, making it inconvenient for Lu Mubai to express his feelings to Wen Yuxia, he insisted on writing her a letter every month, telling her about interesting things that happened in Pingyuan Pass and inquiring about her life.
Later, Wen Yuxia also began to reply to him. Although the content of her replies was very businesslike, Lu Mubai carried these replies with him and would take them out to read whenever he had free time.
In Wen Yuxia's view, Lu Mubai, like Xia Yichen and Fu Bao, became friends with her because of the life-saving grace, and their correspondence was purely platonic and did not involve romantic feelings.
Lu Mubai, however, knew perfectly well that the reason he took the initiative to write to Wen Yuxia was to make his presence known to her and to make her remember him.
His marriage to Tang Qini was arranged by his grandfather, the old Duke Zhenguo. He had been requesting the annulment of the engagement for years, but the old Duke Zhenguo had consistently refused.
It's good that the Emperor summoned him back to the capital this time because of the marriage; he can cancel the marriage himself.
Upon returning to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Lu Mubai bathed and changed before heading to the Minister's residence. Tang Qini's grandfather, Tang Jianzhong, was the Minister of Revenue.
"I apologize for my abrupt arrival, Grandpa Tang," Lu Mubai said solemnly, bowing to Tang Jianzhong.
He said with a smile, "Mu Bai, it's time to put your marriage with Ni'er on the agenda. The Emperor summoned you back to the capital to get married this time, and it was I who went to the palace to plead for it... The eighth day of next month is an auspicious day, how about we set the wedding for that day?"
Lu Mubai parted his thin lips slightly and said coldly, "Grandpa Tang, I have no intention of getting married. I have returned to the capital this time to annul the engagement."
"What? You want to break off the engagement?" Tang Jianzhong asked in surprise.
He was good friends with the old Duke Zheng Guo, Lu Zhenggang. Lu Zhenggang did not hide from Lu Mubai that he liked his savior and wanted to break off the engagement with the Tang family, but he repeatedly assured him that the marriage would not change.
Previously, Wen Yuxia was a commoner, and Tang Jianzhong didn't take her seriously at all. But now that Wen Yuxia is a princess, Tang Jianzhong has to consider things more carefully.
Tang Jianzhong made it clear that annulment was impossible; the Tang family couldn't afford to lose face. The biggest concession the Tang family could make was agreeing to let Lu Mubai's principal wife and concubine enter the family on the same day.
"Mu Bai, although the Wen family girl has been bestowed the title of Princess by the Emperor, she has no one from her maternal family to rely on. Ni'er, on the other hand, has the entire Minister's mansion behind her. Who can be your ally? I don't need to spell it out, do I?" Tang Jianzhong said with an air of complete composure.
Lu Mubai's face was cold, and his voice was deep and powerful as he said, "The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has not fallen so low as to rely on marriage alliances to maintain its status. I am determined to cancel this marriage."
The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion held a prominent position in the capital not through nepotism, but through the sacrifices of its ancestors who guarded the border.
Tang Jianzhong said with a stern face, "Did you bring the marriage certificate and tokens of betrothal to the annulment of the engagement?"
Lu Mubai was taken aback. The marriage certificate and tokens of love were with his grandfather, Lu Zhenggang. He had come in a hurry this time, so he wouldn't have found them.
"Grandpa Tang, I've come to inform you of the annulment of the engagement. I will bring the marriage certificate and tokens of our betrothal later," Lu Mubai said coldly.
Tang Jianzhong believed that given his relationship with Lu Zhenggang, Lu Zhenggang would definitely not agree to annul the engagement. So he picked up his teacup and said, "Let's talk about annul the engagement after you get the marriage certificate and the token of love. Someone, see the guest out."
Lu Mubai returned empty-handed. In order to successfully annul the engagement, he had no choice but to go to Qingsong Courtyard to find Lu Zhenggang.
"Grandfather, your grandson wishes to annul the engagement," Lu Mubai said loudly, kneeling upright in the courtyard.
Lu Zhenggang's furious voice came from inside the house: "Come in and talk!"
Kneeling in the courtyard is utterly disgraceful. Is announcing an engagement something to be proud of? What's the point of shouting like that in the courtyard?
He had mentioned this many times in his letters: the Emperor would not agree to Lu Mubai's wife leaving the capital. Lu Mubai was stationed at the border for many years; marrying Tang Qini would only make her a figurehead.
If you like Wen Yuxia, you could bring her to live with you in Pingyuan Pass. Why is this brat so naive? He insists on breaking off the engagement.
For many years, Lu Zhenggang's daily life was taken care of by his concubine while he was stationed at the border. Even in his old age, when he returned to the capital, the one who cared for him and looked after him for decades was still the same concubine who had been by his side for decades.
The only purpose of his legal wife was to bear him two legitimate sons; Lu Zhenggang had absolutely no feelings for her.
Similarly, the two deceased legitimate sons were accompanied by their concubines at the border. After the legitimate sons died in battle, their concubines committed suicide so that they could follow their lovers to the death.
Lu Zhenggang couldn't understand Lu Mubai's insistence on annulling the engagement: "Is it necessary to marry the person you love and make them your principal wife, living apart from your lover for years on end?"
A smile appeared on Lu Mubai's face. Years ago, he used Wen Yuxia's name to propose annulment, but it was just an excuse to avoid marriage. Now, he's announcing the engagement because Wen Yuxia told him that it's about one person for life, one love.
“Grandfather, our separation is temporary. I will show the Emperor my sincerity and he will agree to let me and my wife guard the border together,” Lu Mubai said with a hint of a smile in his voice.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Factory, sugar refinery, alcohol workshop, horse farm, coal mine—outsiders might not know, but Xia Yichen was well aware that these businesses were all connected to Wen Yuxia.
A capable man like Wen Yuxia, even if he didn't like her, he would still marry her. Although he didn't need nepotism to solidify his position, the dwindling population of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion did.
"Fine, you can break off the engagement if you want!" Lu Zhenggang sighed.
Wen Yuxia was no longer an ordinary person from a few years ago; she was the Princess Muhua, bestowed the title by the Emperor. Even a princess from the common people was still a princess, worthy of his grandson.
Lu Zhenggang took out the marriage certificate, birth dates and times, and engagement tokens and handed them to Lu Mubai, saying in a hoarse voice, "Have your second aunt accompany you."
"Understood, thank you for your understanding, Grandfather," Lu Mubai bowed respectfully, then went to Lotus Cottage to find Lu Fuqing, arranging to go to the Tang residence early the next morning to annul the engagement.
He then rode his horse to Yunyi Tower. As soon as Lu Mubai and his guards entered the capital, Zhang Jinxuan sent someone to inform him to gather at Yunyi Tower.