CHAPTER 149: CHAPTER 145: ENCOURAGING LEARNING (FIRST UPDATE)

Chu Feng saw Emperor Guangxi deep in thought and approached him to ask, "Emperor, shall I send someone to investigate Miss Song’s background?"

Emperor Guangxi replied with a hum.

To employ Song Wei for one’s own purposes, one must first understand the opponent’s background thoroughly.

——

Song Fang descended from the pavilion and unexpectedly saw her third brother and third sister-in-law waiting under the large willow tree not far away.

She jogged over and called out to them.

Song Wei asked her, "Where did you go?"

Song Fang, afraid of arousing her third brother’s suspicion, feigned ease and said, "A gentleman who lost his daughter years ago saw me and thought I looked somewhat like her, so he had someone bring me up to ask questions."

Wen Wan furrowed her brow; her sister-in-law was lying, but why would she do so?

Song Wei looked at Song Fang, "Is there nothing else?"

"Really, nothing else."

As she spoke, she came over to link arms with her sister-in-law, avoiding Song Wei’s slightly questioning gaze, "Let’s continue exploring; we’ve just arrived, and there are many places we haven’t visited yet!"

Wen Wan noticed her sister-in-law consistently refusing to tell the truth. She discreetly glanced at the jewelry on Song Fang’s head and wrists, seeing all in place, likely meaning nothing had gone wrong.

If all was well, then there was no need to probe deeper lest she exacerbate disharmony between the siblings, making herself the villain despite being the sister-in-law.

Thinking this, Wen Wan gave a gentle smile and mentally turned the page on the matter.

Lunch was eaten at a small restaurant near the temple fair, and afterward, they continued visiting places they hadn’t explored, buying many exquisite trinkets.

Until evening, the three returned to their small courtyard in the alley.

——

After the New Year, break time at the Imperial College was virtually over.

Song Wei and Xu Shu, as usual, reported on time.

Lu Yanqing steadfastly refused to go, staying in bed early in the morning, unwilling to rise despite any urge.

The servants couldn’t serve him properly, so they had to report to the Prince Consort.

Upon hearing, Lu Xingzhou rushed over at once, pushed the door open to enter the inner room, and seeing Lu Yanqing without a hint of rising, he pulled up a chair, sitting slowly, his gaze fixed on Lu Yanqing, "Why aren’t you going to the Imperial College?"

"I dislike that place; all sorts of people are squeezed in, hurting the eye." Lu Yanqing grumbled angrily, "Father, please speak to my mother; let me study in the palace as I used to. I dearly love the teachers Grandmother invited for me."

"No!"

Lu Xingzhou was resolute.

"Why?"

With heartfelt words, Lu Xingzhou said, "Your mother sent you to the Imperial College so you could learn to get along with classmates, handle matters independently, calmly, instead of relying blindly on your grandmother’s influence to break rules. You must understand your mother’s good intentions."

"I don’t understand," Lu Yanqing pouted, "Mother is overly strict with me, this is forbidden, and that too, unlike Grandmother who lets me do as I wish. Even if I make trouble, Grandmother finds ways to bail me out.

Mother never would; the moment I err, she scolds—clearly she doesn’t love me. Unless she allows me to play in Grandmother’s Shou’an Palace like before, otherwise, I’m not her own child!"

These words made Lu Xingzhou feel uncomfortable.

In the past, he had thought of teaching this child properly, but his stance was extraordinarily awkward; now, after having candid talks with Ah Yin, he no longer needs to be restricted.

Ah Yin spoke truly—the Empress Dowager showers affection on Yanqing not out of genuine love for her grandson. She only seeks to spoil Lu Family offspring, thus avenging against the Lu Family to vent her long-standing resentment towards Old Marquis.

If this continues unchecked, the child will only grow as a wastrel.

Therefore, Ah Yin had resolutely pulled their son out of Shou’an Palace, sending him to the Imperial College.

The original thought was to let him learn skills from those around him, to see classmates striving diligently, hoping he might be inspired and gradually corrected.

Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager had already nurtured him into a Little Overlord, causing constant trouble at the Imperial College, bullying classmates, and threatening them not to report.

The Empress Dowager, under the guise of pampering the beloved grandson, quietly resolved many crises, covering up trouble, allowing Lu Yanqing to emulate the duplicity—playing his parents wholeheartedly while living a double life to perfection.

If not for last time’s Huo Yuan incident being exposed, Lu Xingzhou wouldn’t know just how much trouble Lu Yanqing had been involved in secretly; investigating privately, discovering instance after instance, all discreetly concealed by the Empress Dowager.

Now, hearing his son constantly mention Grandmother, Lu Xingzhou was secretly shocked. He weighed his words carefully, slowly saying, "You cannot avoid going to the Imperial College. How about this, in future, if you can memorize an article every three days, Father will agree to one of your conditions, okay?"