Lu Qi laughed and released her hand.
Lu Yingying’s cold glare swept past Fu Yin. She smiled towards her father and brother and said, “I knew that Father and Brother could escape unharmed this time.”
“You are incredible.” Lu Qi turned into a good elder brother once again. He joked, “Are you Master Yuan? You can predict the future?”
“Yes I can predict the future.” Lu Yingying’s heart clenched with pain but she maintained her smile and added, “I also know that our family will have double the happiness soon.”
Lu Yunji was curious and he asked, “Oh? One of the happiness is our peaceful return home. What is the other one?”
Lu Yingying smiled meekly as she replied, “I am about to be married.”
Fu Yin was stunned and she suddenly recalled Lu Yingying going out often in the past few days. She had been trying to help her brother and father.
“Yingying…” Lu Qi knew that something was not right.
Lu Yingying cut him off and announced, “I have made a promise to Grand Prince Liang to marry him.”
Shocked, Lu Qi yelled, “What?”
Lu Yunji stared at his daughter for a second before he came to a realisation. “No wonder Grand Prince Liang had visited us in prison and even brought us things to eat.”
Lu Yingying shook her head and denied, “Father, you are mistaken…”
Lu Qi was blinded with anger as he raged, “What misunderstanding? It is clear what it is! I do not agree to this! Father, I will definitely not agree to Yingying marrying Grand Prince Liang! How is this a marriage? It is clearing a sacrifice!”
Lu Yingying remained calm. She knew clearly that everything had been settled. At least, she was guilt free and she did not have any selfish thoughts of harming others.
Chapter 56.2: National File
When the Emperor heard Lu Yunji and Lu Qi’s request for an audience, he knew that they were here to reject the engagement. After all, Grand Prince Liang had a reputation of being a playboy.
As he expected, Lu Yunji immediately got to his knees. Instead of thanking the Emperor for releasing him from prison, he claimed that a misunderstanding had happened and his young daughter had personally made an engagement with Grand Prince Liang. However, she had not gone by the customs and respected traditions. She was not worthy to be Grand Prince Liang’s wife.
Without wasting any breath, the Emperor asked, “Lu Yunji, do you not like Grand Prince Liang?”
Lu Yunji was shocked and he replied, “I do not dare to have that thought.”
The Emperor scoffed, “Then go back and prepare. Once the period of mourning is over, have your daughter marry into Grand Prince Liang’s residence.”
As much as he did not like Grand Prince Liang, it was his personal reasons. If the Lu family disregarded Grand Prince Liang, they would be disrespecting the Imperial family.
Lu Qi boldly exclaimed, “Please forgive me for being so blunt but this matter will not be appropriate!”
Afraid of Lu Qi’s rashness, Lu Yunji stopped him and cried, “Your Majesty! I am old and useless already. Please allow me to return to my hometown to be farmers with my son and daughter.”
“You even suggest returning to your hometown.” The Emperor turned towards Lu Qi and asked, “Lu Qi, let me ask you, why did you say that the matter was not appropriate?”
With resolve, Lu Qi answered, “Grand Prince Liang may not be a good match for my sister. Grand Prince Liang is famous for being rough towards women. In Chang’an, everyone knows that Grand Prince Liang has beaten many women to death. I only have this one sister and I cannot bear to…”
Lu Yunji panicked and interrupted, “Shut up! Do you want to die?”
“As an older brother, even if I do not treasure my life, I cannot watch my sister give her life away to the devil!” Although he was normally on good terms with Grand Prince Liang, they were only using each other for their own benefits.
“You have spoken well. I will grant your request.” The Emperor called for men and ordered, “Drag Lu Qi out and cane him until he dies!”
Lu Yunji immediately begged, “Please have mercy, Your Majesty!”
However, the Emperor had the intention to kill and he wanted to use Lu Qi to tame Lu Yunji.
The sounds of the canes did not stop and Lu Yunji’s heart beat furiously as he bowed towards the Emperor profusely. There was nothing else he could do.
After a while, the Emperor said, “I understand that you want to be a kind father and Lu Qi wants to be a good brother. Although both of you are very bold, you were not wrong. However, the Grand Emperor is also a good father and I also want to be a good brother. Is the Grand Emperor and I wrong in this sense?”
Lu Yunji remained on the floor and he stammered, “Your Majesty, I….”
“My father has recently passed away. When he was dying, Grand Prince Liang told him that he fell in love with a woman and will settle down. The Grand Emperor was ecstatic and he praised Grand Prince Liang twice. This was the Grand Emperor’s last wish and the last thing that I can do for him as his son.”
Lu Yunji gritted his teeth and pleaded, “I am willing to donate all my riches to the country and resign as a Duke. I beg you…”
“Lu Yunji, you have served me for many years. On account of that, I am giving you two choices. First, become Grand Prince Liang’s father-in-law happily. Second, disrespect me along with the entire Imperial family. All men of the Duke Chen Residence will be beheaded and the women sent to be prostitutes.”
Lu Yunji could see the resolve in the Emperor’s eyes and knew that no matter what he chose, his daughter would end up in the hands of Grand Prince Liang. It was only a matter of an official or unofficial route. He had no choice but to choose the proper route.
In the beginning, Lu Qi was still keeping track of how many beatings he had received but he lost count towards the end. Yet, he refused to cry out in pain. He would rather die than to allow his sister to be trampled on by Grand Prince Liang. His mother was dead and his father had to go out for battles frequently. His sister was incredibly valuable to him and he had watched her grow up.
All of a sudden, the official received an order and stopped the caning. Lu Qi struggled to open his eyes and he saw his father leave the Emperor’s hall slowly. He asked hopefully, “Father?”
Lu Yunji helped Lu Qi up and sighed, “Don’t talk about it, let’s go home.”
Lu Qi’s heart fell. There was no more hope.
The country’s mourning was supposed to last three years but since the Emperor was sympathetic to his citizens, he changed it to a month. Hence, for the next thirty-six days, there could not be any festive drinking or marriages.
Lu Qi had still been hoping for a three year mourning period. Three years was long and with that time, and he might be able to think of a plan. Unfortunately, thirty-six days flew by very quickly.
Empress Zhangsun had managed to persuade Grand Prince Liang to marry Lu Yingying to be his main wife instead. Once the mourning period was over, the palace started to prepare for the joyous occasion of Grand Prince Liang’s wedding. At this point, the arrow was already on the bow.
On this day, Lu Qi invited a person from the Precious Jem Shop to prepare wedding jewelry for Lu Yingying. The boss of the shop dug through his collection of jewelry and introduced each piece in detail.