He was lucky to have run into some fisherman that helped him just when he was about to die of thirst and hunger. When Lu Yunji found out that their ship had been robbed by pirates, he fumed.
“You brought so many men with you but still got robbed? Didn’t you tell them where you were from? How dare they touch our Lu family’s ship!”
Afraid to lift his head, Lu Hanxing remained in a kneeling position. “It was the Four Seas Sect. Their leader had the surname Fang and said that they were targeting our Lu family.”
Lu Qi snorted. “Asking for trouble.”
“If they are looking for trouble, we don’t have to be anxious.” Lu Yunji narrowed his eyes. “Hanxing, other than the Four Seas Sect, does anyone else know what was on board the ship?”
“At the port, one of the boxes toppled over and someone might have seen the contents that fell out.” Lu Hanxing recalled. “It was a merchant family, the Fu family.”
“The Fu family?” Lu Qi raised his eyebrows. “What a coincidence. I was just about to discuss the issue of getting a concubine with Father. They also have the surname Fu and own a dye workshop and an embroidery house.”
“It is the same family.” Lu Hanxing confirmed.
“This…” Lu Qi hesitated. He had really developed slight feelings for Fu Rou.
“You have been on the battlefield and killed numerous generals. What do you think we should do with this insignificant family after they have seen something that they should not see?” Women are like clothes. They are no big deal!
Lu Qi composed himself. “Sheng Chumu is related to that family and is currently staying there. Should we just…” He made a killing gesture.
Lu Yunji immediately shook his head. “I just said that you were soft-hearted and you are already making another mistake. If something were to happen to Sheng Chumu in Guangzhou, do you think Duke Lu will let it go? It might even draw the Emperor’s attention here. We should be covering things up, not blowing them up.”
Lu Qi was suddenly enlightened. “We are not allowed to touch Sheng Chumu. As for the rest of the Fu family, they are simply commoners. A bunch of useless ants. I will make them shut up forever.”
With a single hammer, Lu Yunji had decided the Fu family’s fate.
Chapter 8.1: Intentional Incident
The sunset was fiery red.
In the garden, Fu Rou was working on her embroidery. Fu Yin came over with a bowl of white fungus lotus seed soup.
“Second Sister, what are you embroidering?” Fu Yin looked over curiously before sputtering out a laugh. “Isn’t that Brother Chumu? Why does he look like he just fell from the tree?”
Fu Rou covered her embroidery with a cloth. She took a sip of the white fungus lotus soup. “This is your mother’s specialty. How can you bear to give this to me?”
“My mother knows that you like to eat this but feels embarrassed to give it to you herself. She told me that she made too much as an excuse.” Fu Yin suddenly lowered her voice. “My mother is actually still very grateful to you for saving her.”
“We are a family.” Fu Rou finished the white fungus lotus seed soup but saw how reluctant Fu Yin was to leave. She smiled. “You look like you have something else to say, what is it?”
Fu Yin swallowed. “Second Sister, can you lend me some money?” Fu Rou looked at her seriously. “How much?”
Fu Yin lifted three fingers. “Three months’ worth.”
Fu Rou raised her brows. “How can a bowl of lotus seed soup be so expensive?” She intentionally narrowed her eyes. “Tell me. What do you want it for?”
Fu Yin blushed slightly. “It is going to be Du Ning’s birthday soon and I want to prepare a gift for him. He taught me calligraphy and painting. Furthermore, he knows how to do a lot of things. He knows how to fish, play music, write poems and pitch pot [1]. He is incredible!”
Fu Rou made an oh sound. “Does your mother know that you like Du Ning?”
Fu Yin did not realise that Fu Rou was trying to test her and waved her hands awkwardly. “I wouldn’t dare. Du Ning is just a scholar and no one in his family is a high-ranking official. Mother nags at me all day to find a wealthy husband. She keeps going on about how a pheasant can become a phoenix and how I should ride on my husband’s success. Aiyo, I am about to be bothered to death. How did I get such a mother? Second Sister, you definitely cannot tell my mother about me and Du Ning.”
Fu Rou laughed. “Rather than remind me, you should be careful. You keep calling Du Ning’s name casually, if you accidentally slip up in front of Third Madam then you are going to be in trouble.”
“Okay.” Fu Yin replied obediently. She continued to ask, “When is Brother Chumu returning?”
Fu Rou shook her head. “I don’t know. The place he is at now is extremely closed off. Even Junhui cannot enter.”
“Every time Brother Chumu leaves, he will come back as a different person. I wonder whether it will be the same this time.” Fu Yin looked forward to Chumu’s return.
“Maybe darker, skinnier and stronger.” Fu Rou was even more expectant. She then kept her embroidery materials. “It is getting dark, let’s head back. I will give you the money. You don’t have to return it to me, just teach me how to make your mother’s white fungus lotus seed soup.”
“Second Sister, you are the one that said this.” Fu Yin was delighted as she held onto Fu Rou’s arm.
Both sisters did not know that that very night, Sheng Chumu returned.
Sheng Chumu could not even remember what he had gone through under Niu Wudi. Although he still looked dashing and charming on the outside, internally he had turned into an iron wall. This time, however, he did not utter a single word of complaint. He was completely willing. Not only that, he had requested for all sorts of additional training, causing Niu Wudi’s jaw to drop. Before Sheng Chumu left, Niu Wudi even fished a precious item from his trunk – a Chinese Chess Manual. However, Sheng Chumu could not understand why it was precious.
“Chumu.” Someone called out to him. Sheng Chumu turned back to see Lu Qi riding towards him on a Five Blossom Horse.
A cold look entered Sheng Chumu’s eyes. However, he still greeted him with a smile. “Lu Qi.”
“What a coincidence.” Lu Qi immediately dismounted. He threw the reins backwards as his guard immediately caught it. “Since we have met, there’s no day better than today. Let’s go for a drink.”
Sheng Chumu stiffened as he did not let Lu Qi move him even an inch. “I am not going. I am scared of your tricks.”
It was too coincidental. As soon as he entered the city, he bumped into Lu Qi. It was as if Lu Qi was waiting for him.
Lu Qi laughed out loud. “Haha, so direct. You remind me of Duke Lu. You are looking down on me. Since I made a deal to compete with you, we will settle this in Chang’an. I won’t resort to underhanded means.”
“So we are really going to drink?” Sheng Chumu was moved. He did not get to drink at Wudi Manor and the alcoholic side of him was calling for a drink.
“Of course.” Lu Qi’s eyes shifted. Of all times, Sheng Chumu came back on the exact day he wanted to make a move on the Fu family. He was not going to let Sheng Chumu ruin his plans. “As the saying goes, ‘You learn more about your opponent through fighting’. Even though we already know each other, we must fight. As men, we have to fight and drink. Who knows? Maybe after our fight, we will understand each other better and can even be friends. Don’t you think so?”
“Yes, we cannot be like the women. When something is not right, all they do is show a dark face and never talk to each other ever again. So petty.” Sheng Chumu relaxed and allowed Lu Qi to drag him along. Ultimately, he gave in to his urge to drink.