That day, Lady Lu spent a long time speaking with Lu Yuanzhao in the study. When they emerged, both had red-rimmed eyes, and the attending servants discreetly lowered their heads, pretending not to notice.
Lady Lu wasn’t sure if what she had said was right, but she had spoken everything on her mind. As a woman, she had always been confined to the limited world of her household. If not for the teachings of her grandmother in her youth, she might not have even known the simplest truths about the heavens and the earth, let alone how to guide her son.
"Yuanzhao, your mother is well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics and has some understanding of strategy and governance. But the farthest I’ve ever traveled was from Huizhou to Yingchuan City when I married. Back then, I peered through the gaps in the bridal sedan, marveling at how high the mountains were—towering into the clouds—and the waterfalls that cascaded like the Milky Way, just as the poets described."
Lady Lu smiled faintly at the memory.
"I begged your uncle to let me take a look, but the attending maids insisted I couldn’t leave the sedan. So your uncle had the bearers carry it right up to the waterfall, allowing me to glimpse it through the window."
"Yuanzhao, this world has light and darkness, and it is vast beyond measure. I’ve always treated you and Yuanyi as children, and that was my mistake. But you mustn’t let the darkness defeat you. You must go out and see the world—see it for me. Travel as far as you can. And when you gain enough power, you can choose to make the light shine brighter."
Lu Yuanzhao nodded and exhaled deeply.
His mind was still reeling, overwhelmed by everything he had just taken in.
"In times of war, human flesh is cheaper than that of dogs or pigs."
"They select the weak—men and women alike—to feed the troops."
During famines, a handful of grain could buy a slave.
"In the final years of the Qi dynasty, the governor of Jinzhou, surnamed Qu, suffered from an eye ailment. Hearing of a remedy that required a hundred human eyeballs as an ingredient, he had commoners beaten to death and their eyes gouged out. When exposed, he paid a mere hundred coins in compensation per victim."
"If someone more powerful than the Lu family wanted to buy your brother, would you allow it?"
"Or what if they demanded your mother’s eyeballs?"
...
Late at night, Lu Yuanzhao lay in bed, staring wide-eyed at the canopy, unable to sleep.
He had found his purpose.
Lu Yuanzhao returned to the county school, and anyone could see he was working harder than ever, shutting out all distractions. Where he once avoided Xu Wei and his ilk, he now passed them like strangers.
His policy essays earned frequent nods of approval from the school’s instructors. To put it plainly, his earlier work had been all style and no substance, but now he was grounded, his writing more practical.
Zhou Youcheng received Lu Chao’s letter half a month later, along with a few decks of paper playing cards.
"Well, well! The penny-pincher actually sent me a gift! How rare."
Knowing Lu Chao, Zhou Youcheng was sure the man wanted something. Last time, to secure a wine deal, Lu Chao had asked for a favor and even drew him a painting of the Monkey King. Tsk, tsk.
A moment later—
Cough, cough, cough!
Zhou Youcheng choked on his tea, his face turning red from the fit.
"Third Prince! Are you all right?!"
A servant outside the door knocked urgently.
"Cough! I’m fine."
Zhou Youcheng read the letter over and over, gritting his teeth.
Lu Chao!! Who writes a letter like this?! Don’t you know the meaning of subtlety?! And this Xu Wei—does he have a death wish, daring to mess with my brother?!
The letter read:
"Brother Zhou! Seeing this letter is like seeing me! Your little brother is in peril!! There’s a student at the county school named Xu Wei, who has a taste for men—especially young boys! The way he looks at me is disgusting! Rumor has it his cousin is a palace consort. Could you look into it for me...?"
"Someone!"
"Investigate this man privately—Xu Wei of Yingchuan County School."
As his subordinate left, Zhou Youcheng stared at the letter in disbelief.
"How can anyone be this blunt?! This..."
If someone like that ever set their sights on him, Zhou Youcheng would ensure no third person ever knew—and the offender would be erased. He couldn’t tolerate such a stain on his life.
But... Lu Chao trusted him this much? He wasn’t afraid the letter might be leaked or used against him? Lu Chao was clever; he must consider their bond unbreakable to place such faith in him!
Touched by Lu Chao’s trust, Zhou Youcheng decisively held the letter over a candle and let it burn.
Meanwhile, Lu Chao sneezed during his law class.
He wondered if Zhou Youcheng had received the letter. If Zhou couldn’t dig up anything, Lu Chao planned to write to Lord Zhou next. He never went into battle unprepared.
And if this private matter somehow got out? Ha. The embarrassment wouldn’t be his. He’d fought his share of rumor wars before.
