When Lord Lu saw Lu Chao, it was as if he had spotted a lifeline. Grabbing Lu Chao by the sleeve, he hurriedly pulled him into the study.
"Mu Xin, wait outside the door. No one is to approach the study except the Eldest Young Master."
Lu Chao stumbled from the sudden tug but managed to steady himself just in time to hear his father blurt out a flurry of words.
"Chao'er, do you know of the current Third Prince?"
Lu Chao shook his head blankly. He had never left Yingchuan since birth—how could he possibly know the Third Prince?
"Did Zhou Youcheng ever mention the Third Prince in his letters?"
Again, Lu Chao shook his head.
Lord Lu took a sip of cold tea to clear the haze of alcohol from his mind.
"I just received word that Prefect Meng has been demoted to Xinyang. The new prefect will take office after the New Year. More importantly, a month ago, the Third Prince petitioned for Yingchuan as his fief. He will arrive soon. By the way, the Third Prince is Zhou Youcheng’s cousin."
Lu Chao understood—his father wanted to secure Zhou Youcheng’s influence.
"Father, discussing imperial affairs is a grave offense. Zhou Youcheng likely wouldn’t mention it in his letters. Besides, who knows how close he is with the Third Prince?"
Nobility came before kinship. Commoners fought over scraps of land, let alone the imperial family, where fathers and sons, brothers and brothers, had clashed over the throne since ancient times. What did a mere cousin matter?
Lord Lu was desperate to know the relationship between the Third Prince and the Zhou family, but his only connection in the capital was his brother-in-law. His letter had just been sent, and even with the fastest reply, it would take over ten days. He couldn’t wait that long.
"My son, I’m afraid I won’t be here for the Third Prince’s welcoming banquet. When the time comes, take your elder brother with you and present this memorial to him on my behalf. Yuxi County is too poor—its people go days without food and don’t even feel hunger. As their magistrate, if I can’t ensure they’re fed, I won’t sleep peacefully."
Lu Chao accepted the wax-sealed memorial and solemnly agreed.
Lord Lu hadn’t been attending banquets merely for indulgence. Over drinks, he had discreetly gathered advice from colleagues and advisors. Transforming Yuxi County required immense resources, and without funds, progress was impossible.
With Prefect Meng no longer an option, their only hope lay with the incoming Third Prince and the new prefect. Unfortunately, Lord Lu had to depart for Yuxi County as scheduled, forcing him to entrust such a critical task to his young sons.
"If you succeed, you’ll be the saviors of Yuxi County!"
Well, with things put so dramatically, Lu Chao had no choice but to try.
News of the Third Prince’s impending arrival soon spread through Yingchuan, stirring unrest—especially in the Xu household.
Old Master Xu’s health had declined ever since Xu Wei’s disgrace, and he had gradually handed minor household affairs to his eldest son, intervening only in major matters.
Now, upon hearing the news, his heart sank as if crushed by an invisible boulder, his breath turning labored. The situation was growing increasingly tangled, impossible to unravel.
"From now on, all of you must tread carefully. If any of you leave a weakness for the Third Prince to exploit, jeopardizing our standing with the imperial family, I will show no mercy!"
The Xu family members bowed in acknowledgment, then returned to discipline their own subordinates, terrified of ending up like Xu Wei, who had been exiled to a distant academy and had yet to return.
Lately, the Xu family’s illegitimate son, Xu Cong’an, had been appearing more frequently in public. It remained to be seen whether Xu Wei would reclaim his place upon his return.
The next day, the Lu family consulted a diviner to select an auspicious date for Lord Lu’s departure. Reluctantly, he set off for Yuxi.
On the day of farewell, Lord Lu clung to Lu Chao’s hand, unwilling to let go.
"Chao'er, if you’re unsure about anything, ask your elder brother. Don’t forget what I entrusted to you. I’ll search Yuxi for rare flowers and plants for you. Remember to write! I’ll be waiting for good news!"
Lu Chao could only laugh helplessly and agree. Beside them, Lu Yuanzhao and Lu Yuanyi’s eyes were red-rimmed, making the youngest, Lu Chao, appear oddly composed in contrast.
Nearby, Lady Lu meticulously instructed Uncle Zhong’s son about travel arrangements, while Aunt Zhou wept bitterly as she embraced her two daughters. She had chosen to leave them behind and accompany Lord Lu to Yuxi. At her age, this might be her last chance.
Besides, Lady Lu was kind-hearted. Leaving her daughters in her care eased her mind.
Yet, the thought of parting from her children, whom she had never been apart from, made her tears flow uncontrollably.
"Be good and listen to Lady Lu. Baozhu, you’re the elder sister—take care of your younger sister for me. I’ll return in a couple of years."
The two girls clung to their mother, lost and afraid.
In the carriage, Aunt Li rolled her eyes.
"Tch. How hypocritical. If she truly couldn’t bear it, she wouldn’t have abandoned them."
She had assumed she would be the only one accompanying Lord Lu. Who knew this old woman would stick to him like glue?
Had Lord Lu known their thoughts, he would have gone to Yuxi alone.
His sole focus now was making a name for himself in Yuxi, laying the foundation for his career. Matters of romance were the last thing on his mind. Bringing Aunt Zhou along was merely for household management.
Thus, upon arriving in Yuxi, when the two concubines attempted to charm him, they found Lord Lu sleeping at the county office most nights. On the rare occasions he returned home, he would snore before they could even speak.
With no entertainment in Yuxi, Aunt Li grew miserable within months, whimpering about returning to Yingchuan. Had her maid not dissuaded her, she might have written to Lady Lu.
In stark contrast to Yuxi, the Lu residence in Yingchuan was now home only to Lady Lu and the children. As her pregnancy became more apparent, she declined most social invitations, sending Lu Yuanzhao in her stead for the unavoidable ones.
Burdened with the responsibility of an elder brother, Lu Yuanzhao naturally took care of his siblings, fostering a noticeably relaxed atmosphere at home.
With no one scrutinizing his studies, Lu Chao happily purchased a few more novels, living quite contentedly.
......
On this day, outside Yingchuan’s city gates—
A fast-moving carriage convoy slowed as it neared the city walls, blending into the lively clamor of vendors and hawkers.
"What’s the occasion today? It’s quite bustling."
Inside an unassuming carriage at the center of the convoy, a young man lifted the curtain.
"Your Highness, today is the Winter Solstice."
Xiao Youcheng’s lips curved slightly. "What an auspicious day."
The solstice marks rebirth, the cycle beginning anew.
Lifting his gaze, he saw the familiar city gates. Though barely a year had passed, the hope he felt then remained unchanged.
"Proceed slowly. Don’t disturb the people."
"As you command."
Perhaps out of pity for his early separation from home, the Emperor had granted him Yingchuan’s former imperial residence as his princely manor, saving Xiao Youcheng much trouble. By the time anyone took notice, he would have long since departed.
The timing was perfect now—his uncle happened to be away from the capital, giving him the ideal opportunity. If he waited until his uncle returned before leaving, his father might suspect the Zhou family was behind the plan, and escaping then would be far more difficult.
The sky was vast enough for birds to soar; the sea was wide enough for fish to leap.
But what troubled him now was how to reveal his true identity to Lu Chao.
That man had a fiery temper, held grudges, and was notoriously lazy—averse to any kind of trouble. If he found out who he really was, he’d surely flee as far as possible.
Maybe… he should play the sympathy card?
