Chapter 398: The Grand Matriarch

The Lu Residence was also known as Lady Fengxin’s Residence.

Every household had someone who served as its public face. Among ordinary commoners, that person might be called the pillar of the household or simply the head of the family. In the Lu Residence of Yanjing, the person actually managing the household was not the old lady, yet in the eyes of outsiders, ninety-nine percent of the Lu family’s weight rested upon the walking stick in that old woman’s hand.

Heaven, Earth, sovereign, parents, teacher.

Heaven and Earth came first, but they never appeared before mortal eyes. Thus, among those who did, the sovereign stood highest. As the present Emperor’s wet nurse, Lady Fengxin’s seniority naturally exceeded the normal measures of worldly hierarchy.

Within the Lu household, young masters, young madams, servants, and attendants alike all called her the Ancestress. Outsiders visiting the residence addressed her respectfully as the Grand Matriarch.

At this moment, the Grand Matriarch knelt upon a meditation cushion before a Buddhist image hanging above the altar and silently recited scripture.

Behind her, outside the threshold of the small Buddhist hall, stood her eldest son: Lu Bing, head of the Lu Clan and Assistant Commissioner of the Secret Intelligence Department.

A short while later, the Grand Matriarch opened her eyes. With the support of a maid named Lingxiang, she slowly rose.

The Buddhist hall itself was not especially small, but the space actually given to the Buddha was cramped. A bedchamber occupied the western side while a tearoom occupied the eastern side, so the Buddha, though placed in the center, had been squeezed tightly from both directions.

The Grand Matriarch entered the tearoom, and Lingxiang began preparing tea.

A cup of chrysanthemum tea, fragrant and refreshing, was placed before the Grand Matriarch.

A cup of Maojian, mellow and sweet on the finish, was placed before Lu Bing.

The Grand Matriarch set down her prayer beads, lifted her tea, and said:

“Speak.”

Lu Bing did not touch his cup.

Instead, he asked respectfully:

“Mother, why?”

Why had the Lu household involved itself in this affair?

The Crown Prince was watching.

The entire court was watching.

This wedding was destined to become a scalding potato that everyone else avoided. Yet the Lu family had reached out and taken it.

Worse, it had not been Lu Bing, the actual head of the household, who accepted it.

His mother had.

The Grand Matriarch took a sip of tea and idly brushed the floating petals aside with the lid.

“Because he is His Majesty’s son.”

Lu Bing sat upright as though asking instruction from his mother.

“Why?”

“You are asking why I am helping Little Sixth?”

“Yes. That is what this son is asking.”

“I already answered you.”

Lu Bing frowned slightly. He plainly did not understand.

The Grand Matriarch set down her cup.

“I have lived quietly for so long that the household’s ordinary affairs are all managed by your wife. When a person grows accustomed to peace, the mind naturally has fewer twists and turns.

“In your eyes, I am helping Little Sixth.

“In my eyes, I am merely helping His Majesty’s child.

“Forget Little Sixth coming to our door. If one of the other princes came instead—even if Third Brother in the Lake Pavilion somehow escaped and came knocking at our gate—we would help him too.”

Lu Bing’s lips parted slightly.

Something seemed to click.

“The Lu family is different from other noble households. What I am about to say may sound blunt. Do not take offense.”

“Mother may speak freely. This son understands.”

“Everything the Lu family possesses today, and every office held by you brothers, was exchanged for the affection I earned by nursing His Majesty in those years.”

Among truly wealthy and noble households in this age, a wet nurse’s work did not end once the child was weaned. Afterward, she often remained as the child’s personal nurse and caretaker, attending him as he grew.

So Lady Fengxin’s bond with the present Emperor was not merely that she had once breastfed him.

When he had still been a child living in the princely residence, she had been the one who raised him.

“This son naturally understands,” Lu Bing replied respectfully.

It was simply the truth.

“That is why our Lu family differs from ordinary ministers. Between a normal subject and the Son of Heaven lies the righteousness of sovereign and minister.

“Between us and His Majesty—there is something more.

“You know perfectly well what sort of men your younger brothers are. Yet every one of them has an office and a livelihood. That is His Majesty remembering affection toward our family.

“Since we are family, if one of the younger generation comes asking for help, how could this old woman refuse?

“Remember this.

“Forget Little Sixth today.

“If one day some imperial prince actually rebels, is about to be arrested, runs to our Lu Residence, and knocks on the gate—we still open it for him.

“Do not fear that His Majesty will punish us. Even if he does, the punishment will never be heavier than the punishment for refusing to open that gate.

“They are imperial princes.

“They are His Majesty’s real family.

“They are His Majesty’s flesh-and-blood sons.

“His Majesty may bully them as he pleases. A father beating his son is only natural.

“But if anyone else dares do the same—he had better weigh himself carefully.

“Does he possess that qualification?

“Only His Majesty may touch His Majesty’s sons. If His Majesty orders them to kneel, they kneel. If His Majesty orders them to lie flat, they lie flat.

“But for outsiders to kick them while they are down?

“That is refusing His Majesty face.

“And as for us—if the Lu family loses even this affection binding us to His Majesty, what else do we possess to rely upon?”

“Yes, Mother. This son understands.”

“Remind your wife again. Since I have already accepted this matter, Little Sixth will be coming to our residence today to receive his bride.

“Red lanterns, red silk, wedding noodles—things like that can all be bought with silver. They were never the important part.

“She needs to show some genuine warmth toward the He family girl. Put a little heart into it. Even if she has to pinch herself, she must squeeze out a few tears and act like a mother pained and reluctant to send her daughter away.

“Whether the emotion is real, whether the acting is convincing, whether it is false—those are secondary matters.

“As long as the attitude is correct, the relationship has been accepted. At the very least, there will be a reason for both households to visit one another in the future.

“You give someone face today.

“Only then will they give you face tomorrow.

“Your wife is usually too clever. I am afraid that cleverness may turn into stupidity for one moment and cause her to miscalculate this account.”

“Mother has heard something?”

“Heh. Nothing more than a little gossip.”

“This son has failed to govern the household properly and disturbed Mother’s peace. The fault is mine.”

“You have plenty of affairs outside. How much attention can you truly spare for household matters? I have been lazy too. I only wanted my own peace and never wished to meddle.

“Usually, hearing the little sparrows of the younger generation chirping back and forth provides a little amusement.

“But when serious matters arrive—they are not permitted to fool around.”

“This son obeys Mother’s instructions.”

The Grand Matriarch lifted her cup again.

Lingxiang stepped forward and said:

“Master, when supper was sent to Miss He last night, Second Young Madam taught Miss He the proper rules for drinking tea right in front of her.”

Lu Bing’s gaze immediately sharpened.

Second Young Madam was the wife of Lu Bing’s second son.

The Grand Matriarch took another sip and slowly lowered the cup.

“I was young once too. Women’s hearts can indeed become rather narrow sometimes. Heh.”

Lu Bing rose and cupped his hands.

“Mother, give the order.”

“Xiaonan’s wife is from the Qiu Clan, yes?”

“Yes. The Qiu Clan.”

“Mm. Not exactly some tiny household, but... divorce her.”

“Yes.”

“Our Lu family may produce people without much ability. A household like ours never rose through ability in the first place.

“But we absolutely cannot tolerate stupidity.

“As for Xiaonan—break one of his legs.

“Make sure his scream reaches Miss He’s ears.”

“Yes.”

Even though the leg to be broken belonged to his own son, Lu Bing did not hesitate in the slightest.

The Grand Matriarch picked up her prayer beads again.

“She dares despise the He family girl’s birth? Thinks a butcher’s daughter is lowly?

“Heh.

“Something that does not know the height of Heaven or the depth of Earth. She does not even know what she herself is.

“The He family girl is marrying an imperial prince.

“She is going to become a master.

“We—are servants.

“Since when does a servant dare laugh at a master for not knowing the proper rules of drinking tea?

“Rules?

“What damned thing are rules supposed to be?

“In the eyes of servants like us—whatever the master says—that is the rule!”

“Yes, Mother. This son will remember.”

“Girl.”

“This servant is here,” Lingxiang answered.

“Call Yue and the others in. Help me put on my formal robes.”

Lu Bing froze slightly.

“Mother, you...”

The Grand Matriarch glanced at him.

“You followed behind His Majesty and Liangting playing together when you were small, yes. But you were still very young at the time.

“There are things you do not know.”

She did not explain what those things were.

In the Grand Matriarch’s eyes, far too much about Little Sixth resembled His Majesty in his youth.

Especially the night Little Sixth came to the Buddhist hall to ask for her help.

That expression.

That posture.

Even the cadence in which he spoke.

He had looked as though he had been carved from the same mold as His Majesty.

But words like these truly could not be spoken aloud.

Not even to her own son.

People everywhere said the present Emperor’s succession had gone smoothly because, among the late Emperor’s children, he had simply been too outstanding. So outstanding that there had scarcely been any need to consider the others.

That did not mean the late Emperor’s other sons had all been useless.

“Since the Lu household is temporarily serving as Miss He’s maternal family today, then this old woman must personally stand up and support that girl’s position.”

As she spoke, the Grand Matriarch fixed Lu Bing with bright, steady eyes.

Inside her heart, she sighed:

*I may already be old.*

*But I can still stand.*

*I can still earn one more bond of incense and affection for the descendants of my Lu family.*

Lingxiang said:

“Ancestress, this servant alone can attend you.”

The Grand Matriarch waved her hand.

“The He family girl grew up without a personal maid. Now she is marrying out all alone. That is too desolate.

“Lingxiang, I trained you personally. You have followed beside me since childhood.

“I no longer need you serving here for the moment.

“Go wash and dress yourself.

“You will accompany her as a dowry maid and enter the prince’s residence with her.”

Lingxiang’s heart jolted.

She had truly known nothing about this arrangement until now.

Even so, she immediately stepped back three paces and knelt before the Grand Matriarch.

“This servant understands.”

She said nothing sentimental about reluctance or years of affection.

Lingxiang knew the old woman she had served for so many years.

Those eyes could see through far too many things.

“Your parents, elder brother, and sister-in-law are all servants in the Lu household, yes?”

“Yes, Ancestress. It is all thanks to Ancestress’s support and favor.”

For ordinary people, securing service within a great noble household was itself tremendous fortune.

The Grand Matriarch nodded.

“If you become pregnant within one year—prepare to arrange funerals for your parents, brother, and sister-in-law.”

“...”

Lingxiang stared at her.

A faint smile touched the Grand Matriarch’s lips.

“You are an intelligent and quick-witted girl. Miss He is pregnant now and cannot attend her husband in bed.

“By ordinary custom, a dowry maid like you naturally carries an obligation to share the husband’s bed.

“But you are being sent by the Lu household precisely so our family may show goodwill toward Miss He.

“If you become the reason she hates us instead—then why would the Lu family bother sending you at all?

“Do not blame this old woman for being cruel.

“I am doing this for your own good.

“A pregnant woman’s heart is delicate.

“A woman carrying her first child—more delicate still.

“Even if that beast Ji Chengjue becomes overcome with lust and tries to force you, you put a hairpin against your own throat.

“If you dare submit to him—this old woman will do exactly what she just said.”

“Yes. This servant understands.”

“One year.

“You wait one year.

“If something belongs to you, it will not disappear because you waited a year.

“Afterward, if you want to fly onto a branch and become a phoenix, do as you please.

“But you must wait this one year for me.

“And let me say something that might violate a few taboos.

“What is the point in women fighting back and forth over favor inside a mere imperial prince’s residence?

“If one day there truly comes a greater opportunity—then fight openly and properly for it.

“If you can truly seize it, perhaps the younger generations of my Lu family will one day have to rely upon Miss Lingxiang’s protection.”

“Ancestress has shown this servant kindness heavier than a mountain. This servant would never dare—”

“Enough.”

The Grand Matriarch cut her off.

“If this old woman is shameless enough to remain alive until that day, then when proper etiquette demands it, I will kneel to you happily enough.

“Go.

“Make yourself presentable.”

“Yes, Ancestress.”

Lingxiang withdrew.

The Grand Matriarch looked toward her son.

“You should not stand around here either. Remember: today you are marrying off a daughter.

“Besides—you know how to act.”

Lu Bing directly ignored his mother’s final remark. He merely bowed and prepared to leave.

The Grand Matriarch spoke again.

“Do not be afraid. Do not worry.

“The struggle for succession is not something you can avoid merely by wishing not to become involved.

“But as long as you act according to your true duty, nobody can use this matter to control you.

“The Lu family are servants of the Son of Heaven.

“Only the Son of Heaven can decide the fate of our household.

“So do not bind your own hands and feet.

“Act with the attitude that you are doing everything for the Son of Heaven.

“That is enough.”

“This son thanks Mother for her instruction. I understand.”

“Go.”

“Yes. This son takes his leave.”

After leaving the small Buddhist hall, Lu Bing instructed the old steward beside him to find a stout wooden club.

In a little while he was going to break his second son’s leg.

While standing there waiting, Lu Bing recalled what his mother had just said.

In truth, only today had Wei Zhonghe finally confirmed that the Emperor possessed another intelligence bureau completely independent of the Secret Intelligence Department.

That organization was more secretive.

Its authority might even be greater.

It might even be watching the Secret Intelligence Department itself.

But almost nobody in the world knew that the man managing this secret organization for the Emperor was Lu Bing.

The same Lu Bing whom the world believed had only received an official post because his mother once served as the Emperor’s wet nurse.

His Majesty’s milk-brother.

That was precisely why Lu Bing knew far more about the Sixth Prince than other people did.

He knew about the Sixth Prince’s relationship with the surviving Min network.

He knew about the Sixth Prince’s relationship with Count Pingye.

He knew about the face the Sixth Prince had spent years hiding.

A long while later—

Lu Bing sighed.

“Mother.

“You said the struggle for succession is not something we can avoid simply because we wish to.

“That is true.

“But Mother—do you know?

“He is not really fighting his brothers at all.

“He—is fighting His Majesty.”

————

[End of Chapter 398]