e阝Zhenzhu lost her temper and cursed Lu Hao as a useless coward. She sneered and said, "I didn't expect that Lord Lu is such a kind and generous person!" Zhenzhu's previous words underestimated Lord Lu. I'm really sorry. Lord Lu, please don't take it to heart."
Lu Hao shook his head and smiled tolerantly, "I am fine, but Miss Deng seems to be very angry. You are still young, and you are the apple of Lord Deng's eye. Just relax and you will meet your soulmate eventually."
"Relax?" Deng Zhenzhu couldn't help but scream. How could she relax after such a shameful incident? If she could endure this, she wouldn't be called Deng Zhenzhu.
Seeing that Lu Hao didn't respond to her and didn't take the bait, Deng Zhenzhu was too lazy to play Tai Chi with Lu Hao and said directly: "I thought Lord Lu was a real man who dared to do and take responsibility, but I didn't expect him to be so useless. He didn't even dare to say a word after being slapped in the face. I really despise him!"
I thought these harsh words would irritate Lu Hao a little bit, but Lu Hao spread his hands, put them behind his head, leaned back in his chair leisurely, and said with a smile: "Then according to Miss Deng, what should I do to be considered a promising and daring man?"
Deng Zhenzhu was irritated by Lu Hao's tone of voice, which was meant to cheer a child up. She clenched her fist and gritted her teeth and said, "If you are willing to be rejected by Xu Mingyu, then I will pretend that I have never said this to you today. We are not on the same page, so we should just go our separate ways. There is no need to say any more unnecessary things."
Lu Hao looked at her and said slowly: "Although I always say that I don't mind, I still feel unhappy in my heart... No man can face such a thing calmly, but a real man will never have trouble finding a wife. Life has to go on, right?" Lu Hao was telling the truth, he really couldn't tolerate such a thing. He believed that he was no worse than Sima Hong, but Mingyu didn't want him, which was undoubtedly a slap in his face.
Seeing that Lu Hao had taken the bait, Deng Zhenzhu smiled again. "I knew that Lord Lu was angry. It's not difficult to resolve this anger."
Lu Hao sat up straight from the back of the chair, moved closer to Deng Zhenzhu, and asked with interest: "I wonder if Miss Deng has any good suggestions for me?"
Deng Zhenzhu was excited, and the smile on her face became more and more obvious. She came here today to try her luck. She had thought about it for a long time these days, and she felt that she couldn't deal with Xu Mingyu by herself. If she got involved, it would be more trouble than gain. After thinking about it, only Lu Hao was the most suitable candidate. She didn't believe that Lu Hao would not mind at all. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, an ally who can unite to deal with the enemy together. She firmly believed this.
In short, if Xu Mingyu doesn't let her have an easy life, she won't let Xu Mingyu feel comfortable either.
"I've inquired about it. Xu Mingyu will not leave for the northwest until the beginning of next spring." Deng Zhenzhu whispered, "During this period, she often goes in and out of the house and the store. Every five days, she goes to the store to check the accounts, and she is accompanied by only a maid."
Lu Hao drooped his eyelids. "What do you want me to do?"
"You took her on the way!" Deng Zhenzhu said with gritted teeth and her face looked a little ferocious.
Lu Hao frowned and deliberately asked, "You want me to kill her? Impossible. I dare not do anything that involves human life."
Deng Zhenzhu smiled sinisterly, "There are more embarrassing things to do to a woman than to kill her. You robbed her and do whatever you want to her... Oh no, it's best not to do anything to her and lock her up for four or five days before releasing her."
Lu Hao understood what Deng Zhenzhu meant. She disappeared for four or five days and returned home. Anyone would think that Mingyu had been ruined by someone outside, but no one did anything to her. In the eyes of the world, no matter what the facts were, she was already an unclean woman. No matter how much Mingyu claimed that she had not been ruined, no one would believe her. Sima Houfu probably wouldn't want a "lost virgin" woman. No matter what, Mingyu would never marry Sima Hong again.
This plan was not very brilliant, but it was vicious enough and hit the target with one strike.
Lu Hao couldn't help but burst into laughter and clapped his hands, saying, "It's indeed a good plan! I admire you!"
Deng Zhenzhu also laughed triumphantly. "How is it? When does Lord Lu plan to take action?"
Lu Hao shook his head. "When did I say I was going to take action?"
Deng Zhenzhu was stunned. "You just said..."
"What did I just say?" Lu Hao spread his hands. "Oh, I just praised Miss Deng for her good plan, but your plan is good, so do I have to do as you say?" What do you think of him? Is he a thug from Duke Deng's Mansion
Deng Zhenzhu then realized that she had been tricked by Lu Hao. She stared at Lu Hao with her blood boiling in her heart, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.
Lu Hao said leisurely: "Miss Deng, you are very smart, but don't treat others as fools. I don't know what benefits this matter will bring to me, but I can see the benefits to you. You don't have to show up, hide deep, and you can see the people you hate in trouble without any effort. After venting your anger, you can renegotiate the marriage with the Anxi Marquis's Mansion and marry a husband of your dreams.
But what about me? I did such an immoral thing and I have to risk being retaliated by the Xu family and Sima Hong. If the truth comes out, my reputation will be ruined..." Lu Hao smiled and shook his head, "I really can't think of any benefit for me. Xu Mingyu is just a woman, not a stunning beauty. I, Lu Hao, am not a peddler who can't get a wife. Why should I hang myself on a tree? Miss Deng wants me to take revenge on Mingyu, but she has found the wrong person."
"Coward! You have no future! You are just afraid of Sima Hong and dare not provoke him!" Deng Zhenzhu scolded fiercely, her face flushed with anger. How dare you play tricks on her?! Who does he think she is!
Lu Hao was not angry either. What was there to be angry about with a smart little girl? He shook his head and smiled calmly and gently, "Ms. Deng, these rude words should not be said by a lady from a noble family like you. Although I, Lu Hao, am not a good person and dare not call myself a gentleman, I will never do such dirty things that only sneaky people do!"
If he wanted to take revenge on someone, he would do it openly and honestly, so that the person would remember who took revenge on him. There was no way he would bother to do something that would lower his reputation, as Deng Zhenzhu suggested.
Looking at Deng Zhenzhu who was still furious, Lu Hao's eyes were full of contempt. "Your grandfather was a founding hero, but I didn't expect that he would have a granddaughter like you who is not presentable. It really damages his reputation!"
"You!" Deng Zhenzhu's face was shaking with anger. "What qualifications do you have to say that to me? You coward!"
Lu Hao laughed out loud, stood up and bowed to Deng Zhenzhu, "I have something else to do, so I'll take my leave now. Enjoy your meal, Miss Deng." After saying that, he turned around and was about to leave. After taking a few steps, Lu Hao seemed to suddenly remember something, turned around and smiled at Deng Zhenzhu, "We all know each other for a while, and I have something to advise Miss Deng. If you want to take revenge on Xu Mingyu, see if you have the courage and strength first. If you annoy Sima Hong, that madman will have a tantrum and ordinary people won't be able to afford to offend him." After saying that, Lu Hao laughed heartily and left the box.
The moment he left the house, Lu Hao's face darkened. After returning to the study, Lu Hao spread out a piece of paper, trying to write a few words to calm his mind, but he couldn't write well no matter what. Staring at the paper on the table, Lu Hao's thoughts had already flown away, and he broke the brush in his hand, muttering to himself: "You said I'm afraid of Sima Hong? What a joke!"
Two days later, the emperor summoned him to the study to discuss matters. When Lu Hao entered the study, he found that not only was he there, but also the newly appointed Minister of Rites, the famous painter in the capital, His Royal Highness Qin Yan, Prince of Qin.
Lu Hao suppressed his surprise and bowed to the Emperor and His Royal Highness the Prince in turn. His Royal Highness the Prince remained cool and noble, and he nodded slightly in return without any other action.
The emperor smiled and said, "I summoned you two here today because I have something to discuss with you. Marquis Anxi submitted a memorial, saying that he would marry Xu Changqian's daughter Xu Mingyu. I have thought about it for a few days and feel that Marquis Anxi has made great contributions to the country, so it is better to give Xu Changqian's daughter the title of Imperial Lady."
This was just what the emperor said in public. The real reason was that when he fled to Tianshui, Mingyu took him in. She has been very well-behaved over the years and has never thought of using this favor to ask for anything from him. Every time the emperor thought of the difficulties he had faced back then, and looked at the ministers who had followed him to build his empire, they were now bickering with each other in the court just to get some benefits, and they would always ask the emperor to do something for them in consideration of their loyalty... The emperor couldn't help but sigh that Mingyu was sensible and polite, so he wanted to give her more. A noble lady was just an empty title, with a monthly salary, and he didn't care about this little expense.
Prince Qin did not say anything. He was the Minister of Rites, so he just did whatever the emperor said. When the emperor made up his mind, he would draft an edict.
Lu Hao looked at Prince Qin and saw that he didn't say anything. The emperor seemed to have made up his mind. After thinking for a while, he stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I think this is inappropriate."
The emperor smiled and said, "What's wrong, please tell me, my dear."
Lu Hao bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, I heard that the Anxi Marquisate seemed to have discussed a marriage with another family before. Although it was just a verbal agreement, we, the people of Great Chu, always believe in trust. That family kept their promise and did not promise their daughter to anyone else. However, the Anxi Marquisate unilaterally broke the agreement and made an engagement with the Xu family, which wasted the girl's best years. A man without trust cannot stand firm. I think that Your Majesty cannot approve the marriage of Lord Anxi."
The emperor looked at Lu Hao and pondered for a moment. He and Lu Hao had been emperor and minister for many years, so how could he not know what Lu Hao was thinking? It was just that he was unhappy. However, Lu Hao was a capable minister whom he trusted deeply, and he was unwilling to offend Lu Hao.
"In that case..." the emperor said, "Sima Hong's marriage should wait a little longer."