Li Yiren stopped her, weeping, "Do you even have a heart? It's only been a month since your father passed away, and you want to go out. What White Lotus or Black Lotus—is anything more important than filial piety? As a woman, if you bear the reputation of being unfilial, how will you ever marry in the future!"
Lu Ying replied, "What else should I do? Stay home and cry like you? Will crying bring Father back? The White Lotus Sect brings calamity to the Great Ming, causing countless families to be ruined and lives lost. Eradicating the White Lotus Sect was Father's lifelong wish. As his daughter, inheriting his legacy—what is wrong with that? This is the greatest form of filial piety."
Li Yiren pushed Lu Ying back toward her boudoir, "You are a girl! The saying goes that a son inherits his father's work. Your younger brother is the one to carry on Father's legacy. It's not your place as a young lady to eradicate the White Lotus Sect. Besides, the Emperor has already appointed your brother as an Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander. No matter what you do, in the end, it will only pave the way for your brother. All the credit will go to him."
"In the end, you'll be left with an unfilial reputation, covered in wounds, or even lose your life—all for nothing, like drawing water with a bamboo basket! Why can't you see reason?"
Li Yiren had long been prepared. After pushing Lu Ying back, she slammed the door shut with a clang, locking her inside. She ordered servants to use pre-prepared wooden planks to nail the windows shut, preventing her daughter from jumping out.
Lu Ying shouted from inside the room, "Mother, you know you can't lock me in like this. Why bother with this futile effort?"
Li Yiren had someone bring a chair and sat down against the door. "Don't think about breaking the door down. I'm sitting right here. If you want to leave, you'll have to step over my body."
This time, Li Yiren was determined to "straighten out" her daughter and make her a normal woman—one who would serve her husband and raise children. All women lived this way; why couldn't she? "I'm not harming you; I'm doing this for your own good."
With her husband gone, Li Yiren grew even more anxious about the future. She had borne Lu Bing five daughters, while Lu Yi and Lu Cai, her two sons, were born to two other concubines. Although the brothers usually got along well with their sisters, there was still the barrier of different mothers.
The two brothers were still young, neither married nor established in their careers, blank slates. But what about the future? Lu Yi, the heir, would only be seventeen after observing the three-year mourning period before starting a family and career. Once married, he would have his own household. Entering officialdom, stepping into the world of fame and fortune—the official circles were dark, and few could remain true to their original intentions. People change.
By then, I'll be old or dead. Wouldn't that younger brother find it troublesome to have an unmarried elder sister at home? Human hearts are fickle; even full brothers might resent an unwed elder sister cluttering the household, let alone a half-brother from a different mother.
The thought of Lu Ying facing the plight of being unmarriageable and disliked by her family kept Li Yiren awake at night, tormented more by this than by her husband's death.
So Li Yiren resolved to make Lu Ying learn obedience.
With her mother sitting at the door, Lu Ying dared not kick it down. Restlessly pacing the room, she felt she was wasting time and decided to practice martial arts instead.
Hearing the swishing sounds from inside the room, Li Yiren felt as if her heart were being sliced by a knife.
By noon, Li Yiren had craftsmen cut a small hole at the bottom of the door to pass through a food box, sending in lunch.
Li Yiren said, "Don't think about starving yourself. If you eat, I eat. If you don't, I won't either."Let's see who can outlast whom.
Lu Ying couldn't let her mother, who had worked hard managing the household, go hungry, so she had no choice but to eat as usual.
As she mechanically chewed her lunch, an unprecedented fear enveloped Lu Ying's heart. If her mother continued to threaten her with her life like this, what should she do?
She had climbed mountains of blades and braved seas of fire. On Qionghua Island, she had single-handedly held off countless adversaries to protect her subordinate Wang Daxia's escape. She had even stood up to Prince Jing's authority, arguing fiercely for what was right.
But facing her mother, who couldn't even harm a chicken, she truly didn't know what to do.
Lu Ying felt herself sinking into a swamp of filial piety and feminine virtue. The more she struggled, the faster and deeper she sank, unable to free herself.
In terms of martial arts, she could take on ten of her younger brother Lu Yi. In strategy, her brother was far inferior to her. Yet, simply because she was a woman, she had to yield her position to him, even handing over her achievements. All the family's resources were devoted to supporting her brother, just because he was a man who would carry on the Lu family line.
Even her own mother didn't stand by her side! No matter how hard she tried, her mother saw it all as merely preparing the bridal gown for another.
Now her mother was even using her own life to force her into becoming a docile woman—to give her accomplishments to her brother, not compete with him, obediently marry off with a dowry, bear sons, and spend her entire life serving husband and children, helping her husband and sons achieve success.
When I can achieve success through my own abilities, why must I pin my hopes on men? My brother, my husband, my sons—why must everything be for them? Why can't I achieve success for myself?
Lu Ying felt unwilling, angry, and sorrowful. Like a trapped beast, she paced anxiously in her exquisite boudoir.
By afternoon, Li Yiren was dozing in a chair by the door when the steward came to report, "Madam, Hundred-Household Commander Wang is here."
Li Yiren's eyes snapped open. "What is he here for? If he's looking for the Fourth Young Lady, tell him she's ill and needs to recuperate. Send him away."
The steward looked uneasy. "He's not here for the Fourth Young Lady. Hundred-Household Commander Wang came with his father, Wang Commander, and Commander Mu from the Northern City Military Command. They said they want to offer incense to the late Count."
Li Yiren immediately stood up from her chair. "His father Wang Commander came too? Why didn't his mother come?"
The steward replied, "Madam must have forgotten—Wang Commander's second wife was divorced after her usurious loans caused him to lose his official position."
With all the happenings in the capital throughout the year, Li Yiren hadn't remembered at first. "Oh, that's right."
The steward asked, "Should we invite them in?"
During his lifetime, Lu Bing had been the first person in the Ming dynasty to hold all three ducal and three guardianship titles simultaneously. After his death, he was posthumously granted the title of Count and buried with the rites of a duke or marquis. Given such honors, mid-to-low-level military officers like Wang Commander and Commander Mu weren't qualified to offer incense at the Lu residence.
Of course, Wang Daxia, as Lu Bing's trusted subordinate, wasn't bound by official rank and had long since come to kowtow and pay respects at the Lu residence.
Li Yiren thought about the ambiguous relationship between Lu Ying and Wang Daxia. However, since Lu Ying had never openly acknowledged it, and Wang Daxia's family hadn't come to propose marriage—coupled with Lu Ying being in mourning where marriage discussions were forbidden for three years—Li Yiren had set Wang Daxia aside.
Unexpectedly, Wang Daxia had come to their door, and he brought his father with him!However, bringing his father was understandable, but who exactly was that Commander Mu? Why did Wang Daxia bring him along?
Li Yiren couldn't figure it out, so she asked Lu Ying through the door. As an inner household woman, she didn't know that Commander Mu had actually been deliberately promoted by her husband Lu Bing to the position of Northern City Military Command commander to compensate Wang Commander.
Hearing that Wang Daxia had arrived, Lu Ying's anxious heart gradually calmed. "Commander Mu was originally Wang Commander's trusted subordinate. After losing his wife, he has been living with the Wang family, treating Wang Daxia like his own nephew. They've been living together all along. When Wang Commander failed last year's metropolitan evaluation and lost his official position, he pushed Commander Mu to take his place."
In front of her mother, Lu Ying didn't dare mention Yan Shifan's scheming, especially since her mother had to address Yan Shifan as in-law.
So that's how it was - Commander Mu could be considered Wang Daxia's family member.
This was getting interesting... Wang Daxia had brought both his father and uncle-like figure. Could this mean marriage intentions?
The steward presented the funeral gifts from the Wang family and Officer Mu. Looking at the lengthy gift list, Li Yiren thought this far exceeded what middle or lower-ranking military officers could normally offer - it was truly excessively generous.
Li Yiren accepted the funeral gifts. "Please take them to the mourning hall. After they offer incense, invite Wang Commander and Commander Mu for tea and vegetarian snacks, and treat them well. Then bring Wang Daxia over - I'd like to have a word with him."
Given the separation between men and women, and Li Yiren being around the same age as Wang Commander, it wasn't proper for them to meet. The family's heir, Lu Yi, had already gone to the Sacrificial House at Sanlitun to guard his father's tomb. The younger son Lu Cai was not yet ten and couldn't receive guests, so only the steward could host male visitors.
But Wang Daxia was different - he was young and of a younger generation, so Li Yiren could meet with him.
Through the door, Lu Ying heard the conversation between the steward and Li Yiren. Having served alongside Wang Daxia for half a year and gone through life-and-death situations together, they had developed some tacit understanding. Wang Daxia was full of clever ideas - he had probably noticed she hadn't shown up at the Imperial Guard Office on New Year's Day, guessed the reason, and dragged his father and Commander Mu here to "rescue her."
Strange though - why would Wang Commander and Commander Mu follow his arrangements?
Though puzzled, Lu Ying decided to play along with Wang Daxia's act. She pretended to anxiously knock on the door, "Mother! Please don't make things difficult for Wang Daxia! If you have any issues, direct them at me. He's my... subordinate. I made him do everything."
Hearing her daughter's concern for Wang Daxia, Li Yiren felt amused rather than angry - so her daughter was experiencing spring feelings too.
Li Yiren said, "Don't worry, I'm not going to eat him.Li Yiren met Wang Daxia in the warm chamber, where Wang Daxia performed the etiquette of a junior.
As the saying goes, a mother-in-law looking at her prospective son-in-law grows fonder the more she looks. After the New Year, Wang Daxia had grown taller and become even more handsome. If her daughter could really be with him... it would be quite a fortunate match.
Wang Daxia respectfully inquired about Li Yiren's health. Li Yiren asked, "Why did you bring your father and Commander Mu today?"
Wang Daxia replied, "My father and Commander Mu have long admired Loyalty Count, but one has no official position, only an empty Thousand-Household Title; the other holds a low-ranking post. Neither dared to come pay respects to Loyalty Count along with the high officials and nobles, so they chose a less crowded day to come and try their luck with their name cards."
Li Yiren held her teacup, gently stirred the floating tea leaves, and took a small sip. "Oh, is that all?""Of course not. Actually, there's more... but..." Wang Daxia scratched his head awkwardly as if infested with lice, his eyes repeatedly glancing toward Lu Ying's door, hesitating to speak further.
Li Yiren deliberately asked, "What's the matter?"
"Well... Loyalty Count has just passed away, so I dare not speak of it now. Besides, this matter shouldn't come from me - only my father has the authority to propose it." Wang Daxia stood up and knelt before Li Yiren with a thud. "You should know my feelings, Madam. I swear before Loyalty Count's spirit that I will never betray Lu Ying in this lifetime. If I break this oath, may I be struck by lightning, struck by five thunderbolts, and die a terrible death!"
Li Yiren thought to herself: This Wang Daxia lad seems quite sincere. Though we cannot discuss marriage during mourning, he's doing his best to prove his intentions. Besides, even Commander Lu visited today.
"Rise and speak," Li Yiren said. "I'm not someone who despises the poor and curries favor with the powerful. However, after three years, Lu Ying will be twenty-one. Can you wait that long?"
Wang Daxia replied, "Why not? In three years, I'll be eighteen, just the right age to start a family and career. By then, Third Master Lu (referring to Lu Yi, who ranks third after two elder brothers who died young) will have completed mourning and assumed the position of Assistant Commander at the Imperial Guard Office. I'll have matured enough to become Third Master Lu's right-hand man."
Li Yiren thought: This arrangement isn't bad. Wang Daxia would essentially be an adopted son-in-law, serving as the Lu family's helper in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. His loyalty goes without saying - working under the Lu family's watchful eyes, he likely won't dare any mischief. Handsome and obedient, such a son-in-law should be accepted.
Seeing Li Yiren's expression soften, Wang Daxia quickly fanned the flames: "However, I currently have no foundation in the Embroidered Uniform Guard and cannot command respect. I don't know what temperament the newly appointed Commander Zhu has either. I need to request Lu Ying's return. Though Loyalty Count has passed, many in the Embroidered Uniform Guard still remember him. With Lu Ying back at the office, everyone would have a central figure to rally around, naturally leaning toward the Lu family, preventing the cohesion from dissolving."
"I swear I won't let Lu Ying overexert herself. If any danger arises, I'll charge ahead - I'd never let Lu Ying risk herself. After three years, when the mourning period ends and Third Master Lu joins the Embroidered Uniform Guard as Assistant Commander, I beg you to grant me and Lu Ying your blessing." To grant each of our choices.
Li Yiren was moved by Wang Daxia's proposal to bring Lu Ying back to the Imperial Guard Office as a symbolic presence. As long as Lu Ying stopped risking herself and agreed to marry obediently after mourning, these terms weren't unreasonable.
"Wait here," Li Yiren said, leaving the warm chamber. She took out her keys and unlocked Lu Ying's door.
Author's note: Better believe in ghosts than trust Wang Daxia's smooth talk. Addressing some readers' questions about the 50,000 Jinjiang coins lottery: All readers with 90% subscription rate by September 18 midnight will automatically enter the draw. 1,000 winners will receive random amounts - good luck!I set it at 90% because sometimes system delays may occur, causing situations where even with a 100% subscription rate you cannot participate in the lottery. So I adjusted the subscription threshold to 90%, which basically prevents accidental exclusions.
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