APSIL -Chapter 169 A Virtuous Mother, A Filial Son, and a Hateful Minister?

When his mother suddenly fell gravely ill, Lu Sanlang was naturally so anxious that his soul nearly left his body.

He had never been fond of riding fast horses, but this time he made an exception. He whipped his horse through the streets at full speed, completely ignoring how his heavy body made the poor animal gasp for breath.

However, worried that his reckless riding might cause trouble, he shouted loudly the entire way: “Make way! Everyone make way! My mother is seriously ill, I need to hurry home!”

Although the capital had strict regulations against such behavior, noble young masters occasionally breaking minor rules was nothing unusual.

However, the current Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture was someone so upright and uncompromising that even legitimate imperial relatives could be used as examples if they broke the law.

Therefore, Lu Sanlang had wisely prepared beforehand.

Fortunately, his shouting worked.

The pedestrians quickly moved aside, allowing him to return home without incident.

Ever since obtaining his own residence at the Imperial College, he rarely returned home.

Thus, after rushing through the main gate, regret immediately filled his heart.

Compared with his father, who had always looked down upon him, his mother, Madam Lu Zhen, had always favored her chubby youngest son.

The more he thought about it, the more guilty he felt.

He hated that he had not come home more often to visit her.

When he rushed into his mother’s courtyard, he happened to see her personal maid, Nanny Jin, seeing off an elderly man with white hair and beard.

It was Doctor Lin, the imperial physician whom he had met before.

Lu Sanlang hurried forward.

But before he could ask anything, Nanny Jin gave him a meaningful glance.

“Third Young Master, Madam has been waiting for you to return. Please go inside quickly. I’ll escort Doctor Lin out.”

Lu Sanlang was slightly confused.

But then he thought about how imperial physicians loved showing off their medical knowledge and explaining complicated theories.

Listening to a long speech full of confusing medical terms was indeed not very useful.

So he nodded and hurried into the room.

When he reached the bedside, he saw his mother lying against several pillows.

Her face was pale and yellowish.

Seeing her weak appearance, his legs almost went soft.

He struggled to call out: “Mother…”

Madam Lu Zhen, who had been resting with her eyes half closed, immediately opened them wide.

Seeing that it was her youngest son, she instantly became both surprised and delighted.

She quickly waved her hand.

“Sanlang is back? Hurry, come here!”

Seeing his mother like this, Lu Sanlang stumbled forward and dropped to his knees beside the bed.

He lowered his head.

Tears immediately began falling.

Seeing her son crying, Madam Lu felt both heartache and happiness.

She hurriedly reached out and pulled him closer.

Unexpectedly, her strength was quite considerable.

The grieving little fatty was suddenly dragged forward and froze.

Wait…

Wasn’t she supposed to have suddenly become seriously ill?

Why did his mother still have so much strength?

Lu Sanlang looked up suspiciously.

The next moment, his forehead received a painful knock from his mother.

“You little rascal! Once you were sent out, you refused to come home. Were you trying to worry me to death?”

“During those two days of holiday before, what were you doing?”

Although he still did not understand what exactly was wrong with his mother’s illness, Lu Sanlang had always been the best at pleasing her.

Because from childhood, he understood one thing:

As the unloved youngest son, only his mother truly cared about him.

Therefore, he immediately straightened his back and answered honestly: “I was studying in my residence. I was reading the books left by Grand Preceptor Ge.”

Madam Lu immediately covered her forehead.

Previously, she had worried that her youngest son was not ambitious enough.

She feared that after she was gone, neither his father nor his elder brothers would protect him, and he would suffer.

But now she suddenly felt…

Once this child became motivated, he was almost too foolishly honest!

Look at Qin Duke’s eldest son Zhang Chen.

He had managed to “coincidentally encounter” Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying at Qin Garden in Haidian and gained merit.

Yet her son had stubbornly missed the opportunity!

Clearly Zhang Shou valued Lu Sanlang even more than Zhang Chen.

Otherwise, why would he have caused such a disturbance at the Ministry of War for this little fatty?

She angrily tapped his head again.

Then she sighed.

“I originally didn’t know what happened. I suddenly felt dizzy and lost consciousness, so everyone panicked and went to notify you.”

“But messages were sent to three places.”

“Your father naturally could not leave the government office easily.”

“And your two brothers also sent word that they could not return.”

“Only you came back.”

Madam Lu reached out and held her son’s hand.

Her voice became softer.

“I knew it.”

“You have always been the most filial one.”

“Now that you are here, there is something I need to tell you.”

“Your father has already prepared the betrothal gifts. Tomorrow, he plans to arrange your engagement.”

“As for who the family is…”

“Even I couldn’t get him to tell me.”

“He probably fears I would secretly inform you.”

“He only said that the family is well-matched and absolutely will not disgrace you, someone personally praised by His Majesty.”

Lu Sanlang’s entire face was filled with shock.

Madam Lu sighed.

“I tried everything to persuade him for you.”

“But he has made up his mind.”

“There is nothing I can do.”

“And also…”

At that moment, only one thought appeared in Lu Sanlang’s mind.

That old bastard! I’m going to fight him!

But before he could react, Mama Jin’s voice came from outside.

“Madam, Master has returned!”

Lu Sanlang felt all his old grievances and new anger rise together.

But at that moment, Madam Lu suddenly grabbed his hand tightly and shook her head desperately.

Only then did Lu Sanlang remember.

His father, Lu Wan, the Minister of War, had practiced martial arts and archery when he was young.

If they really fought, he would absolutely be beaten until he ran around crying.

So he suppressed his anger.

However, he still did not want to speak with his father.

After thinking quickly, he simply collapsed forward onto the bed.

From the outside, he looked exactly like someone who had cried himself unconscious.

But the next moment, Madam Lu’s voice whispered beside him.

“Yes, pretend to cry until you faint.”

“I heard that your Jiuzhang Hall has been working on a difficult problem from the Military Equipment Bureau these past two days?”

“Your father mentioned it before.”

“When he comes, I’ll say you stayed up all night trying to solve that thing, became exhausted, and after crying just now, you fell asleep.”

“This way, you won’t have to meet your father and make each other angry again.”

This was truly a mother who cared about him!

So considerate!

Lu Sanlang immediately nodded.

He was extremely satisfied.

Sure enough, shortly afterward, hurried footsteps approached.

Then his father’s loud voice sounded: “How could she suddenly faint for no reason?”

“If Doctor Lin cannot treat her, find another physician!”

As the footsteps approached, Lu Sanlang quickly closed his eyes and pretended to sleep.

The footsteps stopped behind him.

Then came his father’s irritated voice: “This boy came back too?”

“Shh!”

Madam Lu immediately placed a finger to her lips.

Then she said unhappily: “Sanlang studies every day at the Imperial College.”

“Even during holidays, he studies mathematics.”

“Doctor Zhang previously praised him for being diligent!”

“And last night, because he was trying to solve that thing from the Military Equipment Bureau…”

“He stayed awake the entire night.”

“Then after running home and crying, he fell asleep!”

Lu Wan’s expression softened slightly.

But he still spoke stiffly: “If he had this kind of determination before, he would have passed the imperial examinations long ago.”

“Why wait until sixteen or seventeen years old before starting to study mathematics?”

“Don’t believe his nonsense.”

“That fourteen-ring text lock has existed for decades.”

“Even Grand Preceptor Ge could not solve it.”

“Can these inexperienced rookies really accomplish anything?”

He even called me Lu Zhu again!

Lu Sanlang was furious.

He almost jumped up and argued.

But then he heard his father continue coldly: “His Majesty forced everyone to accept giving Zhang Shou the position of Hanlin Academy Reader and Left Assistant in the Eastern Palace Office.”

“Everyone below may not say anything.”

“But if Zhang Shou fails this time, plenty of censors are already waiting to attack him.”

“Zhang Shou’s previous achievements were all real.”

“Those censors must have too much free time!”

Madam Lu immediately defended him.

Ever since seeing Zhang Shou protect Lu Sanlang before, she had developed an excellent impression of that elegant and refined young man.

Now she naturally spoke up without hesitation.

“He only rose to sixth rank.”

“Why are they targeting him?”

“What do you mean ‘only sixth rank’?”

Lu Wan immediately became serious.

“Those are prestigious positions.”

“They are the path toward becoming a minister or entering the cabinet.”

“Others need to work hard for three or five years before reaching that level.”

“He jumped straight there.”

“Do you think others won’t be jealous?”

“His Majesty can use the Taizu Emperor’s teachings to suppress people temporarily.”

“But he cannot suppress resentment forever!”

Lu Wan’s face darkened.

“It is also time to let this brat see that his little teacher is not omnipotent.”

“Once his marriage is settled, perhaps he will finally become more sensible.”

At that moment, Lu Sanlang finally could not endure it.

He suddenly wanted to raise his head.

But a hand immediately pressed down on him.

Then he felt someone lean on top of him.

It was Madam Lu.

Fearing that her son would expose himself, she directly pushed him down.

“My poor Sanlang…”

“He finally met a good teacher.”

“As his father, you don’t know how to appreciate that.”

“You actually look down on them like outsiders do…”

Lu Wan had not expected his wife to suddenly start crying.

Thinking that she had only just recovered from illness, and remembering Doctor Lin’s warning that her health needed special attention, he quickly changed the subject and comforted her.

After a while, he ordered Nanny Jin to take good care of her.

Then he immediately slipped away.

Otherwise, would he stay and listen to his wife lecture him about helping Zhang Shou?

Impossible.

He would rather watch that boy suffer.

He actually hoped Zhang Shou would fail!

As for the news that Duke Zhao had once again achieved victory in battle…

He certainly was not going to mention it.

But just as he reached the door, Madam Lu’s faint voice came from behind: “No matter how many faults Zhang Doctor has…”

“As long as he sincerely teaches Sanlang, he is the best teacher in my eyes.”

“Just like Sanlang.”

“In your eyes, he may have countless flaws.”

“But in my eyes, he is a filial son.”

“Your eldest and second sons are successful now.”

“But when you returned, neither of them even showed up.”

Lu Wan’s expression darkened.

But he said nothing.

He simply left.

The moment he was gone, Lu Sanlang immediately raised his head.

“Mother, thank you for speaking up for me and Teacher!”

“This fourteen-ring text lock will definitely be solved by Jiuzhang Hall!”

“We won’t embarrass Teacher!”

“That’s right.”

Madam Lu lovingly touched her son’s face.

Then she firmly said: “Don’t worry.”

“Tonight, even if I have to threaten death, I will find out whose family your father intends to send the betrothal gifts to.”

“If they are unsuitable, I will absolutely not agree!”

“Mother, you are the best!”

“Please help me delay it for a few days!”

Lu Sanlang was overjoyed.

He hugged his mother’s arm and thanked her repeatedly.

Just as the mother and son were enjoying this happy moment, Nanny Jin’s voice came again.

“Madam, Zhang Doctor from the Imperial College sent a student here.”

“He said he came to visit Madam and also brought a message for Third Young Master.”

Lu Sanlang’s eyes immediately lit up.

“It must be Senior Brother Qi!”

“Quick, invite him in!”