AUBTN -Chapter 35 Going to See Lu Yan

That old man was truly a bone too hard to chew.

His righteous, fearless attitude—do whatever you want, kill or flay me if you must—actually put Prince Ning in a difficult position.

If he really forced a search of the residence, he would end up with the reputation of bullying a senior minister and persecuting a loyal official. For someone who still wanted to ascend the throne with legitimacy, that was not a good outcome.

“Good. Very good. What a fine example of putting righteousness above family.”

Prince Ning laughed in anger and pointed at Lu Zhixing’s nose. “Prime Minister Lu, remember what you said today. If I discover that you secretly aided that imperial fugitive…”

“Then this old minister will smash his head to death right here in the Golden Hall to apologize to the world!” Lu Zhixing did not yield an inch.

“Hmph! Let’s go!”

Prince Ning gained nothing and instead left with a belly full of anger. With a dark expression, he waved his hand and departed the Prime Minister’s residence with his entourage in a grand procession.

Lu Zhixing’s face looked terrible as he stood there, motionless.

“Master…”

The steward walked in trembling.

“What… what should we do now? The young master—”

Lu Zhixing said nothing.

He slowly turned around and supported himself against the desk.

“Steward Fu.”

Lu Zhixing’s voice was hoarse, so low it was almost inaudible.

“This old servant is here.”

“The Prime Minister’s residence… the capital… is now filled with Prince Ning’s spies.”

“Go personally… find those old friends in the jianghu who once received favors from the Lu family. At all costs, you must find that unfilial son.”

“Master… if we find him… what should we do? Bring him back?” Steward Fu asked, his voice choked.

Lu Zhixing closed his eyes in pain.

“No… you mustn’t bring him back. Bringing him back would only send him to his death.”

He suddenly opened his eyes, his tone carrying a desolate resolve.

“Give him money. Give him medicine. Tell him to leave! Tell him to go as far away as possible! Tell him…”

Lu Zhixing took a deep breath, as if trying to force down the pain in his chest.

“Tell him the Lu family has no such son! I never gave birth to such a son! Tell him never to return to the capital for the rest of his life! As long as…”

The old man’s voice broke with emotion.

“As long as he’s alive… that’s enough.”

As long as he was alive.

Whether he remained a commander, a fugitive, or even just an ordinary person living under a false name.

As long as he was still alive.

This was the final, most humble struggle a father could make under the crushing weight of political power.

Steward Fu’s eyes reddened as well.

“This old servant… understands! I’ll go take care of it immediately! Even if it costs me this old life, I’ll make sure the young master is safe!”

Watching Steward Fu’s hurriedly departing figure, Lu Zhixing collapsed weakly into the grand chair.

Outside the window, the sky looked terrifyingly overcast.

Inside the side chamber of the Eastern Depot residence, the atmosphere was even more suffocating.

Yu Qing paced around the room like an ant on a hot pan, already circling it for the eight-hundredth time.

One moment she pressed against the window crack to peek outside; the next she twisted the handkerchief in her hands, muttering nonstop.

“Wanwan, what do you think happened to Lu Yan? He was so badly injured—what if he develops a fever? What if the wound gets infected? What if he doesn’t have medicine…”

The more she spoke, the more she frightened herself until her eyes filled with tears. Soon she even imagined a tragic scene of Lu Yan dying miserably on the streets.

Turning around, she rushed toward the door.