Confiscation of the Family Property

"Chang Gong. Chang Zong is useless now, but he is still your brother. Find a way to get rid of that maidservant of his."

"Once you pass the Presented Scholar and become an official, you must take good care of your other younger brothers and encourage them to study as hard as you do. Give them guidance and support in the future."

"Don't use up all the remaining family property when you study and enter officialdom. Leave some for your younger brothers. One tree cannot support the whole family; the Lu family cannot rely on just you."

"I've reclaimed half of the Lu family lands; you can keep some for your younger brothers."

"And your grandparents, even though they've moved out, they're still your elders. I can't fulfill my filial duties now, so... you'll have to take care of them for me from now on."

Lu Zhengliu became more and more heartbroken as he spoke, lowering his head to wipe away his scalding tears.

Lu Chang'gong listened expressionlessly, then asked coldly, "Have you finished explaining?"

Lu Zhengliu was still immersed in his own sadness and did not notice his adopted son's indifference.

After a while, he nodded and continued to think about whether there was anything he had overlooked.

Lu Chang'gong suddenly said, "These—"

"I can't do either."

Lu Zhengliu frowned first, then looked up and asked, "Chang Gong, what did you just say?"

"I said," Lu Chang'gong said calmly, "I won't listen to a single word you say."

"Chang Gong? What nonsense are you talking about?"

For some reason, Lu Zhengliu smiled through his tears, patting Lu Chang'gong's shoulder with a hint of panic. "Chang Gong, Father knows it's difficult to entrust these matters to you alone, but Father has no other choice. You are the eldest son of the Lu family! You cannot let me down—"

Lu Chang'gong simply pushed Lu Zhengliu's hand away gently.

He looked at the other person calmly, his gaze as calm as usual, yet it made Lu Zhengliu feel unfamiliar.

"Chang Gong, what's wrong? You are my eldest son, you can't be afraid!"

Lu Zhengliu genuine panic.

"Chang Gong, if you feel the money left to you isn't enough, then... then naturally you can use it first. You just need to raise your younger brothers to adulthood, and when they're grown up..."

Lu Chang'gong sighed softly, looked into Lu Zhengliu's eyes, and said, "Give up."

Lu Zhengliu stunned.

Lu Chang'gong had waited for this day for many years. He spoke calmly and deliberately, "Xiao Xuan is Lu Changzong's most beloved maid. I will not drive her away from him."

"But I will drive Lu Changzong out of the Lu family."

"I will give away all your biological sons for adoption. It will be their good fortune if they are kind enough to be raised by others."

"It seems this residence of the Wuding Marquis Residence is beyond saving. I will sell all the ancestral lands."

"And your parents, if you can't fulfill your filial duties, that's your fault, not mine."

As for your Concubines...

Lu Chang'gong pursed his lips slightly, his meaning clear enough.

He doesn't even care about the Lu family anymore, so why would he care about Lu Zhengliu's woman?

"Chang Gong! You're insane!"

Lu Zhengliu gritted his teeth and said, "Take back what you just said, and I'll still acknowledge you as my eldest son!"

Lu Chang'gong smiled faintly.

He simply shook his head.

Lu Zhengliu felt like he was punching cotton, and he ended up with internal injuries from trying to suppress his anger.

"Why? Chang Gong... why?! Has Father mistreated you all these years?"

"No."

Lu Chang'gong was frighteningly calm. He said in a low voice, "You just... just killed my mother!" His eyelashes trembled, glistening with a little moisture.

Lu Zhengliu suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest.

His adopted son had never cried before, and had never been so distraught!

Lu Chang'gong's eyes were slightly red, but he said without changing his expression, "The Lu family's current situation is all your retribution."

Lu Zhengliu finally realized what was happening.

"Chang Gong, so you... you... you've always hated me? You actually valued her so much?"

Lu Chang'gong restrained himself and retorted, "Shouldn't it be so? It was my mother who brought me here, I'm registered under her name, she raised me and taught me. I'm not from your Wuding Marquis Residence; my surname is Lu! I'm my mother's son! And you, you killed my mother!"

"I could have grown up by my mother's side and been there to watch her grow old!"

"I can be Filial Piety to her! I can openly and honestly stand up for her!"

"It's because of you—because of you, I've forever lost the chance to be her son!"

He approached Lu Zhengliu step by step, veins bulging on his wrists, but he didn't actually make a move.

The Lu family is about to be raided, Lu Zhengliu is near death. He won't let himself go astray at this time.

Lu Zhengliu finally understood.

Over the years, Lu Chang'gong's heart has never been with the Lu family!

"Yun Wan faked her death, and you were there..."

He had never asked his adopted son, but now the answer was right in front of him. Lu Zhengliu couldn't describe his feelings. He asked with a cold smile, "You knew all along that Yun Wan wasn't dead?"

"I know."

Lu Chang'gong said calmly.

Lu Zhengliu recalled Lu Chang'gong telling him, "Mother is dead," with such nonchalance.

That's terrifying!

How could he raise such a son! And even make him the eldest son of the Lu family!

"Lu Chang'gong, you're a complete ingrate!"

"I cannot hand the Lu family over to you..."

Lu Zhengliu forward, intending to kill Lu Chang'gong.

The Lu family is not finished yet. Lin Yunwan -hearted and will definitely spare the lives of innocent members of the Lu family, but Lu Chang'gong is ruthless. If the Lu family is handed over to him, then it will be completely over.

Lu Chang'gong had practiced martial arts since childhood and easily dodged the attack.

Lu Zhengliu fell to the ground in a sorry state and couldn't get up for a moment.

He clenched his fist and pounded the ground, angrily cursing, "The Lu family has treated you well, how could you be so heartless and ungrateful!"

Lu Chang'gong looked down at him, smiling faintly, and said, "How could I be unrighteous? I will observe mourning for you."

"I have done everything in my power to be kind and righteous, and I am exceptionally virtuous and filial."

Three years later, it's another year of new scholars taking the imperial examinations.

"I participated in the Metropolitan Examination with absolute certainty. At that time... the Lu family was completely gone."

Thinking about three years from now, Lu Chang'gong felt completely at ease.

Lu Zhengliu felt numb all over.

He never imagined that he would ruin the Lu family at the hands of his most trusted adopted son.

Where is Lu Zhengliu?

The guards who were raiding the house had arrived. They were all cold and serious. They came in with knives, seized Lu Zhengliu, and put him in heavy shackles on the spot.

Lu Zhengliu around and glared fiercely at Lu Chang'gong.

Lu Chang'gong didn't take it to heart at all.

The guards and the people from Shuntian Prefecture were working together on the case, and the Wuding Marquis Residence was surrounded by government officials.

Zhu Qing was terrified. Together with Mu'er, Xiliu, and Tong Liu, she found Lu Chang'gong and hid with him in his Courtyard.

Mu'er was so frightened that she cried.

Lu Chang'gong hugged her and comforted her, "Don't be afraid. They only arrest criminals. We haven't done anything wrong. Just do what you're supposed to do."

Mu'er hugged his neck, crying as she asked, "Elder brother, are we really going to be alright?"

"Um."

Lu Chang'gong said, "Even if my Concubine and I go to court, we'll only be answering some questions. We'll be fine."

Mu'er nodded, and, exhausted from crying, nestled in his arms and fell asleep.

The case involving the Wuding Marquis Residence caused a stir in the Capital for three whole days.

The Lu family falsely accused Prince Huan Consort, first stripping the Marquis's Residence's title from the family. Lu Zhengliu, the eldest son of the Lu family, and his Concubine Ge Bao'er committed countless crimes, including poisoning their own relatives... Their crimes are too numerous to list.

Qi Lingheng got up early, changed into his official robes, and went to the yamen. Lin Yunwan got up and instructed the maids to serve the dishes.

"Your Prince, you said last night that Imperial Father asked you to preside over the Lu family's case?"

Qi Lingheng came home too late yesterday, and she didn't have time to ask him in detail.

"Hmm." Qi Lingheng smiled, "I know you're worried about Lu Chang'gong and the other innocent people. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Lin Yunwan nodded.

Qi Lingheng had breakfast with her, and before leaving, he asked, "You know about the Lu family's affairs. Yun Wan, what do you think of Lu Chang'gong?"

Lu Chang'gong played a crucial role in Lu Zhengliu at the Wuding Marquis Residence's residence.

A teenager managed to turn the Lu family upside down.

Those who know the truth will inevitably be shocked.

Lin Yunwan's attitude was straightforward. "Whether a person is good or bad is not determined by what they do, but by why they do it."

Qi Lingheng smiled.

He went out and headed to the Shuntian Prefecture government office.

Lu Zhengliu was finally in his hands.