Inside the highest floor of Hongyun pavilion, a young girl strode nimbly, hurrying to deliver the contents of a tray to the owner. Covered in a red cloth, the maid had no idea what she was delivering, but she wasn't the least bit curious. If she dared to lift the cover, the next tray might hold her tongue.
With her head down, her steps stopped after spotting a pair of familiar shoes that belonged to Manager Li. Without any unnecessary words, she handed over the tray, curtsied, then stood to the side. Lifting her head only after Manager Li departed, she couldn't help but sigh internally.
She'd served in this pavilion for as long as she could remember, but she still has no idea who her master was. Craning her neck, she watched as the ends of Manager Li's silk robes fluttered around the corner, disappearing from sight. That was about as close as she would ever come in regards to contacting her master.
After Xiao Li passed through the threshold, she waited a few moments, checking to see if the maid had followed after her. Thankfully, the child was perceptive and went back to her duties. She had grown fond of her attentive, caring personality and was reluctant to see an end to her. Relieved, Xiao Li continued on her way, walking unhurriedly through shelves of documents, crossing an indoor koi pond, and finally entering a woman's boudoir. She was welcomed by a scene of languid beauty.
Clothes were strewn over high wooden frames, as shoes piled underneath. Silver hairpins and jade accessories littered the floor, forcing Xiao Li to watch her toes as she moved across the room. A nomadic dancer twirled on an elevated platform. Spinning quickly, her hair untied itself, flaring as she turned. A group of beauties watched excitedly, counting in unison.
"34, 35, 36, 37..."
In the middle of the group, a woman lay leisurely on a padded wooden couch. She enjoyed a massage, while leaning her head intermittently towards a girl holding a cluster of grapes. Her eyes twinkled with mirth, laughing with the other women unabatedly, but flickered to Xiao Li's direction once she entered the door. She nodded, acknowledging the maid's presence, then sat up.
"Alright girls, that's it for today." These situations occurred frequently, so the girls knew what to do. Everyone lined up to bid their goodbyes and made their way to the exit.
"We will be leaving now, Madam Mei."
Xiao Li held her peace until the last beauty was out of sight.
"Madam, here's the report you were looking for."
"Is this everything?"
"This contains all the events from last night to ten minutes ago."
"Humph, Du Laoba sure is quick this time. Doesn't he always have some excuse to dally?"
"Since it concerns the young master, I'm sure he doesn't dare." Silence fell as Madam Mei looked through the contents of the document. Though she didn't speak, the deep ridges between her perfectly groomed brows was enough to let Xiao Li know that her master was not pleased.
"Du Sirui sure is meddlesome. If he wants to be demoted to be a mere bookkeeper, then let him. Lu Yu wouldn't be my son if he can't even handle a few business." Voicing her dissatisfaction, she continued to read,
"The medicine worked wonders? I'll have to thank Suyin for delivering it. Xiao Li, go write her a letter." The maid bowed, but before she could make her way out, another exclamation pulled her attention back to the woman on the couch.
"What?! Separate from the Lu family? Preposterous. Did he think life would be any simpler after separating? Naive! This brat better stay put in that house until my daughter safely turns eighteen."
Lifting her head, Xiao Li suggested,
"Madam, shall we let the young master know of the reason behind the first miss' marriage? After all, he must be worried for the second miss."
"No. His reaction is perfect. We need those old geezers to let their guards down, or they would start digging around in places they shouldn't touch. Send a letter to the Lu Family. Don't let my son leave the Lu family, no matter the cost. I'll be sure to make it up to them."
"But won't that be making things hard for the young master?"
"The child's sixteen this year. At his age, his father was already a fifth rank minister. The way I see it, he isn't suitable for the court. Just let him live the life of a prodigal son of the Lu family."
Ning Wan smiled brilliantly as she scanned over the remains of the document. Deciding that there wasn't anything else to instruct, she tossed the pamphlet back into the tray.
Unaware of his sister-in-law's plans, Lu Song sat in the guest-receiving hall with a pounding headache. An emergency family meeting had been called just minutes after his brother's son returned from Pingzhou. It seems that rebelliousness ran on his side of the family, as the first thing Lu Yu requested after reuniting, was to separate from the clan.
Sitting in the seat of the patriarch, Lu Song held his forehead in his hands as he listened to the room of bickering voices. As the instigator, Lu Yu did not want to back down. Lu Song's own wife was exceedingly supportive, for morally dubious reasons. On the other hand, several elders of the Lu family adamantly opposed this idea.
As the vice-Minister of Rites, he knew better than anyone else that this was not the time to enter the court at any position. With the emperor's marriage looming before them, the wrestle of power between the two Dowagers would soon come to an end. The country sat at the brink of another political dissolution.
The Lu's had already picked their stance with the Grand Empress Dowager, so if Lu Yu were to take the exam at this time, he would have no choice but to follow his family. Lu Song understood this, and so did the room of elders. On the other hand, if Lu Yu discarded this opportunity, and Lu Song's own son were to join the court, he would only be a piece of rubble thrown into the hurricane.
Pushing aside other matters, and just focusing on the outcome of the imperial exams, even Lu Song held no hope that his son would pass, at least, without the Lu family's recommendation.
With that thought, he came to a conclusion. Sitting straighter, he announced,
"I approve of separating, however, I have three conditions." The elders burst in outrage, but Lu Song continued, shouting over the dissent.
"First, you will not be given the Lu family's recommendation position. Second, you will no longer be eligible to succeed the patriarch position. Third, only the remaining members of your branch can be considered to have separated from the Lu family. Your father and elder sister are not included."
After hearing those words, the voices in the room lowered to whispers. A few stubborn elders waved their hands, trying to stop Lu Yu from agreeing. He ignored them.
"Fine by me. We'll hand in the documents to the Ministry of Rites first thing tomorrow."
"I'll have them ready."