Chapter 250: Chapter 233: You’re Not Even the Prince Consort’s Child
When Lu Xingzhou saw Lu Yanqing, he was pointing at the prison guard delivering food and cursing loudly.
"Yanqing." Lu Xingzhou stepped forward, looking at the spirited way he was handling his imprisonment, and couldn’t help but frown, "What are you doing?"
"Father, look at this, what they gave me to eat, is this even edible?" Lu Yanqing kicked over the bowl on the ground, spilling soup everywhere.
Lu Xingzhou motioned for the prison guard to leave first, then looked at Lu Yanqing with a stern gaze, "You’re in prison, not at home!"
"So what if I’m in prison? They don’t have any evidence. Father, hurry up and get me out. This place is filthy and stinking, and there are rats at night. It’s simply unfit for anyone to stay here. I want to go home."
Saying this, he glanced behind Lu Xingzhou, not seeing the Eldest Princess, and asked, "Where’s my mother?"
"Your mother is not feeling well and didn’t come."
After Lu Xingzhou answered, he stayed silent for a long time before speaking again, "The court has sent an Imperial Envoy to Ningzhou. They have already found all the witnesses and evidence from the old coal mine case."
Lu Yanqing was momentarily stunned by these words, his previously arrogant demeanor instantly extinguished, looking somewhat incredulous, "Father, say that again."
Lu Xingzhou believed he had heard clearly, so he didn’t repeat himself, "Yanqing, you are already sixteen, not the twelve-year-old child ignorant of the world anymore. You should understand that a real man has to be responsible for his actions.
You secretly went to Ningzhou to open a mine without telling your mother and me, which is true. When the mine collapsed, you left the mess without arranging rescue for the miners, which is also true. By now, your hands are stained with dozens of lives.
I have no way to rescue you, nor can I rescue you.
Hearing these words, your heart must be blaming me for being an unfit father.
Yes, precisely because I hadn’t fulfilled my responsibilities as a father in the past years, which led to your character going astray, causing today’s catastrophe. This is why I can’t watch you continue down the wrong path.
When the verdict comes out, I will request to take half of the punishment for you."
"No, Father, I don’t want to go to prison, I don’t want to be sentenced. Please save me..."
For no reason, Lu Yanqing started to panic, gripping the wooden pillars with his hands, his legs somewhat weak.
Even with no brains, he knew that more than eighty lives were no trivial crime. Once proven, his life would be over.
"Father can’t save you, but Father is willing to accompany you in your punishment." Lu Xingzhou comforted him, "Don’t be afraid, as long as it’s not the death penalty, we can endure any other punishment. With Father here, you will surely get through it."
In previous visits with the Eldest Princess, Lu Xingzhou hadn’t spoken much. Lu Yanqing thought his father would find a way to rescue him, but in the end, he was met with these words. His mentality collapsed entirely, his eyes turning red as he shouted, "Father, are you pushing me to a dead end? Are you hoping for my death? If so, why did you even give birth to me? I might as well have died in the womb!"
Lu Xingzhou felt a tightness in his throat hearing this, but in the end, not a harsh word came out of his mouth. He only advised Lu Yanqing to reflect upon himself before leaving.
——
The Su Family, in retaliation against the Princess Mansion, brought up Lu Yanqing’s case, not expecting to shoot themselves in the foot. Aside from Su Yaojun, another person, Master Su, who once served as Cao Yun Governor, was mentioned.
Now, Su Yaojun has already been arrested and imprisoned, and Master Su had long since kicked the bucket to meet King Yan. All the blame ultimately fell on Su Yaojun’s biological father, Mr. Su, and Su Xiang, the head of the family.
Su Xiang was furious, immediately summoning Su Yi to scold her harshly.
Throughout, Su Yi didn’t dare say a word. When Su Xiang calmed down a bit, she said, "Big Brother, actually you might consider that the opponent is the Princess Mansion. Even if the Three Judicial Departments are unprincipled, they wouldn’t dare to implicate us by association. As long as the Princess Mansion isn’t implicated, we won’t suffer any significant impact. After all, the Third House has already been expelled from the clan."
"The Third House expelled from the clan, isn’t there still a Fifth Young Master?" Su Xiang’s face was as grim as if he wanted to devour someone. "When the Emperor brings up the saying ’A eldest brother is like a father,’ do you think I can avoid it?"
Don’t be fooled by Su Xiang being the Head of the Officials, sounding prestigious. In truth, when scolding people, even a market woman would bow down to his prowess.
Thus, Su Yi walked away with a dark face after being scolded by her elder brother for the time it takes to burn an incense stick. Were it not for the chance she seized to promise she could bring Zhao Xunyin to disgrace in no time, Su Xiang might not have stopped.
Exiting the Prime Minister’s Mansion, a maid asked if they should return to the mansion. Su Yi’s eyes turned sharp, "To the Heavenly Prison."
Acting as Lu Yanqing’s aunt, it was easy for Su Yi to gain visitation privileges.
Lu Yanqing had originally been quite angry at Su Yi for deceiving him that day. But thinking of the past kindness his aunt showed him, and seeing her willing to visit him, his grievances dissipated inexplicably, and he stood up with delight, looking at Su Yi with burning eyes, "Aunt, have you come to rescue me?"
Su Yi’s red lips curved slightly, "Silly child, your parents have abandoned you. Even if I can save you, where would you go once you leave the prison?"
Lu Yanqing looked puzzled, "Aunt, what do you mean by this?"
Su Yi’s eyes twinkled with a more pronounced smile, "Do you know why you’ve come to this point?"
Lu Yanqing pressed his lips together, not speaking.
"Because your parents didn’t discipline you. Do you know why they didn’t discipline you?"
Lu Yanqing still remained silent.
"Because, you aren’t the Prince Consort’s child. Being the biological son of a rural peasant, how much do you think Zhao Xunyin could like you? Why would Lu Xingzhou treat you as his own son and educate you properly?"
Lu Yanqing was stunned for a moment, then shouted loudly, "Impossible! You’re lying!"
Su Yi looked satisfied with his reaction, "You never suspected why you were a premature baby? Or why don’t you think about it? Your parents’ indulgence might not be love but a way of setting you up for failure. As long as you cause trouble and lose your life, they can have their own child. Believe me, if you had a brother or sister, their future would never follow your old path. Zhao Xunyin and Lu Xingzhou would educate their own children well, instead of neglecting them as they did with you."