The one that had called her young miss was definitely someone from the Yao family. Feng Yu Heng’s group left the restaurant, and Xuan Tian Ming had wanted to accompany her over to the Yao manor; however, she refused and said: “This sort of trivial family matter can be handled by myself alone. You don’t need to join in.”
Xuan Tian Ming nodded, “If you say it like that, it really does seem like the case. Forget it, Seventh Brother and I will send Xiang Rong back.” Looking back, Xiang Rong was being supported by Xuan Tian Hua. She had drank herself into a daze, and all kinds of nonsense was coming out of her mouth. From time to time, she would call for His Highness the Seventh Prince or shout at Xuan Tian Yi for being a scoundrel. It was truly something that was hard to look at.
Feng Yu Heng waved her hand, “Quickly, you must not allow anything to happen to Xiang Rong.”
The group went their separate ways from the restaurant. Feng Yu Heng sat in the carriage that the servant from the Yao family had come in and began to rush back.
At this time in front of the Yao manor, Left Prime Minister Lu Song had personally visited with all of his servants carrying a very good casket. He was currently speaking with the Yao family’s eldest son, Yao Jing Jun. He heard Lu Song say: “My young daughter died a tragic death and heard that the Yao family placed the mourning hall in a side hall, but a casket still has not been brought in. This prime minister does not know why the Yao family has done this, but as the father of Yao’er, there are always some things that I ought to do for her. This padauk casket will be considered something that our Lu family gave the Yao family!”
His words were polite, but who could miss that there was a hidden meaning to his words! This was clearly saying that the Yao family was treating Lu Yao unfairly. It was also saying that the Yao family could not even afford a casket and needed the Lu family to provide one.
But Yao Jing Jun ignored it completely. He just told Lu Song with great attention to detail: “It was set up in the side hall because the cause of Lu Yao’s death is still being investigated by the government. Consideration needs to be given to how this incident came to be. Once the government office has finished investigating and said that Lu Yao was innocent, the Yao family will naturally bring the mourning hall to the main hall. Also, as for the casket, we have made preparations. It’s currently being prepared, but they have not moved as quickly as Lord Lu.” While he spoke, he raised his hand and informed a servant: “Bring the casket that Lord Lu brought to the mourning hall.” He then cupped his hands toward Prime Minister Lu: “We’ve made Prime Minister Lu to spend money. A padauk casket, the Yao family only had a casket made out of normal materials. It truly is not as wealthy as the Lu family. But our Yao family has been in Huang Zhou for many years and cannot compare to the Lu family, which has spent many years in the capital, accumulating all kinds of wealth.”
Lu Song was left with his face alternating between red and white. He simply flicked his wide sleeve and angrily said: “This prime minister will not speak with you. Go, call your father, Yao Xian, out here!”
Yao Jing Jun was puzzled, “Based on the generation, Prime Minister Lu and this lowly one are relatives by marriage, and we are of the same generation. Father is a person of the older generation. For the funeral of a member of the younger generation, why should father be called? His health is not very good and has already gone to sleep.”
“Gone to sleep?” Lu Song became furious, “With such a big thing happening in the family, he is actually able to sleep?”
Yao Jing Jun’s expression also sank, coldly saying: “Prime Minister Lu, although I do not have a rank, it does not mean that I will feel afraid or intimidated. My Yao family has always done things the right way. Today, the Lu family’s daughter died. Why can my Yao family not sleep? If you have something to discuss, I am standing here before you. But what is the matter that requires father? Could it be that the mourning hall for your Lu family’s daughter needs to be watched by the older generation?”
Lu Song also knew that his own accusations of Yao Xian could not hold water. Originally, he did not want to make this trip. But something had happened to Lu Yao, yet the Yao family handled the matter in this way. When it came to his face, he truly could not handle it! In addition to this, Lu Yao’s corpse was still in the government office, yet the Yao family did not go to retrieve it. What sort of situation was this?
He glared viciously at Yao Jing Jun and made a request of him: “Your Yao family must get back Yao’er’s corpse! No matter what is said, that is the Yao family’s daughter-in-law!”
Yao Jing Jun shook his head, “I am powerless.”
“You…”
“I what?” Yao Jing Jun was puzzled and looked at Lu Song, “You are the standard first rank left prime minister. Even you can’t do anything to get her corpse back. I am a commoner without any rank or position. What can I do?”
“Yao Jing Jun!” Lu Song angrily shouted, “Don’t refuse to do it now until you’re forced to do even more. Who doesn’t know that Xu Jing Yuan only listens to Feng Yu Heng’s words? She is a part of your Yao family. Naturally, your Yao family’s words should have some weight!”
“Who is it that’s throwing this imperial daughter’s name around?” Suddenly, a clear voice came from behind. Feng Yu Heng got out of a carriage and stood directly in front of Left Prime Minister Lu Song. The shock caused Lu Song to subconsciously take a couple steps back.
“Yao Jing Jun, you actually went to look for help?” For some reason, these words came out of Lu Song’s mouth. Feng Yu Heng’s sudden appearance left him feeling quite troubled. He had clearly heard that Feng Yu Heng was currently viewing the lanterns with the ninth prince and seventh prince. Why was it that she had returned at this time?
“What are you calling looked for help?” Yao Jing Jun looked at Lu Song, his face filled with contempt, “A-Heng is my niece. She is a daughter of the Yao family, to begin with. How can this be called help.”
“That’s right.” Huang Quan interjected, “Our young miss concerning herself with the Yao family’s matters is natural. How did she end up becoming help? Also,” She glared at Lu Song, “Who was it just now that kept saying Feng Yu Heng over and over? You were the one that brought her up first. What, now that our young miss is standing in front of you, you’ve become afraid?”
Lu Song was so angry that a fire burned inside his chest. Extending his hand, he pointed at Huang Quan. You’re just a servant. What can you be considered? You dare to speak to this prime minister like this?”
Huang Quan did not speak. Based on status, she indeed did not have this right, but Feng Yu Heng spoke up on her behalf, “She’s a maidservant given to me by the Yu Palace. Even I don’t curse at her. On what basis does Lord Lu dare to lecture someone on His Highness Prince Yu’s behalf? How about… how about this imperial daughter send someone to call His Highness Prince Yu to come over. That way, you can scold this servant in front of him?”
Lu Song choked on his breath and nearly passed out, but he really did not want to tear at someone’s face in front of Feng Yu Heng. He could only say: “What sort of thing is Imperial Daughter saying? This lowly official does not dare.”
“What is there that Prime Minister Lu does not dare to do?” She looked at Lu Song, “This is the entrance to the Yao family’s home. You’ve even extended your hands to the Yao family. What is there that you don’t dare do? Oh, if this imperial daughter did not hear incorrectly, you even prepared to cause a stir at the government office?”
“When did such a thing happen?” Lu Song anxiously stomped his foot. When had he said that he would go and cause a stir at the government office? He just wanted to retrieve Lu Yao’s corpse. He did not care too much about that daughter, especially after Lu Yao ruined Lu Ping’s face. He hated her even more. But dislike was just that. She was still his daughter. If he allowed the corpse to remain in the government office and allowed Xu Jing Yuan to investigate all kinds of things, what face would he have left? “Imperial daughter must be mistaken.” He did his best to speak calmly with Feng Yu Heng, “This lowly official is just anxious about my beloved daughter and did not intend to cause a stir at the government office. It was the Yao family that did not go to retrieve the corpse and even installed the mourning hall in a side hall. This lowly official just wanted to ask why exactly that was?”
“Did Prime Minister Lu not know?” Feng Yu Heng explained to him: “A girl that has gotten married is like water that has been spilled. If she does not have an auspicious life with her husband’s family, that is just her own fortune being bad. If Prime Minister Lu feels that the Yao family’s actions are no good, how about setting up Lu Yao’s mourning hall in the Lu family. If you want to install the mourning hall in the main hall, you can. If you want to install it in a side hall, you can. It can be as extravagant as you wish. How about it?”
“You…” Lu Song was left speechless once more.
But Feng Yu Heng continued: “As long as the Lu family sets up the mourning hall in their own home, this imperial daughter will go and ask the governor for a pardon and bring Lu Yao’s corpse back. But once this is done, that would mean that Lu Yao returned to the Lu family and will no longer have any relation with the Yao family. The Yao family will fill out a divorce filing, and the two families will be separated.”
“That must not be done!” Lu Song was shocked, “Imperial daughter, a girl being divorced is a great humiliation. Yao’er did not do anything wrong. Her death was also mysterious. The Yao family does not have any reason to divorce her!”
Feng Yu Heng smiled, “Prime Minister Lu, don’t be so quick to say whether or not anything wrong had occurred. At present, the corpse is still at the government office. The governor, Xu Jing Yuan, is an upright official. Who knows what he might find out. As for the Yao family divorcing her, that is your Lu family’s intention! Wasn’t it you that felt that the Yao family’s funeral arrangements were insufficient? That’s why the Lu family would be conducting it yourselves. A married daughter having her funeral conducted by her childhood family would mean that she did not have a husband’s family. But the husband’s family clearly is still present, which means that divorce is the only choice left.” She shrugged, “That’s why it’s all your own desire. We are just going along with it.”
Lu Song felt that there was no way to reason with Feng Yu Heng. This imperial daughter was the same as the ninth prince. In their hearts, they were of the same group. No matter what, they could speak using the other’s reasoning. He himself had been foolish. How could he stand in place and try to reason with the wife of the ninth prince? Was this not just seeking out a bitter experience?
Thus Lu Song decided that he would ignore Feng Yu Heng and only speak to Yao Jing Jun: “Go and call Yao Shu out here. Yao Xian is of the older generation, but Yao Shu is part of the younger generation, right? With things as they are, he should still be calling me father-in-law. I wish to see him. If you continue to stop me, that would be the Yao family being in the wrong.”
Yao Jing Jun nodded, “Of course, what Prime Minister Lu said is correct.” After saying this, he informed the servant at his side, “Go and call the eldest young master over.”
The servant quickly left. Very quickly, Yao Shu came out of the manor.
Today, his wife had died. Although Yao Shu’s heart had cooled toward Lu Yao, she was still someone that he had spent a great deal of time with. For her to suddenly pass away, even if he was not hurt, he would still be emotional.
Yao Shu’s etiquette was very proper. Seeing Lu Song, he saluted and greeted him. He then heard Lu Song ask: “Son-in-law, an accident occurred to Yao’er today, and this prime minister wishes to know. What is your attitude toward this matter?”
Yao Shu slightly furrowed his brow. He thought that the Lu family would come knocking; however, he never thought that it would happen so soon. It was the 15th of the eighth month, yet they did not allow for it to pass peacefully.
He had made his own plans. Upon hearing this question, he did not hesitate. He cupped his hands and said: “Since lord father-in-law wishes to ask our attitude, the younger generation will provide one. Today, Lu Yao and my mother both fell into the water. We also knew that Lu Yao is very good in the water and definitely would not be left unable to move because of a lotus pond. That’s why we suspect that Lu Yao fell into the water deliberately. As for my mother, she was used by her and was deliberately pulled into the water. In regards to this, the Yao family has decided to report this case!”