Chapter 102: Welcoming Concubine Ceremony?

  Facing Lu Yun's questioning, Lu Xuan just smiled and didn't say anything.

  The next day, Lu Yun went to school as usual. According to Lu Xuan's arrangement, today Lu Yun would go see Huang Gong. As for how to request an audience and how to respond, Lu Xuan didn't give a single hint.

  She only told her brother what she wanted to happen.

  She thought, at worst, this hard-won opportunity would be ruined by Lu Yun. Anyway, she had made up her mind that from now on, when letting Lu Yun do things, she wouldn't just give him general instructions, but also tell him the specific details and order him around.

  She just wants to see how he performs and handles things. She'd rather have him make mistakes and mess up, then recalculate again, than interfere too much and prevent her brother from growing up.

  With nothing to do, Lu Xuan read a book for a while before hiring an ox cart and rushing to various government offices to deliver name cards with his new home address.

  Whether it was the Ati family or the Xiao Yan family, they were all prominent families. Even if Lu Xuan wore a silver-white robe and had the demeanor of a refined young man, after handing over the letter to the gatekeeper, he would be scrutinized for a moment before being perfunctorily dismissed.

  All this is mainly because Lu Xuan personally went to deliver the letter, and she didn't bring any servants with her. As the saying goes, "Yan Wang is easy to approach, but small ghosts are hard to entangle." Compared to the careful consideration of those in power, these underlings are much more direct. You don't even have a servant with you, no matter how good-looking you are, you're definitely not from a reputable family.

  But Lu Xuan didn't mind, as long as she had sent it, whether the book could reach Atie and others was not her concern.

  After sending it to more than a dozen households and almost running through the city of Chengdu, Lu Yue returned home, already in the late afternoon.

  Lu Xuan was busy cooking and boiling water while waiting for her brother to come back.

  Not long after, there was a knock at the door.

  Lu Yu walked over and opened the door, only to see a pair of dark eyes wide open, Lu Yun was strongly suppressing her excitement.

  Seeing her brother full of excitement, but trying to maintain a calm demeanor. Lu Yue couldn't help but smile and led him into the room, saying in a soft voice: "Have you seen Huang Gong? What did he say?" After thinking for a moment, she added another sentence, "But I know my brother will definitely be able to handle this matter."

  Lu Yun got his sister's affirmation and smiled with curved eyes. He suppressed his joy and said, "Not long after I arrived at the school, someone scolded me for Huang Gong's 'not good not righteous' four words. They scolded me very much. At that time, I jumped up. I told them that Huang Gong had never said such things. If you don't believe me, I can make a bet with you. If I can freely enter and exit the Huang Gong Mansion and be welcomed by the servants in the mansion, then it proves that what I said is not wrong. If I win, each of you will give me 30 iron coins. If Huang Gong really dislikes me, then naturally I won't even be able to enter the gate of the Huang Gong Mansion, and naturally I will lose. If I lose, I will give each of you 30 iron coins."

  Upon hearing this, Lu Xuan's eyes sparkled brightly. He excitedly said: "Good job, well done, Ah Yun did a great job with this move." His younger brother not only learned to take advantage of the situation but also learned to be decisive. You should know that each person's 30 pieces of iron money is no easy bet. For the current siblings, it's not easy to come up with that amount.

  Who doesn't have a gamble in life? The key is to dare to bet at the crucial moment. It's also a manifestation of being a man!

  Lu Yun smiled complacently, but thinking of her sister's scolding the day before, she straightened up her pretty face and continued in a calm tone: "Then I told them to quietly follow me from behind, hiding there to see if I could enter the Huang Gong Mansion. When I reached the entrance, I took out that wooden sign. And then, I easily entered the Huang Gong Mansion."

  Thinking of the scene where those people were stunned at the time, Lu Yun couldn't help but smile.

  Then he continued: "After entering the Huang Gong Mansion, a servant stopped me and said that Huang Gong was busy and asked me to come back next time. Of course, I didn't listen. Sister, you once said that if the reason is on my side, I should look at the situation, and if the situation is on my side, I shouldn't retreat easily, or else the momentum will be lost. Moreover, today I must win a few hundred iron coins from them! At that time, I picked up the signboard and scolded the servant severely, then rushed inside directly. The servant saw me being tough and suddenly changed his tone, saying 'wait for a moment' and that he should be able to see Huang Gong."

  At this point, Lu Yun couldn't help but think that if it were in the past, he would have probably been deterred by that servant and retreated.

  After a pause, Lu Yun continued: "In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, I saw Huang Gong. After completing the formalities, I directly asked Huang Gong to confront the person who said I was 'unvirtuous and unrighteous'. I told Huang Gong that as a man of honor, there is nothing that cannot be spoken to others. Lu Yun may have shallow learning, but he dare not accept the four words 'unvirtuous and unrighteous'. I also told Huang Gong that in this world, there are no causes and effects that cannot be clarified. From the moment I knew I could study under Huang Gong's guidance, I had always been deeply respectful and regarded him as a father figure. Now, I have been wronged, and I wish to debate with the scoundrel in front of my elder to clear my name."

  This approach is quite good, Lu Xuan nodded happily. People are like this, if you're upright and honest, you should show a dignified attitude. If you shrink back timidly, even if you're in the right, others will think you're guilty and fearful.

  In Lu Yun's view, it would be better for Lu Yun to offend Huang Gong by being too direct and strong, rather than showing any sign of shrinking back.

  Lu Yun said, "Huang Gong didn't directly answer my question, but instead asked me many questions, which I answered one by one. Later, Huang Gong said that he would investigate the person who spread the rumor. Then he had the housekeeper personally escort me out of the door."

  Here is the translation:

  "Speaking of which, Lu Yun smiled slyly, 'Sister, you don't know, when those people saw me being politely sent away by Huang Gong's steward, their expressions were hilarious.' As he spoke, he shook the iron coins in his hand and said with a pleased tone, 'Sister, there are six or seven iron coins here, haha, all of which I won myself.'"

  Lu Xuan smiled and praised: "Ayun did a great job on this matter." After a pause, Lu Xuan commented: "From what Huang Gong said, he clearly knew he was wrong. Since he was wrong, he didn't want to admit it in front of you. The sage once said, who has no mistakes? To make mistakes and correct them is the greatest virtue. This Huang Gong made a mistake but didn't have the courage to admit it face-to-face, and even didn't want to call that person who caused the trouble to clarify things face-to-face. His character, learning, and moral cultivation are not yet at the level of a great Confucian scholar. You can't become his disciple, and it's not a loss."

  Lu Yun's face turned red with excitement as Lu Yue praised him.

  Just as the sister and brother were chatting and laughing, a knock at the door rang out.

  Is anyone coming? Lu Yun walked over in confusion and opened the door.

  Outside the courtyard gate stood four big and tall men, while the one knocking on the door was a plump middle-aged man dressed as a servant.

  Behind these five people were seven or eight trunks.

  "Hey, who are these people? With such big and small boxes, aren't they relatives coming to rely on us?"

  But these five people don't seem like they're here to visit relatives. Besides, what relatives would my sister have that he wouldn't recognize?

  In doubt, before Lu Yun spoke, that fat manager had already asked: "Are you Lu Yun? Is your sister Lu Yue here?"

  "In." Lu Yun called out, "Sister, someone is looking for you." After saying these few words, he turned his head to examine the five strange-looking people and asked, "I wonder what brings you all here."

  He nodded to a few sturdy servants, indicating that they should move the trunks into the courtyard. Then, he walked in on his own and said, "I have been sent by Master Lang to welcome you, young lady, to the manor."

  Huh?

  Lu Yun was completely baffled by these words.

  As he saw his sister hadn't come out, he turned back and called: "Sister, this man says that he is here under the orders of your husband, to escort you into the mansion."

  As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Yuan walked out.

  Seeing her sister approaching, Lu Yun called out: "Sister, it's really strange. These people have carried so many boxes and said they want to welcome you into the mansion. Hmm, seems like..." Seemingly what, he couldn't continue saying.

  This style is clearly coming to welcome a concubine. However, compared to the usual welcoming of a concubine, it's even more rushed and abrupt, even more inexplicable.

  Of course, judging from those several trunks, it seems that they are willing to spend more money than usual in welcoming the concubine.

  Just as Lu Yun was thinking this way, the fat manager waved his hand. Immediately, four strong servants came over and opened each of the boxes one by one.

  As soon as the box was opened, colorful silks and satins were revealed, along with a small box of gold, silver, and jade ornaments, which shone brightly in the evening sunlight.

  At this point, Lu Yun had no choice but to believe it.

  He stared at the fat man, for a moment unable to find words to say to him.

  But the fat man was in charge, and after glancing at Lu Yue, he turned to Lu Yun and said: "There are eight boxes of high-quality silk, one box of silver ornaments, one box of gold ornaments, one box of jade ornaments, three boxes of pen, ink and books, and many other precious stones... All are betrothal gifts for your sister. My young master said that he is really busy lately and cannot come to welcome her in person, so please don't mind. When we arrive at the mansion, he will drink a few cups and apologize to your sister."

  In fact, two days ago, Lang Jun had mentioned it with caution. These two days were indeed busy. In the afternoon, Lang Jun was drinking wine when someone suddenly mentioned something about a beauty, and his heart became hot and unbearable. He waved his hand and ordered this manager to bring several servants to welcome back the beauty he saw at the city gate that day.

  Originally, this kind of welcoming the concubine's affair would at least have one or two madams coming out to meet her, but the young master was in such a hurry that this fat manager thought, since the young master spoke so decisively, he must have already had private dealings with the girl's family. Under these circumstances, with such generous gifts, they wouldn't bother with other formalities. So, he brought several strong servants over.

  If the sister and brother still don't understand after hearing this, they are truly foolish.

  Two pairs of similar black and white eyes stared at each other. You looked at me, I looked at you for a while, finally, even Lu Xuan, such an unfeeling person, couldn't help but laugh.

  In fact, she also smiled, raising her lips, Lu Xuan asked: "I don't know your husband's surname and full name?"

  What?

  That fatty was taken aback, and in the blink of an eye he thought with disgust: "It turns out she's a flirtatious woman." He coldly smiled and said: "My family's young master is surnamed Zhang, named Feng. Could it be that you've promised to marry another young master?" His tone was extremely unfriendly.