Chapter 774: Chapter 736: Surname Change, Lu Yanqing Returns to the Capital (Part 1)

Zhao Xi didn’t explain explicitly, only saying, "The plans Father has made for me started many years ago; it’s no surprise that you would become part of it."

Dong Han, upon hearing this, was quite surprised.

It wasn’t the surprise that the Crown Prince knew she had been using Emperor Guangxi’s token for tasks, but the surprise at Zhao Xi’s attitude.

So calm, so indifferent, as if nothing had happened.

She had thought that he would blame her upon knowing...

Thinking of this, Dong Han chuckled softly, "Your Highness knowing in advance saved me quite a bit of trouble."

"You’ve never been good at lying since you were a child," Zhao Xi looked at her, his tone light: "At least that’s the case in front of me, like that time years ago when you stopped coming to the Study Room, and when I later met you and asked why, you said you were busy with lessons at the ladies’ academy, but at the time your eyes were clearly flickering intensely."

Hearing him mention childhood events, Dong Han’s cheeks warmed, "After so many years, Your Highness still remembers."

"After I turned six, I spent every day in the Study Room, in those dull and endless years, the only thing I probably remember is that little girl,"

——

After Lu Xingzhou and his wife stayed with the Song family with their son Lu Yanli for a few days, the mansion bestowed by Emperor Guangxi was almost cleaned up. The gold-embossed plaque was hung high, grand and dignified.

The couple moved in.

On the day of moving, a housewarming banquet was held, attended not only by the Song family but also by the Duke Lu Mansion, with empresses from various palaces and the Crown Prince also sending gifts.

At the banquet, Duke Lu joyfully drank with his son whom he hadn’t seen for many years, discussing plans to choose a date for Lu Xingzhou to be re-added to the family tree, which led to the issue of Wen Wan changing her surname after recognizing her ancestry.

Wen Wan had drunk a bit and was slightly dizzy, but upon hearing the word "surname change," she was jolted and looked towards her parents.

When her lineage was exposed, people had talked about her surname, but since her parents were removed from the family, it seemed irrelevant.

But now it’s different.

Zhao Xunyin had regained her imperial family status, and as Prince Consort, Lu Xingzhou naturally couldn’t be expelled from the family, thus regaining his status as the second master of the Lu Family.

Therefore, Wen Wan, the legitimate daughter, could only follow her biological father in taking the surname Lu.

However, she had already been surnamed Wen for over twenty years, and the thought of suddenly changing back to Lu left her feeling empty, unable to express the feeling.

Seeing Wen Wan lower her head, Zhao Xunyin looked at Duke Lu, "Father, it’s only right for the second master to be on the family tree, but as for whether Wanwan should change back to the Lu surname, why not listen to the child’s opinion?"

Once Zhao Xunyin spoke, Duke Lu, the Duchess Liu, Lu Pingzhou, Lu Yanbin, and Mrs. Xiao Liu all looked at Wen Wan expectantly.

Wen Wan knew well that after her lineage was exposed, the Lu Family had taken good care of her, but on the matter of whether she should be Wen or Lu, she had her own insistence.

Without much hesitation, Wen Wan raised her head to face everyone, "Grandfather, Grandmother, Uncle, Father, Mother, my adoptive father raised me for sixteen years, I have no way to repay him, so I can only continue his surname, considering it my little filial piety to him. I hope you can understand."

Zhao Xunyin and Lu Xingzhou naturally understood, as Wen Guangping’s first child, Lu Yanqing, could no longer be openly acknowledged, if they stripped Wen Wan of the right to her surname too, it would be too ungrateful.

But Duke Lu didn’t see it that way, "If Wan wishes to not restore the Lu surname, she cannot be on the Lu Family Tree and therefore cannot be considered a true Lu Family member."

In response, Zhao Xunyin replied, "If Wanwan were still small, I might have concerns about that, but she’s now married with children, the mistress of the Song family, so whether she’s on the Lu Family Tree or not is actually inconsequential. Whether others see her as a true member of the Lu Family doesn’t matter to me, I only recognize her as my and the second master’s biological daughter, that’s enough."

The Duchess Liu, a traditional woman, frowned upon hearing this, "Doing this, wouldn’t it be against the rules?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "Rules are set by people, besides, Wanwan isn’t a child, she has her own ideas. If she doesn’t want to change her surname, then let her be. Forcing her to change her surname to add her to the family tree might not be a good thing."

With the parents saying this, Duke Lu and his wife naturally had no words to refute.

Mrs. Xiao Liu took the opportunity to say, "Actually, it doesn’t matter if Sister Wan changes her surname or not, we’re still one family. When the second young master returns in some time, I’ll personally arrange for a banquet to have a joyous family gathering."

The second young master? Lu Yanqing?

Wen Wan’s eyelids twitched, and she looked at Song Wei.

Song Wei said softly, "Your father and mother have made a meritorious contribution, and even Lu Yanqing has been pardoned. The Lu Family has already arranged for people to fetch him, and barring any accidents, he should be able to arrive in the Capital before New Year’s Eve."

Lu Yanqing’s crime in Ningzhou at the age of twelve is vivid in Wen Wan’s memory. Even after eight years, she still remembers her foster father escaping from the coal mine in the pouring rain, slipping and falling in the mud along the way. She remembers even more clearly the scene on that rainy night, when she accompanied her husband to Da Huan Mountain and saw the buried miners.

She can’t forgive Lu Yanqing; it’s impossible. But royal power reigns supreme, and Lu Yanqing has a mother who is a Princess and a father who is a Prince Consort. With the noble status of the Imperial Family, whether it’s eighty lives or eight hundred, as long as the Emperor Uncle speaks, he will not die.

Seeing Wen Wan lower her eyelashes, Song Wei knew that she was disturbed. Taking advantage of others talking, he leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Even if he returns, it doesn’t matter. Just don’t see him."

Wen Wan felt a slight warmth in her heart upon hearing this. She thought Song Wei would persuade her to let bygones be bygones and encourage her to see things more openly and not dwell on them.

They all crawled out from the same mother’s womb; she didn’t want to dwell either. But she couldn’t get past the hurdle within herself.

With so many people at the table, Zhao Xunyin found it difficult to speak. Once the banquet was over and they strolled in the garden, she called Wen Wan alone, took her hand, and said softly, "Wanwan, when Yanqing returns, I’ll have him go to Ningzhou and kowtow to your foster father to apologize."

Wen Wan’s lips tightened slightly, "Isn’t Lu Yanqing unaware of his own ancestry?"

"When he was sent out of the Capital back then, he asked me outside the city gate," Zhao Xunyin said. "Although I didn’t explain explicitly, he should have guessed the general idea. Hopefully, the wind and sand of the Northern Desert over the years have smoothed his temperament, stopping him from causing trouble and making me worry again."

Wen Wan might endure other matters, but she couldn’t violate her conscience regarding Lu Yanqing.

With lowered eyelashes, Wen Wan apologized, "Sorry, Mother, even though that matter happened many years ago, I still can’t say the word ’forgive’ and face him with a smile. I... I don’t want to see him."

"Then don’t see him." Zhao Xunyin readily agreed, "You have your own boundaries, and I won’t force you."

Wen Wan showed a grateful smile.

Fearing that she would dwell on Lu Yanqing and feel unhappy, Zhao Xunyin quickly shifted the topic, "By the way, do you know about Shuyuan being pregnant?"

"Your daughter is an experienced one." Wen Wan laughed, covering her lips. "She dresses so loosely now, how could I not know? Moreover, the first person she told after getting pregnant was me."

"I heard that with the last one, the couple had a conflict, leading to a miscarriage. Now they’re awaiting the second one; your grandfather and grandmother are incredibly anxious. I see Brother Bin treating her well, so things should be fine."

Can it really be that fine?

Wen Wan thought silently, Lu Yanbin is temporarily afraid of his uncle’s whip and has no choice but to act accommodatingly. Whether he truly cares for Shuyuan, only he himself knows.

...

The Northern Border has an emergency. Lu Xingzhou is about to mobilize and head north, and Duke Lu isn’t wasting time either. He chose a nearby date to open the Lu Family Ancestral Hall, bringing Lu Xingzhou and his son, Lu Yanli, to register in the family tree.

Though Wen Wan couldn’t be part of the family tree, she still joined in the bustling scene.

The Lu Family Ancestral Hall was established many years ago. The structure is somewhat old, not matching the Song family’s newly built hall in scale, but the rows of ancestral tablets inside are overwhelming. All of them honor the ancestors of the Lu Family.

Wen Wan is not on the family tree and isn’t considered a Lu family member, so she wouldn’t normally enter the ancestral hall. Today, Duke Lu made an exception and allowed her in to worship and offer incense to the ancestors, saying that although she can’t be a Lu family member in name, her blood is still of the Lu family, so she should bow and offer incense.

Wen Wan had no objections to this. After Lu Xingzhou and Lu Yanli completed the family tree registration, she went in to bow and offer incense to the Lu family’s ancestors.

In the afternoon, Lu Xingzhou was summoned to the palace for an audience with Emperor Guangxi, who handed him the Tiger Talisman for commanding troops. The food and grass supplies would advance first, while the date for the army’s departure along with the mechanical beasts would be in five days.

"Five days, can’t wait for Yanqing." Zhao Xunyin, upon hearing the news, felt slight regret. "I originally hoped that Yanqing could return in time so our family could have a proper New Year’s Eve reunion dinner before leaving, not expecting it to be so urgent."

Lu Xingzhou said solemnly, "As a general, there’s no such thing as a vacation."

Zhao Xunyin understood that frontline soldiers are guardians of the people; every day they rest is an additional day of danger for the people.

Not saying any more, Zhao Xunyin instructed someone to prepare his luggage.

The room remained silent for a while.

Soon after, a knock sounded on the door, the voice urgent.

Lu Xingzhou stepped out to open the door and saw it was Dou Kou, a maid from Zhao Xunyin’s courtyard. He asked her, "What’s the matter?"

Dou Kou said, "It’s the Commandery Princess; she just arrived at the mansion, saying there’s a matter of utmost urgency to see the Prince Consort."