How dare she speak like that to her own father?!
Lu Xuan's heart ignited with fury. His always gentle and refined face showed a trace of fracture, and his voice became stiff: "As a daughter, how can you speak to your own father in such a manner."
"Women should be gentle and humble, virtuous and dignified."
Jiang Shaohua raised her eyes with a cool gaze: "That was not how Grandfather taught me when he was alive."
"Grandfather told me that the world is harsh to women, therefore women should be independent, strong, self-respecting, and self-loving."
Lu Xuan was so stifled that he couldn't breathe.
Prince Nanyang was truly an unusual man among men.
In his youth, he married a Princess Consort of lowly military family origins, and she only bore him one daughter. Yet, Prince Nanyang did not take any concubines to have sons, instead he took a son-in-law into the house for his daughter Jiang Yan. After Jiang Yan passed away, Prince Nanyang neither adopted nor established a successor; rather, he petitioned the court to name young Jiang Shaohua as Commandery Princess, granting the title and family inheritance to his granddaughter...
What granddaughter!
It's clearly a granddaughter from the mother's side, the surname Jiang cannot change this fact!
Prince Nanyang has no heirs!
In the end, all this dazzling wealth and family business will belong to him, Lu Xuan!
Jiang Shaohua's indifferent voice sounded again: "I have my own plans for this matter. Father needn't worry; go back early and spend time with Aunt Mei and the three of them."
She unexpectedly asked him to leave!
Lu Xuan's forehead veins twitched, but he awkwardly managed to squeeze out a smile and said softly, "Then you rest well, I'll come see you another day."
Then he rose and left.
Jiang Shaohua did not budge.
Mrs. Zhang snapped back from her shock and hurriedly escorted Lu Xuan out of the yard.
Lu Xuan was extremely patient and was particularly courteous to Mrs. Zhang: "Mrs. Zhang, there's no need to send me off. Shao Hua's mood isn't quite right today, perhaps she has some thoughts. You should stay close to her and take good care."
No matter if Mrs. Zhang looked down on Lu Xuan in her heart, she never showed a hint of it on her face and quickly responded respectfully.
After sending Lu Xuan off, Mrs. Zhang let out a long breath.
The Commandery Princess was indeed acting out of sorts today.
But listening to it was extraordinarily satisfying.
Mrs. Zhang walked briskly back into the house. Before she could ask, Jiang Shaohua spoke first: "Mrs. Zhang, I dreamed of Grandfather."
Mrs. Zhang's eyes shone brightly: "Prince gave the Commandery Princess a dream visitation?"
Her voice could not hide her delight.
Jiang Shaohua nodded, her gaze skimmed past Mrs. Zhang's radiant face, sighing silently within.
Mrs. Zhang had always disliked Lu Xuan.
She had sensed it long ago, yet pretended not to know.
Mrs. Zhang understood deeply the principle of avoiding alienation, never speaking ill of Lu Xuan in her presence.
"What did Prince say to the Commandery Princess in the dream?" Mrs. Zhang asked with joy.
Jiang Shaohua remembered Grandfather's kind face, feeling a sour sensation in her nose, she slowly said, "Grandfather told me not to leave Nanyang County, to hold onto the Nanyang Prince Mansion."
"Grandfather also said, whoever tries to seize the mansion's estates will have their hand chopped off!"
Mrs. Zhang's eyes misted, she kept wiping the corners of her eyes with her sleeve: "The Prince's words, Commandery Princess must remember them well."
Over the past year, Lu Xuan's ambition had become apparent, often interfering in the mansion's affairs using the Commandery Princess's influence. Everyone in the mansion saw it happening.
Some shallow-minded and conniving people secretly colluded with Lu Xuan. Mrs. Zhang was anxious but dared not speak out openly in front of her mistress.
The Commandery Princess lost her mother at a young age, and the most affectionate Prince had passed too. Only her father, Lu Xuan, remained.
How could she bear to shatter the Commandery Princess's illusion of fatherly love?
Now it was fine. Prince appeared in a dream to the Commandery Princess, she should open her eyes and see the people around her clearly.
Jiang Shaohua gently instructed: "Mrs. Zhang, have someone deliver a message to the front yard, telling Chief Historian Chen and the others to wait for me in Grandfather's study."
Mrs. Zhang responded repeatedly: "This servant will first dress and groom the Commandery Princess."
...
Lu Xuan's smile lasted until he stepped into Youlan Garden.
With gentle brows and charming eyes, Aunt Mei led her pair of children out to greet him: "Master, why are you home so early today? Didn't you stay for dinner with the Commandery Princess?"
When Jiang Yan was alive, everyone addressed Lu Xuan as Prince Consort. After Jiang Yan's passing, young Jiang Shaohua was conferred as Nanyang Commandery Princess by the court. Lu Xuan's title became awkward.
Aunt Mei, having served Lu Xuan for six years, knew well of his taboos, and her address of him as master was respectful.
A boy and a girl, looking up to him with admiration, called him father.
The boy was five years old, fair and handsome, resembling Lu Xuan, the eldest son Lu Ying.
The girl was four years old, delicate and lovely, with a sweet smile, a little beauty in the making, Lu Ying's sister Lu Ruohua.
Lu Xuan was very displeased after being rebuffed by Jiang Shaohua, and with an impatient face said: "I have matters to attend to in the study, don't bother me."
Without a glance at the children, he waved his sleeve and left.
Aunt Mei's eyes showed embarrassment, she softly comforted the pair: "Ying'er, Hua'er, your father has important matters and doesn't have time to be with you."
Actually, Lu Xuan, as a son-in-law, had lived in the Nanyang Prince Mansion for fourteen years. Although his life was lavish, he never got involved in the mansion's internal affairs. What important matters could he possibly have?
Lu Ying, precocious, was gradually understanding, he simply murmured and lowered his head.
Lu Ruohua looked at Aunt Mei innocently: "Mother, what important matters is father busy with?"
Aunt Mei hesitated: "You're still young, you wouldn't understand even if I told you. Mother will take you to dinner."
Lu Xuan sat in the study alone for a long time. The scene of profound humiliation and unforgettable resentment flashed in his mind.
He joyfully told his father-in-law that his son was named Jiang Ying. Yet the father-in-law humiliated him with a detached tone. Jiang Family did not want his son.
His son couldn't bear the surname Jiang, he could only bear the surname Lu.
No one knew the boundless rage and resentment that grew in his heart at that moment.
The mansion's wealth accumulated over decades, how could it be inherited by a girl?
Yue Family was powerful, he had no choice but to become a son-in-law, which was already humiliating enough. Should his son continue to endure humiliation?
Lu Xuan took a deep breath, rose, pushed open the door, and scanned around: "Fang Quan, come inside."
Fang Quan responded and entered the study. A personal attendant since the age of sixteen, serving his master for over a decade, he was Lu Xuan's confidant.
Lu Xuan quietly gave some instructions.
Fang Quan, stunned, quickly looked up at his master, catching a glimpse of the gloominess in Lu Xuan's eyes.
Fang Quan swallowed the words that came to his lips, and softly responded.
...
At this moment, Jiang Shaohua stepped into the main courtyard.
This was where Prince Nanyang lived during his lifetime, the five-room main hall was spacious and open. The right wing had a bed, the left wing was a study, eight bookshelves filled to the brim, with complete stationery, ink, paper, and ink stones. On the wall hung paintings from the previous dynasty.
The study was heavily guarded outside, with dozens of personal soldiers from the mansion keeping watch day and night.
Without Prince Nanyang's summons, no one was allowed to enter the study.
The only exception was Jiang Shaohua.
From the day she could walk, she was allowed to freely enter and exit her grandfather's study. Even if her grandfather summoned the Chief Historian and advisors for discussion, she could enter at any time.
Jiang Shaohua paused outside the study, her gaze misty.
Grandfather, I'm back.