The Prodigal Son

Nighttime, the Lü family home.

Lu Chunqiu was summoned to the palace by the Empress Dowager in the afternoon and has only just returned.

Shi Yi was also summoned to the palace along with Lü Chunqiu.

They also had a meal with the Empress Dowager in the palace.

After the meal, the Empress Dowager had a private chat with him for a while.

Therefore, he returned quite late.

Upon returning to his residence, Lü Chunqiu immediately summoned Lü Si.

Before long, Lü Si came to Lü Chunqiu, rubbing the aching parts of his body.

"Dad, did you go and deal with that shitty family?"

The wounds on Lü Si's body had been treated with medicine, but the two bruises on his face could not be concealed.

"Clean up my ass!"

Lu Chunqiu glared at Lu Si. "I've figured it out. Shi Lian'er went to the City God Temple early this morning specifically to pray for your mother. She wouldn't let anyone else into the temple, just to be more devout! It's all a misunderstanding between you!"

"Misunderstanding...?"

Lu Si's face turned green. "Father, you're supposed to be the Minister of Justice! You actually believe this kind of nonsense?"

"It was all a misunderstanding!"

Lu Chunqiu avoided his son's gaze and said, "I discussed it with Shi Yi, and your marriage to Shi Lian'er is basically settled."

"What?"

Lu Si suddenly froze, staring blankly at his father, momentarily wondering if he had misheard.

He was beaten so badly by that piece of shit, shouldn't he demand an explanation from the historians?

We told him to go and demand an explanation, but instead he went and got engaged?

After a few cups of cat pee, he lost all sense of direction?

Lu Chunqiu sighed softly and comforted her, "Shi Lian'er is quite good. Not only does she come from a good family, but she is also proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. It's just that she's been spoiled and has a bit of a temper! You can slowly train her after you get married!"

"Discipline? I'll discipline her ancestors for eighteen generations!"

Lu Si jumped up, shouting angrily, "Who gave you permission to make this decision? You, the Minister of Justice, sold your son for that pittance from the Shi family? Haven't you ever seen money before?"

Lu Si was furious!

And they even made him get engaged to that piece of shit?

Isn't this just utterly disgusting?

"Shut up!"

Lu Chunqiu, his face dark with anger, roared, "Let me tell you, you have to marry Shi Lian'er, whether you like it or not!"

"dream!"

Enraged, Lü Si retorted, "If you want to marry her, marry her yourself! I'd rather be a eunuch in the palace than marry that piece of shit!"

"Then you should go to the palace and become a eunuch!"

Lu Chunqiu flew into a rage, "If you had that kind of guts, I might not think much of you!"

"I……"

Lu Si's face suddenly stiffened. After a long while, he looked at his father with a face full of grief and indignation, "Lu Chunqiu, am I even your biological son? How can you betray your own son like this?"

"The traitor!"

Lu Chunqiu instantly lost his guard, kicking Lu Si to the ground. "I'll beat you to death, you unfilial son!"

"Hit! Hit! Hit him harder!"

Lu Si didn't dodge or flinch, lying sprawled on the ground, shouting with a look of utter despair, "Anyway, I'm not your biological son, so the sooner I kill you, the better! I hope I can be reborn into a good family in my next life!"

"you……"

Lu Chunqiu's foot, which was about to kick out, suddenly froze. He glared hatefully at Lu Si lying on the ground, grunted for a long time, and finally withdrew his foot, stomping his foot and growling, "How could I have given birth to such a rebellious son!"

That bastard!

Did he think he wanted that piece of shit to enter the Lü family's gate?

But the Empress Dowager had already told him how important this marriage was!

He also understood that as long as the Shi family cooperated in reforming the salt administration, the resistance faced by the imperial court would be reduced by at least half!

The marriage between Lü Si and Shi Lian'er is no longer a family matter, but a matter of state!

"How could I have such a shameless father!"

Lu Si retorted angrily, "The Shi family is already defecating on my Lu family's head, and you still want to arrange a marriage alliance with them?"

"I...I..."

Lu Chunqiu was speechless, trembling all over, and roared towards the door, "The knife! Where's my knife?"

"Come on, chop here!"

Lu Si lifted his shirt, exposing his neck, and roared angrily, "Anyway, my mother is pregnant with another one. Even if you kill me, you won't be childless! Come on, chop me as hard as you want!"

Lu Chunqiu was so angry that his face turned ashen, and he almost pounced on Lu Si several times to beat him up.

After a long while, Lü Chunqiu finally managed to suppress his impulse, gritting his teeth and growling, "Go ahead and talk to the Empress Dowager if you dare! Don't talk to me! If the Empress Dowager agrees not to let you get married, I'll kneel down and kowtow to thank you!"

Having said that, Lü Chunqiu angrily turned and left.

I can't talk to this unfilial son anymore!

If I keep talking, I'm afraid I'll get so angry I'll die!

……

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Qin Yu, who had wanted to sleep in, was woken up early again.

Lu Si arrived in a great hurry!

Qin Yu dressed and went to the front hall, glaring at Lü Si through gritted teeth. "Did you conspire with Cui Zhi? Are you deliberately trying to ruin my sleep?"

Those two bastards!

Yesterday it was Cui Zhi, today it's Lü Si!

Screw him!

Do they think they have a particularly good temper right now?

Faced with Qin Yu's blazing resentment, Lü Si quickly stepped forward with a fawning smile, "Ancestor, ancestor, calm down! I didn't want to get up so early either! But I really have something urgent to discuss with you!"

"What's up?"

Qin Yu looked displeased.

With a long face, Lü Si said miserably, "My dad insists I marry that piece of shit!"

Qin Yu's eyes widened instantly, and the resentment in his heart quickly dissipated.

No wonder Lü Si came so early in the morning!

So you really have run into trouble!

Fine, I'll let it go since he's so pitiful.

Qin Yu silently mourned for Lü Si for a second in his heart. "Isn't this a good thing? Don't feel so wronged. As the saying goes, 'No fight, no friendship.' Shi Lian'er hit you, and you hit her back. It's even! This can be a beautiful memory between you two as a couple!"

"fart!"

Lu Si jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, "Why don't you marry that piece of shit?"

"The Empress Dowager isn't my aunt," Qin Yu said matter-of-factly, patting Lü Si on the shoulder at the same time. "That's a joke... Oh, Shi Lian'er is a good match for you, and she's a beauty too. She won't wrong you."

"Go to hell!"

Lu Si was furious. "I came here to find you a solution, not for you to laugh at me!"

"I'm telling you, don't be so ungrateful!" Qin Yu said, looking annoyed. "I'm not the Empress Dowager, nor your father. What business is it of mine what you say about your marriage? I'm just trying to comfort you, and you don't even appreciate it!"

Doesn't he always say that he is the Empress Dowager's nephew and a member of the imperial family?

Now is the time for him to make a sacrifice for the imperial court!

The Empress Dowager and his father both want him to marry Shi Lian'er, how could he possibly object?

He's just desperately trying anything!

"Don't fucking give me that crap, this is none of your business!"

Lu Si then resorted to shamelessness, "If you don't help me find a solution today, I... I'll hang myself at the gate of your Qin family! I'll say I couldn't bear being mocked by you and that you forced me to my death!"