After winter, the weather gradually became colder. Many noble people from Beijing came to spend the winter, and the area around Zhuangzi became more and more lively.
On this day, the plum blossoms on the house of the Minister of Rites were in full bloom. Mrs. Li was an elegant person, so she prepared some fine wine and invited the ladies and ladies who were close to her to enjoy the flowers.
Shen Qingran and Shen Xingwan were also invited, and they walked there.
Mrs. Li held a banquet in the plum garden and said loudly, "Everyone can sit wherever they like, there is no need to be restricted."
Shen Xingwan and Shen Qingran randomly chose a seat to sit down and started to heat the wine themselves, which was quite a different experience.
After three drinks, the ladies gathered together to gossip about interesting things in the back house, and the ladies met to write paintings and poems.
Shen Xingwan lazily supported his chin with his hand, letting the plum blossoms fall all over his body.
Shen Qingran looked at her helplessly and reached out to take off the plum blossoms on her head, "You are getting lazy the longer you stay in Zhuangzi..."
"Madam, something happened, something big happened!"
A maid in a green coat shouted loudly as she ran, instantly disturbing everyone in the plum garden.
Mrs. Li looked at the out-of-breath maid and scolded her in a low voice, "How do you learn the rules? How dare you yell loudly when there are guests around."
The person who came was the maid waiting for pen and ink in Shilang Li's study. After Mrs. Li finished scolding her, she said anxiously, "My lord, please tell me to break up the banquet immediately."
Mrs. Li was very unhappy and said sternly, "You should explain clearly what happened."
The maid suddenly blushed and stammered, "Something happened to Prince Lu and he was found dead in Nong Yuxuan."
"How could..." Mrs. Li murmured.
"A good person will die no matter how he says he will die. You must have made a mistake."
"Yesterday, our Erlang had a drink with Prince Lu. Why did this person suddenly disappear..."
The ladies started talking in surprise. This news came so suddenly.
"How did you die?" Mrs. Li asked.
The maid's face was so red that she could bleed, "Shizi Lu was found dead on the bed by his brothers who went to ask him to hunt..."
"Ah, did he die from illness, or was there an accident?" Mrs. Li frowned.
Lu Chuan's external reputation has always been very good. Especially in the past few years after Shen Mingzhu's death, he has neither been in a hurry to marry nor taken in concubines. There are even very few rumors about women.
When mentioning Prince Lu, everyone praised him for his "cool breeze and bright moonlight".
"The prince was found disheveled in bed with two men..."
Mrs. Li was stunned for a moment before she understood the meaning of her words, and her eyes widened in disbelief.
There was an innocent girl who curiously asked her mother, "Why are you in bed with a man..."
Don't talk nonsense when you are severely scolded.
Only Shen Xingwan slowly sat up straight, curled his lips, and finally came.
After Mrs. Li digested this huge amount of information, she regretfully announced that today's flower viewing party is over.
The ladies and ladies expressed their understanding one after another and couldn't help but gossip while saying goodbye.
In fact, there were already rumors flying all over the place, and there were more scandals about the situation at that time than what the maid said.
It is said that a young man who broke into the house couldn't stand it and vomited on the spot when he saw the mess all over the bed. The whole room was filled with a sweet and fishy smell.
The death of the dignified prince Lu Guogong in such an incredible way can be regarded as the biggest strange thing this year.
The news that Prince Lu did not love Hongzhuang but loved a young man quickly spread throughout Kyoto overnight.
When Shen Xingwan returned to Zhuangzi, Qinghong told her the latest development in a low voice, "It is said that one of the three people on the bed is from Princess Qinghe."
"Ah?" Now it was Shen Xingwan's turn to be surprised, why is this related to Princess Qinghe.
She received a message from Ji Li three days ago, saying that the time had come and she was ready to take action.
She immediately sent a message to Jiangling people to send sister-in-law Ji Li and her family away.
As for what Ji Li planned to do, he did not reveal in detail, nor did Shen Xingwan ask.
Qinghong said with a look of disbelief, "It's Mr. Yan..."
"You mean Yan Ling?" Shen Xingwan stood up in surprise.
This direction was really unexpected, Yan Ling actually got involved.
"Who is the other one?" Shen Xingwan asked.
"It is said that he is the youngest son of a seventh-grade official. He is very handsome." Qinghong said in a disgusted tone, "Now people say that Prince Lu is playing a big game."
Shen Xingwan snorted coldly, "It's better for him to die like this."
Such a shocking scandal had occurred, and Nong Yuxuan had been surrounded. Several adults who happened to be here had already rushed over.
It's just that this matter is too disgraceful, and due to the great power of the Lu State, it's hard for a few adults to handle it on their own.
They just sealed off Nong Yuxuan and waited for the Lu family to send people.
This place is not far from Shengjing, but it is not close either. It will take a day and a night to get there at a fast pace.
Yan Ling, one of the protagonists, was taken away by Princess Qinghe forcefully after an accident, and no one dared to stop her.
Shen Xingwan changed into black clothes and said, "When it gets dark, we will go to see Mr. Ji."
"The Lu family's village is in chaos right now, it should be easy to sneak in," Dongqing said.
Ji Li must be allowed to escape before the Lu family arrives. Otherwise, when the Lu family arrives, Ji Li, as someone raised by Lu Chuan, will not be able to escape death no matter what.
Fu Jing sent Sui Feng over there and asked if she needed help, but he still stayed behind closed doors.
The relationship between Zhennan Palace and Lu Guogong Palace has always been delicate. At this time, Fu Jingchao would certainly stay as far away as possible.
In Shengjing, rumors about Lu Chuan filled the streets one after another.
One of the most eye-catching ones is that the Crown Prince's wife did not die of a sudden illness and dystocia at all, but was killed because she interfered with Prince Lu's good deeds.
Amid all the commotion, the eldest wife went to the temple in person to burn incense on Shen Mingzhu's death tablet.
The eldest lady said softly, "Rest in peace, Mingzhu, your great revenge has finally been avenged. If there is an afterlife, we will still be mother and daughter, and my mother will definitely protect you."
Mammy helped the eldest lady stand up, "I have finally waited for this day, and dying an unclean death can be considered retribution."
The eldest lady wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and said, "Be prepared, this debt is not over yet, I want him Lu Chuan to be ruined, even if he dies, he will still be despised by thousands of people."
The eldest lady was not idle during this period. She did a lot of things in private. Once she found the right direction, she quickly dug out the dirty things hidden in the night of Shengjing.
The eldest lady turned around and looked at Shen Mingzhu's memorial tablet, "Mingzhu, please wait. Mom will take you home soon."
When the accident happened that year, she rushed to Shengjing from Jiangnan. Shen Mingzhu's body had been burned into ashes and buried in the Lu family's ancestral grave.
She didn't even see her for the last time.
"The Lu family is so rotten. Lu Chuan is so dirty and does not deserve to be buried with my pearl!"
