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Chapter 230
"Old Marquis Lu's words are too harsh," said Marquis Lu. "Father, Yunniang may be overly strict, but she has the family's best interests at heart."0
Old Marquis Lu interrupted with a cold snort, "What's good about it? She simply looks down on our Lu family's rough origins."0
"Father, how can you say such things? Yunniang has given the Lu family two sons. She has endured many hardships with me at the border all these years." Marquis Lu stood up straight, cutting off his father's words.0
"Lu Beicheng, I'm not dead yet. It's not your turn to pound the table in this house. You say let Xuanning manage his daughter-in-law. You should be the one managing your wife. The title of Marquis Beining was earned by our Lu family ancestors with blood and steel on the battlefield. It wasn't obtained by reading a few books and spouting fancy words all day."0
Old Marquis Lu had long been dissatisfied with Madam Zhou's insistence that Lu Xuanyu focus solely on literary studies rather than martial arts. Previously, when Lu Xuanyu was willing to learn martial arts, Old Marquis Lu didn't want to force his grandson.0
Now that Lu Xuanyu was willing to learn, his martial arts talent wasn't as good as Lu XuanNing's or Lu Liucheng's, but it was still considerably better than the average person. Old Marquis Lu believed that with his training, Lu Xuanyu would one day be worthy of the title Marquis Beining.0
But Madam Zhou was unwilling. She believed that pursuing the imperial examinations to become a civil official was a better path. While she didn't say it openly, she secretly hindered Lu Xuanyu from practicing martial arts in every way. Taking the civil service path would also be more beneficial to the Zhou family in the future.0
Old Marquis Lu was well aware of Madam Zhou's calculations.0
"Grandfather, have some water to calm down," Lu XuanNing poured a cup for Old Marquis Lu, gently patting his back to help him catch his breath.0
Old Marquis Lu drank the water, panting heavily, and looked at his son, whose hair was now whiter than his own. It wasn't that Old Marquis Lu didn't care for his son, but the Lu family's foundation was in martial prowess, and that couldn't be abandoned.0
He put on a stern face and continued, "Lu Beicheng, I'm not afraid to tell you. Six months ago, I requested an imperial decree from His Majesty. Xuanyu can marry whoever he wants when he grows up. But if he wants to marry a Zhou family girl, we, the old Lu family, will give up the title of Marquis Beining."0
"Father, how could you do such a thing?" Marquis Lu looked at his father in disbelief, unable to fathom such ruthlessness.0
"The title of Marquis Beining was earned by our ancestors with blood and steel on the battlefield. Later generations should use this to motivate themselves to practice martial arts and guard the frontier. If Lu Xuanyu becomes like those civil officials who only wag their tongues, and follows Madam Zhou's wishes to marry an disloyal and unfilial Zhou family girl, it would be an insult to the Lu family ancestors. He wouldn't be worthy of this title," Old Marquis Lu said, his breathing becoming even more labored.0
"Grandfather, grandfather, please stop. Someone quickly call for a doctor!" Lu XuanNing said as he helped Old Marquis Lu back to his room to rest.0
Madam Zhou was still lecturing Li Xia. Li Xia was listening on the surface, but inside she was wondering when she could leave. Just then, a servant ran in panic-stricken, saying the old master was unwell.0
When Madam Zhou and Li Xia arrived at Qiuzhang Court, they saw Marquis Lu standing in a daze. The servants' faces were filled with anxiety.0
The doctor arrived quickly, checked Old Marquis Lu's pulse, and said it was a case of anger affecting the heart. He applied acupuncture, prescribed medicine, and advised against letting the patient get angry.0
Seeing Madam Zhou concerned about Marquis Lu, Li Xia took people to fetch the medicine, personally supervising the kitchen maid as she prepared it, and brought it into the room. Lu XuanNing fed the medicine to Old Marquis Lu.0
"What happened?" Old Marquis Lu had always been cheerful, how could he have been angered to this extent?0
"We'll talk about it later," it wasn't convenient to discuss here.0
Li Xia nodded, sitting beside Lu XuanNing to keep watch over Old Marquis Lu.0
Old Marquis Lu woke up in the evening, smiling and saying he was fine. He told Lu XuanNing and Li Xia to take Lu Liucheng home early. They needed to return to Qingyue Street the next day to attend the third-day celebration for the twins, and they couldn't be late.0
Lu XuanNing's family of three returned to the Mansion of Marquis of Pacifying the South. When they were alone, Lu XuanNing told Li Xia about Old Marquis Lu's decision.0
"Grandfather is a bit extreme. Whether it's martial or civil pursuits, as long as it benefits the people, it's all good," Li Xia was quite open-minded about this, regarding what Lu Liucheng might want to do in the future. As long as he didn't do anything harmful, Li Xia would support him.0
"Grandfather has his reasons for being this way." Lu XuanNing explained the cause to Li Xia. Old Marquis Lu's father had disliked the hardships of martial arts and chose the civil path. He married a daughter from the Zhou family, known for their scholarly tradition.0
Under the influence of his in-laws, he embezzled military supplies, causing the deaths of many soldiers. The Lu family was imprisoned, and it was Old Marquis Lu's grandfather, already nearly sixty, who made a military pledge and took the then-young Marquis Lu to the battlefield.0
Old Marquis Lu witnessed his grandfather being pierced by thousands of enemy arrows, dying a gruesome death.0
"Grandfather fears the Lu family might experience such a tragedy again." Lu XuanNing explained. This story was told to him by Old Madam Lu when he was young and complained about the hardships of martial arts training, not understanding why he had to learn it.0
"No wonder grandfather and grandmother don't really like mother-in-law." Now it all made sense.0
"This incident had a huge impact on grandfather. When father wanted to marry mother, grandfather strongly opposed it. It was grandmother who, seeing father's deep love, persuaded grandfather to agree to the marriage," Lu XuanNing further explained the story of how his parents got married.0
"If only grandmother were still alive." With Old Madam Lu around, she could have kept Madam Zhou in check and also soothed Old Marquis Lu. Now that the mediator between them was gone, the conflicts had erupted.0
"Xia Xia, I want to bring grandfather to our mansion to take care of him," Lu XuanNing shared his plan.0
"Of course, I'd be happy to have grandfather here. But he won't agree," knowing Old Marquis Lu's inner conflict, Li Xia understood he wouldn't leave the mansion of Marquis Beining. Moreover, Marquis Lu wouldn't agree to Lu XuanNing doing this.0
"I'll convince grandfather," Lu XuanNing was confident he could persuade Old Marquis Lu.0
With the matter settled, the couple retired for the night. Early the next morning, they first took Lu Liucheng to visit Old Marquis Lu at the mansion of Marquis Beining. Old Marquis Lu looked well and joined them for breakfast. Then the family of three headed to Qingyue Street.0
It was the third-day celebration for the twins, who were the second and third sons of Princess Chang'an. The Empress and Emperor had sent many gifts early on. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess also came in person.0
Li Xia took Lu Liucheng to see the twins. It was the first time he saw two identical little brothers. Lu Liucheng was delighted, "Mother, they really are the same!"0
"Of course, twins are naturally alike," Li Xia said, making sure Lu Liucheng didn't touch the babies.0
"Brother Chengcheng!" Cao Dabao walked in and threw himself into Lu Liucheng's arms. He had missed him terribly over the past few days.0
The boys' somewhat loud voices made the twins a bit restless. Seeing this, Li Xia took the two boys back to the Orchid Courtyard to play.0
Lu Liucheng recounted the hunting trip to Cao Dabao, who listened with great interest, wishing he could join a hunt too.0
"Next time, I'll ask grandfather to take you along," Lu Liucheng promised grandly.0
"Brother Chengcheng, that's wonderful!" Cao Dafu jumped up and down, expressing his excitement. "It's great, I can go hunting too!"0
"Third Young Master, Madam asks for you to go over," Li Yu walked into the Orchid Courtyard and said to Cao Dabao. At the same time, Li Yu dared not look at Li Xia.0