After Rebirth, I Married my Archenemy - Chapter 89

The scholars dispersed, and Zhu Su quietly reported, “When I bought the small firecrackers earlier, I noticed that some shops were selling them at high prices and hiding illegal ones inside.”

According to Dachen’s laws, firecrackers in the common market had strict size limits. If they exceeded the allowed size, they could be planted by spies from Southern Chu—or, even if not, they were still a safety hazard.

Lu Huating’s eyes darkened slightly. 

“Go and Investigate.”

Zhu Su acknowledged the order and left. Juan Su asked, “Shall we return?”

“Let’s wait for Zhu Su.” Lu Huating had drunk quite a bit tonight and strolled leisurely through the bustling crowd.

With the New Year approaching, the streets were lively, filled with bright lights and the chatter of people coming and going.

As he walked into a quieter alley, Lu Huating suddenly turned his head—someone had been following him. That person now stepped forward and greeted him.

“Advisor Lu, it’s been a long time. Just ahead, past the stone lion statue, is my humble home. Would you do me the honor of coming in for a cup of tea?”

Lu Huating recognized the young man bowing and extending the invitation. It was none other than the younger brother of Concubine Lü—Lü Wanhu.

This man had persistently sent letters to Prince Yan’s residence, hoping that Lu Huating would sell him a piece of land in the western outskirts at a low price. Now, it seemed he had invited him here to discuss the same matter. Lu Huating gave him a slight smile. 

“No need.”

No matter how much Lü Wanhu insisted, Lu Huating declined politely. Lü Wanhu’s expression stiffened slightly. “You’ve already come this far—at least rest your feet for a moment. I’ll have a maid prepare some sobering tea for you.”

Lu Huating smirked. “I serve under Prince Yan. You, on the other hand, are the brother of a favored concubine. If I visit your home too often, and word of it reaches His Majesty’s ears, wouldn’t that implicate His Highness?”

Lü Wanhu’s expression darkened. He muttered under his breath, “What kind of rotten plan did Qun Qing come up with? He’s drunk, yet still won’t take the bait.”

At the mention of Qun Qing’s name, Lu Huating’s gaze sharpened slightly, and a mocking smile played at his lips. He took a step forward but caught a glimpse of Lü Wanhu signaling into the darkness.

There were more people hiding in the shadows.

Lu Huating’s face turned cold. Juan Su had already drawn his short sword, stepping in front of him. In the blink of an eye, seven or eight masked men leaped down from the high walls, surrounding them.

Lu Huating parried a couple of attacks and immediately sensed that these men weren’t ordinary thugs—they carried real killing intent and were far more skilled than regular guards. Seizing an opening, he pushed Juan Su away to send word for reinforcements. He then turned to Lü Wanhu with a frosty smile. 

“Is this how you invite someone for tea? Fine, I’ll go in.”

With that, he stepped through the crimson gates.

Seeing him relent, Lü Wanhu’s expression eased. He signaled for the men to withdraw their weapons and led Lu Huating inside.

As soon as they entered the front courtyard, Lu Huating saw that four maids had already prepared ink, a seal, and paper around a stone table. On the table lay a document—it was a deed of transfer for the land in the western outskirts.

“So this is how Advisor Lu treats his guests? Not even a cup of tea?” Lu Huating said indifferently as he glanced at Lü Wanhu. “Let me guess—was this also Qun Qing’s idea?”

Under Lu Huating’s direct gaze, Lü Wanhu grew visibly nervous. But since things had already come this far, he could only press forward. 

“Please, Advisor Lu, sign the document first. There will be tea afterward.”

“Tea first.”

“Sign first, then tea.”

Lu Huating smirked. “And if I refuse?”

Lü Wanhu made up his mind. With a signal, the masked men closed in, pinning Lu Huating’s arms and forcing his hand toward the ink pad to press his seal onto the document.

But Lu Huating struggled fiercely, shaking them off. The attackers failed to hold him down, and in the chaos, he snatched a sharp dagger from one of their waists.

At that moment, someone pushed Lü Wanhu forward with force.

With a sharp shnk, the dagger sank into Lü Wanhu’s abdomen.

He touched the bl00d seeping from his wound, his eyes widening in horror as he let out a wailing scream.

Qun Qing was jolted awake in the middle of the night.

An attendant rushed in, panic-stricken. “Official Qun, hurry to the Phoenix Hall! The Imperial Concubine is summoning you!”

Qun Qing quickly dressed, grabbed a lantern, and headed toward the hall.

Concubine Lü was seated at the head of the room, holding a teacup, her hands trembling so violently that the cup clinked against the saucer. Her tear-streaked eyes turned to Qun Qing, and the moment she saw her, she lashed out furiously.

“This was your awful idea! Let’s see how I punish you now!”

The sudden accusation sent Qun Qing’s heart racing. “Your Highness, what idea?”

“You told my brother to keep inviting Lu Huating over, just to make His Majesty suspect Prince Yan of colluding with the imperial in-laws. Tonight, my brother invited him in for a cup of tea. But who knew—who knew that the damned Lu Huating would dare to stab him with a sword!”

Tears streamed down her face. “There was so much bl00d! My brother’s life is hanging by a thread. If he dies, I’ll have you buried with him! Guards, seize her!”

Hearing this shocking turn of events, Qun Qing felt as if she were still in a dream. She pinched her palm, forcing herself to stay calm. 

“Wait! There’s something that doesn’t add up.”

“I only suggested that Lü Wanhu invite the Chief Advisor over to make His Majesty suspicious of Prince Yan. If Lu Huating refused, that would have been the end of it. How could things escalate to the point of bloodshed? Your Highness—something else must have happened in between, am I right?”

Qun Qing knew Lu Huating well enough—he was a meticulous man, never reckless. If he had truly resorted to violence in Chang’an, it could only mean that his own position had been severely threatened.

Being stared at, Concubine Lü’s face flickered with unease—she had been thinking about the Lu family’s land all along, but Lu Huating refused to hand it over. She wanted to take this opportunity to force him to sign the land deed.

Qun Qing hadn’t expected that Concubine Lü was still obsessed with the land. She was so cunning that she forced Lu Huating to sign the contract. Regaining her composure, she said,
“When the advisor travels, he always brings Prince Yan’s secret guards with him. They can take action at any time, so why would he personally stab someone with a sword? Your Highness, is the news true?”

Concubine Lü sneered and, after a moment of silence, said, “The Meng family knew about this long ago and even lent my brother a scholar. The Lu family was coerced into signing, but even under such pressure, they refused. Instead, they chose to stab Marquis Lü Wanhu…”

As she spoke, she burst into tears.

The night before, everything had seemed peaceful, but Qun Qing had already laid a trap in her mind. She had dug a pit, waiting for Lu Huating to fall into it.

“I never asked Marquis Lü Wanhu to prepare a land transfer contract, let alone force a scholar to sign it.”

Concubine Lü stifled her fear and chuckled, “Official Qun, you planned this from the beginning. And now it has nothing to do with you? You’ve already prepared your excuse. Let others decide this case.”

 “Where is Lu Huating now?” Qun Qing interrupted her.

“How can we tolerate someone who committed armed assault? He was caught in the act by officials from the Ministry of Justice!”

So it was Meng Guangshen’s scheme.

She and Lu Huating had framed Meng Guanlou, sending him to prison. She had expected Meng Guangshen to retaliate, but not this quickly.

The Ministry of Justice didn’t conduct interrogations at night. For them to arrive at this precise moment meant they had planned it in advance. Their goal was to take Lu Huating away, and they would not let him off easily.

As for her, her own situation was already precarious. If he truly died, there would be no one left to use his testimony against her. But without him, she would have no ally in her revenge.

And if he really died, Li Huan would not let her go either.

At that thought, Qun Qing suddenly looked up. “Your Highness, do you think simply pushing me forward as a scapegoat will be enough? When Prince Yan learns of this, he will do everything in his power to rescue him. If Lu Huating survives, someone like me will never be able to escape his wrath. And that fire will eventually reach the Lü family.”

Concubine Lü forced herself to remain calm. “Even if Prince Yan wants to protect him, he has to be able to.”

“How could he not? When an official commits a crime, the law states he should first be handed over to the Court of Judicial Review—not the Ministry of Justice. By the time His Majesty hears of this tomorrow morning, Lu Huating will be transferred there. And who is the Assistant Minister of the Court of Judicial Review? None other than Prince Yan’s brother-in-law, Xiao Jingxing. If he wants to protect Lu Huating, it will be as easy as flipping a hand.”

Hearing this, Concubine Lü’s lips turned pale. “Besides,” Qun Qing continued, “Meng Guangshen has already sent word to Your Highness, promising that you will not be implicated.”

“Why do you trust his promise so much?” Qun Qing sneered. “If he was truly cooperating with you, with his elite assassins present, why was Lü Wanhu injured by Lu Huating?”

Her sharp words instantly brought tears to Concubine Lü’s eyes.

“Meng Guangshen never cared whether Lü Wanhu lived or died. He didn’t even give his men a single order to protect him. Your Highness, the Lü family—you are nothing but tools for him to achieve his goals. When Prince Yan and His Majesty investigate this matter, will you be protected, or will you be discarded? You can decide for yourself.”

Concubine Lü finally trembled, her face ashen as she asked Qun Qing, “Then what do you suggest?”

The moonlight outlined Qun Qing’s face, casting shadows on her lashes. She slowly lifted her gaze, her expression calm yet chilling as she locked eyes with Concubine Lü.

“There is only one way now. We must see this through to the end. Lu Huating must die. Only if his crimes are undeniable and His Majesty is enraged beyond measure will Prince Yan have no choice but to abandon him.”

By the third watch of the night, the interrogation chamber’s lamps still burned.

Several broken thorn canes lay scattered on the ground.

Lu Huating’s lashes drooped as he saw the men who had been torturing him grow weary and sit down to rest. His lips curled in mockery, but the movement tugged at his wounds. Bl00d trickled from his forehead, seeping past his lashes and blurring his vision.

Meng Guangshen knew better than anyone that time was limited. By dawn, the court officials would resume their duties, and if Prince Yan intervened, Lu Huating would have to be released. So he ordered his men to intensify the torture, forcing Lu Huating to sign a confession.

A confession admitting that the land he had fought Lü Wanhu over had been purchased for Prince Yan to secretly raise private troops.

If that crime was established, Prince Yan’s faction would be dealt a heavy blow. By then, clearing his own name would be difficult enough—let alone saving Lu Huating.

Lu Huating closed his eyes briefly. A small shift in his fingers sent pain lancing through his body like a tongue of fire.

The last time he had been in this much pain was when Qun Qing had poisoned him at Meng Guangshen’s orders.

It seemed he was destined to suffer at this woman’s hands.

He refused to make a sound. He refused to sign.

Someone went outside to report, and soon after, Meng Guangshen himself stepped into the room. His official robes were pristine, untouched by the filth of the torture chamber.

“You must feel quite pleased,” he remarked, gazing at Lu Huating. “You threw Jiu Lang into prison, but there, at least, he is being watched over. He will not suffer as you have.”

Lu Huating’s plain robes were soaked with bl00d. A sword wound on his arm was so deep the bone was visible. He kept his head lowered.

Meng Guangshen reached out and brushed aside a lock of Lu Huating’s slightly curled hair, his fingers tracing his cheek—only to smear the bl00d at the corner of his lips, drawing a streak of vivid crimson like a sinister smile.

Lu Huating’s face rested against his hand, yet his dark, striking eyes stared up at him, unblinking—like a beast, brimming with defiance.

“You are good at hiding your true self,” Meng Guangshen murmured coldly. “When did you discover that I was a descendant of the Lu family?”

Lu Huating’s lashes trembled. “Back when His Majesty was still the Crown Prince, I had already suspected it.”

“You were only ten years old then. Truly impressive.” Meng Guangshen chuckled darkly. “Jiu Lang and Bao Shu were both raised with great care, yet neither could match you, who never had a single day of formal education.”

He let out another laugh. “All your efforts—bringing down Si Ye Tower, obtaining evidence from the Cui family, hinting to His Majesty that my identity was suspicious—you thought His Majesty would be furious? That he would charge me with the crime of deceiving the throne?”

Meng Guangshen’s amber eyes gleamed coldly.

“I will tell you now—His Majesty knew my origins from the very beginning. Do you know how the Emperor seized power? Without the private funds of the Lu family, he never would have been able to overthrow Princess Changping.”

The air between them seemed to freeze.

Lu Huating merely looked at him.

“All those years ago, Princess Changping wiped out my family to fund her military campaigns. But she made a mistake—she did not win my allegiance. I escaped, and I chose my own ruler. His Majesty was that ruler.” Meng Guangshen’s voice was quiet, deliberate. “His Majesty will never kill me. Neither will the Crown Prince. Because the wealth I control is still vital to the empire’s future.”

He leaned in. “Seventh Young Master, what do you have to fight me with? Just your intelligence?”

Lu Huating gave a faint smile, spitting out a mouthful of bl00d before speaking lightly.

“If your private funds were truly as vast as you claim, why do you need to keep amassing wealth? Why push your businesses even to Jiangnan? You and I both know you have one last card to play.”

Meng Guangshen’s expression flickered. “You are relentless. Is it for Lu Wan?”

“Since things have come to this,” Meng Guangshen said, his gaze sharpening, “I might as well tell you. Among the refugees who fled to Chang’an all those years ago, your mother happened to be young and strong. She was hired as His Majesty’s wet nurse. Do you know why I married her? Why I cared for her? Besides using her to get close to His Majesty, it was simply because she happened to bear the Lu surname. That way, if she bore children, the Lu lineage would continue.”

At those words, Lu Huating’s breath quickened.

Meng Guangshen smiled slightly.

“His Majesty never saw Lu Wan as anything more than a pawn I used to gain his favor. He never considered her my wife. Tell me—between a mere wet nurse and a noble lady of the Xie family, who was the better political ally? I was already merciful. I even intended to reduce Lu Wan to a concubine. But your mother insisted on staying at Huaiyuan. What happened to her was her own doing. If you want revenge, don’t ask me—ask His Majesty. Ask yourself.”

His voice turned cold. “Your eldest brother was never mine. I let you live because you have my bl00d in your veins. But now, I regret it. I should have let the monk Zengjia destroy you as a demon all those years ago.”

Lu Huating’s gaze was icy and unwavering.

Meng Guangshen had failed to shake him. Irritated, he shoved the confession forward. “Sign it, and I will spare your life. Otherwise, tonight’s wounds will shorten your lifespan. You know I do not make empty threats.”

Lu Huating let out a soft laugh, his fingers curling into fists.

Seeing his reaction, Meng Guangshen was not surprised. With a slight glance, he signaled, and four servants unlocked the chains, dragging Lu Huating into the inner chamber. Before long, the muffled sounds of a whip striking flesh echoed once more from inside.

Meng Guangshen adjusted his robe and sat down in his chair. Though he was rarely fearful or flustered, perhaps due to his age, after his initial surge of emotion, he felt a fleeting moment of guilt.

Not long after, someone came to report:

“Lady Qing has arrived under orders from the Crown Prince and requests an audience with you, Master.”