"What! You dog, you're not happy about this?! You dare talk back! I'll beat you up!" Liu Zan seemed to have lost his mind, completely unaware of Lu Ming's importance to Marquis Zhao.
He thought that being the eldest son guaranteed him the title, little did he know that such a good-for-nothing was exactly what powerful families wanted.
They had status, but no ability; they could be manipulated at will and made to obey.
Especially status and influence—easy to use and control. Where else could they find such a thing?
Lu Ming chuckled, grabbed Liu Zan's arm, and shoved him to the ground. "You're drunk, I won't stoop to your level."
"You slave, you dare to resist!" Liu Zan, bracing himself on his arms, straddled the ground, looking somewhat disheveled and furious.
He stood up, baring his teeth and claws, ready to pounce. Where did he get his confidence? Did he think he was something special?
Lady Wang Qing, wife of Marquis Zhao, rushed in from outside. Upon entering, she saw her eldest son punching and kicking Lu Ming, and felt a surge of shame and anger, her face burning with embarrassment.
"Stop! Zan'er, what are you doing!"
"Mother! This dog of a servant dares to defy me! I'll beat him to death!" Liu Zan, seeing his mother arrive, became even more energetic, completely unaware that he was being manipulated.
Lu Ming grabbed Liu Zan by the collar with one hand and lifted him up. "I admire Marquis Zhao, not you. What right do you have to speak ill of me!"
"Anmin, don't do it!" Wang Qing felt a sudden rush of panic and a wave of dizziness washed over her. If it weren't for the maid behind her supporting her, she probably would have collapsed to the ground.
"Thump!" Lu Ming threw Liu Zan to the ground like a dog, coldly sneering, "Since Madam says so, of course I will do as she says."
"You!" Liu Zan was furious, standing up again to attack Lu Ming. Just then, Zhao Hou returned. Seeing his eldest son's appearance, he immediately snorted coldly, "Nonsense! Zan'er, what are you doing!"
"Father, you're back just in time. That dog of a servant! I wanted him to take a look at me, to see what's wrong with me. Isn't he a doctor? But he refused! That dog of a servant!" Liu Zan thought he was right. If it were an ordinary doctor, they would have reluctantly examined him, and if they didn't want to treat him, they would have said everything was fine, nothing serious, just plenty of rest, and other such nonsense.
But Lu Ming wouldn't tolerate him. His attitude was terrible, and he even called him a dog!
Ha! This is the hypocrisy of royalty. No matter how hard the people below work, in their eyes, they're nothing but dogs!
Thinking of this, he became extremely angry. Indeed, status and position aren't so easily changed.
"Nonsense! Go back and reflect on your actions! Get out!" The Marquis's face was ashen. His good-for-nothing son still reeked of alcohol; he'd drunkenly gone mad!
"Guards, take him away!"
Several guards came and dragged the drunken Liu Zan away. What did it matter if he was facing the eldest son? It was the Marquis's order anyway.
The Marquis took the main seat. A maidservant brought him fragrant tea. He slowly took a sip. "Anmin, sit. My son's drunken outburst, please don't take offense."
"Marquis, you flatter me. A drunk person doesn't remember what they did and is out of control. Just take it as a joke." Lu Ming smiled on the surface, but inwardly he was cursing the other man's ancestors.
He's a dog?
Then don't blame him for being impolite.
"Your Majesty, is there something important that brings you here at this hour, Anmin?" The Marquis didn't bother to explain; he was already being generous by saying even a single word.
The powerful must maintain their status, but a proper reprimand can also make Lu Ming realize his place.
Lu Ming recounted his encounter with Wu Ban. Since a murder had occurred in the street, this matter needed to be clarified.
After listening, Zhao Hou narrowed his eyes. Instead of questioning Lu Ming's purpose in going to the market, he asked, "How do you plan to deal with them?"
"First, establish their crimes: attacking the Emperor's personal guards, plotting rebellion!" Lu Ming's voice was firm, indicating his certainty.
Either do it at all, or do it decisively, leaving no regrets.
"Wu Kuang is a trusted confidant of the Grand General. Wouldn't you be offending the Grand General in this way?" Zhao Hou's expression was ambiguous, neither a warning nor a schadenfreude, leaving one unsure whether he was truly admonishing Lu Ming, observing the situation, or both.
"I am His Majesty's subject, and my loyalty is also to His Majesty. What does it matter to the Grand General? As fellow ministers, if I act uprightly, I have nothing to fear. The Western Garden Army has only just been formed, and Wu Kuang has already committed such despicable acts; there must be some conspiracy involved," Lu Ming said in a low voice, narrowing his eyes. "With the Empress Dowager's relatives and the Yuan family allied, even Marquis Zhao might have to act according to their wishes."
These words struck a chord with him. A man like him, adept at navigating both sides, detested any single force being absolutely dominant.
His loyalty to the Emperor was his duty, and it didn't matter to him who won.
However, when one side held too much power, mere flattery and song were useless.
"Come with me to the palace to meet the Emperor," Marquis Zhao said after a moment's thought, offering a decisive analysis.
Even in that brief moment, many possibilities flashed through his mind. If Empress He's son were to become Emperor in the future, wouldn't the Grand General and the Yuan family cause chaos? Moreover, his relationship with He Jin wasn't exactly good.
In ancient times, the presumption of guilt depended on who saw the emperor first. Under similar conditions, whoever could win the emperor's favor first would win.
While Wu Kuang was still gritting his teeth, preparing to report to General He Jin after witnessing his son Wu Ban's ordeal, Zhao Hou and Lu Ming had already arrived at the palace and begun their complaint.
Yangxin Hall, Mingde Palace.
Emperor Ling, Liu Hong, having just dismounted from a woman, received Lu Ming and Zhao Hou in loose clothing.
After listening to their account, he narrowed his eyes. "So, it's the General targeting the Western Garden Army?"
"I wouldn't say for sure, but it's possible that some of the General's retainers have objections. After all, even the General, who commands all the armies in the land, is subject to the control of the Upper Army Commandant; it's impossible for him not to have objections." Lu Ming preemptively pinned the blame on them. Whether it was true or not, it would at least cause some trouble for He Jin.