Chapter 112: Result
Lu Yi had slyly thought that he could cover up the matter with Lu Xi, preserving his face in front of the clan members. Who knew that Lu Wen was even slyer than him? To prevent any further backsliding, Lu Wen had actually gotten someone to leak the matter ahead of time. Now things were really bad—not only was the selection of Lu Xi common knowledge. Even if they announced Lu Yun now, once the Initial Emperor’s matter spread, the clan members would only think he had no choice but to change course under the emperor’s pressure.
In such a large clan, there were simply no secrets. At the latest, by tonight, the entire clan would know about Du Hui coming to the Lu Clan…
This was absolutely a heavy blow to Lu Yi’s reputation. He seemed to see himself becoming a fickle clown in the mouths of the clan members…
That said, what needed to be salvaged still had to be salvaged. Lu Yi, with a grim face, said to that manager, “Find a sheet of red paper and post the name of the selected person!”
“It’s already written…” The manager unfolded a three-foot-wide sheet of red paper like he was presenting a treasure. On it were two huge characters—Lu Xi—stinging Lu Yi’s eyes painfully!
“You damned thing!” Lu Yi snatched the red paper, tore it to shreds in a few furious rips, and roared nearly, “Who said it was Lu Xi? It’s Lu Yun, got it?! It’s Lu Yun!”
The manager was somewhat dazed, unable to figure out why Lu Xi had become Lu Yun. But at this point, he didn’t dare provoke his own steward’s bad mood. He hurried off at a trot, wrote two huge characters on another sheet of red paper, then led people out of the Ritual Education Institute.
.
Outside the Ritual Education Institute, the crowd had long been waiting impatiently. Seeing the manager come out holding the red paper, with servants nearby holding paste, everyone knew this meant announcing the final result.
Regardless of their emotions, everyone quieted down and watched intently as the servant brushed paste on the wall, preparing to stick up that large red paper.
Lu Song and the other two shook their heads and sighed. The four princes had unpleasant expressions, Lu Xin was frowning tightly with anger flickering in his eyes. On the contrary, Lu Yun remained calm, as if it had nothing to do with him.
Over there, Lu Xi’s bunch of followers were all geared up to cheer. They had even brought firecrackers and prepared tinder, ready to set off fireworks in celebration as soon as the red paper was posted.
Lu Xi stared fixedly at the red paper with shining eyes, muttering under his breath, “No use saying anything, what’s mine is mine—no one can take it away!”
Soon, the manager and servant each held one side and stuck the huge red paper squarely on the snow-white wall!
Coincidentally, their bodies exactly blocked the two characters on the paper.
“Move aside, quick!” Lu Xi’s followers shouted impatiently.
The servant hurriedly stepped aside, revealing a huge “Lu” character. Lu Xi’s followers immediately cheered excitedly and lit the prepared firecrackers! Amid the crackling of the fireworks, the manager also stepped aside, revealing the other character.
Only to see that character had an upper-lower structure, with “rain” on top and “cloud” below!
Seeing this character, almost everyone did the same action—rubbing their own eyes hard! But no matter how they rubbed, that “cloud” character remained unmoving, boldly showing off on the paper!
“It’s Lu Yun!” Someone cheered in surprise: “It’s Lu Yun! Not Lu Xi!”
“What’s going on?!” Lu Xi shot forward like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, grabbed the manager’s collar in an instant, and demanded ferociously, “You got it wrong, didn’t you!”
“N-no mistake…” The manager gripped Lu Xi’s hand tightly to avoid being strangled to death, and said with difficulty, “The steward decided on Lu Yun!”
“Why?!” Amid the crackling fireworks, Lu Xi roared with a flushed face.
“Haha, great!” Huangfu Shi and the others burst into loud cheers. This series of ups and downs really made people have to shout to vent!
The crowd surged toward Lu Yun like a tide, joyfully congratulating him as if they had won themselves!
Lu Xi’s followers stood there as if their souls had fled, with many still having fireworks crackling merrily in their hands.
“Stop lighting them!” The shorty shouted furiously. These fireworks, originally for celebration, now sounded piercingly harsh and utterly sarcastic!
A few hurriedly dropped their fireworks, but they kept crackling on the ground. The shorty and others angrily tried stomping them, only to get blasted on the soles of their feet, hopping around in pain…
At this time, Lu Yi came out the main gate. Seeing him, many clan members felt quite apologetic, thinking they had wronged the Fourth Steward earlier.
Lu Yi also secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he had finally salvaged the situation after the loss…
Who knew, Lu Xi, who had been greatly stimulated today and lost his reason, suddenly rushed up to him and pointed at Lu Yi, cursing loudly, “How dare you go back on your word and give my quota to someone else!”
Lu Yi couldn’t help furrowing his brow tightly, cursing inwardly: ‘Idiot, not big enough fuss already?’ But under everyone’s gaze, he could only put on an official demeanor and say, “Did I ever say the quota was yours? Stop making a scene and step down now!”
“Of course you said it! Even my article was written by you!” Lu Xi ignored his hint and shrieked on, “What did you guarantee to my grandfather? Forgot already?!”
“Whoa…” The clan members immediately erupted in an uproar. Many suddenly realized— no wonder Lu Xi’s article looked so familiar; it turned out to be Lu Yi’s handiwork!
“Nonsense! With your character, I wouldn’t select you no matter who I pick!” Lu Yi was practically exploding with rage. Was the Great Elder’s idiot grandson trying to drag everyone down?! He waved his hand, sealed Lu Xi’s mute acupoint, and said hatefully, “Take him away and get a doctor to check his madness!”
Several managers hurriedly dragged away the desperately struggling Lu Xi. Lu Yi, with a dark face, looked at the whispering crowd and coldly tossed out, “Don’t listen to his slander against me!” Then he pushed through the crowd and left as if fleeing.
The crowd was also somewhat confused, no one sure what was really going on. At this moment, a little eunuch came running over, whispered something in Huangfu Zhen’s ear. Huangfu Zhen immediately understood, smiled at Lu Yun, and gave him a thumbs up.
Lu Yun smiled embarrassedly. If possible, he also wanted to win with his own ability. But since some people didn’t follow the rules, he had no choice but to play along to the end.
“Let’s go drink!” Huangfu Shi vented his bad breath fiercely, regardless, grabbed Lu Yun and went.
“Right, right, lost and found again—must celebrate properly!” Huangfu Xuan also clamped Lu Yun’s other arm, and the two brothers practically dragged him away.
“These two guys…” Huangfu Zhen shook his head with a bitter smile, warmly inviting Lu Xin and Lu Bai and the others: “Lord Lu and you three gentlemen, come join the fun too!”
Lu Xin hurriedly declined politely: “Thanks, Your Highness, this old man won’t join in.”
“Ah, then I won’t force Lord Lu.” Huangfu Zhen sighed regretfully, let Lu Xin off, and turned to Lu Bai and the others: “You three gentlemen must not decline again, or else…” He made a pitiful expression: “I wouldn’t know where to put my face.”
“…” To be fair, Lu Bai and the other two were unwilling to join, but with Huangfu Zhen putting it that way, they couldn’t refuse and had to smile and nod: “Since you insist.”
“Great!” Huangfu Zhen was overjoyed and hurriedly had someone bring a carriage, inviting the three to ride with him. As he was about to board, he seemed to remember something, looked back at the lone Huangfu Xuan and said, “Older Brother, what are you standing there for? Get in the carriage.”
“…” Huangfu Xuan’s expression changed several times. Just as Huangfu Zhen thought he would definitely refuse, he saw him smile and nod: “Alright.”
Now it was Huangfu Zhen’s turn to feel a bit nauseated. He could only force a smile: “Older Brother, please.”
Huangfu Xuan nodded and boarded Huangfu Zhen’s carriage. This was the first time he had ridden his second brother’s carriage. For Lu Yun, the First Prince had really gone all out…
