Chapter 2143: Bailie Is Mine!

As for how rare pearls are produced, that's a method Lu Dingxun figured out, and it's also a secret of the Lu family, so Lu Zhenxian didn't say more.

The Great Emperor of Jiǔyōu then asked: "Since then, has there been no more Son of Destiny?"

The clan elders all looked toward Lu Zhensheng, but Lu Zhenxian said: "After that, there has been no more recognized Son of Destiny."

The key lies in the two words "recognized."

Lu Lianqing coughed: "The clan head's second son, Lu Qinglin, appointed as General Xu of Mou State, married Xia Pei, daughter of General Yutian, holds military power, and is now poised to take over this title."

"Is that so?" the Great Emperor of Jiǔyōu said indifferently, "The so-called Son of Destiny, shouldn't he be leading the family to prosperity and flourishing? Lu Qinglin's smooth official career in Mou State is his personal development—what does it have to do with your Lu family?"

He spoke bluntly, Lu Zhensheng's face slightly flushed, Lu Qing'an pretended not to hear.

The Lu family members inside and outside the garden heard this and secretly felt relieved.

Lu Zhensheng has always taken pride in his second son, but in the eyes of other Lu family members, Lu Qinglin's achievements in Mou State are often inseparable from the support of Bailie. The parents and clansmen back home keep sending him resources, allowing him to thrive and achieve fame.

The Great Emperor of Jiǔyōu's eyes blazed like torches, instantly seeing through this falsehood of the Lu father and son.

Lu Lianqing had no choice but to uphold the clan head's dignity: "Qinglin naturally also gives back to Bailie. These past few years, with Ya State frequently invading, he lobbied the Mou Emperor and even brought Mou troops back to drive out the Ya people."

Lu Zhenxian chuckled: "Second Uncle, you're joking—how long has Qinglin taken troops back for a visit? If we relied entirely on him, Bailie would have been gone long ago."

The Great Emperor of Jiǔyōu stood nearby—what was he afraid of? Besides, he clearly knew why the Great Emperor of Jiǔyōu came today. He opened his mouth and fired a direct shot.

These words had been building in his belly for who knows how many years. Now that he spoke them out, Lu Zhenxian felt his whole body flow smoothly.

Ah, so refreshing!

Lu Zhensheng's heart gave a jolt, and he didn't even have time to get angry.

No matter what conflicts exist between the Lu brothers, they used to have to act brotherly and respectful. Now the sixth son suddenly speaks bluntly, dropping all pretense—is he trying to rise in rank by relying on the authority of the Great Emperor of Jiǔyōu?

No matter what happens later, today our father and son are in danger.

Lu Lianyun stroked his white-flecked beard, his eyelids drooping, but he had been carefully observing everyone's expressions. Suddenly he spoke: "Qingbin is also quite capable. In those crucial battles these past few campaigns, it was Qingbin who held the line."

Upon hearing this, everyone inwardly muttered about this old fox shifting with the wind.

Lu Zhenxian waved his hand: "With Qingbin's meager talent and meager fortune, how could he be anything like a Son of Destiny? Sigh, even brushing against someone like that is pure luck!"

He made it clear his son wasn't a Son of Destiny, and everyone was stunned, wondering what medicine he was selling in his gourd.

If he doesn't put his son forward, how can he compete for the head of the family?

Moreover, Lu Qingbin's expression remained normal, and even the impulsive Lu Feiyan wore a look of taking it for granted—clearly, the siblings and their father had already come to an understanding.

"Someone?" Lu Lianyun seized on the key point, "Which someone?"

He knew Lu Laoliu and Lao Da were at odds, so he wouldn't use such an admiring tone to praise Qinglin now. Therefore, this "someone" most likely refers to another person.

Among the Lu family's "Qing" generation, there are only Qinglin and Qingbin—after counting and recounting, no third person shows potential as a Son of Destiny.

Could Lu Zhenxian be referring to his daughter Lu Feiyan? No, no, not likely.

Under the bewildered gazes of everyone, Lu Feiyan spoke up:

"Fourth Grand Uncle, did you forget? We still have the main line."

As soon as the words "main line" were spoken, everyone's faces darkened.

It's been a long time since anyone heard those two words.

The Lu main line has been single-handedly passed down for generations, with few descendants, and it vanished over twenty years ago. Because Lu Zhensheng's ascension was improper, it became a taboo.

Several Lu clan heads exchanged glances—what kind of situation is this now? They furtively glanced at the Great Emperor of Jiǔyōu, seeing his calm expression and silence.

With him present, Lu Feiyan couldn't possibly speak rashly, so this must have been prearranged!

Lu Zhensheng's face changed drastically. Why did the Great Emperor of Jiǔyōu specifically mention the "Son of Destiny"? Could it be...

Could the Great Emperor of Jiǔyōu want to support a so-called Son of Destiny to overthrow him and control the Lu family?

Possible, very possible!

No wonder he denied Qinglin and Qingbin—he must have a more suitable candidate to promote!

Lu Lianyun jumped ahead of others, handing Lu Feiyan a talking point: "Little Yan, you child, sigh, just say it straight—what's going on? We all know the main line has withered; now it's the side branches flourishing."

Lu Zhensheng and his several clan brothers are precisely the "side branches."

But this time, Lu Zhenxian took over the conversation: "The last bloodline of the main line is Lu Xiaoyun—by rights I should call her my paternal aunt. She left Bailie at twelve, sailed westward, and from then on vanished without trace. We all thought she died overseas, but in fact she reached the western state of Yuan, grew up in Heishuicheng, and married and had children."

"Why has Bailie been deteriorating these years, even with the revival of heavenly and earthly spiritual energy, we see no improvement? The root cause is that the Son of Destiny was forced to drift overseas and cannot bless Bailie!"

"You mean Lu Xiaoyun is the Son of Destiny? Absurd!" Lu Zhensheng flared up, ignoring the Great Emperor of Jiǔyōu nearby, pointing at Lu Zhenxian's nose and shouting, "Old Six, where did you dig up this nonsense?"

Lu Zhenxian turned his head to look at him, eyes flashing with glee: "What's the rush? I haven't finished yet. Lu Xiaoyun isn't the Son of Destiny, but her son is!"

He exhaled and spoke up, ensuring everyone inside and outside the garden could hear the next sentence:

"Lu Xiaoyun's son bears the surname He!"

Surname He... surname He... the garden seemed to echo.

Those slower to react still didn't know what was going on—what's with the surname He? But when they looked at their companions, anyone with a bit of insight had their mouths wide open, unable to close.

Lu Qing'an jumped up like a cat stepped on its tail. Lu Zhensheng's body swayed twice, a breath caught in his throat, nearly unable to inhale.

This news was too explosive; the other Lu family members at the table stared at each other, momentarily speechless.

Looking at the Great Emperor of Jiǔyōu before them, huh—could he, too, bear the surname He?

Lu Lianyun looked at Lu Zhenxian, then at the Great Emperor of Jiǔyōu, his eyes filled only with shock, no other emotion.

"Old Six, you're saying, saying..."

The two grand commanders, Wu and Huang, beside them frowned tightly.

How did things suddenly come to this?

They wanted to speak up to stop it, but didn't know what to say. This is the Lu family's internal affair, yet it unexpectedly dragged in the Great Emperor of Jiǔyōu.

He Lingchuan reached out, picked up the wine pot, and poured himself a cup. In the profound silence, the sound of his pouring—xīlī xīlī—was especially jarring.

Just like his appearance here was equally jarring.

"My birth mother is Lu Xiaoyun." He Lingchuan's gaze swept over everyone present; those he stared at lowered their heads instinctively, daring not to meet his eyes, "Protecting Bailie is naturally my duty, because—"

He said word by word: "Bailie is my territory!"