The Prince Is Abolished

Chapter 5

The man and his horse were both unconscious after falling in a ditch. 

This informer wanted to tell Prince Xi Mang about his brother's growing connection with the Lu family but instead went down a hole along with his horse. It was already night and with no soul in sight, any means of rescuing them were non-existent.

The next day, late evening, Sayari Hall was ready to witness poets in action.

Xi Mang and many court officials were there.

Song Wu also got an invite after the prince sent him one, and was excited to rub shoulders with the best and the most powerful of the Mi kingdom.

He was eager to see Lu Xang's appearance and how the nobles will fawn over him. This was his first invite even after many years in the business, hence, Wu didn't know that no one from the Lu family except the daughter ever appeared at these poetic duels.

Lu family was both a source of inspiration for him due to their power and prestige, and also someone who made him feel small, thus, he never left any chance to observe them and collect information that could bring them down.

He always hid the fact that it was the Lu family's generosity in providing food security that aided him in surviving when the Mi kingdom went to battle with Avang. His father, a mere foot soldier, died in this battle, and his mother died after failing to eat for many days. The Lu family was not at the peak of resources it enjoyed now, but put everything on line to provide food at this dire time. Lu Xang often went far away to distant lands to seek grains for his free food security cover that covered every bit of the Mi.

Community kitchens organized by the Lu family helped orphans like him who didn't know how to cook. For families, grains, lentils, vegetables, and some salt would be given to each household for 15 days. All they needed to do was put their thumbprint against their addresses.

Lu Family Clinics were also opened by them during this phase.

He was therefore a man who once benefited from their immense generosity but as he grew older, he felt that this was not a good model to have a sustained wealth.

Why should anyone take it on himself to feed everyone? Free food only makes one lazy and disorganized. Even I didn't work till 18 and had no intention of working for a long time because food was always at hand!

Whatever his criticism of this free food cover, but from this point on the Lu family became so powerful that even the Royal Family couldn't touch them. The family was wealthier than the state and did all the welfare programs for which the Royal Court didn't have to pay even a single silver coin. Naturally, everyone sang their praises and this made Song Wu feel that he would never be able to rise to prominence.

Song Wu's big break came at the age of 19 when Xi Mang offered him a loan to do business and he had remained grateful to the prince for he ignited in him a desire to feed and better himself instead of giving a food dole. Today he stood prosperous. 

But still was shunned by nobles and anyone with a conscience, hence, an invitation to witness poetry among this group would have never been given to a pariah like him. It was due to Xi Mang's backdoor maneuver that he could come here at all and sit with the best of Mi.

As his mind kept going back and forth on the Lu family and his own background, the arrival of Prince Xi Mang was announced and he saw him sit down in the heavily guarded Royal Box. Prince motioned everyone to sit down after they had greeted him. Just as the crowd settled down, Lu Ran appeared like the full moon in a dark room.

She looked ethereal in a saffron hued fiery dress and gold jewelry. Xi Mang saw her as if in daze. Lu Ran had chosen to sit behind the nobles so that she could sit with Ji Gang, and was immersed in poetry rendition.