If I were born again, I would marry a strong but short-lived husband.

At the bustling city gate, a young man in a coarse cotton-padded jacket stood in the middle with a bag on his back. His face, covered in ashes, had a handsome outline, and his pair of deep and sinister eyes made people dare not look directly at him.

Look at this man, he is dressed shabbily, but his whole temperament reveals a sense of nobility.

He seems to be a young man from a fallen aristocratic family.

He was indeed once a high-ranking son of a duke's mansion, but now he can only come to the royal capital by riding on a merchant caravan.

After learning that Lu Yuan had become the Prince of the Southern Dynasty, Lu Heng lived in torment every day.

Also, because he remembered that he used to be the Prime Minister who was in great glory and high above everyone else, he could not accept his current situation.

How did he become a stray dog?

How can Lu Yuan become a prince again?

During those days of depression, he was looked down upon and suffered the most humiliation he had ever experienced in his two lifetimes.

He finally made up his mind that even if Lu Yuan would discover his existence in the royal capital, he would still fight for a future.

"Sir, you are here to recruit poor students from the Imperial College, right?" A young man in a blue cotton coat walked over in a familiar manner.

Lu Heng turned his head and looked at the other person. He was also wearing a coarse cotton coat. Although he looked cleaner than him, he was not from a good family either.

"What Imperial College?" Lu Heng asked.

He knew that there were huge differences between the aristocratic families in the Southern Dynasty, and the students who were able to enter the Imperial Academy were all children of aristocratic families.

Even in the imperial examination, only a few commoners could pass.

The wealth and official positions in the Southern Dynasties were almost all in the hands of the aristocratic families.

"The Imperial College is recruiting students from poor families for the first time, but there are only ten places available and you need to pass an exam to enter," said the young man.

"As long as you can enter the Imperial College, you will have the opportunity to become an official even if you don't take the imperial examination in the future."

Lu Heng's heart moved slightly.

"Brother, I'm here to take the exam, and I've never heard of the Imperial College." Lu Heng said in a low voice.

"There are still several months before the imperial examination. Why not try the Imperial College first?"

"My name is Lu Yingzhen. May I know your name?" Lu Heng asked with a bow.

The young man smiled and said, "My surname is Hu, and my courtesy name is Chengcai."

"Brother Hu, do you also want to go to the Imperial College?" Lu Heng asked.

"Yes, this time it is the emperor's amnesty, and it does not matter your status, only your talent and learning." Hu Chengcai said.

Lu Heng: "Your Majesty actually has such courage."

"I heard that it was Prince Chen who pushed for this." Hu Chengcai sighed, "After all, he was a prince who grew up in the common people, so he can sympathize with the hardships of us poor children."

“…” Lu Heng’s face darkened.

"Why is it Prince Chen? Isn't he the Emperor?"

Hu Chengcai laughed and said, "Do you think it's easy for the Imperial College to recruit students from poor families? The emperor proposed this two years ago, but he repeatedly found noble families to obstruct him."

"This time, it was Prince Chen who proposed this matter in the court, and then Prime Minister Ruan followed suit."

Soon what happened in the court spread throughout the entire capital, and everyone knew that Prince Chen was pushing the Imperial College to recruit students from poor families.

"Brother Lu, do you want to go to the Imperial College to register together?" Hu Chengcai asked.

"...Go." Lu Heng nodded with difficulty.

Of course he would go. Even if he had to go through Lu Yuan to embark on the path he wanted, he would do it.

One day, he will be able to reach the peak he once was.

He once looked down upon Lu Yuan, and would do so again in the future.

Lu Heng followed Hu Chengcai to the Imperial College and got the registration post.

"Three days later, the examination will be held at the Imperial Academy, and the chief priest will personally supervise the examination."

After collecting the registration form, Lu Heng invited Hu Chengcai to have a bowl of mutton noodles.

If it were in the past, he would never have sat down on the roadside to eat such food, and would not even look at it.

Now it is the only one he can afford.

"Where will you stay next, Brother Lu?" Hu Chengcai asked.

"I..." Lu Heng hesitated. He was penniless and had no where to live.

He was too embarrassed to speak.

"Cousin!" Suddenly, an uncertain voice sounded.

Lu Heng's shoulders froze and he turned his head abruptly, only to see Bai Shaojie looking at him with shock on a carriage that was not that big.

"Brother Hu, my cousin is here, so I'm staying at my grandparents' house for the time being," said Lu Heng.

Hu Chengcai smiled and said, "Okay, I'll stay at Yuelai Inn. I hope we can meet at the Imperial College in the future."

Lu Heng smiled faintly, "Definitely."

After the two said goodbye, Lu Heng got on Bai Shaojie's carriage.

The two brothers looked at each other and were silent for a moment.

"I sent someone to look for you, hoping that you wouldn't come to the royal capital." Bai Shaojie said in a muffled voice.

Lu Heng laughed sarcastically, "Is there any difference?"

"Lu Yuan is a prince now, you shouldn't have come." Bai Shaojie whispered, "Lu Heng, we still need to wait for the right time."

"When?" Lu Heng asked, "Wait until Lu Yuan dies?"

Bai Shaojie frowned, "This is not the place to talk, let's talk about it when we get home."

"Now that you're here, there's someone you should go meet."

Lu Heng was slightly stunned, "Who?"

Bai Shaojie looked at him meaningfully, with a cold look in his eyes, "If it weren't for her, you and I wouldn't have to be like this today."

Lu Heng's heart sank, and an answer he couldn't utter rolled around his lips.

When Bai Shaojie brought him to a remote house and saw his mother, whom he thought was dead, Lu Heng was completely stunned.

Bai had her back to them, picking Buddha beans. Without the noble attire of gold and jade as before, she looked so plain that he could hardly recognize that the woman in front of him was his once dignified and noble mother.

"Mother..." Lu Heng spoke in a hoarse voice.

Bai's whole body froze, thinking she had heard it wrong. She slowly turned her head and saw her son, whom she was so proud of.

It was once raised to be as precious as a banished immortal, as pleasing as bamboo and as delicate as jade, a flower on the mountain top like an orchid or jade tree.

How...how come it is this person in front of me?

His skin was dark and rough, his hair was messy, he had no grace, no…

Mrs. Bai has always been strong and seldom cries. Seeing her son's current miserable state, she finally felt regretful.

If she could be a little slower and more confident before taking action...

No, she should have chosen another way and let Guangning die quietly.

It was she who implicated Lu Heng.

Bai Shaojie finally saw other emotions in his aunt's usually calm eyes.

"You and your son should have a good chat." Bai Shaojie no longer had any respect for the Bai family.

Lu Heng also noticed it and he clenched his fists tightly.

"Why are you here?" Bai asked in a low voice, "Is it that the evil concubine who is taking revenge on you?"

"No, I wanted to kill Guangning, but I failed." Lu Heng said expressionlessly.

Bai covered her eyes and said, "It's me who caused you trouble."

"Mother, if it weren't for you, our Lu family would be in this situation today because of Lu Yuan." Lu Heng whispered.

"Don't worry, I will make a comeback and won't let you be bullied again."

Bai shook her head, "No, he is already a prince and holds a high position. You are no match for him now."

"Don't be impatient! Don't be impatient for revenge."

Lu Heng helped her sit down, "I know, I'll take my time."

Even if Lu Yuan is a prince, there are always people who want him dead.

For example, the second prince of the Southern Dynasty, and He Zhiyuan.