"You actually... managed to persuade Lu Zhang to help?" Zhu Yu’s astonishnt did not diminish in the slightest, feeling a sense of incredulity. "Could it be that without Duke Yan, he lacks a backbone to this extent? Willingly offering such substantial help?
By doing so, we’ve exposed our tracks. Aren’t you afraid he’ll turn around and use this against you?"
"I don’t have that kind of influence, nor is he that easily swayed." Lu Qing was amused by Zhu Yu’s surprise, took a breath, and seriously replied, "The Chifu Guard has likely been instructed not to co to Shuo Land, so I had the Shadow Guard find a way to send them a ssage, having them devise a plan for Lu Zhang to station his troops at the pass closest to the Black Iron Mine.
When your father’s personal soldiers returned with news, they specifically ntioned that Zhu Jie’s people set off first, but it’s obvious that the people he sent back didn’t co to the Prince Mansion; it’s clear whom they reported to.
When we reached the Black Iron Mine, we indeed encountered Pang Yutang’s son’s interception. Your father wanted to retreat, but unexpectedly, the path back was blocked by Pang Yutang.
I advised him to feign defeat after a short battle and flee towards the pass to escape. The Pang father and son, suspecting nothing, pursued, running straight into Lu Zhang and his n."
Zhu Yu realized, "So Lu Zhang personally eradicated the rebellious faction in Shuo Land, not only aiding my father but also becoming our witness, proving that neither my father nor Shuo Country harbored any treasonous thoughts?
This move is indeed brilliant, but... Lu Zhang...
In doing so, aren’t we risking too much? Though it proves the innocence of Shuo Country and my father, it ultimately gives others a handle against us, doesn’t it?
I still can’t quite understand, considering Duke Yan tried every ans possible to get rid of you and pin so charge on you, why would Lu Zhang be willing to clear my father’s na?"
"Madam, you’ve been too stressed lately, worrying about too many things, and forgotten why Shuo Country fell into the suspicion of treason in the first place." Lu Qing shook his head with a smile. "Not only do we want to prove Shuo Country is innocent, but so does Lu Zhang."
Zhu Yu was taken aback, finally realizing she had grown accustod to placing Lu Zhang on the opposing side, treating him as a rival, and indeed overlooked one thing—the suspicion of treason against Shuo Country arose because a batch of weapons made from Black Iron flowed from Shuo Country into Jie Country, seized by General Situ and his eldest son from a band of ’Jie Country bandits’ causing trouble at the border.
And Jie Country happens to be Lu Zhang’s in-law family, Yan Shu’s maternal family.
Facing the accusation of ’intending to rebel,’ Shuo Country and Jie Country were like grasshoppers on the sa rope. If accusations were substantiated against either party, the other would suffer severely and struggle to clear suspicion.
Lu Qing is Shuo Country’s son-in-law, Lu Zhang is Jie Country’s son-in-law; neither wants their in-law family dragged into such trouble, but due to ’family secrets should remain within the family,’ they find it hard to personally prove their in-law family has no rebellious intent, even if they could prove it, it might not convince others.
However, given Duke Yan’s consistent opposition to Lu Qing, if Lu Zhang could prove that Prince Shuo, Zhu Cheng, had no treasonous intent, and all was the doing of the Pang family collaborating with outsiders, the credibility would be significantly higher.
After all, Duke Yan, at the slightest hint, would love nothing more than to cent Prince Shuo’s guilt, while also implicating Lu Qing.
And with Lu Zhang proving Zhu Cheng’s innocence, the rumor of Shuo Country and Jie Country colluding in a traditional rebellion would dissolve without a fight; rather than purely helping Lu Qing, it’s more like Lu Qing provided him an opportunity to indirectly resolve his own troubles.
"I’ve already promised to help your father draft a morial to the Holy Emperor, praising Lu Zhang for his efforts in suppressing the bandits," Lu Qing observed Zhu Yu’s expression, knowing she had understood, "To soone like Lu Zhang, this is a great allure, hard to refuse."
Zhu Yu believed this, as Lu Zhang seed to bask in the glory of being "Emperor Jin’s most outstanding son," reveling in the praise and adulation showered upon him.
"Lu Zhang is easy to handle in this regard, I believe that, but... his grandfather isn’t as simple-minded as him." Zhu Yu inwardly felt that Lu Qing cleverly turning Lu Zhang into a chess piece was indeed brilliant, but felt a bit uneasy thinking about Duke Yan, Zhao Bi, "If Duke Yan decides to make a big deal out of our return to Shuo Country, how would we handle it?"
"From what I understand, Lu Zhang will likely not even ntion that he saw us here." Lu Qing wasn’t concerned about this. "You’ve had relatively few interactions with Duke Yan and aren’t privy to the inner dynamics.
Though Duke Yan always backs Lu Zhang, he’s also extrely harsh with him; Lu Zhang must be exceptionally cautious in both speech and action in Zhao Bi’s presence.
Zhao Bi has extrely high expectations of Lu Zhang; any shortcomings would lead to harsh reprimands.
Lu Zhang might not genuinely fear the Holy Emperor privately, but he holds deep reverence for his grandfather.
Last ti at General Cao’s Mansion, facing Cao Chenfeng’s issue, Lu Zhang didn’t adhere to Zhao Bi’s hint to stay out of it. Instead, a few words swayed him into taking on the task himself. Allegedly, Zhao Bi scolded him severely afterward and withheld favor for quite a while until the big wedding improved the situation.
This ti, if he were to relay this incident to Zhao Bi, Zhao Bi would most likely see that Lu Zhang was outmaneuvered by ; even if he didn’t see through it, Lu Zhang helping us to this extent indirectly wouldn’t please Duke Yan.
In recent years, as Lu Zhang has grown older, his wings have hardened sowhat; though he still can’t do without Zhao Bi’s protection, he isn’t always as obedient as before.
He wants to earn rit in the Holy Emperor’s eyes but also wishes to avoid Zhao Bi’s reproach; thus, he can’t help but intervene in such matters, and afterward, he must find ways to conceal it from Zhao Bi.
Otherwise, why do you think he claid to be General Yi when rescuing your father?"
Zhu Yu looked astonished at Lu Qing’s smiling face, realizing what she thought to be a fake identity for Lu Zhang concocted by Lu Qing, was in fact orchestrated by Lu Zhang himself.
"Your scheming against Lu Zhang... almost feels like bullying," she couldn’t help but shake her head. "It feels like with your brains and skill, you could sell him, and he’d still happily count the money for you!"
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