Lu Qing raised an eyebrow: "That explanation suits well.
However, your prior concerns aren’t unfounded. After all, Lu Zhang and Duke Yan’s relationship is extraordinary; regardless of the current rift, the bond between grandfather and grandson remains deep at its core.
It’s a bit risky if I bet everything on Lu Zhang having his own hidden agenda.
So it’s just as well that another person has sparked an idea in to turn this deception into an advantage and go along with the flow."
"You’re talking about Yan Shu?" Zhu Yu imdiately asked.
Lu Qing looked at her and slowly sighed, but it wasn’t a troubled sigh; it was more of a satisfied and contented ease. His eyes glead intensely as he leaned forward and laughed, "Although Yan Daoxin tends to babble on all day long, he did say one thing right: Madam, aren’t you perhaps the person in this world who understands the quickest?"
Zhu Yu, preoccupied with Lu Zhang’s sudden ergence and the audacity of Lu Qing’s plan—which she hadn’t foreseen—was caught by surprise when she guessed about Yan Shu. The sudden close proximity made her instinctively hold her breath.
Her reaction felt like a gentle tickle to Lu Qing’s heart, but he had pressing matters to discuss, so he suppressed the burgeoning ripples in his heart.
"Madam, rember to breathe; holding your breath isn’t good." He teased Zhu Yu before continuing, "Princess Yan Shu inadvertently slipped out from the Capital of Jin Country without alerting anyone. If we want to send her back secretly, that’s quite difficult.
I initially considered having the Shadow Guard handle this.
But even if the Shadow Guard successfully escorts her back to the Capital from Shuo Land, getting her back into Prince Yi Mansion smoothly is still a significant challenge.
Even our Prince Xiaoyao Mansion, trying to slip out and back in without being noticed, might be impossible—let alone Prince Yi Mansion, where Lu Zhang has many servants and even more protectors.
It’s easier to leave unnoticed, but much harder to enter unseen.
The Shadow Guard can hardly enter the Capital, as it might expose their movents too much. I’ve been contemplating how best to handle this.
Then, when I pondered in what guise you should et him, an idea suddenly struck ."
Zhu Yu, following his train of thought, speculated: "So, you intend for Lu Zhang to take Yan Shu back himself?"
"That’s precisely my intention," Lu Qing didn’t deny her guess. "If the story gets out that Princess Yan Shu suffered so much humiliation at Prince Yi Mansion that she had to change clothes to escape, it would be a massive scandal.
We were the ones who found and stopped her; otherwise, if Yan Shu really returned to Jie Country, it wouldn’t just be trouble for the Jie King—tracing it back, Lu Zhang would also have a hard ti evading responsibility.
So, in a way, we’re indirectly doing him a favor and holding a leverage over him.
If the Holy Emperor investigates us secretly returning to Shuo Country, as long as he confirms your father doesn’t intend rebellion, it’s hard to pin a major fault on us.
But as for Lu Zhang, how he treated Princess Yan Shu could be seen as an insult to both the Jie King and Jie people, and equally disrespectful to the Holy Emperor.
Thus, if everything gets exposed, his troubles will clearly be greater than ours."
Zhu Yu remained silent, slightly frowning as if conflicted over sothing.
Although Lu Qing’s plan was good, by helping Lu Zhang keep the facade that his bride didn’t almost flee back ho, he’d discreetly bring Yan Shu back and avoid any further issues since they’ve seized this weakness.
This seed like a win-win solution, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t fair to Yan Shu.
Yan Shu suffered considerable grievances with Lu Zhang. While escaping the marriage wasn’t feasible, the ideal outco would be slipping back quietly without anyone noticing.
Giving her back to Lu Zhang might be discreet, but what then? Having attempted an escape that nearly embarrassed Lu Zhang, would her life at Prince Yi Mansion beco even harder?
Seeing her frown, Lu Qing gently rubbed her brow: "Don’t feel guilty; the mont Yan Shu ran, this beca a reckless decision, and there was never a seamless solution.
There was an error in their marriage from the start, and even if we had a way to send her back quietly, they have already t face to face in the courtyard.
This can’t remain hidden forever.
And honestly, is quietly returning ho as if nothing happened truly a good solution?
If Lu Zhang, encouraged in secret by Duke Yan, continues to mistreat Princess Yan Shu upon returning, do you think, given her straightforward and candid nature, she’d react to such unfair coldness without doing sothing equally rebellious?"
While Zhu Yu wanted to shake her head and deny it, unfortunately, from what she’d learned about Yan Shu, the girl’s straightforwardness and well-aning nature were overshadowed by a temper that could flare up making her act without thinking.
Her brow gradually eased, and Lu Qing knew she had taken his words to heart: "If they return and keep causing trouble, if an incident occurs, we won’t always be lucky enough to resolve it.
Moreover, if sothing finally angers the Jie King, and he responds irrationally, it won’t just be Lu Zhang in trouble.
You know well that what we need most now is peace on all fronts."
Setting aside her friendship for Yan Shu, Zhu Yu contemplated; Lu Qing’s reasoning wasn’t without rit.
Lu Zhang, not so sharp, might not understand the consequences unless they are explicitly presented to him.
If he thinks his previous neglect is okay, he might take advantage even more.
But if made aware of the potential consequences of his actions, he might not dare continue mistreating Yan Shu.
Images of Lu Zhang’s near-flustered expression as he watched the whip-wielding, dashing Yan Shu flashed in her mind.
Yan Shu might or might not have a favorable impression of him—it was hard to tell, given his prior offenses.
But she was confident that if Lu Zhang realized that was the wife he previously avoided, he might be in for quite a shock.
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