In this matter, Emperor Jin finds himself in a dilemma. Regarding Cao Tianbao’s predicant, he can neither overlook it entirely nor handle it with no regard for the situation.
If he overlooks it entirely, more people will continue to stir up trouble in the shadows, labeling genuine sches as "wrongfully accused."
If he shows no regard, it will chill the hearts of those old ministers and generals who have followed him for years and fought bravely.
At this ti, no matter what he thinks in his heart, whether he wants to believe in Cao Tianbao or has already concluded that Cao Tianbao harbors ill intentions of secretly making military weapons, he still cannot rashly act.
If not for Lu Qing’s tily secret morial as the "Golden-faced Imperial Censor," Emperor Jin would have had to choose the lesser of two evils.
Just like Lu Qing himself said before, he once again tily provided Emperor Jin a "step" when he needed a way out, allowing him not to hurt his relationship with his old ministers, not to tear apart, and not to give a chance to those with ulterior motives.
In another’s place, with Lu Qing’s crucial role this ti, a great reward would be inevitable.
However, the subtle relationship between Emperor Jin and Lu Qing made Zhu Yu never even think of associating it with reward.
But she did have a doubt.
"Previously... wasn’t it supposed to be Lu Zhang who clarified this matter on behalf of Shuo Country?" Zhu Yu rembered Lu Qing’s original ticulous plan, which was progressing smoothly, yet it was himself who stepped up in the end.
"It doesn’t affect anything." Lu Qing smiled, "None of us expected beforehand that after Cao Tianbao’s nephew was plotted against, almost tainting the entire Cao Family’s reputation, the opponent would still target Cao Tianbao.
And it just so happened at such a critical juncture, Lu Zhang was expected to return to the Capital soon, and before he could report the truth to Your Majesty, the matter of Cao Tianbao secretly making military weapons was exposed.
Not to ntion the entire imperial court, who in the Capital does not know the relationship between Cao Tianbao and Duke Yan.
In such circumstances, how could Lu Zhang stand out to report to the Holy Emperor the things he originally intended to say?
Say Shuo Country is innocent, the Black Iron weapons his Yue Family holds and those received by Cao Tianbao’s subordinates are all counterfeit, say the Jie Country’s bandits are slandered for pillaging, in short, his Yue Family, his maternal family, and the military generals allied with his maternal family are all innocent and suffering from being set up.
How effective do you think such a clearance would be?"
Zhu Yu shook her head without needing to think, "Very ineffective. This is a classic case of sothing easy to say but hard to hear.
Even if every word is true without any lies, it may not be perceived the sa way by others’ ears, let alone... that person does not have a trusting nature.
Already soone is scheming to trap Duke Yan’s faction, and at this ti, no matter how aggrieved Lu Zhang is, he cannot and dares not step forward to clarify.
Although I think that person doesn’t have much sense, if he really jumped out recklessly this ti, Duke Yan would probably be so angry he couldn’t wait to kick him in the rear, wouldn’t he?"
"Indeed," Zhu Yu’s description made Lu Qing laugh even more, "so at this ti, the most persuasive voice is the ’Golden-faced Imperial Censor.’"
"But, Lord Imperial Censor, isn’t your Yue Family precisely Shuo Country, which lost the Black Iron weapons?" Zhu Yu raised an eyebrow and looked at him.
Lu Qing laughed heartily, "No matter, heaven knows, earth knows, you know, I know, the Holy Emperor knows, but not the court. Thus, it is very good.
No matter what, the secret morial from the Golden-faced Imperial Censor is the most impartial evidence. Once the Holy Emperor accepted the morial’s statents and determined Cao Tianbao to be innocent, it ant he also recognized that previous rumors of Shuo Country’s intentions to rebel were equally false. The truth is that Shuo Land was a victim of those with designs to fra General Cao, losing Black Iron and bearing wrongful accusations.
It is said that the monarch does not speak lightly; when the Holy Emperor, in the presence of the courtiers, uses that secret morial to prove Cao Tianbao’s innocence, it naturally also becos difficult to use Shuo Country’s intent to rebel as a topic.
This may not be sothing he is pleased to accept, but making a trade-off between these two matters is much easier than the previous predicant.
Zhu Yu, who initially felt sowhat anxious and worried, couldn’t help but laugh, reaching out to tap Lu Qing’s forehead, "You really are a fox! How bold of you to pull the tiger’s whiskers!"
"Regardless of touching the tiger’s whiskers or not, it doesn’t relate to whether the tiger wants to eat you. Not touching doesn’t an you won’t get eaten, so why not do sothing beneficial for oneself," Lu Qing smiled, "After Cao Tianbao’s na is cleared, the petition Lu Zhang dared not submit earlier can be submitted with confidence and boldness.
By then, not only can he smoothly wash away the suspicions of his Yue Family, but we can also profit from it—after all, doesn’t everyone in the world know how much Duke Yan wishes to eat my flesh and drink my blood? If even Lu Zhang, who aligns with him, proves Shuo Country’s innocence, then the possibility of intentionally covering up is naturally out of the question, which makes it even more convincing."
Zhu Yu looked at Lu Qing’s composed face, feeling an indescribable lancholy in her heart.
Every ti he strategized comprehensively, others were only amazed by his ticulous thoughts and deep plans, but Zhu Yu’s heart was full of pity.
The resilience of a blade of grass cos from the rock pressing on it. Without being pressed by the stone, the grass would not need to unleash such amazing force to push the stone aside.
Isn’t this true for people as well? No one who has been cared for since childhood is born to tread cautiously and be adept at plotting.
Lu Zhang, who is easily swayed, is a typical example.
If Lu Qing’s family were still with him, perhaps he would be erudite and eloquent, perhaps graceful and known across the world, but he would never have grown into such a cunning fox as he is now.
Behind those admirable strategies are layered scars and perilous encounters ti and again.
"However, I have another question." Zhu Yu, who had been silently feeling sad, suddenly thought of sothing, having to montarily set aside her full-hearted lant, "The secret morial from the Golden-faced Imperial Censor ntioned Shuo Country but didn’t ntion Jie Country at all...
How will Lu Zhang and his crafty maternal grandfather view this?
You once ntioned that besides that person, soone else possibly knows you are the ’Golden-faced Imperial Censor.’ So this ti, can you ascertain anything?
If Lu Zhang persists with his original plan, clarifying for both Jie and Shuo countries, then he is unaware, even his maternal grandfather is unaware, and soone else is inford.
If he only clarifies for Jie Country without ntioning Shuo Country, it indicates that the grandfather and grandson duo know you are the ’Golden-faced Imperial Censor’."
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