Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!

Chapter 679 - 678: Calamity

Actually, when Zhu Yu was writing this secret letter, she felt somewhat anxious.

As things stand, her life has entered a brand new phase, and after the last incident, her only concern for her biological mother, Miao Family, in Prince Shuo Mansion, no longer suffers from the bullying of Pang Yuzhen. Now, she can live peacefully.

For Miao Family, who has no ambition at all, this is already a very satisfactory life, and Zhu Yu is quite aware of that.

So as long as Miao Family, the only one who truly cared for her before marriage, can live steadily, Zhu Yu no longer harbors any other thoughts about Prince Shuo Mansion, nor does she care about whether Zhu Cheng will regard her highly.

But this time, it’s about needing Shuo Country to deploy troops to assist in straightening out things on Lan Country’s side. Although Lu Qing asked her to invite Zhu Cheng’s second son to personally lead the troops to avoid Zhu Cheng’s concern.

Previously, this wouldn’t have been much of a problem, as Lu Qing, being Prince Xiaoyao, regardless of whether Zhu Cheng liked or was satisfied with him as a son-in-law, would still provide some cooperation in deference to Emperor Jin.

Now, the news of Lu Qing being demoted to a commoner has likely spread to Shuo Country, and Zhu Cheng must already be aware.

Whether he will still be willing to cooperate... That is an unknown factor.

Lu Qing didn’t mention whether to reveal that the Golden-faced Imperial Censor’s waist card is still involved in this matter. Zhu Yu thought Lu Qing probably didn’t trust Zhu Cheng to that extent, and taking advantage of this incident could also test if Zhu Cheng has enough foresight.

She carefully penned the secret letter, which she and Lu Qing sealed separately, waited for a while to ensure the outside had quieted down, and the guards from Prince Lan Mansion had mostly rested, then tried blowing the Silver Whistle by the bed.

There was no immediate response for a long time, Zhu Yu glanced at Lu Qing, who smiled at her, indicating she should remain calm.

Just as Zhu Yu was concerned about whether the tightly guarded fortress would prevent Lu Qing’s Hidden Guard from approaching, there was a soft sound outside the window.

The Hidden Guard finally arrived.

Lu Qing walked to the window, handed over the secret letters he and Zhu Yu had written, and instructed the Hidden Guard in a whispering tone. The Hidden Guard didn’t seem to leave immediately; Lu Qing’s extended hand paused slightly before being retracted.

When Zhu Yu saw his hand had unexpectedly gained a Mechanical Box.

Which meant, even if she hadn’t blown the Silver Whistle, the Hidden Guard would have come to them tonight because he had something to deliver to Lu Qing?

After closing the window again, Lu Qing took Zhu Yu back to the table to sit down. From his expression, it was evident the Hidden Guard’s delivery was unexpected.

According to their previous communication with Lu Chao, they shouldn’t be receiving his messages anymore, unless there’s an unforeseen circumstance outside their plans.

Zhu Yu felt her heart leap to her throat.

Lu Qing opened the Mechanical Box and, somewhat surprised, took out a thick stack of papers, the length of which clearly wasn’t Lu Chao’s handwriting.

Besides the thick stack, there was another paper with Lu Chao’s handwriting, merely stating succinctly—"For Brother Zhang’s forwarding."

The note’s words were puzzling to Zhu Yu, and it seemed Lu Qing hadn’t expected to receive a letter from Lu Zhang, forwarded by Lu Chao.

After Zhao Bi’s downfall, Lu Zhang lost his prestige, was expelled from the Capital, ordered to guard the frontier, and subsequently, his already diminished maternal family left no living descendants, sending Lu Zhang from the peak to the abyss. Henceforth, not only did he lose power, but aside from his displeased father, the emperor who didn’t want to see him, and his somewhat estranged brothers, he was essentially alone in the world.

Lu Qing couldn’t imagine what urgency would compel Lu Zhang to seek him at such a time.

However, as they quickly read through the long letter written by Lu Zhang, their confusion was dissipated, only to be replaced by prolonged silence.

Within the letter were numerous pieces of truth that Lu Zhang had intermittently pieced together over the years from his maternal grandfather about the tragic extermination of Lu Qing’s family.

Lu Zhang stated in the letter, many things he was also unaware of in the past; even if he could guess a bit, it was nebulous, not clear.

Until recently, perhaps due to Zhao Bi’s downfall, topics previously feared to ignite controversy started to be discussed openly, allowing him to hear previously unknown bits that pieced together almost entirely the causes and effects of Lu Qing’s family’s mishap.

The later misfortunes of Lu Qing’s clan did indeed relate to Duke Yan Zhao Bi, and Zhao Bi’s actions were not solely for the reason speculated by outsiders—a desire to be the most powerful minister under one ruler—but also because of an insurmountable divide between Lu Qing’s grandfather and father versus Zhao Bi, with deep-seated ideological differences between the two factions.

In Zhao Bi’s understanding, only Jin Country was the most noble in the world, rendering Jin Country people superior, while other vassal states were regarded as foreign tribes, derogatory even to call them inferior, their essence no different from beasts of the wild.

Following this view, he advocated for the thorough exploitation of all resources in the vassal states, including the populace, utilizing those of value, while enslaving those deemed worthless, as only by subduing the barbarian vassals can Jin Country’s status as an Upper Country be solidified.

Conversely, Lu Qing’s grandfather believed that to unite the world under one rule, the critical factor is winning hearts, only by winning the genuine admiration of all vassal states can the Upper Country stay securely seated—"water can carry a boat but also overturn it," a wise ruler would win hearts, ensuring the universal acclaim and peaceful co-existence across Four Seas, whether Jin Country or other vassals.

However, if vassal state people are treated as livestock, either exploited or enslaved, it will only lose the popular will, eventually allowing ambitious individuals to seize opportunities and instigate chaos; then it’s not solely about stabilizing the ruler’s seat but a complete fall back into war-torn chaos.

Therefore, the Lu Family advocated alert defense against ambitious and invasive foreign tribes while promoting respect and peaceful livelihoods for the law-abiding ones.

Nonetheless, during that era of instability, the Lu Family and Zhao Bi were both right and left arms heavily relied upon by Emperor Jin, hence Emperor Jin’s stance on this issue was deliberately ambiguous without openly supporting or opposing either side.

Perhaps at first, Emperor Jin aimed to prevent internal discord at critical junctures but inadvertently sowed the seeds of future calamity with this stance.