Chapter 270 Either Don’t Move, or You’ll Be Killed

Xiao Yan said in a deep voice, "Empress Lu said that this blood letter fell into the hands of Yue Hongchang, the former Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. He originally intended to use it to threaten the Lu family to rise to prominence. Obviously, he knew about the Lu family's actions and was very likely involved in them. Otherwise, this matter would not be hidden from Crown Prince Li."

Qian Baokun was no fool. He thought for a moment and said, "I remember that Yue Hongchang's house was confiscated for corruption a few years before the Crown Prince's rebellion."

He joined the Ministry of Revenue after Emperor An ascended the throne. He only heard people mention his "predecessor" Yue Hongchang occasionally. Now that he thinks about it, this so-called corruption was probably not just because of embezzlement of money, but because he took things he shouldn't have and had ambitions he shouldn't have.

Xiao Yan said, "Nearly one million silver coins for disaster relief, and hundreds of thousands of dan of disaster grain, no matter who gets it, it's impossible for them to swallow it up quietly."

Qian Baokun narrowed his eyes slightly. "If this much grain were to flow into the market, it would definitely cause price fluctuations. And the disaster relief money, unless I can keep it in my hands, the sudden increase of one million silver coins in the market will cause prices to soar no matter where it's used..."

As the head of the Ministry of Revenue, Qian Baokun naturally understood how the Ministry of Revenue adjusted prices across the country and stabilized grain prices in granaries. A plan quickly came to his mind, and he said to Xiao Yan sternly, "I'll check the Ministry of Revenue's grain accounts for those years, as well as the fluctuations in grain prices across the country. Leave this to me."

Xiao Yan nodded. "I'll have someone secretly investigate the Rongjiang area to see if they can find anyone with inside information, as well as the coroner who performed the autopsies on the soldiers after the shipwreck. If we can find out where the relief funds went and find witnesses, combined with this blood letter and the He family's letter, it will be enough to convict the Lu family."

"Be careful and cautious." Qian Baokun warned with a serious look in his eyes: "This matter concerns Your Majesty. If the Lu family is convicted, Your Majesty may also be tarnished. If you are not absolutely sure, you must not alert the enemy and do not tell anyone about this matter."

The more people involved, the greater the risk of exposure.

As for the Lu family, either they don't move, or if they do, they will be killed with one strike.

Xiao Yan nodded: "I know."

Qian Baokun discussed with Xiao Yan for a long time, and after listing all the details, he hurriedly left with a heavy heart. After he left, Canglang and Jinyun came in.

Xiao Yan instructed Jin Yun, "Send two secret guards to protect Qian Baokun, and leave a few people at the Qian family to protect his wife and children."

Jinyun nodded in agreement.

"Master Governor, should we tell Cao Dejiang and the others about this?" Jinyun asked.

Xiao Yan hesitated: "No need."

Qian Baokun was dragged into this mess by him early on, and he had become enemies with the Lu family. Moreover, Qian Baokun was passionate and hated evil. He could more or less grasp his temperament and was sure that he would not and had the ability to catch him so that he would not turn against him. However, Cao Dejiang was different.

Although the Qingliu faction is hostile to the aristocratic families, they also have their own thoughts. Among them are ambitious and greedy people. What they do for their future may not be much cleaner than the aristocratic families. Although Cao Dejiang did not find out anything dirty, he is also a deep-minded person.

Xiao Yan was not sure that he could pull people onto his ship and ensure that he would not waver when the situation became dangerous. Instead of taking risks, it would be better not to touch him. When the time was right, those people from the Qingliu faction would naturally become their helpers, and there was no need to deliberately win them over.

Xiao Yan raised his eyes: "Where is He Wengran?"

Canglang said, "On his way back home, he was ambushed by the Lu family's assassins. He was rescued by our people and has been sent to a safe place."

"Have you swept it clean from beginning to end?"

"Don't worry, Governor. Our men are disguised as bandits blocking the road and have found the bodies of bandits nearby to impersonate members of the He family. No one will notice."

Xiao Yan relaxed upon hearing this. After a moment's silence, he said, "Send people to the south to search for any survivors left behind, especially those in the Rongjiang area, and those exiled by the Yue family after Yue Hongchang's execution. See if there are any insiders. Act with caution and don't alert outsiders."

"Don't worry, Governor. I'll go myself." Jinyun paused after saying this and said, "Governor, since we want to investigate the past, shouldn't we get rid of the eyes in the mansion?"

Xiao Yan knew who he was talking about. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Don't touch him for now. He still has some use."

He had to let Emperor An know that he regarded thunder, lightning, rain and dew as the emperor's grace.

He is still the most useful knife in his hand, the owl that he can command without fear of backlash, and his most loyal servant.

…

It had been raining intermittently in Beijing for several days, sometimes pouring heavily, sometimes drizzling. The ground was wet and dry, dry and wet again. When the rain stopped completely one day, it was the height of summer. The weather was so hot that it seemed that a walk under the sun would melt you.

Tang Ning hadn't seen Xiao Yan for several days. Although the neighbors would send sweet cakes from time to time, and people around Xiao Yan would tell her that he was busy these days, Tang Ning was still a little absent-minded.

"Tang Ning..."

"Tang Ning!"

"ah?"

Tang Ning came back to her senses in a daze, and saw Rong Yue looking at her with some concern: "What's wrong with you these past two days? You are always absent-minded?" She often lost her mind while talking, just like just now, they were clearly discussing the banquet to be held in the mansion the day after tomorrow, but the girl didn't know what she was thinking about anymore.

She reached out and touched her niece's forehead: "Are you feeling unwell? Do you want to ask Madam Qin to come and take a look?"

Tang Ning was aware of her aunt's worried look and quickly shook her head: "I'm fine, I was just distracted by something."

Seeing Rong Yue still looking at her, she pulled down her hand that was covering her forehead and said to her, "I was just thinking about the academy. Someone from the Jingzhaosi came over yesterday and said that the academy will be completed in a few days."

"So fast?" Rong Yue was surprised.

At most, it’s less than two months, right?

Tang Ning said softly, "My brother asked someone to monitor the progress and said that this should be done sooner rather than later. Otherwise, if the publicity about the Lu family's 'donation' of books fades, it will be disadvantageous to me."

Rong Yue's expression softened upon hearing this. "Your brother always takes care of you. Lu Chongyuan has returned to the court recently, and there's been a lot of buzz about him and the Lu family. I heard that Lu Zhao's case will probably be decided immediately, and His Majesty seems to be distancing himself from him..."

There was no one around her in the court, but Marquis Wenxin and his men were there. Every time Marquis Wenxin's wife came, she would bring some news from the court, which made Rong Yue a little worried.

"Xiao Yan's situation in the court is not good. He hasn't come here in the past few days. I don't know what's going on with him."

Tang Ning pursed her lips, she was also worried.

"Girl, Governor Xiao is here." Hua Wu hurried in.

The two people in the water pavilion didn't expect that Cao Cao would appear as soon as they mentioned him. When they looked up and saw the figure over there, Tang Ning stood up with joy, lifted her skirt and walked to the edge of the water pavilion.

"Brother!"