Chapter 343 There's a backup plan

"Why not start with Jiang Chengye?" Pei Hanming suggested after thinking for a while.

Pei Chengkun frowned in thought after hearing this, and then Pei Hanming said, "Back then, when Jiang Chengye bought the ship to transport smuggled salt, although the old Duke of Chu and Jiang Yu cleaned up the mess, we still know what happened, and we can still produce the evidence."

Even if you can't find evidence, you can still fabricate it.

“No.” Pei Chengkun thought for a moment and said, “First, Xie Yun has already memorized the details of those ships transporting smuggled salt. Second, there’s also Xie Ning’an, who will help Jiang Yu.”

“But the Emperor is suspicious. If even the slightest rumor gets out, it could take root in his mind,” Pei Hanming said. “Besides, we’re not really going to report the salt smuggling to the Emperor. We’re just using it as a tool to negotiate with Jiang Yu.”

Pei Chengkun shook his head. "If that's the case, Jiang Yu will report directly to the Emperor that we are framing and threatening him. Jiang Chengye was framed in the first place, so Jiang Yu should have evidence that he was framed."

Pei Hanming looked somewhat dejected. "So, what should we do now?"

Pei Chengkun thought for a while and said, "Let Qitang turn himself in, and I will apologize to the Emperor. You find a way to get Jiang Chengye to commit a crime, and then we will negotiate with Jiang Yu to stop her from pursuing the matter so relentlessly."

“...Okay.” Pei Hanming answered with some difficulty, not because Pei Qitang might be sentenced to death, but because they had no better way out of this predicament.

Seeing his dejected look, Pei Chengkun smiled and said, "Don't worry, even if Jiang Yu pursues us relentlessly, nothing will happen except for Qitang's family."

After saying this, his face turned cold and stern. To achieve this result would mean losing the Emperor's trust.

"Are you trying to show the Emperor our strength?" Pei Hanming asked worriedly.

"This is the only way we can do it. Don't worry, I have a backup plan," Pei Chengkun said resolutely.

Pei Hanming thought for a moment and said, "You mean Lingnan?"

Pei Chengkun nodded, "But I won't do it unless absolutely necessary."

Pei Hanming's expression grew even more serious, and Pei Chengkun waved him out. After he left, Pei Chengkun let out a long sigh; truly, one wrong step led to another.

Meanwhile, Doctor Lou rushed home and found Lou Qingdai kneeling on the ground.

“Father, punish your daughter for not watching over your younger sister,” Lou Qingdai said.

"How can this be your fault?" Madam Lou said through gritted teeth, "Who could have imagined that J..."

Madam Lou wanted to say "that vile woman," but seeing the dark, ashen face of Imperial Physician Lou, she couldn't bring herself to utter the word. She gritted her teeth and swallowed the rest of the sound, continuing, "Who would have thought she would escape this way and even collude with the Marquis of Anyuan's mansion?"

If Lou Qingyao were here, Madam Lou would definitely tear her apart with her own hands.

Doctor Lou glanced at her, bent down and helped Lou Qingdai up, "This is not your fault, go back and rest."

Lou Qingdai stood up, her face filled with anxiety, and asked, "What do we do next?"

"Never mind," said Imperial Physician Lou weakly. "The Marquis of Anyuan's mansion is fighting with the Prime Minister; we can't get involved."

"But Qingyao..."

Doctor Lou waved his hand to stop her from continuing, saying, "Let fate decide. We can't let her ruin our whole family."

Upon hearing this, Madam Lou's expression softened considerably. She was about to say something cheerful when Lou Qingdai stopped her with a look.

Imperial Physician Lou had no time to argue with Madam Lou. He simply said, "You should go back and rest," and went into his study. Madam Lou was about to say something when Lou Qingdai immediately pulled her away.

"Why won't you let me speak?" Madam Lou said discontentedly. "I just want him to know that Lou Qingyao is a menace, so that he'll think more about you."

“Father already knows, you don’t need to say it again,” Lou Qingdai said.

Madam Lou glared at her with exasperation, "What do you know? Ever since that Grand Tutor Yan's granddaughter entered the Imperial Crafts Bureau, your father has been planning to recommend you to the Imperial Hospital. But after that brat Lou Qingyao came, your father felt indebted to her and wanted to abandon you and recommend her to the Imperial Hospital."

Lou Qingdai frowned upon hearing this and walked silently toward her own courtyard. Madam Lou quickly followed her, saying cheerfully, "Now it's all good. After that brat caused such a scene, your father will definitely recommend you."

At this point, Madam Lou wanted to laugh out loud. But then she saw Lou Qingdai stop and look at her with a complicated expression.

"What's wrong?" Mrs. Lou asked.

Lou Qingdai: "If things go wrong this time, my father might not even be able to keep his position as the head of the Imperial Medical Academy."

"This..." Madam Lou was so shocked that she didn't know what to say. Lou Qingdai looked at her and said again, "Don't bother Father these days."

"I...I understand." Madam Lou knew she wasn't very smart and usually listened to her daughter.

Chu State Duke's Mansion

Jiang Yu sat at the tea table, brewing tea while listening to Lu Shaocheng recount the events. After Lu Shaocheng finished, she placed a cup of tea in front of him and said, "From now on, cousin, be careful and keep an eye on your family, lest they become desperate and do something rash."

Lu Shaocheng nodded, "Cousin, don't worry, Grandfather already gave the instructions."

Jiang Yu said "okay" and picked up her cup to drink tea. Lu Shaocheng glanced at her, wanting to remind her to be careful of Jiang Chengye and not let the Prime Minister and his group take advantage of the situation. But remembering Jiang Yu's meticulous nature, he didn't say anything.

The two chatted about other things for a while before Lu Shaocheng got up to take his leave. After he left, Jiang Yu called the housekeeper and asked him to remind Jiang Chengye that she would go to Lu Yifang's place in the backyard.