The lively scene at the Lu family's residence was somewhat unexpected for Song Yaozhu. She had originally planned to set a trap and use Song Wenyue to bring him down. However, she never imagined that the Lu family would bury themselves in their own grave.

King Xuan had a good temper, but when it came to his daughter, he really ran into a brick wall!

He's now relentlessly insisting that the Lu family poisoned the prince's son, and he wants the entire Lu family to suffer the same fate.

Lu's husband was stripped of his official robes and thrown into prison, leaving only her daughter, Lu Yujie, in the palace.

"I've finally learned what it means to be outdone by fate," Song Yaozhu sighed, understanding the meaning of "what goes around comes around."

Why did you have to provoke the sleeping tiger?

Don't even mention that your Lu family isn't powerful yet. Even if they were, they'd still be a prince! The emperor's own brother! If the emperor doesn't help his own niece, would he help his concubine's family?

"Leaving aside matters in the palace for now, how is things in Yunzhou?"

"The Crown Prince has already arrived with the Flying Tiger Army. Things are fine in the southern border; there's no unrest. With the Prince of Yan here, the small countries in the southern border won't easily rebel."

“But it’s a problem that Yunzhou hasn’t had any rain.” Song Yaozhu rubbed her temples. “I read in a book that if there is a drought for many years, the land will become sandy, and it will be difficult to grow crops in the future.”

“Therefore, digging the canal is imperative.” Xie Liwei rested his chin on his hand, and the two of them were thinking about how to get the dog emperor to make this decision.

Although the Ministry of Works is drawing up plans, it's only for the emperor's reference. Once the Ministry of Revenue calculates the basic expenses, the emperor might be terrified.

"I think I might have come up with a solution." Song Yaozhu felt a flash of inspiration in her mind, but the solution didn't seem feasible.

“Tell me, sister.”

Song Yaozhu felt her thoughts had slowed down a bit since becoming pregnant. She gathered her thoughts and saw Xie Liwei looking at her with a smile, not urging her, before she said, "If all the powerful families in the court were to submit memorials opposing this matter, do you think Yuwen Wuji would be determined to dig it up?"

Xie Liwei stroked his chin. Their dog emperor was good for nothing, but he was number one at doubting others and challenging them.

“Those aristocratic families already tolerate his suspicion. If they all submit memorials opposing this matter, Yuwen Wuji will definitely think that he has touched the interests between the aristocratic families, and he will naturally make this decision against all odds. Not only that, he may even get the aristocratic families to help him.”

Xie Liwei nodded, "That's true, but there are so many powerful families in the capital..."

Getting them to agree on a single story is a very difficult task.

"At the beginning of the founding of the Great Chen Dynasty, the imperial examination system was established in order to select talents from the common people and break the monopoly of the aristocratic families in the court. However, resources such as reading and writing are extremely expensive, and ordinary families simply cannot afford them. Even with the imperial examination system, the court is still controlled by the aristocratic families."

Xie Liwei seemed to understand what she was about to say and immediately replied, "Most of these aristocratic families are in the north because the south is not as prosperous as the north in terms of either agriculture or commerce. If the canal can be built, it will drive the development of agriculture and commerce in the south, and then the south will also have its own great families."

Song Yaozhu nodded. "There are too many undeveloped areas in the South."

After talking for a long time, Song Yaozhu gradually showed signs of fatigue. Xie Liwei and Song Yaozhu discussed many more countermeasures. After coaxing her to sleep, he went to his study and summoned his advisors to refine their plan.

In the middle of the night, Xie Lü, who was at an academy in the suburbs of Beijing, also received the letter.

After reading the letter, his eyelids twitched.

"What's wrong? What kind of work has Brother Li assigned you this time?" Xie Mingyue leaned closer.

"Read it yourself." Xie Lu slapped the letter on his forehead. "After you finish reading it, remember to get your work done. I'm going to sleep."

Xie Mingyue skimmed through the text, then jumped up and down, exclaiming, "That was a task given to you by Brother Li! How could you push it onto me!"

Xie Lu waved his hand, "I'm getting old and can't stay up all night. You, as a junior, should be considerate of your elders!"

Xie Mingyue: "......"

I wish he hadn't come...

But then he thought about how his wife, Madam Yin, also made him do chores inside the house...

One is physical strength, and the other is mental strength.

After hesitating for a while, Xie Mingyue resolutely chose the mental activity!

He's getting old and can no longer do physical labor; besides, if he doesn't do it well, he might be humiliated by Madam Yin. He's a man, after all!

Meanwhile, back in Yunzhou, the Crown Prince led his men to Yunzhou without incident. Following the advice of his generals, he arranged for defenses at the four gates of the city.

Afterwards, he had to visit several surrounding prefectures and cities to demonstrate his "love for the people".

But on his way to Yanzhou, he was assassinated!

"Your Highness, there are too many assassins. We cannot hold them off. Your Highness, retreat to Yunzhou City immediately. We will cover your retreat!"

The guards covered the Crown Prince's retreat into Yunzhou City, deadly arrows raining down on the ground. The Crown Prince felt he had never been so disheveled; his horse, startled and panicked, nearly ran for its life. His mind was blank; he didn't know where to go next.

Fortunately, he had a group of guards who risked their lives to escort him safely back to Yunzhou City!

"Quickly, summon a doctor to bandage His Highness's wound!"

Then no one answered.

There was originally a physician accompanying them, but in the chaos of the attack, that physician may have already perished.

There was no other way but to have a guard with experience in bandaging treat the prince's wounds.

After a fierce battle, everyone was exhausted, but the crown prince was mostly furious.

Who would dare to assassinate him!

Knowing full well that his trip south was to comfort the disaster victims and demonstrate the power of the imperial family, the fact that they dared to make a move at this time shows that the other party wanted to make him look foolish!

At dawn, several of the rear guards escaped back.

"Your Highness, I saw those assassins heading towards Xuzhou!"

The crown prince flew into a rage and kicked over the table in front of him.

He's such a good brother!

He had previously considered the brotherhood and only allowed him to come to his fiefdom, but he never expected that the man wanted his life.

Since that's the case, he won't hold back anymore.

Meanwhile, on the official road leading to Xuzhou, a group of people quickly hid in the mountains and forests.

These were the assassins who sought to kill the crown prince. They were all tall, burly men with their faces covered by veils, revealing only their cold eyes.

They exuded a strong murderous aura, clearly seasoned veterans of many battles.

"Hahaha, I didn't expect our new strategist to be so useful! This trick of framing someone is brilliant! Our prince can just sit back and watch the tigers fight!"

"Exactly! It would be great to see the emperor's two sons both severely injured!"

Everyone laughed and joked as they headed home!