The carriage fell silent for a moment, with only the sound of their breathing audible.
Jiang Yimian's body stiffened slightly from the heat of the person behind her, and she dared not move. However, the heavy breathing sprayed on her neck caused her to tremble all over.
Only when the heat inside the carriage gradually subsided did Jiang Yimian breathe a sigh of relief and ask curiously, "How did you know that the people outside the Princess's residence were Aguzan's doing?"
The sweet fragrance emanating from the girl filled Lu Cijian's nostrils. The heat he had finally managed to suppress was instantly disrupted by this fragrance, giving him a slight headache.
He took a deep breath, and after a while, he managed to restrain himself from thinking about the person in his arms. He said seriously, "Aguzan is not valued by the Khan in Tuyuhun because he has the blood of the Great Jin Dynasty."
If it weren't for the gradual emergence of his abilities after he came of age, he would probably still be an unfavored prince, let alone representing Tuyuhun to negotiate peace with the Great Jin.
Abiya is the eldest prince's younger sister, so they are naturally not close. He will definitely find an opportunity to suppress the eldest prince's faction, and competing with you is a good opportunity.
As you can see, within half a day, news of Abiya's defeat to you spread throughout the capital, not to mention the Tuyuhun people lurking in the shadows.
"Upon returning this time, the Second Prince's faction will definitely use this matter against him; it was all part of his plan."
This person is unfathomable, and his true purpose in coming to the Great Jin Dynasty has not yet been revealed. He is certainly not a simple person.
Jiang Yimian was stunned for a moment, somewhat puzzled, "Then isn't he afraid that this matter will be exposed and those people will use it to their advantage?"
If the Tuyuhun people knew that he was ruining their reputation for power and profit, they wouldn't be able to remain indifferent.
Lu Cijian simply said, "Those people won't care about these things; in fact, his actions will make his supporters proud."
The Tuyuhun people are extremely warlike and only care about winning or losing.
"Abiya's loss to you this time has truly been a disgrace to Tuyuhun, and the people of Tuyuhun naturally stand on Aguzan's side."
Jiang Yimian then realized the crux of the matter, and after thinking for a while, she asked, "Xue Lingyu also came to the Princess's residence today. Has Marquis Anding made any moves recently?"
Since the Xue family was raided, the Marquis of Anding's residence has become even quieter. Apart from the occasional news that Lu Lin went to a brothel, there is basically no other news about the Marquis of Anding's residence.
Furthermore, since Lu Chengyuan left the Imperial Guard, he has basically stayed in his residence, let alone caught anything suspicious.
Lu Cijian thought for a moment before saying, "There really is something interesting."
Jiang Yimian raised an eyebrow, immediately showing interest. "What is it?"
*
At this time, at the Marquis of Anding's residence.
Lu Chengyuan was teasing the chirping birds in the cage in the yard.
A servant rushed in from outside, looking flustered, and said, "My lord, the young mistress has been brought back by the princess's people. They said they want you to discipline the people in the mansion properly so as not to anger the princess."
I heard that the young mistress offended the princess at the princess's residence today.
Lu Chengyuan didn't stop feeding the birds for a moment, still standing in front of the birdcage, and said calmly, "I understand."
Seeing this, the servant did not retreat, and hesitated for a moment as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
Lu Chengyuan glanced at him and said only, "Speak, what else is there?"
The servant was taken aback, and after a moment of hesitation, he said, "Madam wants to see the young master. Master, the young master hasn't seen Madam for a long time. After all, they are mother and son, and this is not good for the young master."
Since His Majesty ordered the lady to be imprisoned in the ancestral hall to reflect on her actions, the young master has not visited her since the very beginning, spending his days in brothels and wine shops, even more so than before.
Lu Chengyuan merely snorted coldly, tossed all the rice grains in his hand into the birdcage, and said with dissatisfaction, "Ignore her. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be trapped in this manor now."
If that woman hadn't ruined his plans, he would have completed them long ago, and things wouldn't have turned out like this.
The Marquis's mansion is now practically an empty shell, yet it's being watched by others, making it difficult for him to do anything he wants.
No, if we wait any longer, the Marquis's mansion might really be doomed.
Thinking it over, he simply waved his hand, dismissing the people.
After everyone left, he sat down on the sandalwood chair under the tree and casually asked, "How's the task I asked you to do going?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a young man emerged from the shadows under the eaves. He respectfully replied, "Reporting to the Marquis, it has been completed, but there has been no response from the Prince of Chu."
Lu Chengyuan scoffed coldly, "Very well, very well indeed. Xie Yang is truly patient. I'll see if he can get what he wants in the end."
After a long silence, he finally asked, "Did that person reply?"
The young man hesitated for a moment before saying, "His maidservant told the Marquis not to contact him for the time being, at least until after the archery banquet."
They also said that the King of Chu was eyeing the throne covetously, and might reap the benefits without lifting a finger.
Lu Chengyuan didn't speak, and after a long silence, he said, "I understand, you can go now."
The young man responded and was about to leave when he remembered something and tentatively asked, "That person asked you what would happen to Lu Cijian if things went well?"
Lu Chengyuan scoffed, a flash of anger in his eyes, "Of course we should kill them. The things that woman left behind should have died long ago. It's lucky she's lived all these years."
If he had known that this wretched child had become his biggest obstacle, he would have killed him back then, and would never have given him the chance to grow to where he is today.
The young man then continued, "That person said you should spare Chen Shuyu's life for now, because this woman is still useful."
Lu Chengyuan simply responded indifferently.
However, she was a dispensable woman, and whether he kept her or not was irrelevant to him. Since that person wanted to keep her, then he would spare Chen Shuyu's life.
After all, she was his wife with whom he had shared a bed for so many years.
Inside the Hou Mansion ancestral hall.
In the dimly lit room, rows of memorial tablets were neatly placed.
Only a few small candles flickered around, illuminating the person kneeling before the memorial tablet.
A plain-looking woman was kneeling on the prayer mat, her eyes closed, chanting incantations, and striking a wooden fish with her hands. She was very devout.
She stopped what she was doing when she heard a soft knock at the door. She reached out and the old nanny next to her immediately helped her up.
She addressed the person outside the door, saying, "Well, has the Marquis agreed to let Lin'er come to see me?"
Being confined to the gloomy ancestral hall all day long was becoming unbearable for her, and she especially longed to see her son.
But so much time has passed, and since the day he was locked in the ancestral hall, Lu Lin has never come to the ancestral hall again, not even on his wedding day, as if he has truly forgotten his mother.
She wanted to say a few words to her son, but the people outside said that Lu Lin spent all his time in brothels, which made her both angry and helpless.
Her hatred for Lu Cijian and Jiang Yimian reached its peak. If she could get out of the city, she would definitely find a way to kill them.
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