Chapter 114 How Did She Get Her Hands?
Seven days later, as Lu Jinlan was watching the monks perform rituals for the deceased, Xiang Ruzhen rushed over.
Lu Jinlan glanced at her face. "What happened?"
Xiang Ruzhen said, "His Majesty just issued an edict to imprison the Prime Minister."
Lu Jinlan's brow twitched. Although she had already spread the word that the Prime Minister was jealous of her favor with the Emperor and coveted the position of Prime Minister, he had sent someone to assassinate her but failed, resulting in the death of her father.
Everyone in the capital now knows that she and Yan Weijin are sworn enemies. But she's only making a show of force; she hasn't taken any real action, nor does she have any concrete evidence. How could the Emperor possibly imprison Yan Weijin for this?
She hurriedly asked, "What was her crime?"
Xiang Ruzhen said, "They tried to assassinate you and killed your father."
Lu Jinlan frowned, "I haven't even gone to the Emperor to file a complaint yet, who is it...?"
She suddenly realized something, and Xiang Ruzhen nodded, "Wuxin brought physical evidence to the Emperor to report and expose the crime. And the witness was herself."
Lu Jinlan was speechless for a moment, and the two stood there for a long time, their thoughts churning. It wasn't until someone from the palace arrived with an imperial decree, summoning Lu Jinlan to the palace.
Lu Jinlan sighed and said to Xiang Ruzhen, "I'm going to the palace. Go and see her. Her situation is even more difficult than mine right now."
*
Lu Jinlan, dressed in mourning clothes, knelt before the emperor, her face ashen, as the emperor's voice drifted faintly from above.
"I was deeply worried when I heard that you had been assassinated. It is outrageous that such a thing could happen in the capital. Fortunately, Yan Wuxin put aside his own family and came to report the murderer. I have already imprisoned Yan Weijin, but there is still one thing I do not understand."
Lu Jinlan raised her head slightly, "What is it that Your Majesty does not understand?"
Zhao Mincheng said, "Yan Wuxin said that the reason Yan Weijin wanted to kill you was because you look like someone named Gu Feiqing. Do you know this Gu Feiqing?"
Lu Jinlan nodded.
She knew that when Yan Weijin attacked her, the Emperor could guess why Yan Weijin had done it.
It would be illogical to say that she knew nothing about what happened back then. But to say that she knew everything would be utterly reckless.
Lu Jinlan then said, "Your Majesty, although I am not acquainted with Gu Feiqing, I do know her."
The Emperor hurriedly asked, "What do you know about her?"
Lu Jinlan said, "She was my mother's best friend. My mother said that many years ago, when Gu Feiqing was on his deathbed, he handed a baby to her."
The Emperor leaned slightly forward, resting his head on the dragon throne. "Did she...did she say whose child it was?"
Lu Jinlan shook her head. "At that time, Gu Feiqing was already on his deathbed and died before he could say anything. My mother didn't even know whose child I was."
Looking at Zhao Mincheng's anxious expression, Lu Jinlan asked, "Your Majesty, do you know whose child that baby is?"
"I..." Zhao Mincheng turned back and sat upright on the dragon throne. "How could I have known?"
Lu Jinlan nodded. "I was overthinking it. I thought that since Your Majesty knew whose child I was, Your Majesty might know as well." Zhao Mincheng said, "I don't know. Has Yan Weijin told you?"
Lu Jinlan shook his head slightly, "I never said that, but I think that the Prime Minister and Gu Feiqing are enemies. Perhaps it was the Prime Minister who sent someone to kill Gu Feiqing back then. The Prime Minister is unwilling to let me go because I look very much like Gu Feiqing. She must be convinced that Gu Feiqing and I have a close relationship."
"Furthermore, Gu Feiqing risked his life to entrust me, his newborn son, to his closest friend. Given such affection, I am probably... Gu Feiqing's daughter."
She looked into Zhao Mincheng's eyes, "Your Majesty, am I right?"
“Yes, yes…” The Emperor looked away and responded softly, “You two look so alike, you must be…close relatives.”
The emperor and his minister remained silent for a long time, neither wanting to speak. After a while, Zhao Mincheng suddenly said, "There is something I need you to do personally."
*
Xiang Ruzhen waited at the palace gate and finally saw Lu Jinlan come out with Zeng Ying from the Inner Court Department, and a young palace boy carrying a tray followed closely behind.
Xiang Ruzhen quickly went to greet him, but Lu Jinlan waved his hand, telling Zeng Ying to take the palace servant into the carriage first.
Xiang Ruzhen whispered, "What did the Emperor say to you?"
Lu Jinlan: "Did you see the wine on the tray just now? That was poisoned wine, meant for Yan Weijin."
Xiang Ruzhen was taken aback. "Does His Majesty not intend to interrogate me? Or will he just execute me?"
Lu Jinlan nodded slightly, "If you want her to commit suicide, send Lord Zeng and me together to watch her die."
Xiang Ruzhen frowned. "Isn't the Emperor putting you in a very difficult position? Why does she have to send you to deliver the poisoned wine? Wait a moment, I'll go to the palace to ask for permission to deliver the poisoned wine."
Lu Jinlan grabbed her arm. "The Emperor won't let you go, and I don't want you to go either. Let's leave Wuxin a friend she can talk to easily, so that when she's feeling down, she won't not know who to confide in. Since things have come to this, I'll come alone."
Xiang Ruzhen said with heartache, "Unfortunately, she...she has locked herself in the mansion and refuses to see anyone."
Just as Lu Jinlan was about to say something, Zeng Ying urged her from the carriage, "Lord Lu, there's no time to lose, let's hurry up and get the matter His Majesty has entrusted to us settled."
Lu Jinlan could only say to Xiang Ruzhen, "I'll come find you when I'm done with my work. I have a lot to tell you."
*
Yan Weijin stood with his hands behind his back in the prison, absorbing a ray of sunlight reflected through the tiny iron window.
"Ahem!" A soft cough came from behind. Zeng Ying cupped her hands in greeting. "Your Excellency, what are you thinking about?"
Yan Weijin didn't turn around, and retorted, "What are you doing here?"
Zeng Ying said with a forced smile, "His Majesty sent us to deliver a pot of wine to you and to see you off on your journey. Your Excellency, please don't hold a grudge against us; this is His Majesty's will."
Yan Weijin sneered, "She's afraid. She doesn't dare to publicly try me. She's afraid I'll reveal everything. The Emperor is so concerned about his reputation now, completely different from his former opportunistic and treacherous self-interest. But why should I grant her wish? I won't die, I refuse to die."
Zeng Ying said helplessly, "Your Excellency, things have come to this point, so please don't hold a grudge. If the Emperor doesn't want you to speak, then please don't."
"Even if you tell us, we dare not listen or believe you, so why waste your breath?"
"His Majesty anticipated that you would not accept death, and before leaving, he asked me to tell you that if you were to speak nonsense, he would remind you to think of your children. If you do not care about your children, he would remind you to think of the entire Yan clan."
"Right now, only you are guilty. If you... say something you shouldn't, the Emperor might implicate you as well."
Yan Weijin snorted and said disdainfully, "When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out. Would someone destined to die be afraid of threats?"
Lu Jinlan sighed, "Aren't you afraid?"
Yan Weijin turned around abruptly, and Lu Jinlan said to Zeng Ying, "Judging from the Prime Minister's tough attitude, I'm afraid she won't die anytime soon. You go out first, let me talk to her alone."
Zeng Ying hesitated. This was something the Emperor could have accomplished by having either her or Lu Jinlan do it.
But the Emperor insisted on having the two of them come together, clearly intending for them to keep each other in check.
The emperor had repeatedly instructed her to keep an eye on Yan Weijin and prevent him from saying anything inappropriate to Lu Jinlan.
But now Lu Jinlan actually wanted to talk to Yan Weijin alone, which put Zeng Ying in a difficult position.
She glanced at the young palace servant beside her and whispered, "Lord Lu, if it were just the two of us, I would certainly do you a favor. But with the Emperor's men here, what if he..."
Lu Jinlan turned to look at the young palace servant, affectionately placed her hand on his shoulder, and said gently, "Runnian, leave the wine here and accompany Lord Zeng out to rest for a while. Do you know what to say if the Emperor asks?"
Xu Runnian blushed and nodded repeatedly, whispering, "Just say we've always been here."
Lu Jinlan smiled and nodded, "Good girl, go out now."
Zeng Ying was truly amazed. She knew that this Marquis of Jing'an was infamous for his womanizing ways. Rumor had it that if Lu Jinlan stayed in one place for more than ten days, a handsome local man would inevitably throw himself at her.
Zeng Ying had previously thought this statement was an exaggeration, and since she had a good personal relationship with Lu Jinlan, she had even secretly stood up for her.
After all, Lu Jinlan is a talent who can govern the country with her pen and conquer the world on horseback. Wouldn't constantly spreading rumors about her romantic affairs be detrimental to her reputation?
But seeing it today, I realize I was wrong. The rumors of his romantic escapades may not be unfounded. Even if someone wanted to spread rumors, they couldn't have fabricated such an exaggerated story.
How did she manage to get close to the Emperor, someone who's always under his nose? It's truly amazing!
Zeng Ying, filled with confusion, went outside with Xu Runnian, leaving Lu Jinlan and Yan Weijin alone, gazing at each other.
Lu Jinlan lifted her robe, sat cross-legged on the ground, and gestured to Yan Weijin, saying, "Please sit down and talk."
Yan Weijin frowned and said warily, "If you're polite to me, I won't drink the poisoned wine. You should treat me like an enemy."
Lu Jinlan chuckled, "What's the proper attitude towards an enemy? Get agitated? Insult them? Or even try to break in and beat them up? What's the point?"
"It's true that we are enemies, but the outcome is already decided. You are inside, and I am outside. You are about to die, while I will live on forever. I have won, and you have lost."
"I didn't lose!" Yan Weijin gritted his teeth and said, "If it weren't for Yan Wuxin's betrayal, I wouldn't have lost at all! You're too clever. I was fully prepared, but you persuaded someone I never expected. To this day, I still can't believe that my daughter actually betrayed me! Are you happy? Are you smug?"
Looking at her resentful gaze, Lu Jinlan slowly shook her head. She pointed to the mourning clothes she was wearing, and then to Yan Weijin in the prison.
His voice was bitter. "What's there to be happy about in a lose-lose situation? It's just fair. But for the sake of fairness, both Wuxin and I have lost a lot."
Yan Weijin retorted angrily, "Are you the only ones who are losing? Haven't I? I, Yan Weijin, have gone from having nothing to becoming the head of all officials. I have worked hard and sacrificed so much along the way."
"How unfortunate! When she was born, I had just assumed the position of Prime Minister, and I named her that. I hoped that my daughter would never have to suffer like me, but what did she do? She actually sent me to prison!"
“I, Yan Weijin, have been wise and sagacious all my life. Whether it was the bloody battles that changed dynasties or the bloodless struggles in the court, when have I ever lost? Now I have actually been defeated by my own daughter. It is truly a misfortune for my family.”
Despite Yan Weijin's fury, Lu Jinlan remained remarkably calm.
She whispered, "Don't be angry, and don't blame her. If you want to hate someone, hate me, or hate the Emperor. In any case, don't blame Wuxin."
“You killed my father, what is she supposed to do? If she doesn’t do it, then I’ll have to. In that case, it will become a complete mess, and the whole world will know, and things will only get worse.”
"If she were to handle it, at least the outcome could be kept within a certain range. There would be no implication of others, no harm to your family, and only you would be held accountable. This would be a great blessing for your family. If I were to handle it, I would definitely not know my own strength. Even if I didn't want to harm the innocent, I couldn't guarantee that I could do it."
"She faced immense pressure from being disobedient and unfilial, but she gave me an explanation and saved some people as well."
"Although you are angry right now, please think about her good intentions. With your reputation as the Prime Minister, no matter which of us sent you here, we cannot escape the hatred of your students, friends, and the Yan clan."
"Wu Xin came to play the villain because he didn't want me to bear this hatred."
Yan Weijin laughed loudly, "I have served as an official in the court for more than 20 years, and the people I have promoted are spread all over the country and across seventeen prefectures. The Yan family has flourished under my leadership. Of course, I did not do this for nothing! But do you think that just because she plays the villain, those people will stop hating you?"
Lu Jinlan nodded with a smile, "Of course she still hates me. Wu Xin understands this, but she still does it. Do you want to know why?"
Lu Jinlan laughed smugly, "Your Excellency, if I don't tell you, I guarantee you'll never understand it, not even until you die."
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