Liu Zhang said calmly, "Your Highness, there's no need to be too wary of me. There's no conflict of interest between us, and there's no conflict of interest between Miss Shen and me either."
Murong Yan snorted softly and said, "I want to overthrow the Third Prince and your Liu family. Lord Liu, are you sure there is no conflict of interest?"
"Your Highness, I dare to send my father to the Three Courts for trial, so I naturally have no concerns about being implicated. My surname is Liu, but that does not stop me from being loyal to the emperor and patriotic."
"Loyalty to the emperor and patriotism?" Murong Yan was slightly stunned. He was silent for a long time, then smiled faintly and said, "Lord Liu may seem upright, but in reality, he has abused his power for personal gain."
"I have been adjudicating cases in the Dali Temple for many years, and everything requires evidence."
"So you handed Minister Liu over to the three courts for trial, but you didn't actually get any evidence. Lord Liu, you are truly cunning."
"Cunning?" Liu Zhang wasn't annoyed, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. "This is the first time I've heard a fox praise someone for being cunning. Your Highness, isn't your purpose in approaching Miss Shen cunning?"
Murong Yan's expression darkened. "What does Lord Liu mean?"
Liu Zhang said calmly, "Marquis Chen is well-known for his achievements. He has repeatedly defeated the Southern Barbarian Cloud Country and incorporated the entire northern part of the Cloud Country into the southern territory of the Yanyang Country.
President Fu has consolidated the economic and cultural heritage of the Southern Border Chamber of Commerce, and opened up overseas markets.
Now the Chamber of Commerce has developed to the point where it can influence the economy of the entire Yanyang Kingdom. Except for the salt, iron, grain and other industries restricted by the state, which are not affected by the Chamber of Commerce, all other aspects of food, clothing, housing and transportation that are closely related to the lives of the people have been taken care of by President Fu.
A small decision made by President Fu can directly affect the income of the entire Yanyang National Treasury.
what does that mean?
If Marquis Shen wanted to rebel in the southern border, support Murong Tao as the crown prince, or enclose land and become king, and establish his own country, the Murong family might not be able to stop him.
Your approach to Master Shen isn't just about caring for him as a study companion, is it?
Murong Yan looked displeased. In the beginning, he was indeed instructed by Uncle Ling to approach Shen Xu in order to spy on the information of the Southern Territory and Lord Shen.
Since Shen Xu lacked family love since childhood, he also had a lucky mentality, thinking that Master Shen might not be an abandoned child, and at a critical moment he could use Shen Xu as a hostage to threaten the Marquis' Mansion.
So he showed great care for his younger brother and quickly gained the trust of Master Shen.
Chen Xu did not disappoint Murong Yan when the compound automatic crossbow and the light and shadow starry sky dome came out.
Murong Yan was completely stunned.
He felt that even though this prince was an abandoned child of the Marquis' Mansion, his talents could be put to good use.
Unfortunately, such a talent is not welcome in the Marquis' Mansion. His family members think he is unlearned and unskillful, and even the nobles in the capital think he is a disgrace and worthless.
But Prince Shen is a treasure, a treasure that was originally buried in a pile of treasures, a treasure that is enough to look down on the two heroes of the Liu family.
Neither the family background of the Marquis's Mansion nor the wealth of the Southern Territory could obscure the brilliance of his talent.
Under the influence of her and Jiang Yu, Murong Yan also began to study astronomy, geography, humanities and history.
With his passion for academics, he talked about everything with his two younger brothers, and they also showed him their research results without reservation.
Murong Yan found that their lives were very simple. The topics they talked about were almost all about academic research. They never talked about the family's struggle for money and power, and never asked or mentioned anything about the court affairs.
He began to treat them as his younger brothers and gradually forgot his original purpose.
Seeing Liu Zhang's inquiring gaze, Murong Yan said coldly, "Then why do you think I approached Ah Xu? To gather intelligence about the southern border? To determine whether the Marquis' Mansion has any intention of rebellion, or to use the Crown Prince to threaten Marquis Shen?"
Liu Zhang had a look of 'what do you think' on his face, and said with a mischievous smile, "It's impossible that he's just after beauty, right?"
Murong Yan asked rudely, "Then what is your purpose in approaching A Rao? It can't be because of her beauty, right?"
Liu Zhang did not answer him, but asked in return: "Then what do you think is the purpose of this humble official approaching Miss Jiang Rao? Apart from coveting her beauty, what other reason could there be?
Your Highness, do you really think that Nanjing would tell such important information to a little girl who knows nothing?"
Murong Yan was speechless for a moment, then he understood what Liu Zhang meant, and after a moment he said, "Then how many secrets of the Southern Territory do you think Ah Xu can grasp?
You know her previous situation. Her say in the family was not as powerful as that of a servant. Of course I feel sorry for her."
Liu Zhang smiled easily and replied, "This humble official also feels sorry for Miss Jiang Rao."
Murong Yan asked with a hint of doubt: "Hiss—when did you and A Rao become entangled with each other?"
He pursed his lips and thought for a moment, then suddenly realized, "The clothes A Rao was wearing that day were yours!"
Liu Zhang smiled without saying a word, lifted the curtain of the carriage, and reached out to take a bag of osmanthus cake handed to him by his guard. The fresh fragrance of osmanthus and the sweet smell of sugar cake wafted into his nose.
Liu Zhang tested the temperature of the test paper bag with his hand, then stood up and lifted the carriage curtain. "We've arrived at the Marquis' Mansion. I'll get off first. Thank you, Your Highness, for giving me a ride."
After saying that, he got out of the carriage swiftly and walked towards the gate of the Marquis' Mansion.
Murong Yan also followed out of the carriage and asked, "Hey, Liu Zhang, let's talk for a while. What's going on between you two? Can you tell me in detail?"
Liu Zhang turned around and smiled faintly, then admitted bluntly, "That's what Your Highness is thinking."
......
In the Marquis' Mansion, Ye Wanqing was staring at the lake in the courtyard in a daze. She heard that due to Murong Yan and Liu Zhang's intercession, His Majesty pardoned the General's Mansion's crimes. Today was the day her father Ye Qingshan would be buried.
Although her father deserved his punishment, she would be lying if she didn't feel sad. After all, her father had raised her for so many years, taught her to read and write, and treated her like a respectable legitimate daughter...
Her brother Ye Fan must be in great pain at this moment, but she can do nothing.
"Sister, I've noticed you're always unhappy. Why?" Fu Yi sat on the railing of the waterfront corridor and tilted his head to look at her inquiringly. "What are you thinking about? Are you worried that mother will be punished?"
Ye Wanqing came back to her senses and smiled with relief: "No, I believe Daddy will protect her."
"Then why are you unhappy? Did Murong Yan bully you?" Fu Yi thought for a moment and guessed, "Are you worried that your mother will disapprove of your marriage to Murong Yan?"
Ye Wanqing sighed slightly. She was not very worried about this matter. After all, judging from her attitude towards A Rao and Liu Zhang, Mrs. Fu was not an unreasonable person.
It’s just that this feeling of being unable to express my pain is so powerless.
Seeing this, Fu Yi quickly comforted him, "Don't worry, Big Brother will fully support you anyway."
She simply changed the subject and said, "Yesterday, my mother told me that even if she wants to remarry my father, my eldest brother must get married as soon as possible. Big brother, why don't you try hard to reunite our parents?"
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