Chapter 232: Queen Lu's eyes were dark and her heart was burning with anxiety
After the morning court was over, those court officials from the aristocratic families came out of the main hall and hurried out with grim expressions.
Cui Lin, who had previously enjoyed seeing the Lu family suffer, was also panicking: "What is the Lu family doing? Are they crazy?"
He wanted the Lu family to be in trouble, and he also wanted to use the grain tax case to suppress the Lu family, but that didn't mean he wanted the aristocratic family to turn against the emperor.
The Lu family secretly helped Prince Cheng smuggle banned items and mediated with the Ministry of War to recruit soldiers and stockpile weapons for him. Are they crazy?
Queen Lu's son was the bloodline of their Lu family, the one they wanted to help ascend the throne as the next emperor. Yet, they actually went to help Prince Cheng rebel?!
Cui Lin couldn't figure it out and wondered if the Lu family had lost their minds.
Feng Qiuli followed beside him and looked back at Xiao Yan who was walking leisurely around the inner palace gate not far away. After making eye contact with him, she looked away and turned to look at Cui Lin who was cursing beside her.
"I can't understand it either. When the late emperor was alive, it was understandable for the Lu family to eat with two families. But Your Majesty has been on the throne for many years, the government has long been stable, and the Fourth Prince has already intended to seize the throne, yet the Lu family is still supporting Prince Cheng..." Feng Qiuli's face turned pale. "If the Queen and the Fourth Prince knew, how could they live in peace with the Lu family?"
Cui Lin said calmly, "I always feel that something is wrong. Lu Chongyuan shouldn't be so stupid."
Even if the Lu family had other ideas and wanted to have another way out besides Queen Lu and her son, they should not choose Prince Cheng.
Even if they secretly contacted other princes, or even assisted them privately, and selected him as a candidate for the Fourth Prince, it would be better than choosing Prince Cheng. Lu Chongyuan should not be so foolish as to choose someone who would never have another chance to ascend to the throne.
Feng Qiuli whispered, "Mr. Cui is right. I'm afraid there's something else going on." He paused, then lowered his voice, "I just saw Xiao Yan heading towards Fengxi Palace."
Cui Lin glanced back and said, "He wants to use this incident to sow discord between the Queen and the Lu family."
Feng Qiuli said, "It's no wonder he's anxious. After the account book was discovered, we secretly sent a lot of clues. We thought we could nail the Lu family, but who knew Lu Chongyuan would deal with those people first? Now we can't take down the Lu family with just the account book, and Lu Zhao has refused to speak. Xiao Yan is probably getting anxious..."
Cui Lin narrowed his eyes slightly. "That old fox Lu Chongyuan, I thought the continuous attacks had nearly killed him, but I didn't expect him to be so treacherous!"
He had previously thought of using the grain tax issue to put the Lu family to death, but Lu Chongyuan was ruthless and killed those who might implicate the Lu family. Lu Zhao also seemed to be ready to take all the blame.
The Lu family suffered a series of setbacks, and everyone including Cui Lin thought that Lu Chongyuan had run out of tricks. However, no one expected that in addition to those people on the surface, the Lu family actually had other tricks in secret, and they were still able to take care of things outside the capital when Lu Chongyuan was trapped.
Even the eunuch Xiao Yan couldn't get ahead of the Lu family.
Cui Lin didn't dare to act rashly, for he was afraid that he would be caught by the Lu family's secret agents and targeted by the aristocratic families. He was also afraid that if he gave more clues, Xiao Yan would follow the clues and implicate other families.
He had been anxious, but now he found an opportunity to sow discord between the Queen and her son and the Lu family. If the Queen and her son could turn against the Lu family, no matter how capable Lu Chongyuan was, he would probably be caught off guard.
This is a good opportunity.
Cui Lin whispered, "Send a message to the Second Prince, asking him to come see us."
Since Xiao Yan has found the Queen, they will give him another push. Compared with the Queen, the impulsive Fourth Prince is more likely to be provoked.
Feng Qiuli lowered her eyes and said, "Okay."
…
Ever since Prince Cheng was imprisoned, Empress Lu seemed to be indifferent and appeared to be keeping everything as normal in the harem, but in fact she was paying closer attention to the news from outside.
She had heard from the palace servants about the Song family's relocation of the grave last night. She knew that Song Tangning had actually gone to the Song family to get him expelled from the family and even moved the coffins of Song Xi and his wife out of the Song family.
Queen Lu frowned for a long time, always feeling that the person the servants were talking about was nothing like the easy-to-control girl she once knew.
"The Song family actually agreed?" asked Queen Lu.
Jin Zhi whispered, "I have to agree. I heard that not only the Gu family's head went, but even Governor Xiao brought his Black Armored Guards with him. After losing the Duke's Mansion, the Song family is just an ordinary official family. How can they stop that evil spirit?"
She hesitated for a moment: "My Lady, you sent people to the Song family's ancestral tomb that year. If they suddenly moved the tomb, would it be possible..."
"When has this palace ever sent anyone?"
Queen Lu glanced back coldly, and that look made Jinzhi's spine go cold.
The person who did the job back then had long since died. Moreover, although she had sent people to look for the item, she had also instructed them that no matter whether the item was found or not, they had to clean up the mess. The palace servant who came back to report also explained it very clearly, and he handed over the rest of the matter to the Song family.
With the old lady around, she would not be unable to take care of her own son's grave. What's more, after the grave was moved last night, there was no reaction from the Song family, and Song Tangning was also quiet.
So many years have passed, who would know that anyone has moved the coffin in the grave?
"Jinzhi, I've noticed that you've been talking more and more lately. Are you getting older and your memory is getting messy?"
Jinzhi's face turned pale at Empress Lu's words, and she quickly lowered her head: "I misremembered it. Your Majesty has never had any contact with the Song family."
Empress Lu then withdrew her gaze and took the golden scissors and placed them on the peony in front of her: "Don't lose your composure and cause misunderstandings."
Seeing Jin Zhi lower her head, she sighed softly, "I always thought Tang Ning was a stubborn girl with only Lu Zhinian in her eyes. I never thought she could catch the eye of Xiao Yan."
If she had known that the little girl had such ability and could win the favor of the powerful eunuchs inside and outside the palace, she should have kept more people in the palace.
Even if the Lu family's marriage fails and the thing cannot be found, if she can coax Xiao Yan into doing her bidding, how could she be restricted in every way and not even be able to find out any news about Xie Tianyu in prison?
"What a pity, that child is tired of me because of the Lu family."
Queen Lu was filled with regret. She closed the scissors in her hand, and several of the peonies that were originally in full bloom were cut off.
Jinzhi held the tray and placed the cut flowers on it. Seeing that the queen looked gloomy, she whispered: "It's that young lady Song who is cold-hearted. The queen used to treat her well, but she doesn't know how to appreciate it."
Empress Lu said, "She is a young girl after all, and has a bad temper. If you have time, please invite her to the palace to sit with you. We can't let her misunderstand me."
It is still unknown whether Song Tangning has the thing in her hand or not. Just her current reputation outside, the academy that is about to be built into a "holy place" in the capital, the goodwill of those upright officials, and even Xiao Yan, are no less than the benefits that the Rong family could bring in the past.
The little girl can't help but get married. Since she was wronged by the wrong matchmaker, she should be given a good marriage.
If the Lu family fails, there are still other families. Even if we take a step back, there is still the Fourth Prince.
Queen Lu looked at Shaoyao in front of her calmly. Her whole body was as delicate as before. If you didn't see the cyan color under her eyes that could not be concealed by makeup, you would really think that she was living a peaceful life and was not concerned about the world. But in fact, only she knew the urgency in her heart.
The Lu family has lost power, and she and the prince are not as good as before. She has to find a way.
Compared to other people, a little girl is always easier to handle.
"Empress!"
The sudden sound outside the palace made Queen Lu, who was in deep thought, tremble in her hands, and she cut off a bunch of branches and leaves, making the whole pot of peonies look ugly.
Jinzhi turned around and scolded: "What are you yelling about?"
"It's news from the morning court."
Queen Lu put down her golden scissors and said, "Come in."
The person who hurried in was the head eunuch of Fengxi Palace, the same person who had inquired about Prince Cheng that night. He looked a little flustered. When he came closer, without waiting for Empress Lu to speak, he said hurriedly:
"Just now, when the court was dismissed, I hid in the corridor leading in and out of the palace and overheard a conversation between several adults. They said that Prince Cheng had confessed."
Empress Lu curled her fingers and said, "If he confesses, then he confesses. Why are you so panicked?"
The young eunuch said, "Prince Cheng has confessed that his collusion with the Ministry of War and the Arsenal was orchestrated by the Lu family. He also claimed that the ore used to refine the Su iron he stockpiled for his weapons was obtained through the Lu family, and that it was the Lu family's merchant ships that transported it to the capital. His Majesty is furious and has ordered a thorough investigation."
As soon as he finished speaking, someone outside the hall came with a message.
"Your Majesty, Governor Xiao requests an audience."
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