Chapter 1: Blatant Bribe Solicitation
In the spring of the seventeenth year of Qianyuan, at the city gate of Beijing.
Three months earlier, the Duke of Zhenguo was defeated at Yanhui Pass, his entire army of 20,000 men annihilated. Accused of treason, the Duke was apprehended, shocking the nation. Emperor Qianyuan ordered the Duke of Zhenguo to return to Beijing to investigate.
Half a month ago, the Prince of Zhenguo clashed with the Fifth Prince and kicked him into the river, causing him to suffer a high fever and fall into a coma. Emperor Qianyuan was furious and ordered Yan Xing to be exiled to Lingnan.
Today is the day that Yan Xing sets out for Lingnan. Before leaving, Zhao Qinghui, the son of the Left Censor-in-Chief, comes to see him off.
Zhao Qinghui looked like a refined and elegant scholar, but the look he gave Yan Xing at this moment was filled with a bit of contempt and arrogance.
"Mr. Zhao, Mr. Zhao, I am sorry for not coming to greet you in person. Please forgive me." The county magistrate Lu Chenyang, who was ordered to escort Yan Xing and go to Lingnan to take up his post, hurried out.
Lu Chenyang was young, in his early twenties, with a refined and youthful look. But he was also very handsome, with clear eyebrows, a pair of bright eyes that smiled, and an extraordinary handsomeness.
Lu Chenyang smiled brightly. "I've long heard that the Zhao family is a family of scholars and upright people, and they are known for their kindness and loyalty. Now that Prince Yan is in trouble, you still take the risk to come and visit him. A friend in need is a friend indeed. It's truly touching."
Zhao Qinghui frowned: "You're talking nonsense, I'm not here to see him."
Lu Chenyang glanced at him suspiciously. "Isn't it? The Yan and Zhao families have always been on good terms, and everyone in the capital knows this. Given the Zhao family's tradition, they certainly wouldn't take advantage of someone's misfortune." After a pause, he leaned forward and whispered, "Master Zhao, we're family! You don't have to hide it from me. If you want me to take care of the Crown Prince along the way, I'm willing to do that."
As he spoke, he looked at Zhao Qinghui and said, "It's been a long journey, and the road is so difficult. I heard that the families of other prisoners have given a lot of money."
A blatant bribery!
Zhao Qinghui sneered, "You are just a lowly official, yet you actually ask for a bribe from me!"
Lu Chenyang sighed, "Young Master, you've misunderstood. I also admire the Zhao family for being able to come visit Prince Yan at this time. The Zhao family is truly righteous and loyal. They are still standing by us, which is truly admirable." He looked at the guards around him and said, "Don't you agree?"
"Yes! Don't worry, Mr. Zhao, we will take good care of Prince Yan!" the guards immediately said loudly.
Lu Chenyang said loudly again, "Don't worry, Master Zhao. Although Yan Xing's crimes are extremely serious, we will enforce the law impartially. But Master Zhao's concern for Prince Yan is truly touching! I admire him deeply. He has shared hardships with us and has not added insult to injury. Master Zhao is truly admirable! Well done, Master Zhao!"
The guards behind her shouted again, "Admirable! Well done, Master Zhao!"
Today was the day Yan Xing was exiled to the border, and many people had gathered to watch. The case of the Duke of Zhenguo was already riddled with suspicion, and the people didn't believe he would collude with the enemy and betray the country. This was just an excuse the Emperor made up to show his fear of him.
They sympathized with the Duke of Zhenguo in their hearts, and now after hearing Lu Chenyang's words, they all joined in the commotion.
"Well done, Young Master Zhao!" the people shouted in unison.
Zhao Qinghui was so frightened that his face turned pale. He said, "That's not the case. He didn't do that. Don't talk nonsense!" If this matter got to the emperor's ears, he would never be able to clear himself even if he jumped into the Yellow River.
Zhao Qinghui glared at Lu Chenyang. Lu Chenyang smiled and looked harmless, but he was staring at the jade pendant around his waist.
Apparently, if he refused to be generous, he seemed to be going on.
Zhao Qinghui immediately decided to spend money to ward off disaster, took out a silver ingot, and quietly put it into his hand. Lu Chenyang weighed it and pushed it back calmly.
He actually thinks it’s not enough!
Zhao Qinghui had no choice but to take out a silver note worth two hundred taels. Lu Chenyang then quietly stuffed it into his sleeve with satisfaction.
"The silver just now..." Lu Chenyang said again: "Silver notes are not convenient..."
Zhao Qinghui glared at him fiercely, gritting his teeth and saying, "Lu Chenyang, don't go too far!" He said coldly, "Don't you want to be an official anymore? Or do you not want to return to the capital in the future?"
Lu Chenyang smiled calmly: "Mr. Zhao, I've already gone to Lingnan to be a county magistrate, why would I go back to the capital?"
He was a top scholar who had won the first place in the imperial examination and had done great things for more than 200 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China. But now he ended up in such a "good place". What hope was there for him to return to Beijing?
Zhao Qinghui couldn't help but stop being angry, and felt a little sympathy. After all, they had already gone to Lingnan, so how about giving him a few taels of silver?
Zhao Qinghui handed the silver over again, and Lu Chenyang took it with a smile.
Lu Chenyang turned around and said loudly, "So, Master Zhao is here to sever ties with the criminal Yan Xing? Master Zhao is truly loyal to his emperor and patriotic. Now that we've said that, Master Zhao, please return."
Severing ties with one's family? The people's gazes at Zhao Qinghui changed. Oh, so he was here to take advantage of the trouble the Zhenguo Mansion was in.
In the past, when the Zhenguogong Mansion was at its peak, Zhao Qinghui followed Yan Xing and always called him a good brother. But when Yan Xing fell into trouble, he came to break off his ties with him. Tsk tsk tsk.
Zhao Qinghui was furious again! However, he had finally cleared his name. He couldn't let the emperor misunderstand that the Zhao family had ties with the Zhenguogong Mansion, could he? It wasn't like he was going to die.
Zhao Qinghui threw down a jade pendant and said, "I'll return this to you. From now on, you will have nothing to do with our Zhao family!" After saying that, he turned around and ran away in a hurry.
Lu Chenyang picked up the jade pendant that fell on the ground and put it away naturally.
Lu Chenyang looked at Yan Xing and said in a teasing tone, "Even your childhood sweetheart is trying to distance himself from you. Your Highness is not a very good person... "
Yan Xing stared at the jade pendant in his hand, and Lu Chenyang hid it vigilantly.
"Let's go, brothers! Let's set off!" Lu Chenyang shouted loudly.
Lu Chenyang rode on horseback and slowly left the capital with his convoy without looking back.
His tone was high and his fighting spirit was surging. He didn't look like someone who had been exiled, but rather someone who had been promoted.
Yan Xing couldn't help but look at him. He knew that he was the new top scholar and the first top scholar in the history of Dagan to get six top marks.
Unfortunately, he was not very smart. After the Duke of Zhenguo was defeated, he publicly stated that there must be other hidden reasons for the matter and clearly supported the Duke of Zhenguo, which made him disliked by the emperor.
Only a good top scholar would be exiled to a place like Lingnan to serve as a county magistrate.
The emperor was deeply wary of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion in Lingnan. He finally took action against the Duke of Zhenguo and convicted and exiled Yan Xing, the Duke of Zhenguo's son, but he chose Lingnan. This shows how terrifying this place is.
Lingnan is located on the border, and many small tribes have lived there for generations. Because it is surrounded by mountains and the miasma in the mountains is dense, many desperate people will go to Lingnan when they have nowhere else to go.
Over time, this area became a lawless zone. The imperial court sent troops to retake it many times, but they were unable to adapt to the local climate and always returned in defeat. Officials sent there often died in office for various reasons, making it extremely dangerous.
Lu Chenyang was treated the same as the prince Yan Xing. Who did he offend?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
