Chapter 704: In ten years, people’s hearts may change, but Gu Lu will never change.
Within a few days, a piece of news spread in the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.
Lin Jiayou got an official position, although it was only a clerk beside the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, which was not a prominent position, but he was still a civil servant under the emperor and had a formal official status.
When Gu Qingchen heard the news, he was practicing archery in the yard.
She shot the last arrow with a whoosh, hitting the bull's eye, then dropped the bow with satisfaction, her face showing an unconcealable pride.
She just knew it!
She knew that Lin Jiayou was capable!
A few days ago, his elder brother looked down on him so much, and the servants in the mansion also treated him differently based on his status. But what about now? He doesn't rely on anyone, and he can make a name for himself!
Lin Jiayou used to work as a clerk under Gu Lu in Jinguan City. He is very good at these clerical matters and this position is perfect for him.
Gu Qingchen felt extremely happy, as if all the humiliation he had suffered in the past few days had disappeared.
She thinks her vision is the best in the world!
She was happily thinking about how to celebrate for Lin Jiayou when Qian Zhenyun walked in.
He also held several account books in his hands.
"So happy?" Qian Zhenyun looked at her beaming face, but no emotion could be heard in his voice.
"That's right!" Gu Qingchen raised his chin like a proud little peacock, "I told you that Lin Jiayou is a rare talent and will soar to the sky sooner or later, but you just don't believe me."
Qian Zhenyun didn't respond to her. He simply placed the account book on the stone table and casually asked, "The Jingzhao prefect is a strict person, and the threshold for entry is extremely high. I think Lin Jiayou must have put a lot of thought into getting this position."
He paused, his eyes falling on a certain page in the account book, as if talking to himself.
"I heard that to get a position like this in Jingzhao Prefecture, you need to bribe everyone, and you'll need at least 1,000 taels, if not 800. It's surprising that Gu Lu, a clean official, has such a fortune."
The smile on Gu Qingchen's face slowly froze.
She turned her head and looked at Qian Zhenyun.
He still looked down at the account book with a focused expression, as if what he had just said was really just a careless remark.
But Gu Qingchen understood the meaning.
He suspected that Lin Jiayou's official position was bought by his brother Gu Lu.
A surge of anger rose even higher than the pride just now.
"GongGong, if it was someone else, maybe I would believe you if you said that."
Qian Zhenyun stopped flipping through the account pages and looked up at her.
"But that person is Brother Gu Lu, it's impossible for him." Gu Qingchen's voice was not loud, but extremely firm.
"My father often said that he was the one who taught Gu Lu. It was precisely because the Emperor trusted his character that he handed over the entire Jinguan City to him for a full ten years."
Her eyes became sharp and she stared straight at Qian Zhenyun.
"In ten years, people's hearts may change, but Gu Lu will never change. Even if he really changed, my father has been communicating with him for years. How could he not notice it?"
Gu Qingchen took a step forward, his words filled with unprecedented disappointment and sharpness.
"Qian Zhenyun, don't let jealousy blind you."
The last sentence was like a heavy hammer, hitting Qian Zhenyun's heart hard.
He froze completely.
envy?
She actually thought that she was speculating about Lin Jiayou like this out of jealousy?
After Gu Qingchen finished speaking, he turned around and left without even looking at him.
Qian Zhenyun stood there for a long time without moving.
He looked at the empty yard, and Gu Qingchen's words "Gu Lu would never do that" kept echoing in his mind.
yes……
When he was a child, didn’t he admire Brother Gu Lu the most?
At that time, Gu Lu was still a young man following Gu Junze. Every time he came to the mansion, he would touch his head with a smile and bring him the most novel gadgets in the capital.
He is gentle and upright, and is the most stable and reliable role model among all children.
When did I start to doubt him?
Could it be... that it was really like Qingchen said, that I was too jealous of Lin Jiayou, jealous that he could easily get her protection and favor, so I lost my mind and thought that everyone had ulterior motives?
Qian Zhenyun lowered his eyes and looked at the account book in his hand. For the first time, he doubted his judgment.
Ever since that day when he parted ways with Gu Qingchen on bad terms, Qian Zhenyun buried himself in the files of the Ministry of Revenue.
For the first time, he began to reflect on whether his targeting of Lin Jiayou was really mixed with too much selfishness.
Perhaps, Gu Qingchen was right. He shouldn't have made such assumptions about his brother Gu Lu's character.
However, before he had time to sort out his thoughts, a storm against him was quietly brewing in the capital.
Initially, there were only whispers circulating in some teahouses and taverns.
"Have you heard? The prince's study companion, Qian Zhenyun, looks honest, but he has shady hands!"
"Yes, in order to rent the lucrative piece of meat of the Royal Forest Garden, a wealthy businessman from the south gave him an ancient inkstone from the previous dynasty, and also included a whole box of gold bars!"
The rumor seemed to have legs, and within two or three days, it spread from the market to the officialdom.
At the morning court session, an imperial censor suddenly stepped out, holding a tablet and speaking in a stern voice.
"Your Majesty! I have this report! Qian Zhenyun, exploiting the opportunity of drafting the 'increase revenue and reduce expenditure' policy, privately transferred funds, colluded with unscrupulous merchants, and accepted huge bribes, intending to turn the Royal Forest Park into his own private property! This is no different from a traitor to the country!"
"I implore Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate the Ministry of Revenue and Qian Zhenyun, to uphold the law and serve as a warning to others!"
As soon as these words were spoken, voices of seconding agreement were heard in the court.
Officials from the Third Prince's faction stepped forward one after another, speaking with conviction, as if they already had irrefutable evidence.
Zhao Yunci, sitting on the dragon throne, had a dark face.
A few days ago, he praised Qian Zhenyun's strategy of "increasing revenue and reducing expenditure", but in the blink of an eye, this good thing turned into a huge scandal.
This not only hits Qian Zhenyun in the face, but also the face of the emperor and the crown prince Zhao Chen'an!
East Palace, study.
Crown Prince Zhao Chen'an paced back and forth, his usually calm face now filled with lingering anxiety.
"Zhenyun, what on earth is going on?"
"The Emperor was furious in the Imperial Study and berated me. The Censorate has already sealed your document room in the Ministry of Revenue and said they'll conduct a thorough investigation!"
Qian Zhenyun stood in front of the desk, his expression calm, in stark contrast to the prince's anxiety.
Gu Qingchen's words that day had made him doubt himself. But when this blatant frame-up hit him, he completely sobered up.
He bowed, his voice steady without a trace of emotion.
"Your Highness, please be patient."
"I can guarantee with my life that I have never accepted any money or property of unknown origin. This has been a setup set up against us from the beginning."
Zhao Chenan suddenly stopped and stared at him: "Is it my third brother?"
Qian Zhenyun raised his eyes, his gaze filled with a coldness that seemed to see through everything.
"Who else could it be but him? He is trying to use the national policy I proposed to push me into an irretrievable situation."
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