Chapter 263: Exposed (Part 2)
Sima Jun looked at him with dark eyes.
After a moment, he said, "That's her decision. She has to tell me in person."
Yu Yi nodded: "Will Ziheng be honest with her about this matter when he returns today?"
Sima Jun didn't answer, only saying, "Now that things have come to this, her safety is good for everyone. I share your heart. As for the honest matter, I will make the final decision. Please don't interfere."
Yu Yi smiled faintly.
"Then Ziheng doesn't have much time left." Yu Yi said, "I came to visit you today because I actually have something else to tell Ziheng."
"What is it?"
"My uncle is going to Beijing with my aunt and cousin. They will arrive in a few days, and they will stay at my house."
Sima Jun looked surprised.
"Madam Yu and Huan Lingxian?"
"That's right," Yu Yi said, "They are most likely here because of the death of Duke Nanjun and my uncle."
Sima Jun frowned.
"The Duke of Nanjun was murdered by Lü Qiuyan, and Huan Ding was killed by Huan An. Why did they come to the capital?"
"To seek justice for my uncle's death. Huan An killed his brother, which is against human ethics. Moreover, he announced it to the world, putting the blame on Lu Qiuyan."
Sima Jun knew that the Yu family mother and daughter were both on Lü Qiuyan's side and had always been at odds with Huan An. Even if Huan An could suppress the situation, they would not submit.
"Who are they going to seek justice from?"
"Wang Han," Yu Yi said, "Although King Huan and I have always been irreconcilable, this time, I think Wang Han will most likely help my aunt."
Sima Jun thought about it and nodded slightly.
"Wang Han isn't trying to help Madam Yu, he's trying to help Jingzhou. Jingzhou is now in Huan An's hands, and Wang Han is using this as an excuse to attack Huan An. Once Huan An dies, the Huan family will no longer have anyone capable of ruling Jingzhou. Jingzhou will naturally fall into Wang Han's hands," Yu Yi said. "Isn't this Wang Han's long-cherished wish?"
Sima Jun was silent for a moment.
He knew very well that this was also the empress dowager's long-cherished wish.
Yu Yi looked out the window at the gloomy sky and said, "The storm is coming, and the war is about to begin. Ziheng, please think carefully. By then, Ziheng will be exhausted from the battles, so how can he protect the princess? Ziheng can't always keep the princess by his side. That's all I have to say."
Sima Jun looked at him and said, "Bo You came to see me and said this, but I'm afraid he didn't tell my wife."
Yu Yi smiled faintly.
"Ziheng never told her either," he said. "As for me, as long as it's good for her, I'm happy. As for the rest, I don't care."
After he said that, he stood up and said goodbye.
——
Yu Yi's words made Sima Jun think a lot.
After he assigned Sun Qiao his homework, he returned home.
The hall was quite lively, Cao Song was discussing the New Year gift list with Sun Wei.
There were many boxes filled with gifts in the hall, and more than a dozen servants were busy taking gifts out of the boxes one by one and letting Sun Wei take a look at them one by one.
Sun Wei had very high standards and had requirements for the quality and style of gifts. If one was not to his liking, he would choose another one from the treasury.
She was holding a jade bowl and looking at it carefully in front of the candlelight, her eyes calm, and the pearl pendant on her ear swayed gently on her slender neck.
Cao Song said, "This was given to the late king by the old King Lingling during the reign of the previous emperor. The late king loved it very much and played with it for a long time. Later, when he found other favorites, he put it in the storehouse."
Sun Wei nodded with satisfaction: "The attendant picked well, this is it."
Cao Song responded with a yes.
Sun Wei's eyes swept across the distance and suddenly found Sima Jun at the other end of the yard.
He just stood there for who knows how long, motionless. It was unclear whether he was looking at her or lost in thought.
"The prince is back." Sun Wei stood up.
Cao Song also realized that Sima Jun had returned, and hurriedly welcomed Sima Jun into the hall.
Sun Wei asked Aju and the servants to put the box away, and ordered the meal to be served.
"No need," Sima Jun said, "Zhuo Jing is returning to the capital today. I've made an appointment with him to go to Tang Garden, so he won't be dining at home."
"Since they are all in Tang Garden, why did the prince come back?"
"Come back to get some things and change clothes."
Aren't there clothes for him to wear in Tangyuan? Sun Wei thought.
But this was not a big deal, so Sun Wei did not ask any further questions.
"Prince, are you going there now?" she asked.
"It's still early. Madam, please continue with your work and don't worry about me."
Sun Wei did not suspect anything and continued to discuss the gift list with Cao Song.
There wasn't much left, and after half an hour, everything was settled.
Cao Song presented the gift list to Sima Jun for review.
In her previous life, Sun Wei personally managed the annual gifts for the Prince of Yuzhang's Mansion. Now, it was just a matter of going through the items, which was a piece of cake for her.
"Madam, your choice is very appropriate. Let's proceed accordingly." Sima Jun took a quick look. "However, we should prepare more gifts for Boyou's residence. Now, Boyou is not the only one at the Yu residence. Governor Yu and Madam Yu have also arrived in the capital."
Sun Wei was surprised and asked, "Madam Yu of Huan Ding?"
"And Huan Lingxian," Sima Jun said, "the mother and daughter want to seek justice for Huan Ding."
This is indeed a big deal.
Sun Wei pondered: "Still no news from Lu Qiuyan, is that right?"
Sima Jun nodded. "We've been offering a reward for Huan An for months, but to no avail. I suspect he's either truly dead or has long since left Jingzhou."
Sun Wei suddenly asked, "Sir, do you think it's possible that Luqiu Yan is in Jiankang?"
"How do you know?"
"In the past, Huan Yi and the Wang family were irreconcilable due to the death of the former Crown Princess. Now that Huan Yi is dead, the Huan family has no one who can influence the court. Madam Yu and her daughter dared to come to the capital to seek justice. There must be someone behind the scenes who is guiding them. I can't think of anyone other than Lu Qiuyan who could be this expert."
Sima Jun's eyes lit up slightly.
"Madam, if this is true, then Mrs. Yu's visit to the capital may not be a bad thing. Instead, it is an opportunity to capture Lu Qiuyan," he said.
"That's right," Sun Wei said. "However, even if Lü Qiuyan is captured, it won't prevent Madam Yu from coming to the capital to hand a knife to Wang Han, aiming directly at Jingzhou. If Wang Han wants to attack Jingzhou, he will definitely not use his own troops, but will ask the Crown Prince to send troops. Is the Crown Prince willing to help Wang Han attack Jingzhou?"
Sima Jun said: "Jiangzhou is not Wang Han's private army. Not only Jiangzhou will not do it, but Beifu will not do it either."
Sun Wei nodded. "This shows how brilliant Lü Qiuyan's plan is. If the Crown Prince accepts the challenge, Huan An will die. If the Crown Prince does not accept the challenge, he will be pushed to the forefront and targeted by Wang Han. Regardless of the outcome, Lü Qiuyan will be the one who benefits."
Sima Jun was puzzled: "If Huan An dies, Jingzhou will fall into Wang Han's hands. How will Luqiu Yan benefit?"
Sun Wei said, "With Huan An's death, there's no one left in the Huan clan to command the Jingzhou army, and the Wang clan is also short on talented generals. Your Highness, you should understand that Wang Han must first find someone who can appease the Huan clan and reassure you to rule Jingzhou. Lü Qiuyan's greatest skill is his deep understanding of human nature and his eloquence. He also has the support of the remaining members of Huan Ding's faction. Do you think he can't persuade Wang Han?"
Sima Jun was silent.
"I underestimated Lu Qiuyan after all."
Sun Wei said, "So I agree that the Crown Prince should not send troops, but the Crown Prince must learn how to deal with Wang Han and the Queen Mother."
Sima Jun looked up at her and asked, "Does Madam think I'm a reckless man?"
Sun smiled.
Aren't you? she thought.
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