Chapter 138: Yi Garden (Part 1)
The place where Sima Jun and Lü Qiuyan met was in a garden outside Xiyang County.
This place is called Yi Garden, and was built by Princess Yiyang of the previous dynasty. Although it is now abandoned, the scenery is still stunning, and the broken walls are full of inscriptions by scholars and poets, making it a famous scenic spot.
Deng Lian went there in advance to make some arrangements, saying that Lu Qiuyan had arrived early and had been waiting.
To Sun Wei's surprise, Lu Qiuyan only brought three or four attendants.
He was a man of self-awareness. He knew he needed Sima Jun's help, so he was very humble.
"He has caused such a big trouble, isn't he afraid that the prince and the princess will kill him in anger?" Aju asked.
Sun Wei felt that Lü Qiuyan was shrewd and courageous, otherwise he wouldn't have achieved anything great in his previous life. But if he dared to come to this game, he must have been quite confident.
"Let's see what he has to say."
Lu Qiuyan and Sima Jun had met each other a long time ago.
Once upon a time, Lü Qiuyan had visited the capital, accompanying the Huan clan's men to pay their respects to Sima Jun. Just as they had met the last time, Lü Qiuyan was still dressed like a scholar, handsome and elegant, his ambitions concealed beneath a polite exterior.
Compared with him, Sima Jun seemed much colder.
After the greetings were exchanged, Lu Qiuyan said, "Your Highness, I am deeply grateful for taking the time to attend our meeting despite your busy schedule."
Sima Jun said calmly, "The Chief Secretary can stir up chaos in Xunyang City with just a flick of his finger. I have no choice but to keep this appointment."
Lu Qiuyan smiled calmly, "Your Excellency, you are too kind. There are some misunderstandings here, and I came here today to clarify it with you."
After he said that, he turned his gaze to Sun Wei again.
"It's been four months since we parted in Xunyang," he said. "I left in such a hurry last time that I didn't have time to say goodbye to the princess. I'm quite regretful."
Sun Wei had some admiration for this person.
At this point, he not only showed no guilt or fear, but also talked freely, as if they really had some kind of friendship.
Sun Wei curled the corners of his lips.
"I wonder how Lady Huan is doing?" she asked. "I haven't seen you for a long time, and I miss you very much."
These words explicitly and implicitly mentioned the matter between Lu Qiuyan and Huan Lingxian.
Lu Qiuyan looked at Sun Wei without any strange expression.
"Thank you for your concern, Princess. Your Highness is well now," he said. "After returning to Jingzhou, Madam Yu often praised you, raving about your kindness and longing to see you again."
"Is that so?" Sun Wei asked. "Last time we parted, Madam Yu mentioned that the snow on the Xunyang River was world-famous and she wanted to see it. It snowed heavily the past two days, and I was thinking that if Madam Yu came now, she would be able to see it. I wonder if Madam Yu is free?"
Lu Qiuyan said calmly, "It's just the beginning of the new year, and Madam Yu is the mistress. She has many things to do and is unable to travel far. I hope the princess will forgive me."
Sun smiled.
How could Lu Qiuyan dare to let Yu meet her? She had too many handles on Lu Qiuyan.
After some polite greetings, everyone sat down in the pavilion of Yi Garden.
The attendant served him hot tea, but Sima Jun showed no intention of drinking. He simply said, "I wonder why the Chief Secretary wants to see me?"
"To apologize to the prince and the princess." After saying this, Lu Qiuyan glanced at the servants behind him.
Not long after, a woman walked into the room.
Her face is fair, soft and charming.
Seeing Sun Wei and Sima Jun, she smiled and bowed politely: "Your Majesty, Yao Rong, pays homage to the Crown Prince and Princess. The Xunyang Rebellion was caused by my inconsiderateness and loss of discretion. I beg the Crown Prince and Princess to forgive me."
It turns out that this is Yao Rong.
Sun Wei looked at her coldly, and soon his gaze returned to Lu Qiuyan's calm face.
This Lu Qiuyan is indeed someone who understands people's hearts very well.
He guessed that Sima Jun would definitely mention the Xunyang Rebellion and Yao Rong when he met him this time, so without waiting for Sima Jun to speak, he brought out Yao Rong first.
I just don't know whether he is just pretending or really wants to give up Yao Rong and sacrifice the pawn to save the chariot.
Sima Juan said calmly, "Tied him up."
Deng Lian agreed and was about to order his guards forward when Lu Qiuyan said, "Sir, please wait a moment. Please listen to what I have to say."
"This man is causing chaos in Xunyang and is a wanted criminal," Sima Jun said. "Since the Chief Secretary has brought him here, he should understand the purpose of my visit. If the Chief Secretary is involved in the Xunyang chaos, I will investigate and investigate. If the Chief Secretary has any leverage, it would be best if he keeps it for himself."
"Why don't you listen to my bargaining chips, my prince?" Lu Qiuyan said, "Perhaps it will be of great benefit to you, my prince?"
Sun Wei knew that Sima Jun always hated doing business with others.
But Lü Qiuyan was no ordinary man. Since he had the audacity to bring Yao Rong and several guards with him to see Sima Jun, it was clear that he had some hidden agenda.
Sima Jun was about to speak when Sun Wei said, "Since the prince has made this trip in person, it wouldn't hurt to listen."
Sima Jun glanced at Sun Wei.
Sun Wei also looked at him.
After staring at each other for a moment, Sima Jun turned back and said coldly, "Since the princess wants to hear it, then please let the chief secretary tell her."
A smile appeared on Luqiu Yan's handsome face.
"I have heard that the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince are collecting grain from all directions to prepare for the Three Wus. I wonder if this is true?"
"It is true."
"I also heard that this matter is not going smoothly. Now, we can only draw from the Jiangzhou warehouse to cope with it. But even if Jiangzhou did not eat or drink for an entire year, I am afraid it would not be able to raise the amount that the prince wants."
Sima Jun looked at him and asked, "Could it be that the Chief Secretary has some food?"
"It's not me." Lu Qiuyan said, "It's Madam Yao who has the food."
Everyone's eyes were once again focused on Yao Rong.
Yao Rong said calmly, "I am willing to exchange food and Jiangzhou's wealth for two things from the Crown Prince and the Princess."
"What's the matter?" Sima Jun asked.
"First, the prince will no longer pursue my crime, and second, he will return the letter I took from my house."
Sima Jun frowned and was about to refuse when he heard Sun Wei ask, "I wonder how much grain Madam Yao is willing to give in exchange for these two items?"
Yao Rong said, "However much the prince needs, I will give him."
The tone was so arrogant that even Sima Jun looked surprised.
Sun Wei said calmly, "Madam, you know that the Three Wus are short of food, and the amount is huge."
"I know. The food I have is enough to feed the Three Wus for a whole year."
There was a moment of silence in the pavilion.
Sima Jun did not answer, still looking at Yao Rong and Lu Qiuyan coldly.
Sun Weixin smiled.
"Even the imperial court can't raise so much food, where will Madam get it from?"
"I don't steal or rob; I earn all my money through legitimate means," Yao Rong said. "Jiangnan is a fertile land, the granary of the world. Recent years have been good, and with the exception of the Three Wus, most areas have experienced bumper harvests. Often, what the imperial court cannot do is easily accomplished by the local gentry. Since we are honest people and don't mince words, Princess, please consider this: is this true?"
Sun Wei knew that this was indeed true.
Although the imperial court had an emperor, it was actually not that effective outside the capital.
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