"What?"
Even though Jiang Yu had prepared herself mentally, she was still shocked when she heard Guo Siyuan's words.
"Your Majesty, please forgive my rudeness, but I truly wish to know how you determined that I knew Chen Ping."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu's eyes flickered.
“Dayu was deeply troubled by floods. If it weren’t for that, Chen Ping wouldn’t have been promoted to Minister of Works so quickly.”
Jiang Yu sighed almost imperceptibly, "You know this very well, so you spent a lot of time on the exam paper writing about methods for controlling floods. You wrote them in a very exquisite way, and you were sure that I or the Emperor would notice you."
"You are from Lingyun Garden, so it is highly likely that I will be the one who summons you."
Guo Siyuan moved her lips, but couldn't utter a single word.
"The previous incident of Lingyun Garden being inexplicably poisoned, and the recent incident of Lingyun Garden being surrounded by people spreading rumors, should both be related to Chen Ping. Guo Siyuan, Chen Ping wants to get rid of you."
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!"
Guo Siyuan knelt down, her forehead pressed tightly against the ground, the icy touch making her blood almost freeze.
"Actually, all of this is just my guess. I never believe in coincidences."
"This humble woman deserves to die."
A tear slid down Guo Siyuan's cheek and fell heavily to the ground.
"First you used me, then you used me to compete with Tongwei Ruo. Why? What exactly did Chen Ping do wrong?"
“Your Majesty, Chen Ping is not the real Chen Ping. The real Lord Chen is a good official who wholeheartedly serves the people.” Guo Siyuan finished speaking and tears streamed down her face.
Jingzhou is a place of outstanding people and abundant resources, and its people live a prosperous life. However, the annual flood season is a nightmare for Jingzhou.
“I was born by the water and often met Lord Chen. Lord Chen saw that I was always holding a book, so he asked me to write for him.” When mentioning Chen Ping in her memory, Guo Siyuan’s face softened for the first time. “He saw that I had beautiful handwriting and knew the water flow very well, so he asked me to work as his scribe.”
Everything was fine until four years ago, when my mother fell ill and she took nearly a month off work.
"So, you've noticed something amiss with Chen Ping right now?"
Jiang Yu already had a general idea in her mind, but she still felt terrified. The thought of someone being able to replace another person so quietly was chilling.
“Although the two are very similar, they are also very different.” Guo Siyuan sniffed. “I’m the one taking notes, and the difference in their speaking habits before and after can’t be faked.”
"Your Majesty, I have brought all those books. They are placed in Lingyun Garden."
"So you're burying yourself in your studies because you want to seek justice for Chen Ping?"
As Jiang Yu said this, she felt a strange sense of disappointment.
No.
“Studying is my lifelong passion, and now I am taking the imperial examination so that I can do more for the people of Da Yu. Lord Chen has been wronged, and I should seek justice for him.”
"What a fine example of serving the people."
Jiang Yu personally helped Guo Siyuan up, saying, "I want to see those booklets."
Four years ago, at this special juncture.
How many spies have been secretly planted in Da Yu?
......
On the other side, the head of the Sun family was furious upon receiving the news.
"Outrageous! My Shuer has never even had a scratch since she was a child. She has only been in Dayu for a short time, and she was pushed into the lake by someone. The person who did this was not executed."
The head of the Sun family was so angry that he was panting heavily; this was practically a slap in the face to the Sun family.
“Father, the Da Yu have gone too far. We must teach them a lesson!” Sun Cai’s eyes were deep. “We must let the Da Yu know that our Sun family is not just a spice family.”
Upon hearing this, the head of the Sun family quickly went to his desk, picked up his pen, and wrote three letters.
“Sent to the Da Yu, Qin family and Gong family respectively.”
"Father, what about the Pei family..." Sun Cai asked as he took the three letters.
"Hmph, the Pei family is nothing but a medicine bag." The head of the Sun family smirked. "Remember, the Pei family has an agreement with several other families. The Pei family provides us with the poisons and medicines we need, and we will send troops to help the Pei family when they are in trouble."
"Poison and medicine?"
"Do you really think the Pei family is so innocent?"
Sun Cai looked down on the Pei family more than the Yun family.
After Sun Cai left the study, the head of the Sun family pondered for a long time, then called out, "Someone come here."
Late at night, several guards appeared quickly and then disappeared into the night, heading towards the direction of Dayu.
Meanwhile, at the same time, the Pei family...
The head of the Pei family was nestled in a recliner, holding a black cat in his arms. The cat's eyes gleamed with an eerie brown light.
"Master, Chen Ping may be exposed."
"idiot!"
The head of the Pei family spoke slowly, stroking the black cat's fur continuously, "We're probably being watched now."
"Then should we..." the subordinate said, making a throat-slitting gesture.
"No rush. Chen Ping is an important piece. I don't want to give up until the very last step."
"Understood, sir. I will tell Chen Ping's men to take immediate action should anything go wrong."
Suddenly, a noise came from outside.
"Father!" Pei Zhi's voice preceded her arrival.
Upon hearing this, the Pei family patriarch's expression immediately turned amiable. "Zhi'er has arrived."
"Father, I heard that Sun Shu was pushed into the water in Dayu?" Pei Zhi arrived in a hurry, her breathing still a little unsteady. "Will the Sun family directly take action against Dayu?"
"Zhi'er, that's a matter for the Sun family, not for any aristocratic family."
The black cat in the arms of the Pei family patriarch suddenly meowed, startling Pei Zhi. "When did Father get this cat?"
"Young master, I brought this cat back because I saw that it had all black fur."
Pei Zhi didn't ask any further questions upon hearing this, but spoke again, "Father, I always feel that the balance between Dayu and the aristocratic families is about to be broken."
"If war really breaks out, what will we, the Pei family, do if we have no soldiers or troops?"
"Silly child, having no soldiers or troops does not necessarily mean being weak."
Pei Zhi looked puzzled upon hearing this, but the head of the Pei family had already begun to smile without saying a word.
The next day.
Jiang Yu slept late because of Chen Ping's matter, and today she didn't wake up until the sun was high in the sky.
When I woke up, Wanji was already outside, sweating profusely with anxiety.
"What happened?"
"Your Majesty, Zhong Qi'er has been assassinated." Wanji glanced at Jiang Yu's face. "His Majesty has already sent people to investigate."
"How could someone be assassinated while staying at the Zhong residence?"
Suddenly, Jiang Yu realized something, "Zhong Qi'er has sneaked out of the Zhong residence?"
"Exactly."
"You're courting death." Jiang Yu's face was tense; she couldn't even stay quietly in the mansion.
"Your Majesty, please don't worry."
How are your injuries?
"Your Majesty, Lord Mei has already gone to the Zhong residence."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu remained silent for a moment. If he hadn't been seriously injured, why would he have sent Mei Chu?
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