Chapter 79: Lu Tingwan enters the palace and wants military power?
The baggage transported by the Ministry of War arrived in the northwest. As Cheng Xianzhi had expected, the war in the northwest was not as urgent as described in the memorial. Although the Turks were invading, they had a poor harvest since last year and were also hit by sandstorms and droughts. It was impossible for them to engage in a large-scale war with Dalan. There were other reasons for these frequent disturbances.
Han Zhou explained the information reported by the spies one by one, and Cheng Xianzhi threw the letters into the fire basket, turning them into ashes.
His demeanor was elegant and dignified, and his voice was cold yet commanding. "Give these physical evidences to the Minister of War, and have him submit the report."
Han Zhou understood: "This is such a serious matter, involving so many people. It is right for you not to present the confession in person."
"If Liu Qiyuan gets into trouble over this, it will affect the entire Lu family. If Lu Mingqian cuts the Gordian knot quickly, the Lu family might be able to escape. However, the position of Zuo Pushe..." Cheng Xianzhi's eyes darkened. "He can't sit still anymore."
"The Jiang family wants to protect themselves, and Queen Mother Jiang will definitely not help the Liu and Lu families anymore." Han Zhou said.
"They are trapped in their own web. It seems that the relatives of the emperor will be defeated without your Majesty's intervention." Cheng Xianzhi stood up and walked out of the study.
The warm summer sun shines through the eaves, and the osmanthus flowers in the study have grown taller.
The next day in Hanzhang Palace, the Ministry of War handed the intelligence from the northwest to Li Tingfeng. There was complete evidence from witnesses and evidence. Liu Qiyuan was colluding with the enemy and conspiring with the Turks. The Turks pretended to attack the border. In order to quell the war, Liu Qiyuan had to ask the court for military supplies, so as to achieve his goal of making money. The Turks would obtain food and utensils and would withdraw their troops.
As a result, Liu Qiyuan received the supplies of baggage and military supplies from the court, and was rewarded for his military achievements. He lived a happy life in the northwest and his life was comfortable.
Li Tingfeng was so angry that his heart was broken. The emperor's health was already not good. When he heard about this heinous act, he was furious in Hanzhang Palace. After the court was dismissed, the Imperial Hospital in Guangling Palace was crowded with people coming in and out, making it very troublesome.
The imperial edict sent to the northwest left the city, and Liu Qiyuan was escorted back to Kyoto for trial.
After Lu Mingqian returned home, he told Liu about this matter. Liu was familiar with the family home and had no idea that her brother would collude with the Turks to commit corruption and abuse of power.
If Liu Qiyuan were found guilty after returning to the capital, the emperor would certainly not let the Liu family go.
Lu Mingqian was in trouble. When Liu learned about this, she asked Lu Mingqian to go to the Queen Mother and ask for grace to exonerate the Liu family.
If Lu Mingqian wanted to protect himself, he should not have gotten involved in this matter. However, Liu was aggressive and threatened to commit suicide. She kept pestering him and brought up the past.
At the beginning, Lu Mingqian relied on the Liu family's influence and was appreciated by General Liu. He was promoted all the way, so that he could gain a firm foothold in the court and the public in Kyoto, which were like wolves and tigers. He then had a place and ascended to the position of Zuo Pushe.
As the daughter of a military commander, she was willing to marry down and share a husband. In order to seize the power of the Liu family, Lu Mingqian even let his childhood sweetheart, Jiang, step aside and become his concubine.
Inside Jinhua Palace, Queen Mother Jiang held bird food in her hand as Palace Master Hong led Lu Mingqian into the palace. As Palace Master Hong called out, "Lu Pushe is here," the sunflower-crested cockatoo followed suit, chirping in human language, "Lu Pushe is here, Lu Pushe is here."
"Your humble servant pays his respects to the Empress Dowager." Lu Mingqian was extremely respectful.
"Lu Pushe, you came to my Jinhua Palace now because of the northwest affairs, right?" Queen Mother Jiang went straight to the point without beating around the bush.
"Her Majesty, behold, Liu Qiyuan has colluded with the enemy and committed treason in order to embezzle state funds. The Ministry of War has presented evidence to the Dali Temple, and once Liu Qiyuan is brought to the capital, he will be convicted. Furthermore, with the confessions of the two soldiers who returned from the northwest, I'm afraid Liu Qiyuan will be doomed this time."
"Since you already know you're doomed, why would Lu Pushe want to get himself into this mess and get into this mess? Wasn't the loss he suffered at the hands of Cheng Xianzhi enough?"
Lu Mingqian sighed deeply, "I know that if anything happens to the Liu family, my Lu family will be affected too. I only hope that the Queen Mother will help me. I will serve you wholeheartedly."
Empress Dowager Jiang's eyes turned cold and she chuckled: "At your service? Lord Lu can't even take care of his own daughter, and he dares to let me serve him?" Empress Dowager Jiang's tone was dignified without anger, and filled with a terrifying awe.
Lu Mingqian's knees weakened, and cold sweat oozed from his forehead: "It is my humble servant who failed to teach my daughter well."
"If Lu Pushe can allow Lu Tingwan to enter my Jinhua Palace, I can speak well of the Lu family to the Emperor. I just wonder if this task is difficult for Lord Lu?"
The corners of Lu Mingqian's mouth twitched, and he looked embarrassed. Why did the Queen Mother insist that Lu Tingwan enter Jinhua Palace?
"If we want to protect the Lu family, there are ways," Queen Mother Jiang continued. "The Lu family can add some supporting evidence to the charge of collaborating with the enemy and amassing wealth. This will both draw a clear line and gain your majesty's trust."
"Let me come forward to testify against Liu Qiyuan?" Lu Mingqian asked.
The Liu and Lu families are in-laws. Empress Dowager Jiang really doesn't believe that Lu Mingqian is completely unaware of the Liu family's affairs.
However, if Lu Mingqian comes forward to expose the matter, whether he can retire with honor remains to be seen.
"Once I'm in the Dali Temple, there will be no such opportunity. Whether Liu Qiyuan will come to me in a hurry is one thing, but if he brings up some old things, I won't be able to guarantee him anymore."
As for Lu Tingwan, Concubine Rong intended to summon Lu Tingwan to Yongle Palace as a female official. Relying on her favor, the Rong family rose rapidly in the court and the country.
Empress Dowager Jiang didn't want Lu Tingwan or Concubine Rong to have an easy life, so she asked Lu Mingqian to send them into the palace.
Originally, Lu Tingwan and Cheng Xianzhi had reached an agreement and were waiting for Yongle Palace to convey an order to bring her into the palace. However, the order that came from Cheng Mansion was the empress dowager's order. Lu Tingwan received the order in Yansheng Hall and was unable to recover for a long time.
She couldn't guess what Queen Mother Jiang's intention was, but Cheng Xianzhi might know a thing or two.
However, Cheng Xianzhi had been busy with Liu Qiyuan's case of collaborating with the enemy in the northwest in recent days. He ran back and forth between the Ministry of War and the Dali Temple, and returned to the Cheng Mansion after midnight every night.
Lu Tingwan couldn't see anyone, so he could only go to the study and wait.
In the study late at night, the sound of nightingales filled the air. Lu Tingwan's eyelids drooped, and he could hardly keep them open. He fell asleep several times, and in his half-awake state he seemed to hear footsteps.
As soon as Cheng Xianzhi stepped into the moon-shaped door of the study, he saw a man squatting on the steps under the corridor of the main house, hugging his knees and falling on the corridor pillars from time to time.
His eyes darkened slightly, and he quickened his pace. When he got closer, he did nothing but stood there, looking down and asked, "Lu Tingwan?"
Hearing the sound, Lu Tingwan tried to stand up, but half of her body fell backward. Cheng Xianzhi stood straight, raised his knees and lowered them. Lu Tingwan used the support between his legs to straighten her body.
She rubbed her eyes and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Are you back?"
Perhaps because she was sleepy, her voice was much softer than usual, which made the man who was looking down on her feel a little nervous and a little sympathetic.
"What is it?"
When Lu Tingwan stood up, her legs were numb.
The cool breeze enveloped her at night, blowing away the warmth she had curled up in.
"The palace has issued an order to allow me to enter the palace."
"Hasn't this been discussed before?"
"It's Jinhua Palace." Lu Tingwan paused, "The Queen Mother wants me to serve in the palace..."
Cheng Xianzhi was just turning around and retracting his legs. "The Queen Mother wants you to enter the palace now. I think it must be related to the Northwest Collaboration Case."
"What does Liu Qiyuan's collusion with the enemy and making money have to do with my entering the palace?" Lu Mingwan didn't understand.
Cheng Xianzhi climbed two steps. "Liu Qiyuan and the Lu family are related by marriage. If the charges are proven, the Lu family will not be able to escape unscathed. The Queen Mother is definitely using this opportunity to control Lu Mingqian. Even if you don't enter the palace, Lu Mingqian will come forward to let you in. As for what the Queen Mother wants you to do, it's not difficult to guess."
"I failed to complete the mission for the Queen Mother before. She wouldn't expect a disloyal pawn like me to go through fire and water for her, would she?"
"What if the Queen Mother threatens the Lu family's lives and asks you to get information from me?"
Lu Tingwan frowned. When had she reached the point where she had to protect him with her own life? She had agreed to return to the capital because of the lives of the brothers in Baita Village and because she wanted to retrieve the divorce agreement, recover the tenacity she had lost on the first snowy night in Kyoto, and leave the capital with a legitimate reason.
After a moment's thought, she said, "If the Queen Mother threatens my life and I am forced to reveal information that is detrimental to Your Excellency, will Your Excellency send someone to assassinate me?"
"It's hard to say." Cheng Xianzhi said coldly.
"That's it. My Lordship and I are only friends for the sake of mutual benefit. If I don't enter Jinhua Palace, the Lu family will be in dire straits." Lu Tingwan was telling Cheng Xianzhi that she had no choice.
"If you enter Jinhua Palace, I have no right to ask how the Queen Mother wants you to die."
"I'm the Guardian Marquis, and I'm also a member of the Cheng family," Lu Tingwan said, "At least for now. Even if the Queen Mother is angry with me, I'm bound to suffer some hardships after entering the palace, but it's not entirely a bad thing."
Cheng Xianzhi raised his eyebrows and looked at her with interest, as if waiting for her conclusion.
"My lord, you want me to return to Kyoto. Of course, it must be useful. Only by going deep into the tiger's cave can you spy on the jackals. I can be your eyes in Jinhua Palace, but I also have my conditions." Lu Tingwan's voice was much clearer, and his momentum was not inferior to his.
"you say."
"I want the right to call upon one of your imperial guards." Lu Tingwan's eyes were sharp.
Cheng Xianzhi scoffed, the corners of his lips raised, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he questioned, "Lu Tingwan? Your appetite is a bit too big."
"The palace gates are unfathomable, and I have to be able to protect myself. Otherwise, I won't feel safe if I go into the tiger's den alone." Lu Tingwan raised an eyebrow and smiled, "My life is still waiting for the divorce letter from the adults."
He originally thought that she came to him so that he could give her some ideas on how to avoid entering the palace, but it turned out that she had already planned how to enter the palace and pave the way for herself.
What a Lu Tingwan! He really underestimated her.
"You are the dignified Minister of State, the head of the six ministries, and the governor of the Imperial Guards. You can't even give me this little power, right?" Lu Tingwan took two steps higher, so that he was on the same level with him. "I have the title of Guard Inspector General, so it is reasonable for you to give me the power to mobilize. This is not considered as favoritism or abuse of power."
"If you think I have second thoughts, you can take my life at any pretext. What are you afraid of?"
Cheng Xianzhi looked at the man in front of him and said coldly, "You want military power?"
"Once I'm safely out of the palace, you can take it back."
"I can give you the authority to mobilize the Imperial Guards," Cheng Xianzhi said, pulling out a jade pendant from his waist. The pendant was emerald green and shaped like a bamboo joint. "I will send Xie Zhao to the Qianniu Guard of the Imperial Guards and make him a lieutenant general of a battalion. This jade pendant will be your command token. If you have any problems in the palace, you can also take care of him."
Qianniu Guard is one of the sixteen guards of the imperial army. They are mainly responsible for guarding and managing the imperial weapons and equipment. They hold bows and arrows in their left and right hands, and are responsible for night duty and protecting weapons. This is in line with Xie Zhao's own expertise, so it is natural for him to recommend him to Li Tingfeng.
He had originally intended to send Xie Zhao to the Imperial Guards. He only needed to wait for the Ministry of Works to complete a new batch of equipment. Once he recommended him to the emperor, everything would go smoothly.
Lu Tingwan took the jade pendant, still warm from it, and studied its face. This token didn't resemble a military token. If it could only command Xie Zhao, wouldn't Xie Zhao's troops be considered his own private army? The fact that he could maintain his own private army under Li Tingfeng's watchful eye showed how much Li Tingfeng valued Cheng Xianzhi, to the point of dependence.
Lu Tingwan accepted the jade pendant and smiled brightly, "Thank you, Minister Cheng, for your help."
The evening breeze blew on her face, and her sleepiness disappeared.
As she left the study, the jade pendant in her palm did reassure her, but it also gave her pause. If the Queen Mother wanted her to enter the palace, it wouldn't be simply to serve.
Lu Tingwan entered Jinhua Palace, but it was not what she had expected before. She thought that the Queen Mother would hold her accountable first, but unexpectedly, the old matter was not mentioned, and she was just asked to follow Palace Master Hong to learn about the affairs of the palace.
Lu Tingwan was on guard at first, but after a few days of getting used to it, the empress dowager summoned someone to serve in the inner palace. The empress dowager had heard of Lu Tingwan's makeup skills, so she asked Hong Zhanggong to call her over for some pointers.
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