The events of the morning court were quickly spread to the Lu family, and people from those aristocratic families who came to ask questions filled the front hall of the Lu family.
After Lu Qin finally sent the people away, he was furious when he returned to Lu Chongyuan: "Xiao Yan's castrated dog is clearly a slanderer. How has our house ever had any dealings with Prince Cheng?!"
Lu Chongyuan looked calmly: "But Hou Rui is indeed a thorn in the side of the Lu family."
Lu Qin became even more angry when he heard this: "My father secretly supported Hou Rui in the past just because he wanted someone in the Sixth Department who would not be under the eyes of outsiders. But I didn't expect that he would betray the Lu family."
"If it weren't for my father, he would be just a small head of the treasury department now. How dare that white-eyed wolf take advantage of the Lu family's influence to collude with King Cheng, and now he is still framing us!!"
Lu Chongyuan was not as angry as Lu Qin. Although he didn't understand why Hou Rui colluded with King Cheng and even took the risk of liaising with the Ordnance Department for him to help him hoard the ordnance, he always felt that something was wrong.
Since he supported Hou Rui in the beginning, he naturally investigated all his details.
Not to mention the love of support for so many years, let’s just say that Hou Rui and the Lu family have a bright future, and they will definitely be able to sit on the post of Minister of War in three to five years at the latest. Why did he abandon the Lu family and join a half-dead prince? Is it possible? Do you dare to take such a big risk just for some profit?
And what Lu Chongyuan feared the most was Xiao Yan.
Having dealt with Xiao Yan so many times, the eunuch would never do anything he was unsure of. Since he dared to report this matter to the emperor, he must have obtained tangible evidence.
In other words, this matter may not just be King Cheng and Hou Rui, but the Lu family must be involved.
But who is that person?
Someone came from outside to report that someone was coming from the palace.
When Lu Chongyuan and the two saw Jin Zhi, Lu Qin remembered the last time Empress Lu sent someone to the house, and couldn't help but taunting him: "Why, the Empress is well-informed, so she sent you to add insult to injury?"
Jin Zhi said quickly: "Second Master has misunderstood. The Queen indeed knew about what happened in the early morning, but she never believed that Master Lang would secretly communicate with Prince Cheng. The Queen said that the Lu family already has four princes, and it is absolutely impossible for them to abandon the near and far away to cling to someone who has no one. Prince in the future, there must be some villain among them to cause trouble."
She said to Lu Chongyuan's blessed body, "The empress is worried about Master Lang's health, so she specially asked this slave to come and visit."
Lu Qin snorted coldly when he heard this, not believing Jin Zhi's words at all.
However, Lu Chongyuan's expression softened.
He knew that the queen sent people here not necessarily to visit him, but most likely to ask about the Lu family and King Cheng. But at least she was willing to express her trust in the Lu family, and she did not suffer estrangement and add insult to injury at this time. That's enough.
Lu Chongyuan glanced at Lu Qin who wanted to ridicule him, and after he stopped what he was saying, he said to Jin Zhi: "The Lu family does not know about King Cheng, and they don't know why he bites the Lu family, but Please rest assured, the Queen, whether there is a villain causing trouble or someone in the clan really dares to collude with others secretly, I will investigate the matter as soon as possible."
"I heard that the empress was ill a few days ago. I wonder if she is still well in the palace?"
Jin Zhi smiled bitterly: "Master Lang also knows your Majesty's thoughts. Ever since the uncle was imprisoned, your Majesty ordered the empress to intercede on his behalf, and your Majesty has become disgusted with her."
"There are many newcomers in the palace, and the empress is in an embarrassing situation. If it were not really difficult, the empress would not stay in the palace claiming to be ill, so as to save the palace's face."
She never concealed the fact that the queen was pretending to be ill: "The queen also hopes for the well-being of the clan, hopes that the uncle can be released from prison soon, and that the master can return to the court as soon as possible. She and His Highness have to rely on the clan. If there is someone in the clan who is good or bad, She, the queen..."
It seemed like he couldn't go on, and Jin Zhi lowered his eyes full of bitterness.
Lu Chongyuan said: "Don't worry, the Lu family will not fall so easily."
Jin Zhi said a few words to Lu Chongyuan and the others, and after expressing Empress Lu's concern, he said he could not leave the palace for too long and left.
When Lu Qin saw her leaving, he couldn't help but taunted her: "She actually remembered that we were here now. Wasn't she so happy when she saw the Lu family being trapped?!"
Lu Chongyuan glanced outside: "After all, the queen is from the Lu family. His Majesty dislikes the family and will not treat her well. She will naturally think of the good things in the family when she is in a difficult situation. If she can see her identity clearly, she will be united with the family." , which is a good thing.”
Things happened so fast in the Lu family, and the news of the pregnancy of the woman previously sent to the Fourth Prince's Mansion has not yet been reported. If the queen can really recover from her lost ways and work together with the Lu family, then the pressure on the Lu family will be much less, and it won't be a problem. As a last resort, he was unwilling to abandon the fourth prince.
Lu Qin snorted coldly.
Lu Chongyuan did not mention the Queen's matter again, but said calmly: "Xiao Yan will never target someone without aim. I'm afraid there is something wrong within the Lu family. You should immediately go check the people in the clan, especially those related to water transportation. If there is really something wrong, If it’s not clean, dispose of it as soon as possible.”
…
Before Jin Zhi left the Lu family, he went to see Mrs. Guan, Mrs. Lu. Because her son was missing and her husband was imprisoned, Guan became thin and out of shape in a short period of time, her face was haggard, and her whole person had a sick air.
Seeing Jin Zhi coming, she hurriedly greeted her: "Why is Aunt Jin Zhi here?"
"Madam, why are you so thin?"
Jin Zhi's face was filled with astonishment, and then she became worried: "My queen was scolded by your majesty for interceding on behalf of the uncle. It has been difficult to recruit you into the palace during this period, but she is worried about you in her heart. Today, I specially asked this slave to come and see you. I’ll bring you something.”
"My queen has always been thinking about you. She is afraid that you will be put into trouble by the people in the clan, and she is also worried about your health. If I see you like this, I don't know how sad it will be."
Guan's tears instantly flowed down after listening to Jin Zhi's words.
Ever since the incident happened to the Lu family, Dafang has become the target of public criticism. All members of the Lu family feel that all the disasters in the family are caused by Lu Zhinian.
If he hadn't almost killed Song Tangning, Xiao Yan wouldn't have taken the opportunity to take advantage of the Lu family. If he hadn't made repeated mistakes and fallen into Xiao Yan's hands, he wouldn't have been implicated in so many things later.
The Lu family was originally a prominent family, but now it is in such a state of decline. When Lu Zhao was still in the mansion, the situation of the first house was relatively good, and those people did not dare to face him.
But since Lu Zhao was arrested and imprisoned because of the grain account book, and his father-in-law Lu Chongyuan was banned from the house because of this, the big room has become a place where almost everyone vents their anger.
Lu Chongyuan was busy with family affairs and had no time to care about anything else. However, Guan was not a strong person to begin with. During this period of time, he protected his youngest son and experienced all kinds of human kindness, but he did not expect that the Queen would still remember her.
Mrs. Guan cried and said, "Thank you so much for remembering me."
"You and the empress are close relatives, and the empress has always cared about you." Jin Zhi took her hand and comforted: "The empress wanted to come to see you earlier, but she was in the palace and could not go out. The master and the others treated her because of the previous incident. It’s hard for her to take care of the affairs of the house, but she specially asked her servant to give you something.”
She took out the sapphire bracelet from her arms: "This is the bracelet that was consecrated by an expert when the empress was still in her boudoir. It was blessed by an expert. After wearing it, everything goes smoothly and everyone is safe. At that time, the empress It was only by wearing this that I won the favor of the late emperor and gave it to His Majesty in marriage, and I have kept it by my side all these years."
"Troubles have happened one after another in the house, and Mr. Sanlang and the uncle have been framed by villains. The empress specially asked the servant to bring this bracelet to you. I hope that after you wear it, the uncle can save the danger and protect you and the young man."
Guan Shi looked at the extremely exquisite sapphire bracelet and shook her head quickly: "This is the personal belongings of the empress. I must not ask for it..."
"Just wear it."
Jin Zhi took her hand and clasped the bracelet on her wrist: "This is your Majesty's wish, and she hopes for your best."
"The empress said that the family is indifferent to people and has always put interests first. You will definitely be wronged after something happens to the uncle. Although she can't do anything to the master and the others, if you have any trouble in the future, you can take the young master into the palace, even if For the sake of uncle, she will also protect you."
Guan felt the warmth on her wrist and listened to the promise from Jin Zhi's mouth. Her tears became more and more intense. She felt that the Queen was the best person in the Lu family. She held the bracelet on her wrist and cried softly: "Thank you, Queen."
Jin Zhi warned softly: "I can't stay here for a long time. I have to go back to the palace first. Madam, please don't make any publicity about the bracelet. Otherwise, if the Second Madam and others know that this thing was only given to you, I'm afraid they will complain to the empress."
Guanshi said quickly: "My wife knows that I will not cause trouble to my mother-in-law."
Jinzhi said: "That slave will leave first. Your Majesty will do your best for your affairs. Madam, please rest assured."
Guan Shi nodded repeatedly.
When Jin Zhi left, he couldn't help but look back at Guan, who was holding the bracelet with a grateful expression on his face. He couldn't bear to see it in his eyes.
The eldest lady was an extremely kind person, and she treated her servants very well in the past. Thinking about her future fate, she felt guilty, but thinking of the Queen, Jin Zhi could only harden her heart and turn away.
After Mrs. Guan sent Jin Zhi away, she wiped her tears and returned to her room holding the things sent from the palace. Her youngest son, who was not yet eight years old, saw her crying and hurriedly stepped forward.
"Auntie, why are you crying? Who bullied you?"
Guan held her youngest son in her arms and choked with sobs: "No one bullies grandma. I just think that the Lu family is not without good people. Yi'er, you must remember the kindness of the queen and repay her when you grow up."
The child looked confused: "Queen?"
He knew that his aunt was the queen and had followed his brother into the palace before, but after his brother disappeared, the queen had not summoned them for a long, long time.
In the heart of a child, the Queen is already a very powerful person. With tender eyes, he leaned on his mother and said softly: "Can the Queen save my father?"
"can."
Guan's eyes turned red, and she hid the bracelet on her wrist in her sleeve.
The Queen is so good, she will definitely save her husband, even if she really can't... She lowered her head and glanced at the young children in her arms. If something really happened to her husband, the Queen would be able to protect them and let Yi'er live in peace. When An An grows up, he will not be abandoned by the Lu family.
"Yier, you must remember that if one day the palace cannot accommodate you, go find the Queen."
The little child didn't understand anything. He just remembered what Grandma said in his heart. He nodded obediently: "Grandma, I understand."
Remember the Queen is a good person.
…
After Jin Zhi came out of the Lu family, he got on the carriage and returned to the palace.
Beside the bluestone wall outside, a vendor wiped the pocket cloth hanging around his waist and said to the people next to him:
"Go and report to the governor, the fish has bitten the hook."
