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Qin Yaru thought that no matter how big the storm was, it wouldn't involve her, an ordinary woman, but unexpectedly, plans couldn't keep up with changes.
For some reason, Xiangyang Wang suddenly sped up his actions, while Gao Feng and the Qin Family encountered troubles.
The Pang Family had made their move.
If it were just Xiangyang Wang, Gao Feng wouldn't be afraid. Xiangyang Wang's identity meant he wouldn't dare to act recklessly in the capital. If the royal family caused too much trouble in the capital, there would definitely be officials who couldn't overlook it. Before being fully prepared, Xiangyang Wang wouldn't disrupt his own plans.
However, the Pang Family was different; they had a huge influence in the capital. The eldest son of the Pang Family, Pang Yuanzhi, was a powerful military general with many capable subordinates. Their control over the capital was even greater than that of Gao Feng, who had been in the Borderlands.
In recent days, the Qin Family had clearly been under surveillance. Qin Yizhi felt scrutinized several times while visiting friends. Although he was just a powerless Scholar, he had long-term experience of being hunted and was sensitive to these prying eyes; he couldn't be mistaken.
Even Qin Wenyuan and Gao Feng felt constrained in their actions. Although Gao Feng could enter the palace, once inside and facing the emperor, it was still difficult for him to express what he wanted to say. Someone like him would not be allowed by the Empress Dowager to get too close to any officials; discussing private matters was extremely challenging.
As Xiangyang Wang's actions grew bolder, they could no longer wait.
After thinking for a while, Gao Feng leaned on the table and looked at Qin Yaru, who appeared calm while working on embroidery. He sighed, "It seems we can only rely on our Qin Yaru to take action..."
…………
The Lu Residence is the home of Lu Yijian.
Although it belonged to a powerful prime minister of the Song Dynasty, the Lu Residence was built quite ordinarily. Its general style was similar to that of other officials' residences but was not large; it consisted of only three courtyards. Even compared to some wealthier merchants outside, this house seemed somewhat shabby.
The servants inside were all spirited and treated guests politely, behaving very properly. Just from this aspect, one could tell that the current prime minister, Lu Xiangong, was indeed a remarkable figure.
Although his reputation in later generations wasn't very good due to his rivalry with Fan Zhongyan, people often felt that he lacked integrity when mentioning Lu Yijian. However, he had to be acknowledged as being better at governance than Fan Zhongyan, winning more favor from the emperor.
Lu Xiangong's health has not been very good lately; he has caught a cold. After all, he is no longer a twenty-year-old young man. With the increasing workload and responsibilities, his body is starting to feel overwhelmed.
Taking leave at home, he set up a table under the Grape Arbor in the yard, with a chessboard laid out on it. Lu Xiangong, whose hair was slightly graying, was playing chess against himself, looking relaxed.
"You are fiddling with your chess pieces again. Clearly, you are still feeling weak and not resting properly. I wonder how long it will take for you to recover," a middle-aged woman dressed simply approached him. She was very attractive, not conventionally beautiful but exuded an aura of scholarly elegance, belonging to that kind of woman who remains beautiful even as she ages.
Lu Xiangong sat lazily, a smile appearing on his face. "Ah, things have been quite unsettled lately. Although it seems stable in court, there are undercurrents that make one feel uneasy just standing around. That rascal Gao Feng seems to be up to something; I can't shake the feeling that he is plotting something. And then there's the old ghost of the Pang Family; I don't know what's going on with him either, but he has become quite close with Xiangyang Wang."
He frowned, seemingly puzzled. "He used to look down on Xiangyang Wang, thinking that person was too fond of winning people's hearts and was a troublesome figure. If it weren't for our officials being consistently benevolent and never easily suspecting the royal family, Pang would probably have reported him by now. Yet in recent years, he has changed his tune; while there doesn't seem to be any close relationship with Xiangyang Wang, he rarely causes him trouble anymore."
Lu Xiangong never thought that outside matters should be kept from his wife. In fact, his wife was like a sounding board for him; whenever he encountered difficulties outside, he would come home to share them with her and let her comforting words soothe him. No matter how tough the challenges were, they could always be overcome.
As the couple talked, a servant suddenly led in a young man dressed in a plain white robe.
"Yunsheng has arrived?" The middle-aged woman paused for a moment, her face revealing a hint of a smile as she looked up to see the young man casually sitting in a chair and drinking tea from her husband's cup. However, she noticed an unusual gloom on his face and couldn't help but sigh, "You child, don't be so stubborn. Regarding Commander Zhan's case, several forensic experts have examined the body; there were no external injuries or poison found internally—just an unexpected onset of an old illness leading to sudden death. While it's strange, still..."
Bai Yunsheng sneered. "Sudden death? I can think of seven or eight ways to cause someone to die suddenly. I know more than one kind of poison that could fool those incompetent forensic experts. In any case, I don’t believe he died mysteriously!"
Lu Xiangong covered his forehead and turned away from the irritable man before him. His wife smiled and turned to her Lady-in-Waiting, saying, "A Fei has sent over quite a lot of marinated white fish; it's perfect for you to try since you haven't had any for a while. I remember you love fish most in life, especially steamed marinated white fish."
Bai Yunsheng paused for a moment before putting down his teacup and picking up chopsticks to take a piece of fish meat and chew slowly. He remained expressionless, showing no signs of joy or sadness.
He had loved fish since childhood, particularly the marinated white fish from Huaiyang cuisine. However, preparing marinated white fish is not simple; its secret recipe is not known to ordinary people. While there are people in the capital who can cook it, they cannot replicate that exquisite flavor.
Therefore, his opportunities to indulge himself were always very few.
During those years when his relationship with Zhan Yu was neither warm nor cold, that person would always make a trip to the century-old fish shop whenever he traveled to Huaiyang, choosing the prepared pickled white fish, packed in ice boxes, and bringing them back over long distances.
Imagine him, a young nobleman, returning to the capital not with gold or silver, but with several boxes of pickled white fish. If others saw this, they would surely have much to say.
Bai Yunsheng suddenly smiled: "That rascal Zhan Yu never receives anyone's respect in the capital; he's so rigid it gives people headaches. The only time he won't refuse is when someone sends him pickled white fish." This was actually a good thing; clear waters have no fish. Zhan Yu has managed to be an official for so many years without any issues, and this little weakness of his probably adds to his charm.
Seeing Bai Yunsheng suddenly smile gently, Lu Yijian's wife felt a pang in her heart. Even enjoying such delicacies, this child probably still found it tasteless.
The atmosphere became heavy.
After savoring a plate of fish, Bai Yunsheng wiped his mouth and said to Lu Yijian: "Lu Xiangong, I want to go to the palace."
Lu Yijian was taken aback: "The official has ordered that you are not allowed to enter the forbidden palace. I cannot disregard the official's words; you should behave and not cause trouble."
Bai Yunsheng had caused great trouble before, making the Empress Dowager wish she could strangle him whenever she saw him. That he could still be lively and not face any substantial punishment was already a sign of the official's mercy; how could he take advantage of that?
"Alas." Looking at Bai Yunsheng sitting there in silence, Lu Yijian felt uneasy. Moreover, he did not dare to push this child too hard for fear that he might act irrationally. While he did not care about his own misfortune, Bai Yunsheng's mother was someone he had to treat with respect.
Just as he was thinking about this, he heard his wife laugh: "It's just going to the palace; it's nothing serious. I happen to want to visit the Queen today and will take these ten boxes of pickled white fish into the palace. Yunsheng will accompany me; it counts as me taking my junior into the palace for some fun. The Empress Dowager will surely give me some face."
Lu Yijian was a trusted minister of the late emperor; even the Empress Dowager would not dare to disregard his wife's wishes.
"You want to take these into the palace? Why?" Lu Xiangong raised his eyebrows in surprise. Although his wife was not easily angered, she did not particularly enjoy flattering those women in the palace.
The Lu Family Lady smiled and said, "Not long ago, I entered the palace, and the Queen wanted to eat marinated white fish. You know how our officials are; they would never ask the localities for such food. The Queen heard you are from Shouzhou and thought our family probably has marinated white fish. Since the Empress has already mentioned it, and our family doesn't lack this kind of thing, how could I not send some in?"
Lu Yijian smiled, "We should send some, but just two boxes. The rest can be kept for Yunsheng. Whenever he comes, we can cook it for him."
His wife couldn't help but laugh, "Look at you! Is it that the Establish a Family is still short of a few fish for Yunsheng?"
Bai Yunsheng's brows relaxed, unlike his earlier gloominess. He raised an eyebrow and shook his head, saying, "Wife, Lu Xiangong isn't sending fish for me to eat; he's worried that the official won't feel comfortable—if even the official can't get any fish to eat, and your Lu family sends out ten portions at once, I'd be furious if I were in his place."
He then shook his head and said, "If it were me, Qin Xiangong would be too heartless. If it were someone else, it would be fine, but our official has that kind of temperament; how could he be so calculating?" His words carried a hint of light mockery and weren't entirely complimentary. Clearly, he didn't think highly of the official's temperament that earned respect from the lower ministers.
Lu Yijian sighed and frowned, "After all, the official is still an official. As subordinates, we must find ways to avoid making the official uncomfortable; that's the way of being a minister. Never mind; if you want to go, then go. I'm old and sick; I want you to help me ask the official for some ginseng to help my health."
In truth, if Lu Xiangong knew why Bai Yunsheng had entered the palace, he might not have waded into this murky water. However, Bai Yunsheng was used to causing trouble; whether it was him or Pang Family or Xiangyang Wang, they all regarded him as an impulsive young man who didn't know better. He likely entered the palace just to seek justice from the official regarding Zhan Yu's death.
Despite Bai Yunsheng's significant reputation in the capital and his somewhat arrogant demeanor that looked down on others, he had always been unreliable. If it weren't for Zhan Yu cleaning up after him all the time, given his knack for getting into trouble, his reputation would probably be worse than Pang Yuanying's.
A young man who only mingled in the streets and had a serious person by his side wouldn't truly be taken seriously by anyone.
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