Xiao Yan’s expression was cold. “If Empress Lu has a guilty conscience, she will do everything she can to solidify the connection between King Cheng and the other members of the Lu family, but the ordinary women of the Lu family, or even other female relatives, simply don’t have the ability to avoid Lu Chongyuan and others, and secretly manipulate Hou Rui to work for her.”
“Only a few people in the Lu family could do such a thing—those who not only live in the Lu family but also have the chance to touch real power, and who, even if the Lu family knows they’ve been manipulated, can make them cooperate and sacrifice someone in order to protect the reputation of the Empress and her son. Can you guess who it might be?”
Canglang and Jin Yun widened their eyes. To protect the Lu family’s reputation, this person must be an “outsider” of the Lu family, not a member of the family, but someone with enough status and position to be trusted by others.
The two of them almost simultaneously thought of one person.
“Guanshi?”
Guanshi was the wife of the Lu family’s main house, her status was high enough, but her position in the Lu family had become quite awkward. Her son, Lu Zhiran, was missing, and her husband, Lu Zhao, had been imprisoned for a crime and was very likely to be abandoned by the family. The main house now only had a seven- or eight-year-old child, who was Lu Zhiran’s younger brother.
Even if Guanshi were to take the blame for the Empress, there was no one in the main house to support her. No one in the Lu family would tear their face with the Empress and the rest of the family to end up in a mutual destruction.
She was, after all, an “outsider” who had married into the Lu family, and her status was valuable enough. Among all the women of the Lu family, no one else was a better choice.
Jin Yun lowered his voice. “Master, do you want them to fight amongst themselves?”
Xiao Yan spoke indifferently. “After Lu Zhao was imprisoned and refused to speak, it’s clear he wanted to take the fall for the grain embezzlement by himself. He is doing this for the sake of his family. I’m curious: if he realizes he has been used, and his wife and child will be humiliated and die, will he still be willing to die for the Lu family as he is now?”
Canglang understood what Xiao Yan meant. “I understand. I will have Hou Rui and the others align their testimonies with King Cheng’s.”
Xiao Yan replied, “After the interrogation, keep it under wraps. If anyone asks, say that King Cheng hasn’t confessed yet.”
The Empress Lu must be made to feel anxious.
“Three days later, we will let the news out that the interrogation has concluded.”
Canglang nodded. “Understood.”
Xiao Yan then turned to look at Tang Ning and suddenly remembered the Song family. “Has Song Jinxiu visited the trial prison in the past few days?”
The Song family’s detention area was not in the death prison section; it was on the opposite side of where King Cheng and the other nobles were kept, separated by a great distance. They had been keeping an eye on it, but Jin Yun shook his head. “No one has visited. No one from the Song family has been to see them.”
“What is Song Jinxiu doing?”
“Coming and going from the government office and the Qian family, gathering information and investigating the grain embezzlement.”
Xiao Yan sneered. “It seems I underestimated him.”
He thought he wouldn’t be able to sit still.
Jin Yun hesitated. “Master, the Song family’s case has already been closed. The Ministry of Justice has already decided their punishment, and Song Hong and the others will soon be exiled. Should I still find a way to keep them in the capital?”
Xiao Yan’s voice turned cold. “No need. In the next few days, have them escorted out of the capital and inform Song Jinxiu and the others. Then, send people to secretly monitor them.”
“The journey to the wilderness is nearly three thousand miles. If halfway through the journey, Song Jinxiu hasn’t sent anyone to follow up, let Song Hong and his son die in an accident. Bring their bodies back to the capital.”
He used Song Jinxiu because he thought highly of his abilities and felt a sense of “guilt” towards Tang Ning, with potential to be useful to her in the future. However, if he knew Tang Ning’s memory loss was not an accident and didn’t investigate Song Xi’s and Madam Rong’s deaths, or if he was faking the “guilt” he claimed, then such a future trouble didn’t need to be left alive.
Song’s family matters didn’t have to be investigated by Song Jinxiu alone. If he could get King Cheng to speak, he could also pry open the Song family’s secrets.
Jin Yun detected the killing intent in his words and lowered his head. “Understood, I will take care of it.”
After Xiao Yan finished giving his orders, he waved for Canglang and the others to go about their work and walked over to Tang Ning.
Seeing that the girl seemed bored and was playing with the incense pouch he had given her earlier, he approached and asked, “Have you been waiting long?”
Tang Ning paused in her actions and, holding back a yawn, replied softly, “I’m a little tired.”
Xiao Yan said, “You didn’t sleep well last night, so it’s no surprise that you’re tired. Let’s go. We’ll finish up the business and head back.”
Tang Ning replied with a small “mm.”
After they got into the carriage, the driver changed, and the carriage headed towards the City God Temple in the north of the city.
After asking Tang Ning’s opinion, Xiao Yan entrusted the deceased child to the temple staff, asking them to bury it beside the magnificent Ning tree in the temple grounds. He also left money for incense offerings to be made during the festivals.
After leaving the City God Temple, Xiao Yan said, “That child was unwanted and died because of his father. If he were left somewhere else, he would be a wandering soul, but placing him here, he’ll at least receive some incense offerings.”
Tang Ning replied with a soft “mm.”
“If the Princess of King Cheng doesn’t bring it up, you don’t need to either. Just pretend the child has already been buried. If she asks about it, you can tell her this. Knowing that he has a good resting place will hopefully comfort her,” Xiao Yan advised in a low voice.
Tang Ning nodded. “I understand. Thank you, Brother.”
“You’ve never been so polite,” Xiao Yan teased lightly and smiled. “Alright, you’re all tired, go get some rest.”
They both got off the carriage, and Xiao Yan turned towards the neighboring Xiao residence.
Tang Ning, as she watched him walk, noticed the tassels swaying from his waist and suddenly thought about the deep, savage scar on his waist. Unable to hold it back, she called out, “Brother.”
“Hmm?” Xiao Yan turned back.
“Your injury on your waist isn’t healed yet. You should rest more.”
Xiao Yan paused for a moment, and his black eyes seemed to ripple, a smile spreading across his face. “I know, go inside now.”
Tang Ning, momentarily distracted by his smile, had to cover her face with her hands once she got inside the house. She couldn’t help but groan in frustration.
"Little Tang Ning,what are you doing?!”
She felt like she had gone mad.
For a brief moment earlier, she had actually been bewitched by her brother’s charm.
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T/N: I feel bad for Guanshi already
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You can read ahead to chapterr 234 (100+ extra chapters) here
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