When Xiao Yan heard the message from Fengxi Palace, Qian Baokun was pestering him about Lu Zhao.
Ever since Lu Zhao was transferred to the Ministry of Justice and Lu Chongyuan returned to the court, Qian Baokun was forced to hand over the things he had found out about the grain tax case. Within just a few days, Lu Zhao was convicted and took the blame for everything, clearing the entire Lu family.
Qian Baokun was so angry.
"Those bastards in the Ministry of Justice are clearly biased towards the Lu family. There is so much more to be dug up in the grain tax case, and the evidence has not even been found yet. But they turned a blind eye and let Lu Zhao take the blame and want to pass the case?!"
He was so angry that his eyebrows flew up and down, spinning around in place, his breath coming out of his throat with fire.
"There is also the matter of Guan. How did she act as a matchmaker between Prince Cheng and the Ministry of War? Who handled the iron ore that made the Lu family's ships so lucky? How could she, the eldest wife of the Lu family, have such great abilities? She didn't even find out the backgrounds of Lu Zhinian and Xie Yin. But His Majesty is so good that he has made a final conclusion and ordered Prince Cheng to execute them tomorrow!"
If he didn't know that the emperor couldn't possibly do anything wrong with Prince Cheng, he would have almost suspected that the person who was having an affair with Prince Cheng was the emperor. Otherwise, why was he so eager to make a decision? !
Qian Baokun was really holding his breath. If he hadn't been concerned about the fact that he was the emperor, he would have cursed Emperor An to the point of madness.
Seeing that Xiao Yan was just flipping through the things in his hand without saying anything, Qian Baokun walked over to him and pressed the things in his hand onto the table.
"I said you still have the heart to read these. Do you know that once Lu Zhao is convicted, it will be extremely difficult to cause trouble for Lu Chongyuan again?"
"You have forced the Lu family into a desperate situation before. Once Lu Chongyuan turns over, he will definitely not let you go. Moreover, His Majesty has suddenly treated you coldly in the past few days. Not only did he transfer the grain tax case to the Ministry of Justice, but he also forbade you to interfere in other matters! Just that Song Jinxiu..."
As he spoke, he pointed outside angrily, as if pointing at Song Jinxiu's nose, his face full of disgust.
"He had previously claimed that he would help you take down the Lu family, but now, His Majesty asked him to help the Ministry of Justice investigate the case and testify against Lu Zhao. He simply followed His Majesty's wishes and tried to please His Majesty in some way. His Majesty has repeatedly summoned him to the palace for two or three days in a row."
"He is just an erratic villain. Aren't you afraid that if he really wins the favor of His Majesty, he will turn against you in the future?!"
Xiao Yan listened to Qian Baokun's indignation, and the anger rushed to the top of his head. He said to comfort him: "Uncle Qian, please calm down."
"What should I be safe for?"
Qian Baokun glared at him, waved his sleeves and sat down next to him: "I don't care, anyway, I am in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, and no one else can touch me. But if you are really disliked by His Majesty and the Lu family finds an opportunity, they will definitely take your life!"
Xiao Yan listened to his words and looked at Qian Baokun's angry face, which showed his unconcealed worry. He smiled for the first time, "Uncle, do you think that once Lu Zhao dies, the Lu family will be safe and sound?"
Qian Baokun was stunned: "What do you mean?"
Xiao Yan looked at him and said, "Have you ever thought about why His Majesty suddenly changed his mind about the Lu family?"
Qian Baokun frowned when he heard this. He just couldn't understand this. It was obvious that Emperor An had long intended to eradicate the aristocratic families, so why did he suddenly change his mind?
Xiao Yan reached out to pick up the teapot and poured some tea for Qian Baokun before saying, "On the day Lu Chongyuan entered the palace, he mentioned to Your Majesty the favor he had given you in the past. Logically, Your Majesty would hate people from aristocratic families to threaten him with the merit of following the emperor, but this time he backed down and took the initiative to protect the Lu family. Why do you think that was the case?"
Qian Baokun narrowed his eyes slightly: "You mean, when Your Majesty ascended the throne..." Was it not legitimate?
He was startled by the sudden thought that came to his mind and suddenly looked up at Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan looked lazy, "In this world, anything that can make a king compromise must be extraordinary. Your Majesty encountered several setbacks on the road to the throne, and it was with the help of the Lu family that he was able to safely overcome them. Your Majesty has never wanted to protect the Lu family."
"He and the Lu family have reached a tacit understanding and both sides have taken a step back. If we pursue the matter now, we will not be dealing with the Lu family, but His Majesty."
Qian Baokun's face changed. The reason why Emperor An ascended the throne was because Crown Prince Li committed treason and it was the Lu family who investigated and punished the case.
"Could it be that the Crown Prince back then..."
"Hush."
Xiao Yan glanced at Qian Baokun and said, "Someone is coming."
Qian Baokun immediately fell silent.
After a while, footsteps were heard outside. Someone came in with a message, saying that there was news from Fengxi Palace that the Queen wanted to see Xiao Yan to ask about the fall of the Fourth Prince.
Qian Baokun turned his head and looked at him: "Wasn't it an accident that the Fourth Prince fell? Why did the Queen meet you?"
Xiao Yan shook his head: "I don't know."
Qian Baokun said solemnly: "Be careful, the queen is a member of the Lu family after all."
Xiao Yan laughed when he heard this: "The queen's surname is Lu, but it may not be the Lu of Lu Chongyuan. Uncle Qian has forgotten that the fourth prince brought people to search the Lu family and forced Guan to death. Lu Chongyuan is not that magnanimous."
He stood up and said, "I'm going to Fengxi Palace."
Qian Baokun was worried, especially since he suddenly learned that there might be something hidden behind the Crown Prince Li's affair. He felt uneasy. He couldn't help but said, "Be careful, don't let anyone plot against you."
Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Got it. Uncle Qian, please wait a moment. I'll be right back."
"Jinyun, have someone serve tea to Minister Qian."
…
When Xiao Yan went to Fengxi Palace, the Fourth Prince woke up from the pain once. The pain of having the abscess removed from his face made him scream in agony.
Queen Lu finally coaxed him into quietness, and had someone give him some medicine and he fell asleep again. Then she came out from the back hall with a bad look on her face. When she walked around to the front and saw Xiao Yan standing in the hall, her face suddenly became stern.
Jinzhi sent all the people in the hall out, and Deshun stood guard in front of the hall himself.
When there were no more outsiders inside, Queen Lu angrily said, "Xiao Yan, do you know your crime?!"
Xiao Yan was not frightened by her. Instead, he just raised his eyebrows with a smile: "The Queen's question is strange. What did I do to deserve the Queen's anger?"
"You still dare to quibble. That day, His Majesty suddenly asked the Fourth Prince to investigate the Lu family. Did you collude with Rong Yue to instigate His Majesty and Hengting Pavilion? You deliberately asked the Fourth Prince to meet you at Hengting Pavilion, causing him to conflict with the Second Prince and even witnessing what happened later."
Queen Lu stared at Xiao Yan and said, "You don't need to quibble. If you hadn't deliberately provoked the relationship between me and him, he wouldn't have rushed into the palace, let alone encountered what happened later. You deliberately let him meet Aunt Bai and the others, and deliberately made him go to the Lu family out of anger."
"If it weren't for you, he wouldn't have entered the polo field out of anger with the Second Prince and nearly lost his life!"