Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 101 As expected, he had some ideas.
While Lu Jia went to the Cheng family, Shen Qingzhou returned to the Grand Commandant's residence.

Song En handed over the official documents from the Ministry of Revenue, the news sent back by Guo Yi, and the letters recently sent by Mr. Chong, one by one.

"The people escorting Zhou Sheng are already on their way. If nothing unexpected happens along the way, they will definitely arrive in the capital in a month."

"The Dali Temple has already made arrangements in advance to have our people guard him day and night after he is imprisoned."

"In addition, I have also investigated the matter of the Ministry of Revenue embezzling the annual allowances for the Crown Prince's family, and it has happened more than once."

"Has this never been reported to the Emperor?"

Shen Qingzhou frowned as he flipped through the official documents.

"The cabinet is controlled by Yan Song. Even if it is submitted, it will be blocked by the cabinet. His Highness the Crown Prince can only endure it for now. He has to set aside one or two tenths of his annual allowance to go through the back door of the Yan family."

Shen Qingzhou put down the official document: "Yan Song and his son are trusted by the Emperor, so they can control everything."

"Li Quan, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, was the Emperor's close attendant when he was still a prince. He is also one of the Emperor's men. We can try to get in touch with him."

"A direct attack is not enough; when necessary, we must take a flanking approach."

The lessons of my past life were still vivid in my mind. At that time, I thought that as long as I collected enough evidence, I could bring down the Yan family with a mountain of impeachment memorials.

The attack was successful, hitting the vital points, but Yan Song managed a desperate counterattack by sacrificing himself, and the emperor pardoned the Yan family with a single word.

Therefore, being too particular in one's actions can actually become a hindrance.

Song En said, "But the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs and the Cabinet have frequent exchanges. This Li Quan is probably in cahoots with the Yan family father and son, and they have long formed an alliance."

Shen Qingzhou glanced at him: "The Grand Eunuch Gao Hong has a wolfish ambition for the position of Grand Eunuch. He wants to replace Li Quan, and he must get the support of the Yan family."

"Conversely, the Yan family can only choose one side between Gao Hong and Li Quan. Whether it is true or not, an investigation will naturally reveal the clues."

This was obvious from the previous life. Li Quan was punished and imprisoned by the emperor less than two years later. Subsequently, Gao Hong ascended to the throne, and to prevent Li Quan from regaining favor, he turned around and had Li Quan killed in prison.

Of course, the power of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs was no less than that of the Grand Secretariat, and Gao Hong was not necessarily willing to be a lackey of the Yan family.

But since Gao Hong has this ambition, he will eventually have a chance.

Song En thought for a moment, then nodded: "I understand."

……

Lu Jia returned to Yanzi Hutong at noon.

Upon entering, one sees Shen Qingzhou reading a book under a camphor tree.

September in the capital was already quite chilly. He brewed a pot of tea nearby, and the afternoon sun shone down, penetrating the fragrant tea aroma, making it look warm and cozy.

Lu Jia quickly said, "I'm back!"

Shen Qingzhou's gaze followed her until she reached him: "Did you get it done?"

At the same time, he made a cup of tea and handed it to him.

Lu Jia took it and began to explain the whole story:

"...My uncle is very resistant to me. I don't know how my father offended him back then. However, it's strange that he still believes my father wouldn't stoop so low as to block his future."

To successfully persuade the Cheng family, she naturally needed to give them some time. But Lu Jia knew that the inside story she had revealed was enough to attract the Cheng family's attention.

Unless Cheng Wenhui is a pushover who swallows her anger, there will definitely be a follow-up to today's events.

However, Cheng Wenhui's attitude towards him was also intriguing. Logically speaking, given how far she had gone, he should have said something to save face for his uncle. But he didn't.

Shen Qingzhou put down the book she was reading: "If it happened around the time your mother passed away, is it related to your mother's death?"

Lu Jia looked up when she heard this, but after thinking for a moment, she shook her head again: "I don't know."

Lu Jia had no memory of this childhood incident, and naturally never pursued the feud between the Cheng family and Lu Jie.

However, she also remembered that when Cheng Wenhui cursed Lu Jie in her previous life, she only called him despicable, shameless, and immoral, and never mentioned her mother. This suggests that the conflict between them was probably something else entirely.

She drank a cup of tea, then casually turned the teacup back up, and stood up: "I'll go back to my room first."

Shen Qingzhou watched as she skillfully and deftly placed and closed the teacup, a manner completely unlike that of a tea drinker from Tanzhou. He stared at her retreating figure in a daze.

When He Qu walked in, he saw him staring at the empty space ahead and couldn't help but ask, "Young Master?"

Shen Qingzhou withdrew her gaze: "What is it?"

He Qu hurriedly said, "Young master, Guo Lu has returned. Moreover, the man Mr. Song sent south to deliver a message to Lord Guo intercepted Guo Lu's men on their way to Shawan..."

……

Before Qinghe followed Lu Jia into the Cheng family's gate, she was unaware of Lu Jia's hidden background. The conversation she had with the Cheng family had stirred up a lot of emotions within her.

However, she was a maid who had received strict training in the Prince Ji's mansion, and even though she was in turmoil, she never uttered a word in public.

She walked into the house with her hands clasped in her palms. Only after Lu Jia entered the room and sat down did she call Fu Xiao forward and bow again: "This servant is blind and ignorant, and did not realize that you were a noble lady from a high family! Please forgive me, Miss."

Although the Ji Prince's Mansion is noble and belongs to the imperial clan, so many generations have passed since the founding of this dynasty, and there are countless members of the imperial clan. They are no longer rare. Moreover, because the founding emperor ordered that the princes and nobles of the imperial clan should not hold real power, the court is dominated by civil officials. So how high is the status of the Ji Prince's Mansion?
Every year, countless tributes are sent to the capital for that annual custom.

Putting everything else aside, just the fact that Prince Yi hurriedly selected and released a few of them this time, don't they know what the reasons are behind it?
Of course, it's because this mysterious butler, Qin, is someone we can't afford to offend.

Qinghe knew that this was someone the Prince's mansion couldn't afford to offend, which is why, after being instructed by Prince Yi to do her job diligently after leaving the mansion, she wholeheartedly followed Miss Xie, who came from a merchant family.

Miss Xie was considerate of her servants, and when she left, she made a point of taking Changfu with her so that the mother and son wouldn't have to be separated. This deeply moved Qinghe.

For someone who has sold themselves into slavery, to encounter a master who shows compassion for his servants is already a great blessing.

She never expected that this girl's biological father was actually a rising star in the imperial court who was gaining increasing favor!

This is not their misfortune, it is clearly their honor!
Qinghe kowtowed earnestly.

Lu Jia had just sat down when she stood up again—

I intended to stop them, but then I thought better of it.

Bringing them both to the capital was primarily to solidify their loyalty. This is for the best; now that they know who they're aligned with, they'll know which path to take and how to act in the future.

Guo Lu is back!

Just as they were about to pull them up to talk, Shen Qingzhou arrived: "The Jiang family's backup plan has been revealed."

(End of this chapter)