Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 241 Hurry, something's happened to the young lady! (Seeking monthly votes)
"Eat quickly," Lu Jia said gently, "It won't taste good if it gets cold."

Guo Lu stared wide-eyed at the pastries in front of him, his throat tightening, the sound coming out like sandstorms blowing across a dried-up river.

"You don't dare to eat it?" Lu Jia slapped the pastry on his face in fear. "Useless thing! When you traveled all the way to Shawan to kill me, you weren't this cowardly!"

“Miss,” Fuxiao walked quickly over, “the guards who went to the Yan family have also returned.”

Footsteps sounded at the door; one of the two guards sent out earlier had returned.

He jogged up to her and said, "Miss, I've found a clue, but I don't know if it's of any use!"

"Say it!"

Lu Jia stood up.

"After returning to the Lu residence today, Yan Shu's wife, Madam Du, immediately ordered people to gather the servants who had served her many years ago, just to inquire about a fire that occurred in the Lu residence's villa years ago!"

"The fire in Bieye?"

Lu Jia's eyes flickered, and after a moment she laughed: "What a coincidence!"

After being threatened by Jiang, Du didn't think about how to deal with Jiang, but instead immediately inquired about a fire that happened many years ago.

Lu Jia hadn't forgotten at all that on the night she was taken away by the old woman in Bieye, a fire also broke out!

So that fire is the reason why Du Shi went to Bieye but never showed up.

Not only did Madam Du actually go that night, but it was also premeditated that Madam Jiang took her and Lu Ying to Bieye to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival!

If that's the case, doesn't that prove that the fire was also related to their plot against Lu Jie back then?

Otherwise, why would the Yan family inquire about the fire at this time?

She looked at Guo Lu on the ground: "You should have known this day would come. Now, do you want to live or die? How about we make some terms?"

Guo Lu gritted his teeth: "What are you going to do?"

"I want the Jiang family dead." Lu Jia smirked. "If you can make her die the way I want, then you can live."

Guo Lu's hands, which were braced on the ground, suddenly curled up, scraping ten deep marks into the mud.

……

It was already late at night when I left the Ministry of Revenue.

Shen Qingzhou walked last. When she reached the door, she saw that Lu Jie was still there. After thinking for a moment, she went up to greet her future father-in-law and boss with a cupped-hand salute before getting into the car.

Lu Jie watched his slow, retreating figure and said, "Young master, please wait."

Shen Qingzhou turned around: "What are your orders, sir?"

Lu Jie frowned: "Your health is not good, so you don't need to take such official duties too seriously in the future."

She was already sick; if she stays up a few more nights, she might not even make it to her wedding.

Shen Qingzhou paused, pulled his thick cloak tighter around himself, then covered his mouth with his fist and coughed twice: "Thank you for your concern, sir. But rest assured, sir, even if I die, I will not disappoint you. I will definitely hold on until I marry your daughter before I die. After all, sir, you don't care whether your daughter becomes a widow after marriage, do you?"

Lu Jie choked.

Meanwhile, Shen Qingzhou had already leisurely boarded the car and set off.

Lu Jie suppressed his deep displeasure and got into the sedan chair. This kid may not have a strong life, but he certainly doesn't mince words.

Tang Yu drove the car away from the yamen, and Shen Qingzhou sent him to Yanzi Hutong to ask Lu Jia what he wanted to see him about tonight.
A few days ago, Lu Jie proposed that the entire government should conduct a joint audit of the accounts. Shen Qingzhou thought he was just going through the motions. After all, others might not know about the affairs between the Ministry of Revenue and the Yan family, but how could Lu Jie not know? If this were a proper audit, wouldn't it expose the Yan family's secrets? Unexpectedly, he actually took it seriously. Starting the day before yesterday, he ordered that only one office be opened for official business, and all others be transferred to the rear to organize the account books.

At this time, Shen Qingzhou certainly couldn't leave, even if the important accounts wouldn't reach him.

This continued day and night.

It was almost dawn, but I wondered how things were going with Lu Jia.

Tang Yu replied, "Young Master, He Qu sent someone to deliver a message an hour ago, saying that Miss Lu has already returned to the Lu residence."

Shen Qingzhou was relieved.

I didn't sleep well that night.

Fearing she would miss the audit at the yamen, she asked Lu Jie to collude with the Yan family to tamper with the accounts. Shen Qingzhou closed her eyes briefly before getting up.

As Tang Yu led the servants to help him dress, Song En entered, his clothes dripping with dew: "Young Master, Miss Lu has sent a letter."

Shen Qingzhou took it and his expression changed after only two glances.

"What happened?" Song En asked curiously.

Shen Qingzhou tore up the note and then walked out the door: "You come with me to the yamen and wait in the carriage outside."

Song En looked puzzled, but still immediately did as he was told.

When Shen Qingzhou arrived at the yamen, he went straight to the back hall where the accounts were being settled.

Lu Jie had already arrived and was sitting behind the desk above, drinking tea.

Shen Qingzhou sat down, opened the document to a few pages, and then said to the person at the head of the table, "Many of the accounts I've checked these past few days bear the seal of the Grand Secretariat, and the identities of those involved are unclear. Although they are old and no longer important, they still need to be filed. Why don't we invite Grand Secretary Yan or Lord Yan to sit down and discuss how to handle them?"

At this point, he raised his head slightly and said, "I just received a new tin of tea. Last night, you showed me endless care and concern. After being busy for so many days, let's give everyone a rest and a chance to relax."

Lu Jie had been at the Ministry of Revenue for almost a month, and had endured his cold shoulder for almost a month. This was the first time he had heard him speak in such a long sentence, so he couldn't help but stare at him.

But then he nodded: "Go to the Imperial Stud and invite Lord Yan."

Following Shen Qingzhou's instructions, Song En sat in the carriage, waiting for no further instructions. He watched as Yan Shu entered the yamen, and his heart pounded with anxiety.

Just as he was pondering this, a commotion suddenly erupted on the street outside the window. He rolled down the car window and saw that everyone on the road was shouting and heading in the same direction. They didn't seem panicked at all; instead, they seemed excited and eager to see what kind of excitement was going on.

Song En gestured to the guard in the front of the carriage to call someone over: "What happened?"

The man gestured wildly and said, "Sir, you don't know yet? A major case has occurred in Shuntian Prefecture! Someone has accused the wife of the Minister of Revenue of murdering her stepdaughter and then poisoning her to silence her. Now all the witnesses and evidence are laid out at the yamen gate, and the petition drum has been beaten to pieces..."

"what?"

Song Enji thought he had misheard: "Who are you talking about?!"

"The Lu family, the Minister of Revenue!"

While Song En was still speechless with astonishment, the man had already impatiently abandoned him and disappeared into the crowd.

Song En immediately turned his head to look at the imposing gate of the Ministry of Revenue in front of him. At that moment, another figure rode up to the gate on horseback. Before he could even stand properly, he rushed to the yamen runners below the gate: "Quickly go and inform the Minister that something has happened to the young lady!"

The bodyguard in the lead carriage, who had been closely following Shen Qingzhou, immediately jumped to his feet in surprise upon recognizing the man: "Changfu?!"