Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 274 Who got there first?
After Lu Jie finished a cup of tea in the reception hall of the Ministry of Works, the Left Vice Minister hurriedly came over with a copied list. The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before Lu Jie took his leave.

After leaving the yamen and getting into the sedan chair, Lu Rong appeared in the corner ahead. Only after the sedan chair had completely left the Ministry of Works' premises did Lu Rong subtly follow, and only after returning to the Lu residence did he quickly pull out a dossier he had tucked into his robes:

"Please take a look, sir."

Lu Jie flipped through a few pages, then quickly tucked the paper into his sleeve: "That's right."

After thinking for a moment, he handed him the form he had retrieved from the Ministry of Works: "Take this to Mr. Yang and let him handle it as appropriate."

……

Shen Qingzhou had Cheng Wenhui handle it because he couldn't be exposed. At this time, not only could he not go, but it was also inconvenient for him to even show his face.

So after Cheng Wenhui left, he and Lu Jia quickly returned to the Grand Commandant's residence.

Just then, Guo Yi arrived and quietly entered Bibo Pavilion through the back door without alerting anyone.

Guo Yi had just come out of the palace, bringing with him, of course, the scene of being questioned by the emperor.

"...They only asked me about the ins and outs of the Zhou Sheng case, and asked the cabinet for my report after returning to the capital. They said almost nothing, and you couldn't tell what they were thinking at all."

"Who else is here besides you?"

"Liu Zheng." Guo Yi took a big gulp of tea after saying this in one breath. "Liu Zheng knelt to one side, trembling all over, without saying a word from beginning to end."

Lu Jia glanced at Shen Qingzhou.

She had never seen the emperor. Most people in the capital had never seen the emperor either. They had long heard that this emperor was a man of unfathomable depths; what he would ultimately do with Liu Zheng and Zhou Sheng was truly impossible to predict.

Lu Jia asked them to stay and talk while she went out to prepare tea and refreshments.

After watching the stove and estimating that they had finished talking, he had Yinliu carry the bag into the flower hall.

Just as she stepped into the courtyard, He Qu arrived: "Young Madam, things have gone wrong!"

Lu Jia suddenly stopped at the door: "What is it?"

He Qu quickly approached her: "Lord Cheng has given us a reply. They couldn't find the item the young master wanted at the Ministry of Works!"

"Didn't find it?" Lu Jia's heart skipped a beat. "How did he find it?"

He Qu looked around and said in a low voice, "Lord Cheng said that he first took several censors and yamen runners to the yamen under the pretext that the Censorate wanted to investigate Liu Zheng's daily performance. The two guards that the young master sent to him secretly went to carry out the task while there were many people around."

"But they searched once and found nothing. After returning, they discussed it with Lord Cheng and went to look again, but still nothing!"

"There is indeed such a booklet in the yamen's archives, but it's just missing!"

Lu Jia's expression changed: "The Yan family made the first move?"

"It is currently unknown!"

Lu Jia gritted her teeth. "Does the young master know?"

"What happened?"

Shen Qingzhou had already arrived in the courtyard. Guo Yi was nowhere to be seen; it seemed he had already left through the back door.

He Qu quickly recounted the whole story.

Shen Qingzhou frowned as well: "Liu Zheng is still in the palace. Logically, the Yan family should be trying to get him out of the palace right now to prevent the emperor from suddenly issuing an edict to prosecute him. How could they be so quick?"

Lu Jia said, "Do you want to send someone to the Ministry of Works to see what's going on?"

Shen Qingzhou paced a few steps under the tree, then turned to look at He Qu: "Is Lord Cheng still at the Ministry of Works?"

"Yes, we're waiting for your reply, young master. We're currently arguing with the censors and the people from the Ministry of Works."

"Then hurry over and pass on a message to him, asking him to inquire who went there today." "Yes, sir!"

He Qu also left through the back door.

Shen Qingzhou then looked at Tang Yu, who was still standing to the side: "What's the Yan family up to today?"

Tang Yu stepped forward: "The Yan family father and son have not left home yet today. After the rumors started early this morning, Liu Zheng's wife, Xiao Du, went to the Yan family and is still there."

Shen Qingzhou and Lu Jia exchanged a glance and said, "Go keep an eye on things again."

……

After Liu Zheng was questioned, Yan Song's study was constantly bustling with people coming and going.

"Who would have thought that Cheng Wenhui would kick someone when they're down and suddenly bring up Zhou Sheng's case?"

All the guests from the manor came, along with several of Yan Song's students.

The Su family's matter wasn't serious, and the Liu family's encroachment on land and oppression of the people weren't particularly life-threatening either.

Even if the evidence against him is irrefutable, at most he will be dismissed from his post and sent back to his hometown. After a few years, it won't be difficult to find a pretext to petition the emperor to reinstate him.

The real problem is Zhou Sheng, that huge boulder weighing on his head!
Destroying dikes and flooding fields damages the very foundation of the state, and the emperor would certainly not tolerate it. This is why, even after being imprisoned for more than half a year, the Yan family still dared not release him.

During that time, he considered countless ways to silence them, but never found an opportunity. All the guards on duty had various backgrounds and were not people who could be easily won over.

In other words, even if you can win them over, you really can't trust them. Once you leave a trace, it will become a ready-made handle to use against you.

“No matter what, the person has already been summoned to the palace by the Emperor, which is no small matter.” Yan Shu looked at Yan Song. “Once the Emperor issues an order for a thorough investigation, Tanzhou Prefecture will definitely investigate thoroughly.”

"master."

Yan Shu had barely finished speaking when the steward arrived at the door. "News has come from the palace. The Emperor has just summoned Lord He of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to the palace."

Yan Shu looked at Yan Song.

Yan Song, who had been silently pondering, suddenly frowned.

"Father, He Ping has entered the palace; he must be here to investigate the case on imperial orders!"

Yan Song looked up at them: "After Grand Commandant Shen returned to the capital, the cabinet dispatched imperial envoys to inspect the waterways throughout the country. I remember that a thorough investigation had already been conducted at that time."

"Everyone, think carefully, where else have we made any mistakes or omissions?"
"If everything has been dealt with, there is no need to worry unnecessarily and lose composure."

Everyone looked at each other.

Li, a student who was serving as a secretary in the Ministry of Revenue, stepped forward and said: "When Minister Lu took office recently, he audited the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue. I saw quite a few accounts related to the Ministry of Works."

"Although it is an old case, it can still be verified by looking at the river."

Upon hearing this, Yan Song asked, "Where is Lan Chu? Who can go and invite him over? We shouldn't delay, and we should also go to the Ministry of Works as soon as possible."

Yan Shu hurriedly said, "This matter should not be entrusted to outsiders. I will let Liang'er go personally."

After saying that, he quickly left the study.

As Yan Liang hurried to the Ministry of Works, He Qu received the results of his inquiry from Cheng Wenhui.

After hearing these names, he returned to the Grand Commandant's mansion with a look of surprise and doubt, and went to Lu Jia and the others.

"Lord Cheng learned from the Ministry of Works that, apart from these censors, only Lord Lu has visited the Ministry of Works this morning!"

Lu Jia's mouth dropped open: "...You mean my father?"