Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 278 Follow me!
When Yan Shu returned to the mansion and alighted from his sedan chair, he entered the study, where Yan Liang was already waiting for him.

He had clearly already learned what had happened from the guards who had returned earlier. Once Yan Shu entered the room, he asked, "In Father's opinion, is there anything wrong with the Lu family?"

Yan Shu stood by the window for a while with his hands behind his back before turning around: "Do you think someone can lie for more than ten years?"

Yan Liang was stumped by the question.

Yan Shu turned around: "If he could, then I can't figure out why he would lie to me?"

Yan Liang pursed his lips and paused for a moment before saying, "Could it be because he harbors resentment after Jiang and his mother's true colors were exposed?"

"Then why did he still want Ying'er to marry into the Yan family?"

Yan Liang remained silent for a moment: "Ying'er is his own daughter. From this point of view, he really doesn't seem to be deceiving us."

"If he was willing to send his own daughter over just to deceive us, then his motives must be something that happened much earlier."

At this point, his brow furrowed: "Could it be that he already knew about what the Yan family did to Madam Lu back then?"

Yan Shu's gaze quickly fell on his face, lingered for a moment, and then looked away: "Impossible!"

Before Yan Liang could respond, he continued, "Even so, haven't we treated him well? Cheng died, and didn't we give him another wife as compensation?"

"Although it was later revealed that she was Jiang's illegitimate daughter, we didn't know that at the time. She was the adopted daughter of the current prime minister. We made him half a son-in-law of the Yan family and have ensured his smooth career over the years, allowing him to rise through the ranks without encountering any setbacks. Haven't we done enough for him?"

Yan Shu spread his hands, his face showing displeasure.

"If that's really the case, then he's a complete ingrate! Your grandfather and I have always treated people with sincerity, so why do we always encounter such ungrateful people?"

Yan Liang sighed, "There's no need to rush to conclusions right now. Our Yan family isn't easily fooled. If someone can deceive us for over a decade, then they must be exceptionally gifted."

Yan Shu paused upon hearing this, then turned to look at the door: "Go and find out how things are going with the Lu family."

The servant reported, "Master, news has just arrived that the Lu residence is operating as usual; those who need to carry out their duties are doing so, and those who need to go out are going out."

"Just now, the family members were tidying up the carriages and arranged for two carriages to go out. They also prepared a sedan chair for Lord Lu, as he is said to be going to the yamen on business. There are also two other carriages for their manager."

"So many people have left the manor?" Yan Shu narrowed his eyes.

Then he looked at Yan Liang: "Now we'll know whether he was lying or not."

"—Pass down the order! Keep a close watch on all their carriages! Especially Lu Jie's!"

"Yes!"

Yan Liang watched the servants leave and asked in confusion, "Why focus on him? Can't it be someone else?"

Yan Shu sat down, took out a tinderbox from the drawer, and lit the lamp on the table with a snap: "Can he really entrust something so important to someone else?"

……

Four carriages departed the mansion, two before the sedan chairs on the steps, and two after. The total time between their departures was only about 15 minutes.

The four cars and one sedan chair set off in completely different directions.

If one had to compare them, the sedan chair that Lu Rong rode in was not much different from the one that guarded Li Ping, who went out of the city to pick up melons and vegetables.

Where exactly were those two people from the Yan family hiding? Nobody knew. But after the first two carriages left, the candles in the gatehouse were blown out twice by the wind.

The journey from the Lu residence to the Ministry of Revenue involved crossing three streets. The sedan chair moved at the same speed as usual. Upon arriving at the Ministry, Lu Jie, as always, kept his eyes straight ahead and did not look back.

When Yang Bonong was with him, the two only exchanged a fleeting glance when they stepped over the threshold.

Only after they entered the office and the door closed did the guards who had been following them slip in: "No one is following us, sir, please get in the car!"

Yang Bonong quickly exchanged clothes with him, closed the doors and windows, and sat down behind the desk.

Lu Jie followed the guards out, boarded a carriage in the backyard, and quickly headed towards another alley next to the Cheng family's house after exiting through the back door.

He had the Ministry of Revenue's accounts, which were entangled with the Su and Liu families and the Tanzhou water transport, and he also had the Ministry of Works' files that matched all these accounts. Once these two things appeared on the emperor's desk, it would be enough to decide Liu Zheng's life or death within ten days!

Such an important item was something Yan Shu had gone to great lengths to bring his men to intimidate Lu Jie, so Lu Jie certainly couldn't entrust it to anyone else.

It's not that I don't believe it, but I can't tolerate even the slightest mistake!
Otherwise, not only would they fail to subdue the Liu family and deter the Yan family, but the Lu family would also suffer the same fate as Yang Tingfang!
Rather than anxiously waiting for others to succeed while staying in the palace, Lu Jie preferred to take matters into his own hands and make sure the success or failure was in his own hands.

The carriage stopped in front of an inconspicuous inn in the alley. After slipping into the backyard, he immediately ordered the guards to fetch Cheng Wenhui.

The servants who were originally out of town to fetch melons and vegetables were also there to meet him. They quickly led him into the house and then went out to wait at the gate.

The lights were already on inside, and Lu Jie turned them up a bit.

This inn was opened by Yang Bonong under the guise of a fellow villager, and over the years it has covered his countless clandestine activities. Because it is only separated from the Cheng family by an alley, Lu Jie has learned about all the Cheng family's affairs, big and small, from this inn over the years.

He and Cheng Wenhui had disliked each other since childhood, but if one were to ask who he trusted most in the entire court, it would be the Cheng family.

It's true that Old Cheng is straightforward, but this time, to bring the Liu family to their knees, only he, as the Imperial Censor, can take the lead.

After the two guards left at the Lu family were lured away one after another, news of anyone else leaving the mansion would surely reach Yan Shu's ears very quickly.

Therefore, he must see the person as soon as possible.

As long as you can get back to the Ministry of Revenue within 45 minutes, everything will be fine.

His eyes were fixed on the hourglass when suddenly a loud crash came from the courtyard!

He suddenly tensed up and quickly walked to the window. He saw a firelight shining through the cracks outside the tightly closed courtyard gate!
somebody is coming!

The only people who could suddenly appear here at this time are members of the Yan family!

How could they be so fast?

Lu Jie closed the window tightly and looked at the door. This door led to the shop, and he could go out through the front door, or if all else failed, there was an underground passage to hide in.

But in doing so, he would never be able to see Cheng Wenhui again!
"Open the door!"

The noise outside started again. He lifted his foot and walked toward the door, but the tightly closed back window was suddenly pushed open!

"Come with me!"

A figure darted inside, the silver mask on his face gleaming brightly under the lights!

He had barely had time to get a good look at a familiar jade pendant when a cool hand grabbed his wrist and, without a word, pulled him out of the back window! ...