Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 281 Nobody has as many tricks up their sleeve as him

Shen Qingzhou quickly packed his things: "I will follow my father-in-law's instructions!"

Lu Jie nodded: "Since your father has not yet participated, and you have chosen this path, you can come to me for anything in the future."

“That’s exactly what I meant.” Shen Qingzhou’s eyes shone even brighter. “Father-in-law, you are farsighted and wise. You have dealt with the Yan father and son for more than ten years without ever failing. We really need your guidance, Father-in-law.”

In terms of action, he possesses profound martial arts skills, a large number of skilled guards, and the Qingliu faction and its members that he has secretly gathered over the years, which does give him some advantages.

However, Lu Jie had been deep inside the enemy camp for more than ten years, which demonstrates his remarkable ability to assess the situation.

Furthermore, this is the Minister of Revenue, a first-rank official and a Grand Secretary of the current dynasty. If there is anyone who can rival the Yan family in the future, then this refined and elegant Lord Lu is definitely the most powerful one!
Lu Jie looked at his youthful face and nodded slightly: "The Yan family hasn't gotten any leverage over me. They're not sure if I've betrayed them or not, so they won't push me to the other side in one fell swoop."

"But things can never be guaranteed."

"Their influence extends throughout the court. If they become suspicious of me, it will be difficult for me to accomplish anything in the future."

"You say!"

"I was the only one who went to the Ministry of Works yesterday. The project list that I gave to Yan Shu was found and given to me by Wei Ting, the Left Vice Minister of Works. Now, if you want to clear my name, what do you think we should do?"

Meeting Lu Jie's gaze, Shen Qingzhou paused slightly before replying, "I believe that the copy I have can now be put to good use."

Lu Jie nodded: "It's still dark now, a good time to proceed."

Shen Qingzhou bowed deeply: "Yes, sir!"

……

Yang Bonong, who had been pacing outside the door, stared at the two people talking inside the half-open window, his heart already churning with turmoil.

They used to be wary of both the Yan family and the Shen family, but tonight it was Shen Qingzhou who saved them!

Hearing a slight creaking sound from the back window, he quickly turned around and saw that only Lu Jie was left in the room. He hurriedly pushed the door open and asked, "Is Young Master Shen gone?"

Lu Jie leaned back in his chair, seemingly exhausted, but his eyes shone brightly: "Let's go."

Yang Bonong took a deep breath: "I really didn't expect this..."

Over the years, they have walked on thin ice, being cautious at every turn, simply because this path is too dangerous and too narrow. Now they have discovered that Shen Qingzhou is one of their own, Lu Jia's husband who was sent away by the Yan family, and he is of one mind with them. They were originally a family, and now that the estrangement has disappeared, what better news could there be?
"Young Master Shen is a promising young man, yet there has been no legend outside about his martial arts prowess over the years. Others' impression of him is that he is frail and sickly, and also has an excellent ability to manage a household. His hidden talent is quite similar to yours, sir!"

“That’s precisely why we should proceed with even greater caution.” Lu Jie straightened up. “Once the Yan family discovers this, our plans will be thrown into disarray.”

"—I asked you to investigate the Yang family last time, so hurry up and get things moving!"

"Follow the order!"

……

When Shen Qingzhou left, it was just getting dark, and nearly two hours passed without any news about them.

The waiting process is always agonizing.

Inside the Bibo Pavilion, Lu Jia and Cheng Wenhui sat facing each other in silence.

Lu Jie's actions not only tore away the last layer of paper in Lu Jia's heart, but also caused Cheng Wenhui's heart to tremble.

"After your mother died, your maternal grandmother, who was still alive at the time, wanted to bring you to live with the Cheng family, but your father refused. He wanted to raise you himself. I already resented him, so I had less contact with him. The final break was because he ruined my promotion."

“In the past, I always thought that he was deliberately going against me. Now that I think about it, there are countless officials in the Censorate who have been secretly persecuted by the Yan family. On the contrary, I have always been safe and sound. It is hard to say that he did not see through this long ago and intentionally gave my Cheng family peace.”

Cheng Wenhui took a deep breath. "This guy, I'm two years older than him, when did it become his turn to protect me? Does he even respect me as his brother-in-law?"

Lu Jia glanced at him from the side and said, "Stop sighing. I'm so tired of hearing you nagging me."

"Well, there's nothing I can do about it. Who told him to treat me like that?" Cheng Wenhui put her hands in her pockets. "He's a fox! A complete fox! I'm clearly a lion or tiger; I should be stronger than him!"

Lu Jia glanced at the roof beam and took a sip of ginseng soup.

The anxiety that had been hanging over her ever since the Wei family's affair was exposed finally subsided tonight.

She had observed everything Lu Jie did. Even his response to Jiang Shi revealing the truth about Madam Lu's death, which Lu Jia ultimately chose not to expose.

She hoped she was right, but was also extremely afraid of being wrong.

Rather than feeling nervous about what happened tonight, Lu Jie brought her more joy than anything else.

She was confident that Shen Qingzhou would handle things well, and now she just hoped they could come back soon.

"The master is back!"

Just as I was thinking about it, Song En came in. I had just put down the soup bowl when he came in.

Shen Qingzhou stepped through the open curtain and, before he could even greet them, placed the account books and files in his hands on the table in front of them.

“I’ve already spoken to my father-in-law. He gave me all this information and told me to act quickly. This time, we must take down the Liu family. Uncle, it’s up to you now.”

Cheng Wenhui immediately grabbed it: "It's the Ministry of Revenue's account books! And the Ministry of Works' files too? It really was him! ...That old Lu, he kept it from me for so long!"

Lu Jia said, "As expected, it's easier to get things done if you have connections in the government! So, the reason he specifically proposed this condition—to switch from the Ministry of Rites to the Ministry of Revenue—was to find something to hold against the Yan family."

"So, the lawsuit the Liu family got into last time was also caused by Father. I just don't know why Father suddenly decided to deal with the Liu family last time?"

“Because Liu Zheng asked him for money.” Shen Qingzhou looked at her. “He wanted three million taels of silver. From then on, the Liu family was doomed.”

He knew more about the affairs of the government office than Lu Jia did, and he could now deduce things that he couldn't understand before.

Cheng Wenhui snorted, "He was a great talent praised by your maternal grandfather! Others wouldn't have as many cunning schemes as him!"

Seeing that he was still fuming, Lu Jia pushed all the account books and files into his hands: "Then Uncle, you should hurry up and go. Father has already gotten there first this time, so you can't lose to him next!"

"That's impossible!"

Cheng Wenhui carefully put her things away. "Even if it costs me my life, I will bring down the Liu family!"

Lu Jia covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

As they were talking, the sound of a clapper rang out from the street. Before they knew it, it was past midnight, and a new day had begun.

Dear friends, Happy Chinese New Year! Wishing you all a prosperous Year of the Snake! Thank you for your support and companionship. Love you all!