Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 400 I Have Two Daughters
The Changning Marquis's residence and the Yan family's private residence are separated by only one wall. Although the walls are high and it is impossible to see inside, the heir's wife still came up with a solution.

“There is a narrow alley between my house and the Yan residence, and no one walks in the middle of it. But there are gates between them when they were built. As far as I know, that side is just an unused courtyard. It was originally set up as an ancestral hall, but since no one lives there, it has been empty.”

“If you have a way to open the door on the other side, and at the same time, you can distract the guards behind the door, then you can definitely get in with minimal noise and safely.”

These are not problems for Shen Qingzhou.

The heir of the Marquis of Changning personally led Shen Qingzhou and the others to the side room, while Lu Jia, who remained in the room, continued chatting with the heir's wife as usual: "I wonder how well the young master is doing lately?"

After chatting for a while, Shen Qingzhou and the others returned.

The guards who went inside to investigate were unusually out of breath: "The security inside the mansion is extremely tight. We were discovered as soon as we got close."

"Fortunately, we did get some information. The small building we had noticed earlier is now lit up. We can see Lord Lu and Yan Liang on the roof. In the courtyard surrounded by the small buildings, there is Yingzi, the second young lady of the Lu family, and a maid who has been tied up!"

"In addition, on the other side, in a small building with lights on, the officials of the Three Judicial Offices who enter at night are all inside!"
"It's obvious that Yan Liang dug a pit, aiming at what happened at the Yan residence the other day!"

In front of the Marquis's family, it was naturally inappropriate to say that Lu Ying had killed Madam Yan, but now that the suspicion had been confirmed, Lu Jia didn't need to make that unnecessary statement.

She exchanged a glance with Shen Qingzhou, then bid farewell to the Marquis of Changning and his wife.

After stepping outside, Lu Jia said to Shen Qingzhou, "Lu Ying murdered her mother-in-law, and public opinion will definitely affect Father's career."

"Yan Liang must have been confident in using this matter to blackmail his father."

"He knew what his father was after. His goal was to interfere with his father's entry into the cabinet and to use his father to attack the Shen family."

"Since he sent Lu Rong to tell me, he must have sensed the crisis."

"If Yan Liang succeeds, all the hardships we have gone through to get to this point will be for naught, and we will have to take a few steps back."

"It seems you've already made up your mind."

Lu Jia looked through the darkness at the open space in front of the Yan family mansion: "I suffered a loss at the Yan family's hands, and even now, thinking back on it, it still feels like a fishbone stuck in my throat."

"Send someone to tell He Qu to do as I say immediately. Then, send a guard to the Cheng family to find your uncle and ask him to bring the people from the Three Judicial Offices here within half an hour."

Shen Qingzhou also glanced down at the car: "Here?"

"This is the place!" Lu Jia nodded. "If the eldest son of the Yan family can invite people from the Three Departments, why can't the young mistress of the Shen family? What he can do, I can do too!"

Shen Qingzhou still had doubts: "With me here, why should I let you take the lead? You can just sit on the sidelines and watch."

“No.” Lu Jia placed her palm on the back of his hand. “You can handle other things, but I must resolve this matter myself.”

The lantern light under the Yan family's gate reflected into her eyes, making the flickering light inside look like bursts of flame.

Shen Qingzhou nodded silently and stood up: "Your husband obeys."

……

The sounds of Yun Dou's angry curses and roars still echoed in the courtyard. But apart from that, there was an eerie silence, as if the air itself had frozen.

The three officials upstairs next door had already put away their writing brushes and inkstones and picked up their teacups.

Yun Dou has revealed the whole story, and Ying Zi not only failed to offer a strong rebuttal, but also repeatedly admitted to Yun Dou's words.

With three witnesses present, this testimony has been finalized.

As for the evidence Yun Dou mentioned, Lu Jie knew it didn't exist, but he was all too aware of it. Lu Ying and her servant were still in the Yan residence; for Yan Liang, producing evidence would be incredibly easy. With both confessions and physical evidence present, Lu Ying would have no choice but to admit to her crimes, especially since the three officials in the pavilion were clearly biased.

Since Lu Ying is the real culprit, the Yan family, who are in the right, will not be afraid of the Lu family's counterattack.

The choice was now before Lu Jie.

If he didn't comply, Lu Ying's crime of murder would inevitably be made public. He had worked tirelessly to get to this point, but ultimately he still couldn't enter the cabinet.

If he gives in, all the gains he has made will be ruined. The Shen family will be dragged into this case, and the emperor has already become wary of Grand Commandant Shen. At present, even the slightest movement will trigger his suppression.

This is naturally even more unacceptable.

"Uncle Lu, have you made up your mind?"

After a long silence, the sound of a cup lid clinking came from the table behind him. Yan Liang put down his teacup and looked over.

"Son!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the butler walked in from outside and whispered a few words in his ear.

After listening, Yan Liang looked at Lu Jie, waved the man away, and said, "The guards said that someone came to spy on us half an hour ago."

"It seems they've come to meet Uncle Lu. But since they're coming, they could simply be allowed to come in openly."

“The courtroom that my nephew has set up tonight has absolutely nothing to hide.”

Lu Jie ignored those words and simply walked back and sat down: "You've done such a thorough job, of course no one can say anything about it. Since there are witnesses and physical evidence, I have no way to refute it."

"So, what does Uncle Lu mean?"

"I am deeply grateful to His Majesty for his kindness and for giving me this important position. I will naturally be your subject first and your father second."

Yan Liang narrowed his eyes: "You're going to give her up?"

Lu Jie picked up his teacup again: "It's not about giving up. But if you insist on keeping her, I can't just come and take her away, can I?"

Yan Liang laughed.

"She is your own daughter. If I submit this confession to the authorities, she will surely die! And you can forget about ever returning to the cabinet. Are you really willing to give it all up?"

Lu Jie looked at him: "I can't join the cabinet, which already fulfills your wishes. Why do you still care about her fate?"

"Son!"

Before Yan Liang could reply, the servant who had just left came back in. This time, his steps were even faster, and his expression showed panic: "The Shen family has sent a large number of guards and blocked both ends of the alley!"

"Then a group of officials from the Three Judicial Offices arrived outside our residence. Censor Cheng Wenhui also brought several other censors. They set up tables and chairs outside, seemingly to set up a courtroom!"

Yan Liang frowned instantly: "Shen Yu?"

"No, it seems that the one in charge this time is not Young Master Shen, but their young mistress!"

Yan Liang paused for a moment, then turned to Lu Jie.

Lu Jie looked at him calmly: "You forgot that I have two daughters. One is good at killing, while the other is good at saving lives."

The chill of late autumn suddenly crept onto Yan Liang's face.