Discuss with you

Chapter 232 Solid-minded
If Emperor Jin really intended for Lu Chao and Lu Qing to become friends, and then deliberately allowed Lu Chao to go to the Southern Study to get books, giving Lu Chao the opportunity to discover official documents related to Lu Qing's background, and secretly bring them to Lu Qing to see.

All of this happened precisely when Lu Qing was less than a year away from being found and brought back to the capital. If this was a coincidence, then there could be no more coincidence in the world.

Emperor Jin clearly hoped that Lu Qing could learn about what happened back then through that official book before returning to the capital.

So why go through all this trouble to let him know?

unless……

"Was there another version of events regarding this matter back then?" Zhu Yu guessed.

“Indeed, there is another saying,” Lu Qing nodded. “At that time, there was a rumor in the martial arts world that in the end, my grandfather and father believed that the country should be governed with benevolence and virtue, especially when the country was newly settled and people were in need. Those talented and virtuous people who did not support that person at first but still chose to submit in the end should be put aside and appointed, otherwise it would be easy to lose the hearts of the people.”

The other person believed that those who had not shared his vision and path in the past must have different intentions. Even if they were willing to submit now, it was only because of the circumstances. Once given another opportunity, they would rebel again and he wanted to eliminate them completely.

Because of differing opinions on this matter, my people began to consider leaving, which was seen as a betrayal by that person. So he secretly gave orders to eliminate all those who refused to be of one mind with him.

However, it was already the eve of his ascension to the throne, and he naturally couldn't do such dirty work himself. Unexpectedly, when it came time to go through the motions, he discovered that I was still alive, so he was in a bind and had no choice but to take me back and raise me by his side.

"So, all that trouble was to prevent you from believing the rumors and holding a grudge against him." Zhu Yu recalled Emperor Jin's attitude towards Lu Qing. "So even though he showed you the official records, he was still worried that you didn't fully believe what the historians recorded?"

"Perhaps." Lu Qing remained noncommittal. "You just need to know that everything that person does has its own purpose."

Whether this goal complements or contradicts our own goals is something we need to discern for ourselves.

Zhu Yu sighed.

Therefore, the cause of death of Lu Qing's clan remains an unsolved mystery. Emperor Jin's kindness towards Lu Qing may be genuine, but his wariness towards him is real.

He tried every means to save his life and pave the way for him, giving him the opportunity to learn from a master, while also being wary and scheming at every turn...

He might be the benefactor who adopted Lu Qing, or he might be the culprit who killed Lu Qing's family...

Zhu Yu rubbed his temples.

If there's anything that fools and smart people have in common, it's probably that dealing with them is somewhat exhausting...

After a while, the water was heated to the perfect temperature. Lu Qing scooped some out with a wooden basin for her. Zhu Yuzai carefully washed her hands, then her face and hair, and changed into a clean outer robe before entering their tent.

"What did you go off to do all day?" she asked Lu Qing, drying her wet hair. "We'll talk about it when your second brother arrives," Lu Qing glanced outside the tent, sat down next to Zhu Yu, took the cloth from her hand, and gently wiped her hair as he said, "While he and Fu Wen are still out, tell me about your two elder brothers."

“Okay.” Zhu Yu thought for a moment, “You’ve seen both of them. The Zhu family doesn’t really have anyone who hides their true nature. You can sense their temperament and character in just a few words.”

The eldest brother, Zhu Jie, was more assertive from a young age. As the eldest son, he was said to be frail and sickly from childhood, so he was the most favored by Pang Yuzhen. She was even worried about leaving him in the care of a wet nurse. Even when he was almost ten years old, he was still under his mother's watchful eye day and night.

Later, his father couldn't bear to watch any longer. He said that if things continued like this, he might not grow up to be a proper man. So he ordered his son to be moved to a side courtyard to live with his second brother, leaving only two nannies and a few servants to take care of them. He also forbade Pang Yuzhen from showing such favoritism to him anymore.

The second brother, Zhu Feng, was relatively easy to take care of from a young age. Even when left with a wet nurse, he would not cry or fuss. He rarely competed for favor with his parents and was mostly quiet, with a gentler and more composed personality.

However, perhaps because his temperament was so easy to manage, Pang Yuzhen didn't particularly cherish her. Her three sons were either preoccupied with the eldest son or doted on the youngest; they weren't exactly unkind to her second brother, but he simply couldn't be compared to her other two legitimate sons.

As Lu Qing dried Zhu Yu's hair, she listened to her story. After listening, she asked, "Does the Pang family value Zhu Jie more?"

“That’s right. Because my elder brother usually appears more shrewd and capable, and also has the arrogance of a prince inheriting the throne, he is naturally the one that the Pang family values ​​more.” Zhu Yu replied with a smile, and when he mentioned “shrewd and capable” and “arrogance”, his tone unconsciously became a bit more playful. “In other words, Pang Yutang, who is in charge of the Pang family, is to Zhu Jie what Duke Yan is to Lu Zhang.”

"The Pang family doesn't think highly of Zhu Feng?" Lu Qing asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I have very low hopes for him, and I almost completely ignore the existence of my second brother.” Zhu Yu nodded. “Pang Yutang thinks that my second brother’s personality is too much like my father’s, and he is too honest and straightforward. He doesn’t have the ambition and courage of my eldest brother.”

My elder brother lived up to the Pang family's high regard for him. He was very proactive in everything he did and showed an attitude of taking responsibility without hesitation. He not only took the initiative to share many of our father's responsibilities, but also took on all matters related to the Pang family without hesitation. He was constantly proving to the Pang family and our father that he was the most suitable candidate to inherit the throne.

Today, even the local people who came to help with the canal repairs know that the eldest young master went to Black Stone Mountain. This is because they need to make contact with the people of Jin Kingdom there, and they need someone of high status and influence to come forward. As for Sunrise Ridge, a godforsaken place, the second young master can come instead.

Even the common people below can see it so clearly, so it can be considered a fait accompli.

Lu Qing got up, draped the cloth aside, turned around and shook her head at Zhu Yu: "I don't think so."

If your father truly agrees with your mother and the Pang family's views, it would be perfectly normal for him to directly petition the court to establish Zhu Jie, the eldest son of the legitimate wife, as the heir apparent.

I think your father himself hasn't decided yet who is the right person for him.

I don't think Zhu Jie and Lu Zhang can be compared.

As you can see, Lu Zhang is actually quite indecisive. When he is with the Duke of Yan, everything he says and does is at Zhao Bi's behest.

Once he was no longer under Zhao Bi's watchful eye, his decisions and style of doing things became noticeably different from when he was by Zhao Bi's side.