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Chapter 252 Full of Schemes
Previously, Zhu Yu had only witnessed firsthand how Duke Yan and Lu Zhang went in and out together, always by each other's side. Lu Zhang was indeed an obedient grandson, always controlling his words and actions according to Duke Yan's will when he was outside.

However, she did not expect that even this was not enough. The Duke of Yan actually wanted to marry the granddaughter of his sister, the Duchess, to Lu Zhang, further strengthening the connection between Lu Zhang and the Duke of Yan's family.

If Lu Zhang were to defeat his brothers and eventually ascend the throne, then the Duchess's grandniece would become Empress, and the Zhao family, from top to bottom, inside and out, would once again become the most unshakeable imperial relatives in the entire world.

Clearly, Emperor Jin was not happy to see this happen, which is why the marriage between Lu Zhang and Yan Shu was arranged.

So... it seems that Lu Zhang is not the most favored successor in Emperor Jin's mind.

But if that's the case, then all the previous glory and high regard...

All the doubts that Zhu Yu had previously held in his heart suddenly became clear at this moment, and the previously unclear points became clear as well.

Although Lu Qing was not Emperor Jin's biological son, they were of the same clan and lineage, and indeed they had many similarities.

Emperor Jin was indeed a cunning old fox.

"However, now that you know the stakes involved, why did you secretly run back to Jie Kingdom? Aren't you afraid of angering the Emperor?" Zhu Yu asked Yan Shu while pondering to himself without making a sound.

This question clearly hit the nail on the head. Yan Shu's expression suddenly became conflicted. She pursed her lips, picking at her fingernails with a wronged look: "I acted impulsively, and now I'm in a bind..."

At the time, I thought, since we're both men with two legs, I might as well marry him for the sake of the people of Jie! Anyway, he's a weak and scholarly guy, he can't bully me.

I still feel like I'm the one who sacrifices myself for the greater good.

To my surprise, Lu Zhang treated me this way. Seeing how much he disliked me, I became angrier and angrier. I thought that if he could be so rude to me, how could I expect him to bring any benefits to the Jie Kingdom?
So... I ran away in a fit of pique..."

She looked at Zhu Yu with a somewhat aggrieved expression, her eyes revealing a bewildered and uneasy state of mind. It was clear that after the ups and downs of the past few days, her determination to run back to Jie Kingdom was no longer as firm as it had been at the beginning.

Zhu Yu was somewhat amused and exasperated. She didn't know what the other Jie people were like, but given Yan Shu's temperament, being the Princess Consort of Yi was definitely not an easy task after marrying Lu Zhang.

Even though Lu Zhang's courtyard was clean and tidy, without the usual drama of women vying for favor, and even in the face of such an arranged marriage, he might not dare to do anything other than this cold violence of avoiding her, but facing the Duke of Yan was not something that someone as impulsive and impatient as Yan Shu could handle.

Even he could discern the true intentions behind the Emperor's bestowal of the marriage, so how could the shrewd and calculating Duke Yan not have the same suspicion?

Even if he wasn't sure if Emperor Jin really thought that way, he wouldn't give up so easily. He would definitely think of other ways to achieve the same result through different paths.

He wouldn't dare openly antagonize Emperor Jin, but he'd probably be capable of devising schemes behind the scenes to make things difficult for Yan Shu, like having Lu Zhang do it.

Zhu Yu looked at Yan Shu with some sympathy, and in his heart he also believed that King Jie really had no other choice. If he wanted to make his people's lives a little better, this was the only method he was most reluctant to use.

If he had any other choice, he probably would have refused the envoy from Jin Kingdom, kept his simple-minded and straightforward daughter by his side, found her an honest and kind husband without many ulterior motives, and lived a simpler life, instead of pushing her into the fire pit of the Jin Kingdom's royal family. "Regardless of whether it was an impulsive act back then, you've already run away. What are your plans now? Go back to Jie Kingdom to hide?" Zhu Yu asked.

"I don't know." Yan Shu shook her head. "I've been thinking about this the whole way here."

What should I do if my father can't help me when I get back?

Let's slink back... then all my effort going back will have been for nothing.

If they just stay at home and refuse to leave, I don't know how to handle this situation so as not to implicate Father and others when Lu Zhang finds out..."

It's clear that she really regrets it now.

Previously, he had been rushing on his way with a "no turning back" mentality, trying hard to suppress the uncertainty in his heart.

As a result, she injured her leg and was "picked up" by Zhu Yu and Lu Qing. This actually cooled down her impulsive decision to leave, making Yan Shu even more conflicted.

At this critical juncture, Zhu Yu certainly didn't want any trouble to arise in the Jie Kingdom.

Some people with ulterior motives are trying to create the illusion that the Jie and Shuo states are colluding and plotting a rebellion. At this time, the Shuo state is in a mess and has not yet sorted out anything. Once the Jie state becomes the first to take the lead, it will inevitably drag the Shuo state into the mess as well.

Then all their efforts would have been in vain!
Zhu Yu adjusted his posture, his expression becoming much more serious. He said solemnly to Yan Shu, "Are you aware that your Jie Kingdom and our Shuo Kingdom seem to be secretly colluding with each other, harboring treacherous intentions?"

"What?!" Yan Shu was still struggling with her troubles when she heard Zhu Yu say this. Her eyes widened immediately, and she looked at Zhu Yu in astonishment as if she were a madwoman. "Aren't you the daughter of the Prince of Shuo? Listen to what you're saying!"

Do you even know what saying such nonsense means?

I don't know what your father is thinking, but he has absolutely no intention of rebelling!

He refused to submit to the Jin Kingdom before, not because he wanted to dominate the world, but because he did not want his land to be annexed and so many of his people to be enslaved and driven like mules and horses.

Later, the emperor promised him that he would not interfere with the lives of us Jie people, so my father surrendered!
He told us that in the past, the Jie people spent too much effort on fighting with others. In the end, it was either we who fought out or others who fought back. After decades of this, all we gained was to make more and more people live in constant fear, with their heads hanging on their waists.

He also said that although we Jie people are good at riding and archery and have a good physique, God is fair. We are simple-minded, unlike the people of other countries who are full of cunning.

So all this fuss is pointless. It would be better if we just lived our lives peacefully on our own land, minding our own business and living longer. That would be better than anything else!
Therefore, he could never possibly have any rebellious intentions!

At this point, Yan Shu suddenly thought of what she considered to be very strong evidence. She pointed at Zhu Yu, then at herself, and said, "If the Jie and Shuo kingdoms are going to rebel, is your father crazy, or is my father crazy, that he would actually marry the two of us off to the emperor's son!"

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