Discuss with you

Chapter 329 The Coward Stays
Lu Qing smiled and shook his head: "Everyone is born with a different temperament and a different level of courage. Not everyone can have the same sense of justice and courage as the Third Prince. So the Third Prince really shouldn't have too high expectations of others or be too harsh on them."

Although these words seemed to be speaking up for Lu Zhang at first glance, they actually praised Lu Yan.

Lu Yan was naturally pleased to hear this, but he still had to be modest: "Brother, you flatter me. I am truly ashamed!"

I am indeed quite bold and consider myself a righteous person, but I'm not very bright.

Back then, my mother told me that she didn't want me to be prominent; she only hoped that I could live peacefully to old age among that group of shrewd people, and that would be a blessing from heaven!

She's not afraid of anything else, except for me making mistakes due to recklessness. Sometimes I wish I were a little more timid and cautious, but I just can't control my temper when I get anxious!

“People always improve,” Lu Qing nodded with a smile. “If it were in the past, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been able to stop you yesterday no matter what. By now, the Immortal Fortress would probably be gone.”

Lu Yan grinned: "What you say makes sense, brother. I have indeed become much more restrained in the past two years and am not as impulsive as before."

"Speaking of which, does Your Highness know anything about the Immortal Fortress?" Lu Qing asked again, following up on the previous conversation, bringing the topic back to the main point.

"Actually, I'm not entirely sure about this either," Lu Yan said, who had thought he would know more about Fairy Castle than the others, but he was also clueless. "I didn't even know about that place before. It was only after this flower and grass tax was levied that my people started disappearing one after another. I sent people to inquire along the way, and finally found out that they all disappeared after passing through Fairy Castle, without a trace, neither alive nor dead."

My men went back and told me that Fairy Fortress was known for its peaceful atmosphere in the area. The people in the fortress didn't interact much with the outside world. They had a lot of land and fields, where they not only grew flowers, grass, and fuel, but also some vegetables and grains. Some even grew mulberry trees and raised silkworms. So they rarely had any dealings with merchants or farmers outside.

Outsiders only know that the lord of the fort originally had a large estate there, and later gradually annexed some surrounding lands, eventually building that fort, gathering all the farmers from the original estate together, and surrounding it with high walls. During the day, everyone went out to work, and at night they went back to their own residences to rest.

I heard that the flowers and plants there are grown exceptionally well, and the dyes made from them are of superior quality.

Their silk was a top-quality commodity that silk merchants in the surrounding area competed to buy.

Most importantly, people outside say that the people of Fairy Castle always seem to be happy and energetic, and when they go out on business, they never get into conflicts with outsiders.

So everyone around thought Fairy Castle was amazing, something to be envied and longed for, but no one could really explain why it was so wonderful, because outsiders weren't easily allowed to get close.

Lu Yan found it increasingly suspicious as he spoke, and frowned, saying, "I just feel like there's something fishy going on here!"

It's said that you can't please everyone. How could everyone in such a big fortress be happy all the time? And why would any good place be guarded against outsiders for no reason?
The men I sent out were last seen on their way to Fairy Castle, and no one has seen them since.

Fairy Castle is famous for its flowers, herbs, fuel, and silk, yet I have never heard of anyone collecting any taxes on silkworms or flowers from them.

"Brother, don't you find this extremely strange?"

"Does Your Highness know the identity of the Lord of the Fortress?" Lu Qing asked.

Lu Yan shook his head again: "I don't know. It seems like no one outside has ever seen their fortress lord. He's very mysterious."

"From this perspective, it's very difficult for outsiders to find out what's going on inside their fortress. The only people who can deal with them are the merchants who buy dyes and silk." Lu Qing wasn't surprised by Lu Yan's explanation. They had already sensed something was wrong from the farmers' reactions the day before. "In that case, I'll pretend to be a merchant and see if I can find a way to sneak into the Immortal Fortress and see what's so strange about it."

"I wonder if Your Highness would be willing to come with us?" "Of course! If it weren't for my brother's dissuasion, I would have dared to wipe out that Immortal Fortress from the ground up. How could I not dare to go and disguise myself to investigate!"

Brother, please don't confuse me with that coward Lu Zhang.

If any of us hesitates and dares not go, fearing some danger, then it can only be His Highness Prince Yi!

Lu Qing smiled but didn't respond. After a while, she briefly discussed with Lu Yan how to proceed.

After breakfast, Lu Yan went back to make preparations. Lu Qing then asked Fu Wen to invite Lu Zhang over and told him about their plan to disguise themselves and go to Immortal Fortress to investigate.

Although Lu Yan's evaluation of Lu Zhang was mostly sarcastic and cynical, there were some truths to it.

Upon hearing that Lu Qing planned to infiltrate the somewhat strange Immortal Fortress, Lu Zhang immediately revealed a hint of melancholy.

"Does Your Highness Prince Yi find this matter inappropriate?" Lu Qing asked.

Lu Zhang looked somewhat embarrassed. He didn't want to admit the fear that had secretly welled up in his heart, so he made up an excuse: "What I was thinking just now was that Lu Yan was unaware of our situation, but my brother and I knew it very well."

Even if we're planning to risk going to scout ahead, shouldn't we at least leave my sister-in-law and Yan Shu here at the camp? That would be much safer, wouldn't it?

Having them accompany us is ultimately not a wise move.

What did my elder brother say?

Lu Qing smiled and said, "I will definitely keep my Chief Secretary Yu by my side. If anything happens, I feel more at ease with her around. She can play a big role in critical moments."

I don't think keeping them in the camp would be a safer option. The people the Third Prince sent out have all mysteriously disappeared in this area, which is definitely not a coincidence.

Leaving them behind without knowing their background and methods could actually be a cause for concern.

Zhu Yu remained silent. Lu Qing's words were already consistent with her own thoughts, so there was no need for her to say anything more.

Yan Shu, however, frowned after hearing Lu Zhang's words and then Lu Qing's. She glanced at Lu Zhang and said directly to Lu Qing, "My riding skills are no less than any of yours, and may even be better than yours."

I'm also very accurate with my arrows; hitting a target from a hundred paces away is no problem for me.

I can also use a whip, as you have all seen with your own eyes.

I also think that if you take me along, I definitely won't be a burden, and I can even be of help.

"Even if someone has to stay, it should be the most useless and cowardly one; it's definitely not my turn."