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Chapter 538 Breaking up

"Your Majesty, I do not understand." A flicker of panic crossed Lu Qing's eyes, but he remained calm on the surface.

"That Chief Secretary Yu is Zhu Cheng's daughter. I bestowed her in marriage to your wife. Do you really think I didn't know? And now you still want to play dumb and deny it?!" Emperor Jin slammed his hand on the table in front of him and shouted, "If it weren't for our years of father-son relationship, would I have let you act so recklessly, keeping a woman dressed as a man by your side and even interfering in official matters?!"
Over the years, I've turned a blind eye to many of your actions outside, simply because I think of your difficult childhood and want to take care of you more.

Even though you disregarded others' concerns and went to the northern region under the guise of traveling to solve your in-laws' problems, and even instigated Vice Minister Bai of the Ministry of Works to divert water to the northern region, did I ever question you about it?
If this happened to anyone else, they could lose their head in a heartbeat.

Only with you, I've turned a blind eye and never held it against you, but you still insist on having more than you want. Knowing full well what I dislike most about my sons' actions, you still choose to do the opposite.

I told you brothers to stay away from the vassal states and not to cross the borders lightly, and even less to act on your own. But you crossed every border you could!
I told you not to go to Brahma's land, but you insisted on going there without even saying a word, and even went to prescribe some medicine for Brahma!
If it weren't for your stubbornness, would you have gotten yourself into such a troublesome situation?!
Now, Brahma's nephew has made this matter a hot topic throughout the city. But this nephew is no ordinary nephew; he is the one Brahma originally intended to inherit his throne.

After this commotion, even if I wanted to downplay the matter, I still had to give the Vatican a satisfactory explanation; I couldn't act recklessly.

I've been worrying about this day and night, losing my appetite and sleeping soundly. I don't need your gratitude, but at least it shouldn't be like this, as if I've done something wrong and let you down.

After Emperor Jin finished speaking, among everyone present, only Eunuch Gao showed surprise and looked Zhu Yu up and down with astonishment.

Lu Chao didn't even turn his head. In front of Emperor Jin, he seemed to have no intention of pretending to be ignorant of the matter.

Others might not react, but Zhu Yu couldn't.

If Emperor Jin hadn't brought these things up, she could have pretended to be ignorant to the end. Now that the other party had made things clear, she, who was in the wrong, naturally couldn't keep her neck stiff anymore.

She immediately kowtowed to the ground: "Your humble servant, Zhu Yu, greets Your Majesty!"

Previously, it was because I was unwilling to stay confined to the inner quarters that I begged Your Highness to take me out for a stroll. Afterwards, it was also because I relied on my boldness since childhood... Your Highness has always been very sensible and has never told me anything that I shouldn't know.

Ultimately, it is my fault, Your Majesty, that I am in the wrong!

“It has nothing to do with her.” After Zhu Yu finished speaking, Lu Qing also spoke up, “It was I who asked her to come with me.”

The Tai Kam Law does not explicitly prohibit women from participating in investigations and trials. It is only because there have never been women with such courage in the past that the current situation, where only men are allowed to go out, has come about.

"Anything not prohibited by law is permissible. Your Majesty may rebuke me for my recklessness and impetuosity, but I have done nothing wrong."

Emperor Jin looked at Lu Qing with a half-smile: "I never expected Zhu Cheng to have such a bold daughter, but now you've really opened my eyes."

Lu Chao pleaded for you, but you remained silent. I confided in you, but you didn't even lift an eyelid, let alone defend yourself.

I merely mentioned your wife once, and you immediately defended her.

The hierarchy of importance and favoritism here is quite clear. "Your Majesty, you should handle this matter impartially. I don't need anyone to intercede for me." Lu Qing didn't straighten his back and didn't respond to Emperor Jin's words. Instead, he said bluntly, "Over the years, in the end, I've only been someone who does things for Your Majesty that can't be discussed openly, helping Your Majesty handle things that Your Majesty can't say, and maintaining Your Majesty's dignity."

Your Majesty has always been a monarch who cherishes meritorious officials and is considerate of veteran generals.

Now that Your Majesty's nephew, Brahma, has put you in a difficult position, I am willing to share your burdens and fulfill my duty to help Your Majesty establish an image of an impartial, upright, and wise ruler. This would be my way of "making the best use of my abilities."

His words were so offensive that they practically ripped off everyone's dignity.

Emperor Jin naturally knew that he was referring to the truth that the Golden-Faced Censor had uncovered for him over the years, the blame he had taken, and the favors he had done for him.

Even those who didn't know that Lu Qing was the Golden-Faced Censor were still startled by this blatant statement.

Grandpa Gao gasped in shock, then held his breath, his eyes wide as he stared at Lu Qing as if he'd seen a ghost.

Lu Chao turned to look at Lu Qing, his brows furrowing slightly. Before Emperor Jin could speak, he rebuked him, "Lu Qing! What are you doing? The innocent are innocent, why act so impulsively!"

How can you say such angry words? How can you face the Emperor for all the effort he has put into you? How can you face me for traveling all this way back to help you clear your name?!

You must not disappoint your father's love for his son.

Lu Qing smiled faintly and shook his head: "Prince Xu is mistaken."

Between me and Your Majesty, there is only the relationship between ruler and subject, how can there be any father-son relationship?

Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be a problem, but at a time like this, with Brahma's nephew demanding an explanation, and trouble looming before us, if I were to continue feigning innocence, I would be showing a lack of self-awareness and putting His Majesty in an undue predicament.

Eunuch Gao's face turned pale, probably because he was terrified. He was afraid that if Lu Qing continued to say something that would anger Emperor Jin, everyone around would suffer. So he didn't care about anything else and stood behind Emperor Jin, raising his hands to his chest and waving them at Lu Qing to signal him to stop talking.

Surprisingly, Emperor Jin did not show any anger. He simply frowned, stared at Lu Qing, and remained silent.

For a moment, the air in the South Study felt as if it were about to freeze, and it felt as if you could exhale a puff of white breath if you opened your mouth.

After a long while, Emperor Jin finally spoke: "When you went to the Brahma Land, did you hear any rumors there?"

Lu Qing smiled faintly: "What kind of rumor is Your Majesty afraid that I will hear?"
I just happened to overhear some stories about my clansmen who all died mysteriously overnight, some so-called truths.

"I wonder if this is the kind of person His Majesty fears?"