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Chapter 605 Pillow Talk

Upon closer examination, it's not just "Red Jade Fragrance" that has become an unsolved mystery.

All the spices and fabrics that had previously been passed through the Zhelufang workshop to the residences of high-ranking officials and even the harem of Emperor Jin were now completely cut off and could no longer be traced.

Therefore, Gu Lingyun had done almost all the dirty work for the mastermind behind her. As a pawn, she even sacrificed her own life to "clean up the mess" in the end.

Although this "making the most of everything" and squeezing out the last bit of value may not be something Gu Lingyun herself is willing to do.

Zhu Yu glanced at the crooked sign again, couldn't help but sigh, and quietly quickened his pace.

When the two returned to Yunyin Pavilion, Fuwen and Fulu were waiting for them in the courtyard. The four of them had gone out together, but because Fulu's physique was too conspicuous, the two brothers did not follow closely behind Zhu Yu and Lu Qing.

Seeing that the two masters had returned, Fu Lu quickly took a few oil paper packages from the stone table behind him and handed them over like a treasure: "Master, Madam, when you went to see the guards escorting the Lady of Yan State, everyone ran to watch the excitement. I didn't even have to queue up and bought the most popular pastries from Xue Family Pastry Shop in the capital!"

I bought some of the kinds of food my wife usually likes. I figured she'd be in a good mood today and would want something she likes, which is usually a hassle to buy.

Zhu Yu accepted the food with a look of surprise and asked Fu Wen to help bring over a plate. She divided the snacks into two portions, keeping one for herself and Lu Qing, and letting the two brothers take the other portion back to their room to eat.

“We’ll probably be setting off in a few days, and it’s hard to say when we’ll be back in Beijing next time, so eat as much as you like these next few days to satisfy your cravings. Who knows how long it will be before we can eat like this again.” Zhu Yu told the two brothers about Lu Qing’s decision.

Upon hearing that they were about to set off, the two brothers immediately perked up. They had been cooped up in the yard for a while and were itching to get out and have a chance to show off their skills.

Lu Qing called Fu Wen over and whispered a few words to him. Fu Wen paused for a moment, nodded, and turned to walk out.

Zhu Yu gave Fu Lu a few more instructions and then told him to go and rest. He then pulled Lu Qing back to the room, his expression looking a little serious.

"What's wrong, Madam?" Lu Qing asked with a smile.

Zhu Yu looked at him and said, "I know you haven't been deliberately hiding anything from me. It's just that there are some things you think I can understand, so you haven't explicitly stated them."

So right now I want to clarify one thing with you... It's Lu Ze, isn't it?"

Hearing Zhu Yu mention this name, Lu Qing didn't seem particularly surprised. He just smiled and nodded, "I knew it. You should have thought of it a long time ago."

"Actually, it's not really true." Zhu Yu sighed with some shame. "To be honest, I originally thought that the person in charge of everything was his mother."

After all, being in the deep palace, even if she hadn't witnessed it firsthand, she must have heard a lot about how Consort Zhao had arrogantly eliminated her rivals in the past. When he was first presented to the palace by Zhao Bi, it was clear that he was only there as a plaything, a tool, and nothing more.

As for the princes who were originally able to live to adulthood, Lu Yan and Lu Jun were quite pragmatic. After realizing the power of the Duke of Yan's faction, they withdrew from the competition early on, and were practically sent to remote and isolated places, for fear of being caught in the vortex and unable to protect themselves.

Even Lu Chao, who was the only legitimate son of Empress Wang, had been keeping a low profile all these years and dared not relax his vigilance in the slightest. In the process, he had several near-death experiences and almost went to the underworld.

You, the "remnant" who wasn't "cleaned up" back then, haven't you always been cautiously trying to find a way to survive?

However, Lu Ze, despite being of age to be granted the title of king and establish his own residence, could still enter and leave the palace at any time of day to visit his mother without any summons.

The few times I met him before, he seemed to me like a well-protected, naive young man.

So I've always had this preconceived notion—that woman who went from being a plaything to a favored concubine, not only managed to raise her son to be healthy, but also managed to secure special treatment for him that none of her other brothers had ever received, must be extraordinary, possessing exceptional intelligence and skill.

However, recently I've finally realized that I was blinded by preconceived notions. Combining what I've seen and heard firsthand, I've discovered that the one truly in control of all this isn't Consort Duan in the deep palace, but Lu Ze himself.

"I'd like to hear the details," Lu Qing said, appearing all ears.

"When he first came to your home, he ostensibly came to visit his sick brother, but if you think about it carefully, what he really wanted to convey to you was that Lu Zhang had volunteered to patrol the border between the Jie and Shuo Kingdoms. He probably wanted you to believe that Lu Zhang wanted to confirm your in-laws' intention to rebel."

Or perhaps he wants to use this incident to lure you in, hoping it will cause you trouble. I haven't fully figured it out yet, but I can clearly understand what message he's trying to convey.

What left a deep impression on me was when we were locked up in prison.

Perhaps it was at that critical juncture that he became a little impatient, so the flaws he revealed became more obvious, unlike before when they were not easily noticed.

When he first visited you in prison, to show his concern and comfort you, he told you that Lu Chao was on his way back to the capital. However, no one outside knew that you and Lu Chao had a close relationship and a deep brotherly bond, unless Lu Ze had secretly investigated you.

Later, he specifically mentioned to you that General Situ and his eldest son's memorial impeaching you at this critical juncture was kicking you when you were down and seeking revenge for old grudges.

However, he overlooked one problem: the one who impeached Situ Jing before the Emperor, causing him to be demoted from Lizhou to Qinzhou, was not you, Prince Lu Qing, but the Golden-Faced Censor whose true identity was known only to the Emperor.

So at this critical juncture, General Situ and his son are impeaching the Golden-Faced Censor, not you, Minister Lu, unless he knows that Prince Xiaoyao, Minister Lu, and the Golden-Faced Censor are the same person.

Your identity is likely quite well-hidden; even Eunuch Gao seems unaware of it. Yet Lu Ze knows the truth. Clearly, this is thanks to his mother's influence.