The abstinent and powerful minister is cold and aloof during the day, but he adores her in his dream

Chapter 307 Unmasking the Mastermind
Seeing that he got up and was about to leave without any hesitation or pause, Zhiye frowned and said sarcastically, "I thought Wan'er was very important to you, but I didn't expect that compared with your family, Wan'er is nothing."

Wan'er was so devoted to you and the Lu family, begging me not to report you.

Now it seems that Wan'er's sincere heart was misplaced.

Lu Zhan turned around and looked at him coldly, "And you? Wan'er respects you and treats you like family, but you took advantage of her trust in you and kidnapped her. Doesn't your conscience hurt? What right or position do you have to criticize others?"
Besides, what's wrong with me choosing my own family?

Zhiye narrowed her eyes and stared intently at him. "So, you're going to abandon Wan'er?"

"You are Wan'er's own uncle, and you can bear to hurt her, let alone an outsider like me," Lu Zhan said indifferently.

"Lu Zhan, do you think that by not participating in the assassination, you and your family can get away unscathed? You are sorely mistaken!"

During your previous inspection tour of Jiangnan, the Emperor ordered you to secretly search for the descendants of the Prince of Jin. However, your Lu family has been harboring the descendants of the Prince of Jin. If I send the letter of accusation to the Emperor, you and your entire family will be finished!
"So, you really don't want to consider cooperating with me?" Zhiye asked calmly.

Lu Zhan scoffed, "I never cooperate with traitors. Besides, do you think I would give you the opportunity to deliver a letter of denunciation?" With that, he suddenly took a step back, waved his hand, and archers appeared all around the inn, aiming at Zhi Ye.

Zhiye stood up with a cold laugh. "It seems you really don't care whether Zhiwan lives or dies!"

"How do you know my men didn't rescue her?" Lu Zhan asked with a faint smile.

Zhiye was taken aback, but then said with certainty, "That's impossible! I shook off your man last time, he couldn't possibly know where I hid Zhiwan."

“Santian Town,” Lu Zhan said calmly.

Zhiye's pupils contracted, but she forced herself to remain calm and said, "Lu Zhan, you don't need to lie to me. You have no idea where I've hidden Zhiwan."

"Whether it's in Santian Town or not, you know perfectly well," Lu Zhan said unhurriedly. "But what surprises me is that you don't have a single capable person by your side. Is the person behind this genuinely trying to support you, or is he just using the guise of supporting the descendants of the Prince of Jin to achieve his own ambitions?"

These words left Zhiye stunned on the spot.

Lu Zhan saw his reaction and said sarcastically, "Now that you're disfigured, even if the assassination succeeds, you won't be in that position."

Do you think the person behind your support might have designs on the throne that's within his grasp? Of course, he could easily find another so-called descendant of the Prince of Jin to support in ascending to the throne.

At that time, all your hard work and planning will have been for nothing more than benefiting others.

Upon hearing this, Zhiye was thrown into turmoil.

"No, he won't betray me!" With that, she suddenly rushed out.

Lu Zhan waved his hand, and the archers who were about to shoot immediately stopped.

"Your Highness, shall we arrest Zhiye?" Tong Da stepped forward and asked for instructions.

“No need. I still want to use him to lure out the person behind the scenes. You should follow him as soon as possible and see who he meets. Don’t lose him this time,” Lu Zhan said.

"Yes," Tong Da replied and quickly followed.

Lu Zhan pondered for a moment, then led his men back to the hunting grounds.

On the other side, under the escort of Chen Jiu and others, Zhi Wan encountered the brothers Da Niu and Er Niu just as she was about to arrive at the hunting grounds.

When she saw the two from afar, Zhiwan was greatly surprised and thought she was seeing things. But when she got closer and confirmed that it was the two of them, she asked in surprise, "Brother Da Niu, Brother Er Niu, what are you doing here? Has something happened in the capital?"

Looking at the person dressed like a beggar, the two brothers asked uncertainly, "Are you...Miss?"

“It’s me.” Zhiwan nodded and asked again, “What happened? Who sent you?” Da Niu didn’t answer, but opened the carriage door.

Upon seeing Jiang Shi lying inside, Zhi Wan looked surprised, "Jiang Shi?"

Upon hearing the noise, Chen Jiu rushed over. He was shocked to see that Jiang Shi was seriously injured. He quickly jumped onto the carriage and helped Jiang Shi up. "Jiang Shi, who hurt you?"

“It’s Zhiye,” Jiang Shi replied in a low voice. “Where is the Crown Prince? I have something important to report to him immediately.”

"The Crown Prince is in the hunting grounds," Chen Jiu said. "I'll take you in now."

“No, that won’t do.” Jiang Shi shook his head and refused. “The person who conspired with Zhi Ye has seen me. We can’t let them find out that I’m still alive, otherwise we’ll inevitably alert them.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiu naturally understood the seriousness of the matter and said, "Then we won't go into the hunting grounds for now. I'll find a place to settle you down, and then I'll take the young master to find you."

Jiang Shi shook his head, "No, it's too late, they're going to make their move tonight..."

Chen Jiu was startled. "What?"

Zhiwan and the others stood beside the carriage, unaware of what the two were whispering about inside.

However, when Chen Jiu got off the carriage, his expression became very serious.

He whispered to Zhiwan, "Miss, things might change at the hunting grounds. I'll have someone escort you back to the capital first."

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan was startled, but she didn't ask any further questions. She simply said, "Then you should be careful."

"Don't worry, Miss, I will protect the young master," Chen Jiu said.

After he had arranged the manpower, Zhiwan boarded the carriage.

Looking at the paddock getting further and further away, she felt both melancholy and worry.

I thought I would see my cousin soon, but something else is about to happen.

But she also knew that if she stayed, she wouldn't be able to help her cousin at all, and would only become a burden to him.

"Miss, don't worry, the young master will be fine," Jiang Shi said, seeing her concern.

Seeing that he was covered in injuries, with his hands and legs splinted, Zhiwan couldn't help but ask, "Jiang Shi, how did you get these injuries?"

Jiang Shi paused for a moment, then truthfully replied, "It was Zhi Ye who injured his subordinate."

Upon hearing this, Zhiwan was no longer surprised.

Her uncle could even arrest his own niece, let alone others.

However, she was curious about how Jiang Shi got injured, so she asked, "What exactly happened? Can you tell me?"

Considering Jiang Shi's injuries, Shuang'er had put a thick quilt under his body last night.

Jiang Shi lay on the quilt and slowly said, "After Zhiye fell off the cliff that day, the prince suspected that he was not dead, so he ordered his subordinates to investigate. His subordinates followed the trail and found that he was not dead. He also secretly plotted with people in the court to assassinate the emperor during the autumn hunt."

Unexpectedly, Zhi Ye had already discovered me. Taking advantage of my unpreparedness, he stabbed me in a vital spot and threw me off the cliff… With the sword aimed at my chest and the fall, Zhi Ye was certain my subordinate was dead, which is why I survived.”