The Dumb Prince of the Ming Dynasty

Li Jinglong shrugged: "Your Highness, the young prince is right, I don't know how to investigate cases."

"Since His Majesty has issued this decree, there must be a deeper meaning behind it." Lady Lü raised her eyes. "Do you understand the implications?"

Li Jinglong was a little confused: "What deeper meaning?"

Lady Lü glanced at him and snorted lightly: "Lü Yang was framed. He's my cousin, and I know his character. He's been studying since childhood and is of upright character. He's definitely not the kind of person who would embezzle or break the law. But someone wants to drag him into this, trying to use his status as a member of the imperial family to their advantage."

"Jiujiang, did you understand?"

Li Jinglong blinked: "And then?"

Annoyance flashed across Lady Lü's face: "Don't you understand? Someone is trying to smear the imperial family, turning an ordinary case into a huge storm. His Majesty appointed you to keep an eye on those people in the Ministry of Justice and clear Lü Yang's name."

"Your Highness, is that how you understand it?" Li Jinglong sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"Of course." Madam Lü's gaze turned slightly cold. "Some people can't stand to see the Lü family doing well. Ever since I took over the Eastern Palace, haven't there been plenty of people gossiping behind my back? This time it's just a different method. Jiujiang, I order you to go to the Ministry of Justice and keep a close eye on those officials. Don't let them implicate the Lü family."

Order?

You, a mere Crown Princess, have ordered me, the son of a Duke of the highest rank, to serve you?

Where do you get the audacity to talk to me like that?

Who do you think your Lu family is?

When the Ming Dynasty was founded, there were dozens of dukes and marquises. Your Lü family only benefited from the Crown Princess's influence and is just an outsider.

"I understand," Li Jinglong said dismissively.

Lady Lü gazed out the window, her face arrogant: "Many people are dissatisfied that my Lü family has become imperial relatives, and I know that. But let me tell you, these people have no choice but to submit. Sooner or later, my Lü family will become one of the top ten aristocratic families in the capital."

Li Jinglong: "..."

What outrageous things are you spouting?

Are you staging a short drama here? Rebirth: I Am the Crown Princess?

"Your Highness, what if Lü Yang really has committed a crime?" he asked.

Lu Benxian, who was standing to the side, could no longer sit still: "Impossible, absolutely impossible. I watched that child grow up, and he has been studying and learning from me since he was a child. My Lu family has strict family rules and regulations, and we would never produce a corrupt official."

With a condescending sense of superiority, Madam Lü said, "Jiujiang, you don't understand. My Lü family has been a family of scholars since our ancestors, passing down poetry and books through generations. We study the classics, practice benevolence and righteousness, aspire to cultivate ourselves and regulate our families, and cherish loyalty and filial piety."

"This is the accumulated family tradition and heritage over generations, something that a family like yours, which has suddenly risen to power, cannot even imagine."

Li Jinglong's expression was strange.

Aristocratic families, my foot! Are you still living in the Jin Dynasty? You dare to call yourselves that aristocratic families?

"That's right, that's right." He nodded with a smile. "Your Lü family is a reclusive and powerful clan. They usually keep a low profile, but when they're angry, the feudal lords tremble; when they're at peace, the world is at ease. Your Highness, am I right?"

Lady Lü was clearly pleased, raising her head even higher: "My father is now a great Confucian scholar of our time, with students and former officials all over the world. I, the Crown Prince, am the future Empress. Which scholar in the world doesn't look up to my Lü family? In time, my Lü family will surely become even more glorious."

"That's right, that's right. I will have to rely on the Lü family for support in the future." Li Jinglong cupped his hands in greeting.

"You're not exactly stupid for understanding my deeper meaning," Lady Lü waved her hand. "Although you're a rough man, you're sensible. Don't worry, as long as you handle this matter well, I'll naturally remember your kindness."

Li Jinglong nodded repeatedly, inwardly cursing.

Enlightenment? I'll never understand a thing.

All this talk is just to get me to bail out Lü Yang.

For such a trivial matter, they have to drag in some reclusive noble family, a great Confucian scholar, a leader of intellectuals, and a future mother of the nation.

Even cows are flying in the sky, aren't you Lü family members afraid of falling down and hitting your heads?

"Jiujiang," Lady Lü continued, "Those people in the Ministry of Justice are adept at treating people differently based on their status. Once you arrive, you don't need to be polite to them. You are the heir of the Duke of Cao, and also the assistant commissioned by His Majesty himself; they wouldn't dare to neglect you."

"Yes, yes, yes." Li Jinglong nodded.

"If anyone dares to implicate Lü Yang, just write down their name and report it to me later." Lü sneered, "I want to see how many people in the Ming Dynasty court dare to openly oppose my Lü family."

Li Jinglong clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

Lady Lü was very satisfied: "Jiujiang, although you come from a military family, now that you've entered the Eastern Palace, you should study more. My Lü family has been a family of scholars for generations, and we value poetry and etiquette most. If you are willing, I can have my father teach you."

Li Jinglong's lips twitched: "I am not very literate and I am afraid that I will fail Mr. Lü's good intentions."

"Then you must study even more," said Madam Lü. "Your Cao State Duke's mansion can't rely on military force forever. Conquering the world requires martial prowess, but governing it requires literature. You must understand this principle."

"I understand, I understand." Li Jinglong continued to nod.

"Alright, that's all I have to say." Lady Lü waved her hand. "Go now and do your job well."

"Your subject takes his leave." Li Jinglong cupped his hands in greeting and turned to leave.

He stepped out of the attic and onto the veranda, letting out a breath.

My God.

Has this Lady Lü read too many storybooks?

……

After Li Jinglong left, Zhu Yunwen approached Lady Lü, looking up at her and saying, "Mother, do you need to say so much to a good-for-nothing?"

"Yunwen, even a useless person can be useful." Lady Lü smiled. "No matter how incompetent Li Jiujiang is, he is still the future Duke of Cao. Although Prince Qiyang, Li Wenzhong, is no longer here, his former subordinates, disciples, and officials are all over the army. If you give him some face now, you might be able to use him in the future."

Zhu Yunwen nodded slowly: "I understand, son. We'll use the power of the Duke of Cao."

"Yunwen understands immediately." Lady Lü said with satisfaction. "In this court, it's not whoever is the most capable who has the final say. Sometimes, having a useless person in your hands is more useful than having ten capable ministers."

Standing to the side, Lü Ben asked worriedly, "Can Li Jiujiang really rescue Lü Yang?"

"Father, rest assured. After my explanation today, he wouldn't turn around and harm Lü Yang. He carries an imperial edict, representing His Majesty's will. Those people in the Ministry of Justice will have to think twice before they see him," Lady Lü said confidently.

Upon hearing this, Lü Ben sighed, "I hope so. Lü Yang is the only male heir of our Lü family in this generation."

"Grandpa, if all else fails, I'll ask Father for help," Zhu Yunwen said.

Lu Ben shook his head: "No. His Highness the Crown Prince is the most fair. If you go and ask him, he will handle the matter impartially."

"Father, do you have any other ideas?" asked Madam Lü.

Lu Ben smiled slightly: "I have cultivated connections in the court for many years and I still have some influence. They can be used in critical moments."

"Father's thinking is indeed very thorough," said Madam Lü. "Father is now the Minister of Rites. If you can secure the position of Chief Supervisor for next year's imperial examinations, then you will be the mentor of all the newly appointed scholars."

Lu Ben smiled slightly, his face full of longing.