Chapter 136 - It Is True That the Lu Family Has Many Sentiments
Zuo Shaoqing exhaled gently onto the Xuan paper before handing it to his father, Zuo Yunwen. “Father, do you believe that your son is simply fooling around?”
He cast a disdainful glance at Zuo Yunwen, who had slumped in his chair, and inquired, “Do you not desire the truth, or do you lack the courage to face it? Haven't you endured enough suffering over the past two decades?”
Zuo Yunwen found himself momentarily bewildered as he meticulously read the contents of the paper, which essentially accused Mrs. Xue of malevolence and described how her envy and cruelty had led to Lady Ruan's demise.
Mrs. Ruan, a woman known for her gentleness and elegance, occasionally crossed Zuo Yunwen's mind, still evoking the deep-seated affection he had felt during those years.
His feelings for her were something he couldn't quite find in Mrs. Xue, his legal wife. She hailed from a noble family and had given him a son and a daughter. His eldest son had always been the child who pleased him the most, which had earned Mrs. Xue his respect for the most part.
Zuo Shaoqing hadn't yet delved into the details of Mrs. Ruan's murder. Firstly, he wanted to gauge Mrs. Xue and Liu Tie's reactions. Secondly, he had recently fallen victim to a scheme by Wu Tie. Therefore, he believed it prudent to let Mrs. Xue undergo the ordeal of a court trial once more.
Retrieving the paper from Zuo Yunwen's grasp, he handed it to Luo Xiaoliu, saying, “Little Sixie, take this to the Prefecture Overseer in the capital and sound the Sentencing Drum!”
“How dare you!” Mrs. Xue shrieked, lunging forward in an attempt to snatch the paper from Luo Xiaoliu's hands.
Luo Xiaoliu, who had endured her bullying for so long, found rare courage within himself. He hastily concealed the paper and made his escape.
Wu Tie bellowed, “Stop them immediately!” He turned to stare darkly at Zuo Shaoqing. “Third Brother, we are family. What do you gain by tarnishing the Zuo Family name?”
“I don't seek any personal gain. I only desire justice for my mother!” The corner of his mouth curled into a mocking smile. “If our big brother's birth mother had met a similar fate under mysterious circumstances, I wonder if he'd still prioritize the family's reputation.”
“What makes you believe Lady Ruan was murdered by her mother?”
Zuo Shaoqing shrugged, “I don't. That's precisely why I've initiated an official investigation. I fear no wrong judgments. If she is innocent, she has nothing to fear from the authorities!”
Zuo Shaoyan furrowed his brow. While he wasn't privy to all of Mrs. Xue's actions, he had knowledge of the main accusations and was also aware of Wu Tie's untimely demise.
His gaze turned icy. “Is Third Brother determined to ruin the entire Zuo Family?”
“Big brother, please do not speak hastily. How could I, your younger brother, ever commit such audacity?” Zuo Shaoqing patted his chest, feigning fear as he added, “Every debt has its debtor; I would never implicate the entire Zuo Family for this.”
Unfortunately, this was not the sole injustice he had endured.
Hearing Zuo Shaoyan, he realized that all his previous strategies had come to naught. Zuo Shaoqing had no intention of resolving the conflict, and thus, he harbored unrealistic hopes for Master Lu's assistance.
Zuo Shaoqing stretched his back, paying no heed to the varied expressions of those present. He saluted Wu Tie and said, “Father, mother, if there's nothing more, I shall retire to my chambers. With my Conference Test prospects dashed, I should continue my studies.”
Zuo Yunwen's eyes lit up upon hearing this. He grasped Zuo Shaoqing's hand and declared, “My good son, the future of the Zuo Family rests upon your shoulders.”
Zuo Shaoqing felt a rush of emotions upon hearing these words. It reminded him of how Zuo Yunwen used to talk to Zuo Shaoyan. What had Zuo Yunwen felt back then? Was it a sense of loss or sorrow?
In his past life, he had earnestly desired Zuo Yunwen's approval, but sadly, even in death, he had failed to earn it.
Zuo Yunwen's attitude toward him had changed beforehand, but he no longer cared about it.
“Certainly,” Zuo Shaoqing replied insincerely.
The Zuo Mansion appeared to be in a state of celebration, yet they were oblivious to the escalating rumors being manipulated by certain individuals. Across the streets, alleys, teahouses, and restaurants, citizens eagerly discussed and speculated on various versions of the story.
Particularly intriguing was the part concerning the Zuo Family and Cao Family canceling the marriage. Everyone described it vividly, as if they had witnessed it firsthand.
Seated by the window on the third floor of the Dining Hall, Cao Zongguan observed the hurried pedestrians on the street and listened to the lively chatter of customers downstairs, much of which revolved around his affairs.
Unbeknownst to outsiders, it was Cao Zongguan who had broken off the engagement with Zuo Shuhui. They only knew that the family had the surname Cao, which was why they thought he could disregard the matter.
Cao Zongguan had initially believed he wouldn't care much about it after all this time, even as Zuo Shuhui had gradually faded from his heart. But today, being reminded of it stirred up the deepest pain in his heart, leaving him feeling ashamed and resentful.
From a young age, he had been close with the Zuo Family, believing the two families would eventually become relatives.
While he had once been determined to seek revenge against the Zuo Family, their tarnished reputation now brought him little happiness. The scar on his heart had healed over time, and Zuo Family's misfortune wouldn't change that.
The door creaked open from outside. In this place, only Prince Ruiqing had the privilege to enter without knocking.
After regaining his composure, Cao Zongguan stood up and respectfully bowed. “Your Highness, you've arrived. I've been waiting for some time.”
“My apologies, I was detained in the palace for a few hours.” Prince Ruiqing Xu gestured for him to rise, examined the clean table, and asked, “Why don't you have some food first?”
“It's not yet mealtime,” Cao Zongguan replied with a smile. He waited until Prince Ruiqing had taken his seat before inquiring, “May I ask what brings Your Highness here?”
Prince Ruiqing subtly furrowed his brow. He had noticed Cao Zongguan's increasing distance, but on his turf, Cao Zongguan still wished to break free.
Prince Ruiqing had a meal prepared with food and drinks. He pointed to the chair opposite and said, “Please, have a seat, no need to be so formal.”
Cao Zongguan complied and sat down. He glanced at Prince Ruiqing, who was not much older than him but exuded an air of scholarly elegance.
Speaking of which, Prince Ruiqing was renowned for his painting skills. Cao Zongguan had seen his work and knew his reputation was well-deserved. However, he couldn't fathom why someone so dedicated to art would have ulterior motives.
“I haven't congratulated you on achieving third place in the Conference Test. It's quite an accomplishment,” Prince Ruiqing sighed and personally poured a glass of wine for Cao Zongguan.
Cao Zongguan felt honored and swiftly covered his cup. He replied, “I wouldn't dare; how could I let the prince pour the wine? As for the matter of the Conference Test, it doesn't concern me much.”
Initially, he had intended to participate in the Conference Test for three more years. Coming in third this time was somewhat unexpected, but he wasn't overly attached to it.
“The individual you've discovered is highly suitable. The Ministry of Justice has already confirmed that his paper was fraudulent. Let's stick to our plan; the complexity of this cheating case is growing.”
Cao Zongguan cast his eyes downward. He felt a tinge of fear but couldn't help but concur, saying, “It's because the people under His Majesty's command were highly capable that they executed it so flawlessly.”
Although he served as Prince Ruiqing's secret aide, he didn't hold the prince in overly high regard.
He lacked military power, and Duke Zhen, who commanded the military, sided with the new emperor.
“My royal brother has just ascended to the throne. The imperial court is filled with veteran officials, and their alliances are intricate. How many of them are genuinely opposed to him?”
Hearing such audacious words was not a first for Cao Zongguan, so he wasn't as shocked as before. He simply reminded, “Prince, while the Hall Competition has been postponed for a while, the Imperial Examinations are a significant event. The Emperor can't keep delaying it.”
Cao Zongguan didn't believe that this scheme would ultimately benefit Prince Ruiqing much. Even though they could use it once, using it twice was impossible.
Nevertheless, it seemed that this prince was perpetually inclined to create problems for the emperor.
Prince Ruiqing gazed at him with meaning but refrained from elaborating further. Cao Zongguan had the means to use it, but he wasn't the type to do so recklessly.
Cao Zongguan assumed that Lu Li only wished for Emperor Tianfeng to be ineffective, unaware that Lu Li actually desired a period of chaos.
“Speaking of which, this time, we've indeed caught a big fish. Quite an unexpected surprise.” The corner of Prince Ruiqing's mouth curved slightly, and his eyes gleamed with thoughts that might not be entirely virtuous.
“You mean…?”
“I always believed that Duke Zhen was an unassailable figure, impossible to sway. Apart from that, there seemed to be no way to influence him. Even in the past, when he attempted to apprehend the old lady, he was thwarted by a scholar. I never anticipated that there could be such a thing as love within the Lu Family.”
Cao Zongguan grasped that only a handful believed the rumors about Zuo Shaoqing and Lu Zheng, and he counted himself among those few believers.
Initially skeptical, his doubt waned as he recalled Master Lu's stay at the Zuo Family and the occasions when he coincidentally spotted him with Zuo Shaoqing.
Fortunately, the Zuo Family believed that Master Lu's interest lay in Zuo Shuhui, unwittingly causing their own downfall.
“What is your course of action?”
Prince Ruiqing refrained from answering and countered, “I've heard you had a close rapport with Zuo Shaoqing?”
Cao Zongguan hesitated before responding, “We used to, but now…” He chuckled ruefully, a sense of helplessness on his face.
Cao Zongguan maintained his composure, clenching his hands on his knees as he endured Prince Ruiqing's scrutinizing gaze. He could discern the implications of Prince Ruiqing's words.
“The individual you bear enmity toward hails from the main line of the Zuo Family. Zuo Shaoqing is just a bastard; he shouldn't have any grievances with you…”
Cao Zongguan sighed bitterly, “He's still part of the Zuo Family. Being born into a concubine's branch, he will naturally follow the family's decisions.”
“Perhaps not!” Prince Ruiqing swirled his wine cup, raising it to his nose for a sniff. “One mustn't judge a person solely by their surface. This bastard, Zuo Family…” Heh, he's no simple character!
Cao Zongguan pretended not to grasp the underlying message and responded, “Indeed, I never expected Shao Qing to rise to such prominence at such a young age.”
Prince Ruiqing chuckled a few times but refrained from replying.
Just as Cao Zongguan's unease heightened, Prince Ruiqing leaned closer and whispered something, causing Cao Zongguan to struggle to maintain his composure.
He made an effort to remain composed, stating, “Your Highness, your actions carry considerable risk. If Master Lu doesn't prioritize Zuo Shaoqing as much as you believe, not only will your plan falter, but it may also alert our adversaries.”
“How can one be certain without attempting?” Prince Ruiqing straightened up. His eyes gleamed with intrigue, and his refined demeanor concealed a sinister undertone.
Cao Zongguan couldn't help but feel a shiver down his spine. He truly had no desire to harm Zuo Shaoqing.
Prince Ruiqing raised an eyebrow, saying, “Hmm? I'm aware of your loyalty, Cao Zongguan. Rest assured, I didn't ask you to start a fire or take someone's life. My intention wasn't to kill him; I merely wished to assess Duke Zhen's response.”
In Prince Ruiqing's gaze, Cao Zongguan discerned that he had no choice but to carry out the task this time. Even if he refused, someone else would step in. Prince Ruiqing had set his sights on Zuo Shaoqing, and he must have devised a foolproof plan.
Despite his profound dissatisfaction, Cao Zongguan found himself without alternatives. He wasn't acting alone; the entire Cao Family stood behind him. Facing the current Prince Ruiqing, crushing the Cao Family would be as effortless as squashing an ant.
However, by aligning himself with Prince Ruiqing, Cao Zongguan realized that if they ended up on the losing side, the Cao Family's fate would be grim. It seemed prudent to prepare for such an eventuality.
Prince Ruiqing chuckled heartily, patting Cao Zongguan on the shoulder, and said, “Excellent. Once this is accomplished, I won't forget your contributions. As long as we have Lu Zheng under control, there's nothing to worry about, right?”
Cao Zongguan didn't share Prince Ruiqing's optimism. In fact, he harbored an ominous foreboding. If Master Lu were as cunning as he appeared, he would have perished long ago on the Northern Frontier Battlefield.
One was a battle-hardened lion, while the other was a shrewd palace dweller. Both had their strengths and weaknesses, making it difficult to predict the outcome.
Nevertheless, they seemed to overlook the fact that the person occupying the throne at this moment was no pushover either.
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