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Chapter 99 Aroma
Lu Qing and Lu Chao did not say much about Zhao Xin. They both had a tacit understanding and planned to take it step by step.

After the meal was over, Liu Yueyao brought someone to clear the cups and plates from the table and replaced them with a pot of hot tea. She also brought a piece of news: "Someone just came back and said that General Cao's nephew was tied to a stone pillar at the street corner and severely whipped. After that, they spread the word that they would no longer ask about his life or death.

Afterwards, the owner of the Qiong Niang Manor brought a group of his family members, young and old, and ran to General Cao's house, kneeling and kowtowing to apologize. General Cao couldn't stop them, and finally the Jingzhao Prefecture sent yamen runners to drive them away.

Lu Qing laughed after hearing this, and looked at Zhu Yu, then at Lu Chao: "This is really a smart and stupid thing to do.

Cao Tianbao had just publicly distanced himself from his nephew, and Zhuang Zhi led his men to kowtow outside his mansion, which was equivalent to wasting all his previous efforts.

The people in the capital did not know the inside story. They only saw that Zhuang Zhi's daughter was raped and died tragically by Cao Tianbao's nephew, and the Zhuang family, young and old, had to kowtow to Cao Tianbao together.

I'm afraid it will be difficult to reverse General Cao's reputation from now on."

"Then what's so stupid about this?" Zhu Yu was a little confused.

"You're foolish because you're too eager for quick success." Lu Qing asked Zhu Yu, "If you were Zhuang Zhi today, would you really run to Cao Tianbao's house and kowtow at this critical moment?"

Zhu Yu suddenly realized.

If we treat her as an ordinary person and swap her situation with Zhuang Zhi's, many things seem to become clear.

Whether it is Dajin or several other vassal states, merchants have always been a group that is "rich but not noble". Even if they have a fortune and are guarding mountains of gold and silver, they are still not in the mainstream. If they want to be respected, they have to find ways to make their children famous and it would be even better if they can enter the officialdom.

In other words, any seventh-rank clerk could make things difficult for a wealthy businessman, let alone a powerful general like Cao Tianbao.

If it were me, I would have wrongly accused Cao Tianbao's nephew of being the real murderer. Now that the truth is out, no matter whether Cao Tianbao cares about it or not, I would definitely not dare to continue to provoke him at this critical juncture.

It would be easier for the auxiliary general to make things difficult for the owner of a winery than to crush an ant.

It just so happened that at such a critical moment, Zhuang Zhi made Cao Tianbao's situation even more embarrassing in a way that seemed to be an apology. He was either a complete idiot without a brain, or someone was instructing him behind the scenes, so he didn't have to worry about any consequences at all.

Judging from all that has happened before, the former is impossible.

Then the biggest possibility is that Zhuang Zhi was instructed by someone to do whatever it takes to cause trouble for Cao Tianbao.

Lu Qing could see and think of this kind of signs. Is there no one with sharp eyes and ears around Cao Tianbao and Duke Yan who would think of this?
As long as you calm down and think about the strangeness of this matter, you will increase the other party's vigilance. If this plan succeeds once, it will be difficult to do it a second time.

Thinking about it this way, Zhu Yu felt that the person who planned all this behind the scenes was indeed as Lu Qing said, too eager for quick success and instant benefits, seemed a little impatient, and did things too roughly.

"Have someone keep an eye on Qiongniang Villa and Zhuang Zhi and find out what's going on." Lu Qing said to Liu Yueyao. "Yes." Liu Yueyao bowed gently and quietly retreated.

"I remember you're quite accomplished in stargazing." Lu Qing picked up the teapot and poured three cups. He handed one to Zhu Yu, then picked up another and said to Lu Chao, "You're like a bird in a cage in the capital, with your eyes and ears closed. The best thing to do now is to get out."

"I have already made plans for this matter." Lu Chao nodded and picked up the teacup. "You should also be more careful."

It was already very late that night when Zhu Yu returned to Xiaoyao Palace from Yunyin Pavilion. Although she had a lot of doubts, she could not bear the exhaustion of the day. She simply washed up and fell asleep. She didn't know how long she slept in a daze. She seemed to feel as if someone was shaking her. She forced herself to open her eyelids and saw Lu Qing sitting beside her bed. It was just dawn outside.

Zhu Yu's sleepiness instantly dissipated, and he quickly half-sat up: "Is there something wrong, Your Highness?"

"Get up and change your clothes. A message just came from the palace saying that after His Majesty leaves court today, he wants to meet the capable chief secretary in my house." Lu Qing's tone was as relaxed as if he had just said that he wanted to take Zhu Yu shopping in the market.

Zhu Yu was startled, and this time he was completely alert, looking at Lu Qing somewhat helplessly.

"Why are you panicking?" Her reaction made Lu Qing laugh. "You've already come with me to the palace to meet the emperor before, so why didn't you seem scared that time?"

"I was wearing a mask that time, so no one knew my identity." Zhu Yu frowned.

"Don't worry. No matter how well-informed Your Majesty is, he may not know what Zhu Cheng's concubine's daughter looks like." Lu Qing said with a smile, "Didn't you tell me before that you were accompanying me on an errand. Although you hold the title of Chief Clerk, you don't have a certificate. If you are lucky today, maybe I can get you a certificate."

Zhu Yu waved her hands hurriedly. She instinctively felt that Emperor Jin was not someone who could be easily deceived. It didn't matter whether she had announced her identity or not. As long as she could escape safely from his fierce gaze, it would be fine.

Since that was the case, there was no time to delay. Zhu Yu quickly stood up and hid behind the screen. He wrapped his upper body tightly with cloth strips, almost unable to breathe. He then found a high-collared shirt to change into, and still wore an ordinary narrow-sleeved long shirt on the outside.

After repeatedly checking her appearance in the mirror, she went out to find Lu Qing with a heavy heart, and rode with him to the palace.

After entering the palace, Lu Qing had to go to court, so Zhu Yu naturally could not follow him and could only wait outside the palace.

Although it was said to be outside the hall, it was actually quite a distance away from the main hall, and one had to wait with several eunuchs who were waiting there.

Those eunuchs were not very old. The oldest looked only seventeen or eighteen years old, and the youngest looked only about fourteen or fifteen years old.

Zhu Yu was originally nervous and wanted to reduce her presence as much as possible, but it was her nose that was too sensitive. She was standing there quietly, and when a gust of wind blew by, she could smell a faint fragrance. The fragrance did not seem familiar at first, but after it entered her nose, it seemed a little familiar.

Zhu Yu sniffed quietly, turned around and bowed to the eunuch who was about sixteen or seventeen years old. "Sir, I have something to ask that may be a bit presumptuous. I wonder if I should ask it or not?"

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(End of this chapter)