Chapter 257: Chapter 256: Acting According to Plan

Zhu Yu then stood up, and Lu Qing took her hand. Although the cloth towel was originally dried, fresh blood now seeped through again. He frowned but said nothing, quietly tightening the cloth again over the wound.

Zhu Cheng watched as Lu Qing bandaged Zhu Yu, a complex look in his eyes. He didn’t speak until Lu Qing was done. “What were you saying about the Commandery Princess from Jie Country earlier? What does it mean?”

“On our way back from Risun Ridge, we accidentally encountered the Jie Country’s Princess Yan Shu traveling alone on the outskirts.

She unexpectedly fell from her horse and injured her leg. We feared that her presence in Shuo Land would cause complications if discovered by outsiders, so we discreetly brought her back to the Prince Mansion to recuperate.

No one else is aware of this matter. It has been handled properly. Once she recovers, we will find a way to send her away. There is no need for Father to worry about this.

Now, I ask Father not to hold any illusions and attempt to confront the Pang Family. If you truly want to know whether they are innocent, there are other ways to make them confess themselves.”

Zhu Cheng looked at Zhu Yu, somewhat stunned, finding this daughter of his, who was both familiar and unfamiliar.

In the past, when she hadn’t yet married, she was the quieter one among the daughters in the mansion, seldom seeking chances to please him or excessively curry favor with the principal wife, Pang Yuzhen.

He had thought that Zhu Yu, like her birth mother from the Miao Family, though beautiful, had a personality as dull as a wooden block, and he hadn’t paid her much attention.

Later, when the imperial edict arrived, he thought that marrying off such an unappealing daughter would not necessarily be a bad thing for her, since she was a concubine’s daughter with an unlikable temperament, it would be difficult to find a better match.

And with such a quiet nature, even if she wasn’t liked after marrying out, at least she wouldn’t cause trouble, which would naturally be good for the Zhu Family.

Unexpectedly, he realized he had been wrong all along. This daughter was not dull and honest. As a woman, she had a grand vision for these significant matters and was assertive in advising him.

This calmness and boldness were unmatched by the other concubine daughters in the family, and even compared to the main offspring Zhu Ning, Zhu Jie, and Zhu Feng, she was in no way inferior.

“Well…” He opened his mouth, trying to suppress the awkwardness that welled up in him, and asked Zhu Yu, “What method do you have?”

Zhu Yu paused momentarily. She had the confidence to make her father listen to her, but didn’t expect it to be this easy. It seemed that the sight of the broken blades had indeed greatly shocked Zhu Cheng, even unsettling him to an extent.

This was a good thing for them. Zhu Cheng had long been accustomed to relying on his allies. Now, even if he accepted the harsh reality that his allies were unreliable, it was difficult to change his ways immediately, having grown accustomed to this mode of survival.

What Lu Qing sought was to replace the Pang Family, who already had external ambitions, and form a new mutually reliant alliance with Zhu Cheng.

“If the Pang Family managed to pass the inspection with intact weapons, it’s likely because they had long planted spies beside you, enabling them to know your every move and make arrangements in advance.” Zhu Yu told Zhu Cheng, “From our return until now, as the Pang Family remains unaware, it suggests that the spies are not in the Prince Mansion’s inner quarters but in the office courtyards.

I have a way to find out who the Pang Family’s spies are, and it only takes one test to know.”

“Oh? Let me hear it.” Zhu Cheng indeed showed interest.

Zhu Yu leaned in, whispering a few words into his ear.

Zhu Cheng appeared both surprised and somewhat skeptical: “But… both of these individuals were personally promoted by me and have followed me for many years without issues…”

“Father, you will know the result once you try it, won’t you?” Zhu Yu gave him no chance to hesitate, pointing to the broken swords on the ground, “Before coming, my husband was worried about problems with this batch of weapons. Didn’t you also think it was impossible?”

This did indeed choke Zhu Cheng and eliminated his last doubts; he took a deep breath and nodded resolutely: “Alright, we will go with your plan and see what happens!”

Zhu Cheng waved his hand, signaling his guards to put the broken blades back into the box, covering it up so that aside from the broken seals, it seemed as if nothing happened in the storeroom.

Zhu Yu put on her veil hat again, and the group left the storeroom, returning to the Prince Mansion discreetly. Lu Qing helped Zhu Yu disguise herself with fake skin, and he did the same for himself, concealing their original appearances. Both donned the guard uniforms sent by Zhu Cheng from Prince Shuo Mansion, then sought out Zhu Cheng, following him from the inner chambers to the front courtyard, heading directly to the East Wing.

The East Wing of the office courtyard was where Chief Historian Wen Qiming usually performed his duties. Wen Qiming regularly assisted Zhu Cheng in handling the various affairs of Shuo Country, including matters related to mining.

As Zhu Cheng entered with Zhu Yu and Lu Qing, Wen Qiming was sitting behind his desk, engrossed in reading documents. Hearing someone enter, he assumed it was a subordinate with a matter to report, and carelessly looked up, but seeing it was Zhu Cheng, he quickly stood up to pay his respects.

Zhu Cheng quickly motioned for him to remain silent. Wen Qiming, puzzled but not daring to make a sound, looked nervously at Zhu Cheng, awaiting his indication.

Lu Qing glanced outside, confirming there were no bystanders nearby, and nodded to Zhu Cheng.

Zhu Cheng then spoke softly to Wen Qiming, “Chief Historian Wen, I examined the batch of weapons prepared to be sent to Jin Country as tribute to the court, and found that the number of weapons in the Weapon Supervision storeroom doesn’t quite match the previously reported iron ore quantity.”

Wen Qiming was greatly shocked, hastily attempting to kneel, “This… it’s my oversight. I was unaware of this matter before. Please forgive me, Prince!

I will immediately send someone to investigate and ensure that a thorough account of this matter is provided!”

“No.” Zhu Cheng, maintaining a stern face, mysteriously shook his head at him, “I will personally investigate this matter. I am telling you this only to ensure no one is alarmed; I want to conduct a covert investigation.

I have confided this only to you. If there’s any leak, I will hold you solely accountable!”

Wen Qiming’s face contorted like a bitter melon left out in the sun. Although inwardly lamenting, he dared not speak against it, hurriedly nodding in agreement, nervously escorting Zhu Cheng out the door once more.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep