Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 310 - 309: Excellence Comes from Diligence

"So, the current situation is that he both protects you and guards against you, cultivates you and suppresses you?" Zhu Yu sorted out her somewhat messy thoughts, attempting to clarify the relationship within.

"Yes, I think he wants to use me, but doesn’t want me to gain too much power," Lu Qing smiled faintly. "From my name, you can probably glean some clues."

Zhu Yu was taken aback, she had never thought about it carefully before. She just felt that the difference between the One-character King and the Two-Character King was indeed Emperor Jin’s way of treating his biological and adopted sons differently. Hearing this, she realized that even names could reveal some clues.

Lu Qing, with a name like "Qing," seems to firmly lock him in the role of a "subject," as if constantly tapping him, reminding him to recognize his position and not entertain thoughts that shouldn’t arise.

"However, there’s one thing I don’t understand." Zhu Yu remained puzzled. "If he wanted you to die quietly, there were plenty of opportunities from childhood onwards.

Even if he didn’t want you dead, there were many ways to turn you into a useless person.

Yet, he sent you to Shanqing Temple to stay with Qi Yun Mountain People for so many years, and it seems he was well aware of Qi Yun Mountain People’s abilities.

I feel he genuinely wanted to cultivate and protect you...

If your family’s misfortunes had nothing to do with him, why didn’t he explain everything to you frankly and openly and treat you well in the light of day? Wouldn’t that be a better way to dispel your doubts and also appear as a ruler who doesn’t forget old favors in the eyes of others?"

"Everyone projects onto others their own way of doing things," Lu Qing shook his head. "A naturally suspicious person will also project that suspicion onto others.

He finds it difficult to fully trust others, always harboring a little vigilance and doubt, and naturally assumes others are much the same.

As for the favor and special treatment shown in public, without a powerful family like Lu Zhang’s to rely on, it’s hard to say if it’s a blessing or a curse."

With this said, Zhu Yu felt suddenly enlightened.

Thinking carefully, Lu Qing wasn’t the only one sent to Shanqing Temple back then; there was another who, in the eyes of outsiders, should have been most favored, but who was also placed aside and seldom entered others’ sight—Lu Chao...

The confusion and bewilderment in Zhu Yu’s head gradually dissipated, and her eyes gleaned new understanding. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Emperor Jin might indeed be a person of deep scheming and natural suspicion, but his relationship with Lu Qing is definitely not as obvious as outsiders speculate.

In her mind, connecting many events from the recent months, Zhu Yu looked at Lu Qing again with more astonishment in her eyes.

Seeing this, Lu Qing reached out and pinched her cheek: "Stop guessing, no matter what his intentions are, our goal is very clear and won’t be shaken by anything. That’s all you need to know."

Zhu Yu tried to swat away the hand pinching her cheek, but was caught by Lu Qing instead. As he stood up and pulled her along, she stumbled and fell into his embrace, where his arms wrapped around her tightly.

Lu Qing lowered his head, with his nose touching Zhu Yu’s head. The gentle warmth and fragrance drifted into his nostrils, finally allowing his long-tense nerves to relax and bringing peace to his heart.

Zhu Yu’s heart raced for a few beats, feeling slightly uneasy, but the constant vigilance and worry that she carried day and night for days dissolved in Lu Qing’s firm embrace.

She let out a gentle sigh, wrapping her arms around Lu Qing’s waist, returning a tight hug.

Lu Qing felt the strength around his waist, involuntarily lifting the corners of his mouth.

"In the past, I purposely did many things to strive to align with the title of ’Prince Xiaoyao’ and to differentiate myself from the ’Golden-faced Imperial Censor’. But at that time, I never thought that accidentally doing this would bring me a good marriage." He nudged his chin against Zhu Yu’s hair. "Looking at it this way, regardless of his intentions, at least the heavens have not treated me poorly."

Zhu Yu nodded in Lu Qing’s embrace: "The heavens have indeed treated you well."

They treat me well too...

The next morning, Zhu Yu awoke to find the sun already high in the sky. She hurriedly got up, dressed, and ran out of the room, seeing the rune waiting outside.

"Madam, you’re awake!" The rune saw her come out in a rush, thinking she panicked not seeing Lu Qing upon opening her eyes, and quickly informed her, "Master went with your father to arrange the new supervision of weapons, possibly returning by evening.

He was worried that Yan Daoist might be too noisy and disturb your rest, so he took him along too.

Breakfast is kept warm in the kitchenette. Are you hungry now? Shall I have someone bring your meal over?"

"No rush, no rush. I got up late today and haven’t practiced yet!" Zhu Yu waved her hand. "It’s already this time, better to combine it with lunch, or it’ll mess everything up."

"Master said you’ve been tirelessly handling so many affairs in the Prince Mansion these days, so he didn’t have the heart to wake you, and missing one day of practice won’t matter." The rune didn’t expect Zhu Yu to be so diligent.

"Diligence is essential for mastery, idleness leads to waste. If not for learning those few moves from Lu Qing before, I might not have been able to manage until you returned." Zhu Yu waved her hand again. "I should still practice as needed!"

After speaking, she suddenly felt the courtyard was quite quiet: "Where are Yan Shu and General Yi?"

"Princess Yan Shu got up early. Seeing you still asleep and getting bored, she went to chat with Lady Miao." The rune pursed his lips, trying to suppress the smile surfacing, "General Yi... hasn’t woken up yet."

Zhu Yu was surprised, but couldn’t help smiling too.

Yan Daoxin is really ruthless!

After chatting with the rune for a bit, Zhu Yu earnestly began her practice.

Not long after she started, Yan Shu returned. Seeing Zhu Yu awake, she hurried over, mimicking her moves as they chatted idly about the interesting things she had just discussed with the Miao Family.

However, Yan Shu found these self-defense techniques uninteresting. After a few moves, she lost interest and dragged Zhu Yu to teach her how to use a whip instead.

Zhu Yu was happy to learn more and followed Yan Shu enthusiastically.

Yan Shu skillfully demonstrated the whip, adeptly guiding Zhu Yu on how to exert force with the long whip and how to avoid mistakes that could lead to the whip’s return striking herself.