"You’re right, he indeed had such intentions back then. It wasn’t until I returned to the Capital and realized how extensive Duke Yan’s influence had grown that I became aware of this," Lu Qing nodded, agreeing with Zhu Yu and adding, "His decision to send Lu Chao to Shanqing Temple wasn’t just to keep him away from the dangers in the Capital.

At that time, the court’s affairs were overwhelming, and even he was overwhelmed, truly unable to look after Lu Chao at every moment.

It was precisely because of his high position that he knew the more he valued Lu Chao and protected him in all matters, the more perilous Lu Chao’s situation would become. Open attacks are easy to fend off, but hidden ones are not, and the slightest mistake would lead to the death of his only child with his first wife.

So he remained cold to Lu Chao. Rumors spread that seeing Lu Chao, who resembled the Empress greatly, made him feel sorrowful, and some even calculated that it was this child who had brought about the Empress’s death. These rumors were also something he himself guided others to spread.

Sending Lu Chao to Shanqing Temple to recuperate not only served to distance him from the hidden dangers of the Capital but also aimed to give him a chance to spend time with me and cultivate a fraternal bond.

After all, the other brothers were only half-brothers to Lu Chao; although all were the offspring of the Holy Emperor, beneath the surface camaraderie, each might harbor ambitions for a high position in the future.

But I’m different; I’m not an imperial offspring. Even if I have ambitions, they’re not legitimate. Therefore, if I could become close to Lu Chao and stand in his camp later, it would undoubtedly be a significant aid to his inheritance of the throne.

Previously, the Chifu Guard was his way to keep an eye on me and occasionally assist in delivering messages for the Golden-faced Imperial Censor.

Later, when we managed to set up a situation in the Li State Camp to push Situ Jing into Lu Chao’s camp, he probably only truly felt at ease with me from that point on."

"This is precisely another reason I find perplexing," Zhu Yu was baffled, "You say he doesn’t treat you well but goes to great lengths to save your life and let you learn skills.

Yet when you say how well he treats you, he is calculating, guarding against you, observing you, letting you learn skills, and making you do some ’dirty work’ that offends people..." Zhu Yu was truly confused by Emperor Jin’s contradictions.

"He treats me well and is willing to nurture me, but he never aimed to cultivate a capable son, only a useful minister.

The brutality of the struggle for the throne isn’t something you or I can imagine. That he could eventually win illustrates enough that he’s not someone driven by impulse, but someone with deep and ruthless intentions, scheming and cold-blooded.

Therefore, his every word and deed can’t be measured or judged by emotions.

His treatment of me was partly due to his duty to my grandfather and father and partly to support an aide that Duke Yan could never sway," Lu Qing explained to her confusion. "Originally, he turned a blind eye to Duke Yan’s recruitment of followers to distinguish which many officials in court stood in which camp.

Later, with the absence of the Chifu Guard around me in Jin Country, it signalled that he was confident in my alliance with Lu Chao."

Lu Qing’s words seemed to dispel Zhu Yu’s previous confusion, but she still couldn’t help but purse her lips: "Really, you and Lu Chao genuinely appreciate each other, the brotherly bond is great, but with his interference, it becomes somewhat teeth-gritting."

"No matter, I know what kind of person Lu Chao is, and he knows who I am, and that’s enough," Lu Qing said with a faint smile, "For both public and private reasons, we both would stand in the same camp, whether for each other’s interests or those of the people, it’s the same.

As for that man, as the ruler of the country and Sovereign of the World, he also has his own strategies. Allowing various forces to act for so many years was also a form of balance, besides sorting out factions.

He indeed has favoritism towards Lu Chao and for me, from returning my grandfather’s golden silk armor to me initially to our last meeting, where he conveniently mentioned a person missing from my family ’dying’ near there, that, too, counts as showing some old affection."

Though Zhu Yu still felt a bit discontented inside and felt injustice for Lu Qing, she knew Lu Qing was right in what he said.

Then a thought struck her, and she jumped up from the bench: "Oh dear, shouldn’t we find Mr. He and have him play his part?"

"Hmm, let’s first see how things are outside. If involving Mr. He would put him in danger, we’d end up accomplishing nothing."

Lu Qing nodded, knowing Zhu Yu’s previous confusion should be all cleared up now, then called for the rune to come in, asking about the situation he was keeping an eye on outside.

"Master, Madam, the Headdress and Shoes Workshop opened its doors today to customers normally, but still, only their steward was seen attending to people; Gu Lingyun hasn’t shown up," the rune replied. "Since Madam picked up her custom-made clothes, I’ve been discreetly watching till now, and Gu Lingyun hasn’t come out."

"Looks like she’s hiding..." Lu Qing thought for a moment, "In that case, accompany Mr. He back, and also take this opportunity for him to tidy up at home and deal with his daughter’s funeral since the corpse might not hold up in the corpse room.

Handle these properly, and once he’s completed his part, escort him back without any mishaps."

"Yes!" The rune saluted with his fist and swiftly headed off to find Mr. He.

The two soon set off, with Liu Yueyao sending them off with a spacious carriage. After all, this trip for Mr. He, after handling his daughter’s funeral, likely meant he would never return to his original village, so he would need to pack some things to bring back.

Besides this, Liu Yueyao handed Mr. He a pouch of broken silver. Initially, Mr. He refused to accept it at any cost, but Liu Yueyao laughed and said, "Mr. He, please don’t decline. These days you’ve been teaching everyone literacy in the pavilion; consider it your payment, and the rest as an advance.

Go back and get your daughter a decent coffin. Having encountered such an event, she should be buried with some honor."

Mr. He no longer refused, accepted with deep gratitude, and before getting into the carriage, he bowed deeply to Lu Qing, nodded, and then set off with the rune.

The day after they set off was also the second day of Duchess Yan’s birthday banquet. On that day, Duke Yan, Zhao Bi, chose to preemptively strike by bringing the dress that had been wet the previous day into the palace during the morning court, kneeling long before the main hall, tears streaming down his face.