Sītu Jue's methods for accumulating wealth in recent years were simple and brutal.
Officials who pledged allegiance to him paid a certain amount of silver for his protection. When he became the Minister of the Grand Court, he couldn't afford to offend the Jian family. Jian Shijie, with his absolute authority, made sure everything was foolproof.
But now, the Minister of the Grand Court had been replaced by the powerful Prince Rui, who harbored an old grudge against Sītu Jue.
Sītu Jue narrowed his eyes and snorted, "What are you afraid of? I couldn't do anything to him when I was confined to my home. Now, I want to see how capable he is of opposing me."
Both were imperial princes, both were enfeoffed as kings.
But his maternal clan was prominent, and the Marquis of Qiying's estate was firmly tied to his fate. Furthermore, after years of cultivation, his network in the court could even rival the Crown Prince's. What did Sītu Yan have?
No matter how favored Consort Rong was back then, she was just a singer. Let alone a maternal clan, he didn't even know who his maternal grandfather was. His wife's clan was even more so. The Marquis of Pingning's estate was declining, with no successor. It was rumored that the Marquis of Pingning had recently been ill and it was uncertain if he would survive.
Jian Shizhao wanted precisely this arrogance of his.
Because only then would he spare no effort in suppressing Prince Rui.
This man had opposed the Marquis of Qiying's estate from the very beginning, making him an unbearable thorn in their side.
Under Jian Shizhao's eloquent persuasion, Sītu Jue's anger quickly shifted from the Jian family to Sītu Yan (the male protagonist's name has been officially changed and will be used from now on, especially since his identity has changed). And Sītu Yan, who was being thought of, was swaggering out of the palace.
Having recovered the casting silver, Emperor Changwu was in high spirits and highly praised him.
Sītu Yan said, "Father, daring to pocket the casting silver right under your nose, those scoundrels certainly wouldn't have the guts."
"Hmm, but the case can be concluded for now. We can find the mastermind slowly."
What if they couldn't find them? Wouldn't that tarnish his son's reputation? Emperor Changwu was unwilling to see his most beloved son's reputation suffer. As for the mastermind, there were only a few families in the capital who dared to act so brazenly, and none of them were someone that the current Seventh Prince could afford to offend.
Emperor Changwu analyzed the situation for him. Although Sītu Yan was unwilling, he didn't resist.
If the sky falls, the taller ones will bear the brunt of it; it's not his place to worry about such things. However, if the mastermind turned out to be his nemesis, that would be a different matter.
After leaving the palace gate, he galloped his horse towards the Marquis of Pingning's estate.
His father-in-law was seriously ill, and he still had to visit.
At that moment, Lu Nian Fu was staring blankly at a note: "Be careful of your father."
The note was given to her by Nanny Qiangwei, who served the Marchioness of Pingning. Lu Nian Fu held the note and examined it repeatedly, finding it hard to believe it was meant to be a joke.
Her father was currently lying in bed, unconscious, sleeping for ten out of twelve hours a day.
What was there to be careful of?
There was no reason whatsoever. Completely unaware that her blood had been drawn again, Lu Nian Fu was bewildered. Qing Ya was also confused. The mistress and servant stared at each other blankly for a long time before dismissing the note.
The Marchioness of Pingning had never wanted her to return to this home from the beginning. This note might have been specifically intended to annoy her.
Just then, a servant reported from outside the door, "Prince Rui has arrived."
Lu Nian Fu, with Qing Ya, went out to greet him. While she could wait in her own residence, when she was out, she had to show respect to the prince. To her surprise, someone had arrived even earlier. Wearing a pale yellow ruqun, Zeng Weiyang, with light makeup, was gracefully bowing and greeting him, "Weiyang greets brother-in-law. May brother-in-law have success in all his endeavors."
Her words sounded a little strange.
Qing Ya was even more curious and whispered, "Miss, wasn't the Second Miss sick?"
Lu Nian Fu didn't know either, so she could only say, "Perhaps she has recovered."
Qing Ya's mouth twitched.
Sītu Yan had some impression of Zeng Weiyang; she was his sister-in-law. He casually waved his hand, telling her to rise, and his steps were already moving towards Lu Nian Fu, "Why did you come to pick me up personally?"
Zeng Weiyang cast a flirtatious glance, bitten her lip in annoyance, and then stepped forward again, acting demurely.
Lu Nian Fu didn't understand what she was trying to do for a moment, "Has Sister Weiyang's illness completely recovered?"
Zeng Weiyang tossed her hair, "It's just an old ailment. It can't be said to be well or not. Thank you for your concern, sister."
Lu Nian Fu thought to herself that she hadn't been concerned at all. She just felt that Zeng Weiyang today looked strange, but she couldn't quite pinpoint it. Sītu Yan, even more so, didn't even spare her an extra glance.
Who would stare at their sister-in-law? It's not like something's wrong with them.