Chapter 418: Giving Them a Good Idea

Chapter 418: Giving Them a Good Idea

With these words, the dilemma of whether to dispatch troops was resolved, and the emperor’s ego was stroked.

Indeed? Capturing a few unruly citizens—why would you need the army for that?

Simply go door-to-door in each village and apprehend those who led the disturbances.

This way, the situation won’t escalate, and it will also deter ordinary people.

The emperor was delighted. "Brilliant, truly brilliant. It’s always the Grand Chancellor who has the solutions. Grand Chancellor, you’ve done Me a great favor."

Grand Chancellor Lu wore a smug expression but humbly said, "Serving the ruler is the duty of a minister."

However, this was not the outcome Xie Peiyu and the others had hoped for.

After the morning court session, Zheng Jinyu was summoned by the chief lady-in-waiting of the Princess Dowager to the main courtyard.

After hearing the news, Zheng Jinyu asked, "Did they mention who would be sent to handle this matter?"

"Not yet. This task could bring great merit, but it’s also easy to mess up. I think they’re both eager and afraid."

Zheng Jinyu sneered coldly. "What does ‘handling it well’ mean? This must be botched."

The Princess Dowager raised an eyebrow at her. "It seems you have a plan."

"Yes."

"What do you intend to do?"

"Exploit the information gap. The people of Yu City don’t know that the court only plans to execute a few leaders. We can spread the word in advance that officials from the capital are coming to punish the rebels. Those who seized grain and attacked government offices are certainly not the elderly or women and children, but adult males. In the countryside, adult males are the backbone of the family. If their backbone is to be killed, how could they accept it? Instinct for survival won’t let them surrender willingly."

Xie Peiyu nodded. "So, when pushed to the brink, they will likely flee."

The Princess Dowager said, "Fleeing requires travel permits. Where can they go?"

Zheng Jinyu continued, "I heard that during the chaos, many have already joined the local bandits?"

"Yes, the local bandits have indeed grown stronger."

"They are like chopsticks, easily broken. An individual fleeing becomes a vagrant with little chance of survival. Adult males, especially the bold ones, are most welcome among the bandits, so they might join the local bandits."

The Princess Dowager smiled. "That would really cause chaos."

"No one wants to become a bandit by choice. Forcing disaster victims to hand over their family’s breadwinners and driving good citizens to become bandits will surely lose the hearts of the people. Who suggested inciting rebellion and sacrificing Prince Chen as a banner? If the investigation reveals that the person who incited the disaster victims to capture Prince Chen and planned to sacrifice him is connected to the capital, things will get even more interesting."

The Princess Dowager snorted coldly and turned her head away.

Xie Peiyu glanced at her and calmly said, "Isn’t it my ‘uncle’? Indeed, it will be quite lively."

Zheng Jinyu said calmly, "Then the rest is straightforward. Why did the Emperor want to kill Prince Chen?"

With that, she looked at Xie Peiyu with a half-smile.

The Empress Dowager's gaze toward Zheng Jinyu held a touch of admiration.

She said, "Because he ascended the throne illegitimately. My father's will was to pass the throne to my son."

"Yes, so everything makes sense now. The few royal loyalists in the court, no matter how eloquent, have to keep quiet. But..."

Zheng Jinyu tilted her head and looked at them. "Mother, didn't the late Emperor adopt Gao Zhi as his son and name him Crown Prince? Why did he change his mind at the last moment?"

The Empress Dowager's expression stiffened, and she lowered her eyes, seemingly unwilling to discuss this topic.

Xie Peiyu said, "Probably because he found out that Gao Zhi had forged an imperial decree to kill my father."

"Ah?" Zheng Jinyu looked at the Empress Dowager in surprise.

The Empress Dowager appeared dejected.

Xie Peiyu added, "My mother only learned about it a couple of years ago."

No wonder.

Otherwise, it would be impressive for the Empress Dowager to tolerate him for so long.

The Empress Dowager quickly composed herself and smiled at Zheng Jinyu. "In your opinion, who is suitable to handle this matter in Yu City?"

"It must fail, so naturally, it should be someone from the other side. Anyone will do, but preferably..." She suddenly remembered something and thought that such a good opportunity should go to someone she disliked.

"Has Lu Shen started working in the Ministry of Personnel?"

Xie Peiyu nodded and said, "Yes, Old Grand Tutor Lu's health is deteriorating, so he needs to secure a future for his grandson. He used his influence to get Lu Shen this position."

"I heard that Old Grand Tutor Lu has to be carried to court these days. It seems his health is failing, and he doesn't have much time left."

The Empress Dowager said, "Indeed, I visited him a few days ago, and he's not doing well."

Zheng Jinyu nodded. "No wonder they're rushing to push Lu Shen into a position."

His eldest grandson has such a poor reputation; usually, one would first rehabilitate his image and give him some positive titles before appointing him to a post.

Without rehabilitating his image, they're already sending him to become an official, which means he really doesn't have much time left.

"Since that's the case, let it be Lu Shen," she said.

The Empress Dowager and Xie Peiyu exchanged glances.

The Empress Dowager said, "Old Grand Tutor Lu's health may be failing, but his mind is still sharp. He's not foolish and might not risk sending his eldest grandson on such a dangerous mission."

"Then we'll find a way to force him to send his eldest grandson. He's not in good health and naturally hopes that Lu Shen will achieve something while he's still alive. Often, danger comes with opportunity. Since he doesn't have much time left, he might be willing to take a gamble."

The Princess Royal found this reasoning sound and looked at Xie Peiyu, saying, "Will you handle this? Think of a way to force the old man to let Lu Shen take the risk."

"Alright."

Just as Xie Peiyu agreed, Zheng Jinyu remembered something.

"I do have an idea."

"Oh? What is it?"

Zheng Jinyu looked at Xie Peiyu and said, "Can you arrange for Zhou Shi, the wet nurse of Fang Jinxiu, to have her execution date moved up?"

The Princess Royal was unaware of these minor details, but after thinking for a moment, Xie Peiyu nodded and said, "Yes, I can. Are you planning to use her?"

He was somewhat puzzled; what use could a condemned prisoner be?

Zheng Jinyu replied calmly, "Fang Erya came to see me before. She said that Fang Jinxiu wanted to use the child in her belly to get Lu Shen to agree to something. That day, Fang Jinxiu went to the death row to meet Zhou Shi. I suspect that what she wanted Lu Shen to agree to was to find a way to save Zhou Shi."

Zhou Shi had killed a servant girl who had been expelled from the household by the master family.

In such cases, if a powerful figure intervened, saving someone wouldn't be too difficult.

But she was a condemned prisoner after all. Secretly manipulating the release of a condemned prisoner is no small matter.

If there's no aggrieved party to sue, it might be overlooked, but if it were exposed, the consequences would be dire.

With Zheng Jinyu's explanation, Xie Peiyu understood.

"Alright, I'll make the arrangements so that Lu Shen has no choice but to act sooner."

...

Lu Shen was indeed determined for his son. To make Fang Jinxiu willingly bear another son for him, he actually agreed to help her save Zhou Shi.

He only said that they needed to plan carefully and promised to save Zhou Shi before her execution.

Xie Peiyu secretly manipulated the situation, and the execution date for Zhou Shi was moved up.