Chapter 194: Natural Allies

Chapter 194: Inherent Alliance

"Tell me honestly, does Minghui have any other vulnerabilities?"

The handkerchief hid it, and Yongning Marquis did not notice his wife's momentarily stiffened expression.

Lu Minghui, lying on the bench, couldn't help but shiver slightly.

Her greatest vulnerability wasn't the beating of servants, but nearly being compromised by someone. But since that person is dead, it shouldn't be a vulnerability anymore.

Right, Sun Zhiye must also be dealt with.

Otherwise, he would remain a threat looming over her.

They all must be eliminated; no one can stand in the way of her marrying Gu Huai!

Lu Minghui tried to calm her breathing, careful not to show any sign of distress.

Yongning Marquis Madam struggled to maintain her composure and said, "No."

"She stays in the mansion every day, always accompanied by maids and servants when she goes out. What vulnerabilities could there be?"

"What about the over ten years spent in Changxi Village?" Yongning Marquis, though relieved, still inquired just to be safe.

Yongning Marquis Madam's heart raced, but her expression remained unchanged. "The Lu couple are honest and kind, their sons are scholars, and their family values are quite respectable. There won't be any impropriety."

Yongning Marquis said, "That's good."

"Minghui, enough with the act!" Yongning Marquis glanced at Lu Minghui, who was pretending to be unconscious to avoid punishment and eavesdropping.

This daughter was truly a handful.

"If there's even the slightest chance, I'll fight for you."

"If there's no hope, I'll still do everything to safeguard your reputation."

"Minghui, regardless of whether the marriage goes through, you must conduct yourself properly."

Lu Minghui struggled to get up. "Daughter acknowledges her mistake."

Yongning Marquis sighed deeply, with his hands clasped behind his back, and left Lanxi Courtyard.

What exactly is Gu Huai up to?

Back then, Mingchao was so persistent with Gu Huai that he became thoroughly exasperated, letting Mingchao become a laughingstock among the noble ladies of the capital, yet Gu Huai never brought up ending the engagement.

Now, Gu Huai treats Minghui with perfect propriety and courtesy, yet makes decisions without leaving any room for maneuver.

Perhaps, it really should be let the mistake remain a mistake.

...

Daqian is vast, the prosperity of the capital does not reach the remote countryside.

Daqian is also small, the slightest stir in the capital causes ripples in Changhe County.

Magistrate Xu is extremely frustrated! He may be of low rank and little influence, but he's not insignificant.

He was under pressure from all sides, both openly and covertly, to wrap up the case swiftly regarding Sun Zhiye killing his younger brother.

The pressure came with mixed demands; one moment they wanted Sun Zhiye dead, the next they wanted to protect him.

Yet, no one seemed to care about the truth.

In the end, one side won out over the other, and those who instructed to protect Sun Zhiye gained the upper hand.

He gathered his courage and subtly questioned the prefect, who gestured vaguely toward the heavens.

He truly hadn't expected that Sun Zhiye had such significant influence, quietly gaining connections with powerful figures in the capital.

However, the case of Sun Zhiye killing his brother had caused such an uproar that he couldn’t sweep it under the rug, and even Sun Zhiye's father began making remarks that only added to the rumors, further corroborating that Sun Zhiye had killed his brother.

The yamen’s coroner was discovered to have taken a hefty bribe around the time the second young master of the Sun family died suddenly in prison.

Even if he wanted to save face for the yamen, he couldn’t ignore it anymore.

Condemning Sun Zhiye to death was easy.

Letting Sun Zhiye go free was next to impossible.

Based on his years of experience as an official and countless cases judged, Sun Zhiye's suspicion of killing his brother was irremovable.

But Sun Zhiye had a noble protector behind him!

Magistrate Xu was so stressed he was losing hair by the handful, seemingly on an irreversible path to becoming completely bald.

"Father." Xu Qingxing gently knocked on the study door.

Magistrate Xu was on edge. "Don't come in!"

He didn't want to see anyone speaking on behalf of Sun Zhiye right now.

Not even his own son, no way!

Xu Qingxing hesitated: ...

"Father, I didn't mean to defend Sun..."

Magistrate Xu raised his hand. "Stop, I can't stand to hear that word right now."

Ugh, he felt like he was being treated like a grandson!

Xu Qingxing gave an awkward chuckle and rubbed his nose. "The case is coming together, so why are you still so worried?"

Magistrate Xu looked up and scrutinized Xu Qingxing for a moment. "Have you finally seen the light?"

"I can't kid myself anymore," Xu Qingxing sighed.

Magistrate Xu thought for a moment. "Then go to Changxi Village."

"Invite Mr. Lu from Chaofu Trading and Mr. Xie to talk."

Xu Qingxing blurted out, "Not inviting Lu Yao?"

Magistrate Xu gave a puzzled look and stroked his beard. "I have important matters to discuss with Mr. Lu, why should I invite Lu Yao?"

"If you want to befriend Lu Yao, don't act all high and mighty or throw tantrums like a spoiled Young Master."

Xu Qingxing pointed at himself with his finger, "I wouldn’t stoop to associating with Lu Yao!"

Would he really dare to act all high and mighty and throw a fit in front of Lu Yao?

His father really had high hopes for him.

Magistrate Xu smiled without speaking, not exposing Xu Qingxing's bluff.

He just said, "Qingxing, in life, friends who lend a hand when you’re in trouble are truly valuable, while those who only add to your prosperity are far less valuable."

Was that a hint?

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Lu Mingchao and Xie Yan, having been invited, arrived together at the Xu residence.

"This humble commoner greets Magistrate Xu."

Magistrate Xu smiled, "Please, have a seat."

Lu Mingchao's Chaofu Grain Shop was renowned, and its Treasure Pavilion was a treasure trove filled with rare and exotic finds, highly sought after by the wealthy from surrounding prefectures and counties.

Moreover, Lu Mingchao, with her kind heart, actively engaged in charitable deeds such as distributing porridge to the needy, offering free medical consultations, and making generous donations, earning her widespread public praise.

Thus, Lu Mingchao's reputation soared, making her a household name in Changhe County.

Lu Mingchao was skilled in business, and Lu Yao was a prodigy.

This pair of siblings were undoubtedly hidden talents.

"Magistrate Xu, please don’t hesitate to let us know how we can assist. If there's anything we can do, we won't hesitate."

Noticing the dark circles under Magistrate Xu’s eyes, making him look like a panda, Lu Mingchao politely asked.

Magistrate Xu sighed and briefly explained the current situation.

Inviting Lu Mingchao here was a decision he made after careful thought.

Lu Mingchao had a deep grudge against Sun Zhiye and wouldn’t want to see him get off scot-free, while he himself didn’t want to ruin his reputation by protecting Sun Zhiye from public backlash. In a way, he and Lu Mingchao were allies by nature.

Sun Zhiye had backers, but Lu Mingchao wasn’t someone to be trifled with either.

Therefore, he needed Lu Mingchao to show him the way forward.

Lu Mingchao glanced sideways at Xie Yan, her emotions in turmoil.

Two opposing forces were in play: one wanted Sun Zhiye dead, the other wanted him alive.

Besides Lu Minghui, someone else from the capital had joined the fray.

So, did Lu Minghui want Sun Zhiye dead, or did she want to save him?

Lu Mingchao frowned in thought.

After a moment, she spoke clearly, "What’s your stance, Magistrate Xu?"

Magistrate Xu cleared his throat and straightened his back, "As the magistrate of Changhe County, I naturally aim to base my judgment on the facts of the case and the Daqian law, to uncover the truth."

As an official, he was after both profit and reputation.

If possible, he also wanted to act with a clear conscience.

Lu Mingchao pursed her lips and then asked, "So, is the eldest son of the Sun family guilty of murdering his younger brother?"

"Nine times out of ten, he’s guilty!"

Emotions were heating up.