Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 113 - 112: Treasonous Words

Upon hearing his words, Lu Qing merely smiled, "Public is public, private is private. It’s a good thing that the Second Prince is sharing the Holy Emperor’s worries. You should learn from him."

"I don’t want to learn from him, what’s the point! Everything is about him day and night, he’s always in the spotlight. If he’s not tired, I get tired just watching him put on airs..." Lu Ze couldn’t help but complain whenever the topic of his second elder brother came up. He said a few words, caught a glimpse of Zhu Yu, realized there was an outsider present, and quickly swallowed his words and changed the subject, "I really don’t know what he’s thinking!

Hasn’t it only been a short while since he got married? People always say there are four great joys in life — meeting long-awaited rain, encountering an old friend in a foreign land, the bridal chamber night, and getting one’s name on the honor roll.

As a prince, he doesn’t farm; it doesn’t make much difference to him whether it rains or not.

Encountering an old friend in a foreign land is unlikely, and as for getting his name on the honor roll, there’s hardly any chance for him to experience that.

So of the four great joys, only the bridal chamber night is left, and he runs outside just days after getting married. I really don’t know what he’s thinking!"

"Don’t talk about others. Speaking of marriage, it reminds me," Lu Qing didn’t follow his lead and suddenly asked, "I heard that Your Majesty arranged a marriage for you too, with a scholarly family, just waiting for you to come of age to set a date.

Are you feeling eager after seeing the Second Prince’s grand wedding?"

Lu Ze probably didn’t expect Lu Qing to suddenly bring this up, and his youthful face flushed red. He hurriedly waved his hand at Lu Qing, "Elder brother, you’re being unfair!

I’m sincerely considering your interests, sticking up for you, and you’re teasing me now!"

"The way you put it, how is this teasing?" Lu Qing laughed too, "You just mentioned the four great joys in life.

The Second Prince is a prince, and so are you. So, for you, the other three joys..."

"Alright, alright! I won’t talk to you anymore! Elder brother, really..." Lu Ze seemed genuinely embarrassed and uncomfortable, stepping back a few paces, "I’ve said everything I wanted to say. I won’t stay here to let you tease me!

Remember to bring me some delicious snacks and fun items when you return, or don’t blame me for causing trouble at your house every day!"

After saying that, he hurriedly waved to the servant who came with him, and the pair quickly ran off.

"Slow down, I’m not going to chase you. Being in such a hurry, your mother will surely scold you if she finds out." Lu Qing reminded him from behind.

Lu Ze halted his steps for a moment and indeed slowed down, presumably because Lu Qing’s reminder might actually happen.

After Lu Ze left, the gentle smile on Lu Qing’s face gradually faded. His brow slightly furrowed in thought, and he turned to look at Zhu Yu beside him, his gaze carrying a certain depth that he did not speak of.

Zhu Yu hadn’t thought much initially, but that look directed at her suddenly made her aware.

"When the Holy Emperor visited us, he instructed you to go to Li State but did not mention that he asked Lu Zhang to inspect the Jin and Shuo border?" She had guessed the crux of the issue.

Lu Qing silently nodded.

Zhu Yu was puzzled. Since she married Lu Qing, not much time had passed. When she left Shuo Country everything was peaceful, and there were no signs of unrest between Jin and Shuo.

Besides, when the Emperor Jin bestowed her, a concubine’s daughter of the Prince Shuo’s house, to Lu Qing, it was to prevent him from forming a strong alliance through marriage, strengthening his power.

If her vassal king father had the ability to threaten the Emperor Jin, Lu Qing, the supposedly carefree Prince Xiaoyao, wouldn’t have been the one given this marriage.

"This is something I hadn’t anticipated at all." She thought for a moment, frowning, then asked Lu Qing, "Can we still proceed with the original plan?

Since the Holy Emperor has sent Lu Zhang to patrol the border, should I stay at home?

If something were to happen and the Holy Emperor suddenly summons me, and I’m not at home, would it be considered deceiving the emperor? It would certainly cause trouble for you, wouldn’t it?"

Lu Qing looked at Zhu Yu with slightly furrowed brows as if she had just suggested something terribly foolish.

He couldn’t help himself from making a gesture with his finger towards her forehead. Seeing Zhu Yu instinctively close her eyes, he couldn’t help but chuckle, withdrawing his hand.

"Calling you foolish, you immediately associate Lu Zhang’s border patrol with so much.

Yet you sit here uttering nonsense.

We don’t know what Lu Zhang’s mission is, and it’s clear the Holy Emperor doesn’t want me to know." As he spoke, he glanced towards the main gate, "The possibility you mentioned might happen or might not.

If the Holy Emperor really intends to take you from the Prince Mansion while I’m away, how likely do you think it would be a good thing?"

Zhu Yu shook her head, "Almost none."

"Precisely, knowing that the outcomes are either safe or hazardous, and that no one can protect you in the Prince Mansion during my absence, who would do such a foolish thing as leaving you at home?" Lu Qing asked with a smile.

Zhu Yu opened her mouth, but Lu Qing already guessed what she wanted to say, "Previously, you mentioned that you and I share a common destiny now.

You are my wife, and if the Holy Emperor decides to capture you, do you think he’d spare me?

Knowing very well what the worst outcome could be, why would I leave you here? Of course, we must go together. If nothing happens, there’s no need to worry unnecessarily. If something does happen, two heads are better than one in finding a solution." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Upon reflection, Zhu Yu agreed with this reasoning and nodded, "Li State isn’t too far from the Shuo Country border, is it?"

"Only about seven or eight hundred miles, not truly close, but certainly nearer than the Capital."

Zhu Yu pondered for a moment, then her expression softened. She smiled at Lu Qing, "No worries. As long as we don’t get pinned down by the imperial guard upon reaching Li State, there shouldn’t be any major issues."

"Oh? I’d like to hear more." Lu Qing didn’t expect Zhu Yu to reach such a conclusion so quickly.

"If there really were unrest on my father’s side, the Holy Emperor should keep you confined to the Capital for any reason, making it convenient to charge us with crimes after Prince Yi’s inspection.

But if there’s nothing happening on my father’s side..."

Zhu Yu’s thoughts were clear; however, she realized halfway through that her next words would be terribly treasonous, earning her severe punishment if spoken aloud.