Qian Xingzhi sat as if on pins and needles. The teacup in her hand had become a hot potato—she couldn't drink it, and she couldn't set it down. She could only blink at Lu Yu helplessly.
Is he insane, confessing right off the bat? Weren't we supposed to discuss the New Year celebration? This guy looks harmless, so why does he act like a complete monster?!
Lu Yu paid no attention to Qian Xingzhi's discomfiture and continued talking as if to himself. "His Majesty is a superstitious man. The post of Director has always been a cushy sinecure with little work and plenty of perks. Lord Qian, you've snatched the moneybag right out of my hands. How do you intend to make amends?"
So his own man couldn't get in, and now he's here to call me to account. Qian Xingzhi sneered inwardly. The Nansheng court is so rotten that with luck, the kingdom might fall before I do.
That said, she still had to kneel. She dropped to her knees and kowtowed to Lu Yu without hesitation. "Lord Lu, spare my life! Please allow me a word in my defense!"
Given that the previous Director Fu had just died violently, it would be too suspicious if something happened to Qian Xingzhi so soon. She was certain that Lu Yu wanted to negotiate, not kill her outright. At least Lu Yu had money, power, and a good reputation. She would cling to him first.
"Lord Lu, I only accepted this position because I was afraid of offending the Third Prince. I never sought the office. I've been anxious, terrified of making a misstep and losing my life. If my presence has caused you trouble, it is entirely my fault. I am willing to follow your orders and would die ten thousand deaths without hesitation!"
"Well said: 'die ten thousand deaths,'" Lu Yu said, his smile not reaching his eyes. "Lord Qian surrenders all too easily, it seems."
Qian Xingzhi answered with righteous indignation. "If Lord Lu is willing to protect me, then this life of mine belongs to you. Naturally, I will do your bidding."
That nauseating fawning again. Lu Yu itched to splash his teacup at this slippery character, but instead he put on a delighted expression. "A wise man knows when to bend. Since Lord Qian is so intelligent, I naturally won't make things difficult for you."
Qian Xingzhi pinched her thigh hard, forcing two tears from her eyes. She was about to thank him when Lu Yu waved his hand and produced a small porcelain bottle from his robes.
Qian Xingzhi's body jolted—a classic trope! To ensure absolute loyalty, the evil villain makes you swallow a poison that flares up monthly. Only by obeying will you get the antidote; otherwise, you'll suffer worse than death.
Qian Xingzhi's face was a picture of reluctance. She let out an awkward "heh" and played dumb. "Lord Lu, what is this?"
She watched Lu Yu's shifting expression and heard his tone, playful and sinister: "An all-nourishing pill."
Lu Yu had just been about to explain properly, but seeing the look on her face, he immediately realized she had misunderstood. She resignedly took the bottle from Lu Yu, shook out a black pill, and gulped.
Watching Qian Xingzhi suffer cheered him up inexplicably. This Qian Xingzhi spoke and acted like a slickster, which really rubbed him the wrong way. A brat not even twenty—where did he learn to be so glib? He deserved to be taken down a peg. So Lu Yu felt justified in changing his mind and deciding to toy with him.
Qian Xingzhi hesitated, but Lu Yu, enjoying the show, quipped with a mocking singsong: "Die... ten... thousand... deaths?"
Gritting her teeth, she swallowed the black pill. Now Qian Xingzhi really was crying. "Thank you for the gift, Lord."
Heavenly immortal, my foot! More like a demon from hell. He pretends to be aloof and noble, but behind the scenes, he's money-grubbing and power-hungry. Not only greedy but also wrapping himself in the cloak of an incorruptible official—the absolute worst!
"The ground is cold and damp. Lord Qian, please rise. As for the New Year celebration, to ensure it goes smoothly, we'll likely need to perform a few ceremonies. That shouldn't cost less than a thousand taels of silver. What do you think?"
A thousand taels?! Why not just rob me? And the Lu family is filthy rich—can't they manage without that thousand?
Qian Xingzhi dusted off her knees as if all her strength and schemes had vanished. "I will do my best."
"As for the Third Prince, I advise you, Lord Qian," Lu Yu stood, paced over to her, patted her shoulder, and said earnestly, "That man is duplicitous and ruthless. It's best to stay far away from him."
Qian Xingzhi almost laughed out loud—are you sure you're not describing yourself? After a moment's hesitation, she spoke. "Lord Lu, I know very little about the court's situation. Could you enlighten me?"
Lu Yu thought briefly, then outlined the political landscape.
Emperor Jun Anche had many sons. The Fifth Prince, born of the Empress, was unruly and had been made Crown Prince the previous year. Following convention, the Emperor's favor waxed and waned, but many ministers had already taken sides. The First and Second Princes died young. The Third Prince was born of Consort Yan, whose family was powerful and favored by His Majesty. Though intellectually dull, the Third Prince had many supporters. In recent years, he and the Crown Prince were evenly matched in court influence.
The remaining princes showed no competitive edge for succession. The Fourth Prince, also born of Consort Yan, was as stupid as his elder brother and not valued. The Sixth Prince was slick but mediocre in talent; his mother, Consort Qiu, had long fallen out of favor.
As for the others, they were practically invisible to Jun Anche.
Qian Xingzhi nodded thoughtfully. Ha, Nansheng is probably doomed. Previously, she worked for money and enjoyment; now this wage slave had to strive for survival and figure out how to plunder money for Lu Yu.
"Lord, what about the antidote...?"
"Rest assured, Lord Qian. I don't have a habit of killing wantonly."
Qian Xingzhi took her leave, and only after turning around did she dare to grit her teeth and mutter, "A gentleman seeks revenge ten years later. When you fall into my hands, just watch how I deal with you."
As soon as Qian Xingzhi left, a spy appeared behind Lu Yu.
"My lord, we still cannot trace Qian Xingzhi's origins. Possibly a refugee. The Third Prince happened to pass by Qian Xingzhi's fortune-telling stall when he went boating at Nanchuan on a whim. I cannot confirm whether it was deliberately orchestrated."
A whim? Lu Yu stroked the white porcelain cup, thoughtful.
The spy did not vanish as usual. "My lord... Qian Xingzhi's background is unclear. Is it wise to deal with him so closely?"
According to the file, Qian Xingzhi hailed from Luo County, Nanchuan. Orphaned, unmarried, childless—now eighteen. A person with such a simple background, encountering such a coincidence, and ending up in this post...
Lu Yu was naturally suspicious.
"No need to worry. In his eyes, I'm no different from those money-grubbing sycophants. I'll get rid of him when the time is right. No more investigating his identity. Focus on the Crown Prince and the Third Prince."
The main hall was once again empty. Once upon a time, this grand Lu Mansion had been so lively. Now it could never return to that. He too was orphaned, unmarried, and childless. If not for this family, wouldn't he be no different from Qian Xingzhi? That thought stirred a sliver of pity.
Before he could enjoy a moment's peace, the man who had just left came rushing back in, all decorum lost.
"Lord! I have an idea!"
Before Lu Yu could react, Qian Xingzhi, grinning, tugged at his sleeve. "Lord, come take a look!"
"Qian Xingzhi, has anyone ever told you that you sometimes resemble a woman?"
Lu Yu rarely spoke without thinking. But Qian Xingzhi, in her excitement, had momentarily forgotten her disguise; her voice wasn't as guarded as usual and came out slightly more 'delicate' than before.
At those words, Qian Xingzhi's scalp tingled and she broke out in a cold sweat. She immediately stiffened her expression and feigned indignation. "What do you mean by that, Lord Lu?"
Finally, it was Lu Yu's turn to be embarrassed. He coughed dryly, muttered a weak apology, and gestured for Qian Xingzhi to lead the way.
Outside the main hall, Qian Xingzhi pointed at the long rainbow piercing the sun and said, "A white rainbow piercing the sun—the sovereign will be assassinated."
Of course, the 'assassination' part was complete nonsense. But it was enough to make her exclaim, 'Heaven helps me!'
Briefly surprised, Lu Yu asked curiously, "Really, Lord Qian? How certain are you?"
"Let me write a memorial to His Majesty, and your thousand taels of silver will likely be secured."
Lu Yu shook his head. "I meant, how certain are you about the 'assassination'?"
Qian Xingzhi suppressed the urge to look at him as if he were an idiot. "Lord, the white rainbow is just a phenomenon caused by sunlight. The rest is mere folklore."
"I see. I thought your extreme yin constitution had manifested and sensed something."
Qian Xingzhi: ...I'll endure it.
"Lord, I have a presumptuous request..."
"Speak."
"Could you give me an advance dose of the antidote?"
Lu Yu raised an eyebrow. He watched the cowering Qian Xingzhi, whose earlier excitement had vanished. On her rather feminine face, two crystal-clear teardrops now hung, and with her humble demeanor, she looked utterly pitiful.
Qian Xingzhi watched Lu Yu pull out the bottle again. She reached out, but Lu Yu put his hand behind his back, a faint smile playing at his lips. "Reason."
Qian Xingzhi twisted her body, wrapped her arms around Lu Yu's thigh, and bent down, pretending to sob. She deliberately roughened her voice. "Lord, I've been frail since childhood. My parents fed me countless medicines just to keep me alive. If I take the antidote too late, and the poison kicks in—others might survive, but I could really die, Lord!"
Her wailing and howling were truly convincing, as if she were terrified of death. Lu Yu lowered his hand and handed her the bottle. His tone was even a bit cheerful, and he kindly reminded her, "Take it in a month. Don't take any other medicine, not even supplements. If you disrupt the dosage, you'll bear the consequences. If you rebel, you won't get next month's."
Qian Xingzhi grabbed it quickly and stuffed it into her bosom. Then came a faint voice from above: "Don't forget the thousand taels of silver."
At that moment, beneath the eaves of the Lu Mansion, the kneeling man silently cursed the standing one as a hypocrite, while the standing one muttered inwardly that the kneeling one was a petty schemer. How fittingly in sync they were.
Naturally, Qian Xingzhi had no idea that her 'assassination' claim would bring far more than just a few ceremonies.