Chapter 137 The Lu Family [ask for monthly tickets! ]

The three of them went to the Zhuxie Yamen together, and notified the Ministry of Justice not far away, and a large group of people went out together to look for Hong Yuling.

Da Qiao used the divination method of the Ma Yi clan, but only saw a thick fog.

"The target's secrets have been blocked," she said.

"Could it have fallen into the hands of the Lu family?" Everyone was a little worried.

"No." Wen Yifan released his consciousness, looked at the strange crowd on the street and said, "They are still looking for it."

"They" naturally refers to the Lu family.

The Lu family also mobilized their full strength at this time. People from the Longya Gang and Longyuan Mansion on both sides of the road, as well as some people from the Yudu Guards who were bribed by them, were patrolling along the streets openly or secretly. These people were obviously looking for Hong Yuling.

Because of the full efforts of both the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Justice, the atmosphere in the entire Longyuan City became tense.

A war, seemingly triggered by Hong Yuling's disappearance, has begun...

After searching for a whole day in vain, Liang Yue returned home in the evening.

As soon as he entered the door, he smelled a burst of fragrant aroma. He smiled and said, "What good day is today? Why are you having hot pot?"

In the past, the Liang family would only go to the market late at night to buy some cheap meat and vegetables during festivals, and then throw all the odds and ends into the hotpot, which was lively and delicious.

The three little ones are looking forward to this the most.

"Xiaopeng is back today." Li Caiyun was busy cooking the meat. "Hurry up and wash your hands and come to the table. I've been waiting for you for a long time. I was thinking about eating first."

"I just came back to have a meal. I may have to go out for work later." Liang Yue said.

The fact that the Lu family attaches so much importance to Hong Yuling means that Boss Hong must have something they are afraid of, which means that the Ministry of Justice cannot relax either.

In order to defeat the Ministry of Industry, he had no choice but to work overtime.

Now it is no longer about protecting the Enlightenment Tree, but he has created a feud with Lu Guanxu again.

When they kicked him and threatened him, they were confident that the Lu family would fall soon. If the Lu family really stood firm, they might take revenge in the future.

Moreover, the Lu family has done all kinds of bad things by controlling the Ministry of Works. This is the lifelong wish of a righteous man like Zhang Xingkai. Even for this, he should work hard.

Not to mention his close relationship with the Left Prime Minister Liang Fuguo.

"Brother, this is too hard." Liang Peng said.

"I can't help it. I have to do my job." Liang Yue smiled and said, "What about you? Today is not a day off. What are you going home for?"

"I'm a little embarrassed to say this, but I'm here to ask for your help." Liang Peng also smiled, "I wonder if you're free."

"What's the matter?" Liang Yue asked.

Liang Peng picked up a piece of green vegetable and said, "I had a classmate named Hong Yuling. Do you remember her? She came to me and said something happened at home. I want you to help find out what happened."

"Put your bowl down!" Liang Yue suddenly said with a serious face.

"Huh?" Liang Peng was stunned for a moment, put down the bowl and chopsticks in his hand, quickly sucked the vegetables in his mouth, and looked at his elder brother, "What's wrong?"

Liang Yue asked: "Where is Hong Yuling now?"

"I placed her in the women's courtyard of the academy and temporarily lent her a room." Liang Peng said.

"I'll call someone to take us to find her!" Liang Yue stood up suddenly and hurriedly put on the official uniform that he had taken off and hung beside him, saying to himself, "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Liang Peng blinked innocently and said, "I've been waiting for you at home for a long time, but you haven't come back yet."

Li Caiyun had just brought up a dish when she saw her two sons suddenly leaving. She immediately said in annoyance, "How come you just came back and you took Xiaopeng with you?"

"Mom!" Liang Yue said as he walked, "The situation is a bit complicated. Xiaopeng has a former female classmate who has gone to the Kendo Academy. I have to go see that girl."

"Huh?" Li Caiyun was also startled. "They've come to my house? Should I go and see them too?"

……

Zhumenfang, Lu family courtyard.

The reason why this place got its name is because it is close to the imperial city and is the residence of princes, ministers, and dignitaries of the time. Among all the mansions, the Lu family is not luxurious, and can even be said to be simple.

The residence of the Minister of Works has only a few simple courtyards and a small garden with a flower bed at the back, all of which have an ancient feel.

This house was originally built more than 300 years ago and has had dozens of owners. All the owners have only repaired it and never renovated or rebuilt it, so it looks a bit old.

More than 20 years ago, the daughter of Lu Yuanwang, who was the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Works, was chosen as a concubine and was rewarded with this mansion. Before that, their family only lived in a small courtyard.

If you look closely, Lu Yuanwang back then was actually somewhat similar to Zhen Changzhi, both of whom were famous for their integrity. "When I passed by the front yard just now, I seemed to hear Guanxu crying there. What happened to this child?"

Beside the lotus pond that blooms all year round, a woman in a gorgeous brocade palace skirt walked slowly and asked in a casual conversation.

Her exposed face and skin on her shoulders and neck were so white that they reflected the sunlight. Her hair was piled high in a bun, and she had a golden and jade hairpin, which was quite complicated. But her delicate and thin shoulders were steady, and her steps were very smooth, without any shaking. She had thin eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes, which were large and bright, and the light was as soft as spring water.

Although she walked upright, there were still four maids in palace dress following closely behind her, as if they were afraid that she would make a mistake.

Walking in the same row with the woman, only slightly behind her by half a body length, was an old man with a head full of vigorous white hair. He was wearing a navy blue robe and was pacing slowly, just as steadily.

Judging from the woman's figure and facial features, she is about 60% similar to the old man.

"He was beaten because he did not do his job well. He came back crying and wanted his family to avenge him." The old man sighed and said, "But our Lu family is a small family. Even if someone bullied us, we can just endure it. How can we take revenge just like that?"

The woman looked back and glared, "In such a huge city like Shendu, is there anyone who dares to bully our Lu family?"

"You have been in the palace for these years, and I have never wanted to tell you about what is happening outside. I am afraid that you will speak your mind and tell His Majesty, which will affect your situation in the harem." The old man said, "In fact, recently... our family has been in turmoil."

As he said this, he glanced at the four maids behind him.

The maids just followed with their heads down, staring at the woman's feet, as if they didn't hear any of the conversation between the two.

"Father, don't worry about these. His Majesty loves me and is always afraid that I will be wronged." The woman walked to a pavilion by the lake, and as soon as she put out her hand, a maid helped her sit down.

The old man then sat opposite, with his butt only resting on half of the chair, his body sitting very straight.

Although the woman called him father, he seemed very respectful.

Because this old man is the owner of this mansion, the current emperor's father-in-law and Minister of Works, Lu Yuanwang.

The woman in front of him was his biological daughter, Concubine Lu in the palace.

If you don't know the woman's identity, you would think she is a bright and beautiful woman in her twenties or thirties, and you would never think she is already in her forties. No wonder Concubine Lu was able to enjoy the emperor's favor for decades in the harem.

"Alas." After sitting firmly, Lu Yuanwang began to complain again: "I told you this, please don't tell His Majesty. It's not good to be concerned about relatives by marriage."

"Father!" Concubine Lu said anxiously, "Just tell me what kind of bullying our family has suffered. I know my limits and won't tell Your Majesty. I am your daughter. You can't treat me as an outsider just because I have left home, right?"

"Okay..." Lu Yuanwang said, "It's not easy for you to come home. I wanted to tell you something happy, but things haven't been going well for our family recently. It may be because I was not careful in the court and disobeyed the left prime minister. Recently, the Ministry of Justice has been looking for trouble with our Ministry of Works and arrested nearly half of the people in the Ministry of Works."

"Liang Fuguo is your junior. How come he becomes lawless just because he holds a high position?" Concubine Lu said angrily.

"No matter how old you are in the officialdom, he is the left prime minister, and it is only natural for me to be under his jurisdiction. There are indeed some corruption cases in the Ministry of Industry. These subordinates are not clean, and it is my fault for failing to supervise them. I deserve the punishment. But I didn't expect that a group of businessmen would accuse me of colluding with the black and white, abusing my power for personal gain, and being a corrupt official in the court!" Lu Yuanwang mentioned this with some excitement, "God is my conscience, you know the situation of our family, what do I use all that money for?"

"I have been no different from ordinary girls since I was a child. My father has never sought wealth and fame as an official. It is really evil to accuse you of corruption." Concubine Lu cursed, "This Liang Fuguo, your majesty usually praises him for his loyalty..."

"Hey!" Lu Yuanwang raised his hand to stop him, "Don't dare to talk nonsense about His Majesty..."

After a pause, he said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty is busy with many things every day, it is possible that he was deceived by the treacherous people."

"Humph." Concubine Lu exchanged glances with him and said, "Isn't it? Your Majesty is kindhearted, that's why he tolerated him for so many years."

"That's all fine, it's all court affairs anyway." Lu Yuanwang continued, lowering his voice a little: "But this morning when Guanxu went out, he was beaten for no reason by a prince's companion. I asked him later, and he said that the man turned out to be Liang Fuguo's illegitimate son..."

"How dare a bastard like you hit my nephew?" Concubine Lu slammed the table, "This is too much!"

"The Liang family is powerful, and I don't want to fight them anymore." Lu Yuanwang's eyes were unclear, and he said, "I am old now, and I plan to resign from the court tomorrow and return home. I will just admit my mistakes to Lord Zuo Xiang, and that's all."

"Father! If you leave, who will be the one that Your Majesty can trust to take charge of the Ministry of Works?" Concubine Lu said, "How can I trust this position to someone else?"

"Silly child." Lu Yuanwang sighed, "I have been in this position for decades, and I am hated by everyone!"

Concubine Lu stared and said, "No, you are rebelling against Liang Fuguo? When I return to the palace, I will go to your Majesty to talk to him!"

"Absolutely not!" Lu Yuanwang said solemnly, "As long as you are fine in the palace, I will be relieved. Our Lu family has been very prosperous over the years. This time, we will just have to swallow our anger. I will take a step back and leave the court."

His words were so heavy that they caused ripples on the water.

A few small fish at the bottom of the pond swam away, as if they were going somewhere to report news.

……

After Concubine Lu and several palace maids left, Lu Yuanwang put away his aggrieved face and his eyes became cold and hard.

After a while, a voice came from the shadows outside the pavilion: "We got the news. The girl was found by the people from the Evil Execution Division. It was that boy named Liang again."

"We spent so much money to raise a bunch of useless people, who are no better than Liang Fuguo's illegitimate son!" Lu Yuanwang frowned and said, "Then I'll have to take a risk when I go to court tomorrow..."

　Good morning.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)