eurekapd Chapter 256 Everything is ready, only the east wind is lacking
Chapter 256 Everything is ready, only the east wind is lacking
Seeing that she had dodged the topic again, Lu Zhiheng sighed inwardly but did not press the matter further.
Anyway, she has already left the palace, and they have a long time ahead of them.
Take it easy.
After calming himself down, he said, "General Chu already knows about your escape from the palace."
Chu Qingyin was taken aback.
Looking at Lu Zhiheng's appearance, one can guess that the letter must have been delivered by one of Lu Zhiheng's subordinates to his brother.
“Your brother said that in return for my help to you, he is willing to help me seize the throne. However, the condition is that I must protect you.”
Lu Zhiheng paused for a moment, then said, "Don't worry, I will definitely keep my promise."
Chu Qingyin never expected her brother to make such a promise to Lu Zhiheng.
For a moment, he was both touched by his brother's love for him and worried about the difficulties and risks involved in the deal.
She bit her lower lip and asked, "Where is my brother now? He...he's not in danger, is he?"
Lu Zhiheng shook his head: "You don't need to worry. General Chu has successfully reunited with his former subordinates and will return to the capital soon. At that time, with his help from within and without, we will surely be able to bring down Pei Yuanling..."
He spoke these words calmly and deliberately, as if everything was under his control.
Hearing that her brother was alright, Chu Qingyin finally felt relieved.
But the thought of her brother joining forces with Lu Zhiheng to deal with Pei Yuanling...
Suppressing the complex emotions swirling within her, she looked at Lu Zhiheng and forced a smile: "Lord Lu, thank you."
Lu Zhiheng waved his hand, interrupting her: "There's no need for such formalities between us. Besides, this is for our common goal."
He looked at Chu Qingyin with expectation in his eyes, "Once everything settles down, you can go and live the life you truly yearn for."
"Is this the life I truly want...?"
Chu Qingyin paused, a hint of melancholy in her eyes.
She barely escaped from the palace, but if Lu Zhiheng ascends the throne in the future, will he really let her go so easily?
Thinking about this, she felt increasingly frustrated.
As if seeing through Chu Qingyin's thoughts, Lu Zhiheng's gaze softened even more.
"Chu Qingyin, you must believe me."
He grasped Chu Qingyin's hand: "When the world changes hands, I will never break my promise. You can go wherever you want, and I will not stop you."
Looking at the hand he was holding, Chu Qingyin felt a complex mix of emotions.
Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, as if she were weighing something.
After a moment, she gently withdrew her hand and forced a faint smile: "Lord Lu, I have remembered your words. However, the future is uncertain, and it seems too early to talk about these things now."
Lu Zhiheng looked at his empty hands, a hint of sadness flashing in his eyes.
However, this slight disappointment was fleeting, and he quickly regained his composure: "Very well, our top priority right now is to deal with Pei Yuanling together. Just remember, my promise, Lu Zhiheng's promise, is absolutely true."
Chu Qingyin nodded slightly and said nothing more.
She turned and walked to the window, gazing at the pitch-black night outside, her thoughts drifting further and further away.
She knew in her heart that although Lu Zhiheng's words were pleasing to the ear, how could she easily fathom the heart of an emperor?
Pei Yuanling's past actions were still vivid in her mind, so how could she easily believe another man's vows?
Although Lu Zhiheng's meticulous care for her these days had touched her, her past experiences remained an insurmountable chasm in her heart.
A brief silence fell over the room, broken only by the occasional sound of the wind coming from outside the window.
After a long while, Chu Qingyin turned around and said calmly, "Lord Lu, it's getting late. You've had a long journey, so please get some rest. There are still many things to plan for tomorrow."
Lu Zhiheng sensed the distance in her words and ultimately swallowed the words he hadn't spoken, only replying softly, "Okay, you should get some rest too."
After saying that, he turned around and walked out of the room.
Chu Qingyin gazed at the man's cold, distant figure, her expression somewhat bewildered.
She truly didn't know what to do next.
Now that my brother is tied to Lu Zhiheng because of me, and is about to do such a heinous thing, it is even more impossible for me to leave the capital alone.
What would she do if something happened to her brother?
……
After leaving the quiet courtyard, Lu Zhiheng did not immediately return to his room to rest, but instead stopped in an octagonal pavilion not far away.
Shen Ran, dressed in a black outfit, stood solemnly beside him.
“Master, Miss Qiao’s presence may become a hindrance to us.”
Shen Ran looked towards the small courtyard and lowered his voice, saying, "She's completely focused on Chu Tianheng right now. If she acts impulsively and Pei Yuanling gets hold of something against her, our plan will be ruined."
Seeing that his master remained silent, Shen Ran cautiously suggested, "How about... we send her away first, find a safe place to settle her, and then make further plans once the situation has stabilized?"
Lu Zhiheng narrowed his dark eyes slightly and said, "I have my own decision on this matter, and you don't need to say anything more."
Shen Ran's heart tightened, but he still forced himself to continue, "My lord, I have followed you for many years, how could I not see through your thoughts? The way you are now, it is obvious that you have fallen in love with that Miss Qiao."
"But all these years of painstaking efforts and careful planning have been aimed at overthrowing Pei Yuanling and exonerating His Highness the Crown Prince. If we fail because of personal feelings, it would be a real shame!"
"Back then, Mr. Lu devoted himself to paving the way for the adults. If he knew that his plans over the years had fallen through because of his love for his children, he would probably not be able to rest in peace!"
Upon hearing Shen Ran mention the old master of the Lu family, Lu Zhiheng's expression became even more solemn.
His fist, hanging by his side, clenched and unclenched. He took a deep breath before saying coldly, "That's enough. I know what I'm doing and won't let emotions affect the bigger picture."
Seeing that Lu Zhiheng was truly angry, Shen Ran quickly lowered his head and dared not say another word.
He knew his master's temper well, and saying anything more at this moment would only backfire.
"Let's get down to business."
Lu Zhiheng took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Any new developments with Pei Yuanling? Has Chu Tianheng encountered any obstacles in reuniting with his old subordinates?"
Shen Ran bowed slightly and replied respectfully, "Pei Yuanling has already placed the Empress under house arrest and sends people to give her contraceptive soup every day. The Empress Dowager is completely indifferent to this and even plans to send Wang Jingyi into the palace. In my opinion, the Empress has already become a discarded pawn in the Wang family's eyes."
Lu Zhiheng remained calm, as if he had anticipated all of this, and simply gave a soft "hmm".
Shen Ran carefully observed his expression, but could not discern any emotion, making it even more difficult to fathom his thoughts.
Lu Zhiheng also noticed Shen Ran's scrutiny and said calmly, "The Wang family will definitely be disheartened by Pei Yuanling's actions. Those Wang family protégés in the court will also be utterly disappointed in him. As long as there is chaos in the court, that will be our opportunity."
After saying that, as if remembering something, he asked, "What about Chu Tianheng? Where is he now?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Ran quickly replied, "Chu Tianheng has successfully reunited with his former subordinates. Relying on his past prestige, he persuaded them to work together for their master. They are currently traveling day and night and will arrive near the capital soon."
Upon hearing this, a hint of relief finally appeared on Lu Zhiheng's tense face.
"Good. Chu Tianheng has always been known for his loyalty and righteousness, and his former troops are also an elite force. With their help, we have a better chance of winning."
As he spoke, he looked up at the distant night sky.
Against the dark sky, countless stars twinkled, with the Purple Star shining the brightest among them.
"Once Chu Tianheng arrives in the capital, bring him here to meet Miss Qiao, so that the two of them won't worry."
This sudden order startled Shen Ran.
Why send General Chu to see Miss Qiao?
But as a strategist, Shen Ran was incredibly clever. He instantly figured out the key point and was immediately shocked.
"Could it be that Miss Qiao is actually..."
Chu Qingyin?
No wonder the monk said that Consort Liang was not dead but only a wisp of a soul. No wonder Pei Yuanling doted on her so much. It turns out that she was Chu Qingyin from beginning to end!
No wonder she had revealed so many flaws in front of her master, yet he always chose to turn a blind eye; this was the reason.
When Consort Chu was poisoned to death in the Cold Palace, Lu Zhiheng already felt guilty, believing that it was his fault that the loyal minister's daughter had died unjustly.
The master originally wanted to make amends, but who knew that she would be reborn into the body of the Qiao family's daughter.
"From now on, do not call her Consort Liang."
Lu Zhiheng didn't give him a definite answer, but instead gave him a cold glance.
Shen Ran immediately shut his mouth. He understood his master's meaning and knew he shouldn't ask any more questions.
"Your subordinate knows his mistake," Shen Ran said respectfully, bowing his head.
Lu Zhiheng did not respond, but said in a deep voice, "The second day of the second lunar month is just a few days away. We don't have much time left. Are you ready?"
Shen Ran bowed and said, "Rest assured, Master, everything is ready, we just need the right opportunity."
On February , the dragon looked up.
After years of lying low, it's time for some buried things to see the light of day again.
Lu Zhiheng narrowed his eyes, his expression becoming increasingly solemn.
More than a decade has passed since the case of Crown Prince Zhangxian was filed, and two emperors have already ascended the throne. Overturning the case is no easy task.
Moreover, what he wanted was never just a simple reversal of the verdict.
He wanted to make Pei Yuanling fall from the dragon throne and to expose to the world the evil deeds committed by the late emperor!