Chapter 520 - Chapter 520: Death Is Not Worthy
Chapter 520: Death Is Not Worthy
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
When Elder Lu came to court, Yu Youyao was only five or six years old, so she didn’t know much about the previous dynasty. Later on, no one asked about Elder Lu’s name, so it seemed a little abnormal to suddenly ask about it.
Yu Youyao shook her head. “I was just a little curious when I happened to hear someone mention it.”
This wasn’t lying to her cousin. She was indeed just curious for a moment.
It wasn’t that she was deliberately hiding it from her cousin.
Lu Jifeng’s alias was Er Dan, and he refused to reveal his real name to anyone.
The reason why he told her was because he felt that he had received her favor and it involved the privacy and secrets of others. Naturally, it wasn’t appropriate for him to tell her everything.
Since it wasn’t too important, there was no harm in it.
She said it casually, so Zhou Linghuai naturally wouldn’t care about such a small matter. “Do you know the news in the royal court today?”
Yu Youyao pursed her lips and nodded. “I heard it from Grandmother when I went to her house just now.”
Seeing that she was in a strange mood, Zhou Linghuai asked, “Isn’t there anything you want to ask?”
What should she ask? In such a huge game of chess, how many people had become chess pieces and how many chess pieces had to be sacrificed to finally achieve the victory he wanted?
Yu Youyao did not dare to think about it or ask.
She only Imew that her cousin had done nothing wrong. Those dog officials were even worse than the Marquis of Changxing. A hundred deaths was not enough for her to pity them.
Taking a deep breath, Yu Youyao asked, “You threw out Song Xiuwen as bait from the beginning to stir up the situation in Jiangnan to achieve your goal of disrupting the court?”
She had thought that Song Xiuwen was just a chess piece under her cousin’s control in Zhejiang.
However, she did not know that this was only a part of her cousin’s plan.
Zhou Linghuai nodded. “If there’s no chaos in Jiangnan, the va.s.sal lords won’t rebel.”
Yu Youyao took a deep breath. “As soon as my father arrived in Jiangnan, you led him by the nose and investigated the Zhejiang navy. Those unknown tricks made them step into the trap you set up step by step…”
It turned out that her cousin’s heart was big enough to contain the entire
Jiangnan.
Zhou Linghuai did not deny it. “It’s me.”
Yu Youyao felt a little complicated. “You chose my father because he’s a straightforward person. Although he’s not very talented and his personal virtue is a little lacking, the mistakes he makes are common to most men. On the surface, he’s never made a mistake. This means that he still has some responsibility as a minister. Although he’s not an official, he’s still upright and not timid. If you lure him into the situation step by step, he won’t be able to stay out of it…”
It could be said that her cousin had schemed against Yu Zongzheng completely.
Zhou Linghuai nodded. “There aren’t many people in the court who can do this. Your father is one of them.” At this point, he changed the topic. “Your father has been an official for many years and his political achievements are mediocre. Even if the emperor thinks highly of him and he enters the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs, your father was not born in the Hanlin Kingdom.
Secondly, he was not promoted to the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs. Thirdly, he has no political achievements and won’t be stable in the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs in the future. The more he investigates Song
Xiuwen’s case, the more beneficial it will be for him.”
Yu Youyao suddenly smiled. “Cousin, are you explaining it to me?
Zhou Linghuai hesitated for a moment but said nothing.
Yu Youyao burst out laughing again. “I don’t mean to blame Cousin. I just think that Cousin calculated it so well from the North to Shandong and then to Jiangnan. Everything is linked. You don’t even take a deep breath. You’re so awesome.”
With that, she seemed to feel thirsty, so she lowered her eyes and brought over some tea. She held it in her hand and lowered her head to drink.
Actually, she had already vaguely known what her cousin wanted to do.
However, she did not dare to think about it, let alone ask.
Song Xiuwen’s case only further confirmed the guesses in her heart. However, all of this was too heavy for her to bear now, so she subconsciously avoided it.
Zhou Linghuai pursed his lips and said nothing.
After taking a few sips of tea, Yu Youyao calmed down and changed the topic. “Cousin, there are many people and things to do in the Graceful Heart Hall. We have to find some reliable people to deal with the situation. Do you still have soldiers who have retired from the army due to injuries and illnesses under you? Can you find a few for me? I want to arrange for them to be in the
Graceful Heart Hall. Firstly, they can control those disobedient children. Secondly, they can teach them some martial arts. In the future, they can also have some ability to protect themselves. Thirdly, they can guard the Graceful Heart Hall. No one else will dare to behave atrociously.”
She had gone to the Graceful Heart Hall to take a look today, and it was generally alright.
There were also many problems. Those children lived on the streets all year round and did not have anvone to teach them. They did not know anv concept of right and wrong. Some children were unruly and difficult to control. These were all problems.
Since she had saved these children, she had to be responsible for them.
Saving them but not teaching her would just mean a moment of kindness. It was a departure from her original intention of being “good.”
If she hadn’t mentioned it in advance, Zhou Linghuai wouldn’t have brought it up. “I’ll send them to you in a few days.”
There were also many such people in the capital. It would take two days to choose someone who was skilled, had a good character, and was useful. As long as it was Yu Youyao’s request, he would not be negligent.
Look, this was what she should be concerned about.
Getting the Graceful Heart Hall set up properly and saving more children was something she could do well now. As for other things, she couldn’t manage them now, so why should she trouble herself?
After figuring this out, Yu Youyao smiled. “If I want to save more children, I definitely can’t rely on just my few shops in the capital. Didn’t the emperor reward you with many shops and manors in the capital previously? Can you arrange for some children who are 12 years old to go over and do some ch.o.r.es?
Although restaurants and manors often needed people to do odd jobs, they had limited manpower. Of course, she hoped that more children would have something to do and be paid.
That wasn’t much money, but they could still make a living. Those who were smarter could even learn something.
Seeing her bright smile, Zhou Linghuai’s lips curled up. “Sure. During this period of time, the cabinet has been investigating the businesses under my parents’ names. They plan to give them to me. In addition, Ye Hanyuan will be heading south soon. Before he goes south, it’s time for my imperial edict to be issued. At that time, the Imperial Court will reward me with good farmland, manors, and so on according to my t.i.tle. We also need a lot of people. Get
Chang An to bring over the list of existing businesses under my name first.
You can make the arrangements yourself.”
In the afternoon, Zhou Linghuai returned to The Green House.
Not long after, Chang An brought over a medium-sized box. “All the businesses that Young Master has been managing in the capital all these years are here.”
The key was hanging on the box. Yu Youvao opened it and was stunned by the stack of t.i.tle deeds inside.
Previously, she had guessed that her cousin was not someone who did not succeed. Now that King Li of Zhou had suffered, he definitely had many backup plans. He probably had a lot of businesses under his name.
However!
Thinking about how her cousin still had many princes’ guards and secret guards to support, it must have been difficult for him after so many years..