"Safe journey, Your Highness!"
"Safe journey, Your Highness!"
…
Although Imperial Consort Cui could leave the palace to reunite with her family on her birthday, she could not spend the night outside the palace. She had to return to the palace before the palace gates closed.
At this time, the banquet at the Cui residence had not ended. Seeing the Cui family escorting Imperial Consort Cui out, all the officials and nobles present rose to send Imperial Consort Cui back to the palace.
After that, the people who came to the Cui residence for the banquet also began to leave.
After almost all the guests had left, Yu Dingfeng, the Marquis of Ningyuan, sighed in front of the Cui residence and said, "Her Highness is extremely dissatisfied with what we have done in the past year. If the situation continues to develop like this, the foundation that we have painstakingly built in the court over the past decades will be completely destroyed."
Cui Qingze, the master of the Cui family, cupped his hands and said, "The success or failure of the Academy depends on the Yu family."
"Brother Cui, rest assured, everything is under control." Yu Dingfeng smiled and returned the greeting before saying, "It's getting late. Brother Cui, I will also take my leave."
Beside him, Chen Qing also raised his head. "We are also leaving."
Cui Qingze smiled and said, "Second Brother, please see the two Lords Chen off."
A man behind Cui Qingze stepped forward and looked at Chen Chong and his brother. He smiled and said, "Lords, please."
…
"The Yu family cannot be underestimated in the future." On the carriage returning to the residence, Chen Qing, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke.
They were all of the King of Shu's faction. Cui Qingze had just asked Second Master Cui to see them off while he himself sent Yu Dingfeng off. This subtle difference was a very clear signal to them.
Chen Chong, who had his eyes closed, suddenly opened them and said lightly, "The Yu family cannot be saved."
"What?" Chen Qing frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"
Chen Chong looked back and asked, "Big Brother, who do you think the MIngzhu Academy belongs to?"
"The Academy was named after the Eldest Princess. From its establishment to its operation, everything was handled by the Eldest Princess …" As Chen Qing spoke, his voice gradually became softer. He looked at Chen Chong and asked, "You mean — the Marquis of Changan County, Li Yi?"
Although outsiders knew that the MIngzhu Academy was established by the Princess Royal Highness for the poor, the conversation between the Princess Royal Highness and the Marquis of Changan County in the Imperial Garden that day was known by almost everyone in the court. They all knew that the matter of the Academy, although it was in the name of the Princess Royal Highness, the things behind the scenes were all done by the Marquis of County Li.
Chen Qing frowned. "Even if it's him, it might not be …"
"Has Big Brother ever seen him lose?"
Chen Qing's voice stopped abruptly. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Is this the only reason?"
"Isn't this reason enough?" Chen Chong looked at him and shook his head. "Ever since the Princess Royal Highness visited the Yu Family and was rejected several times, the Princess Royal Residence would send people to the Yu Family every day to discuss. In the beginning, they would stay for a day, half a day, four hours, and an hour. Later, they would only stay in front of the Yu Residence for less than a quarter of an hour …"
"What can this mean?"
"Ceng Shichun said that this means that the Yu Family is about to be finished."
"Assistant Minister Ceng?" Chen Qing was startled and his expression changed slightly. "Assistant Minister Ceng is a meticulous person and rarely makes mistakes in the matters he has handled. If this is really the case, I'm afraid I have to warn Yu Dingfeng. If this spoils the Lady's plans …"
"Turn …" He lifted the curtain with one hand. Before he could finish the word 'turn around', another hand reached out from the side and closed the curtain again.
Chen Qing turned to look at him and said in surprise, "Second Brother, you are …"
Chen Chong did not speak and leaned back against the carriage. Chen Qing just looked at him like this. Some thoughts surged in his mind and his expression gradually changed …
…
"What? Last night at the Cui Family, County Magistrate Liu really did that?" When he heard this news from Fang, even Li Yi himself was a little surprised.
He didn't know much about County Magistrate Liu, but he knew how daring he was. After knowing him for so long, Li Yi felt that it was impossible for him to be wrong.
He actually dared to verbally humiliate the Cui Family's third young master at Imperial Consort Cui's birthday banquet in front of so many officials and nobles. No matter how he looked at it, this didn't seem like something that County Magistrate Liu would do.
"That's right, I also find it strange." Fang also said with a surprised expression, "This Old Liu usually looks very timid. I didn't expect him to be so hot-blooded …"
"Perhaps … Lord Liu is not in a good mood. It's understandable, understandable."
No matter what, he was still a fifth-rank official of the imperial court and a talent that Her Highness the empress valued. As long as he didn't directly contradict Imperial Consort Cui and play around with the younger generation of the Cui Family, no one could do anything to him.
However, what Li Yi couldn't understand was that even if he wanted to draw a clear line with the Cui Family and the King of Shu, why did he choose this time?
Moreover, with his cautious character, how could he do things without leaving any room for retreat?
"I also don't understand why Lord Liu is so anxious to draw a clear line with the Cui Family or the King of Shu. Even if he really wants to show his loyalty to County Marquis Li, he doesn't have to do this …" In a secluded room of a teahouse in Willow Lane, Ceng Shichun shook his head with some doubts on his face.
"There are rumors outside that this person was instructed by Li Yi to do that last night." Chen Chong took a sip of tea and asked, "How do you know that he wants to draw a clear line with the Cui Family?"
Ceng Shichun put down the teacup and said, "Although I don't know why he is so anxious, Liu Dayou is a smooth and slick person. He is also extremely cautious. If there is no reason, he wouldn't do such a reckless thing. Especially his behavior last night, it seems that he deliberately put on a show for others to see …"
"Cautious?" Chen Chong laughed coldly and said, "He is the bravest and most arrogant Jingdou Magistrate in history. Many playboys in the capital have suffered at his hands. You say that he is cautious?"
"The Chen Family should know very well how difficult the position of Jingdou Magistrate is." Ceng Shichun glanced at him and said, "But this Lord Liu has done many 'arrogant' things and offended many people. But his position is becoming more and more stable, and there is even a faint trend of him moving up. Lord Chen thinks that he is just relying on luck … But after what happened last night, I can no longer see through this person."
"Even you can't see through him …" Chen Chong started and said, "Dong Wenyun, Liu Yiyi, and now even this Liu Dayou … what kind of people come out from Qing 'an Prefecture!"
"This person is acting so strangely. Something must have happened. However, we are not on his side, so it is not good to ask …" He glanced down and said, "Third Mistress has come out. Official Chen should leave."
Chen Chong stood up and raised his hands. "Official Ceng is going down anyway, let's go together."
…
"Cut ties?"
In a private room in a brothel somewhere in the capital, a middle-aged man sat there. His eyes narrowed slightly as he muttered, "Just what has happened? This person, Liu Dayou …"
The man beside him asked in confusion, "Fifth Master, what did you say?"
The middle-aged man withdrew his gaze. His eyes seemed to drift as he looked at the man and asked, "Wu Er, how long have you been by my side?"
"Yes …" The man named Wu Er scratched his head and counted with his fingers. "Yes … it's been a long time."
"So it has been that long …" The middle-aged man stretched his body and said, "Go downstairs and buy some preserved fruits from Fu Ji."
After the man left, the middle-aged man reclined on the couch and looked down at the stage. He muttered, "Yu family … who will be next?"
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