The Prodigal Son

That evening, the Empress Dowager and Zhao Yan dined at the Lü family's house.

After the meal, the Empress Dowager dismissed everyone else and took only Zhao Yan to Lü Chunqiu's room.

The Empress Dowager sat down beside Lü Chunqiu's sickbed. "What have you thought about what I told you?"

"this……"

Lu Chunqiu hesitated, his gaze sweeping over Zhao Yan.

It seems there are some concerns.

Zhao Yan naturally understood Lü Chunqiu's meaning and tactfully said, "Then I'll excuse myself for a moment."

"Your Highness, please don't misunderstand!"

Lü Chunqiu stopped Zhao Yan, "I just wanted to confirm with the Empress Dowager again!"

As he spoke, Lü Chunqiu cast an inquiring glance at the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager glanced at Zhao Yan and said in a deep voice, "I have always felt that, from any perspective, Zhao Yan and Luan'er are the most well-matched!"

"Before my birthday banquet, the Prince of Chengyang had already proposed marriage to me! At that time, I thought that if Luan'er agreed to the marriage, I would voluntarily give up the grand birthday banquet!"

"But in the end, that bastard Qin Yu ruined everything..."

Speaking of this matter, the Empress Dowager was filled with rage.

Zhao Yan saw through the Empress Dowager's little tricks and was overjoyed.

However, in order to leave a good impression on the Empress Dowager as mature and prudent, he did not show much joy.

After receiving the Empress Dowager's affirmative answer, Lü Chunqiu finally spoke, "Since the Empress Dowager has made up her mind, then let's... purge the court of corrupt officials!"

"What?"

The Empress Dowager's expression suddenly changed, and she glared at Lü Chunqiu: "Do you intend to incite internal strife in my Great Ning?"

Zhao Yan's eyelids twitched suddenly, and he looked at Lü Chunqiu with some disbelief.

Purge the court of corrupt officials?

What does he want to do?

"No!"

Lü Chunqiu shook his head, "It is precisely because I do not wish for Great Ning to fall into internal strife that I have this idea!"

"fart!"

The Empress Dowager's anger was still burning, her gaze turning cold as she stared at Lü Chunqiu: "I know you harbor resentment towards Luan'er, but I warn you, you are a subject of Da Ning, and I am also the Empress Dowager of Da Ning! Whoever is an enemy of Da Ning is my enemy!"

As she spoke, the Empress Dowager's cold gaze swept over Zhao Yan again: "Including you!"

Zhao Yan immediately bowed and solemnly declared, "The blood of the Zhao family flows in my veins; I will forever be a subject of Da Ning!"

"Your Majesty, please allow me to finish speaking!"

Lu Chunqiu sighed softly, "His Majesty is now bewitched by Qin Yu and favors him excessively! If the Empress Dowager continues to allow this, Great Ning will be plunged into internal strife! The waters of the court are too deep; His Majesty ultimately cannot control them. The Empress Dowager should take the helm for him!"

As Lü Chunqiu spoke, he secretly winked at Zhao Yan, signaling Zhao Yan to speak up for him.

However, the Empress Dowager's attitude was still unclear, and Zhao Yan was unwilling to speak, pretending not to see Lü Chunqiu's signal.

The Empress Dowager pondered Lü Chunqiu's words quietly, feeling both troubled and tempted.

A moment later, the Empress Dowager raised her head and glared at Lü Chunqiu with annoyance: "Nowadays, the military power of the court is almost entirely in the hands of Qin Fumeng and Xue Chengdao. Do you think you can just purge the court of corrupt officials like that? Be careful you don't lose the lives of your entire family!"

A sharp glint flashed in Lü Chunqiu's eyes as he whispered, "What if His Majesty arrives in Ningzhou?"

"Ningzhou?"

The Empress Dowager's eyelids twitched suddenly, then she glared at Lü Chunqiu, "Who do you think you are? Do you think you can just send her wherever you want?"

Lu Chunqiu stared intently at the Empress Dowager. "What if I had a way to ensure Your Majesty's journey to Ningzhou?"

As he finished speaking, both the Empress Dowager and Zhao Yan were startled.

Zhao Yan was filled with suspicion.

Does he have a way to force Zhao Luan to go to Ningzhou?

real or fake?

After a moment's thought, the Empress Dowager cast an inquiring glance at Lü Chunqiu.

Lu Chunqiu didn't speak, but simply nodded confidently.

Seeing Lü Chunqiu's confident demeanor, the Empress Dowager once again couldn't help but show her interest, and even her breathing became rapid.

A moment later, the Empress Dowager stood up and paced back and forth in the room.

After a long while, the Empress Dowager stopped and looked up at Zhao Yan: "Go and ask Lord Lü if his medicine is ready!"

Zhao Yan knew that the Empress Dowager wanted to speak with Lü Chunqiu alone, so he nodded and left the room.

After closing the door for them, Zhao Yan did not leave immediately, but instead put his ear to the doorway.

Are you really sure?

"have!"

How confident are you?

"At least 50%..."

"That means you're not confident!"

"Empress Dowager..."

Later, the sounds inside the room became quieter.

Zhao Yan couldn't hear what the two were talking about, so he forced himself to back down, suppressing his excitement.

Clearly, the Empress Dowager wants to regain power!

Moreover, judging from Lü Chunqiu's words, Lü Chunqiu's plan most likely requires the cooperation of his father!

The Empress Dowager did not talk with Lü Chunqiu for too long.

About 15 minutes later, the Empress Dowager left the Lü family residence with Zhao Yan.

Throughout the journey, the Empress Dowager was absent-minded, as if she was thinking about something important.

Zhao Yan was extremely curious, as if a cat was scratching at her heart.

After hesitating for a moment, Zhao Yan couldn't help but ask, "What did the Empress Dowager and Lord Lü talk about?"

"Don't worry about that!"

The Empress Dowager slightly raised her eyes. "Remember this: you heard nothing, and don't even think about it! I will take care of your affairs with Luan'er!"

"yes!"

Zhao Yan smiled and agreed, but was secretly disappointed.

It was clear that Lü Chunqiu had told the Empress Dowager something important, but the Empress Dowager had not yet made up her mind.

Or rather, she still had too many concerns.

Suddenly, Zhao Yan thought of his father again.

The father was the same as the empress dowager.

He clearly understands many things, but he just can't make up his mind!

Hesitant and indecisive!

Courage!

Neither the Empress Dowager nor her own father possessed sufficient courage!

Zhao Luan, however, was much more decisive than them!

"You handled the matters concerning the Confucian Temple and the Imperial Academy very well!"

The Empress Dowager offered a word of praise, then abruptly changed the subject, "However, you've made a fatal mistake!"

Zhao Yan was puzzled, but humbly said, "Please enlighten me, Your Majesty."

The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes slightly and said meaningfully, "Others care about their reputation, but Qin Yu doesn't! If he cared about his reputation, would he have hidden his talents for so many years, letting everyone in the capital think he was just a spoiled brat who only knew how to eat, drink, gamble, and whore? Do you think he hasn't suffered enough criticism and scorn?"

"this……"

Zhao Yan was speechless.

Yes!

Qin Yu wasn't afraid of the infamy he had borne for so many years, so what about now?

How many of those scholars in the past would have thought much of Qin Yu?

Some people value their reputation, while others value their lives!

A cold glint flashed in the Empress Dowager's eyes. "And Qin Yu is precisely the latter!"

the latter?

Zhao Yan's eyelids twitched suddenly.

Could the Empress Dowager be ordering someone to assassinate Qin Yu?

Does this solve the problem at its root?

This is indeed the most direct method.

But he didn't want to do that!

Qin Yu is the only son of the Qin family.

If the news of his assassination attempt on Qin Yu were to leak out, Qin Laohu wouldn't care whether he was the heir of the Prince of Chengyang or not.

The Empress Dowager didn't explain further, but simply ordered in a deep voice, "Continue to find ways to deepen the conflict between Qin Yu and those scholars, preferably making them irreconcilable enemies, to the point of no return! The rest is up to me!"

"yes!"

Zhao Yan gladly accepted the order, but secretly harbored curiosity.

What is the Empress Dowager trying to do?