The Prodigal Son

The Imperial Study.

Zhao Luan was reviewing memorials when Yun Ying rushed in to report.

"What?"

Zhao Luan suddenly raised her head, froze, gripped the brush in her hand, and looked at Yun Ying in disbelief.

Shangguan Youyi, standing beside her, also looked astonished, her pretty face twitching uncontrollably.

Yun Ying bit her lip and said, "Now those ministers who were forcibly lent money by Qin Yu have gone to the Qin family with Qin Yu. I suspect that the debt agreement between Qin Yu and the Luo family is genuine..."

Zhao Luan and Shangguan Youyi's minds went blank for a brief moment.

They did not doubt Yunying's guess.

Qin Yu dared to summon so many ministers to the Qin family, so he must have made some preparations!

Zhao Luan carefully recalled the whole incident, and a hint of amusement gradually appeared in her eyes.

By imperial decree, I am to borrow silver!

Sign a debt agreement with the Luo family!

All of these things combined form a meticulously planned scheme!

Not only would it prevent her from imprisoning Qin Yu, but it would also allow her to use the ministers to destroy the Luo family and thus take revenge on them.

They even wanted to use the court officials to help Qin Yu's restaurant boost its business!

Aside from being jilted by the Luo family, the Qin family got all the good things!

Do not!

The Luo family's annulment of the engagement is also a good thing for the Qin family!

She knew perfectly well that Qin Fumeng looked down on Luo Qingyuan and the Luo family!

Amazing!

He used the loan issue to scheme against himself and his ministers!

Zhao Luan pondered for a moment, then slowly placed the brush on the brush rest and looked up at Shangguan Youyi, asking, "Do you think this method was devised by Qin Laohu or Qin Yu?"

Shangguan Youyi snapped out of her thoughts and replied with a smile, "Although the Duke of Wei is domineering, he shouldn't be that cunning. This shouldn't be something the Duke of Wei came up with."

"So that's Qin Yu's idea?"

The look of amusement in Zhao Luan's eyes deepened.

"That's hard to say."

Shangguan Youyi shook her head slightly, "Perhaps a master has given the Qin family some guidance."

Master?

Zhao Luan narrowed her eyes slightly.

It must be said that the Qin family played this move brilliantly.

If the Qin family directly attacks the Luo family, there might still be someone in the court to protect the Luo family.

Now that the Qin family has directly put the Luo family on the opposite side of the court officials, who will still protect the Luo family?

To protect the Luo family, one must offend dozens of ministers in the court!

Zhao Luan lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then instructed Yun Ying: "Send someone to keep an eye on this matter and report back to me at any time!"

"yes!"

Yun Ying immediately accepted the order and left.

Shangguan Youyi remained silent for a moment, then said, "The Luo family is, after all, a royal merchant family with a wide range of businesses. If the Luo family falls, it may affect the court's trade with neighboring countries. Should Your Majesty protect the Luo family?"

"It's alright!"

Zhao Luan said calmly, "One whale falls, and all things come to life! I'd like to see how this matter will ultimately develop."

"Too."

Shangguan Youyi smiled and said no more.

Zhao Luan picked up his brush again and instructed, "I will be thanking the envoys from various countries tonight. Tell the Imperial Household Department to make the arrangements."

"yes!"

Shangguan Youyi bowed and withdrew.

After finishing reviewing the unfinished memorial, Zhao Luan put down his pen and began to ponder quietly.

As she pondered, Zhao Luan's gaze fell once again on the map hanging in the Imperial Study.

The Yan state's objective is now clear!

But what exactly is the purpose of Bei Qi sending envoys this time?

Tonight is both a thank-you banquet and a farewell banquet!

If Bei Qi doesn't show its true colors now, it will miss its chance!

……

Yuehualou is one of the more famous high-end restaurants in the capital.

At noon, Luo Qingyuan rushed to Yuehua Tower.

She went to the Lü family early in the morning to look for Lü Si, but she didn't even see a trace of him.

The servants of the Lü family also said they didn't know where Lü Si had gone.

After making several inquiries, she finally learned that Lü Si was at Yuehua Tower.

When she arrived, Lü Si was drinking with a few cronies at Yuehua Tower.

Upon seeing Luo Qingyuan ascend to the second floor, Lü Si's expression changed, and he quickly told his friends, "I suddenly have something to attend to, I'll be leaving now!"

Before anyone could speak, Lü Si hurriedly left his seat and ran away.

He could guess perfectly well why Luo Qingyuan had come to see him.

However, Lü Si was still too slow.

"Lu Si!"

Luo Qingyuan shouted and rushed forward in a panic to stop Lü Si, who was about to run away.

Seeing that he couldn't escape, Lü Si looked at Luo Qingyuan in surprise, "Qingyuan? What are you doing here?"

"I've been looking for you everywhere!"

Luo Qingyuan panicked and lost her composure. Ignoring the strange looks from the other diners, she rushed forward and grabbed Lü Si, sobbing, "You have to help us think of a way, or my Luo family is finished this time..."

Seeing that the diners were all looking over, Lü Si quickly stopped Luo Qingyuan, "Let's talk outside!"

After saying that, Lü Si quickly walked out.

Luo Qingyuan dared not delay and quickly followed.

Soon, the two arrived at the alley behind the restaurant.

"Qin Yu isn't dead now, what should we do?"

Luo Qingyuan's eyes turned red with anxiety, and tears welled up in them.

She had already roughly calculated that if Qin Yu lived for another eight or nine days, the Luo family would go bankrupt.

It's impossible to pay back, there's no way to pay back!

Even after selling off all of the Luo family's assets, they still couldn't repay the money they owed Qin Yu.

"Hmm... don't panic!"

Lu Si tried his best to remain calm and said with a smile, "It's no big deal!"

"Isn't this a big deal?"

Luo Qingyuan suddenly raised her voice, her heart filled with grief and indignation, and she really wanted to slap Lü Si across the face.

So, he doesn't want the money?

Isn't it his fault that things have turned out this way?

"It's nothing serious!"

Lu Si waved his hand with an air of authority, "You don't know yet, do you? The night before last, Qin Yu falsely claimed to have received an imperial decree and borrowed a lot of silver from the homes of those ministers in court. His Majesty and those ministers will definitely not let him off the hook!"

"What?"

Luo Qingyuan was stunned.

She genuinely didn't know about it.

Has Qin Yu gone mad?

How could someone do something so stupid?

Could it be that Lü Si is lying to me?

"That's why I told you not to panic!"

Lu Si feigned composure, "Do you think that just because Qin Yu managed to hold a birthday banquet for the Empress Dowager through opportunism, my elder sister will let him off the hook?"

"I know my elder sister's temper very well. Qin Yu offended her so much, she definitely wants to kill him!"

"And Qin Yu's false claim of receiving an imperial decree has conveniently provided her with an excuse to launch an attack!"

"Furthermore, the Empress Dowager is also very dissatisfied with Qin Yu, and she will secretly exert pressure on him!"

"Don't worry, Qin Yu won't live for more than a few days!"

As Lü Si spoke, he appeared quite confident.

Of course he knew that Qin Yu had made such a great contribution, and that the matter of the silver was not something that could possibly cost Qin Yu his life.

At worst, the good and bad deeds will cancel each other out!

But now we need to keep Luo Qingyuan calm and find an opportunity to escape.

"Really?"

Luo Qingyuan frowned, seemingly disbelieving. "You're not lying to me, are you?"

What good would it do me to lie to you?

Lu Si looked displeased. "News about this should be out soon. Let your brother find out for himself!"

With that, Lü Si left with a displeased expression.

Seeing this, Luo Qingyuan quickly grabbed Lü Si, "I believe you! I only did this because I saw you run away as soon as you saw me..."

"What do you mean by running away when I see you? What's there for me to run from?"

Lu Si scoffed, "I suddenly remembered that my elder sister is hosting a banquet tonight to thank the envoys from various countries. My father wants me to go with him, so I need to go back and prepare! Alright, I'm not talking to you anymore, I have to hurry back!"

After saying that, Lü Si immediately made his escape.

Okay, I can't associate with Luo Qingyuan anymore!

The Qin family will definitely not let the Luo family off the hook!

Don't get yourself involved...