The Prodigal Son

Di Rong and his men thoroughly searched the area that had been burned by the fire, but they found nothing of value.

Although the result was normal, Qin Yu was still slightly disappointed.

Before he arrived, he felt there was a 50% chance that Madam Sun had been murdered.

Now, he feels there is an 80% or higher chance that he was murdered!

The problem is that this case has been going on for many days, and a lot of crucial evidence may have been destroyed.

Based on this symbol, he could only conclude that Madam Sun was murdered.

But without crucial evidence, he didn't know where to begin in his search for the real culprit!

As Qin Yu was pondering, Lü Si, still wearing the golden armor of the Imperial Guard, came over excitedly.

"Do you need my help?"

Lu Si stared at Qin Yuwen with a grin.

"help me?"

Qin Yu raised his eyes, staring at Lü Si with interest. "Are you starting to doubt the historians again? Or have you noticed something wrong?"

No way?

I haven't even had a chance to tell him about my discovery yet!

He saw the problem without even understanding the situation?

Is the son of the Minister of Justice really that terrifying?

"The historian's account is definitely questionable!"

Lu Si remained convinced of his judgment. "However, I have something else to tell you."

"What is it?"

Qin Yu asked curiously.

Lü Si leaned closer and asked mysteriously, "Do you know who Fu Mingzhu is?"

Qin Yu smiled faintly: "The Prefect of Fangzhou is temporarily acting as the Governor of Fangzhou, isn't that something everyone knows?"

"I……"

Lu Si's face stiffened slightly, and he didn't bother to play mysterious with Qin Yu anymore. "Fu Mingzhu is my father's student. I even met him the year before last!"

"what?"

Qin Yu was surprised.

He really didn't know that!

"I told you long ago, my father has quite a few students in the Liangjiang region!"

Lu Si glanced smugly at Qin Yu, "I can help you win over Fu Mingzhu and make him work diligently for you!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Yu suddenly realized what was going on.

No wonder this bastard said he would help me!

So that's how they help us!

Qin Yu pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Alright, I'll accept your favor, Young Master Lü! However, whether he's qualified to do things for me depends on the severity of his offense!"

As the Prefect of Fangzhou, Fu Mingzhu certainly has a better understanding of the situation here, and he also possesses his own power.

If we could win over Fu Mingzhu, things would definitely be much easier and more efficient.

After walking around for a while, he couldn't be bothered to ask the officials if they had done anything shady.

As Zheng Tingchao said, how many officials have absolutely clean hands?

He couldn't possibly execute all the officials in those places.

As long as Fu Mingzhu doesn't commit any serious crimes, let's keep using him for now!

After exchanging a few words with Lü Si, Qin Yu immediately ordered someone to summon Fu Mingzhu.

Soon, Fu Mingzhu rushed over.

At this moment, Fu Mingzhu was also extremely flustered.

He had only been gone a short while when Qin Yu summoned him again, and no one knew what he wanted to do.

Even if you have nothing to hide, you'll panic when faced with someone who doesn't reason with you at all!

"Lord Qin, what brings you here...?"

Fu Mingzhu jogged forward, but he suddenly froze halfway through his sentence, staring intently at Lü Si.

Previously, Lü Si had blended in with the Golden Armored Imperial Guards, and Fu Mingzhu had not noticed him at all.

The moment he sat down next to Qin Yu, Fu Mingzhu immediately recognized him.

Fu Mingzhu was taken aback. He rubbed his eyes hard to make sure he hadn't mistaken the person for someone else before tentatively asking, "Young Master Lü...?"

"I'm not a ghost, why are you so surprised?" Lu Si was slightly speechless.

"No, no!"

Fu Mingzhu waved his hands repeatedly, "This humble official truly did not expect to see Young Master Lü here! Young Master Lü, aren't you and Lord Qin... how come you are again..."

Fu Mingzhu was pleasantly surprised, but also somewhat bewildered.

He knew very well that Lü Si and Qin Yu were not on good terms.

Now, these two are actually sitting together?

This feels a little unreal.

"That happened so many years ago!"

Lu Si coughed twice and waved his hand, saying, "Stop with the nonsense! I called you here to ask you if you've done anything shameful!"

"If you've done it, confess now. As long as it's not something heinous, Lord Qin won't make things difficult for you out of respect for me!"

"But if you don't tell the truth and it gets out, don't say I didn't plead for you!"

Lü Si followed suit, imitating the methods of Qin Yuzha and other corrupt officials.

Qin Yu's lips curled slightly.

I have to say, this guy actually does a pretty good job of imitating it!

Hearing Lü Si's words, Fu Mingzhu was delighted, but dared not speak easily, and instead cast a questioning glance at Qin Yu.

He knew in his heart that the decision-making power in this matter still lay with Qin Yu.

"His words are my words!"

Qin Yu reassured Fu Mingzhu.

"Thank you, sir, I understand!"

With Qin Yu's words, Fu Mingzhu finally felt relieved and stopped hiding anything, honestly confessing his own affairs.

Embezzlement!

Unsurprisingly, Fu Mingzhu's backside wasn't clean either.

Two years ago, he was transferred to Fangzhou and appointed as the chief secretary.

As of now, he has approximately eight thousand taels of silver...

"Only eight thousand taels?"

Qin Yu frowned slightly, clearly disbelieving.

Eight thousand taels is indeed a lot.

The Chief Administrator of a prefecture is an official second only to the Prefect and the Assistant Prefect.

For a chief clerk, it's unthinkable that he could embezzle only eight thousand taels of silver in two years.

"Lord Qin, everything I have said is true! There is absolutely no deception!"

Fu Mingzhu quickly explained, "Young Master Lü knows, I come from the Ministry of Justice!"

"Yes! He did indeed come from the Ministry of Justice!"

Lü Si testified on his behalf: "My father sent him to Fangzhou as the Chief Clerk in the hope that he could obtain evidence of Sun Min's illegal and disorderly conduct, thereby bringing down Sun Min, replacing him as the Governor of Fangzhou, and strengthening the Empress Dowager's power..."

Upon hearing Lü Si's words, Sun Min's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly tried to wink at him.

Ancestors!

Can't you think before you speak?

Is this something that can be talked about outsiders?

"What's there to be afraid of!"

Lu Si scoffed, "The Empress Dowager and His Majesty are on very good terms now. Even my father is His Majesty's man. Why should you hide it from me?"

"..."

Fu Mingzhu's face stiffened slightly. After a couple of dry laughs, he continued speaking.

Sun Min wasn't stupid; he guessed the purpose of his trip to Fangzhou.

Therefore, at the beginning, Sun Min was wary of him at all times and even colluded with other officials in Fangzhou to ostracize him and try to drive him out of Fangzhou.

Sun Min even considered framing him, but because he came from the Ministry of Justice, he was more vigilant and Sun Min failed.

Until August of last year, when Lü Chunqiu was granted a marquisate, Sun Min realized that he couldn't get rid of him, so he changed his strategy and began to win him over.

So Sun Min instructed the merchants to take him out for food, drink, entertainment, and nightly revelry.

He initially refused as well.

But then he thought again and realized he could take the opportunity to collect evidence of corruption by Sun Min and others, so he went.

But once they went, things went wrong!

Those days were...so wonderful!

The women on the pleasure boats in Pingjiang were all bewitching enchantresses.

The designs were incredibly diverse and captivating, making it impossible not to fall for them.

High mountains and flowing water, winding paths leading to secluded spots, two phoenixes playing with a pearl, buds about to bloom, jade cups swaying horizontally...

Fu Mingzhu became more and more excited as he spoke, completely losing himself in the conversation.

"Cough cough..."

Qin Yu coughed twice and raised his hand to stop Fu Mingzhu, "There's no need to go into details about this."

"Yes, yes!"

Fu Mingzhu was extremely embarrassed and continued, "I was gradually corrupted by them and forgot my original intentions! It wasn't until last November, when Sun Min was certain that I had been won over, that he gradually allowed me to participate in some things..."