Destined

Lu Yong received the invitation and frowned upon seeing the character "Luo" on it.

This was a troublesome figure. No one in the court could discern Fan Xuan's intentions, and now this person was claiming to save his life...

Thinking of Liu Chun's incident earlier that day, Lu Yong hesitated for a moment before having Luo Zishang shown in.

Luo Zishang was dressed in magnificent black robes with gold-embossed patterns, wearing a golden crown, and twirling a small golden fan in his hand—appearing as if he had come in full regalia. Even without prior acquaintance, Lu Yong knew that this was Luo Zishang's usual attire.

He stood up and bowed to Luo Zishang. "Imperial Tutor Luo."

"Minister Lu."

Luo Zishang returned the greeting with a smile. Lu Yong invited him to sit, and after surveying the study, Luo Zishang remarked, "Minister Lu truly embodies noble character and integrity. The simplicity of this study is quite different from the officials I've known in the past."

"What were the officials you knew in the past like?" Lu Yong poured tea for Luo Zishang, who chuckled and replied, "Those I've known, if they had embezzled funds, would at least hang a couple of masterpieces in their homes."

As he spoke, Luo Zishang pointed his fan at a blank spot on the wall and said with a smile, "I think a landscape painting by Elder Zhang would look splendid there. What do you think, Minister Lu?"

Lu Yong remained expressionless at Luo Zishang's words. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and after a long pause, slowly said, "Imperial Tutor Luo, I'm afraid I don't understand what you're implying."

"Minister Lu," Luo Zishang tapped his fan against his palm, his eyes holding a mocking glint, "Liu Chun has already been taken to the Ministry of Justice. Why play dumb with me here?"

Lu Yong remained silent. Leaning back in his chair, Luo Zishang continued leisurely, "There are no walls without cracks. The embezzlement from the treasury in the Ministry of Revenue has long been common practice. Liu Chun has held this position since the previous dynasty—a slippery old eel who knows everything. The more he knows, the more he'll reveal when the time comes."

Noticing Lu Yong's tightly clenched hand around the teacup, Luo Zishang reached out, gently took the cup away, and said soothingly, "Minister Lu, there's no need to be nervous. I'm not here to intimidate you today—I'm here to save you."

"Imperial Tutor Luo, you jest," Lu Yong maintained his composure. "What does Liu Chun's arrest have to do with me?"

"Minister Lu," Luo Zishang narrowed his eyes, "you really won't admit it until you're cornered. Do I need to spell out how you and Liu Chun conspired to embezzle treasury funds? If that's not clear enough, shall I mention how Zhao Gou and others collaborated with you?"

Zhao Gou was merely a guard at the treasury. Hearing even his name mentioned, Lu Yong's face finally changed.

Seeing that Lu Yong had grasped the situation, Luo Zishang smiled. "Minister Lu, can we now speak frankly?"

"What do you want?"

Finally, Lu Yong spoke. Delighted, Luo Zishang said, "That's the right attitude, Minister Lu. I came today to propose an alliance."

"An alliance for what?"

"With Liu Chun imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice, the treasury funds will inevitably be investigated. Have you considered what to do next?"

"How do you know the treasury funds will be investigated?" Lu Yong frowned. Resting his chin on his hand and picking up a sunflower seed, Luo Zishang countered, "Tell me, aside from embezzlement, how else could the wife of a mere warehouse official afford warm jade, wear cloud-silk garments?"Lu Yong remained silent as Luo Zishang tossed a sunflower seed into his mouth and continued, "Someone has to take the blame for this."

"No need for you to worry about that," Lu Yong said calmly. "Imperial Tutor Luo should just focus on his own duties."

"Lord Lu, there's no need to be so distant," Luo Zishang said with a smile. "I understand your thoughts. When the time comes, we can just claim that the warehouse staff embezzled the goods. Sacrificing a few underlings will resolve the matter. But the question is, will you believe that? Will Censor Ye believe it?"

"What does Censor Ye have to do with this?" Lu Yong frowned. Leaning back in his chair, Luo Zishang looked at Lu Yong as if amused by a spectacle. "Censor Ye's nephew is Ye Shi'an. Ye Shi'an and Gu Jiusi are life-and-death friends. Gu Jiusi was the one who finalized the accounts, and Liu Chun was impeached because of a conflict between Gu Jiusi's wife and Liu Chun's wife at a banquet."

Luo Zishang smiled cheerfully. "Lord Lu, why do you think Censor Ye impeached Liu Chun?"

At these words, Lu Yong's expression changed.

If it were just Liu Chun being caught, it would be a simple matter. But if Gu Jiusi was behind this, then sacrificing a few underlings would not suffice to cover it up.

Lu Yong found himself in a dilemma. After a long silence, he finally said, "Since Imperial Tutor Luo is aware of my difficulties, you must have come prepared today. What is your esteemed opinion?"

"Nothing particularly esteemed," Luo Zishang replied with a smile. "Just a suggestion. I am young and inexperienced, so I don’t know if this idea will work."

"Please speak freely, Imperial Tutor Luo."

Lu Yong listened attentively. Luo Zishang took a sip of tea. The room was so quiet that the rustling of bamboo leaves outside could faintly be heard. After finishing his tea and setting down the cup, Luo Zishang spoke again, "We still need someone to take the blame."

Lu Yong said nothing. Luo Zishang glanced at him and suggested in a conversational tone, "What about Gu Jiusi?"

Lu Yong frowned. "Gu Jiusi wasn’t involved in any of this. That might not be appropriate. If Liu Chun and the others are interrogated separately, the truth could easily come out."

"Then don’t interrogate them."

Luo Zishang’s response was decisive. Lu Yong was taken aback and instinctively replied, "If it concerns this case, interrogation is unavoidable."

Hearing this, Luo Zishang looked up at Lu Yong with a hint of helplessness. "Lord Lu, can the living be interrogated? What about the dead?"

Lu Yong’s face paled. Seeing that Lu Yong understood his meaning, Luo Zishang glanced at the sky outside and remarked lightly, "It’s going to rain."

With that, Luo Zishang stood up and said calmly, "Lord Lu, I’ll take my leave now. If there’s anything else, you can send someone to deliver a message to me. For matters that are... inconvenient for you to handle personally," Luo Zishang turned back and looked at Lu Yong, smiling gently, "I am at your service."

"What do you want?" Lu Yong stared at Luo Zishang, his face showing a trace of anger.

Luo Zishang flicked his small fan open and closed. "Lord Lu, I am but a young man trying to make a living in the Eastern Capital. I believe you understand my meaning."

After a moment of silence, Lu Yong grasped Luo Zishang’s implication.

It seemed this young man had now realized that his appointment as Imperial Tutor and his stay in the Eastern Capital were merely Fan Xuan’s expedient measures. And his arrival in the Eastern Capital—wasn’t that his own expedient measure as well?He intended to take root and flourish in the land of the Eastern Capital, and Lu Yong—who had served as Fan Xuan’s strategist since the latter was still a minor official in Wangdu—was his first step.

After a long silence, Lu Yong slowly said, “I understand your meaning, but I don’t quite grasp something.”

“What is it?”

“What grudge do you hold against Gu Jiusi?”

Hearing this, Luo Zishang turned back in surprise. “Grudge?”

He chuckled at the question. “Lord Lu, you intend to kill Liu Chun now—is that a grudge?”

Luo Zishang turned away, opening his fan to cover half his face. “It’s merely a matter of kicking aside a stone blocking the path. If we must speak of grudges,” he mused, “it should be them resenting me. Since they resent me and cannot be my friends, they can only be my enemies.”

Lu Yong fell silent. After a long pause, he responded, “I understand.”

“Do you need my assistance?”

Luo Zishang raised an eyebrow. Lu Yong’s expression remained calm. “I need to see Liu Chun.”

Luo Zishang hummed thoughtfully before saying slowly, “Tonight?”

“The sooner, the better.”

“Very well.” Luo Zishang nodded and made a gesture of invitation. “Then, please.”

Lu Yong was taken aback. Moments later, his expression darkened as he followed Luo Zishang out. Once inside the carriage and noticing two cups of brewed tea, Lu Yong finally spoke. “Did you know I would leave with you tonight?”

Luo Zishang chuckled softly. “Lord Lu, there’s no need to dwell on such matters.” With that, he pushed a teacup toward Lu Yong. “Drink your tea.”

Gu Jiusi woke early in the morning.

He had been unable to sleep all night, preoccupied with thoughts of Liu Chun.

After some consideration, he decided to visit the Ministry of Justice specifically. The next day, he deliberately asked Liu Yu Ru for a pouch of silver.

As Liu Yu Ru packed the money for him and watched him eat, she couldn’t help but smile. “Our Jiusi has grown up and reached the age of using money.”

Gu Jiusi, his mouth full of dumplings, shot her a glare.

After finishing the dumplings, he took the money pouch from Liu Yu Ru and boasted arrogantly, “Your lord is going out to accomplish great deeds today. How can I manage without some silver?”

Liu Yu Ru suppressed a laugh as she watched him hang the pouch at his waist and stride out cheerfully.

After Gu Jiusi left, Yin Hong and Liu Yu Ru cleared the bowls. Yin Hong remarked, “The young master is a grown man, yet he still acts like a child.”

“That’s a good thing,” Liu Yu Ru said with a smile. “I’d be happy if he kept his childlike heart forever.”

As they chatted, Munan rushed in frantically.

“Young Madam,” Munan burst into the room, panicked. “Young Madam, something terrible has happened!”

Liu Yu Ru turned around, frowning. “What’s wrong?”

“Young Madam,” Munan panted heavily, “Officials from the Ministry of Justice—officials from the Ministry of Justice are at the gate! They’ve taken the young master away!”