Destined

Liu Yu Ru remained silent.

Lu Yong had been following Fan Xuan since he was just a county magistrate, serving him faithfully for over a decade. Even disregarding Lu Yong's own outstanding abilities, just based on this longstanding relationship, unless things reached an extreme point, Fan Xuan might turn a blind eye to Lu Yong's actions.

Liu Yu Ru understood Gu Jiusi's meaning. After pondering for a moment, she responded: "If His Majesty intends to protect him, what should I do?"

"If His Majesty intends to protect him, then we can't approach this with the mindset of investigating the case," Gu Jiusi said decisively. "What you need to do is first find someone to take the blame for this case - make big matters small and small matters nothing, but it still needs to be handled. Secondly, you need to negotiate with Lu Yong, find a bargaining chip, and figure out a way to make Lu Yong abandon the idea of diverting the trouble to me."

Gu Jiusi fell silent for a moment, then continued after some thought: "Or make the person behind Lu Yong abandon this idea."

"The person behind Lu Yong?" Liu Yu Ru frowned. "There's someone behind Lu Yong?"

Gu Jiusi nodded, thinking as he spoke: "Now that Liu Chun has just been imprisoned, he was directly killed and then framed on me. Such clean killing methods don't seem like Lu Yong's style. Based on Lu Yong's character, he would first try every means to get Liu Chun out. Nothing has been clearly investigated yet, so his decisiveness in killing makes me feel this must be a major case."

"Lu Yong shouldn't be this foolish. I'd rather believe that he panicked and was manipulated by someone."

After saying this, Gu Jiusi thought for another moment before adding: "But these are just my speculations. You'll need to observe and listen more yourself."

"I understand," Liu Yu Ru nodded.

Gu Jiusi held her hand and recounted all his entanglements with Lu Yong and Liu Chun. Just as he finished speaking, a jailer came in and said apologetically: "Madam Gu, time's up. You can't stay any longer."

Liu Yu Ru nodded and said to the jailer: "Brother, don't worry. Let me say goodbye and I'll leave right away."

"Please hurry," the jailer said understandingly before turning to leave.

After he left, Liu Yu Ru turned to look at Gu Jiusi. She pressed her lips together and finally said: "I'm leaving."

Gu Jiusi lowered his eyes, hiding the reluctance in them, and murmured: "Mm."

Seeing his expression, Liu Yu Ru gritted her teeth and stood up, forcing herself not to look back. She turned to leave. After taking just a few steps, Gu Jiusi suddenly called out: "Yu Ru."

Liu Yu Ru quickly turned back to look at him. Gu Jiusi leaned forward, his hands gripping the wooden bars, and said seriously: "I have something to tell you."

Seeing his serious expression, Liu Yu Ru immediately turned around and crouched down, saying earnestly: "Go ahead, I'm listening."

Looking at her solemn expression, Gu Jiusi didn't speak. Instead, he took Liu Yu Ru's hand, held it in both of his, and solemnly lowered his head to kiss it.

Liu Yu Ru was taken aback, then heard Gu Jiusi say: "I wanted to kiss you, but I can't reach more than this, so consider this a down payment. I'll make up the full payment later."

"Stop fooling around," Liu Yu Ru said slowly as she came to her senses, her face reddening as she looked at the man holding her hand. "You always focus your mind on these things, never saying anything reliable."Gu Jiusi half-crouched before her, looking up with a smile. "How is missing you unreliable?"

"Don't talk nonsense."

Liu Yu Ru reached out to poke his forehead. Gu Jiusi chuckled and accepted it. Only then did she withdraw her hand, remaining still as she gazed at him. After a long while, she whispered, "Then I'm really leaving."

This time Gu Jiusi didn't stop her, saying gently, "Go ahead."

Liu Yu Ru left the prison and entered her carriage.

She wasn't certain how much truth there was in Gu Jiusi's words, but she tended to believe his speculation was correct. Compared to Lu Yong committing the crime voluntarily, it was more likely he had been used and directed by someone else.

But if it was Lu Yong, then who could be behind him? Lu Yong was already the Minister of Revenue - higher in rank than him. The one who could command him probably wouldn't be Zhou Gaolang.

Liu Yu Ru turned the possibilities over in her mind, and the name gradually pointed to one person. She pondered all the way and came up with a list that included the Empress Dowager, the Princess, even Zhou Gaolang. But at the end of the list was someone others might find hard to understand: Luo Zishang.

Though there was no direct evidence, if Gu Jiusi fell from power, this was likely one person who would rejoice.

This man had manipulated the events in Yangzhou back then. Anyone from Yangzhou probably had some grievance with Luo Zishang, especially people like Ye Shi'an - there would never be any room for reconciliation in this lifetime.

Though she didn't know why he would target Gu Jiusi first, when it came to someone who could persuade Lu Yong and hope for Gu Jiusi's downfall, Luo Zishang was probably the prime suspect.

With a target in mind, Liu Yu Ru sent people to keep watch while she hurried to Zhou Ye's residence.

Zhou Ye was preparing to return to Wangdu. He had been specially permitted to stay in the Eastern Capital for several months, but his transfer orders were for Youzhou - there was no way he could remain regardless.

When Liu Yu Ru arrived, Zhou Ye didn't stand on ceremony and asked directly, "Did Jiusi have anything to say?"

"Yes," Liu Yu Ru said decisively. "Brother Zhou, we're counting on you to find out His Majesty's intentions."