Chapter 219 3/3

As expected, this man was indeed a fraud. But it was precisely because he was a fraud that he was even more useful!

Lü Qingxi looked at Lu Mingshan with a smile and said, “Taoist Lu, please rise! I have no ill intentions toward you. I simply need your assistance.”

Lu Mingshan stood up, bowing repeatedly. “Your Grace, please give your orders.”

Lü Qingxi said, “No rush, first go and change your clothes.”

From the moment he first saw Lu Mingshan, Lü Qingxi knew he was the perfect person to deceive the emperor into believing that he had a lost son out there.

Lu Mingshan’s appearance was exceptionally convincing!

However, before letting him meet the emperor, it was necessary to build up his reputation.

And how to build it…

Lü Qingxi was privy to the private lives of many officials in the capital.

He shared this information with Lu Mingshan, instructing him to “accidentally” encounter these officials and give them some advice. This would naturally make the people in the capital believe that Lu Mingshan had real skills!

As for who to start with… the Minister of Revenue who favored his concubine over his wife—the son born of that concubine was not his own.

Lü Qingxi had many informants in the capital who had uncovered countless pieces of information.

It would be effortless for him to elevate Lu Mingshan to a revered status, making everyone believe that Lu Mingshan was a true sage with incredible foresight!

While pondering this, Lu Mingshan returned.

Dressed in a new robe, Lu Mingshan looked even more like an immortal.

Lü Qingxi had Lu Mingshan sit before him and ordered tea to be served.

Lu Mingshan showed no signs of panic, maintaining a composed demeanor as if being brought to Lü Qingxi was a trivial matter.

Lü Qingxi was extremely satisfied with his demeanor. “Taoist Lu, let me guess, was the incident at the plum appreciation gathering orchestrated by Li Zhao’s friends and family?”

Lu Mingshan looked conflicted and said, “Your Grace, I truly know nothing about the plum appreciation gathering! I had just heard that Fan Weiyan was extremely unlucky and wanted to swindle some silver from him. But then, somehow, I suddenly forgot everything and remembered nothing…”

Lü Qingxi didn’t believe Lu Mingshan and thought he was just unwilling to talk.

He didn’t mind as long as Lu Mingshan could help him achieve his goal.

As for later… the matter of impersonating a royal prince was grave, and any slight mistake could cost him and Concubine Liu their lives for forging royal bloodlines. When the time came, Lu Mingshan would have to die!

But he would burn more paper money for Lu Mingshan.

Lü Qingxi said, “If you don’t want to talk, then don’t. But from today on, this guard will be your student. Listen to him and do whatever he tells you.”

He pointed to a young guard beside him.

Lu Mingshan agreed immediately but added, “It’s not that I don’t want to talk, but I truly don’t know.”

Lü Qingxi, of course, didn’t believe him.

He then disclosed the Minister of Revenue’s scandal to Lu Mingshan and instructed him on how to leverage this to build his reputation.

After handling this, Lü Qingxi inquired about other recent events.

He learned that the Duke of Yan had opened two new shops, both of which were booming… Lü Qingxi was furious. “While the young master is severely injured, the Duke still has the mind to open shops.”

He was determined to ruin these shops!

He loathed the Duke of Yan.

As for the business…

Lü Qingxi summoned Li Zhu to discuss it.

Li Zhu immediately said, “Your Grace, it’s not difficult to deal with this.”

“What do you suggest?”

“Your Grace, you know about Jin Ye Embroidery House? The madam has always liked their products. The shopkeeper of Jin Ye Embroidery House is in the capital now, bringing some jewelry and cosmetics…”

Lü Qingxi knew that Shopkeeper Mu, had expanded his business greatly thanks to Jin Ye Embroidery House.

But he didn’t know that the shopkeeper was in the capital.

Wait, Jin Ye Embroidery House… Lü Qingxi suddenly remembered that he had sent someone to investigate Li Qingzhi and learned quite a bit about him from scholars and boatmen traveling to the capital.

It seemed Jin Ye Embroidery House was run by Li Qingzhi’s wife?

Why did it seem like Li Qingzhi was involved in everything recently?

Such a coincidence!

Li Zhu explained her plan to open a shop with Jin Xiaoye and promised to divert business away from the Duke of Yan’s shops.

Lü Qingxi was pleased and said, “Bring some of the best jewelry you plan to sell, the most precious ones, so I can gift them to the madam.”

Initially, Jin Ye Embroidery House products became popular in the capital after Concubine Liu used them.

The current jewelry could follow the same strategy.

Concubine Liu had frequently mentioned Li Qingzhi and his wife recently and would surely be willing to help.

Knowing that competing with the Duke of Yan’s shops would require money, Lü Qingxi added, “Take more silver from the account for opening the shop. Place it right across or next to the Duke of Yan’s shops. Whether it makes a profit doesn’t matter; just make sure he doesn’t earn anything!”

“Rest assured, Your Grace!” Li Zhu said quickly.

She not only intended to make the Duke of Yan unprofitable but also planned to make him lose money.

Now, the Duke of Yan was the person she despised the most!

Given Lü Qingxi’s support, all the shop’s profits could go to Jin Xiaoye!