At this time, the Fourth Prince also frowned and looked at Qin Fēi steadily: “Mother, does the assassination of my second sister-in-law have anything to do with you?”

No matter how angry and hateful Su Fēi was to Lu Mingyu, she could not plot to assassinate Lu Mingyu outside the palace.

From this point of view, the person with the greatest suspicion was naturally Meng Guifei. Marquis Guangping had a large number of troops and many family generals. The Eldest Prince had built a palace for four years, so it was very convenient for him to do some small things in private.

The Eldest Prince’s Su ^[1]children not born to the main wife son was about to be born, and the Second Prince’s mansion was about to have a Di son. Out of jealousy, Meng Guifei and the Eldest Prince had the motive to take action.

Qin Fēi, however, failed in her plot against Lu Mingyu and ended up being stripped of her title of xiánfēi and confined to the palace. How could she not bear a grudge?

Qin Fēi herself didn’t have this ability, but Empress Dowager Zhao did! The Zhao family outside the palace did!

Therefore, what the Fourth Prince was most worried about was that Qin Fēi secretly instigated Empress Dowager Zhao and the Zhao family took action against Lu Mingyu.

Qin Fēi glanced at her son and said, “Of course, it has nothing to do with me. During this period, I went to Shouning Palace every day to accompany your grandmother. I didn’t even see any outsiders. Lu Mingyu’s assassination had nothing to do with me.”

The Fourth Prince was half-believing and half-doubting and lowered his voice: “Mother, this matter is grave. Royal Mother and my second brother have gone to Wenhua Palace, and King Xingyang has also entered the palace.”

“I heard that the Emperor is furious and has summoned the Minister of Justice to the palace. It seems that he wants to investigate this matter thoroughly.”

Qin Fēi curled her lips, and a hint of bitterness floated in her tone: “Lu Mingyu has a good father. If it were just the Empress and the Second Prince, your father might not be willing to hurt her. King Xingyang has made a scene before the Emperor, even if your father is reluctant, he will be ruthless this time!”

The deep meaning in the words made the Fourth Prince secretly frightened: “Mother means that the person who did it is…”

“There are only so many people in the palace. If you think about it carefully, you will have the answer.”

Qin Fēi was cautious by nature, and even when mother and son were talking in private, she was unwilling to make her words too clear: “Anyway, this matter has nothing to do with your grandmother.”

“Your royal grandmother hates Lu, her granddaughter-in-law. However, Lu is carrying the royal bloodline. How could your royal grandmother bear to do that?”

The Fourth Prince understood, and his eyes became complicated. He was silent for a moment before whispering, “I don’t know if it was the Meng family or my eldest brother who did it.”

Qin Fēi did not comment: “No matter who did it, it has nothing to do with us mother and son. Don’t rush forward, lest you make your father suspicious and unhappy.”

When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits.

The more violent the fight between the First Prince and the Second Prince, the better. It would be best if both sides were hurt!

Qin Fēi thought about it in her heart and whispered to the Fourth Prince: “You should behave yourself during this period and stop hanging around in front of your father. We will talk about it after the whole matter is investigated and the truth is revealed.”

The Fourth Prince nodded.

…

After leaving the palace, Lu Lin and Li Jing, the father-in-law and son-in-law, rode back to the Lu Mansion together.

The cool breeze could not dispel the hot anger in their heart.

The father-in-law and son-in-law had no time to talk along the way. Only after they stepped into the Lu Mansion did they have time to whisper a few words.

“Father-in-law, I’m sorry.” Li Jing’s voice was a little obscure: “I was careless and negligent. I didn’t expect someone to be so bold as to stab Xiaoyu in the street. Fortunately, Xiaoyu is fine, otherwise, how can I face my father-in-law!”

Lu Lin did not blame his son-in-law. He patted Li Jing on the shoulder and said, “Husband and wife are one. Xiaoyu married you and enjoyed the wealth and honor of the Second Huangzifei, but she must bear all the dangers that come with it.”

“It’s not your fault. You don’t have to blame yourself.”

The father-in-law was so understanding that Li Jing, as a son-in-law, was so moved and touched that he almost shed a few tears.

“The Emperor has promised to conduct a thorough investigation of this matter, to give Xiaoyu justice and an explanation to the Lu family.” Lu Lin’s anger condensed into frost in his eyes: “However, we have to keep a close eye on it. In case someone tries to make a scapegoat out of this.”

Li Jing took a deep breath and said, “Don’t worry, father-in-law. Since this matter has fallen to the Ministry of Justice, I will go there myself to keep an eye on it.”

Lu Lin nodded slightly, and his gaze toward Li Jing softened a bit: “Don’t let this matter alienate you from the Emperor. You are father and son. The Emperor loves the Eldest Prince, and he also loves you, his legitimate son.”

Precisely because the palms and backs of the hands were made of flesh, Emperor Yongjia was hesitant tonight.

Li Jing’s expression darkened, and he whispered, “I understand what my father-in-law meant.”

The father and son of the royal family were different from ordinary fathers and sons. They had blood ties but were also different as they were monarchs and subjects. He must not show his dissatisfaction with his father’s partiality.

In short, since you didn’t have the strength to overturn the table yet, you had to be patient.

Lu Lin nodded slightly with relief: “I’m glad you understand.” He paused and said, “Xiaoyu was frightened today. I’ll go see her first.”

Li Jing agreed: “I will go with my father-in-law.”

As he spoke, he had already stepped into the yard.

…

It was already dark by then.

Lu Mingfang and others gathered in the yard, and everyone unanimously asked Lu Mingyu to lie on the bed. After Lu Lin came in, the siblings tactfully left first, leaving the father and daughter to talk alone.

“Dad,” Lu Mingyu sat up from the bed: “What happened when you entered the palace?”

Under the bright candlelight, Lu Mingyu’s beautiful and heroic face looked a little pale. She nearly had a miscarriage today, and it would take some time for her to recover.

Seeing his daughter like this, Lu Lin felt so distressed. He reached out and touched Lu Mingyu’s hair, and whispered to her about his trip to the palace: “…The Emperor is indeed too partial.”

“When I went there, His Highness and the Empress were both kneeling, and the Emperor was hesitant. It was obvious that the Emperor knew who was capable of doing such a thing.”

“I took a step back to advance, and the Emperor finally made up his mind to investigate the matter thoroughly. Your Highness is really unlucky to have such a father who favors his Su Eldest son.”

The eldest legitimate son of a family was always pampered and grew up to be the heir to the family business.

But when it comes to Li Jing, he had been suppressed by his illegitimate elder brother since he was a child. Now that he was a prince, legitimate children certainly had a great advantage. But in the royal family, the difference between legitimate and illegitimate children was not as obvious as in ordinary families. After all, illegitimate children were also princes.

Throughout the previous dynasties, it was not uncommon for a concubine’s son to become the crown prince.

It would be strange if the Eldest Prince, who was so favored, had no desire to compete for the throne.

Lu Mingyu had also thought about this matter over and over again, and whispered, “My father and I have similar ideas. Su Fēi can’t do this, and Qin Fēi has just been released, so she dare not do anything for the time being. Even if the Empress Dowager is angry, she has to consider that I am pregnant. The only ones who have the motive and ability to set up this assassination are the Eldest Prince’s faction.”

“I don’t know who is the one who did it.”

Was it the Meng family or the Eldest Prince?

The Eldest Huangzifei and the Liang family were also suspects!

Lu Lin sneered murderously: “No matter who it is, he is dead!”

(End of this chapter)