CHAPTER 74: CHAPTER 73: STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

Duke Yan’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as he glanced at Cao Tianbao, likely knowing his temperament and realizing that at this point, he could no longer be persuaded. He had to stop speaking and look at Lu Zhang beside him, shaking his head slightly.

Lu Zhang, noticing his grandfather’s signal, stood quietly next to him without making a sound.

"Great General, hold on!" Seeing Cao Tianbao had already given the order, Lu Ze hurriedly waved his hand, "No, you can’t!

This person’s intent today is obvious; he insists that you, Great General, are shielding your nephew, disregarding the law.

Now, if your men go to the river to locate the boatman who recognizes the person in the portrait, whether they find him or not, as long as the boatman denies seeing your nephew Cao Chenfeng, won’t this person insist that you sent someone to threaten and bribe the boatman to lie?

In my opinion, this matter should be left to unconnected outsiders to handle, to avoid any misunderstandings later!"

As he spoke, he waved a hand at Lord Wu, the Capital Governor, "You can’t either. That person just accused your Jingzhao Mansion of deliberately shielding the criminal and refusing to pursue the perpetrator!"

With these words, the Capital Governor, who just thought Lu Ze’s suggestion made sense and was about to speak, closed his mouth again.

Cao Tianbao frowned, feeling that although Lu Ze was young, his words made sense. However, if his men couldn’t go, and the Jingzhao Mansion was also unfit, then who should be sent was indeed a problem.

"Why not let my men go!" At a time like this, while everyone was busy avoiding suspicion, Lu Ze seemed to have no such concerns. "Boss Zhuang, let my men help you find the boatman by the river. Surely you wouldn’t claim that even Da Jin’s Prince is bending the rules to protect the Great General’s nephew?"

"This..." Zhuang Zhi was slightly stunned, finally seeing the situation turning around, afraid to voice any doubts. Regaining his composure, he hurriedly bowed his head, "Thank you, noble one, for your assistance! Thank you!"

"Alright then, you two go! Move quickly, don’t keep everyone waiting here!" Lu Ze saw Zhuang Zhi no longer insist and breathed a sigh of relief, gesturing to the two attendants he brought with him.

At this moment, everyone present noticed that Prince Shu had come to celebrate with only two attendants, the kind who served very close at hand, looking like they were merely fourteen or fifteen years old, skinny as bean sprouts.

The two attendants were dumbfounded. Usually, they accompanied Lu Ze, helping with ink grinding, washing brushes, organizing books, and they had never been sent out for such errands!

"Prince Shu, the riverbank stretches for miles, and it’s hard to say where the boatmen are resting or waiting without a fixed place. Your two attendants... might be insufficient." The Capital Governor awkwardly reminded Lu Ze.

"Ah, I see, I hadn’t considered that!" Lu Ze was also surprised, turning to ask Lu Qing beside him, "Elder brother, did you bring many people?"

Lu Qing shifted slightly, letting him see Zhu Yu standing behind him, "Although my Chief Historian is not very robust, he seems sturdier than those two attendants. If you need him, I can lend him to you."

Lu Ze waved his hand quickly, "Forget it, they’re all about the same, none look useful!"

He turned his eyes towards Lu Chao, but Lu Chao always wore an indifferent expression, devoid of any emotion or warmth. Lu Ze seemed to genuinely fear his elder brother, not daring to speak to him and directly asked Lu Zhang instead, "Second brother, how many people did you bring today? Are there enough to lend?"

Lu Zhang, originally instructed by Duke Yan, stood silently by, like a statue, was suddenly put on the spot by Lu Ze’s question and couldn’t stay silent anymore.

Upon arriving, he came with quite a display, accompanied by Duke Yan, with a large entourage.

Others came to the banquet, needing to consider who to bring appropriately, but Lu Zhang didn’t need to think about it at all.

Everyone knew that General Cao and Duke Yan were closely allied, breathing from the same nostril, so however many people Prince Yi brought, there was no fear from Cao Tianbao.

Coming with grandeur, everyone saw it, and now when Lu Ze asked, Lu Zhang couldn’t say he didn’t bring any people.

Quickly glancing at Duke Yan with a composed smile, he nodded, "I brought quite a few attendants today, I’ll have them help look for the boatman."

Upon hearing these words, Lu Qing raised his eyes to look at Duke Yan beside Lu Zhang, noticing Duke Yan’s increasingly grim expression but unable to speak due to the public occasion, looking at Lu Ze with displeasure.

Lu Ze remained unaware, cheerfully clapping his hands, "That’s settled! Boss Zhuang, don’t stir trouble anymore. No matter what, today is the Great General’s birthday. If it turns out the real culprit isn’t the Great General’s nephew, you won’t have a way to end the chaos!"

Zhuang Zhi clearly didn’t appreciate these words, feeling aggrieved and angry, opening his mouth but likely recalling that Lu Zhang had already sent people to find the boatman, he swallowed his words, leaning against the coffin, remaining silent, finally not causing more trouble.

But things had reached this point, and Cao Tianbao no longer had the mood for a birthday celebration. With a stern face, he invited Duke Yan and several Princes to the reception room for tea and rest, and ordered the servants to seat the guests in the yard, dismissing the performers on the stage.

In the General Mansion today, only one performance could be staged, anything more would be annoying.

The guests sat at the tables originally set for the birthday banquet in the yard, sipping tea, engaging in small talk to pass the time and ease the tension from the recent confrontation.

In comparison, the reception room atmosphere was even more delicate.

Today’s banquet included four Princes, along with Duke Yan, whose status was by no means lesser, the five sat quietly with varied expressions.

Add to this Cao Tianbao, aggrieved on his birthday by a coffin being brought in, sitting angrily.

Lu Qing remained as usual, as if unaffected.

Lu Chao sipped tea, oblivious to those around him.

Lu Zhang glanced several times at Duke Yan, seeming to have something to say, but was silenced by his grandfather’s stern gaze.

Most uncomfortable was Lu Ze, the youngest, unable to sit still, his eyes shifting among the five, hoping to engage someone in conversation to break the oppressive silence.

Unfortunately, none seemed to have this intention.

No one spoke, but Duke Yan cast several curious glances at Zhu Yu standing behind Lu Qing, showing suspicion, as if recognizing her, yet unsure.

After some time, someone hurriedly entered from outside, clasping his fists towards Lu Zhang, "Prince, we’ve brought the boatman!"