Chapter 458: The Plan Is Already Exposed?

Before long, Wei Yuan, smiling broadly, walked out of the room, and when he saw Lü Tu's hostile gaze, he jumped in fright, his whole body trembling, and asked in startled confusion: "Lü, Lü, Lv Qianhu, you, you, you—what's going on?"

Lü Tu's stare was extremely ferocious, giving him the feeling of facing a raging tiger—no, perhaps even a tiger could not match Lü Tu's fierceness.

If he didn't constantly remind himself that Lü Tu is a Thousand Commander of the Demon‑Suppression Office, and he is the County Magistrate of Qingyang County, both are court‑appointed officials, and he has never done anything to offend Lü Tu.

Even if he were corrupt…

Even if he were corrupt, the matter would be handled by another organization, not the Demon‑Suppression Office to which Lü Tu belongs!

"Could it be that he saw through my scheme?"

In Wei Yuan's mind, countless tangled thoughts surfaced; soon, a worry rose in his heart, and he, unwilling to believe it, thought to himself:

"No, even if he thinks I'm willing to present the *Junzi Yan* to this kid, which is odd, he shouldn't conclude that I intend to end the kid's life!"

He decided to leak the information to the Prime Minister's Daughter, to explain the matter of Wang Ping'an to her in full detail, using this chance to climb the Prime Minister's Daughter's connections, and, if she needed, to assist when the Prime Minister's Daughter sends people to harm Liu Dongzhu and her mother, which would be no problem.

Of course.

He would never let him act and bring disaster upon Liu Dongzhu and her mother.

Once this is accomplished, even if he never catches the Prime Minister's eye, he can become the Prime Minister's Daughter's subordinate lackey.

Given the Prime Minister's relationship with his daughter, if the Prime Minister's Daughter says a few good words for him, his promotion and wealth are just around the corner, aren't they?

Most likely, his affairs don't need to be reported to the Prime Minister; after all, he's just a tiny County Magistrate of Qingyang County, a speck of an official.

What kind of person is the Prime Minister? He is the head of all officials; how could he possibly care about a low‑rank official like him?

Probably a single sentence from the Prime Minister's Daughter would be enough to secure his promotion and riches.

However.

While excited, he was still worried that his deeds might be leaked.

Whether it's elder Xuanqing, Lü Tu, or even Dai Zhishang, he hasn't really dealt with them; Dai Zhishang is okay.

Admittedly, because the Wang Family owes him a life‑saving debt and knows he harmed Liu Dongzhu and her mother, seeking revenge for them, if he were to find Dai Zhishang's father and say a few soft words, would Dai Zhishang still dare to continue seeking revenge on him?

If the Dai family hadn't produced the monster Dai Tianli, he would never care about the Dai family's retaliation.

If anyone dared to snarl at him, he could pull out all their hair.

But elder Xuanqing differs from Lü Tu; elder Xuanqing, to defend the Wang Family, has the guts to storm the Prime Minister's residence, and even if afterward it only costs him twenty years of yang life.

Although.

Twenty years of yang life is no small punishment, yet compared to elder Xuanqing's daring raid on the Prime Minister's residence, it cannot be said to be unremarkable; at the very least it defies most people's expectations and could lead others to mistake the Prime Minister's residence for weak and easy to bully.

Thinking…

Before elder Xuanqing carried out this act, he had already resolved to issue orders within the Prime Minister's residence.

He dared not imagine that, once elder Xuanqing learned he was responsible for Liu Dongzhu and her mother's deaths, whether elder Xuanqing would have the courage to kill a court‑appointed official.

Lü Tu's words…

People have many methods and legitimate reasons to take his life! Under all these circumstances, unless his head were caught in a door and he had the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard, how could he not worry that his plot to harm Liu Dongzhu and her mother might be exposed?

"County Magistrate, please take back that copy of *Junzi Yan* you have!"

Liu Dongzhu, with a gloomy expression, didn't wait for Lü Tu to speak; she handed over the *Junzi Yan* in her hand once more, saying in an unfriendly tone:

"Our Wang Family is a modest household; our Ping'an is just an ordinary child, unworthy of forming a benevolent bond with you. We, the whole family, have received your goodwill!"

She was already conflicted about whether to accept this *Junzi Yan* penned by a great Confucian scholar.

It was the urging of Yu Die and a few others, combined with her worry for her own Ping'an, fearing she hadn't taught him properly and might follow that beast's footsteps, committing acts worse than a pig or dog.

Coincidentally, this *Junzi Yan* authored by a great Confucian scholar could educate her Ping'an into a Confucian gentleman, which is why she decided to accept it.

Not long ago.

Hearing Yu Die and others' conversation made her clearly understand the malicious intent behind Wei Yuan sending this *Junzi Yan* to her Ping'an; she harbored resentment toward Wei Yuan, so would she still be willing to accept his gift?

Even though the gift was precious and greatly beneficial to her Ping'an.

She didn't question it; her family had never offended Wei Yuan, nor wronged him, so why would he resort to such despicable acts?

This novel you…

It's not that she was still uncertain about Yu Die and others' speculation; from Wei Yuan's recent actions, she roughly understood what kind of person he is, indirectly confirming that Yu Die and others' guesses are nine times out of ten correct.

She didn't question him, nor was she sparing Wei Yuan's face.

Rather, she knew that an official like Wei Yuan is a top‑notch mastermind; no matter what she said, he could find countless reasons to refute and even bite her back.

"This unsophisticated village woman, time and again, returns the *Junzi Yan* I painstakingly obtained, as if she thinks this *Junzi Yan* by a great Confucian scholar is cheap merchandise that can be bought casually?"

Wei Yuan couldn't help muttering a curse, dissatisfied; Liu Dongzhu repeatedly returned the *Junzi Yan* he gave her, making him readily recall how he had resorted to any means to obtain that *Junzi Yan*, and he sneered to himself:

"If it weren't to clear my name, would you even be worthy of seeing my *Junzi Yan*?"

"Madam Wang, this *Junzi Yan* is penned by a great Confucian scholar, a fine thing; how can you just refuse it?"

Wei Yuan was about to speak, urging Liu Dongzhu to take back the *Junzi Yan*, and to subtly inquire what was really going on, when Yu Die cut in first, smiling, and said:

"At least this is Wei Yuan, the County Magistrate's, sincere intention, hoping to forge a benevolent bond between your Ping'an and him."

If you truly think that Wei Yuan, the County Magistrate, gave your Ping'an this *Junzi Yan* to use someone else's hand to harm you and your mother's lives, and to cleanse his own crimes with it, then you should certainly accept it.

Otherwise, wouldn't that be giving Wei Yuan a free advantage?

Since they already intend to harm you and your mother, how could they possibly think that returning this *Junzi Yan* would erase the incident and cease planning to end Ping'an's life?

"Yu Baihu, what are you saying? I can't understand what you mean."

Wei Yuan's face turned pale with anger, and he shouted, "What do you mean I intend to harm them? My mother and I have no grudges with them; why would I want to end their lives?"

(End of chapter)