Feng Jin stood up, a smile returning to his face. "This old servant just received word from my hometown that my elder brother's grandson recently had a son."

Feng Jin sighed, "This old servant will never be able to enjoy the pleasures of family, I only hope that my brother's descendants can live well."

Jiang Chen, upon hearing this, said, "Have you not thought of adopting one?"

Feng Jin slapped his thigh and said, "Your Majesty is wise! My elder brother said the same thing, saying that if he has another great-grandson in the future, he will give one to this old servant."

"This old servant even took half of my俸禄 (b俸禄-official's salary) over the years and sent it back home, to build a house for my unborn great-grandson."

As he spoke, Feng Jin lightly patted his face and said, "This old servant becomes endless when I start talking about it, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Jiang Chen's mind stirred slightly at this moment. "Jing Yue."

"Yes!" Jing Yue appeared silently.

"Investigate where Lü Xiao is from, and then see if there's anything unusual happening with his relatives back home," Jiang Chen instructed.

"Yes!"

Feng Jin immediately thought of something and said in surprise, "Does Your Majesty suspect that Lü Xiao's family has received some benefit?"

Jiang Chen nodded. "I cannot rule out that possibility."

After speaking, Jiang Chen said with a chuckle, "If it weren't for your reminder, Feng Jin, I might have forgotten about these things."

Feng Jin immediately beamed. "It is this old servant's honor to be able to help Your Majesty!"

Lü Xiao's hometown was in Shang Commandery. Five days later, Jing Yue returned with the results, looking travel-worn.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Inside the Qin Zheng Hall, Jing Yue reported to Jiang Chen with an admiring expression, "Your Majesty, this subordinate has investigated and found that the youngest son of Lü Xiao's second son recently and suddenly acquired a four-courtyard residence in the county town."

Feng Jin, who was standing beside him, was taken aback when he heard this. "A four-courtyard residence must cost a lot of money, right?"

Jing Yue nodded. "This subordinate also found that, apart from Lü Xiao being an official, the rest of Lü Xiao's family are all farmers in the countryside. Lü Xiao has not engaged in any corruption either."

Jiang Chen nodded.

Although Jing Yue did not directly state the conclusion, his words had already made it clear.

A family with little savings suddenly had someone owning a four-courtyard residence in the county town.

This was already very abnormal.

"Have you found out from whose hands this residence was obtained?" Jiang Chen asked.

Jing Yue said, "The specific person has not been found, but according to the investigation, it should be a merchant from Hongdu."

Hongdu!

Hearing this place, a cold light flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes.

Hongdu and Shang Commandery were far apart, and Hongdu was far more prosperous than Shang Commandery.

Why would a merchant from Hongdu appear in Shang Commandery? And why would a four-courtyard residence fall into the hands of Lü Xiao's grandson?

These were all problems that could not be explained by common sense!

Of course, more importantly, Hongdu was the fiefdom of the Hong King.

And not long ago, Jiang Chen had received news that the Hong King had a son.

Connecting all of this together, Jiang Chen understood something in his heart.

However, Jiang Chen still had one question to clarify.

"Does Lü Xiao know what happened in his hometown?" Jiang Chen asked.

Jing Yue hesitated for a moment and said, "This subordinate believes that he probably doesn't know."

"Why?" Jiang Chen asked again.

Jing Yue said, "Because this four-courtyard residence is only known to Lü Xiao's grandson, not even Lü Xiao's son knows!"

Jiang Chen nodded, his heart becoming clearer.

"Summon Lü Xiao," Jiang Chen said.

Feng Jin quickly walked to the door and said, "Summon Lord Lü Xiao!"

The news of Lü Xiao's summons quickly reached the Ministry of Rites.

Hearing this news, many officials in the Ministry of Rites looked at Lü Xiao sympathetically.

This trip was likely to be fraught with danger!

Lü Xiao frowned, then followed the Imperial Guards to the palace, and then was led by Feng Jin to the Qin Zheng Hall.

"This old minister Lü Xiao, pays respects to Your Majesty!" Lü Xiao knelt and kowtowed.

Jiang Chen did not let him rise, but said, "Lü Xiao, do you know your crime?"

Lü Xiao was full of astonishment and then said, "This old minister does not know what crime I have committed."

Jiang Chen looked at Lü Xiao and said, "If I am not mistaken, the matter of you asking me to establish a Crown Prince was instigated by someone behind the scenes, right?"

Lü Xiao denied without hesitation: "Your Majesty, this matter was done solely by this old minister and has nothing to do with anyone else."

Jiang Chen knew that Lü Xiao had misunderstood his meaning and said with a smile, "What I mean is, this matter, it wasn't something that you thought of on a whim, right?"

Lü Xiao was stunned, still not quite understanding Jiang Chen's meaning, and said, "Please give me clear instructions, Your Majesty."

"Has your grandson said anything to you recently?" Jiang Chen said.

Lü Xiao was stunned again, not understanding why Jiang Chen would bring up his grandson for no reason.

However, he also sensed that there was a crisis hidden within!

He had been in the court since Jiang Chen ascended the throne, so he naturally knew that Jiang Chen would destroy entire clans when he took action.

He quickly said, "This old minister's grandsons are all in my hometown, making a living by farming. This old minister only exchanges letters with them once a month."

Jiang Chen nodded, "Can I take a look at these letters?"

Lü Xiao nodded without hesitation: "Of course."

Jiang Chen was stunned instead, and said with a smile, "Lü Xiao, you are quite frank."

Lü Xiao did not show any complacency or displeasure, but said, "The sage said, 'A gentleman is open and upright,' this minister has nothing to hide."

"Good!"

Jiang Chen nodded with a smile and said, "Rise, Lü Qing."

Lü Xiao was a little surprised, Jiang Chen's attitude had changed a bit too quickly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Lü Xiao slowly stood up from the ground, although he had only knelt for a short while, he was still a little shaky due to his age.

"Feng Jin, grant him a seat," Jiang Chen said.

"Yes!"

Lü Xiao was almost flattered and quickly said, "Your Majesty, this old minister can still stand."

Jiang Chen waved his hand with a smile.

Soon, a guard came over with a stack of letters.

Jiang Chen did not look at them, but said, "Lü Qing, select the letters that contain information about your second son's youngest son."

"Yes."

Although Lü Xiao was very puzzled, he still did as he was told.

Soon, three letters were selected.

"When was the most recent one?" Jiang Chen asked again.

Lü Xiao looked at it and said, "It was half a month ago."

Jiang Chen nodded, not asking Lü Xiao to read the contents aloud, but said, "I ask you, did you have the idea of having me establish a Crown Prince because of this letter?"

Lü Xiao was stunned, looked at the letter, then recalled something, and then suddenly exclaimed, standing up quickly.

"Your Majesty is wise! That is indeed the case!"

After speaking, Lü Xiao was still full of questions: "How did Your Majesty know?"

Jiang Chen smiled faintly: "If I am not mistaken, it was the content about your grandson that made you think of this idea, right?"

Lü Xiao nodded again: "Your Majesty is wise!"

After speaking, Lü Xiao was suddenly shocked again.

How could Your Majesty know so clearly?