Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 368 - 367: Outsiders

"So as long as the sword’s hilt is in our own hands, with the blade pointing outward, bad things might turn into good things." Zhu Yu fully understood Lu Qing’s meaning now.

"So rather than waiting for others to lead him astray, it’s better for me to seize the opportunity first." Lu Qing sighed slowly, "Both publicly and privately, I don’t want Lu Yan to become a tool in the hands of others to seize the world.

After all, he is first and foremost the descendant of the Lu Family. If outsiders incite conflict, resulting in siblings turning against each other and fighting, it will surely provoke the Holy Emperor’s wrath. No matter which side he fights against, they will both have committed the emperor’s greatest taboo.

With Lu Yan’s temperament, if someone tries to use him, it will inevitably lead to a result where both sides are injured. What I want is harmony—a brother from our family, not too ambitious but brave and capable of defending the border, is naturally better than outsiders.

This is precisely what Lu Chao needs most urgently."

Zhu Yu deeply agrees with Lu Qing’s viewpoint, turning to examine Lu Qing, who had a slightly frowning and serious expression, suddenly laughed: "Indeed, a meticulous, clever, strategic yet also unambitious brother like you is exactly what Lu Chao urgently needs."

Lu Qing was taken aback, both amused and helpless at Zhu Yu’s teasing. He draped one arm around her waist to keep her from escaping, and used the other hand to tickle Zhu Yu’s side.

Zhu Yu nearly burst out laughing, quickly punched his shoulder.

Only then did Lu Qing withdraw his hand, laughing softly: "Your words are both right and wrong.

Lu Chao’s true desire may not be a keen aspiration for that high position; like me, he only hopes for peace in the world and for himself.

It’s just that, I am adopted, so I have a convenient excuse to shirk responsibility and make myself an ’outsider’.

Lu Chao doesn’t have that option because he is the biological child.

His path has only two directions: either someone else gains power, and he dies,

or he presses for peace by ascending himself; there is no other choice."

In fact, Zhu Yu can somewhat imagine Lu Chao’s predicament, but hearing Lu Qing’s phrase "become an outsider," she felt an unspeakable bitterness.

Although Zhu Cheng and the Miao Family are counted as her family, even disregarding the layer of insignificance due to her birth, the inexorable feeling of being an ’outsider’ often made her particularly cautious and low-key, occasionally slightly melancholic.

And always being targeted, almost always at the forefront, yet had to wear the deeply imprinted golden mask that concealed her face to do unpleasant tasks for Emperor Jin in matters that couldn’t openly be interfered with.

Besides, she still had to bear the mystery of the extermination of her family...

Thinking of Lu Qing’s feeling and situation as an ’outsider’, it was imaginable.

Reflecting on this, Zhu Yu couldn’t help but wrap her arms around Lu Qing’s neck, burying her face in his shoulder.

In the soft embrace, the scene and atmosphere ought to be passionate and enchanting, yet Lu Qing understood immediately why Zhu Yu reacted like this after a slight pause.

"You don’t have to feel sorry for me," he tightened his arm around her, as if a warm current was infused into his chest by Zhu Yu’s silent embrace, "If not for the past experiences, there wouldn’t be the present me.

If I had been lavishly cared for since childhood, today I might have turned into another Lu Zhang.

Then, you as the bestowed wife would be very unfortunate."

His last joke, though it had a hint of self-flattery, still made Zhu Yu laugh, "Not necessarily, if you were a prince pampered since childhood, he might not have bestowed me, an unfavored concubine’s daughter of Prince Shuo, upon you."

Lu Qing’s brow relaxed, and his lips curved slightly: "So it is worth everything that has happened."

"Anyway, in the future, you have me, I have you; none of us are outsiders." Zhu Yu nodded solemnly.

Like this, until noon when it was time to eat, Lu Qing led Zhu Yu downstairs again.

As expected, the others’ reactions were exactly as he had anticipated, with Lu Yan, usually fiery and spirited, appearing exceptionally quiet today.

On other days, Lu Zhang might have quickly noticed this anomaly, but now that they are plotting the clever capture of the Immortal Castle, which has made him particularly tense, he didn’t have much extra thought to pay heed to Lu Yan’s side.

Lunch was brought as usual by those zombie-like servants, everything seemed normal.

After lunch, Yan Daoxin handed over a packet of prepared powder meant for subterfuge to the talisman, along with a small bag. He instructed them to empty the contents of the sachets into the bag and bring it back carefully.

A few people gathered to discuss for quite a while. By dusk, those servants came again to deliver dinner, but the talisman didn’t eat and only waited for them to remove the dishes sluggishly before quietly leaving.

The others stayed in the little courtyard waiting, after more than an hour, the talisman returned, with a cloth bag hanging from Fu Lu’s waist, everything seemed smooth.

Yan Daoxin was overjoyed, taking it over to study aside.

"Master, outside on the small path, the seductive fragrance that confounds people at night is not burned, but each farmhouse still lights similar stuff. They built the walls so high, not just to prevent escapes but probably also to keep the smoke from spreading, knocking out the night patrol protectors outside." Fu Lu recounted what he and the talisman confirmed along the way to Lu Qing, "They still don’t know that Chief Historian Yu made it so the flowers in the yard don’t bloom at night, which has made them quite complacent."

The talisman nodded beside him and said, "Upon our return, we encountered a team of night patrol guards. Some had secretly bought wine from outside and were planning to find a place to hide and gamble and drink for fun."

"You two go investigate later, check if those who take care of seedlings in the tunnel are the same group as the night patrol guards, and see if they have any additional staff." Lu Qing instructed.

"Master, actually with those guards being so lax, tonight we may solve those patrolling men once and for all!" Fu Lu, annoyed by those arrogant ones during the day, now felt his fists itching.

"Don’t make a big commotion, that mysterious Fortress Lord is our big catch. Until that big fish returns and our ’net’ is ready,

although you can indeed handle the few protectors in this fortress, it’s unknown what the result would be if those knocked out farm folks suddenly wake up, nor do we know if they have other guards outside the Immortal Castle.

They are many, we are few; caution is paramount." Lu Qing didn’t agree, "Besides, the contents of the sachets you brought back need to be tested for effectiveness during the day."