Chapter 276: Duke Min's Back-up Plan
The ministers could never imagine that: no outsiders were allowed into their study, and they had people guarding the door when they were discussing things, so how could the secrets be leaked?

The ministers speculated privately: The right prime minister's secret must have been leaked by an insider.

It is impossible for Lin Haotian, the legitimate son of the Right Prime Minister, to rob women and dispose of corpses himself every time, so he needs someone to do it.

It must have been leaked by someone who handled it or someone who knew about it.

After all, things like recorders are beyond their understanding.

After the right prime minister fell, there was still one person who was on pins and needles.

That is Duke Min.

Duke Min is in the same boat with the Right Prime Minister. If the Right Prime Minister goes to jail, will he give himself up?

If I confess, will the emperor believe it?

If the emperor believed it, would he punish himself?

Everyone has taken to heart what the emperor said in the court before: Does this mean that as long as court officials do their jobs honestly in the future, he will not punish them?
But the emperor also said: Unless you can't help it.

What things can make people unable to bear it?
Rebellion is definitely unbearable.

He certainly couldn't help but secretly have dealings with the rebellious princes.

Duke Min was in a dilemma: he wanted to do his job well, preserve the honor of the Duke's Mansion, and keep the salt mine.

But the letters between him and the King of Nanming were like time bombs, which could become a bargaining chip for the King of Nanming to threaten him.

If the Southern Ming King fails, these letters will also become the death warrant for the Min Guo Mansion.

He...can't go back.

The Southern Ming King wins, he wins.

Now that the King of Nanming is dead, it is estimated that everyone in the Duke’s Mansion will not survive.

After thinking it over, Duke Min gritted his teeth and called the butler into the study: "Go back and send the child from Luoguxiang to Jiannan."

The housekeeper was surprised: "My Lord..."

Duke Min waved his hands wearily, "The Right Prime Minister has all the power in the world, and this is the case. I am just a little bit powerful now, so how can I not have a backup plan?"

"What about Madam Mei?"

"If she is willing to go with us, send her along, and tell her to keep her mouth shut."

"If she doesn't want to... just kill her."

Ximei, the mistress of Luoguxiang, was a girl who was given to Duke Min by his subordinates when he went to the salt mine a few years ago.

Because of her gentle personality and charming appearance, he settled Ximei in Luoguxiang and would go to see her whenever he was upset.

Every time Ximei comforted and served him, he would feel a little relieved.

That's why he was very satisfied with this mistress.

The supplies there are excellent, and Ximei even gave birth to a son for Duke Min, who is only a little over one year old.

We originally said that we would enroll the child in the family tree when he is older, so why are we suddenly sending Jiannan away?
The housekeeper was startled and didn't dare to ask any more questions. He agreed and went.

When Fu Chenan received the news the next day, he was also stunned: he would not harm a child who was only over one year old.

But that Madam Mei...maybe she knows something.

Fu Chenan quickly sent someone to Luoguxiang to check out the situation.

Over at Luoguxiang, the originally exquisite courtyard was now deserted, and Madam Mei was not there either.

This was sent away.

Soon, the guards caught up with the man and when they reported to Fu Chenan, he did not dare to hide anything.

"I had originally followed His Highness's instructions to let the child go, but the woman refused to let go of the child and insisted on holding him together."

"I brought the mother and child back together..."

Fu Chenan didn't care: "Interrogate the woman carefully to see if there is any useful information. Don't treat them harshly."

There is no need to treat harshly a woman in her twenties with a one-year-old child.

The guard took the order and went, and came back half a day later with an excited look on his face.

It turned out that Madam Mei told everything as soon as she was asked.

"The concubine didn't want to leave yesterday, but the housekeeper persuaded her, saying that if she didn't leave, he would have a hard time explaining it." "The concubine was smart, and she knew immediately that if she didn't leave, she would die, so she was willing to leave immediately."

"When we found her, she thought that Duke Min didn't have much time left, so she wanted to save her and her child's lives, so she answered every question we asked..."

"There are many people behind the salt mine of Duke Minguo who share the profits. The Right Prime Minister is one of them. Besides Duke Minguo's Mansion, the second largest shareholder is the King of Nanming."

Sometimes when Duke Min was with his mistress, he would also handle some matters.

Because the concubine was gentle and obedient, he did not avoid her.

Who would have thought that the mistress understood everything and kept it all in mind...

Fu Chenan sneered in his heart when he heard this, and turned around to tell Fu Zhonghai.

Fu Zhonghai's face also darkened after hearing this, and after a while he suddenly laughed.

"Duke Min has always wanted to send his daughter to the palace, right? Tell him that the palace needs a group of palace maids who are clever and skillful."

Fu Chenan responded subconsciously: "Dad, have you figured it out?"

Fu Zhonghai glared at him.

Fu Chenan reacted: "You mean... paralyze them?"

It's a palace lady, not a beauty pageant, so the meaning is different.

If they were only recruiting palace maids, it would be impossible to send in a legitimate daughter, and no noble family could afford to lose such a person.

But Duke Min would certainly not miss this opportunity, and he would most likely send a few beautiful concubines in a low-key manner.

"Okay, Dad, I'll ask someone to pass the message to them..."

When Duke Min learned that his concubine and her son were missing and all his confidants were killed, his heart felt like it had fallen into an ice hole. Just as he was thinking about what to do, he heard a message from the palace: We are short of a few skillful palace maids. Is there anyone in Duke Min's mansion?
Duke Min was nervous at first, but after thinking about it carefully, he was delighted!

The emperor found out that he had some connection with the right prime minister, but he didn't want to move too many people at once and cause unrest in the court, so he was trying to win him over in disguise?

He was just sending a palace maid. He had so many beautiful women in his mansion!
These beauties have cultivated their various talents since childhood, and being dexterous is almost a necessary ability.

He immediately began to think about which people to send, and in order to have a clear idea, he even asked his wife to come over to discuss it with him.

Sure enough, Mrs. Qin immediately thought of several concubines' daughters.

The concubines in the mansion were usually trained as bargaining chips. They were required to have strict skills in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and they also had to have good figures and looks.

The next day, Duke Min secretly sent in three concubines and seven beauties.

However, he sent it off quietly, but the emperor thanked him with great fanfare.

Emperor Tianwu suddenly mentioned this at the end of the court meeting.

"Duke Min knew that the palace was short of maids recently, so he specially sent ten beauties to the palace. He was really thoughtful!"

"Reward Duke Min with a jade ruyi!"

Duke Min wanted to say “oh shit” at that time.

No one knows how many people in the court are secretly on the side of the King of Nanming. He secretly sent people into the palace, and the emperor accepted them. No one knows how many lies the King of Nanming has to make up to fool the emperor.

But when Emperor Tianwu openly said it and gave him a reward, the nature of the matter changed...

It will be difficult to fool the King of Nanming!

Although he was cursing in his heart, Duke Min still expressed his gratitude and knelt down to express his gratitude.

"It is my duty to share the worries of my emperor! Long live my emperor..."

Sure enough, after the court session, several members of the Southern Ming royal party who had private contact with Duke Min immediately distanced themselves from him.

Duke Min tried to step forward and explain, but the other party said to him: "Duke has a good opportunity, but you don't even give us a way..."

"We also want to share your Majesty's worries!"

Duke Min helplessly watched the other party throw his sleeves and leave, standing there gritting his teeth: You just wait, if there is a day when I can really cling to the emperor...

He began to think seriously about this possibility.

……

The New Year is approaching and the imperial court is about to put down its writing.

Fu Chenan welcomed the last major event before the New Year: the country of Nan'an came to send New Year gifts, and he was responsible for the reception.

(End of this chapter)