Earlier, when he led people to escort the evidence of grain corruption to the capital, the Lu family had sent people to intercept and kill him in Luohan Mountain, with such a posture that they could not wait to keep him outside the capital.
Most of the people he brought back to the capital were lost, but he returned to the capital intact, and he also brought back Cai Qi, a crazy but fatal witness.
Xiao Yan had been at odds with the family and Lu Chongyuan for several days. The family hated him to the core, and how could they sit still after learning that Cai Qi's madness had improved.
Today, he deliberately sent a greeting card to Jiuyun Lane. It seemed that Lu Chongyuan took the initiative as bait to lure him to stay in Tang Mansion so that he could send people to assassinate Cai Qi. But in fact, the real purpose was to provoke him to get the news and move Cai Qi out of the city.
It was a lie that they sent someone to assassinate Cai Qi, but it was true that they wanted his life. For this reason, they did not hesitate to use spies buried deep in the Privy Council.
It's a pity that he was lucky. Although the first knife was caught off guard, he still dodged it. When the second knife was thrust out, the spy's head had already flown out.
Xiao Yan's eyebrows were full of evil spirits: "That old guy Lu Chongyuan can't stand still anymore. I'm afraid the family is also confused. Go tell Feng Qiuli and let him see Cui Lin."
"This governor was stabbed. The Lu family will not be able to live in peace unless they sacrifice their lives for me."
Jinyun said in a deep voice: "Yes."
When Song Tangning came back from asking Mrs. Qin, she happened to hear the words "Lu Chongyuan". Seeing Jinyun's body full of murderous aura when he replied, and Xiao Yan's face beside her also had a stern look on her face, she couldn't help but whisper: "Yes. The brother of the Lu family who was injured?"
Jinyun said from the side: "Who else but Lu Chongyuan? The governor learned last night that he was coming to see you today, and later the Lu family used this to set up a trap. The Lu family used you and a Privy Council prisoner as bait to set up several traps. Killing Bureau, if the governor hadn't noticed something was wrong and sought out the Gu family leader in advance, I'm afraid he would have been lost outside the city this time."
Song Tangning felt cold after hearing this: "Didn't he want to come to see me?"
Xiao Yan knew that she had gone astray, so he comforted her: "It's not that I don't want to see you. The Lu family's first priority right now is the things they took from you. They also want to calm things down and take out the queen and her son. They lured me out of the capital." , to prevent me from taking the opportunity to cause trouble, setting up a trap to assassinate is another level."
"Lu Chongyuan thought that what you did before was under my instruction. No matter whether I died in the suburbs of Beijing or was trapped outside the city and couldn't come back, I could make you confused so that I could take the opportunity to force you to give in. It's just that he was too much. I have underestimated Princess Cheng, and I have underestimated you too much."
Lu Chongyuan did not expect that although he was not in Jiuyun Lane, Mrs. Fu and the others were.
He also didn't expect that their little Haitang was no longer what she used to be. Even without his protection, she was still no longer the little girl that the Lu family could manipulate at will.
Xiao Yan had just heard from the servants in the house how Song Tangning was so angry that the Lu family's ancestors and grandsons were speechless. His sword eyes were filled with a smile: "Lu Chongyuan's plan failed today, and you take the most credit."
Song Tangning was not happy at all when he was praised. Instead, he just bit his lips and trembled with anger.
She had thought that she had given Lu Zhinian a lesson just like that, and she had already let out a sigh of relief after insulting the Lu family's face. She had thought that just a few harsh words would be extremely powerful, but she had far underestimated the Lu family's shamelessness.
On the one hand, he seemed to be entangled with the queen and her son, but on the other hand, he actually sent someone to set up an ambush to assassinate his brother.
Song Tangning felt furious.
Just ruining Lu Zhinian's reputation, how can he repay it!
Seeing that her face was pale but her eyes were full of gloom, Xiao Yan raised her eyes to Jinyun and asked him to go out first, then waved and said, "Come here."
Song Tangning walked to his side.
"What are you thinking about?" Xiao Yan asked her.
Song Tangning whispered: "I want the Lu family to pay for my brother's life."
Xiao Yan was caught off guard and was amused by her truth. When his eyes rippled, a string of low laughter escaped from his throat. However, he did not scold her for not knowing the world. He just bent down and picked up something on the couch and handed it to her casually. Gave it to Tang Ning.
Seeing the little girl looking at him doubtfully, he raised the thing in his hand and said, "Take a look."
Song Tangning took it, opened it, glanced at what was written inside, then closed it instantly, looking up suddenly.
"Brother..."
The thing in my hand was extremely hot. Even if I only read a few lines, I still knew what it was about.
She raised her eyes to meet Xiao Yan's casual gaze, and felt a sense of oppression. She couldn't help but whisper: "Brother, have you wanted to attack the noble family for a long time?"
"It's not me who wants to move, it's your Majesty."
Xiao Yan didn't seem to care about the things that made Song Tangning extremely nervous. He just tapped the table and asked her to spread it out.
After the roll was unfolded on the small table, Xiao Yancai said to Song Tangning: "The aristocratic family has been entrenched in the Wei Dynasty for many years. It is stronger than the imperial power and has deep roots. Your Majesty wants to eradicate it for more than a day or two. It's just that they have nothing to do with the harem of the previous dynasty." It’s all too deeply involved, and it won’t be possible to clear it up overnight.”
"I have been enemies with Lu Chongyuan for several years. We have fought countless battles in the court, but there are very few people who can make him take the risk and directly send someone to assassinate me. If the situation is not unfavorable for the family and puts him in sudden crisis, he will not do it. This is the last resort."
Song Tangning looked down at the things on the table, looking at the family relationships outlined above, she bit her lips lightly and asked, "Is it because of the food supply incident before, and what happened to me?"
Xiao Yan nodded and said "hmm" and said, "It's you who messed up the overall situation of the Lu family, so don't blame yourself. If it weren't for you, Lu Chongyuan might not have messed up the situation."
Song Tangning was filled with anger and was instantly distracted by this sentence. She looked at the person beside her who was gently comforting her. She saw that his lips were a little pale but he still cared about her mood. She couldn't help lowering her eyes and murmuring: "I'm not a child. , Brother, why did you come to comfort me when I was injured?"
Xiao Yan laughed: "It's not all about comforting you. In my position, everyone can kill me."
"The aristocratic family and I, as well as Lu Chongyuan and the others, were betting on each other's lives. If they lose, the whole family will be buried with them. Naturally, if I lose, I will have to pay with my life."
"It's just a little blood today. Don't be sad. You should be happy."
Song Tangning couldn't help but feel her heart clenching when she heard him talk about the affairs of the court and life and death in an understatement. It was the first time that she clearly understood the cruelty of the struggle for power in the court.
A whole family can be wiped out at every turn, and lives are at stake. If you make the slightest mistake, you will be doomed.
Brother, you can't retreat. If you retreat, you will die.
…
After moving back to Jiuyun Lane, Song Tangning and Princess Cheng had their own residences, but because of what happened today, Song Tangning went to Princess Cheng's place.
Seeing her in a daze, she changed out of the blood-stained dress, washed her hair in silence, and then lay on the back of the bed without saying a word with her eyes downcast.
Princess Cheng walked to the bedside with a bowl of red dates and snow fungus soup: "I heard from Grandma Jiang that you didn't use much at night. The kitchen just stewed the snow fungus soup. Come and drink some."
