The news that Lu Chongyuan died in the imperial edict came out only in the morning of the second day.
Cao Dejiang and Qian Baokun both felt that "it's true" as they held the wat tablets in their hands. However, Taishi Liang and others, who used to advance and retreat with the Lu family, were unusual for Emperor An and had never been interrogated before, and even did not leave Dali Temple or the Ministry of Punishment. The act of directly killing Lu Chongyuan after one visit was unexpectedly silent.
No one cried out for Lu Chongyuan, and no one questioned An Dici's sudden death.
The once-prominent head of the Lu family, the powerful Prince of the Third Provincial Secretariat, died quietly, and no one even said a word to those of the Lu family who were sent to death row to await disposal.
Compared with the death of Lu Chongyuan, it was Song Jinxiu, the legitimate son of the Duke of Song Dynasty, who robbed and dispatched prisoners, colluded with the deposed Lu family, and instigated disputes between the princes. Later, when the Lu family collapsed, he defected from the capital. When people from the Privy Council went to hunt him down, he was captured by Beiling. The news that the spies rescued him was even more surprising.
Emperor An was furious when he heard that Song Jinxiu had colluded with Beiling. He ordered the Ministry of Punishment to issue arrest documents throughout the Wei Dynasty. Song Jinxiu, Song Hong and other rebels were arrested on sight, regardless of life or death.
After the morning court, when Xiao Yan went to the royal study to meet Emperor An, he passed by Feng Lai.
"Director Xiao."
"Eunuch Feng."
After the two of them greeted each other, Xiao Yan asked casually: "His Majesty's face looked a little bad when he came to court in the morning, but is the dragon's body in bad condition?"
Empress Feng held the fly whisk in his arms and said, "When the imperial doctor came to ask for Ping'an's pulse just now, he didn't mention it. I think it's because His Majesty slept a little late last night and was low on energy."
Xiao Yan raised his lips lightly: "I have heard that the people in the Twelve Prisons have been busy since last night. This morning when I entered the palace, someone came to stop me from helping, and asked me to help. The governor will find some musicians and send some people over to help. I am so busy with the Lu family's affairs that I have no time for this."
Waiter Feng suddenly relaxed and smiled on his face.
"There is nothing they can do. They have only been worried for two days. Concubine Yu and Concubine Zhao are both working hard."
"In the past, Governor Xiao was in charge of the Twelve Prisons when he was in the palace. No one knows the things in this palace better than you. They are too busy and dizzy now. They have to ask you for help, otherwise they won't be able to do their job well. When I look back at the people above and blame them, they can't bear the consequences."
Xiao Yan's thick eyebrows slightly raised: "Then you shouldn't come to stop me. The people in the palace are supposed to share the master's worries. I have to do everything, so what else do you want them to do."
With a cold face and a bit of impatience, he saw the door of the imperial study room opened and went in to ask the imperial doctor of Ping Anmai to come out. He waved his hand: "Okay, I have something to report to His Majesty, so I'll go in first."
The person who came out was Imperial Physician Sun. When he saw Xiao Yan, he turned sideways and saluted.
Xiao Yan just nodded to him and went straight into the imperial study. The two of them were not anxious at all. On the contrary, Feng Neishi and Dr. Sun exchanged casual greetings for a few words before sending them away. When they turned around and came back, they went to the dining room in the side hall next door. Behind the tea room, he gave instructions to the people inside with a smile on his face.
"Xiao Anzi, Your Majesty has not eaten in court. Please prepare some tea and snacks for the Za family to send in."
The little father-in-law inside agreed and smiled: "What good thing has happened to my father-in-law to make him so happy?"
You must know that this imperial chamberlain has always had a reserved temperament, and rarely shows such a happy look on weekdays.
Feng's wife smiled and said, "What good things can come out of this? Just now, Imperial Physician Sun came over to ask for Ping An's pulse and said that His Majesty is in good health. Those of us who are slaves will naturally feel happy that our master is well."
After being suspected by Emperor An last night, Feng's servant had been worried. He was afraid that Xiao Yan would not get the news he sent out, and he was also afraid that he would get the news but not understand what he meant. But just now he heard Xiao Yan take the initiative to talk about the 12th prison. , and heard him mention the Lu family again.
Chamberlain Feng knew that Xiao Yan had made arrangements.
He was the shrewdest person, and there was no way he would be allowed to die on his own. If Xiao Yan wanted to protect himself, he had to protect him and Jiang Ji first. After Feng Neishi's heart dropped, he naturally had a look on his face. Came out a little.
"Stop talking too much and go get the things ready. Your Majesty must be hungry."
…
When Xiao Yan saw Emperor An, he saluted as usual. After standing up, he said to Emperor An: "We have killed Lu Chongyuan last night in accordance with your Majesty's order, but the rest of the Lu family don't know how to deal with it yet."
Emperor An sat on the dragon chair and said: "Those who conspire to rebel will naturally kill the Nine Clan."
Xiao Yan said: "It is easy to kill the Lu family, and they deserve what they deserve, but Lu Jiu'an has not yet been brought to justice."
"At present, the Lu family's rebellion has been announced to the world, and the affair between the deposed queen and King Cheng is enough to make the world despise the Lu family. However, the collusion between Lu Jiuan and King Pingshan has not been proven. The hoarding of grain and horses can also be explained by other reasons, and After what happened to the Lu family, I'm afraid Lu Jiu'an will not stay in Pingshan Palace safely."
He frowned slightly, with hesitation on his face.
"Lu Chongyuan has always been a sophisticated person. He must have high hopes for him when he sends Lu Jiu'an south. Moreover, Lu Jiu'an has not revealed himself for so many years. He is probably the Lu family's deepest trump card. He may also hold some hidden power of the Lu family. .”
"If the entire Lu family dies and Lu Jiuan goes into hiding to plot a comeback, there may be consequences in the future."
An Di raised his eyes and looked at him: "You mean, leaving people from the Lu family as bait?"
Xiao Yan shook his head: "The Lu family's conspiracy is known to everyone. Lu Jiu'an would not be so stupid as to return to the capital and throw himself into a trap. Moreover, the Lu family deceived the Holy Emperor and confused the royal family. If not severely punished, it would also damage the majesty of His Majesty and make the subjects feel lucky and arrogant. .”
"What Weichen means is that Lu Chongyuan and the Yi clan, the direct branch of the Lu family, cut off the culprit's blood, but the distant relatives and branches of the Lu family were able to pardon them a little, and only confiscated their property and distributed them in deserted clothes. Other than that, "The Lu family is not a daughter of Lu Chongyuan who married outside the family, and her crime is not as bad as that of her husband's family."
Emperor An's eyebrows instantly twisted. He hated the Lu family deeply, and did not want to leave any chance for them to resurrect. In his opinion, since Lu Chongyuan had been punished, the Lu family should kill all the chickens and dogs without leaving a trace.
Xiao Yan naturally saw the look on his face and said calmly: "We know that the Lu family has committed a lot of crimes, but after all, they had assisted His Majesty in the past, and His Majesty also had frequent contacts with the Lu family before he ascended the throne. If they were to be exterminated, it would be inevitable. You will get a bad name."
"Furthermore, the Lu family has a noble family, with in-laws all over the court, and many officials from various places are married to the Lu family. The earliest three generations up now may even have great-great-grandchildren. If the nine clans are to be executed, it will probably It caused turmoil in the court, and even pushed those who were involved with the Lu family to Lu Jiu'an's side."
"On the other hand, if we don't pursue those people, leave distant relatives of the Lu family and allow them to be distributed in the wasteland without being held accountable for their crimes for the next three generations, let them know that there is still hope."
"This will not only make the people of the world appreciate His Majesty's benevolent heart and care about the old relationship between the monarch and his subjects, but also make those people become shackles around Lu Jiuan's neck, so that if he wants to rebel, everyone will say "rebellious ministers and traitors."
