He handed Zhao Shu a list containing the descendants of families who had risen up in rebellion at the same time as Emperor Taizu.

When Zhao Shu opened it, the first thing she saw was the Lu family of Jiangnan, a family that is now little known. Xiao Zhu had investigated it very carefully, starting from the origins of the Lu family.

The Lu family's origins are similar to most aristocratic families. They all had an outstanding ancestor who made great achievements, was highly learned, extremely intelligent, and of excellent character, which led to the founding of the family.

Over the centuries, it has produced many remarkable figures, with its branches spreading throughout the country.

However, the once glorious family rose up in rebellion at the same time as the founding emperor during the reign of the incompetent and tyrannical emperor. In the end, the emperor was overthrown, and the Lu family lost the throne to the founding emperor.

This was the beginning of the Lu family's downfall. When Zhao Shu saw the words, "The eldest son of the fourth branch was exceptionally intelligent and quick-witted. He could write well at the age of three and fight well at the age of five. The head of the family placed high hopes on him, but he died of smallpox at the age of eight," her heart sank.

The deaths of these geniuses are nothing unusual; what's strange is that anyone in the Lu family with even a modicum of intelligence dies from various illnesses and accidents.

Even in recent years, the Lu family finally produced a smart child, who only showed a little bit of cleverness, but in the end, he still couldn't escape the curse and died in an accident.

The same applies to other families. As long as they had ever raised an army, regardless of whether they had clashed with the founding emperor, their descendants, if they were intelligent, all died mysteriously in their childhood.

After reading all the intelligence, Zhao Shu remained silent for a long time. Aristocratic families, especially powerful clans, are like local emperors in a certain place or region. Their words carry more weight than imperial edicts.

In such families, the slightly smarter legitimate sons rarely lived long, as if cursed. The policy of keeping the people ignorant by the emperors of the Dayong Dynasty was terrifying.

Fortunately, they were a powerful and influential family, otherwise they would have long since vanished into thin air in the long river of history.

The intelligence report mentions that in recent years, there have been many people who were unknown and performed poorly in their childhood, but suddenly became famous as adults.

For example, the current head of the Bei Zhong family.

It seems that they saw through the court's policy of keeping them ignorant and learned to disguise themselves.

After reading it, she threw the list into the inkstone-washing pool. "Invite the head of the family that Jiangnan Jin visited to come here," Zhao Shu said. She couldn't and didn't want to interfere with those corrupted aristocratic families.

In this struggle for power, too many people have paid with their lives. No one can claim to be truly good or virtuous; they are all so dark.