Chapter 533 Transaction
After the palace coup, the son of the He family was still alive and exposed an old case of disaster relief twenty years ago. Emperor An went back on his word in the court and was forced by his ministers to issue an edict to enthrone the prince. Rongjiang was burned, and the officialdom in the south was in chaos, including the selling of official positions and titles. Every one of them shocked the world.
The "Confession of Sins" written by the Crown Prince for Emperor An was announced to the capital the next day, and then countless copies were continuously sent to various prefectures, counties and districts for posting.
In the capital, less than three days after Xiao Yan ordered someone to deliver Xi Weifang's "confession" to Liang Guangyi, Xi Weifang, who had originally denied the crime, suddenly said he wanted to see him.
In the Criminal Department, Xiao Yan stood in front of Xi Weifang. Xi Weifang opposite him did not suffer too much torture. He even did not take off the official robe he wore to the banquet that day. He just looked up in embarrassment.
"Lord Xiao is very resourceful. Even Grand Tutor Liang stood up for you. However, I am old and will soon retire. Lord Xiao already holds great power. Why would you kill him all?"
"You called me here just to tell me this?"
Xi Weifang met his cold expression and fell silent. After a moment, he said, "Of course not. I just want to make a deal with Governor Xiao."
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow.
Xi Weifang looked at him and said, "I do know about what happened in the Southland over the past twenty years. I also know about the He family's conspiracy. Although I made mistakes, they were only because I was too greedy and allowed myself to be bribed by the Lu family. I also turned a blind eye to the transfer of officials from the Southland. However, I did not interfere in the death of He Wenzhuo or the extermination of the He family."
"The Lu family is the main culprit, yet Governor Xiao was able to spare their side branches. I only ask Governor Xiao to spare the Xi family bloodline. I am willing to confess everything I know without reservation."
Xiao Yan sat on the chair and looked at Xi Weifang who was negotiating terms with him, with his hand supporting his face, an unfathomable expression.
"Just indulgence, no involvement at all?"
He turned his head and looked to the side: "Jinyun."
Jinyun came forward with a thick stack of things, flipped through two pages casually, and spoke directly.
"In the sixth year of Wu'an, the King of Luohe plotted rebellion, and Taizu personally led the army south. Xi Weifang, the deputy commander of the Xiaoying camp, accidentally lost his marching map while at a banquet, nearly killing 13,000 of his vanguard soldiers in Guanning Prefecture. Taizu ordered him to be dismissed from office and given fifty lashes of the cane before the battle. However, he was saved by Lu Chongyuan, the second eldest son of the Lu family. He was spared from hard labor in the camp and allowed to return to the army for meritorious service despite his crime."
"In the twelfth year of Wu'an, the head of the Lu family passed away. The eldest son, Lu Chonghuan, was supposed to take over the Lu family, but he died during a bandit attack on Anqing Mountain on his way back to the capital. Xi Weifang, the chief general who had been promoted for his military achievements, happened to be stationed at Tunxing Pass near Anqing Mountain. Afterwards, Lu Chongyuan took over the Lu family. The following year, Xi Weifang was transferred back to the capital and joined the Ministry of War."
"In the sixteenth year of Wu'an, Xi Weifang, whose wife had been deceased for several years, suddenly caught the eye of the Mo family's legitimate daughter. He became a brother-in-law to Liang Guangyi, who also married a Mo family's legitimate daughter. With the Liang family's support, he rose rapidly in the Ministry of War, becoming a minister in just three years. While ostensibly supporting the Liang family and maintaining a close relationship with Liang Guangyi, he secretly supported the Lu family's lineage in the military."
"In the 23rd year of Wu'an, floods struck the south. The Crown Prince was ordered to travel south with He Wenzhuo to provide disaster relief. Xi Weifang, the Left Vice Minister of War, urged Liu Gang, the Earl of Linyuan, and Yue Hongchang, the Vice Minister of Revenue, to accompany them. Later, when a government ship sank, Yue Hongchang turned against the Crown Prince, tarnishing his reputation."
"Later, Xi Weifang sent letters to his former subordinates at Tunxing Pass, ordering them to lead their men to impersonate bandits and rioters, inciting riots in the south. During this chaos, Linyuan Earl Liugang tragically died while protecting the Crown Prince..."
Jinyun flipped through the booklet in his hand and looked at Xi Weifang, whose face was pale.
"Minister Xi, do you want me to continue?"
There was no trace of the calmness that he had when negotiating the terms on Xi Weifang's old face. His lips were trembling, his forehead was covered in cold sweat, and his eyes were full of fear when he looked at Xiao Yan.
"You...what are you..."
"You want to ask, how do I know this?"
Seeing Xi Weifang's cowering face, Xiao Yan said indifferently, "I have been inspecting the Lu family for many years. I know about Lu Chongyuan's affairs, but I don't know everything about him."
"On the surface, you have no connection with the Lu family. You even have a grudge against Hou Rui, the Minister of War, who appears to be a close confidant of the Lu family but is actually bribed by Empress Lu. However, looking back at your many years of official career, you've experienced several near-death experiences, and your sudden promotion and even transfer back to Kyoto all have the Lu family's influence."
"Liang Guangyi didn't notice this because he never suspected you. In addition, the noble families were united before, and he also wanted to promote Lu Chongyuan to take over the noble families' power in the court. He didn't delve into some things, but I am different from him."
"It's not difficult to check your past."
Xi Weifang's lips trembled and his face looked grim.
Xiao Yan raised his eyes and said, "This Governor has no interest in negotiating terms with you, nor do I want to listen to your sophistry. Whatever your crime is, you will be punished according to the law."
Xi Weifang: "Aren't you afraid that I won't say anything?"
Xiao Yan raised the corner of his mouth slightly: "Then you can try it."
Seeing Xiao Yan stand up and want to leave, he had no intention of staying.
Xi Weifang suddenly hissed, "Xiao Yan, you want to clear the name of the He family and turn He Wenzhuo around. Without my confession, the investigation wouldn't be clear. And you're going to such great lengths to get this done. I'm afraid you're not just after the He family..."
Xiao Yan stopped and looked back at him.
Xi Weifang was stung by the sharpness in his eyes, but he forced himself to keep his pale face and not retreat at all.
"I can help you. I know that what I did is enough to get the entire Xi family executed. I'm not asking you to spare anyone, just spare my great-grandson's life. He was born not long ago and is still in his infancy. After the Xi family dies out, no one will tell him about what happened today."
"You can send him to a remote place and have someone watch over him for the rest of his life. I only ask that you spare his life, let him grow up safely, and leave a trace of incense for the Xi family."
Xiao Yan's eyes moved slightly: "Since Liang Guangyi came to see you, why don't you ask him for help?"
Xi Weifang shook his head: "I don't trust him."
No one from the aristocratic family has a kind heart, just like how they wiped out the He family back then.
Liang Guangyi used his weakness to force him. Even if he promised to protect the Xi family bloodline, Xi Weifang still didn't trust him.
He was afraid that once he opened his mouth, the charges would be proven and the entire Xi family would be unable to escape. He was even more afraid that Liang Guangyi would be angry and humiliated because he had deceived and misled him for many years, and would kill the entire Xi family.
"Then you can trust me?" Xiao Yan glanced at him sideways. "I'm not a kind man."
Xi Weifang looked at him straight in the eyes: "I believe you. People raised by the late crown prince, no matter how bad they are, will definitely remember their promises."
Xiao Yan's expression paused.
Jinyun's face beside him suddenly became serious.
Xi Weifang's voice was hoarse. "When the Eastern Palace caught fire, the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince were buried in the palace, but Concubine Xue escaped. I was the one who led the troops to hunt her down."
"When I led my men to hunt down Concubine Xue, she had a chance to escape, and with the help of the Xue family's secret guards, she was able to escape the pursuers. But when I wanted to return, she showed her tracks again."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com