Chapter 461: Song Jinxiu is collaborating with the enemy in Beiling. Capture him on sight, regardless of life or death.
The news of Lu Chongyuan's death in the imperial prison was not announced until the next morning during the court session.
Cao Dejiang and Qian Baokun both had a feeling of "as expected" while holding the tablets in their hands. However, Liang Taishi and others who had been with the Lu family in the past were surprisingly silent about Emperor An's unusual behavior of directly sentencing Lu Chongyuan to death without interrogating him in court or even visiting the Dali Temple or the Ministry of Justice.
No one spoke up for Lu Chongyuan, and no one questioned whether Emperor An's death was too sudden.
The once prominent head of the Lu family, the son of the Secretary of the three upper provinces who held great power in the court, died quietly. Even those members of the Lu family who were sent to the death row to await punishment were not even asked a word.
Compared with Lu Chongyuan's death, the news that Song Jinxiu, the legitimate son of the former Duke of Song, robbed exiled prisoners, colluded with the deposed Queen Lu, instigated disputes among the princes, and later defected and fled from the capital when the Privy Council went to pursue him was rescued by spies from Beiling was even more surprising.
When Emperor An heard that Song Jinxiu was colluding with Beiling, he was furious and ordered the Ministry of Justice to issue arrest warrants throughout the Wei Dynasty. He ordered that Song Jinxiu and other rebels like Song Hong be captured on sight, regardless of life or death.
After the morning court session ended, Xiao Yan went to the imperial study to meet Emperor An and passed by Feng Lai.
"Lord Xiao."
"Eunuch Feng."
After the two of them greeted each other, Xiao Yan casually asked, "I noticed that Your Majesty looked a little unwell during the morning court session. Is it because of his health?"
Eunuch Feng, clutching his whisk, said, "I didn't hear your Majesty mention this when the imperial physician came to check your pulse just now. I guess it's because your Majesty slept a little late last night and is not as energetic."
Xiao Yan raised his lips slightly. "I've heard about this. Since last night, the people in the Twelve Prisons have been busy as hell. This morning, when I entered the palace, someone came to stop me and asked me to help. They said I should find some musicians and transfer some people over to help. I'm busy with the Lu family's affairs, so how can I have the time for this?"
Eunuch Feng suddenly felt relieved and a smile appeared on his face.
"They have no other choice. There are only two days left, and Concubine Yu and Concubine Zhao are both pressing us hard."
"When you were in the palace, you were in charge of the Twelve Wards. No one knows the affairs of the palace better than you. They are so busy that they have to ask you for help. Otherwise, if they fail to complete the task and are blamed by the higher-ups, they will not be able to bear the consequences."
Xiao Yan raised his thick eyebrows slightly. "You shouldn't have 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 I need them for?"
His expression was cold and impatient. When he saw the door of the imperial study open and asked the imperial physician who had taken his pulse to come out, he waved his hand and said, "Alright, I still have something to report to His Majesty. I'll go in first."
The person who came out was Doctor Sun, who saluted sideways when he saw Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan just nodded to him and went straight into the imperial study. The two of them did not have any interaction at all. Instead, Eunuch Feng exchanged a few casual words with Doctor Sun before sending the person away. After turning around and going back to the tea room in the side hall next door, he gave instructions to the people inside with a smile on his face.
"Xiao Anzi, His Majesty has not yet eaten since the court session. Please prepare some tea and snacks and have them brought in."
The eunuch inside agreed and laughed, "What good thing has happened to you, eunuch? Why are you so happy?"
You have to know that this eunuch in front of the emperor has always been introverted and rarely looks so happy.
Eunuch Feng smiled and said, "What good news could there be? Just now, Imperial Physician Sun came to check on His Majesty's pulse and said that His Majesty is in good health. As servants, we are naturally happy to see our master well."
After being suspected by Emperor An last night, Eunuch Feng has been feeling uneasy. He was afraid that Xiao Yan didn't get the message he sent, and he was also afraid that Xiao Yan got the message but didn't understand what he meant. But just now, he heard Xiao Yan take the initiative to talk about the Twelve Prisons and mentioned the Lu family.
Eunuch Feng knew that Xiao Yan had already made all the arrangements.
He was a very shrewd man, and there was no way he would let himself die. If Xiao Yan wanted to protect himself, he had to protect him and Jiang Ji first. After Feng Nei Shi's worry settled down, a smile naturally appeared on his face.
"Stop talking so much and go get the food ready. Your Majesty must be hungry."
…
When Xiao Yan saw Emperor An, he bowed as usual. After standing up, he said to Emperor An, "Last night, I executed Lu Chongyuan according to your majesty's order. However, I still don't know what to do with the rest of the Lu family."
Emperor An leaned back on the dragon throne and said, "Those who plot treason will naturally be executed along with their entire clan."
Xiao Yan said, "It's easy to kill the Lu family. They deserve it, but Lu Jiuan hasn't been brought to justice yet."
"The Lu family's conspiracy has been publicly announced, and the deposed queen and Prince Cheng's affairs are enough to make the Lu family despise everyone. However, there's no actual evidence of Lu Jiuan colluding with Prince Pingshan, and the hoarding of grain and horse purchases can be explained by other reasons. Moreover, after the Lu family's misfortune, Lu Jiuan probably wouldn't stay in Prince Pingshan's mansion."
He frowned slightly, with hesitation on his face.
"Lu Chongyuan has always been experienced. He must have high hopes for Lu Jiuan by sending him south. Moreover, Lu Jiuan has remained low-key for so many years. He is probably the Lu family's most hidden trump card. He may even hold some hidden power of the Lu family in his hands."
“If the entire Lu family were to perish, Lu Jiuan would go into hiding and plot a comeback, which would likely cause trouble in the future.”
Emperor An looked up at him and said, "You mean to keep the Lu family as bait?"
Xiao Yan shook his head. "The Lu family's conspiracy is known to all. Lu Jiuan wouldn't be so foolish as to return to the capital and fall into their trap. Moreover, the Lu family deceived His Majesty and confused the royal bloodline. If they are not severely punished, it will damage His Majesty's dignity and make his subjects feel lucky and presumptuous."
"What I mean is that Lu Chongyuan and the direct descendants of the Lu family will be exterminated. The bloodline of the culprit will be exterminated. However, some of the distant relatives and collateral branches of the Lu family can be pardoned. Only their property will be confiscated and they will be exiled to the wilderness. Besides, since Lu is not a daughter of Lu Chongyuan's family who married out, her descendants and her husband's family will not be punished."
Emperor An's brows furrowed instantly. He hated the Lu family deeply and was unwilling to leave any chance for them to revive. In his opinion, since Lu Chongyuan had been executed, all the people of the Lu family should be killed without leaving a trace.
Xiao Yan naturally saw the expression on his face and simply said calmly, "I know the Lu family is extremely evil, but they did assist Your Majesty in the past, and Your Majesty had frequent dealings with the Lu family before he ascended the throne. If we kill them all, we will inevitably be known as cold-hearted."
"Moreover, the Lu family is of noble origin, with relatives throughout the imperial court. Many officials from various regions have married into the Lu family. The earliest three generations ago probably even have great-great-grandchildren. If we were to exterminate all nine generations, it would likely cause unrest in the imperial court and force those connected to the Lu family to join Lu Jiuan's side."
"On the other hand, if we don't pursue those people, and leave the distant relatives and collateral branches of the Lu family, and then allow them to be exiled to the wasteland, then the next three generations will not be held accountable. This will let them know that there is still hope."
"This will not only make the people of the world appreciate your majesty's benevolent heart and remember the old relationship between the monarch and his subjects, but also make those people become shackles on Lu Jiuan's neck, so that if he wants to rebel, everyone will spit on him and call him a traitor."
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