Chapter 112 Burial List
Chapter 112
After listening to his daughter's analysis, Lu Desheng's eyes lit up. "Daughter, do you think we can give the Xie family and the Zhao family a ride and get them to connect with the Fourth Prince's network of connections?"
Lu Songli found it a little funny to see her father eager to try. Her father was sharpening his knife to attack pigs and sheep. In fact, she was also a little tempted, but after thinking about it, she shook her head and rejected her father's suggestion.
"Dad, let's not move, especially you. You must believe in our emperor's ability to monitor all officials. We use the emperor as a knife, what if he finds out..." Killing someone with a borrowed knife is good, but given the current situation, the risk is too great. If discovered, you might get yourself into trouble as well.
It’s better to wait and see if there is a chance to make a finishing move later.
"So we don't have to do anything?"
"In the current Chang'an City, it is better to be still than to move." At this moment, Chang'an City is like the center of a hurricane. Under the eyes of Emperor Kang Cheng, it is time to be obedient. If you behave well, you may not be rewarded, but if you don't behave well, you will be beaten.
Lu Desheng thought about it and realized that it was true. He then opened the study door and ordered his servants to call Lu Zhiyuan and Lu Mingzhi over.
Lu Songli knew what her father wanted to do. It was indeed time to unify their will.
Not long after, the two brothers Lu Zhiyuan and Lu Mingzhi came to the study.
Lu Desheng mentioned the recent situation to them and finally warned them, "Chang'an City has been experiencing strong winds and waves lately. You all should keep your tails between your legs and behave yourself. Do you hear me?!"
Lu Songli pondered quietly. As always, plan for the worst and strive for the best. They were currently preparing for the worst-case scenario, with something happening to the Crown Prince. If something happened to the Crown Prince, someone would have to be held accountable. His death in the northern border would be an unforeseen disaster for the Qin family. The Qin family would undoubtedly bear the brunt of the consequences, and the Lu family might also be implicated.
When that time really comes, it will be a game between the upper classes. As pawns, they can do limited things and can only calculate people's hearts and minds and use their power to fight against them.
Unfortunately, she realized the conspiracy of the Fourth Prince and others too late. Otherwise, if she had foiled the plan before the Crown Prince went to the northern border to visit the troops, none of the subsequent events would have happened.
This thought only flashed through her mind for a moment before she put it behind her. Seeing a crisis is not scary. If there is a crisis, we will solve it.
What they need to do now is to prevent others from taking advantage of their misfortune. To counter this tactic, they naturally need to get as much leverage as possible over the enemy. If you have leverage over their vulnerability, how can they dare to take advantage of your misfortune?
It is not easy for them to move in Chang'an City, but there is a place outside Chang'an City that can be moved.
Lu Songli's eyes fell on the words "Lishan Villa". "Zhao Bin, Zhao Bin, it's time for you to show your abilities. I'll give you a chance this time. I hope you can perform well this time."
In Lu Songli's view, Zhao Bin had always been just a knife. He used to be a good knife in the hands of the Zhao family, but now, he had become a sharp blade stabbing at the Zhao family. It was just right to use him now.
It was only then that the three Lu family members realized that their daughter, younger sister, and second sister had arranged someone around Zhao Bin.
Watching her arrange things, Lu Mingzhi moved his mouth and whispered, "Second sister, Zhao Bin was in such a miserable state before, why didn't you let him go?"
Lu Zhiyuan: ...his sister is too scary. From now on, he will never offend anyone else but her! He swore secretly.
Bang! Lu Desheng slapped his youngest son. "Can you speak? Your second sister is very thoughtful—"
Lu Songli smiled and said, "Mingzhi, are you still worried about him?"
Ah! Under his old father's fierce gaze, Lu Mingzhi quickly shook his head. He wasn't worried about Zhao Bin, he just felt sorry for him. Forget it, if he wasn't pitiful, then his second sister would be the one who would be pitiful. Thinking of this, Zhao Bin should just stay like this.
Lu Songli continued, "Don't worry, after this incident, I will set him free. The grudge between him and me will be settled."
Lu Desheng: Nonsense! You obviously abandoned him because you saw that he was no longer useful to you.
Lü Mingzhi: What if I feel even more pitiful for him?!
Lu Zhiyuan: Don’t offend my sister, don’t offend my sister.
A girl's mouth is full of lies.
Lü Desheng shook his head and walked out of the study with his hands behind his back. After leaving the study, he trotted briskly back to the main courtyard to share his daughter's intelligence, wisdom and foresight with his wife.
Mount Li Villa
On this day, Zhao Bin woke up from his drunken stupor. He was helped to wash and brush his teeth, his hair was tied up, and his clothes were luxurious and exquisite. If you don't look at his legs, it was as if he had returned to his former high-spirited days.
The maid Jin Chan came up to him and said with a smile, "Fourth Young Master, the sun is shining today. How about we go to the plum forest to take a look? I have had the snow along the way cleared, so it will be very convenient to get there."
Zhao Bin looked straight at the visitor and said, "Don't bother. Tell me, what do you want me to do?"
Jin Chan was at a loss.
"Are you Lu Songli's man?"
Jin Chan was startled, "Fourth Young Master, you're joking."
Zhao Bin laughed at himself, "I think, after my situation, she's the only one who would still be so obsessed with me."
After saying this, he said again, "Tell me, whatever you need me to do, I will cooperate."
Jin Chan gritted her teeth, stated her request, and then presented paper and pen.
Zhao Bin smiled meaningfully when he heard this, then picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and started writing quickly.
Seeing this, Jin Chan breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that what he said was true.
She was Liu Erxi's distant cousin, and her family lived in a farm near Mount Li. Her cousin had previously approached their family and, knowing her to be opinionated and tight-lipped, had privately asked her if she was willing to take care of a disabled man and serve as his inner circle.
He also said that if she didn't want to, then just pretend he hadn't mentioned it. If she did, he would take her away and tell everyone he was going to work for a wealthy family. But regardless of whether this was successful or not, she couldn't tell anyone else or her family.
She was the second child in the family and had an older sister. When she saw her bedridden mother, her hard-working father, and her several skinny brothers and sisters, she gritted her teeth and agreed.
Soon, the Zhao family villa at the foot of Mount Li recruited slaves, and she was quickly selected because of her neat appearance. After a little preparation, she went to serve the fourth young master Zhao Bin.
When her cousin sent her here, he only told her to serve him attentively and not to think too much about anything else. He also said that he would not contact her normally. This was the first time someone from her cousin's side contacted her, and it might also be the last time.
After she arrived at the Zhao Family Villa, her family had a stroke of good fortune. A good doctor visited their village and happened to cure her mother's illness, spending very little money. Then, her father found a part-time job that paid well and was not tiring. And then her eldest sister found a good marriage...
She knew that all this was possible thanks to the help of the noble person behind her cousin, and she was grateful.
In fact, she didn't know the name of the noble man, but her cousin mentioned it once occasionally, and she remembered it deeply.
Zhao Bin finished writing in about a quarter of an hour, and then put down his pen. "It's not unfair that I, Zhao Bin, lost to her. It's not unfair that the Xie and Zhao families lost to her. She has calculated people's hearts to the extreme." She deserved to win.
Zhao Bin felt no burden at all for betraying the Zhao and Xie families. He was now a weakness of the Zhao family. If the Zhao family didn't protect him, they couldn't blame others for taking advantage of him.
He has been in the Lishan Villa for so long, and his good sister only sent him some gifts at the beginning, but there has been no news from her since then.
He could understand that she was busy since she was getting married soon.
But isn't it the same for Lu Songli? His enemies specially arranged people to take care of him and ask about his well-being. How ironic.
Jin Chan took the paper, bowed to him, and walked out.
After she left, Zhao Bin picked up a book, leaned back, tilted his head back, covered his face with the book, and began to laugh softly. As he laughed, tears came out.
Mikan Palace
Cough cough——cough cough——
Emperor Kangcheng finally stopped coughing, and Wei Zili quickly handed him a hot handkerchief. After he wiped his mouth, he handed him a cup of ginseng tea.
Emperor Kang Cheng took two sips to suppress the itching in his throat, then leaned back against the soft pillow. He asked with empty eyes, "Any letters from the North?"
Wei Zili: “Not yet.”
Emperor Kangcheng's face was gloomy. "Issue another secret decree for the Crown Prince to return to Chang'an! Quickly!"
"Yes!" Wei Zili thought to himself, this must be the third secret decree, right?
"Wait, go get me the burial list first." Emperor Kang Cheng ordered.
“Here!”
Wei Zili returned not long after, "Your Majesty, this is the list of people to be buried with the deceased. Please review it."
Wei Zili lowered his head very low.
"Has Lu Desheng not made any unusual moves these days?"
"No, Lord Lu usually never leaves the house after returning from the palace. The Lu Mansion is also very quiet, except for the sixth day when the Qin family went to propose marriage and the second Miss Lu went to the silver shop. The eldest son of the Lu family was ordered around by Madam Lu and was running errands outside. The people coming and going were all normal."
Emperor Kang Cheng pondered for a moment, picked up the red pen, and crossed out Lü Desheng from the list of officials to be buried with the deceased.
Well, Lu Desheng treated him with sincerity, and let him go this time, preserving the relationship between the monarch and his subject. Otherwise, he still had a golden medal of immunity from death in his hand, which he had bestowed upon him. At most, he would use it when the time came, but he wouldn't die. If that happened, it would be no different from taking off his pants to fart. His giving him the golden medal of immunity from death in the first place was meaningless.
Wei Zili was impressed by this scene. He thought Lord Lu was really capable of changing the emperor's mind. You know, Lord Lu was the emperor's most useful minister. Even after his death, the emperor wanted to take him with him to the underworld.
He had known for a long time that Lord Lu was on the list of people to be buried with him. He was sure that he would be among those buried with him as well. Although he was not on the list, Wei Zili felt that he should be secretly executed, right?
Now that Lord Lu has escaped, it is really enviable.
"Wei Zili, I will set you free after I leave."
"Your Majesty, I want to stay with you forever." Wei Zili said hurriedly.
Emperor Kang Cheng sighed and said, "Then you will guard my tomb."
Emperor Kangcheng had told him this, but he had never dared to believe it. But today, the Emperor had removed Lord Lu's name from the list of people to be buried with the dead. Perhaps, he could believe it?
Wei Zili later quietly revealed this to Lü Desheng. If Lü Desheng had not sincerely reminded him before, or if the emperor had not crossed his name out, he would definitely not have said it.
This news made Lu Desheng break out in a cold sweat.
Lü Songli hadn't expected this. First, as a person from the later era, funerals were simple, and since she'd never held one before, it was normal for her not to notice this. Second, the Dali Dynasty had practiced simple burials for generations, and she hadn't expected Emperor Kangcheng to reinstate human burials. Was he not satisfied with his reign and wanted to enjoy it in the afterlife?
Moreover, this is not a list of burial objects, it is the King of Hell's book of life and death.
etc--
Lu Songli suddenly realized that this was a good thing. Since the emperor wanted to take someone away, did the fourth prince have anyone he was eager to send away?
Just because they can't get on board doesn't mean there's no chance for cooperation, right?
Lu Songli always believed in the saying that there are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests.
"Your Majesty, there's a letter from the northern border!" Wei Zili hurried in.
"Give it to me now!"
Emperor Kang Cheng opened one letter first, glanced at it twice, and then threw it aside.
Then, he opened the last letter, and then, "Puff——"
Emperor Kang Cheng spat out a mouthful of blood, and the letter in his hand fell.
"Your Majesty!" Wei Zili was instantly terrified. "Quick, quickly call the imperial physician!"
After spitting out a large mouthful of black blood, Emperor Kang Cheng felt a little relieved. He held onto the table, tears streaming down his face as he growled, "What is Qin Yue doing for a living?!"
Emperor Kang Cheng's hands were shaking as he looked at the battle report. Prince, they actually let him die at the hands of the Qiang and Hu people!
He received two battle reports. The first one was that Qin Yue led a large army to besiege the Qianghu royal court, and the second one was the news that the prince had passed away.
Wei Zili came over and helped Emperor Kang Cheng back onto the couch. After he settled, he went to collect the two battle reports. When he accidentally glanced at the contents of the letters, he trembled all over and wished he could stab his eyes out! The crown prince had died in the northern border?! Something had happened, something terrible had happened!
Wei Zili's head buzzed, and he felt the gazes from behind him piercing his back. He prostrated himself on the ground. It was over. Was this all he could know? But he couldn't help but think, the sky is falling. What will happen next? What will happen to everyone involved?
"Come here, capture the fourth prince for me!" This was Emperor Kang Cheng's first order.
"Yes!" Wei Zili climbed up from his crawling position.
But when Wei Zili just walked out of the door to give orders, he was called back.
"etc--"
"emperor?"
Emperor Kang Cheng took a deep breath and suppressed his anger. "Don't arrest them yet. Let's secretly surround the Jingyang Palace."
"Write down Xue Huaimin for me." Emperor Kang Cheng said with a smirk. His crown prince was dead. They had killed his crown prince. The fourth prince was one of his few sons, and he hadn't figured out how to deal with him yet. But how could people like Xue Huaimin live?!
Wei Zili quickly realized that the emperor meant to include Xue Huaimin on the list of burial companions.
"And the Xie family!" The Xie family, a group of people who curry favor with the powerful! When the Crown Prince's life and death were in doubt, they surrendered to Song Mo! They want to gain the credit of following the emperor, right? He wants them to get nothing!
"Your Majesty, there are nearly two hundred people in the Xie family, this..." Wei Zili reminded in a low voice.
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