On a cold winter day, the wind howls like a knife, stinging one's cheeks.
Ji Xiaoxiao was not joking. The patrolmen and imperial guards obeyed the order and stepped forward. Putting themselves in her shoes, if Lu Guiting wanted to ascend the throne and live a peaceful life, Ji Xiaoxiao had to be eliminated. Similarly, if Ji Xiaoxiao wanted the world to prosper, she had to die.
It's not the right time. A moment of patience brings calm, and taking a step back opens up a vast expanse.
Just wait a little longer, just a little longer.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I have devoted myself to the country, how could I be considered a traitor?" Lu Guiting paused, then cried out, "For this country, for these people, I have worked diligently and conscientiously, daring not to slacken in the slightest, for fear of causing the slightest harm to the country and the people. You... You..."
Which official isn't a gifted and eloquent speaker?
Unlike the original owner, who was infamous and known throughout the world, Lu Guiting was a hypocrite, outwardly appearing kind and benevolent, and her reputation for virtue spread far and wide. Even the farmers in the mountains would recount Lu Guiting's good deeds to their grandchildren with great relish during their leisure time.
Now, Lu Guiting tearfully confesses her fervent patriotism and unwavering loyalty to Ji Xiaoxiao, only to be misunderstood as heartless and treacherous. Unaware onlookers, recalling Lu Guiting's good deeds and Ji Xiaoxiao's wickedness, rallied to Lu Guiting's side, hurling vicious words and hateful glances. Some even boldly took advantage of the situation to launch a barrage of attacks against Ji Xiaoxiao.
Of course, the snowball didn't hit Ji Xiaoxiao. After all, the defenses were so tight that it was impossible for a mosquito to get close. How could a tiny snowball possibly think it could hurt someone?
He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world. If the people of the capital are willing to risk their lives to save Lu Guiting, and Ji Xiaoxiao interferes, ignoring dissenting opinions and punishing Lu Guiting indiscriminately, then there may be many more real Lu Guitings in the future.
As the saying goes, a gentleman takes his revenge even after ten years. An emperor with great ambition would surely swallow this bitter pill, wait for the right opportunity, and lie low, for there is plenty of time in the future!
However, the original owner was an oddball. She was the emperor of the Lü Dynasty, yet she didn't care about the country. She was tortured to death by Lu Zhixuan, Lu Guiting, and Lü Shangqing. Therefore, the original owner's wish was very clear: she wanted Lu Zhixuan to suffer endless torment, for the entire Lu family to die a horrible death, and for all Lu family descendants to be slaves for men and maids for women for eternity, never to rise again.
See? It was the original owner who didn't ask her to be the guardian angel of the Lü Dynasty!
"Lu Guiting committed treason and attempted to assassinate the emperor. The evidence is conclusive. She will be executed by slow slicing in three days. From this day forward, the men of her family will be slaves and the women maids, for all eternity. This rule will not be changed for the descendants of the Lü family." Why wouldn't Ji Xiaoxiao be happy to resolve this matter sooner rather than later?
"I am guilty, I am guilty, I have failed the late Emperor, Your Majesty... Your Majesty... her." He hesitated, leaving only half of what he wanted to say, which was the best way to let his imagination run wild.
Having spent many years in officialdom, Lu Guiting was well aware of its intricacies. She knew that some things could only be said by others; she herself would never utter a word about them.
As expected, Lu Guiting's actions aroused the sympathy of the general public. They pleaded for Lu Guiting in unison, and some hot-blooded young men had already seized many of the guards' swords, shamelessly declaring that they were acting on behalf of Heaven.
Ji Xiaoxiao disregarded their lives and ordered Lu Guiting to be imprisoned. Once Lu Guiting was in her hands, she could do whatever she wanted with her.
"You...you beast, worse than a pig or a dog, Lü Ying, you are not fit to be emperor!" someone shouted from the crowd. "Those of you who still have a conscience, ask yourselves, would you just stand by and watch Lord Lu suffer innocently?"
Most people have a herd mentality and will blindly follow the crowd. Some people answer no, and then they repeat what others say, and more and more people answer no.
"Lord Lu was devoted to the country, yet she suffered an unjust accusation. What use is such an emperor who cannot distinguish right from wrong to the country, his family, and his people?"
The crowd grew increasingly restless, and public opinion guided them to direct their attacks at Ji Xiaoxiao.
“A country cannot be without a ruler for a day, nor can a family be without a head of household for a day. The treacherous Lü Ying is unworthy to be emperor. We are the people, the foundation of the country, and we can choose our own leader. Lord Lu is highly respected, exceptionally talented, and open-minded. She…”
"Hmph, Lü Ying isn't good enough? But Lu Guiting is?"
Two assassins cleared a path for Lu Yalan, who easily walked to the front of the crowd, climbed the city wall, and coldly looked at Lu Guiting beside her.
"Lu Guiting is devoted to the country? You can stop joking, I'm laughing so hard my stomach hurts. If Lu Guiting is a loyal and capable minister, then there are no treacherous officials in this world."
"Hey, Lu Guiting, why don't you take these idiots to see the weapons and dragon robes in your mansion's underground palace?" Lu Yalan intervened, completely reversing the outcome of the battle.
Lu Yalan is Lu Guiting's daughter. Although she keeps a low profile, she is a well-known figure in Beijing, and many people know her.
The biological daughter testifies that her mother is plotting a rebellion. Truth and falsehood, right and wrong, are intertwined. One must know that flies do not land on eggs without cracks.
"Yalan, what's wrong with you?"
Just when she thought she had succeeded, everything fell apart at the last minute. Lu Guiting was so angry that she wished she could turn back time and strangle her unfilial daughter, Lu Yalan.
Mother and daughter turned against each other? Great! Heaven is on my side!
However, Lu Yalan?
In the original owner's memory, there was such a person, but she was a nobody, forgotten in some remote mountain village. It was only when she heard her voice and met her that Ji Xiaoxiao remembered her.
To be honest, Lu Yalan's life was not good at all.
Lu Guiting ascended the throne as Empress, and Lu Yalan was named Crown Prince. Less than a month later, during the autumn hunt, he was mauled to death by a bear with a single claw, and his death was gruesome.
Ji Xiaoxiao was a knowledgeable person, and she noticed something fishy about it.
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