Liu Jin slowly dressed, folded the quilt neatly, and went out wearing a blue python robe.
Four servants tied Liu Jin up.
Liu Jin looked at Lu Xingjian, who was surrounded by the crowd, and smiled meaningfully.
Lu Xingjian's eyes narrowed slightly, and he instructed Ma Yongcheng, "Interrogate them thoroughly."
I have a feeling that something is wrong.
That evening, the palace opened the Donghua Gate and interrogated Liu Jin at the vegetable market.
In addition, officials were dispatched to bestow titles upon Liu Jin's private residences both inside and outside the palace.
The funeral for Liu Jin's brother, Liu Jingxiang, was originally scheduled for the fifteenth of August, which is tomorrow.
Now that Liu Jin has been captured, where is the glory of civil and military officials coming to mourn and send him off?
Liu Jingxiang's coffin was dragged out of the mansion by government soldiers and abandoned by the roadside.
Those enemies and their families who had been ruined by Liu Jin were exhumed and their corpses whipped, venting all their anger towards Liu Jin on Liu Jingxiang, and then his body was burned.
Everyone applauded when they heard this.
Lu Xingjian's mood grew increasingly heavy.
He did not look well when he returned to Kunning Palace.
Back then, it was Wanwan who told him not to be the first to act in everything.
He then pushed Liu Jin out.
With his gradual indulgence, Liu Jin became the "standing emperor," slowly disregarding him.
Su Wanwan was still awake. She came over to help him undress and asked softly, "Are you exhausted?"
Lu Xingjian's shoulders slumped slightly: "If I hadn't listened to you and pushed Liu Jin to the forefront, Liu Jin's situation today would probably be mine."
He initiated the border storage verification.
He also sent eunuchs to plunder money and grain from the local areas to replenish the imperial treasury.
Even when Liu Jin and others went to Nanjing to dine with wealthy salt merchants, it was he who gave his approval.
In terms of ruthlessness, he was actually no less ruthless than Liu Jin, and sometimes even surpassed him.
Su Wanwan never expected that he would also feel sorrow for the death of a fellow animal.
That's understandable.
After all, without his indulgence and leniency, Liu Jin would not have ended up like this.
However, if Liu Jin hadn't become too arrogant and acted too excessively, he wouldn't have made so many enemies and offended so many people.
"A kind heart cannot command an army, a righteous heart cannot engage in commerce, a benevolent heart cannot govern, and a virtuous heart cannot be an official, let alone an emperor."
"All you have to do is protect yourself and let others be your weapons and shields, helping you with your work and protecting you from criticism."
Lu Xingjian remained silent.
Su Wanwan pushed him into the bathroom and helped him wash his hair.
"What should be done with the Prince of Anhua?"
"Treason is a heinous crime, and it is unforgivable."
Su Wanwan didn't say anything.
The Great Liang Code clearly stipulates that the crime of treason shall be punished with the death penalty.
All those involved in the conspiracy, regardless of whether they were leaders or accomplices, shall be executed by slow slicing.
The scope of the execution included grandfather, father, son, grandson, brothers and their cohabitants, uncles, brothers' sons, and all those who were sixteen years of age or older were to be beheaded.
Those under the age of fifteen and their female relatives, including mothers, daughters, wives, concubines, and sisters, were not enslaved, and their property was confiscated by the government.
Su Wanwan patiently explained, "Look, the Prince of Anhua rebelled, but he was defeated in just eighteen days. He didn't have much popular support."
"Most of those who followed him in the rebellion were coerced. Why?"
"Do they want to take credit for the success of the founding of the dynasty?"
"They probably felt that there was hope in their old life, and that they weren't going to be unable to make a living."
Lu Xingjian sat in the bathtub, listening quietly to her speak.
Su Wanwan knew that her advice had worked.
“The Nine Garrisons were already desperately poor, with soldiers barely clothed and starving. You should allocate the owed grain to them and force the corrupt officials to return the money.”
"The beneficiaries are precisely these low-ranking border troops."
"As long as ordinary people and border troops live well, the world will not descend into chaos."
"If they can't even get enough to eat and have to steal or rob to survive, that's the real problem."
Lu Xingjian pulled Su Wanwan into the bathtub and buried his face in her chest.
"Wanwan, you are such a understanding flower."
Su Wanwan patted him on the shoulder.
The weather has been hot these past few days, and he has been wearing armor for several days in a row, which has caused him to develop a lot of prickly heat. His originally smooth and firm skin now feels somewhat uneven to the touch.
"After you take a bath, I'll apply some of the prickly heat powder that Yan-ge uses to you."
Lu Xingjian recalled the memory of applying prickly heat powder to his body when he was a child, and the refreshing and elegant scent seemed to return to his nostrils.
So every night, I would treat him like a child and coax him.
He gently rubbed his forehead against her chin.
"What would I do without you?"
This looks like a puppy that needs to be comforted.
Su Wanwan let him hold her, her eyes tender.
"The matter of the Prince of Anhua has just been resolved, but the real battle ahead is yet to come. You must hold on."
With Liu Jin's downfall, his cronies who held important positions were naturally also taken down one by one.
This is the most crucial moment.
Various factions were entrenched in the imperial court.
If one is not careful, a certain power may grow too strong and create a new threat.
The so-called emperor is one who acts as a neutral arbiter, ensuring a smooth transition of power while also being used for his own purposes, so as not to cause an imbalance.
She knew he was deliberately showing his vulnerable side in front of her, but she still couldn't help but give him advice and comfort.
In this world, the demands on men are higher, and the pressure is greater.
After taking a shower, the couple clung to each other and fell asleep, like conjoined twins.
The next morning, Lu Xingjian asked Ma Yongcheng, "Has Liu Jin confessed anything?"
Ma Yongcheng hesitated for a moment, but still reported the truth: "Liu Jin said that the Emperor cannot kill him, as he is still useful to the Emperor."
Lu Xingjian snorted coldly.
"But what did you say?"
"He only said that it concerned the emperor's beloved."
Lu Xingjian frowned.
His true love was Wanwan.
Could it be the Su family arson case from back then?
Wanwan already knows about this.
He didn't pay much attention and went to the morning court session.
Zhang Yong read the memorial: "I succeeded to the great cause... and entrusted Liu Jin with the task of managing the affairs of the state. However, Liu Jin did not understand my heart, deceived me, acted arbitrarily, changed the established laws, and committed cruelty. As a result, officials, soldiers and civilians alike suffered, and the cries of sorrow disturbed the peace. I deeply regret this. I hereby issue an edict to demote Liu Jin to the rank of Attendant-in-Ordinary and order him to live in seclusion in Fengyang."
Fengyu was a sixth-rank official.
Is Liu Jin destined for a peaceful end?
The civil and military officials remained silent.
The subsequent decree, however, brought joy to everyone.
"All newly discovered land reclamation records shall be burned and taxes shall be collected as before. Newly appointed officials for patrolling, salt inspection, and other duties shall be dismissed. Any new regulations concerning the interrogation and sentencing of prisoners by the Ministry of Justice shall be revised and the old system shall be followed."
"If any of Liu Jin's actions are contrary to the dignity of the state, the Ministry of Justice shall, together with all officials, submit a report on each of them and request his removal from office. The charges against Liu Jin shall be severely deliberated and reported to the court."
This means overturning all of Liu Jin's new policies!
They also ordered the judicial authorities to re-convict Liu Jin!
The civil and military officials could hardly believe their ears.
At yesterday's ceremony to present the captives, Liu Jin was still wearing a python robe, and his imperial majesty made everyone afraid to look him in the eye.
I woke up after a nap and the weather had changed!
It all happened so suddenly.
Lu Xingjian observed the attitudes of the civil and military officials but did not say anything more.
Measuring the farmland was too dangerous.
It has affected the interests of too many vested interests; if things go wrong, the country could very well descend into chaos.
The incident involving the Prince of Anhua served as a wake-up call for him; this matter had to be put to rest.
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