Chapter 92 The End of the Lu Family
Emperor Defeng slammed his hand on the table and angrily shouted, "Xiao Liu, you are becoming more and more outrageous. You can use these groundless rumors and unfounded words as evidence to accuse others in front of me?"
Xiao Yanqing was completely stunned.
"Father, Your Majesty, I, your son, shall..."
"Shut up! You're jumping to conclusions without even seeing the whole picture. What's the difference between your actions and that gossipy woman?"
Xiao Yanqing hurriedly knelt down to plead guilty, "Father, I spoke carelessly. Please forgive me!"
Emperor Defeng's face was filled with frost. "Whether you just slipped up or had other thoughts on your mind, you know it in your heart. You are really disappointing me more and more!"
A sense of panic struck my heart, "Father..."
Emperor Defeng didn't give him a chance to explain himself and interrupted him directly, "Go back and reflect on where you went wrong!"
Xiao Yanqing lowered his head, clenched his fists, and spoke with difficulty, "Yes."
Xiao Yanqing left the imperial study with heavy steps, his chest filled with anger and unwillingness.
Why did Xiao Yanci get all the benefits? What was his merit?
Xiao Yanci knew when to stop and did not continue to add insult to injury. He quickly took his leave.
Emperor Defeng rubbed his eyebrows, looking gloomy.
Originally, the sixth son was his most satisfied son and the most preferred candidate for crown prince.
But lately, he's been too impatient.
In just a few days, the case caused a sensation.
Fang Zhiyuan went to the palace to apologize, but he knelt for several days and was unable to see the saint.
Lu Guanxuan immediately submitted a letter of apology, but it fell on deaf ears.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the Fang family was completely finished this time.
I just wonder if the Lu family will be implicated? Will the Pingle County Princess, who just won the emperor's favor, fall out of favor?
Fu Zicheng was very efficient and the confessions of Fang Chengqi and Hu Yong were obtained quickly.
Based on the confession, he sent people to collect evidence and verify it one by one.
On the eleventh day of the first lunar month, the first day of the new year's court, the cause and effect of the case were sorted out and submitted to Emperor Defeng.
The thick memorial listed each case in a clear and organized manner, and the evidence was conclusive.
Emperor Defeng flipped through the pages with a sullen face. Fang Zhiyuan and Lu Guanxuan knelt in the front row, while the ministers below lowered their heads and eyes, not daring to make a sound.
After reading it, Emperor Defeng threw the memorial hard on Fang Zhiyuan's head.
"You're just a lowly fifth-rank official, yet your son is so courageous!"
Fang Zhiyuan crawled on the ground, trembling.
"I, your humble servant, deserve death, Your Majesty, please punish me!"
"You are indeed guilty of a thousand deaths! Come, pass on my decree. Fang Zhiyuan failed to educate his son properly and allowed him to commit violence. He is unworthy of being a minister. His official position is stripped and he is demoted to a commoner. Fang Chengqi has seized the people's land, abducted women, and brought disaster to the village. His crimes are extremely heinous and he will be executed in the autumn!"
Fang Zhiyuan's body softened and he collapsed completely to the ground.
Lu Guanxuan was shivering and his back was wet with cold sweat.
The Fang family has such an ending, how can I stay out of it?
Soon, a stern voice rang out from the head of the group, "Lu Guanxuan, you failed to discipline your clansmen. You are guilty of negligence and cannot escape blame. Considering the meritorious service of the Princess of Pingle, I will leniently sentence you. I will fine you one year's salary and demote you one level to serve as a warning to others."
When Lu Guanxuan heard this, a huge stone in his heart finally fell to the ground, and he felt like he had survived a disaster.
"I accept your command and thank you!"
At this moment, Lu Guanxuan was extremely grateful that he had such a good daughter like Lu Zhiran!
I thought the matter was over, but Emperor Defeng suddenly changed the subject and said, "Minister Fu, you have assisted in handling this case this time. The arrangements have been well-planned and the progress has been rapid. You are very talented and have done a great job."
Fu Zicheng stepped forward with trepidation, "Your Majesty, thank you for your compliment. It is my humble duty to share your worries."
"Wrongdoings should be punished, and meritorious service should naturally be rewarded. Mr. Fu Aiqing has such talent, but it is a waste of his talent in Jingzhao Prefecture. Effective immediately, he will be promoted to Junior Secretary of the Dali Temple to assist in criminal investigations."
Fu Zicheng was overjoyed and immediately kowtowed to express his gratitude.
The Shaoqing of the Dali Temple was not only half a level higher in rank than the Jingzhao Yin, but also had higher powers.
Jingzhao Prefecture handles all large and small civil cases, while Dali Temple handles major cases. Its authority rivals that of the Criminal Court. This is the place Fu Zicheng has always dreamed of.
But he was honest and not good at socializing, and he had no rich family background, so he could only accumulate experience slowly.
I thought it would take at least another ten or eight years to move up, but I never thought that it would be achieved just by doing a job.
The Seventh Prince is truly his benefactor!
Fang and Lu Yingxi were waiting at the door early. As soon as Lu Guanxuan came back, the mother and daughter hurried forward to greet him.
Fang's tone was urgent, "Master, how is it?"
When Lu Guanxuan saw her, his face immediately turned cold.
"Thanks to your Fang family, I was fined a year's salary. Instead of getting promoted, my official rank was demoted! It was only thanks to Sister Ran's great achievements that the Emperor was able to give me a lighter sentence. Otherwise, I would have been demoted to a penniless position!"
With the Fang family as a comparison, Lu Guanxuan was originally glad about the result.
But then he thought again, he had done nothing, gained nothing, and was simply implicated by the Fang family. What was there to be thankful for?
Fang whispered, "Then, what about the Fang family?"
Lu Guanxuan sneered, "Your father will be stripped of his official position and demoted to a commoner. As for your eldest brother, he will be executed in the autumn!"
Fang's body softened and she could barely stand.
"How, how could this happen? Why is the punishment so severe?"
"Your eldest brother has committed such a serious crime, and you still want the Emperor to show him leniency? The Emperor has shown mercy by not beheading all the Fang family members! You stay here and do not have any contact with the Fang family. If I find out that you are secretly helping them, I will divorce you!"
Lu Guanxuan uttered harsh words, ignored the mother and daughter, and walked away.
Lu Yingxi supported Fang, her palms feeling cold.
"Mom, how could things turn out like this? What should we do from now on..."
Their maternal grandfather was demoted to a commoner, and their father disliked them because of this. On the other hand, Lu Zhiran's status and position rose rapidly. How will they live in the mansion in the future?
Lu Yingxi's tears flowed silently.
Fang held her hand firmly and said calmly, "Don't be afraid. Your second and third uncles were not implicated, which shows that the emperor hasn't completely wiped out the Fang family. Your third uncle is a fourth-rank official and will definitely be able to prop up the Fang family again."
As long as the Fang family doesn't fall, she will have her mother's family, and she and her daughter will have no one to rely on.
"We still have Jun'er. When Jun'er passes the imperial examination, our lives will be even better."
Lu Yingxi's eyes were dull and filled with despair. "But that will take many years. I can't wait any longer. Mother, what should I do about my marriage?"
The Fang family has suffered such a disaster and her father has been demoted. She is afraid that the family that she originally looked down upon may not be willing to marry her.
She could only choose a family that was not even as good as the Lu family.
The fantasy in her heart was shattered and she had to return to the cold reality. How could she be willing to accept this?
When Fang thought of this, she felt a lump in her throat.
"Mother will find a way. Mother will definitely find a good home for you! No matter what, you are better than Lu Zhiran, a second-marriage!"
There was no confidence in saying this at this moment, but this was the only way they could comfort themselves.
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