The girl's hands were fair and soft. The nails that had been injured earlier had already grown back, trimmed neatly, and now gleamed with a healthy luster. In contrast, Xiao Yan, who had practiced martial arts for many years and wielded a sword, his hands were calloused from countless battles and killings.
Now, as his calloused fingers stroked the girl's palm, there was a faint itch to it. Tang Ning flinched slightly, but Xiao Yan gently hooked her hand back.
"I plan to leave the capital the day after tomorrow," Xiao Yan said in a low voice.
Tang Ning was momentarily stunned. "So soon?"
"Mm." Xiao Yan responded. "I was supposed to leave tomorrow, but the aristocratic families might send someone to check on my injuries. I'll leave after the imperial physicians come by tomorrow. The earlier I go, the sooner I can return. I want to leave while the Lu family is weak and distracted, to avoid any mistakes."
Although Tang Ning was reluctant for Xiao Yan to leave, she understood that his departure was for an important matter. She lowered her voice and said, "But what about your injuries?"
Xiao Yan smiled. "It’s not that serious. For the first two days after leaving the capital, I’ll travel in a carriage to avoid attracting attention. I'll be able to rest a bit, and once we’re far enough from the capital, riding a horse won’t be a problem."
"Can the imperial physicians be deceived?" Tang Ning asked.
"The wound is in a critical area. As long as they don’t see the actual injury, it will be fine. Tomorrow, I’ll have Qin Nianzi help me cover it up, and with the help of Doctor Sun, everything should be fine."
Tang Ning relaxed when she heard this.
The two of them leaned against each other, no longer with the previous ambiguity, but still warm and comfortable.
...
Lu Qin’s assassination attempt on the emperor and Xiao Yan’s severe injuries from protecting him spread quickly through the capital. The officials, especially from the "pure stream" faction*, were shocked, their jaws nearly dropping. Even the aristocratic families were in disbelief.
Had Lu Qin gone mad?
Cui Lin was the first to approach Feng Qiuli, and the second prince also sent people to gather information. Even the Empress Lu was stunned and ordered people to investigate. But the Imperial Guard had already issued a gag order, and no one knew the specifics of what had happened. The rumors were flying, and some even wondered if it was all just gossip.
However, the next morning at court, Emperor An angrily condemned Lu Qin for the assassination attempt and accused the Lu family of treason. Lu Chongyuan knelt and presented a petition. After a late-night interrogation by the Privy Council, it was revealed that Lu Qin had tried to harm Princess Song Tang Ning of Yiyang County, but by a twist of fate, nearly caused the emperor's death. Only then did the court realize what had truly happened.
Although Lu Qin’s target had not been Emperor An, the fact that he had nearly killed the emperor while attempting to harm Princess Song had left the court in shock. Given that Lu Qin dared to openly carry out an assassination under the emperor’s nose, Emperor An was even more furious. With the emperor’s deep resentment of the Lu family for previous threats, he wanted to execute Lu Qin on the spot.
It was only after Cao Dejiang and the Grand Chancellor, Liang, intervened that Emperor An spared Lu Qin’s life. However, the facts of his attempted murder on the emperor and his plot against Princess Song remained undeniable.
Emperor An finally sentenced Lu Qin to eighty lashes and exiled him to the wilderness after the Song family.
It was one thing to hold Lu Qin accountable, but the most shocking thing was that Lu Chongyuan was also punished. Due to his poor upbringing of his sons, and with the consecutive scandals involving Lu Zhao and Lu Qin, Emperor An, in his fury, stripped him of his position as Chancellor and demoted him to Deputy Chancellor.
"This light punishment serves as a warning to those in the court to discipline their families. Let Lu Zhao and Lu Qin serve as an example. You’re demoted to Deputy Chancellor, Lu Qing, do you have any objections?" Emperor An looked down at Lu Chongyuan.
Lu Chongyuan knelt in the imperial hall, feeling the weight of every gaze in the room upon him.
Although the demotion from Chancellor to Deputy Chancellor seemed only a minor drop in rank, this single level made all the difference. The Chancellor was a position held by only one person, while there were several Deputy Chancellors. The former held power in the cabinet and the court, while the latter was simply a subordinate with little authority, depending on the higher-ups for their power.
Emperor An appeared merciful, claiming it was merely a small punishment, but in reality, he had brought down Lu Chongyuan, who had held such a high position for so long.
Lu Chongyuan knew that Emperor An was using this issue to pressure him in front of everyone, forcing him to yield publicly, but he could not refute it, nor could he afford to. The assassination of the emperor and the harm to the emperor’s body could have led to the ruin of his entire family, but Emperor An had "only" demoted him a rank.
How merciful! How considerate of the old official’s face…
"Lu Chongyuan, are you unwilling?" Emperor An seemed certain that Lu Chongyuan would not dare to voice any objections.
Lu Chongyuan's face was pale as he bit his lip, anger welling up inside, but on the surface, he lowered his head.
"Your servant dares not. I thank Your Majesty for your consideration. I will discipline my household and raise my sons properly so as not to disappoint the emperor’s will."
Seeing the suffocating expression on Lu Chongyuan’s face, Emperor An finally felt a bit of satisfaction.
"Xiao Yan’s rescue of the emperor has been of great service. He’s also shielded your Lu family from disaster. Lu Chongyuan should thank him well, and no gift would be too much."
Lu Chongyuan swallowed a mouthful of blood, his voice hoarse as he replied, "I understand, I will certainly thank Governor Xiao properly."
...
The morning court session was quite dramatic due to the events surrounding the Lu family.
After court was dismissed, people discussed Lu Qin’s audacity, and there was a certain level of schadenfreude regarding the fall of the Lu family. Of course, many were also curious about how Grand Chancellor Liang, a member of the aristocratic families, had intervened to help Lu Qin, while Cao Dejiang, who had long been at odds with the aristocracy, had also pleaded for mercy.
"Lu Zhongshu has quite a talent. He and Cao Dejiang have been at odds for years, yet now Cao Dejiang has come to plead for your son."
Cui Lin purposely blocked Lu Chongyuan’s path and, after finishing his sentence, pretended to realize, "Ah, I forgot, you’re no longer the Chancellor. From now on, should I address you as Lu Langling? It seems like you lost a Langling and gained another one, fitting, isn’t it?"
Lu Zhao had once been a Deputy Minister, and others also referred to him as Langling.
Those officials nearby, who had been preparing to leave, stopped upon hearing the scene. They stood by, watching the infighting between the aristocracy, as Cui Lin and Lu Chongyuan exchanged barbs.
Lu Chongyuan's face darkened. "That’s nothing compared to how only you are left in the Cui family’s household, with countless descendants, yet none have accomplished anything. If one day, Minister Cui makes a mistake and loses his life, the entire Cui family will have nothing left."
"You!"
Cui Lin immediately turned pale with rage.
Lu Chongyuan wasn’t incapable of sharp retorts, but he had always maintained a dignified stance and cared for the family’s reputation. However, after Cui Lin’s repeated provocations, even a sage would become harsh.
"My eldest and second sons may be foolish, but they’ve served the emperor, and when they make mistakes, they’re punished as they should be. As for Minister Cui, I’ve heard your son was demoted after making a mistake as a Fongan Ling, and your grandson, forced by you to study, has gone mad and become a lunatic."
"I advise you, Minister Cui, not to force your children and grandchildren too much. If they lack talent or ambition, don’t push them. Otherwise, father, son, and grandchildren will be torn apart."
Cui Lin had never heard such sharp words from Lu Chongyuan before. Every sentence felt like a direct stab to his heart. Yet, recalling the rumors he had heard the night before, he sneered coldly.
"Even if my sons and grandsons are flawed, they don’t resort to murder. The Cui family has prospered, unlike the Lu family."
"Your eldest son’s head is about to be severed. Your second son is alive but useless. Lu Langling, you better look after your grandsons carefully. If anything happens to them, your family will be cut off, and that will be a tragic fate."
Lu Chongyuan: "... Cui Lin!!"
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T/N: The pure/clean faction: Those members of officialdom who dislike the noble families influence on the court and on the emperor. These are usually officials from “clean” backgrounds untainted by the mess that comes with being part of aristocracy.
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You can read ahead to chapterr 400 (100+ extra chapters) here
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