“Fools!”
Xiao Yan slammed his brush down. “Did Liu Tong’en’s men have no brains?!”
It was such an obvious trap, and they blundered right into it. Not only did they escape and spread rumors that Prince Pingshan had rebelled instead of reporting back to the capital, but they thought such talk would scare Pingshan? Did they really believe he’d just sit and wait to be caught?
This was practically handing him a weapon.
“What did Prince Pingshan do?” Xiao Yan asked coldly.
Jinyun lowered his voice. “Naturally, Pingshan didn’t take it lying down. He sent men to hunt down the survivors and hired several physicians to treat his heir, all while publicly lamenting that he hadn’t wanted to clash with the palace. He never expected Emperor An to be so shameless.”
“He claimed Lu Jiu’an was sent to his residence on Emperor An’s orders. When the old He family case resurfaced and the Lu family’s crimes could no longer be hidden, the Emperor turned on them, trying to pin Lu Jiu’an’s treason on Pingshan’s residence to cover up his past dealings with the Lu family.”
“Pingshan said the He family was loyal to the throne yet was framed and slaughtered by the former Emperor and An. Now, An wants to use the same tactic against the Lu family and him. With the He family’s vindication and An’s self-incriminating edict laid bare, many people believe him.”
Xiao Yan’s face darkened. “So Pingshan killed the exiled Lu family members?”
“No, it was likely Lu Jiu’an.”
Jinyun spoke softly. “When Liu Tong’en’s men went south, our people were watching. Pingshan’s residence sent no one out. After the Lu family exiles died, someone collected their bodies. Many were said to have been killed defenselessly, stabbed through the chest with a single sword.”
The exiled Lu family members were mostly from collateral branches, unlike the main line. Some had martial training, and with their large numbers, nearly three hundred elite soldiers escorted them. Yet all were slain on the spot.
The Lu exiles didn’t die alongside the escorting soldiers. It seemed they fled some distance before being killed, without any signs of resistance. Most were stabbed through the chest from behind or had their throats slit. This wasn’t the work of an outside attack.
Only if they were completely off guard could this happen.
Even if Pingshan was unfamiliar with the Lu collateral branches, achieving such a massacre would require three to five hundred elite soldiers. But Pingshan’s residence hadn’t sent anyone out of their fief in the past two months. Only Lu Jiu’an, with the Lu family’s hidden forces and private soldiers, could pull this off.
“And…” Jinyun paused. “From Beiling, Tuba sent word that Song Jinziu has met Ji Rongqing. Though Ji Rongqing pretended not to know him and showed no cracks, Song Jinziu insists he’s Lu Zhinian.”
“Song Jinziu said he’s known Lu Zhinian for over ten years, studied together for years, and even shared a bed during close times. Despite the man’s changed demeanor and ruthless methods, Song still recognized him.”
“After hearing this, Xiahou Ling took a new interest in Song Jinziu and promoted him, even arranging for him to meet Beiling’s new emperor.”
Xiao Yan listened in silence, then let out a cold laugh. “Lu Chongyuan was quite something. He raised a Lu Zhinian who changed his name and stirred up Beiling’s court, and a Lu Jiu’an who could wipe out his entire clan with his own hands. If Lu Chongyuan knew in the afterlife, he’d surely be proud.”
Jinyun: “…”
Whether Lu Chongyuan would be proud, Jinyun didn’t know, but his master was clearly displeased.
Xiao Yan’s eyes were sharp with anger. He hadn’t expected Liu Tong’en’s men to be so foolish, nor Lu Jiu’an to be so ruthless.
To give Pingshan a legitimate reason to rebel, Lu Jiu’an slaughtered hundreds of Lu clansmen without leaving a single survivor.
Even Lu Chongyuan wasn’t that heartless!
Footsteps approached from outside, their familiar cadence one Xiao Yan knew well. His gaze cold, he said to Jinyun, “Have Tuba and our Beiling spies do everything to support Song Jinziu. Help him gain Xiahou Ling’s trust and integrate into Beiling’s court, stirring conflict between Xiahou Ling and Ji Rongqing.”
Jinyun asked, “What about Pingshan and Lu Jiu’an?”
“Spread the news of the Lu clan’s annihilation to Beiling and inform Emperor An of the Crown Prince’s involvement. The Crown Prince has been too idle lately, give him something to do.”
Xiao Yan glanced at the figure approaching through the green gauze screen, lifting the curtain to enter, and continued, “Keep a close watch on Pingshan. He dared to kill Liu Tong’en’s men, and Lu Jiu’an wiped out the Lu clan to bolster Pingshan’s lies about An’s collusion with the Lu family. They’re likely planning something.”
Jinyun’s expression tightened. At this point, the only move they could be planning was rebellion.
“My lord, should we eliminate Pingshan first?”
“Killing him is useless.”
Not to mention Pingshan had three sons. Killing him would only confirm the rumors and serve no purpose. His heir and other sons could still lead troops. Even if the entire Pingshan residence was wiped out, Lu Jiu’an was the real threat.
“Have our people in the south stay vigilant. Coordinate with nearby prefectures and garrisons to prepare. Use any means necessary to find Lu Jiu’an’s whereabouts.”
“Yes.”
Seeing Tang Ning approach, Xiao Yan said to Jinyun, “You may go.”
Jinyun nodded and left, though his face still carried unconcealed worry. He bowed to Tang Ning as she entered.
Tang Ning noticed the concern in his expression and sensed the tense atmosphere in the room. As she drew closer, she saw Xiao Yan’s desk littered with red cinnabar marks, the brush seemingly flung down. Worried, she asked, “Brother, what’s happened?”
Xiao Yan led her over. “There may be war.”
He briefly recounted the deaths of the Lu family exiles and the situation with Prince Pingshan’s residence. Tang Ning’s face showed shock.
Lu Jiu’an killed all the Lu collateral clansmen?
That was hundreds of people!
Was he mad?!
Xiao Yan guided Tang Ning around the desk to sit in the small tea room nearby, then said, “I had hoped to avoid this war and sent people to persuade Pingshan. But I didn’t expect Liu Tong’en’s men to be so foolish, nor Lu Jiu’an to be so ruthless, sacrificing the entire Lu clan to secure Pingshan’s cooperation. This war seems unavoidable.”
Tang Ning’s brow furrowed. “Brother, this news won’t stay hidden long. With the tiger tally in your hands, I fear Emperor An will use this as an excuse to send you out of the capital. If you don’t go, he’ll surely seize the tally under the pretext of deploying troops to counter Pingshan’s rebellion.”
Her worry deepened. “If Lu Jiu’an weren’t beyond An’s control, I’d suspect this was a scheme cooked up by An and Pingshan together.”
Wait…
A scheme together?
Tang Ning and Xiao Yan’s faces darkened almost simultaneously.
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You can read ahead to chapterr 770 (100+ extra chapters) here
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