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Chapter 222
Chapter 222
Chapter 222
The courtyard teemed with bodies, and countless torches illuminated the black-armored soldiers, standing silently and still. The atmosphere was exceptionally oppressive. Lu Chengqing felt an enormous weight burdened him, and he struggled to look at Su Li before speaking.
“Prince Yongle, I don’t understand what you’re insinuating. I have nothing to say if you’re determined to accuse the Lu Clan falsely.” Lu Chengqing clenched his teeth and continued, “The three of us might meet our end today. But if you persist stubbornly, how can you quash the criticism from the public? You don’t even have the authority to challenge my Lu Clan and many other influential families to death!”
In this dire situation, Lu Chengqing abandoned thoughts of his life and death. He knew well of Su Li’s unwavering resolve. Su Li had invaded the premises and begun killing without hesitation, and it seemed that today’s outcome might not be in their favor. In this dire situation, his only option was to put himself on the verge of death, hoping for a slim chance of survival.
“Lu Clan… After tonight, the Lu Clan will cease to exist in this realm,” Su Li chuckled. After hearing these words, Lu Chengqing’s eyes widened in shock. Even now, he couldn’t grasp the audacity of Su Li targeting the Lu Clan.
The Fanyang Lu Clan had a lineage that spanned a millennium. A family of their stature would typically experience gradual decline, but they had always managed to hold their ground despite countless wars and upheavals. Their influence was deeply intertwined with the imperial court so that any move could trigger a chain reaction. Su Li intended to eradicate the Lu Clan. Even emperors tread carefully when dealing with matters concerning such influential families. What gave Su Li the confidence to believe he could accomplish such a feat? Lu Chengqing’s thoughts were tumultuous as he anxiously considered his options.
Su Li displayed remarkable audacity by openly attacking private residences in Changan. Could the Emperor endure this? If he could delay and hold out until dawn, allowing the palace to learn of this situation, then the peril to the Lu Clan might be alleviated. That was what he had to do! Lu Chengqing quickly formulated a plan. Just as he strategized, a shrill voice echoed outside the door.
“The Imperial Edict has arrived!” Following that, several eunuchs swiftly entered the courtyard. Upon seeing these individuals, Lu Chengqing’s face lit up with hope. He believed that the Lu Clan was saved! However, the next moment shattered his hopes.
“By the Emperor’s decree, the Lu Clan, driven by personal grievances, conspired to assassinate Prince Yongle’s son…” With the first few words, Lu Chengqing felt like descending into an icy abyss. The eunuch reading the edict remained impassive and continued reciting from the proclamation. Li Er listed over ten grave charges against the Lu Clan, each supported by time, location, and individuals involved, presented with compelling evidence. The details provided in the charges were exceedingly comprehensive.
In essence, the Imperial Edict laid bare all the transgressions committed by the Lu Clan, exposing their atrocious actions in great detail. The Lu Clan’s long history of misconduct was unveiled in a single stroke, sparing no details. The reading of the proclamation continued for nearly half an hour. As time passed, the faces of the three Lu Clan members turned pallid, and their bodies quivered uncontrollably.
Lu Chengqing gritted his teeth and clung to what remained, but hope had long abandoned him. He couldn’t understand why Li Er, usually complacent and assertive, had allowed Su Li to act recklessly. Furthermore, it was clear that this Imperial Edict had been meticulously prepared in advance. Otherwise, Li Er’s response wouldn’t have been so swift. It was evident that Li Er had harbored intentions to deal with the Lu Clan decisively, and the situation had irrevocably ruptured.
Despair overwhelmed Lu Chengqing as he listened to the litany of crimes listed by Li Er against the Lu Clan. Conspiring to assassinate a member of the imperial family and hoarding military weapons—each charge was a serious act of rebellion. As the words “exterminate nine generations” fell from the eunuch’s lips, Lu Chengqing could bear it no longer. His body swayed, and then he collapsed backward. The Lu Clan was truly doomed! Even now, he couldn’t grasp why Li Er had taken such a self-destructive path for the nation’s sake.
In the palace, Li Er stood before the grand hall entrance, gazing up at the inky night sky. He couldn’t understand why he had acted so swiftly and decisively against the Lu Clan. That was because he fundamentally didn’t understand. He didn’t understand the nature of Su Li or Li Er’s perspective on him. Su Li was the kind of person who could defy any worldly authority without hesitation, acting solely on his own will. As an emperor, even Li Er had to yield to Su Li’s determination. The influence of the Five Aristocratic Families and the Seven Noble Houses paled compared to Su Li’s will.
After a long while, Li Er sighed, realizing that he had issued the edict out of necessity. Su Li had already upset the balance, and if he mobilized his forces, using the most explosive methods to eradicate the Lu Clan, the Emperor’s authority would be completely undermined. Li Er’s move was a desperate attempt to salvage some dignity, a choice between two evils, with the lesser being the eradication of the Lu Clan.
No one understood better than Li Er what Su Li meant for the Tang Dynasty. As an emperor, he was accustomed to weighing pros and cons and making decisions based on exchanging interests. When observing Su Li’s actions, Li Er couldn’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia and envy. He wished he could act without restraint, to do as he pleased, but he couldn’t. Su Li didn’t need to consider consequences because he could bear them, which was the aspect that Li Er envied the most.
At this moment, Li Er’s emotions were mixed with gratitude, and a touch of envy, yet a faint worry lingered deep within him. His emotions were incredibly complex. His only hope was that Su Li had already planned for the aftermath, for the fall of the Fanyang Lu Clan was no small matter. The real troubles were just beginning after their demise.
The thought of the morning court session weighed heavily on Li Er’s mind. The destruction of the Lu Clan would be the most significant upheaval in the history of the Tang Dynasty, surpassing any external wars in terms of its impact on the political landscape. Courtly conflicts like these were enigmatic, cruel, and bloody. How would Su Li respond?
As he aged, Li Er lost the fearless courage of his youth, and matters of profit and loss no longer consumed his mind. Whenever he thought of Su Li, he couldn’t help but sigh at how old he had become. Li Er turned his gaze towards Wannian County, his expression complex. After a long while, he sighed deeply. “Tonight, Changan is destined to be sleepless…”