My spirit appeared on the road to exile, and I was treated as an ancestor.

Chapter 159 The Gods Deliver a Message for the Lu Family
After eating and drinking his fill, Gu Xingzhao remembered that when he arrived, Lu Qing had been sighing and complaining, as if something had happened.

She suddenly felt a little embarrassed, because all she could think about at the time was food. She hadn't had barbecue in so long and was really craving it.

"By the way, what did you want to say to me when I came here?"

Lu Qing: "."

He truly hadn't expected that his ancestor would ask him about it again; he had originally planned to keep it to himself.

Lu Qing repeated what he had said earlier, this time speaking more fluently and even filling in any gaps in his understanding.

Gu Xingzhao remained silent for a moment, recalling the history that it took Prince Su less than two years from his rebellion to his capture of the capital and his ascension to the throne.

She thought that Prince Su's rebellion would happen at least a year or two later, but she didn't expect it to happen so soon.

Gu Xingzhao couldn't think too far ahead; he could only worry about the Lu family in the present. "How much will this matter affect you now?"

Lu Qing: "Not much."

Now, Prince Su believes that the Lu family is of one mind with him, but this is only the opinion of Prince Su and a few others. Even if Prince Su's plan succeeds, it won't be a matter of just a few months, and the Lu family still has time to plan.

The worst-case scenario is that Prince Su is defeated, which implicates the Lu family and gives the emperor a legitimate reason to eliminate them.

But the emperor also secretly sent quite a few people.

The Lu family will inevitably bear the stigma of rebellion sooner or later.

Lu Qing had considered all of this, so it was necessary to send his relatives who were still in the capital to the north through Prince Su.

Whether it was to guard against the emperor or to guard against Prince Su.

After listening to Lu Qing's analysis, Gu Xingzhao felt much more at ease. She was very happy that the old man could cheer up in such a short time. It seemed that the imposing aura of the Grand Secretary who once dominated the court had returned.

Gu Xingzhao thought that since the old man was so energetic, he couldn't let him down, so he immediately asked, "What are your plans after you get to the North?"

Lu Qingwei sighed almost imperceptibly, “Upon arriving at the place of exile, those who have committed crimes will be required to serve three years of hard labor. Those under the age of fourteen, over the age of seventy, and female relatives are exempt from hard labor. Those with official positions or those who have achieved academic success are exempt from hard labor. After the three-year term of hard labor is completed, they may return home on their own.”

Gu Xingzhao asked in surprise, "Can I go home after my term is over?"

She thought that once she was exiled, without the emperor's pardon, she would just wait to die in exile. She never expected to be able to go home.

Lu Qing nodded, "Only those with facial tattoos will be forced into lifelong labor."

The most agonizing part of exile was the journey of three thousand miles. Only a few could endure it to reach the place of exile. After that, the hard labor was not easy either. Of those who could endure both of these, less than five out of a hundred could return home after their term was over.

Thinking back to these matters concerning exile, he recalled that he had mentioned them to the late emperor years ago. Many court officials opposed them, and it took three years before they were incorporated into the laws of the Great Jin Dynasty. Before that, all those exiled, regardless of age, gender, official rank, or merit, had to serve ten years of hard labor and could not return home without a special pardon.

Lu Qing truly never imagined that the compassion he showed back then would now be the one protecting him.

Gu Xingzhao smiled and said, "That's good. When we get to the North, write down anything you need and tell me, and I'll get it for you."

She hasn't arrived yet, and doesn't know what the situation is like there. She wants to prepare some things in advance, but all she can prepare are daily necessities.

I told Lu Qing in advance so they could tell me what they needed and I could prepare it in time.

Lu Qing felt somewhat ashamed. He had initially said all this precisely because of his ancestors' words, and now that they had indeed spoken, he felt a little embarrassed; after all, he wasn't as thick-skinned as his grandson. However, there were many situations where he needed to be even more shameless, like now.

Lu Qing coughed lightly, "Thank you, ancestor. I wonder if you could provide some writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone?"

Gu Xingzhao asked in surprise, "But do Youtang and the others need it?"

Previously, considering the inconvenience of using writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, she had prepared water-writing cloths for Lu Youtang and Shunyu. Not long ago, she also bought writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, thinking that she would send them to Lu Qing and the others after they arrived in the North. She did not expect that they would need them now.

Lu Qing quickly explained, "Returning to our ancestors means writing a letter back to the capital to our family and relatives, asking them to leave the capital and go to Huaibei."

That's why we need to use brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

Gu Xingzhao suddenly realized that Lu Qing had just said he wanted to write a letter back to the capital, bring his relatives to Huaibei, and even ask Prince Su's men for escort.

"Wait here, I'll go get it now."

Half a month later, feeling the deep love of their ancestors again, the Lu family's emotions were once again ignited. Those family members who were originally worried that their relatives would suffer if they came to the North immediately made up their minds to listen to the old man and persuade everyone to come and reunite as a family.

With their ancestors around, they have nothing to fear.

Soon, Gu Xingzhao retrieved the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone and gave them to Lu Qing, who then distributed them to the family members to write letters.

She asked curiously, "How do you send these letters to the capital? How long will it take them to arrive?"

Lu Qing replied, "If we hire a messenger and send the message to the capital by fast horse, it will arrive in about eight or nine days."

In fact, if there were more silver, a more attentive servant could be hired, and the delivery could be completed in six or seven days.

Gu Xingzhao remained silent. This was far too long. Even a fast horse would only take eight or nine days, while a slow horse would take ten or more days. A lot could have happened in that time.

She suggested to Lu Qing, "How about this, you write the letter and give it to me, and I'll send it to the capital for you, and then find someone to deliver it to your relatives, how about that?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Qing was deeply moved. "If we could trouble our ancestors to help deliver the message, that would be wonderful. Thank you so much!"

The backstage offering value increased by several tens, which shows how important this matter is to the Lu family.

Gu Xingzhao originally wanted to tell him that it had been so long, there was no need to say thank you anymore, as it would seem too formal.

But after thinking about it, she decided to let Lu Qing say more in order to earn the offerings. "Then I'll come to pick it up tomorrow morning. You can prepare the letter for me."

Lu Qing was filled with gratitude, "Okay!"

After Gu Xingzhao left, Lu Qing went to see his eldest son and his wife, and told his son not to forget to write a separate letter to his granddaughter Lu Youtiao. His granddaughter had always been filial, and she had just come to report the good news when the Lu family was in trouble.

I didn't see Lu Youtiao when she was exiled from the city. I suppose she was worried about her husband's family situation and was pregnant, so she couldn't come to see me off. I wonder how she is now.

Song was standing beside her husband when she heard her father-in-law say he wanted to write a letter to his eldest daughter, and she was taken aback.

The purpose of writing to her family was to persuade her father and mother to bring her younger brother's family to the north for refuge. Why would she write to her daughter at this critical juncture?
Should we also persuade Tiao'er to come to the North?

My daughter is still pregnant, and my son-in-law is still an official; how could they possibly come to the north?