Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty: Please say long live His Majesty

Chapter 35 Why, King Wei looks down on the Lu family of Fanyang?

Standing firmly on the ground, Li Chengqian gave Lu Chengqing a deep look, then raised his hand and said with a gentle expression: "Everyone, please stand up. Today's funeral ceremony will be simple."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Everyone in the Lu family finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your Highness, please!" Lu Chengqing moved sideways, and the people from the Lu family immediately made way for him.

Li Chengqian subconsciously looked up.

Inside the Lu Mansion, countless figures stood solemnly.

After all, the Fanyang Lu family is one of the five most prestigious families in the world.

Even though there were many rumors in the court that made people subconsciously stay away, and even though Lu Hu was only a seventh-rank prince's servant and his official position was not high, there were still countless officials who came to Lu's house to pay their respects.

Although most of them were eighth-rank officials, chief clerks, seventh-rank chancellors, and chief judges, the entire courtyard was still packed.

There were even many female relatives who came on behalf of others.

Amid the sound of mournful music, countless figures bowed and stood solemnly, which was more like a kind of pressure that fell directly on Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian turned sideways to glance at Lu Chengqing, smiled, and then calmly stepped forward.

Everyone in the Lu family and everyone in the mansion almost instantly turned their eyes to Li Chengqian.

And on his legs.

Li Chengqian's expression remained the same, but there was no longer any delay in his walking, as if his leg had healed.

At that moment, countless people gasped.

The prince fell from his horse and broke his leg, and might even become lame. This was the most talked about thing in Chang'an this year.

The people of Chang'an especially like to join in the fun of such things.

In addition, the emperor was tolerant, so such matters were discussed without any scruples.

But precisely because there was so much discussion, when the prince began to attend court normally last month, people realized that the prince's injury might not be that serious. Today, they discovered that the prince's leg injury is almost completely healed.

Li Chengqian could almost foresee and feel the huge commotion that might occur in the entire Chang'an City after today.

Seeing is better than hearing.

Today they saw with their own eyes that Li Chengqian was in good health, so if a royal physician stood in front of them one day and said that Li Chengqian had a limp, they would not believe it.

……

In the courtyard, Li Chengqian took a few steps and suddenly slowed down.

Lu Chengqing hurried forward and bowed his head.

Li Chengqian turned sideways and asked casually, "Why is Lord Lu here today?"

"Reporting to Your Highness," Lu Chengqing sighed softly, his face worried as he said, "Although Lu Hu is serving in Chang'an, his father and brother are both in the local prefectures and counties. Although the message has been delivered, it is not easy to travel back and forth within seven days. Therefore, I have requested Your Majesty to take a day off and come to preside over the matter."

Li Chengqian nodded. He was coming to pay his respects to Lu Hu today, so the Lu family would naturally have to produce a heavyweight figure.

This person is none other than Lu Chengqing, the Minister of the Left.

"Even though Lord Lu..." Li Chengqian was about to say something when he suddenly glanced around and seemed to see someone. He turned his head to look at the crowd of people bowing their heads to one side, and looked at someone in surprise and said, "Fang Jun, Fang Yiai, Fang Erlang, why are you hiding behind?"

On both sides of the courtyard, dozens of people bowed their heads.

Some of these people were relatives of the Lu family, some were neighbors who came to help, some were Lu Hu's colleagues before he came to the Eastern Palace, some were officials from the court who came to mourn in the name of friends, some were children of officials, and even Zhang Wenguan from the Dali Temple and others, and of course there was Fang Yiai, who deliberately hid behind the crowd.

Li Chengqian's eyes gently passed over Zhang Wenguan, and finally fixed his eyes on Fang Yiai. He waved directly, "Come forward."

Fang Yiai stepped forward with an awkward expression, then bowed and said, "Your Highness, I am Fang Yiai. I greet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Chengqian's eyes fell on the silk ribbon tied around Fang Yiai's left arm. Amusement was hidden in his eyes, but he pretended to be curious and asked, "Are you here today on behalf of Qingque?"

When they heard the name of King Wei, everyone in the courtyard couldn't help but look awed.

The shock brought by the prince's appearance gradually dissipated, and people gradually returned to reality.

Lu Hu, Lu Hu's death, although the official investigation is now looking into whether the Koreans killed people and took their money, people who are qualified enough understand that Lu Hu's death was most likely a move by the prince to cut off his chess piece while he was investigating who caused his leg to be broken, and the mastermind behind the scenes was investigating.

In other words, Lu Hu was the person who was secretly used by the mastermind to cause the prince to break his leg.

Lu Hu was killed by the mastermind behind the scenes because he was the one who could directly contact the mastermind.

But who is the mastermind behind this?

In Chang'an City, many people have already given their own answers.

It was the King of Wei. Because if the Crown Prince really broke his leg and became lame, the person who would benefit the most would be the King of Wei.

The prince was lame, and people's hearts were gradually scattered.

The King of Wei compiled a book and communicated with great scholars.

In the gardens of Prince Wei's Palace, countless scholars lingered there this year and wrote countless outstanding verses.

Willows are swaying and the water is rippling.

The moon shines on the long river, and the water and sky become one color.

It is even more intoxicating.

But being so intoxicated may have become a great help to King Wei in his plan to appoint a successor.

There are many opportunists in the government and the country.

If someone could not help but write a letter one day, citing the King of Wei's wisdom and requesting His Majesty to establish the King of Wei and depose the Crown Prince...

Ordinary people, and even many scholars, did not understand the rules of the court, but this did not stop them from thinking so.

Therefore, at the moment, among the people in Chang'an, the King of Wei is the most suspected person for framing the prince and killing Lu Hu to silence him.

The King of Wei is so suspicious, but Fang Yiai appears here. What does he want to do?
……

Fang Yiai's heart groaned in pain, but at the same time, he said solemnly, "Your Highness, I am here today on behalf of my mother. Lu Hu is my mother's nephew, so I am here today on behalf of the family to see my cousin off."

"Oh, I forgot that Madam Liang is also from the Fanyang Lu family." Li Chengqian nodded slightly, looked at Lu Chengqing, and said, "Fang Erlang is here as a relative on behalf of his family. This actually makes Qingque seem rude. Does he look down on the Fanyang Lu family? Lord Lu, I apologize to the Lu family on behalf of Qingque."

"I dare not." After hearing what Li Chengqian said, Lu Chengqing's heart suddenly started beating wildly and he looked nervous.

Li Chengqian smiled softly, then his expression suddenly became solemn. He looked forward and said calmly, "Okay, let's go. I should go and pay my respects to Lord Lu."

"Here!" Lu Chengqing's expression became serious and he stretched out his hand slightly.

Li Chengqian, Yu Zhining, Li Anyan, Helan Chushi and others followed him into the middle courtyard.

Dai Zhide, Liu Renshi, Qin Huaidao and others deliberately stayed ten feet behind Li Chengqian and others, and separated themselves from the others.

Anyone else who knew any of these three people would not dare to act rashly.

Dai Zhide was the son of former prime minister Dai Zhou, Liu Renshi was the son of retired prime minister Liu Hongji, and Qin Huaidao was the son of the former Duke of Hu Qin Qiong.

Not to mention, there are dozens of other Qianniu Guards.

Others didn't even dare to get close to the prince, let alone approach him.

Li Chengqian didn't pay attention to the movement behind him and walked calmly into the courtyard step by step.

……

In a corner on one side, the sound of mournful music swirled faintly into the sky.

In the mourning hall opposite, the coffin is placed in the center.

Lu Hu's wife Zheng, along with their daughter and several nephews, knelt on the ground and cried loudly.

Li Chengqian walked into the mourning hall with a solemn expression, took the three tall incense sticks handed to him by Lu Chengqing, bowed three times, and then inserted the tall incense sticks into the incense burner.

At this moment, the mournful music and cries rose to a high melody again.

"Your Highness! Please rest in the back hall." Lu Chengqing wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and saluted Li Chengqian.

Li Chengqian waved his hand slightly, and at this moment, the funeral music in the corner of the courtyard suddenly stopped, and Zheng, who was crying, and everyone else also subconsciously lowered their voices.

In full view of everyone, Li Chengqian pulled out a piece of paper from his sleeve.

Everyone's eyes suddenly fell on the piece of paper, and Lu Chengqing's breathing couldn't help but stop.

Is it finally here?
Li Chengqian's eyes fell on Lu Hu's spirit tablet, and he bowed calmly and said, "Lu Qing entered the Eastern Palace in the eleventh year of Zhenguan. In the past three or four years, he has been virtuous and accomplished. He has been honored by the imperial edict and has attended the court. However, he hesitated in the court. Heaven has brought disaster to the Ou country. The wise minister has passed away. The people of Ou mourn for him. How can we bear witness to his glorious appearance?

I now write a poem to commemorate it forever."

Li Chengqian took a deep breath, turned around and handed the paper to Lu Chengqing. Facing the other's surprised eyes, he said calmly: "My Lord, read it once and then burn it."

Lu Chengqing lowered his head in confusion, his eyes fell on the paper, and he was surprised at first glance.

Lu Chengqing raised his head and looked at Li Chengqian in surprise.

Li Chengqian nodded slightly, and Lu Chengqing picked up the paper and began to read.

(End of this chapter)