The execution was very strange. Even the people outside the execution ground could tell that something was wrong.
They had seen executions in the past. It was normal for the prisoners to cry and scream before they died. There were also many who yelled and cursed.
However, this time, there were no cries and no cursing. The execution platform surrounded by screens was silent. More than 20 people were calmly going to their deaths. It was so quiet that it was eerie.
Soon, the cheers of the people drowned out the silence.
"Good execution!"
"They are all criminals who wronged Lord Li back then!"
"These people deserve to die!"
"Lord Li can rest in peace now …"
At the front of the crowd, Li Qing held Li Mu's hand tightly and said, "Let's go."
The two of them turned around. The people took the initiative to open a path for them. They walked slowly. The people behind them watched them leave. They clasped their fists and said, "I wish Lord Li and Miss Li a long and happy life together …"
"Grow old together …"
"May you have a child …"
…
More than 20 guilty officials were beheaded, and the people all clapped their hands in joy. These people were not only accomplices in framing Lord Li Yi, but they themselves were also guilty of many crimes. Their death was a good thing for the country and the people.
After the execution, some of the commoners even spat on the execution platform as they left, their faces filled with joy.
King Shou sighed and said to a servant beside him, "Don't remove the screens yet. Inform their families to come and collect the bodies."
The servant nodded and said, "Yes."
King Shou put his hands behind his back and shook his head as he walked away. He said softly, "It's good that they're dead. There's no more trouble after they die …"
Zhang Chun walked behind him and said, "These people have committed countless crimes. It's too easy for them to die like this."
Although these criminals were dead, they still thought that it was a trap. After today, they would reappear in the Divine Capital with a new identity.
Although they died in the end, at least they didn't feel fear or pain before they died.
King Shou said casually, "In life, there are some things that shouldn't be taken too seriously. It's fine if it's not too bad …"
…
The news that more than twenty officials from the old party, including Commandery Prince Nanyang and the elder brother of the Concubine Dowager, had been beheaded at the street corner quickly swept through Luoyang and shocked countless people.
"Are they really dead?"
"No one saved them?"
"The Xiao clan hasn't done anything. Are they just going to be abandoned like that?"
"What are they afraid of, and what are they afraid of …"
"You still don't understand? They're obviously afraid of Li Mu …."
…
At the Zhou family's banquet, Zhou Chuan's face was pale.
Chen Jian was dead, Gao Hong was dead, and the Duke of Nanyang, Xiao Yun was dead. Of the seven main culprits back then, only he, the Duke of Zhongyong, and the Duke of Peace and Peace were left. Li Mu didn't even spare the accomplices, so how could he spare the main culprits?
In particular, the death of the Duke of Nanyang had made him even more terrified.
Even the Xiao Royal Family could not escape Li Mu's punishment, let alone him.
Zhou Chen lowered his head to eat, but his forehead was full of cold sweat.
He knew what his father was worried about. The Duke of Nanyang and those people were dead. Perhaps his father would be his next target.
More than half a year ago, Li Mu was still a small official in a remote county. Unexpectedly, in just half a year, he had grown into an existence that even the old party did not dare to provoke. The Xiao Royal Family was not as fearful of the Zhou Family as they were of Li Mu.
Just before he came to Luoyang, Zhou Chen had tried to send an assassin to finish him off, but it had ended in failure.
If Li Mu knew that he was the one who sent that assassin, wouldn't he be reduced to the same fate as those people this morning?
In the Zhou Family, while Zhou Chuan and his son were in shock, Li Mu was also hesitating in the Li Residence.
Until today, most of the people involved in the case back then had received the punishment they deserved.
No accomplices had escaped, and there were still four main culprits in Luoyang.
These four people were the Marquis of Zhongyong, the Earl of Ping 'an, the Marquis of Yongding, and Zhou Chuan of the Zhou Family.
The first three bigwigs of Luoyang were involved in Zhou Zhong's scheme. They had no enmity with Li Yi. Zhou Zhong knew that he could not change the overall situation, so he deliberately lured them into the trap in order to get the three death-exemption tokens in their hands.
Before Zhou Zhong lured them in, Li Yi's fate was already sealed. These three people were just Zhou Zhong's pawns. Although they had bad records, there was no need to kill them.
As for Zhou Chuan …
Although Li Mu wanted him to pay the price, there were two problems in front of him.
First, the booklet that Zhou Zhong gave him contained evidence of the crimes of the old party officials. There was nothing about Zhou Chuan, so Li Mu could not overthrow him through the law.
Second, Zhou Chuan was the Empress's uncle. Li Mu had already killed one of her younger brothers. He did not know how the Empress would feel if he killed another of her uncles.
Even though she had left the Zhou family, the blood that flowed in her body was the same as the blood of the Zhou family. The Empress cared about him so much, so Li Mu could not ignore her feelings at all.
He pondered for a long time and walked into the courtyard. He said to Liu Hanyan and Li Qing, "I'm going to the palace. You don't have to wait for me to eat today."
After informing them, Li Mu left the Li residence and went to the palace. He first went to the imperial kitchen and made a few dishes that the Empress liked. Then, he took the food box and went to Changle Palace.
In Changle Palace, Zhou Yi looked at the unusually sumptuous meal on the table. Finally, he looked at Li Mu and said, "What's the matter? Speak."
Li Mu shook his head and said, "Nothing."
Zhou Yi picked up his chopsticks and said, "I'll only give you one chance."
Li Mu said, "Among the people who killed Lord Li Yi, the former Minister of Works, Zhou Chuan, was also an important mastermind."
Zhou Yi was silent for a long time. Then, he said lightly, "If you have evidence of his crimes, you can punish him according to the law. I will not protect him just because he is my uncle … If one day, the one who breaks the law is you, I will not protect you."
Li Mu cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
He walked out of Changle Palace and sighed in relief.
Zhou Chuan was different from the others. No matter what, Li Mu could not go around the Empress and make a move on him. So, he needed to ask the Empress's opinion first.
After getting the Empress's approval, there was only one problem left to solve.
That was how to collect evidence of Zhou Chuan's crimes.
The new party had only been established for three years. Moreover, the officials of the two parties were very different. The old party consisted mostly of influential officials, while the new party consisted mostly of new officials. In comparison, the influential officials had more misdeeds. Collecting evidence of the old party officials' crimes was easier than collecting evidence of the new party's crimes.
Moreover, compared to the old party, the new party had stronger restrictions on the officials. This was also one of the reasons why Zhou Zhong had not been able to collect evidence of Zhou Chuan's crimes for so many years.
Li Mu did not think that Zhou Zhong would be able to do something that Zhou Zhong had not been able to do for so many years.
He walked out of the palace gates and stood outside for fifteen minutes. Then, he walked toward the northern courtyard.
This time, he did not go home. Instead, he stopped in front of another tall gate.
Li Mu walked up and knocked on the door knocker.
Soon, the gate opened a crack. A servant poked his head out and asked, "May I ask who Your Excellency is and why you have come to Zhou Mansion?"
Li Mu looked at Zhou Mansion's gatekeeper and said indifferently, "Please go in and inform them that Censor Li Mu of the Secretariat has come to visit."
A moment later, Zhou Chuan frowned and anxiously paced around the hall. He muttered, "Li Mu, what is he doing here? I won't see him. Let him go back!"
Zhou Xiong stretched out his hand and said, "No, if word gets out, outsiders will think that our Zhou Family is afraid of Li Mu. Let him in."
Zhou Chuan said, "Second Brother, but he …"
"It's fine. Let's see what he wants first." Zhou Xiong waved his hand and said, "His target might be you. Third Brother, you should leave for now."
After Zhou Chuan left, Zhou Ting said, "I'll leave as well."
His only son had died at the hands of Li Mu. He could not face Li Mu calmly.
A moment later, under the guidance of a servant, Li Mu passed through two doors, walked through several corridors, and arrived at a hall.
Zhou Xiong was the only one in the hall.
Li Mu walked into the hall. Zhou Xiong said indifferently, "Lord Li, please take a seat."
"There's no need for that," Li Mu shook his head and said, "I'm here today to tell you one thing."
Zhou Xiong picked up his teacup and asked, "What is it?"
Li Mu said, "Zhou Chuan of the Zhou Family was one of the main culprits who framed my father-in-law."
Zhou Xiong said in a deep voice, "That case is over!"
Li Mu said, "That's what Duke Nanyang and Gao Hong thought too."
Duke Nanyang and Gao Hong had just been executed. This was a blatant threat. Zhou Xiong slammed his teacup on the table and said loudly, "Li Mu, what are you trying to say?!"
Li Mu said indifferently, "Let Zhou Chuan ask to be exiled and this matter will end here."
Zhou Xiong was stunned for a moment before he became furious. He stood up and gritted his teeth, "You're dreaming!"
Li Mu shook his head and said, "If it weren't for His Majesty, I would do it myself. At that time, it won't be as simple as being exiled. Don't force me."
Zhou Xiong wanted to throw his teacup at Li Mu's face. He came to the Zhou Family and asked the Zhou Family to ask to be exiled. Who was the one forcing who?
Zhou Xiong said angrily, "What right do you have to say that?"
Li Mu looked at him and said, "When I was in the Northern County, I was assassinated. Don't think that I don't know that the mastermind behind the assassination was Zhou Chuan's son, Zhou Chen."
Crash!
Zhou Chen, who was eavesdropping in the back hall, was shocked when he heard Li Mu's words. He couldn't help but take a few steps back and knocked over a chair. He picked up the chair with a pale face and his body trembled slightly.
In the front hall, Zhou Xiong said flatly, "You're slandering me!"
Li Mu smiled and said, "Whether it's slander or not, you'll know when you get to the Imperial Clan Temple. I still have a lot of evidence of your Zhou Family's crimes. At that time, it won't just be Zhou Chen's case. Zhou Chuan, Zhou Ting, and the other officials of your new party won't be able to escape. The fate of those officials on the execution ground today will be your fate …"
Zhou Xiong's face turned red. He pointed at him and said angrily, "You, you …"
Li Mu looked at Zhou Xiong and said calmly, "Chen Jian's grave is already covered in grass. Gao Hong and Prince Nanyang's bodies have just turned cold. I only asked Zhou Chuan to be exiled because of His Majesty. I have no interest in the fight between the old and new parties. However, if I don't punish Zhou Chuan and avenge my father-in-law, I won't be able to answer to my wife. Zhou Chuan's request to be exiled is my limit. I'll give you three days to think about it.
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