Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Chapter 168 Slaying Lü Ben! Exterminating the Lü family's three clans!
The Embroidered Uniform Guard is now extremely famous.

Of course, in the eyes of people like Lü Ben, that was a notorious and fearsome reputation.

Nowadays, who doesn't know that the Embroidered Uniform Guard was a cruel organization created by the emperor?

Specializing in major cases!

They especially like to take action against officials!
When the Imperial Guards come to your door, it's never a good thing.

This has long been a consensus among many officials.

However, no matter how notorious the Embroidered Uniform Guard was, Lü Ben never worried about it.

Even if the Embroidered Uniform Guards were lawless, they would never dare to cause trouble at his residence.

Even if they had ten times the courage, they wouldn't dare!

After all, she held a superior position and had given birth to a wonderful daughter.

He was the crown prince's father-in-law and the emperor's relative by marriage.

He will also become the emperor's father-in-law in the future.

Their status became increasingly detached.

Who would have thought that the Imperial Guards would actually come to his door!

Moreover, they were so impolite!

His heart skipped a beat.

Could it be that something my daughter did was discovered by Zhu Yuanzhang, that beggar?
Upon realizing this, he was startled and immediately shook his head in rejection.

I think I'm overthinking things.

Things were definitely not as I thought; my daughter's plan was flawless.

The only loophole is Granny Cui.

Now, I have already sent people to deal with Granny Cui.

This vulnerability will be plugged.

Could it be that... the people I sent, Lü Chu and his men, to deal with Granny Cui, made some mistake and were thus exposed?

But... this is still not right.

Even if Lü Chu and his group were exposed, the emperor wouldn't be able to send someone to find them so quickly.

As long as his daughter is still alive and safe, the emperor would never send the Imperial Guards to his door.

The most likely explanation for this situation is that something has happened to their daughter!
But it still shouldn't be like that.

Firstly, her own daughter's plan was a stroke of genius.

Secondly, there's her own daughter, who is always cautious and prudent, and also very good at handling situations and making people happy.

From Zhu Yuanzhang to Empress Ma, then to Zhu Biao, and even the foolish Crown Princess Chang, they were all completely fooled by their own daughters.

How could they have imagined that their own daughter would dare to do such a thing?

But if it wasn't because of these reasons, then what was it that made the Embroidered Uniform Guard come knocking at this time?

"May I ask what brings you all to my residence?"

After recognizing the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Lü Ben was no longer as arrogant as before.

But the arrogance and displeasure on his face were clearly written there.

He decided to ask first to find out the purpose of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's arrival.

Perhaps I'm just overthinking things.

The arrival of the Imperial Guards might be for something else entirely.

The most serious consequences were not what I expected.

In this way, no misunderstandings will arise.

"The Lü family has committed numerous evils and even plotted to poison the Crown Princess."

Those who act with malicious intent will be punished without mercy.

The Lü family, their entire clan will be exterminated!

Xu Huizu, who was leading the group, looked at Lü Ben with a cold expression and spoke.

He showed Lü Ben no kindness whatsoever.

On the one hand, it was because Lü was already a dying man, and the Lü clan had committed such heinous acts, which were extremely despicable. They were chosen by His Majesty to be executed along with their entire clan.

On the other hand, it's also because the person that the Lü family wants to harm is not simple.

She was not only the Crown Princess, but also the daughter of the Prince of Kaiping.

Although the six dukes who founded the Ming Dynasty were actually six mountain strongholds.

There is a lot of competition between the different mountain strongholds.

However, Xu Da and Chang Yuchun had a particularly good relationship.

Occasional disagreements between the subordinates do not affect the friendship between the two.

Xu Huizu was the son of Xu Da, and the Crown Princess was the daughter of Chang Yuchun.

Back then, their father was conquering the world, and they, the younger generation, often played together.

There was still some affection between Xu Huizu and Crown Princess Chang.

Suddenly, at that moment, I heard this news.

Even disregarding national interests and the law, from a purely personal perspective, he would not show any kindness to Lü Ben.

With a loud bang!

Xu Huizu's words were like a thunderclap, shocking Lü Ben to the point of feeling like his internal organs were being burned!

what's the situation?
It actually... it really is the thing I least wanted to see that happened?

The emperor even wanted to exterminate his entire Lü family!

A complex mix of emotions surged through him at that moment: bewilderment, boundless fear, panic, and intense disbelief.

The book in his hand fell to the ground with a thud.

The alcohol I drank not long ago turned into cold sweat all over my body.

The effects of the alcohol completely disappeared at this point, leaving him feeling trembling and weak all over.

Execute their entire family!
How could something like the extermination of three generations of a family happen to him?

Also, how exactly was it discovered that your own daughter had done this?

Should not!
This really shouldn't be happening!

In his view, every step was perfect and flawless, and there was no way that any mistakes could happen.

This time, it's a sure thing.

How did it become like this?

Xu Huizu felt a slight sense of satisfaction seeing Lü Ben's distraught appearance.

This is something Lü Ben deserves to suffer!
"Take it!"

At his command, the Imperial Guards immediately stepped forward and seized Lü Ben.

"What?
How dare you be so rude to me?

My daughter is the Crown Prince's concubine!
I am the Crown Prince's father-in-law!

How dare you treat me like this?

In such a critical moment, he instinctively thought of his biggest backer and brought him out.

This was something that had always worked in the past.

But it doesn't work anymore.

"The Crown Prince's concubine?"
Your daughter is no longer one!

He has been executed for committing such a heinous act!

The Crown Prince's father-in-law?

"How could His Highness the Crown Prince have such a vicious father-in-law?"

Xu Huizu said coldly.

It shattered all of Lü Ben's illusions.

Upon hearing what Xu Huizu said, Lü Ben was once again struck dumb.

His own daughter is dead too?!

Has he already passed away?
What a cruel heart!
This gave him a particularly unreal feeling.

It felt like a dream.

Her own daughter was clearly the Crown Prince's concubine and was deeply loved by him.

This plan was flawless; all that was needed was to take one more step forward.

The position of Crown Princess would be her daughter's, easily within her grasp.

There will be no surprises.

Why did it suddenly become like this?

His own daughter had lost her life?
He had never imagined this outcome, and hearing it suddenly left him in a daze.

"Your daughter was not only executed, but also subjected to the torture of being skinned alive and stuffed with straw!"

Xu Huizu decided to add some more bombshells to Lü Ben's story.

Let's give that old bastard Lü Ben a good thrashing.

Let's destroy his spirit.

This can be considered as him using his own methods to vent his anger for the Crown Princess.

Peel...peel the skin and stuff it with grass?!

Upon hearing Xu Huizu's words, Lü Ben swayed slightly.

As if all his strength had been drained, he plopped down on the ground.

It's actually skinning and stuffing herbs?
What a cruel heart!

What a cruel heart!
Their own daughter hadn't committed many wrongdoings, yet... they actually resorted to torture like skinning her alive and stuffing her with straw to deal with her.

How desperate and painful it must be for one's own daughter to be dying!
He simply didn't dare think about it.

Didn't they say their daughter was destined for great wealth and honor?

Didn't he say that his daughter, having survived such a calamity, would surely be blessed with good fortune in the future?
Didn't they say their daughter would become the Crown Princess and then the Empress?

Now everything is gone.

This... must have been an order from that beggar Zhu Yuanzhang.

They must have avoided Crown Prince Zhu Biao!

Otherwise, given Zhu Biao's benevolence and his deep affection for his daughter, he would definitely have stopped Zhu Yuanzhang from doing so...

"It was His Highness the Crown Prince who personally ordered that this poisonous woman, Lady Lü, be skinned alive!"

His Highness the Crown Prince personally went to watch and supervise Lady Lü's punishment!
Not only that, but the order to exterminate your entire Lü clan was also issued by His Highness the Crown Prince!

Xu Huizu seemed to have seen through Lü Ben's thoughts, and looked at him coldly before speaking.

Since the goal is to kill someone and destroy their spirit, then we should do it more thoroughly!
what? !

Upon hearing this, Lü Ben's face was filled with utter disbelief.

Looking panicked.

These... were all done by Crown Prince Zhu Biao?
How can it be!

How is this possible!
Zhu Biao himself knew very well what kind of person he was.

How could he possibly do such a thing?

Zhu Biao is not such a vicious person, nor would he be so ruthless.

Xu Huizu must be lying to me.

Seeing Lü Ben's distraught and grief-stricken appearance, Xu Huizu felt much better.

His Highness the Crown Prince truly lives up to his name.

Your Majesty's teaching is excellent!
This time, the actions taken against the Lü family and Lü Ben were truly satisfying.

The Lü family is ungrateful and vicious. Such people deserve to be dealt with in this way; it would be truly satisfying.

Your Highness, you have truly not disappointed!
The Crown Princess did not entrust her affairs to the wrong person.

Next, Xu Huizu issued his order.

The Imperial Guards mobilized to arrest members of the Lü family.

Anyone who dares to resist will be killed on the spot, without any mercy...

Lu Ben was put in shackles. Looking at his home, which had changed so much in such a short time, he felt as if the sky had fallen.

He was practically in a state of near-madness.

That's a huge blow!
In a short period of time, it was as if the Lü family had fallen from the clouds to the deepest hell.

An unimaginable misfortune befell the Lü family.

After thinking about it in such a daze for a while, he suddenly became somewhat invigorated again.

He still has some hope.

This time, the Lü family is truly doomed.

But in the end, some people can still be dragged down with them.

For example, that old woman Cui is a case in point!
Granny Cui has diagnosed that Chang Shi, that fool, is at risk of having a difficult childbirth.

By this time, he had already realized what was happening.

This time, their family suffered such misfortune, and Granny Cui cannot escape blame for it.

It was after she diagnosed that this foolish woman, Chang, showed signs of a difficult labor.

It was our own family that suffered such a misfortune in such a short time.

If his daughter is skinned alive and stuffed with straw, his entire Lü family will be exterminated!

Even if it wasn't Granny Cui who leaked the diagnosis, she was definitely involved in the whole thing.

Who could have imagined that a lowly doctor could bring such utter destruction to the Lü family!

Fortunately, he sent Lü Chu and others to deal with Granny Cui.

Granny Cui is destined to die.

This was at least some consolation for myself.

Lü Ben also believed that things would definitely not go as he expected in this regard!

Granny Cui must die!

They will inevitably die!
If Lu Chu and his group can't even do these things, then they might as well not live!

After a while, a group of people took Lü Ben and the arrested people from Lü Ben's household to the Jinyiwei prison.

The Jinyiwei's prison has been expanded considerably compared to before.

If they really go all out, they could easily imprison three thousand people.

Clearly, Zhu Yuanzhang learned from the lesson of the previous "empty seal case".

"Master! Master! Save our master!"

Shouts rang out from inside the prison, causing Lü Ben to stop in his tracks.

Turning his head, he saw Lu Chu and the other person urgently pleading for help from him.

Filled with surprise and urgency.

Upon seeing this, Lü Ben was taken aback.

"Why are you here?"

Where is Granny Cui?

"Is Granny Cui dead?!"

This was what he cared about most at that moment.

"Master, we...we were just about to make a move when we were captured by the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Cui... Granny Cui is safe and sound.

"Sir, we've been tricked, sir."

When Lü Chu said this, he looked ashamed, but at the same time he had many hopes.

With the arrival of the master, there is hope.

The master is all-powerful; perhaps he can save us from this predicament.

To avoid imprisonment!

Lu Ben froze on the spot, then burst into laughter after a moment.

But the laughter sounded unusually bitter, with a hint of madness.

He ignored Lü Chu and the other man, and just kept laughing as he walked forward.

not dead?
Granny Cui didn't die after all?!

This series of blows and earth-shattering changes were simply too great.

It was already on the verge of collapse.

Lu Chu and his group's decision to take Cui Pozi down with them, even to their deaths, had become their last remaining thought and conviction.

He felt that if Granny Cui were killed, then he would have done something at least.
It won't be such a complete failure.

But who could have imagined that even Granny Cui would survive!
The people I sent had already been dealt with by the Imperial Guards dispatched by the Emperor!
From beginning to end, we lost everything on our side!
He was a complete and utter failure.

The last glimmer of hope in my heart was also ruthlessly crushed.

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore.

He's completely gone mad...

……

The emperor suddenly mobilized the Embroidered Uniform Guard to do this to the Lü family.

This immediately ignited public opinion in the capital.

On the surface, not many people are discussing it, but privately, countless people are talking about it.

In a short period of time, he surpassed Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, and carried out a purge of maritime merchants and officials in Jiangnan.

After all, some time had passed since what Prince Yan, Zhu Di, did.

Moreover, Suzhou and Hangzhou are still some distance from the capital.

The event did not happen in front of us.

But now things are different; the execution of the Lü family's three clans is actually happening in the capital.

Many people witnessed the Imperial Guard's deployment and its large-scale arrest of the Lü family.

Moreover, their social status is different.

Those maritime merchants were ultimately just maritime merchants.
Even if they rebelled, they were still maritime merchants.

Even though many officials in Jiangnan were killed, they were still just officials.

Now it's different. Now, the emperor is dealing with the imperial relatives!
They are the Crown Prince's father-in-law's family!

Although the current emperor once said that the empress dowager should not interfere in politics.

Yet, the status of these imperial relatives and noble families remained exceptional.

Especially now that the Ming Dynasty has just been established, there are few relatives of the imperial family.

The Lü family became even more conspicuous.

They are far beyond the reach of ordinary officials.

Moreover, the Lü family had always enjoyed the emperor's trust.

They lived a carefree life.

Everyone thought his family was as stable as Mount Tai.

But now, suddenly his entire family has been exterminated. This is incredibly shocking!
At the same time, an endless fire of gossip also ignited.

Why did the emperor get so angry and suddenly take such a ruthless action against the Lü family?
What crime could possibly warrant such ruthlessness from the emperor?

They don't even give the Crown Prince's concubine any face?

Did the Crown Prince's concubine die before him?

A love of gossip is human nature.
Not to mention that at this time, they were eating royal gossip.

That attracted countless viewers.

It felt like a hundred claws scratching at my heart.

I just want to know the truth.

It is not uncommon for emperors to kill people.

The current emperor shows absolutely no mercy when dealing with corrupt officials.

They've seen too many plays like this.

But this time, it actually involved the Crown Prince's father-in-law's family.

That's something that really interests people.

There was a lot of discussion and speculation.

Some say that the Crown Prince's concubine, Lady Lü, committed a serious crime, while others say that Lü Ben was investigated for large-scale embezzlement and bribery.

Some say it's related to the smuggling and maritime trade activities organized by Prince Yan, Zhu Di, in Jiangnan, and the collusion between officials to rebel.

Lü Ben was one of their biggest backers...

Various speculations abound...

……

"Chongba, this matter... maybe we shouldn't announce it yet?"
Let's save face for each other.

Empress Ma looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and spoke.

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head: "Sister, this is no longer dignified."

The Lü father and daughter have done such a thing, and they still expect us to give them any face?

What a beautiful thought!
We must expose their crimes to the public!

Let the whole world know just how vicious they are!

How utterly despicable!

We're going to nail them to the pillar of shame!

As for the dignity of our royal family...

When the entire Lü family was exterminated, they lost all semblance of dignity.

If we don't announce it here, those people will have no idea and will make all sorts of guesses.

It would be far more undignified than it is now.

After listening to Zhu Yuanzhang's words, Empress Ma thought about it and felt that her son, Zhu Chongba, was right.

I will not say more about this matter at this moment.

……

Soon, the imperial court issued an official edict.

The crimes committed by the Lü family father and daughter were made public.

After understanding the reason behind the matter, many people looked enlightened.

Then they felt that the Lü family had not been wronged in being treated this way.

How dare they use such methods against the Crown Princess? Such a thing cannot be dealt with in the slightest.

They should be severely punished!

……

"Your Majesty, another person has died at the Imperial Academy."

Five days later, Liu Ying, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, came to Zhu Yuanzhang's side and reported in a low voice...

(End of this chapter)