The fourth year of Tianshun.
Summer.
Minister Lu had secretly stored dragon robes, armor, and bombs, suspected of plotting rebellion.
The first two had been planted by the Eastern Depot, but the latter was irrefutable evidence. Even the civil and military officials had nothing to say.
Emperor Tianshun personally approved immediate execution, to be carried out on a selected date.
Tang Mingyuan knelt outside the palace gates for two days and two nights until he fainted, yet failed to obtain an audience with His Majesty.
The twenty-third day of the sixth month.
It was the height of summer, the blazing sun hanging overhead.
A long row of prisoners knelt at the Execution Grounds, death placards stuck into their backs, executioners standing beside them.
Sobs and wails rose without end. The timid ones could not help shouting for mercy, even cursing and reviling Minister Lu in an attempt to draw the Eastern Depot's attention.
Instead, the younger children among the descendants knelt on the ground and looked left and right, their jet-black eyes blinking away, unable to understand what sort of game this was.
The surrounding area was packed with onlooking commoners waiting to enjoy the spectacle of beheadings. From time to time, someone threw rotten vegetable leaves and stinking eggs.
"Behead them! Hurry up and behead them!"
"His Majesty is a benevolent ruler. Those who dare rebel deserve the extermination of nine generations!"
"The Eastern Depot actually did something good for once. If the Lu Family had been allowed to rebel, our good days would have been over!"
"Watch your words, watch your words!"
"I'm saying good things about the Eastern Depot. Is that not allowed either?"
"Those two words can't even be mentioned. It's taboo..."
These were certainly not shills arranged by the Eastern Depot. The commoners genuinely supported