Chapter 173 Confession
Zhu Di sat down as he was told.

But he had countless doubts in his mind.

How could this mentor have the ability to make Lawrence Lu submit to him with just a few words?
Hearing that Deng Qianqiu would not torture him, Lawrence Lu sneered even more.

He stared at Deng Qianqiu and found it ridiculous.

He was confident that he was a hero all his life, and that even if he tortured him, he would not be able to get anyone to speak. If he didn't torture him, there was no possibility of getting himself to speak.

What's more, he was harboring a hope in his heart that as long as he didn't speak out, his followers outside would try every possible means to rescue him.

These friends would naturally rack their brains and try to keep him no matter what.

But once he opens his mouth, then...it's all over.

Because of this, he pursed his lips tightly, said nothing, and had a look of disdain on his face, as if he didn't take Deng Qianqiu seriously at all.

However, Deng Qianqiu's performance puzzled him. Deng Qianqiu was not in a hurry and seemed to be laughing at a joke.

Huh, bluff!

Lu Zhongheng closed his eyes and simply refused to look.

At this time, Deng Qianqiu said, "Your family has had a hard time. They have accumulated such a huge fortune, but it was wiped out overnight. And you have made such a great contribution, but it's a pity... What a pity."

Lawrence Lu opened his eyes slightly and said, “Are you using my family to threaten me?”

"You think too much of me. I, the Ming Dynasty, must be punished for my crimes, but I will punish them as I wish. This is not my business. I, Deng Qianqiu, am not so despicable as to torture your family members."

Lawrence Lu said, "Don't try this. It's useless to try to get close to me now. No matter if you try to get close to me or just bluff, I won't speak."

Deng Qianqiu nodded calmly, "Of course you won't speak, because if you speak, you will lose everything. Only by keeping silent can you have a glimmer of hope. Everyone understands this principle. Do you think... I won't understand?"

Lu Zhongheng said: "Since you understand, then there is no need to say more. You can kill me or chop me up, just follow your will."

Deng Qianqiu sighed and said, "I just feel sorry for you! Think about it, you gave me money and Hu Ji at the beginning, and you were clearly following orders, but why did this matter leak out?"

Deng Qianqiu said with a smile: "These things are known to heaven, earth, you, and me. Of course, the person who ordered you to do this also knows. But then again, I don't know about this matter, because so far, I am a Hu Ji, and I haven't seen a tael of silver."

At this point, Deng Qianqiu finally showed some emotion.

Zhu Di, who was sitting aside, couldn't hold it in anymore and wanted to grin.

Deng Qianqiu seemed to have predicted his prediction and gave him a look. Zhu Di then barely suppressed the curl of his lips.

Deng Qianqiu then continued, "Then there are only three people who know about this. One is you, and the other is Fei Ju. Of course, you two dare not tell anyone. If this matter is exposed, it will have a great impact on you. You will not shoot yourself in the foot. So... who is the remaining person?"

"I'm not trying to sow discord, but because what I said is the truth. Think about it, why would this person expose this matter? He just used you to attack me, Deng Qianqiu. And you have been nothing more than a tool from the beginning to the end. He doesn't care about your life or death. What he wants is to use any means to make me, Deng Qianqiu, die without a burial place, and you... are just tools, just throw them away after use."

Lawrence Lu sighed, but shook his head firmly: “What you said makes sense, but so what, at this point, I have nothing to say.”

Deng Qianqiu said: "But you hid it from Hu Weiyong..."

When Deng Qianqiu mentioned the three words "Hu Weiyong", Lu Zhongheng's heart trembled slightly.

Deng Qianqiu continued: "Hide his affairs, do you really think that these things can be hidden? Do you think... you and Hu Weiyong, Chen Ning..."

If Lu Zhongheng's expression might have fluctuated slightly when he heard the name Hu Weiyong, then when Deng Qianqiu mentioned Chen Ning, his expression began to change.

Lu Zhongheng knew about Chen Ning. This person was the Imperial Censor, a member of Hu Weiyong's clandestine staff. This person had always been Hu Weiyong's confidant! He also had secret dealings with Lu Zhongheng and others.

Because the head of the Censorate was Liu Ji, and Chen Ning was a subordinate of Liu Ji in the Censorate, Chen Ning usually tried his best to avoid suspicion in order to prevent himself from being isolated in the Censorate.

Very few people know about this. In history, only after Liu Ji retired and resigned from the post of Chief Censor, did people know about the relationship between Chen Ning and Hu Weiyong.

But how did Deng Qianqiu know this?

Deng Qianqiu continued calmly, "There is also a man named Tu Jie, who is now serving as an assistant minister in the Ministry of War or the Ministry of Rites, right?"

Lawrence Lu’s breathing became a little heavy, but he still pretended to be calm.

However, Zhu Di, who was sitting next to him, had already sensed the obvious change in Lu Zhongheng. Deng Qianqiu continued, "Of course, there are many people like you besides you. You usually support each other and have a close relationship. Is the reason why you obey Hu Weiyong's orders just because you covet his wealth?"

Lu Zhongheng glanced at him and said, "So what?"

His answer was still impolite, but he began to respond to Deng Qianqiu.

Because it was obvious that at this time, Lawrence Lu felt guilty. What confused and uneasy him was how much Deng Qianqiu knew, and what he wanted to know more was who told Deng Qianqiu.

These things can be said to be extremely secretive, and there are even people specifically assigned to conceal them for them.

Deng Qianqiu smiled and said, "Then what about the person in the Yiluansi?"

"What?" Lawrence Lu's eyes suddenly widened.

Deng Qianqiu stared at Lawrence Lu intently: “What I mean is, together with you, the person in the Yiluansi…how deeply is he involved?”

Lu Zhongheng's face changed suddenly. If people like Lu Zhongheng secretly formed a group on weekdays, this matter would be a serious matter. After all, what His Majesty hates most is forming cliques for personal gain.

But once the people from the Yiluansi are involved, the nature of the matter becomes different.

The prime minister of the Secretariat, the imperial doctors of the Censorate, the dukes and marquises in the army, and even the people from the Yiluansi, what are they trying to do?
The Yiluansi were not only the emperor's eyes and ears, but also his tail. They were also responsible for the emperor's safety.

Such a person...you dare to collude with him?
Zhu Di couldn't help but change color. At the beginning, he was just recording and learning.

But now, his hands trembled and he felt that things were becoming more serious.

Deng Qianqiu stared at Lawrence Lu without blinking, which made Lawrence Lu's heart confused at this time.

He couldn't help but ask: "Who said this..."

Deng Qianqiu still stared at him closely and said, "I'm asking you now, it's not your turn to ask me."

"Is it Fei Ju?" Lawrence Lu's face was miserable, and he couldn't help cursing: "Fei Ju, this beast, how dare he say such a thing? Is he crazy? He doesn't know... He doesn't know..."

Deng Qianqiu smiled, but at this moment it made people feel very strange.

Zhu Di's head began to buzz. He knew very well that Fei Ju had not even started the interrogation. It was obvious that his mentor... was cheating.

Then the question arises again, if it was cheating, how did the mentor know these details?

The more Zhu Di thought about it, the more creepy he felt.

Lawrence Lu looked at Deng Qianqiu and said with a little excitement: “What else did Fei Ju, a thing worse than pigs and dogs, say to you?”

Deng Qianqiu sighed, "In fact, things have come to this point, and everyone is trying to find a way to survive. Even if they can't survive, at least they can find a way to survive for their families. After all, you are all people who have made great contributions. If you obey, His Majesty may spare your lives, or the lives of your families, because of your great contributions!"

At this point, he smiled at Lawrence Lu, and continued, "But, you are too stupid. You always think that others will keep their mouths shut like you, but you have to know that in this world... if you don't speak, there are still many people who are willing to speak. As for the things you have done, do you think... others don't know? You often say to people in private that if others sit in the world, why can't you sit in it? One day, you hold a knife in your hand and kill the emperor's family, and this world can also belong to your Lu family..."

"Nonsense!" Lawrence Lu was furious and shouted, "When did I say these words! I...I didn't say that, it's all nonsense, all nonsense! Deng Qianqiu, don't frame me... No, no, no, it's Fei Ju, it's Fei Ju who framed me. Do you believe what he said?"

Deng Qianqiu smiled faintly and said, "If there is evidence, you can't just not believe it. I'm a simple person. I only want witnesses and physical evidence. If someone speaks up, I'll take notes! When the time comes, everything will be decided by your majesty. It's not my turn to make a judgment."

"That Fei Ju is talking nonsense!" Lu Zhongheng seemed to be getting more and more agitated. He was frightened out of his wits. If he still had some toughness before and felt that he was a meritorious official, there were still many followers outside who would try to rescue him.

But now, he was clearly aware that if someone testified against him and the case was reported to the emperor, even a Daluo Jinxian would not be able to save him, Lu Zhongheng.

And at that time, Zhu Yuanzhang will definitely let him know what cruelty is, what it means to uproot the people, and what it means to kill everyone!
The more Lawrence Lu thought about it, the more frightened he became, and he said hastily: “Don’t believe his one-sided words, this person’s words are not credible.”

Deng Qianqiu said calmly: "You have so many followers and so much power in secret, how come these...are also fake?"

Lawrence Lu gritted his teeth and said, “Some are true, and some are false.”

At this time, Zhu Di looked up at Deng Qianqiu.

He was convinced.

(End of this chapter)