Chapter 98

Upon returning to Kaifeng Prefecture, Xie Kuang was thrown into the prison, and Prince Zhao Xiaojun didn’t even give him a proper look.

Questioning Xie Kuang? For now, Zhao Yougong had no interest in that. Those big shots dared to hand over Xie Kuang alive, they must have already talked to him. If there was anything to be found out at this point, it would be a miracle. Yang Zaixing was being chatted up by the bearded men, while Ajiu stood silently to one side. Prince Zhao Xiaojun felt extremely uncomfortable, as since they returned, Lady Zhu’s eyes had been fixed on him, as if a flower had grown on his head.

"Lady, what do you mean by this?"

"What do I mean? The money? I gave you a full six hundred guan!"

"About that... how about we delay it? Your family is so wealthy, Lady, you don’t lack this bit of money, right?" Prince Zhao Xiaojun, with his thick skin, immediately put on a foolish look.

Lady Zhu couldn’t help but laugh in spite of her anger. She sat at the table, sipped a mouthful of tea, and said softly, "Your Highness, how should I put it?"

"Ha ha, then don’t say it. I have some urgent matters to attend to, see you tomorrow!"

Before the words were even out of his mouth, Prince Zhao Xiaojun had already run out of the back office. Ajiu pouted and bowed to Lady Zhu before running out after him.

Watching the master and servant flee in such a grand manner, a faint smile appeared on Lady Zhu’s elegant face. This smile was peaceful and carried a unique flavor. She took her time drinking a cup of tea for half an hour, then, after resting enough, she slowly left the back office.

Inside the prison, Xie Kuang, who was already over thirty, quietly leaned against the wall. Although a military officer, Xie Kuang was also a man of great talent. This time, he didn’t expect to leave the Kaifeng Prefecture prison alive. Neither side would allow him to live, especially since the current Prefect of Kaifeng was the Yongning Prince. Facing this useless young prince, what good would it do to tell the truth? In the end, it would all be covered up, and he would die.

A light sound of footsteps came, and the jailer quickly opened the cell door. A handsome young man slowly walked in.

Lady Zhu wasn’t worried that Xie Kuang would harm her. If Xie Kuang wanted to escape, he would have done so long ago. Why would he come to the Kaifeng Prefecture prison?

"Commander Xie, you come from a noble family. Your father, Xie Wenguan, was a renowned figure in Daming Prefecture. It’s not even ten years since his passing. Do you really want to tarnish the Xie family’s name?"

Lady Zhu’s voice wasn’t loud, but every word and sentence stabbed into Xie Kuang’s heart like a knife. Xie Kuang was both a scholar and a warrior, full of passion. How could he really want his family to suffer such an injustice? But what good would it do to tell the truth? What could Lady Zhu do? What could the young prince do?

Lowering his head, Xie Kuang laughed foolishly, "Ha ha, Lady, why waste your words? What good would it do to tell the truth? Better for me to die and save others from trouble."

"Commander Xie, how do you know it would be useless to speak?"

Though a woman, Lady Zhu’s words were full of a man’s spirit. She had a natural charm that even a man on the brink of death couldn’t help but look up.

"Would it be useful?"

"Whether it’s useful or not, it’s not for you or me to decide. At least, I, Zhu Lian, want to know the truth. Even if I can do nothing, there are always people in this vast world who will do something!"

"People with aspirations? Ha ha, Lady, don’t say more. I don’t want to harm you. Please leave!"

After speaking, Xie Kuang struggled to stand up. Though his hands and feet were chained, he still managed to turn around. Lifting his head, he saw a small window through which the blood-red sunset shone, casting a desolate light.

Lady Zhu didn’t want to force Xie Kuang. She bowed and retreated. When the cell door was locked, a door in her heart was also locked. She desperately wanted to know the truth. Xie Kuang was an upright man; if there was no need, why would he kill Xue Qingxun?

As the people left, the prison was left with Xie Kuang alone. Looking at the last light through the window, tears slowly streamed down his face. Feeling stifled, he laughed foolishly, and after a long time, he raised his head and laughed loudly, "Ha ha... Ha ha... Great Song... Father... Can you see this situation from heaven? Tell your son... In this murky world, who can save our Great Song!"

His words were sorrowful, and anyone who heard them would bow their head, but who could answer?

For a hundred years, the sorrow of military men in the Great Song. A heart full of passion, only to return to the earth.

The red sun set, the moon rose, and in the autumn season, the sky was high and distant. Lifting his eyes, he saw a desolate scene. Winter was coming, but the cold in his body was nothing compared to the cold in his heart, a cold that could make one despair.

Xie Kuang, Xie Kuang, since you were born in the Great Song, why did you choose the military? With your family background and talent, wouldn’t it have been better to be a civil official?

Though he hadn’t yet questioned Xie Kuang, Zhao Yougong knew Xie Kuang would die. Clutching his chest, he felt so much pain. Such a loyal and valiant official was rare. Did he have to send him to his death with his own hands? Xie Kuang was a man of both literary and military talent, and if he had been born in the Tang Dynasty, he would have been a famous general. But in the Great Song, he could only be a minor commander.

Killing him was hard, but if he didn’t, others would.

He waited quietly. With a sound of footsteps, Mu Wanqing, dressed in black, arrived late.

"Villain, what’s wrong with you?"

"Waner, in a few days, I will have to send a loyal and valiant official to his death. How can I be happy?"

Is it because of Xie Kuang? Mu Wanqing didn’t know what kind of person Xie Kuang was, but if the villain didn’t want to kill him, he must be a good person. Leaning against him, she patted his shoulder, "Villain, it’s better to think positively. Some things you can’t stop!"

"But watching Xie Kuang die, I can’t help but feel resentful. If there were a drug to fake death, it would be great."

Zhao Yougong smiled bitterly. The only way to save Xie Kuang was to fake his death in prison, but where could he find a real fake death drug?

The speaker was casual, but the listener was attentive. Seeing Zhao Yougong’s worried face, Mu Wanqing comforted him, "Faking his death isn’t impossible!"

Zhao Yougong looked up, his face full of surprise, "Waner, you have a way?"

"There is a way, but it’s very dangerous. Any mistake, and it will be a real death!"

"Ha ha, danger? So what? Xie Kuang is going to die anyway. Let’s treat a dead horse as if it were alive. Tell me the method quickly!"

"You villain, why are you in such a hurry? I need time to prepare the drug. Try to delay things for now!"

Mu Wanqing frowned slightly, somewhat displeased, and kicked him. Zhao Yougong didn’t mind, and asked with a thick face, "How long will it take?"

"Not long, about half a month!"

"What, half a month isn’t long?" Zhao Yougong almost cried. Xie Kuang living one more day was a miracle, and Liang Shicheng and others were waiting to see how he would die. In this situation, asking him to delay for half a month was a joke.

"No choice, some drugs are hard to prepare. Half a month is the limit!"

Seeing Mu Wanqing’s firm words, Prince Zhao Xiaojun had no choice but to agree. He nodded decisively, "Alright, I’ll delay it, but Waner, you must hurry. There are many people watching Xie Kuang!"

"I know, I’ll go now!"

Mu Wanqing was a straightforward person. She said she would go and left immediately. Just as she turned, she heard a hurried voice, "Wait, Waner, turn around. There’s something in your hair!"

"Hmm?" The beauty, unprepared, turned to speak and saw a shadow flash by. A warm mouth pressed against her forehead.

Kissing, his tongue lightly licked, and his hands didn’t idle, grabbing her buttocks, then he shouted and darted away.

The forest was quiet. After a while, Mu Wanqing touched her wet forehead, stomped her foot, and scolded, "You despicable villain, next time I’ll stab you twice..." Though she scolded, there was a hint of sweetness in her heart.

The case of Xue Qingxun was a sensation in Bianliang. Many people were waiting to see how the Kaifeng Prefecture would handle it. So many people gathered in front of the prefecture, but after waiting for half a day, they only got the news that the Yongning Prince had caught a cold and couldn’t get out of bed. Hearing this, the streets were filled with curses.

What cold? You didn’t catch it earlier or later, but just now. Clearly, you’re afraid of uncovering something you can’t handle.

The more Prince Zhao Xiaojun acted this way, the more the people urged him to handle the case quickly. But the people were destined to be disappointed.

For three consecutive days, Prince Zhao Xiaojun was sick with a cold. On the fourth day, an even stranger reason emerged. Yesterday, the young prince had a sudden idea to learn martial arts from Yang Zaixing, and tragically sprained his foot.

Pah, Zhao Yougong, this dog, with his good looks, doesn’t do anything right.

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