A few days later.

Ning Que was wearing a lamb fur coat and walking on the snowy road.

He has been focusing on production these days.

Linzi suffered heavy losses during the war.

Without a suitable sea breeze, Babao Trading Company could only transport supplies via snowy roads. Therefore, Linzi could only fend for itself.

"Your Majesty?!"

"Um."

Ning Que smiled and raised his hand to greet him.

The latter hurried out with a cane.

"Your Majesty, have some food at my house tonight!"

"My eldest son just happened to kill a wild boar."

"How's your leg?" Ning Que looked him over. "I remember you. You were originally from Gaotang, but later fled to Linzi. I heard you were a skilled archer, killing three people with a wooden bow, all of them in the face!"

"Hey, this is the skill of eating!"

The strong man scratched his head with a wry smile.

Ning Que patted his shoulder.

"The King has something else to do."

"You kill the boar and keep it."

"There is a severe shortage of various supplies in the city right now."

"If we can't finish eating this wild boar, we'll sell it to the government."

"This king will not treat you unfairly."

"promise!"

Ning Que left with a smile.

From time to time he would stop and chat with the people.

This way we can also know what they are lacking now.

The food and drink are okay at the moment.

What is most lacking is firewood.

The heavy snow blocked the roads and it was difficult to get firewood.

A load of firewood can now be sold for twenty cents.

This matter really needs to be resolved.

He returned to the palace and went into the cellar.

The candle is lit.

Tian Zhongxun was already waiting inside.

He was in very good condition, eating and drinking well, and his face was rosy. After being secretly imprisoned, he felt much more relaxed.

"Hey, you're here?"

"It's cold now, how about some wine?"

Ning Que calmly sat down, raised his hand to let Tie Niu and the others leave temporarily, and personally poured a glass of strong liquor for Tian Zhongxun. He was not polite at all and drank the liquor directly.

"Hiss... this wine is really spicy."

"I've noticed. You enjoy life much more than we do. Just talking about food and drink, it's even better than what you get in the palace. Ever since I took up residence in this cellar, I've had three meals a day that haven't been repeated. If you weren't a prince, you'd definitely be a chef who'd go down in history."

"Then I will take it as a compliment from you."

"Hahaha." Tian Zhongxun raised his glass and drank again. "I tell you this, even if you treat me like this, I still wish you were dead. But as long as I think about the emperor sitting firmly in Chang'an, I feel really bad. I don't think I'm a good person. I have hurt many people over the years, and I don't know how many people have died at my hands."

"I've spent most of my life battling your father, and I considered myself a hero. I've been playing with eagles for most of my life, but in the end, I was blinded by one. You finally came to see me after all these days, so you must know that I wasn't lying. You've met Gu Yuan, and you should have found out about Gu Shuang's deeds. You should also know that the Gu family is hiding a shocking secret."

"You actually knew that too?"

"Hahaha, you underestimate me too much." Tian Zhongxun chuckled disdainfully and said calmly, "The Gu family has been jumping around and their attitude is unclear. Although I am cooperating with them, I have to be cautious. It's not difficult to plant a few spies. Besides, Gu Mingzhi is my man and has mentioned this matter before."

"oh?"

Ning Que immediately became interested.

Tian Zhongxun knew what he was thinking and said calmly, "I once asked Gu Mingzhi if he was afraid of offending the Emperor and the Empress Dowager by cooperating with me. Gu Mingzhi was quite confident and even said that he knew a shocking secret, so the Empress Dowager would never take action against the Gu family. Naturally, I wanted to know, but Gu Mingzhi used drunkenness to fool me. I have been investigating for many years and have never been able to find out the truth, but I can guess it almost exactly."

"Why don't you tell me about it?"

"The true life story of the Feng Emperor!" Tian Zhongxun narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Gu Shuang was the Empress Dowager's aunt and the midwife who delivered the baby. In the end, she was suspected of poisoning the Empress and was expelled from the palace and exiled to the western frontier. Later, she fell off a cliff and died, and her body was never found. Regardless of whether Gu Shuang's death was real or faked, she must have known many secrets. To protect the Gu family, she most likely passed them on to Gu Mingzhi. It was also after Gu Shuang's death that Gu Mingzhi's official position continued to rise."

Ning Que didn't say much.

Just smiled and nodded.

It seems that Tian Zhongxun thinks the same as him.

"So, what are your plans for the future?"

"It was me who killed your father and brother."

“But in fact, the real person is Emperor Feng!”

"You are the royal brother whom I regard as a close friend and relative!"

"Ning Que, you did defeat me, and I accept my defeat wholeheartedly. The army you assembled is deeply popular, and they support you fearlessly. Yet, you were defeated miserably! Is this the cruel truth you want to know?"

"The future has nothing to do with you." Ning Que's expression was indifferent. He also picked up the wine glass and said slowly: "I will not tear my face apart without solid evidence. In addition, the envoy sent by my royal brother is about to arrive in Linzi. Tian Zhongxun, the rest of the matter is left to you. No matter what, it will be your decision."

“Hahaha, okay!”

"good!"

Tian Zhongxun took a swig from the wine jar and said with emotion, "Ning Que, you are really capable. It's a pity that I won't live to see that day, otherwise I would really like to see you and Emperor Feng turn against each other. By then, who will be the winner between you two brothers?"

"You are the Prince of Ning, and you also carry the blood of our great-grandfather. I believe you will go far in the future. With your abilities, you will one day become the new Emperor Feng."

"Oh……"

Ning Que just smiled.

If he had been skeptical at first, he was now almost certain. After unraveling the mystery, many of the past's mysteries had been lifted, and many illogical things had been explained. Although some puzzles remained unsolved, Ning Que knew he was getting closer and closer to the truth.

"Also, I have one more piece of advice."

"What?"

Tian Zhongxun put down the wine jar and said calmly: "The secret that the Gu family has kept for many years is related to the life experience of Emperor Feng. I believe it must be an extremely important piece of evidence. Gu Mingzhi would not be stupid enough to leave this evidence in the Gu Mansion. Only in this way can he be safe. As for where it is, it is up to you to track it down."

"Okay, thank you."

"Hahaha, I didn't expect you to thank me?"

Tian Zhongxun couldn't help but laugh heartily.

Ning Que looked helpless and waved his hand, saying, "I just think that you, an old fox, are truly amazing. You've been able to deduce so many secrets from these details. Even I'm not as meticulous as you."

"Ning Que, goodbye." Tian Zhongxu raised his hand. "If possible, when you take the throne of Emperor Feng in the future, please pour me a glass of strong liquor. If you do, I will be satisfied even if I know it in my afterlife. After all, you defeated me, so you can't lose to anyone else!"