Chapter 222 Stupid Talk

Cheng Maoming got a positive answer and fell into a fierce struggle in his heart.

If the Emperor knew that the real murderer of Princess Lingque was a member of the group that intended to bomb Jinxiu Street, he would probably be scolded. But if he pretended not to know, what if Prince Jing went straight to tell the Emperor for the sake of credit?

"Prince... do you have any suggestions?" Unable to make up his mind for a moment, Cheng Maoming asked Qi Shuo tentatively.

"The Emperor is deeply concerned about Princess Lingque's death. It's more important than ever to identify the real culprit as soon as possible. With the portrait and a city-wide wanted notice, I believe finding the real culprit is just around the corner."

After hearing this, Cheng Maoming suddenly understood.

The group that intended to bomb Jinxiu Street was from Emperor Pingle's side, and the Emperor was reluctant to conduct a large-scale search to avoid panic. Now, however, the Emperor urgently needs to announce to the world that it was not Princess Yi'an who murdered Princess Lingque, but someone else.

With a reward for the real murderer's portrait, it would be difficult for him to hide. Once he was apprehended, the emperor would sooner or later know that he was the one who had slipped through the net.

At that time, as the commander of Jinlin Guard, if he knew the truth but did not report it, he would not just be scolded.

"Your Highness is right. This matter is of great importance. Cheng must report it to the Emperor as soon as possible."

"It won't be too late for the Grand Commander to report after he has seen the portrait."

Cheng Maoming was stunned for a moment, but quickly understood what Qi Shuo meant: Prince Jing did not want to reveal the fact that he had seen the group that attempted to bomb Jinxiu Street.

That's good.

Cheng Maoming smiled and said, "Of course I have to confirm it first. I'm going out for a while and will treat the prince to a drink another day."

"It won't delay the Grand Commander's work." Qi Shuo said gently, "I just have something to trouble you with."

"What's up?"

"Is the person who was sent here before okay?"

"Oh, it's okay." Cheng Maoming said, and couldn't help but glance at Lin Hao.

He had forgotten that there was such a person locked up, but he instructed his subordinates to lock him up well and not to deprive him of food and drink, so he must still be alive and well.

"Then please, Grand Commander, do us a favor and go see him."

Cheng Maoming naturally would not stop him, but he was still thinking about the relationship between Du Qing, Prince Jing and Miss Lin Er until he left.

What a complicated relationship this is!

A Jinlin Guard brought Lin Hao and Qi Shuo to the place where Du Qing was imprisoned.

As the door was unlocked and opened, Jinlin Guard said politely, "Sir, the person is inside."

"We have something to say, please give us some convenience." Qi Shuo stuffed a silver ingot into Jinlinwei's hand.

The Jinlin Guards wisely stood guard outside.

Rather than calling it a prison cell, it was more like a guest room, except that the window was high up and too small for an adult to pass through. Lin Hao glanced around casually, his gaze settling on the innermost part.

Du Qing leaned back on the bed and cast a sharp look over.

The moment he saw Lin Hao and Qi Shuo, he was surprised, and his surprise quickly turned into anger: "How long are you going to keep me locked up?"

Lin Hao walked over, pulled out a scroll from his sleeve, and slowly unfolded it in front of Du Qing: "Do you know where this person is?"

Du Qing glanced at the portrait and said coldly, "I don't know."

As expected, Chen Mu and the others’ accident was related to this girl!

He looked at Lin Hao deeply, but couldn't understand why such a noble lady could be involved with people like them.

"This man killed Princess Yu Liu." Lin Hao looked into Du Qing's eyes and said.

Du Qing's expression changed instantly.

Did Chen Mu still not give up on attacking Yu Liu?

Despite the sudden upheaval in his heart, Du Qing's face remained icy: "What does this have to do with me?"

Lin Hao sighed: "After seeing this portrait, I finally understood why you chased me that day, because I saw you in a teahouse."

Du Qing's eyes flashed, surprised by Lin Hao's confession.

"Princess Yu Liu died in the capital of Great Zhou. If the news reaches Yu Liu, war might break out, and then thousands of people will suffer. You are also a Great Zhou person. Do you really want to defend such a person?"

Du Qing kept looking at Lin Hao while hearing this.

The girl's eyes are clearly black and white, transparent and pure.

He felt like laughing.

He was hunting this girl, and this girl was the one who got him locked up here. With their relationship like this, she actually came and said these stupid things.

But for some reason, these silly words made him want to laugh and then he fell silent.

He is also from the Great Zhou...

He was still very young when he fled with Emperor Pingle. Whether it was the stable life as a guard before the escape or the life in hiding after the escape, the people he met and came into contact with were all people from the Great Zhou, and it was the land of the Great Zhou that raised him.

Du Qing was surprised to find that his heart was actually shaken a little after hearing these silly words.

"I don't know what you are talking about." After a brief moment of confusion, Du Qing closed his eyes and refused to talk.

"You tell us where he's hiding, and we'll let you out. How's that for the exchange?"

As expected, seeing Du Qing suddenly open his eyes, Lin Hao curled the corners of his lips.

She certainly wasn't naive enough to think that Du Qing would reveal Chen Mu's whereabouts after hearing those words. What really moved him was visible benefits. But she also knew that Du Qing and Chen Mu were different. If her words could have even a slight impact on him, then it would have been worth it.

Du Qing stared at Lin Hao for a moment, then looked at Qi Shuo who was standing at the door.

He knew very well that the one who had the ability to lock him up here and take him away was Prince Jing.

Lin Hao sighed helplessly.

As expected, the title of Prince Jing is still very important.

Qi Shuo's expression was indifferent: "No need to look at me. If it were up to me, you wouldn't be here in the first place."

Although he didn't say what he was thinking, Du Qing understood it from his cold eyes, so he looked at Lin Hao with surprise and confusion.

Was it this girl who saved his life?

Why did she do that?

Du Qing found the girl in front of him increasingly difficult to understand.

"What do you think?" Lin Hao smiled. "Think about it carefully. If you really don't want to, I won't force you. Anyway, his portrait will soon be plastered all over the streets. Even if you don't tell me, I'll find it one day."

After a long silence, Du Qing asked, "If I tell you, will you really let me go?"

A voice filled with disdain came: "If you live here, I will owe a favor to Jinlin Guards."

What followed was a longer silence. Lin Hao did not urge anyone and waited patiently.

I just wanted to give it a try. If I get the answer, it would be a pleasant surprise. If I don't, there is no loss.

Finally, Du Qing spoke again: "It's been so long, I can't guarantee that he still lives there."

"Just tell us your address."

Du Qing lowered his eyes and gave an address.

Qi Shuo walked over and stood beside Lin Hao: "We will investigate. As long as we can prove that you are not talking nonsense, we will let you go."

Du Qing didn't react much to this, but just looked at Lin Hao deeply when the two left.

It's not that he was gullible, but how could a prisoner have the qualifications to negotiate? The worst case scenario is that he would continue to be trapped here.

What if there really is a fool who is willing to let him go?