Chapter 170 Drag More People Down

"Yes! We went to find the prison guards you mentioned, as you instructed..."

However, they were all placed under surveillance by Lin Xiang's men. Suddenly, today, those jailers and the other officials who were present that day were taken away by the men sent by Lin Xiang.

The jailers on duty that night were temporarily detained at the Dali Temple, and the guards were not from the Ministry of Justice, but were directly guarded by the Imperial Guards.

The Dali Temple is now protected like an iron barrel.

"We...can't get in touch with them!" Ruan Xingzhi's men whispered.

Ruan Xingzhi's heart sank.

So fast?

That shouldn't be happening!

Based on his own deduction, even if those prison guards were to be detained and tried, they would be detained in the Ministry of Justice, not in the Dali Temple.

The focus of everyone's attention is on King Wu's side, not those minor figures.

Now it's completely the other way around!

No one paid any attention to the King of Wu in his palace, but the jailers were kept under close watch.

They even mobilized the Imperial Guard...

The only person who can mobilize the Imperial Guards now is the Crown Prince, who holds the dragon pendant. Does this mean that someone on the Crown Prince's side must have deduced that the King of Wu is looking for a scapegoat?

Ruan Xingzhi remained silent, and his men dared not speak either.

Seeing Ruan Xingzhi pick up his teacup and sip it, his men became even more nervous.

"They're really lucky to be protected like this!"

"Looking at it this way, it seems the prince's luck isn't so good after all!" Ruan Xingzhi said quietly.

His men dared not speak, they just stood with their heads down.

Ruan Xingzhi drank half a cup of tea before waving his hand.

"Fine, if this path is blocked, then let's try another one."

You may leave now! What happens below is none of your business.

"Go and fetch Zhu Juzi and his companions here!"

Ruan Xingzhi's men breathed a sigh of relief and quickly withdrew.

When Zhu Juzi and the others saw Ruan Xingzhi, the gloomy look on Ruan Xingzhi's face had disappeared.

He has returned to being that respectable and humble gentleman.

“The situation may change tomorrow, so your men should stop speaking up for the King of Wu,” Ruan Xingzhi said with a smile.

Zhu Juzi and the others were all taken aback.

If we don't speak up for the King of Wu, what will we say tomorrow?

"Tomorrow you will say... that the King of Wu is doing things for the King of Zhao."

Everything that happened in the capital was actually orchestrated by the King of Zhao's men.

Furthermore, weren't all those people who were watching the privately made dragon robes supposed to have met the King of Zhao before?

"Just push them out!" Ruan Xingzhi said slowly.

Zhu Juzi was a bit dumbfounded.

Those who spoke most about the privately made dragon robes were ostensibly all Zhao King's men, but in reality...

"Second Young Master, isn't this inappropriate?" Zhu Juzi felt a little reluctant.

These are all candidates for the imperial examinations next year. They came to the capital and finally managed to get into a prince's residence, and now...

"Don't worry, this is all part of the plan."

They jumped a little too high back then. Once Lin Xiang starts investigating, they will definitely find their way to them.

Instead of waiting for them to expose you, it's better to push them out now.

I'm doing this for your benefit.

Firstly, they have a very good personal relationship with you. If you don't break off your relationship now, are you waiting for Lin Xiang's men to arrest you all?

Secondly, there's the imperial examination next year...

Some of them are more talented than you.

If they can no longer participate in the imperial examinations, wouldn't your chances be even greater?

"You've studied hard for ten years, you don't want your luck to always be a little bad, do you?" Ruan Xingzhi said slowly.

Zhu Juzi and his two companions remained silent for a long while after hearing this.

Ruan Xingzhi remained silent, slowly sipping his tea and waiting for them to figure things out on their own.

Finally, Zhu Juzi bowed and paid his respects to Ruan Xingzhi.

"Thank you for considering our needs, Second Young Master!"

We will definitely get this done!

Ruan Xingzhi nodded and said nothing more.

...

After watching Zhu Juzi and the others leave, Ruan Xingzhi returned to his study.

His expression was still a bit unpleasant.

His plan to stage a murder to cover it up was shelved before it could even begin, which greatly displeased him.

Logically speaking, the people on the Crown Prince's side shouldn't have imagined that they would target those prison guards!

What a coincidence!

Ruan Xingzhi felt a little annoyed; he didn't like the feeling of his plans being disrupted.

Just like how the King of Wu imprisoned Lord Shangguan in the Ministry of Justice without consulting him after he had only been gone for two days, it also disrupted his plans.

If King Wu hadn't been so reckless, things wouldn't be in this state now.

Ruan Xingzhi looked down on the King of Wu.

He acted rashly, harbored malicious intentions, and showed no qualities of a ruler whatsoever.

But Ruan Xingzhi had no choice but to be tied to the King of Wu's big ship, since he was a member of the Ruan family!

Ruan Xingzhi thought more than once that if he could be a different prince, he would be able to do far fewer things than he is doing now!

There's no need to worry so much.

After sitting alone for a while, Ruan Xingzhi plucked a string of bells hanging by the window.

After a loud noise, two men in black appeared outside the window.

These two men were assigned to Ruan Xingzhi by the King of Wu, firstly to protect him, and secondly to help Ruan Xingzhi with some tasks.

"Those three people, Zhu Juzi..."

After they finish their business tomorrow, let's send the three of them to their deaths!

"Make sure it's done cleanly, so no one notices anything amiss," Ruan Xingzhi said softly.

"yes!"

The man in black took his orders and left.

Ruan Xingzhi thought for a while in the study before gently touching a hidden compartment next to the display shelf.

The display shelf was moved aside, and a tunnel appeared in front of Ruan Xingzhi.

...

The King of Wu was drinking alone in the courtyard.

The King of Wu sent the Queen Consort and her concubines to another courtyard. Apart from two personal attendants, there was no one else in this courtyard.

King Wu had heard a lot of talk from the outside world these past two days, and when he heard people outside coming to insult him in various ways, he remained calm.

Let them curse. What else can they do besides cursing themselves?

If I stood in front of them, would they dare to speak?

A bunch of good-for-nothings!

...

“Cousin!” Ruan Xingzhi appeared behind King Wu.

When the King of Wu saw Ruan Xingzhi arrive, he smiled and casually waved his hand, and his attendant immediately and respectfully presented him with a wine cup.

"Perfect timing, have a few drinks with me!"

Ruan Xingzhi hummed in agreement, then picked up the wine glass that had just been filled to the brim and downed it in one gulp.

"The wind direction outside will change tomorrow."

“Those things were done on the orders of the King of Zhao!” Ruan Xingzhi said softly.

The King of Wu was taken aback...

Is it appropriate to drag him into this now?

"That's a good idea! If more people criticize him, fewer people will criticize you!"

"And another thing is, the more people criticize him, the more hesitant those in the court will be to act against him!" Ruan Xingzhi laughed.