Chapter 531: The Thousand-Year-Old (52)

"It seems I guessed right. Your family is still in the ghost city. They never intended to take your family with them. You were deceived. I told you before that if you surrendered, you would die, but I would protect your whole family. But you just wouldn't listen! Now I have no choice. Even if you escape, your family will still die. It's a pity. I heard that Lord Liu's youngest son is still an infant, not even weaned yet, and he has to leave this world to face death. It's really too cruel."

Liu Qing looked pained.

"Your Highness, I beg you, Your Highness, have pity on my innocent child. I am willing to be torn apart by five horses. Please, Your Highness, plead with the Emperor to spare my family."

"Can."

Wen Wan agreed without hesitation, which shocked Liu Qing. "Second Prince?"

“I promise you, I won’t kill your wife, children, or any other innocent people. The grievances will be settled, and I will make those who have done wrong pay the price. But Lord Liu, you have to help me too, don’t you? If we really reach the border, do you think I’ll still be alive? I’m the best trump card for surrendering. The other side should be very happy to capture me, right?”

"If I die, I'm afraid I can't help your family. Do you know what kind of person my father is? He is the emperor, the emperor who holds the power of life and death over the entire country. He may love me and compromise on some things for my safety, but if it touches on the interests of the country, he will not hesitate to abandon me. After all, he doesn't lack sons. He is a good emperor. That's why he will not do anything that would harm the interests of the country for my sake."

Liu Qing: "..."

"Then what should I do?"

"Help me get out of here."

"But……"

"You can think about it yourself, but this time you must think it through carefully. Is it to save your family's lives, or to risk your own survival, which may not even be possible? It's like trying to get something from a tiger. The important thing is that you must have something to gain. But Lord Liu, what benefits do you have left? You're not even an official anymore... you have no power. Why do you think people would befriend you?"

Liu Qing: "I understand. I will cooperate with whatever the Second Prince says."

Wen Wan took out a porcelain bottle.

"This is?"

"It's just a regular sleeping drug. As long as you find an opportunity to get into the water, that's enough. The guards following behind you will come and deal with it immediately."

Liu Qing hesitated for a moment, but eventually accepted it; he had made his own choice.

He was never going to survive anyway.

But if he could gamble on the fact that this second prince would keep his word and protect his family, then it would be worth it.

Liu Qing left. Having served as an official for so many years, he naturally knew what to do.

Xiao Cui looked at her master and said, "Master, you are really amazing."

"Stop flattering him. We need to prepare for the worst. If he fails or regrets his decision, we'll have to escape ourselves."

"This servant will protect my master's safety with my life," she said.

Wen Yan: "..."

That's not necessary.

...

On the second day, Liu Qing did not make a move. On the third day, Liu Qing still did not make a move. But when Wen Wan was preparing to implement the second strategy, Liu Qing made his move. At night, no one dared to relax and took turns resting.

Then Liu Qing had water delivered to everyone on duty. During the day, they ate mostly dry rations, so naturally they couldn't not drink water.

These people quickly fainted.

Just then, a group of people rushed out from the shadows and quickly took control of everyone. Gu Li immediately headed towards the carriage where Wen Wan was being held, and happened to see the Ghost God Temple's envoy, who hadn't been affected, lying unconscious in Wen Wan's carriage.

Are you alright?

Gu Li hugged Wen Wan.

Wen Wan shook her head. "I'm fine. Thank you for saving me."

Gu Li: "I'm sorry, it's all because I didn't protect you well, which put you in danger. I didn't expect them to get the news so quickly and then act desperately."

Looking at Gu Li's extremely guilty expression, Wen Wan reached out and touched his furrowed brows.

"What does this have to do with you? It just means you can't go on dangerous trips without discussing them with me anymore. Do you know how worried I was? I was terrified that you..."

Wen Wan held Gu Li in her arms, feeling his body temperature, and the heart that had been hanging in the air finally settled down.

After that, everyone was arrested. Liu Qing glanced at Wen Wan and was also taken away.

They all returned to the ghost town, and a group of people followed up based on the information they had gathered, intending to find the contact person.

After that, the emperor no longer allowed Wen Wan to manage other matters. Wen Wan didn't want to manage them either, but she still made a request: that the emperor bypass Liu Qing's family, who were unaware of the situation.

In the end, however, men over the age of ten were exiled and their property confiscated, while women and children were spared, but their descendants were barred from holding official positions for generations.

Wen Wan went to the prison to see Liu Qing and told him the emperor's decision.

Liu Qing was moved to tears and kowtowed to her, "Thank you, Second Prince, thank you, Your Highness..."

The entire Qi royal family was wiped out, and the King of Qi was sentenced to be demoted to a commoner and imprisoned for life.

The Ghost Temple was completely destroyed, and the people realized that the Ghost God they worshipped did not exist at all, but was just an imposter. Those people who died, supposedly killed by the Ghost God, were actually poisoned.

The family of the deceased was given financial assistance, and they were able to rebury the deceased.

Soon, new officials took office in Ghost City, the Temple of Ghosts was completely abolished, and Ghost City was renamed Guicheng, meaning that the souls of the dead have a place to return to. This name was given by Wen Wan.

Wen Wan soon left the ghost town again.

The emperor bestowed upon her a multitude of gifts, and Wen Wan's purse grew ever fuller.

The emperor ordered her to return, but Wen Wan refused. Rather than scheming and fighting with the princes in the palace, Wen Wan preferred to travel outside. She had money and the emperor as her biggest backer, and she could do something about injustices she saw.

It has to be said that this feeling made Wen Wan feel both exhilarated and exceptionally proud.

No one doesn't admire heroes, and no one doesn't want to be a hero. If Wen Wan were in modern times, she would definitely have a wall full of banners.

Afterwards, Wen Wan went to many places, saw countless fun things, countless local customs and traditions, and also witnessed countless injustices. She also removed many corrupt officials and wealthy gentry from their posts.

Her fame grew, even overshadowing the fact that she was once uneducated and incompetent, winning the hearts of the people. However, Wen Wan didn't care much about these things. Her relationship with Gu Li was getting better and better, and they were very affectionate. Even Xiao Cui, who had always disliked her, gradually accepted Gu Li. If a master can find someone she truly loves in this world, even if their statuses are worlds apart, it is not an insurmountable gap.