The moment he stepped out of the imperial prison, the sun shone brightly in front of him, while behind him lay a prison where he would never see the light of day again.
That person's life and death were still in the hands of others.
Song Ting had to admit that Chu Huaixu was right. He couldn't even protect his own life, so how could he protect the people he wanted to protect?
He must seize power; he must make himself strong.
Only when he has complete control over life and death can he get what he wants.
But before that, he still had to protect his own life and survive.
Song Ting returned to the palace to report, covered in blood. The Empress Dowager and the Grand Secretary summoned him.
Fu Shun stood behind the Empress Dowager, a faint smile on his face that sent chills down one's spine.
Song Ting felt a surge of hatred. It was this person who had caused his immortal to suffer such severe injuries and endure so much pain.
"How's the matter going?"
Inside Xingqing Palace, the Empress Dowager, dressed in a purple-red phoenix robe, sat to her right, Zhang Bingzhi's sharp gaze piercing Song Ting.
Song Ting knelt respectfully before the two: "Your subordinate has failed in his duties. Please punish me, Your Majesty and the Grand Secretary."
He had done this action countless times, and he had repeated similar words many times.
But this was the first time Song Ting had a profound and intense realization that what he was submitting to at this moment was not the woman and the old man in front of him, but power.
Whoever sits in that position can possess that kind of power, with life and death at their fingertips.
If he could replace Zhang Bingzhi...
Song Ting's heart pounded violently at this sudden thought, and his boundless killing intent was hidden beneath a mask of respect as he lowered his head deeply.
Before, Song Ting only wanted to fall, but now he wants more.
He had to get it. He had to protect Chu Huaixu.
"You've been spending so much time with that young master, yet you didn't know a single thing about it?"
"I don't know." Song Ting lowered his head even further. "If I may be so bold as to say that Chu Mingyao didn't have a chance to leave the palace that day, Chu Huaixu might really not know the whereabouts of the Imperial Seal."
“Impossible. They must have made contact through some means. I have already sent people to search the entire palace, and the item is not in the palace.”
"Perhaps Chu Mingyao met someone in the palace and secretly sent that thing out of the palace."
The Empress Dowager nodded: "I think what the Grand Secretary said is absolutely right. Now that the Chu Mingyao family is all dead, if even Chu Huaixu doesn't know, then who else would know?"
She was far less composed than the Grand Secretary, and upon hearing such words, she couldn't help but feel worried.
"This matter cannot be kept secret for long. When the time comes, all the officials will know that the person the late emperor favored was not Zhao'er at all, but Chu Mingyao, and even the imperial seal was given to him."
"But we've slapped such a huge label on him, ruining his whole family..."
Prince Duan, Chu Mingyao, was the God of War of Dayan. Even a three-year-old child would jump for joy upon hearing his name, let alone the military and civil officials.
If the truth were to be revealed, how could they possibly remain comfortably seated in the palace?
They could probably be killed by a single spit from any one of them. History would record their scorn for eternity.
The Empress Dowager understood this principle, but Zhang Bingzhi certainly understood it even better. His wrinkled face, already like old tree bark, wrinkled even more, and his brows were deeply furrowed.
"But I just saw that Chu Huaixu's body was covered in so much flesh that there wasn't a single good piece of flesh left. The guards said that Eunuch Fu had already interrogated the man on the orders of the Empress and the Grand Secretary."
"So I think that perhaps Chu Huaixu really didn't know about this matter. Otherwise, with Eunuch Fu's remarkable methods, how could Chu Huaixu, who has lived a life of luxury and never suffered any hardship, possibly endure it?"
Even the bravest and most skilled soldiers, once imprisoned, had no choice but to obediently speak up. Throughout history, few have been able to withstand the tortures of the imperial prison. Someone like Chu Huaixu would probably find it very difficult to endure.
Zhang Bingzhi narrowed his eyes, seemingly hesitant: "Eunuch Fu, what do you say?"
Fu Shun flicked his whisk and knelt at Zhang Bingzhi's feet, saying in a high-pitched voice:
"This servant thinks Lord Song is right, but Chu Huaixu is a martial artist, and his skills are even comparable to those of Lord Wang Dan, the commander of the Imperial Guards. Therefore, this servant believes that it is possible that he can withstand the torture in the imperial prison."
Song Ting placed her hands on her thighs, her leg muscles unconsciously tensing up.
"Does the eunuch have any ideas?" the Empress Dowager asked anxiously.
"This servant thought that it would be better to cripple Chu Huaixu's martial arts. Without that power, he would be no different from an ordinary person, and perhaps he would be able to agree."
Song Ting suddenly looked up, only to meet Fu Shun's sinister eyes. The latter revealed a malicious smile and said to Song Ting:
"What does Your Excellency think of my idea?"
Song Ting replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "This subordinate is not yet on duty and is unworthy of being addressed as Your Excellency, sir."
"Why be so modest, Lord Song? You have rendered such great service to the Empress and His Majesty, and both sages remember it well."
After a long silence, Elder Zhang slowly spoke.
"Once this matter is resolved, His Majesty and the Empress will surely reward those who have contributed. What do you say, Your Majesty?"
The Empress Dowager, being indecisive, immediately nodded and said, "Yes, yes, as long as Minister Song can resolve my worries, I will grant you whatever you desire."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Majesty." Song Ting pressed his forehead to the ground. "Thank you, Grand Secretary."
Zhang Bingzhi remained smiling, but with a wave of his hand, he decided Chu Huaixu's fate:
"Then let's do as you say, Lord Song. You may go and rest now. Summon Lord Wang over. He knows the most about cultivation techniques."
“Why trouble the Commander?” Fu Shun said. “Isn’t Lord Song also a martial artist? Surely he is quite familiar with the intricacies of this matter?”
Song Ting pursed her lips: "..."
That dead eunuch did it on purpose. Or perhaps, everyone in this room did it on purpose.
It's about seeing if he's still their dog.
"I just don't know if you can bring yourself to do it, after all, you've been with us day and night for many years, and I've heard that young Master Chu is in love with you."
"A truly remarkable person, so pure and upright, has not even stirred the slightest interest in you, sir?"
The topic was brought back to Song Ting, and the Empress Dowager and Zhang Bingzhi's gazes also fell on her. The three of them looked down on Song Ting like a mountain, making it hard for her to breathe.
His back was covered in cold sweat, but his face showed little panic, or even much expression.
At this moment, even if he wanted to tear the old eunuch in front of him to pieces, he could only suppress these emotions.
His gaze slowly swept across the faces of the Empress Dowager, Zhang Bingzhi, and Fu Shun.
Given his status, he certainly couldn't stare at the first two for an extended period; otherwise, it would be an overstepping of his authority, a capital offense.
He stared at the second one for a long time, looking directly into the other person's eyes.
Fu Shun was looking at him too.
After a long pause, Song Ting slowly lowered his head and said in a deep voice, "This subordinate will certainly serve Your Highness and His Majesty."
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