Zheng Bingrong staggered back a few steps, covering his swollen cheek and spitting out blood.
He didn't fight back, but just snorted coldly. "Brother, what right do you have to say that I did it? Why would I burn my own house?"
"Why?" Zheng Binghong stared at his brother, "You know it in your heart."
Seeing Zheng Bingrong's nonchalant look, an idea suddenly flashed through his mind.
Zheng Binghong rushed to Zheng Bingrong and said in a low voice, "To destroy the evidence, you burned your own house today. Will you kill Ning'er tomorrow to silence her? I warn you, from today on, you'd better burn incense and pray to Buddha to bless Ning'er to be safe. If she loses a hair, I will blame it on you."
Go ahead and push Zheng Bingrong away.
That night, almost no one in the Yiyong Marquis's Mansion could sleep.
A few days later, Shangguan Yue, who had just returned from an inspection, still did not submit a memorial. According to Mu Jingrui's observation, he seemed to be completely unaware of the matter.
Mu Jingrui walked out of the court alone with a heavy heart. He walked to the east gate and was about to get into the sedan chair when he heard someone calling him from behind.
He turned around and saw Li Dahai walking towards him.
"General Mu doesn't seem to be in a good mood?" Li Dahai said with a smile, "Is there something on his mind?"
Mu Jingrui restrained his emotions and said with a contemptuous smile: "Lord Li and I have no relationship, why do you care whether I am happy or not?"
"I would like to have some connection with a young hero like General Mu. As it happens, I have a 28-year-old daughter born to my concubine. How about she be General Mu's concubine?"
“I don’t deserve it.”
Li Dahai knew that he and Mu Jingrui were not of the same kind, so he leaned close to his ear and whispered, "I know what you are thinking. I might as well tell you that the list and evidence in your hands have long been destroyed."
Mu Jingrui frowned slightly and his eyes became sharp.
"You think you want to fight me just because you are a rookie? You are still very green. You actually trust a woman. Stupid!"
After Li Dahai finished speaking, he walked away laughing, leaving Mu Jingrui standing there with his fists clenched.
He didn't believe that Shangguan Wanning would betray him, but it was also a fact that Shangguan Yue did not submit the memorial. Could it be that something unexpected happened that he didn't know about?
Mu Jingrui returned home with a heavy heart, and as soon as he entered the door, Mu Jingyan came to greet him.
Her hands were hidden behind her back and her face was full of a meaningful smile.
"Brother, someone from the Shangguan Mansion just delivered a letter."
Mu Jingrui was stunned and said anxiously, "Give it to me."
"You can ask me to give it to you, but you have to promise me one thing first."
The slower Mu Jingyan was, the more anxious Mu Jingrui became. He impatiently grabbed his sister's hand and snatched the letter away.
"Brother, you hurt me." Mu Jingyan complained angrily.
Mu Jingrui just glanced at her, opened the letter impatiently, and after reading it, he immediately went out and headed straight for Zuixianlou.
Shangguan Wanning paced restlessly in the private room. She had practiced admitting her mistake to Mu Jingrui countless times, but the results were always unsatisfactory.
The door was pushed open and Mu Jingrui walked in expressionlessly.
I don’t know if it’s a psychological effect, but Shangguan Wanning felt that Mu Jingrui’s eyes were particularly cold today.
"Jing Rui..."
All the organized language was stuck in the throat.
"Jingrui, I have something to tell you."
"Speak." Mu Jingrui also wanted to hear Shangguan Wanning's explanation.
"As for the list and the evidence, I'm afraid... you can't hand them over to the emperor for the time being." Shangguan Wanning's voice was very low, and she instinctively lowered her head to avoid Mu Jingrui's gaze.
"Why?"
"Can I... not tell anyone?" Shangguan Wanning was unsure of Mu Jingrui's attitude. If she rashly told anyone about Zheng Bingrong, she didn't know what would happen.
Mu Jingrui walked in front of Shangguan Wanning. He tried his best to suppress the anger in his heart and asked in a hoarse voice: "If you were me, would you be willing to agree?"
"I..." Shangguan Wanning was speechless for a moment.
"Do you know that the people on that list have the blood of soldiers and civilians on their hands? Do you know how much time and energy I spent collecting evidence of their crimes?"
"I... understand..." Shangguan Wanning lowered her head in shame.
This is probably the price you have to pay to cover up your shortcomings.
"You understand? Then do you understand that if Li Dahai continues to sit in the position of Minister of War, such tragedies will happen again in the future?"
Shangguan Wanning was at a loss as to what to do. She was already uneasy and now became even more flustered.
"Tell me, why can't the list be handed over?" Mu Jingrui tried to calm himself down.
Shangguan Wanning pondered for a while, and finally shook her head.
Suddenly, a feeling of desolation surged in Mu Jingrui's heart.
He thought that he and Shangguan Wanning could trust each other, so he entrusted such an important thing to her.
But at this moment, Mu Jingrui realized that everything was just his wishful thinking.
"Shangguan Wanning, I really trusted you wrongly." Mu Jingrui's tone was calm, but revealed disappointment and dissatisfaction.
He glanced at Shangguan Wanning and turned away.
Shangguan Wanning felt as if she had collapsed all over. It turned out that not a single word of the speeches she had rehearsed was used.
She fell on the stool and stared at the ground in a daze.
From her past life to this life, she had spent so much effort to gain Mu Jingrui's trust and prevent the tragedy of her past life from happening again, but now all her efforts had failed.
It was not until Lu Tong came in and gently pushed Shangguan Wan Ning that she woke up from her dream.
"Miss, it's past noon, should we go back?"
Shangguan Wanning slowly stood up and when she walked outside, the dazzling sunlight made it difficult for her to open her eyes.
"Lutong, I don't want to ride in a sedan chair. Let them go back first and you can walk with me to relax."
"yes."
Lu Tong dismissed the sedan bearers and followed Shangguan Wan Ning, walking aimlessly on the bustling streets.
"Miss, did you have a quarrel with General Mu?" Lu Tong cautiously asked, "Don't be upset. General Mu will come to apologize to you in a few days after he gets in touch with you."
Lu Tong's comfort made Shangguan Wan Ning even more sad.
This time, even if she went to apologize, he might not be willing to respond.
"Miss, look, there is a windmill for sale in front. I heard that windmills can bring good luck. I will go buy one for you."
After saying this, Lu Tong ran over.
Shangguan Wanning had no time to stop her, so she followed her.
She walked to a nearby bridge and sat down on the steps. A ragged child came over.
"Sister, a big brother asked me to tell you that he is waiting for you in the alley ahead."
Shangguan Wanning's heart was slightly moved. "What kind of big brother?"
"He is very handsome and tall. He said his last name is Mu."
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