Chapter 549 Murder
Looking at the pale and sickly Qi Rong, Lin Changning inexplicably recalled the spirited appearance of Qi Rong when they first met. When they first met, Qi Rong was 19 years old and already a third-rank commander.
A woman in silver armor rode past him, exuding an air of confidence and pride. Back then, he had said she looked like a woman and sent her to work in the stables.
She still looked the same, but now Lin Changning felt something was off. Qi Rong was already good-looking, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and her face was like jade. Now her skin had an unnatural paleness, making her look more like a young woman than before.
As Lin Changning thought about it, he said it aloud: "Second Brother looks like a beautiful woman now, even more like a young lady than I did back then."
Qi Rong was surprised that Lin Changning still remembered the time he said that he looked like a woman. He coughed lightly and chuckled, "If I were a woman, I would definitely be a woman of unparalleled beauty, and suitors would wear down the threshold of the Prince's mansion."
Lin Changning was surprised that Qi Rong could still make a joke at this time, and the bitterness in her heart disappeared: "Yes, yes, yes, if elder brother were a woman, the threshold of the Prince's mansion would definitely be worn down."
Seeing the sadness fade from Lin Changning's face, Qi Rong looked up and, abandoning his joking tone, asked seriously, "Have all the people been captured? And how is the situation in the capital?"
Lin Changning looked at Qi Rong and nodded slightly: "That young Ji was shot dead by me yesterday, and the old one was just captured. I will deal with him personally tonight. The capital has been pacified, and the emperor is dead. However, my father recently wrote to us, saying that we should keep the descendants of the old Yun Gui family. I told my eighth brother that, except for the two from the Ji family and the Su family, we can send the others back."
Qi Rong was seriously wounded on the battlefield and had been recuperating for the past few days. He had just woken up today. When asked about the events on the battlefield, he was told by Physician Liu not to think too much about them, and no one dared to bring these matters to his attention. He knew nothing about them.
However, as a general, he needed to be aware of the current situation, so he took advantage of Lin Changning's visit to inquire about it.
Upon learning that the capital had been pacified and the emperor was dead, Qi Rong felt relieved, realizing that all his efforts over the years had not been in vain.
Lin Changning looked at Qi Rong with a hint of hesitation, pondering how to tell him about the death of the Duke of Qi. After thinking for a moment, Lin Changning said, "There is one more thing that I think I should let my second brother know."
Lin Changning paused for a moment, then said, "Second Brother, when we attacked Mengjin, the Duke of Qi died..."
Qi Rong's eyes were almost devoid of emotion as he nodded to indicate that he understood: "Yes, I understand."
Seeing Qi Rong's expression, Lin Changning knew that he probably didn't take his nominal father seriously. Lin Changning breathed a sigh of relief. After chatting for a while, Lin Changning excused himself to take care of Uncle Ming and Yue'er and prepared to go back.
Qi Rong, sitting on the bed, waved to Lin Changning: "Go ahead. I haven't been able to move around much these days. If Shu'er and Yue'er wake up, please tell them I'm sorry I can't visit them."
Lin Changning smiled at Qi Rong and said, "Second Brother, you should focus on healing your injuries first."
After saying that, he walked straight out of Qi Rong's courtyard. As soon as he stepped out of the courtyard, Lin Changning changed his expression. The softness on his face just now was gone, replaced by a cold and hard look.
After stepping outside the courtyard, Lin Changning glanced slightly at a spot behind him: "Where is he?"
A person suddenly darted out from under the shadow of the tree behind him and knelt down, cupping his fists to Lin Changning: "Reporting to Master, Lord Ji is currently imprisoned in the Commandery."
Lin Changning nodded, took out his waist token from his pocket, and casually tossed it behind him: "Go get my waist token and bring those two from the Ji family and the Su family here. Today, they will be torn to pieces at the city gate and their heads will be displayed to the public!"
The guard took Lin Changning's waist token and disappeared quickly. Lin Changning then turned towards the princess's courtyard, exchanged a few words with her, and prepared to return.
After returning home today and settling everything in the manor, the princess was somewhat worried about her daughter and thought of going back to the Lin manor with Lin Changning to see Mingshu and Yue'er.
The princess's beautiful face was now furrowed with brows. She had changed into a slightly simpler set of elegant clothes, with only a plain white hairpin on her forehead and her hair loosely tied up.
"Are you going back to the manor? Little Six, your mother will go back with you. I heard that your brother was also seriously injured while protecting Ming Shu. I brought some good medicine to send to your brother. As for Shu'er, I will assign a female physician to her. You are busy with official duties and family matters lately, so you may not be able to take care of both. Why don't you leave Yue'er with your mother? Your mother will take care of her for you."
Lin Changning did not intend to return to the manor first. Hearing what the princess said, he gently shook his head: "I need to go back to the Commandery first. Mother, if you want to see Mingshu, just go directly. I am not too busy recently. Taking care of Shuer and Yueer is not a problem. But Mother, there are more and more things to do now. Second brother is injured. Mother should also take care of her health."
Princess Chu was very satisfied with Lin Changning's exceptionally polite and comforting words: "Then I will not accompany you. I will go and see Shu'er."
As the Princess Consort of Chu was speaking, another figure rushed out from outside the door: "Mother, I want to go see my elder sister too."
Lin Changning nodded slightly to the young princess, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes: "Then, Mother Consort, I will take my leave first. The Commander still has some matters to attend to."
After saying that, he turned around and walked outside. After walking for a while, he could still hear a voice muttering softly behind him: "My sister is so badly injured, how come he only cares about official business? I heard from Physician Liu that he doesn't even spend more time with my sister!"
No sooner had the words left her lips than Princess Chu's urgent rebuke rang out: "Who taught you to say such things? Your brother-in-law has been traveling day and night for half a month, and hasn't slept for almost a week, just to come back and help Taiyuan. He was injured before he came back, and after he returned, he took care of your sister and Yue'er all night long. He even personally fed her medicine. If I hear you say such things again, you're not allowed to leave the house!"
After speaking, the Princess Consort of Chu coldly swept her beautiful eyes over the maids beside the young princess: "You'd better not let me find out who's been gossiping about the young princess. If you don't want that tongue anymore, you can cut it off!!!"
Lin Changning chuckled, shook his head, left the mansion, mounted his warhorse, and galloped swiftly towards the city gate.
When she arrived, the two disheveled individuals had already been escorted to the city gate. Lin Changning got off the train and coldly observed the two, who were now completely different from before.
He strode over to the table, sat down, and took a small sip of the tea beside him.
A soldier quickly stepped forward and clasped his hands in salute to Lin Changning.
"Greetings, Assistant Magistrate! The person has been brought here. Shall we proceed with the execution?"
Lin Changning's phoenix eyes flashed with intense killing intent as she stared intently at the two men pinned to the ground. After gently setting down her teacup, she glanced at the soldier and nodded.
"Prince Su beheaded him and hung his head on the city gate tower. As for Lord Ji..."
Lin Changning ground his back teeth fiercely: "Cut him into a thousand pieces, piece by piece!"
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