Su Yiyunge confessed her crime, and the murders of Luo Hong and Lan Jingyi were finally solved. Although these two cases were not a big deal before the Jie army came, they still made Lu Zheng, who solved the cases, the limelight. During

the court meeting, Emperor Yongning even brought up this matter and praised it highly, which naturally made some people want to target Lu Zheng.

The eldest prince Rong Yan was in the bedroom of his mother, Concubine Zhuang. Concubine Zhuang was already in her forties. Although her appearance was no longer young, she was surrounded by a peaceful and gentle temperament, which made people feel friendly unconsciously. If Rong Yan's gentleness was still a little superficial, Concubine Zhuang's gentleness had already permeated the bones. At this moment, she was drinking tea leisurely, not noticing her son's anxious expression.

"Mother, please give me some advice!"

Concubine Zhuang put down the cup, pressed the corner of her mouth, and then spoke softly, "You are already in your twenties, why are you still so impatient? People say you are modest and polite, but it's obviously flattery."

"Mother, what time is it now, you are still making fun of your son like this."

"What's the hurry?" Concubine Zhuang said casually, "He is just a child who has not really entered the official career. Is it worth you to throw away your temperament and stability?"

"This is not just a child, he has the Duke of Ying's Mansion behind him!" Rong Yan frowned, "I'm afraid the fourth brother has the same idea, there are many women of the right age in the noble concubine's family."

"Don't worry, this won't happen quickly. The Guo family is a big family with great wealth and people's hearts are hard to get along with." Concubine Zhuang continued, "Jun'er is old enough, and I have indeed thought about choosing a good marriage for her. If the third son of the Lu family is really as outstanding as you said, I will naturally ask His Majesty for a marriage. If he is not good, I will not ignore your sister's life for your own selfish desires."

Rong Yan hurriedly said, "Of course, your sister's life is more important."

Concubine Zhuang nodded with satisfaction and asked, "Have you been to your uncle Chu's house recently?"

Rong Yan said gloomily, "Of course I went, but it's a pity that my uncle always avoids me."

"You silly boy, you argued so fiercely with the fourth prince. He is a prince and holds great power, so naturally he would not come to your trouble. But even if he ignores you, you have to do what you should do. Going there as a living person will naturally deepen his impression. After a long time, he will see you differently from the fourth prince." Concubine Zhuang taught her son, "Either you don't go at the beginning. Since you have gone, don't give up halfway."

Rong Yan opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing.

Concubine Zhuang glanced at the invitation on the table and said, "By the way, speaking of King Chu, I remembered that the case of Luo Hong and Lan Jingyi has been solved, and the positions of the Chief Justice and the Vice Chief Justice of the Dali Temple are vacant. What are your plans?"

"Mother, don't mention it." The eldest prince sighed, "I thought that Du Ruo was qualified and capable, and the position of Chief Justice of the Dali Temple was already in our pocket. Who knew that the fourth son got there first and pushed the second son of the Han family up, and the Vice Chief Justice of the Dali Temple was taken down by the kid from the Zhao family without a word."

"Zhao family?"

"The eldest son of the Zhao family is said to be named Zhao Jin. The Zhao family has been particularly low-key in Beijing in recent years. It turns out that they are also a dog that bites people without barking." Rong Yan said hatefully. Concubine

Zhuang frowned: "Didn't the Zhao family suffer from the incident with Prince Wei and have been in a slump for a long time?"

Rong Yan said: "A skinny camel is bigger than a horse. The Zhao family never really suffered any injuries back then. They have been recuperating in these years, but they can't help it."

"I heard before that the Zhao family had a bastard who took refuge with the fourth brother?"

Rong Yan snorted contemptuously: "The fourth brother put him in the Ministry of Justice, but it's a pity that he is a hopeless case. I don't know where he has gone now." Concubine

Zhuang curled her lips: "...It's a pity."

At this moment, the person they were talking about was in a secret room in Yanjing City that never sees the light of day.

Zhao Xueqian's hands and feet were locked with thick handcuffs, and the handcuffs were connected to thick chains that extended to the wall. The room was very simple, with only a bed and a table.

It was the coldest time of the late spring, but Zhao Xueqian was naked, and his lips were white from the cold. Fortunately, there was a quilt on the bed, but there was no charcoal fire, so he was still shivering from the cold. At

this time, the sound of a key turning came from the door. Zhao Xueqian thought someone was coming to deliver food, so he raised his head with trembling body, but his expression changed drastically when he saw the face of the person who came.

Zhao Jin was wearing a gorgeous dress, covered with a gray squirrel fur cloak. He had a feminine face, a pair of peach blossom eyes full of affection, and a frivolous smile on his lips, just like the dandy young men in the city. But Zhao Xueqian looked at him as if he was looking at a demon. To him, the man in front of him was indeed a demon, and he was the one who caused him to fall into such a situation.

Zhao Jin approached Zhao Xueqin with a smile: "Ninth brother, how have you been these days?"

Zhao Xueqin clenched his teeth tightly, not daring to reveal any resentment, because he knew that Zhao Jin was a very petty person. He just called him a sissy back then, but he still holds a grudge against him today, not to mention that if he showed any resentment, this man would treat him with even more severe punishment.

But even so, Zhao Jin did not intend to let him go. He gently lifted Zhao Xueqian's chin, looked at him carefully, and then sighed: "Haozhi said that the third sister looks like me, but I don't think it's entirely true. You, the ninth brother, are the one who looks most like me!"

Zhao Xueqian pursed his lips, and an ominous premonition spread in his heart. He knew that Zhao Jin hated people saying that he looked like a woman the most. I'm afraid that today will not end well. Despair rose in his heart, and the hand at his side gradually clenched into a fist.

Who knew that Zhao Jin changed the subject: "But I'm not angry."

Zhao Xueqian was stunned, and he rarely looked at Zhao Jin with a surprised look.

Zhao Jin was also in a rare mood, and said, "I haven't told you this good news yet!" His nails gently scratched Zhao Xueqian's cheek, just like his voice, "I just became the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple."

This was like a stone thrown into the center of a lake, causing ripples. Zhao Xueqian was a little stunned. He studied hard for many years and finally passed the imperial examination. However, he still had to rely on the powerful to survive in the officialdom. But what did Zhao Jin have? ! In addition to his status as the eldest son of the Zhao family, he was not good at literature or martial arts. He was uneducated from childhood to adulthood. How could he become the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple!

At this moment, Zhao Xueqian forgot to be humble to Zhao Jin. His eyes were burning with anger, and he asked in a hoarse voice: "Why?"

His disrespect did not make Zhao Jin angry. He actually held his chin and thought carefully: "Why... Maybe it's because of my identity." He smiled at the corners of his lips and uttered malicious words lightly, "Just like you have always refused to admit it, but this is the fact!"

Zhao Xueqian's lips were almost bitten by him and bled. Zhao Jin's words broke his last fantasy, and he slowly lowered his head.

Zhao Jin laughed happily, grabbed his clothes and lifted him up: "Ninth brother, I am happy today. If you ask for mercy, I will forgive you, how about it?"

Zhao Xueqian's eyes were dull, and his lips mechanically followed his words and said, "Please."

He was begging for mercy, but Zhao Jin's face turned cold. He found that watching this stubborn brother begging for mercy was not as interesting as he imagined. He did not say anything, and Zhao Xueqian continued to say "Please" one sentence after another.

Zhao Jin snorted coldly: "Kneel down and lick my shoes."

Zhao Xueqian immediately climbed off the bed, not caring about the coldness of the ground at all, crawling at Zhao Jin's feet, and actually stretched out his tongue to lick his shoes.

Zhao Jin kicked him out with one foot, and Zhao Xueqian's back hit the table leg. He coughed and slowly got up from the ground.

Zhao Jin walked over, then squatted down, looking at the crisscrossing scars on his naked white body. There were several whip marks on his chest and abdomen, which were caused by his whipping. There were many bruises on his legs and arms, which were caused by his kicking. In addition, there were also marks from strangulation and various other marks. There was almost no good skin and flesh. However, the most amazing thing was a peony-shaped brand on his shoulder blade. It was a hairpin that he bought for his concubine. He didn't know why he put the hairpin into the fire that day, and then branded it on his back.

Now, the charred skin has scabbed and faded, leaving only a charming peony flower on his shoulder. As

Zhao Jin looked at it, the look in his eyes gradually changed.

Zhao Xueqian lowered his head, so he didn't see his expression. But when Zhao Jin reached out, he still reflexively ran back. He didn't run far before he was caught by the iron chain and then thrown to the ground by Zhao Jin mercilessly.

Zhao Xueqian thought Zhao Jin wanted to beat him to vent his anger, so he just protected his head tightly. Unexpectedly, the pain didn't come, but a warm and wet object pressed against his shoulder blade. Zhao Xueqian was stunned for a moment, and tried hard to turn his head to see what new method Zhao Jin used to torture him, but he saw Zhao Jin raised his head and showed a hint of ambiguous smile.

Zhao Jin pinched his chin and twisted him around, and then a heavy body pressed down. Zhao Xueqian's skin touched the smooth silk, which made him widen his eyes in disbelief. He seemed to realize what Zhao Jin was going to do. He struggled violently, but hunger and cold made his struggles extremely weak. Coupled with the shackles of handcuffs, he did not break free from Zhao Jin's control at all, but frowned unhappily.

"Tsk tsk, why can't you learn your lesson, ninth brother?" Zhao Jin sighed softly, untied his belt, and tied Zhao Xueqian's hands to the table legs.

The oil lamp on the table was shaking violently, and the small flame cast a swaying shadow on the wall. The elongated shadows reflected the two overlapping bodies like a scene in hell.

Zhao Xueqian's eyes were fixed on the shadow on the wall. His eyes, which should have been dead, seemed to jump into the spark in the oil lamp and slowly rekindled the flame called revenge.