Chapter 13 Would you like to come to the capital with me? My prince was...
Li Chengyi did not receive Lin Yanshu's attempt to coax him.
For several days in a row, he was in a gloomy mood. Huo Zheng clearly noticed his prince's abnormality and did not even dare to show his face in front of his prince when reporting.
I do not seek the mountain, but the mountain comes to me.
No matter how much he tried to avoid his own prince, Li Chengyi still came to find him.
Li Chengyi, his face cold and his eyes icy, looked at Huo Zheng and questioned him sharply:
"Has Gu Yuanpei not yet found out where the bill is?"
"Is this how you handle a case after I've handed it to you?"
Huo Zheng was so frightened by Li Chengyi's questioning that he broke out in a cold sweat.
His Highness hadn't been this angry in a long time. He knelt nervously and begged for forgiveness from Li Chengyi.
"Your Highness, it is my fault for not performing my duties properly."
"I've tried everything, but that guy surnamed Gu just won't talk. He even said that we'll release him sooner or later."
In fact, Huo Zheng did not reveal all of Gu Yuanpei's words.
That man's original words were very arrogant, showing no fear even while in prison.
He said:
"I am acting at the request of a noble person. If things are accomplished in the future, I will not remain in this dungeon any longer."
"You're just a nobody, you wouldn't understand."
Li Chengyi genuinely felt that the Gu family father and son were exactly alike, arrogant and conceited.
He braved the darkness to go to the dungeon, dressed in black, and strode straight towards where Gu Yuanpei was.
He stood outside the iron bars and waved for someone to bring Gu Yuanpei out.
Gu Yuanpei was tied to an iron frame. He looked up and squinted at the boy in front of him.
His expression was indifferent, and he exuded an air of nobility, like a cold jade concealing its sharp edge.
Li Chengyi looked up at Gu Yuanpei, casually toying with the torture instruments on the table.
The blade flashed in Gu Yuanpei's eyes, and he vaguely sensed that the young man before him was unfathomable.
The silent stalemate continued, with only the crackling sound of burning coal mingling with the clanging of torture instruments in the cell.
Gu Yuanpei's heart pounded; he couldn't fathom the young man's intentions.
It wasn't until an incense stick had burned that Li Chengyi slowly turned around.
He smiled at Gu Yuanpei and said casually:
"Lord Gu seems to be somewhat afraid of me."
Gu Yuanpei swallowed hard. He had been navigating the political landscape for over a decade, so why would he be afraid of a mere youth?
He snorted coldly.
Ignoring Gu Yuanpei's attitude, Li Chengyi slowly said:
"I heard from my subordinates that Lord Gu has a very powerful backer and will be able to get out of this prison unscathed."
He does have powerful backers, but now that things have fallen apart like this, it's uncertain whether he can escape unscathed. However, he, Gu Yuanpei, can still keep his life and property.
Gu Yuanpei narrowed his eyes and earnestly advised the other party:
"I see that you are still young, and there are some things you do not understand."
"In this officialdom, if the water is too clear, there will be no fish. What I have done is also at the behest of those above."
Li Chengyi raised his eyes and sneered:
"Above, how high? Is it the Emperor?"
Gu Yuanpei shook his head, feigning profundity:
"There are some things that are better left unknown to someone of your status."
He picked up a curved knife, examined it for a moment, then turned and suddenly plunged it into Gu Yuanpei's shoulder blade.
Blood seeped from Gu Yuanpei's shoulder blade, staining his prison uniform red.
Gu Yuanpei cried out in pain, beads of cold sweat forming on her forehead, staring in shock at Li Chengyi before her:
"How dare you!"
Li Chengyi turned the hilt of his sword and casually asked in return:
"What's there to be afraid of?"
"Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king. If there is anything in this world that I dare not do, then your backer would dare not do it either."
Gu Yuanpei's eyes widened, and she asked in a trembling voice:
"Who are you?"
Li Chengyi drew his curved sword, blood splattering on his cheek, and said, word by word:
"The current Crown Prince, Li Chengyi."
"Is Lord Gu satisfied that he is unaware of my identity?"
Gu Yuanpei stared at Li Chengyi in disbelief.
How could that be? How could he possibly be the crown prince?
Second only to the emperor, above all others.
Looking at Gu Yuanpei's expression, Li Chengyi smiled coldly:
"If Lord Gu doesn't want to talk about it, then he doesn't want to. Anyway, I am the Crown Prince, and I still have the power to arbitrarily accuse others of crimes."
"And your precious son, his testimony is enough to condemn your whole family to a thousand cuts."
"However, I believe that your master would rather you die than die by my hand."
Gu Yuanpei felt as if he were standing on the edge of an abyss.
He was facing the emperor, the royal family!
No matter how much he did for his benefactor, he could no longer turn his life around and rise to prominence.
Looking at Li Chengyi's nonchalant expression, Gu Yuanpei said excitedly:
"I'll talk! I'll talk! Please, Your Highness... spare my life!"
Gu Yuanpei leaned forward excitedly, causing the iron frame to sway slightly.
At this moment, he resembled a frail old man, pleading:
“My son was not involved in this matter; it is solely the fault of this guilty minister. I have hidden the account books in a secret room.”
"The person I am connected with is the Vice Minister of War of the current dynasty."
"In this matter, I was only responsible for distribution and external sales; I am not clear about the other aspects."
Li Chengyi did not believe that the empty granary could have happened in a single day.
It was only when he personally led troops to support the frontier war that he realized how serious the corruption was in the army!
Without food and reinforcements, messages could not be sent out. The people in the city were so desperate that they resorted to cannibalism. The captain fought desperately to defend the city. When he arrived, the captain was found dead on the tower, his blood staining the city walls.
Thinking of this, Li Chengyi felt a surge of emotion.
These termites deserve to die!
Li Chengyi wiped the blood from his hands with a handkerchief, his face expressionless.
He casually tossed the handkerchief onto the table and left the dungeon.
Now that things are settled here, it's time for him to return to the capital.
But there are some things and people he can't let go of in his heart.
………
When Li Chengyi went to find Lin Yanshu, she was lying on a deck chair basking in the sun.
Upon hearing his footsteps, Lin Yanshu turned her head, opened one eye, and looked at Li Chengyi, involuntarily smiling.
Li Chengyi walked quickly over, looked down at her, and said softly:
"Now that the case here is settled, I should return to the capital."
Lin Yanshu looked at him with reluctance; she hadn't expected Li Chengyi to leave so suddenly.
She opened her mouth, then lowered her head, suppressing the reluctance in her heart.
She had known all along that Ah Zhao would leave sooner or later; he had been with her for a long time.
Lin Yanshu, her eyes slightly red, looked up and smiled at Li Chengyi.
"When are you leaving? I'll come to see you off."
Seeing her like this, Li Chengyi felt no reluctance whatsoever, but a nameless anger rose in his heart.
Is this woman truly indifferent, or is she playing hard to get?
His eyes grew increasingly intense as he stared at Lin Yanshu.
Li Chengyi thought to himself, with his outstanding appearance, as untouchable as the bright moon, how could Lin Yanshu not be attracted to him?
Her previous words and current silence are merely expressions of forbearance and restraint, a fear that she might lose control of her emotions and do something she herself would despise.
Thinking about it this way, Li Chengyi felt a bit sorry for Lin Yanshu, who had encountered such an amazing person as himself when he was young.
However, since she had saved his life, Li Chengyi could allow Lin Yanshu to stay by his side a little. If he couldn't control his emotions, then he would give her a chance to show them.
Thinking this, Li Chengyi's expression softened, and he said softly:
"If you stay here alone, the others might retaliate..."
"Would you like to come to the capital with me?"
There was a hint of anticipation in Lee Seung-ik's eyes that he himself didn't even realize.
Lin Yanshu shook his head thoughtfully:
"I'll wait here for my master to return."
Li Chengyi was not angry because of Lin Yanshu's rejection.
He knew that Lin Yanshu missed her master very much.
He was just... a little disappointed.
However, Li Chengyi quickly recovered and was able to resist temptation despite Lin Yanshu's affection for him.
She is indeed very self-disciplined.
Seeing that Li Chengyi remained silent, Lin Yanshu stood up and squeezed his palm to bring him back to his senses.
Lee Seung-ik came to his senses and looked at her:
“I’ve sent people to guard this place. As soon as your master returns, they will send you a message.”
"Come with me to the capital, and I'll help you find a master."
Lee Seung-ik paused as he spoke:
"There are many famous doctors in the capital. Your throat has a chance to be cured."
Lin Yanshu looked at Li Chengyi in surprise.
Was he being so kind to me to repay the debt of saving my life?
You don't need to be so good to yourself.
Lin Yanshu was somewhat moved, tears welling up in her eyes. She nodded, stepped forward, and gently stood on tiptoe to hug Li Chengyi.
Li Chengyi stared wide-eyed in shock, his body frozen in place.
It took him a while to react, and he stiffly responded to Lin Yanshu's hug.
He gently patted Lin Yanshu on the back. Lin Yanshu was much shorter than Li Chengyi. Even on tiptoe, his chin could only barely touch Lin Yanshu's shoulder.
She gently buried her head in Li Chengyi's neck, her stray hairs brushing against his earlobe. He felt a tickle, his face flushed, and he turned his head, only to have Lin Yanshu's hair brush against his lips.
Li Chengyi's voice was somewhat low as he stammered in Lin Yanshu's ear:
"You...you don't actually need to...be so grateful to me."
Upon hearing his words, Lin Yanshu raised her head and met Li Chengyi's gaze.
Looking into Lin Yanshu's pure eyes, Li Chengyi inexplicably felt a surge of heat within him.
He didn't know that in Lin Yanshu's eyes, he had become a red apple.
Lin Yanshu looked at Li Chengyi's increasingly flushed cheeks and frowned in confusion.
Ah Zhao, is he running a fever? Why is his face so red?
Before Lin Yanshu could even raise her hand to touch Li Chengyi's forehead...
Huo Zheng suddenly appeared at the gate, excitedly calling out to Li Chengyi:
"grown ups!"
Lin Yanshu hugged Li Chengyi's waist and turned to look at him.
Huo Zheng stared in shock as his prince embraced Lin Yanshu. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief, his eyes narrowing into slits.
He turned back in disbelief and walked out.
As he walked out the door, he looked back to make sure he hadn't gone the wrong way.
Huo Zheng retreated again, but the scene remained the same as before.
Huo Zheng felt that he might be trapped in a maze.
Otherwise, how could they have encountered their own prince holding onto Lin Yanshu, a country girl, and refusing to let go?
Lin Yanshu watched Huo Zheng go in and out with a look of fear on his face, and then she looked up at Li Chengyi with suspicion.
Lee Seung-ik felt that his trusted confidant was acting in such a way... which was somewhat embarrassing.
He reluctantly let go of Lin Yanshu's embrace and called out to Huo Zheng.
A note from the author:
----------------------
Mini-theater:
Huo Zheng: Your Highness endured humiliation and sacrificed yourself for the great cause!
Li Chengyi: ...That's my future Crown Princess.
[Poor thing][Poor thing][Poor thing] Are there any readers who would like to donate some nutrients to me?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com