Chapter 71 Holding hands tightly, he (she) is waiting for him (her). ...
When Yun Bing heard the news, he reacted in the same way, "Have you gone mad?!"
"Before his death, Cao Yiyuan went to Suzhou and secretly visited my father's grave several times. After returning to Chang'an, he often claimed to be ill at home and later died of poisoning." Xu Congjing turned around, the candlelight illuminating his emaciated figure, his eyes filled with a cold and resolute air of absolute dominance.
“I have thought this matter over and over again. The evidence Cao Ying mentioned should not be false. I am being closely watched now, so it is really difficult for me to take action. But those people will not pay much attention to Yun Bing because he is a stranger.” He exuded a faint sharpness, but it was smoothed out in an instant. His brows were calm, and he looked directly at Yun Bing and said gently, “Yun Bing, you can use the excuse of going home to go. I will have Yun Lu and others follow you secretly, and I will definitely save your life.”
If he had any other choice, he wouldn't have committed such a heinous act. But since it involves his father's lifelong wish, he probably wouldn't blame him. If he could obtain that evidence, he would surely send the Mongol traitor to his death!
However, after much deliberation, he did not force Lou Yunbing to do this. "If you are unwilling, I will not force you."
Although this matter is an internal affair of the Xu family, in the end, Meng Shicheng is after the wealth of the people of the world. No one in this world can stay out of it. However, Yun Bing did not think so. He put his hands behind his back and shouted loudly, "Since you have already spoken, I will not agree. Who knows if you will speak ill of me to my sister!"
“He’s always been stubborn but soft-hearted.” Lou Yanxu patted him affectionately and smiled at Xu Congjing, who smiled broadly and brushed away the strands of hair that had been blown by the wind. “I won’t let him be in danger.”
I believe you.
Lou Yanxu's eyes seemed to hold a vast galaxy, illuminating the dark night. This light gently touched people's hearts, but to Lou Yunbing, it was exceptionally dazzling. How could he possibly be happy that his elder sister, this "cabbage," had been taken by a pig? So he stepped between the two of them and asked coldly, "When do we set off?"
Xu Congjing touched his nose. "Tomorrow."
"Let's set off immediately, lest something unexpected happen." He really was a stubborn but soft-hearted person. He seemed unwilling on the surface, but he was more anxious than anyone else. Xu Congjing bowed deeply and said, "Thank you very much, brother-in-law."
"Nonsense!" Yun Bing hurriedly pulled his older sister away, grumbling as he did so, while also giving him a sidelong glance.
Lou Yanxu knew his intentions and smiled helplessly at the endless "open and covert struggles" between the two.
With only a few simple provisions, clothes, and a carriage, Yun Bing set off before dawn. She watched the carriage disappear into the distance, secretly praying that everything would go smoothly.
The next few days passed as usual, with no major incidents during yamen hours. If there was any change, it was only this: Meng Lingshang had already been captured, but they did not expect that this person had a backup plan and was ruthless. When Yunji came to rescue her, he used her as a human shield to cover his own retreat, and now there is no news of her.
That day, Lou Yanxu chose a free time to go to the dungeon. Turning to the end, she looked up and saw a thin figure with a black stain on his simple white clothes. His fair face was stained with a few bloodstains, and he was no longer as spirited as before.
Perhaps sensing the intense gaze, Sheng Yan glanced at the newcomer out of the corner of his eye and saw him suddenly stand up straight, his eyes filled with wariness and impatience. "What are you doing here?"
"What do you think I'm here for?" Lou Yanxu asked calmly, unpacking the food box and laying out the dishes. But his suspicions remained, and he scoffed coldly, "You just wanted to laugh at me. Now that you've seen it, are you satisfied?"
“Of course I’m not satisfied.” There had never been any trust between them as husband and wife. Lou Yanxu gave a self-deprecating laugh, feeding the food to the rats in the gutter. Her eyes turned cold and fierce, wishing she could send him to hell with her own hands. “I knew you were restless, but I didn’t expect you could even get others to do something to Xu Congjing. He shouldn’t have been so lenient with you in the first place.”
She had only remembered this matter yesterday. When she was at the Marquis of Chenghua's residence, she had secretly seen him with Hu Yu. What a coincidence! She immediately investigated and found that it led back to the Marquis of Chenghua's residence. Logically speaking, the Xu family had helped the Marquis of Chenghua's residence quite a bit, so he shouldn't have gone so far as to try to kill Xu Congjing. She couldn't understand it, but the person in front of her gave her the answer in the next second.
"He went easy on me? If he hadn't cruelly crippled me, how could Chu Chu have despised me, and how could I have ended up like this!" Sheng Yan's face suddenly twisted, as if he wanted to tear her to shreds through the wooden pillar. He shouted maniacally, "You say he went easy on me? That's ridiculous!"
It took Lou Yanxu a while to realize that Xu Congjing had destroyed his manhood.
I see, I see.
It turned out that Xu Congjing had been secretly protecting her all along. A slight ripple stirred in her calm heart, gradually growing stronger and more turbulent. They had loved and suffered together; how could they ever let go of each other's hands in this lifetime? They would hold each other's hands even in death.
Lou Yanxu snorted coldly, "If you hadn't schemed so hard to clear my name, how could he have been so ruthless? In the end, you've shot yourself in the foot!" She had given him a chance back then, but he insisted on acting so despicably, so she had no one else to blame but herself. There was no other way but to swallow this bitter pill.
Sheng Yan leaned weakly against the wall, his head bowed in despair, and scoffed, "What's the use of saying all this now? My Chenghua Marquis's mansion is already ruined, just as you wished."
She knew he had never thought he had done anything wrong. His current compromise was simply because he knew he had no one to rely on. Anger surged within her, and she retorted, "You think the Chenghua Marquis's mansion will fall into ruin without you? Sheng Ling has far more guts than you!"
This was no exaggeration. With Sheng Lingzhi's intelligence and methods, she was no less capable than anyone in the Chenghua Marquis's mansion. Once the mansion fell into her hands, it would only prosper. But Sheng Yan was truly unmoved, casually collapsing onto the dirty straw. "You can mock me however you want. Anyway, I don't have much time left."
Lou Yanxu looked back and saw that the once noble young master who vowed to make a name for himself was now content in a corner, rotting and stinking in a dark corner, and she could even smell a faint stench as he slowly died.
But she didn't believe him, didn't believe he was truly unafraid of death, so she revealed her purpose and announced the news she had received that morning: "You're right, the Emperor has issued a decree that you will be buried with him in five days."
After speaking, she didn't give a second glance and walked straight out. Sure enough, she heard screams behind her, echoing like ghosts haunting the prison.
"No, I don't want to die!"
"I don't want to die!"
Such an arrogant person is most afraid of death. Keeping him in prison is not a way to repent, but rather to subject him to all kinds of torture and excruciating pain. Lou Yanxu did not look back, but walked step by step towards the only light at the entrance of the dungeon. Behind her were the hideous faces of the evil people, and in front of her was Xu Congjing's gentle smile.
The sunny weather that day didn't last long; the sky suddenly darkened, and a fine drizzle, like cotton needles, began to fall. It was damp and cold on the skin, making one feel uneasy and irritable day after day. Fortunately, Xu Congjing brought good news: although Yun Bing's trip had some setbacks, he was unharmed, and the evidence had been quickly sent to Chang'an, bringing down Meng Shicheng. He had done a great service!
The day continued with continuous rain, the damp black bricks were covered in moss, and water dripped from the cobwebs in the corner of the cell, landing directly on the toe of Xu Congjing's shoe and quickly spreading. He stopped and stared at the listless prisoners in the cell. Meng Shicheng, with his sharp eyes, spotted him almost instantly.
"Xu Congjing?" Meng Shicheng leaned back against the wall, trying to appear less disheveled. He was as arrogant as ever, even looking up at Xu Congjing with disdain. "Or should I call you Xu Zizheng?"
Xu Congjing knew very well that the person in front of him looked down on him and never thought that he would eventually fall into his hands. However, the man's current predicament brought him great pleasure. The anniversary of his father's death was coming soon, and he wanted to use Meng Shicheng's life to pay tribute to his father's spirit in heaven.
He said, "You just need to remember that he's the kind of person who can take your life."
"Take my life?" Meng Shicheng rolled his eyes contemptuously, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "You're far too confident. If the Sage wanted to harm me, he wouldn't have kept me locked up for so long."
He can lie here comfortably thanks in no small part to Emperor Xiaokang's efforts, but Xu Congjing knows that what the emperor values is not him, but his remaining role in balancing the court, a role that will eventually crumble.
Xu Congjing crossed his arms and snorted, "The evidence of your corruption over the years is laid bare before the world. Even if the emperor didn't want to, he would have to."
A flicker of panic crossed Meng Shicheng's eyes, but he wouldn't allow himself to show weakness in front of others. So he straightened his body and sneered, "Nonsense! Falsely accusing an official of the imperial court is punishable by death!"
"You think you've got Cao Yiyuan under control all these years, but little do you know he's never stopped searching for evidence, which he eventually hid near my father's grave. Now that evidence is in my hands, I'll use it to put you to death." Xu Congjing pulled a booklet from his sleeve, filled with detailed records of the Mongol traitors' decades of corruption and bribery, not to mention the rest that hadn't yet surfaced.
This finally caused Meng Shicheng to react, and he immediately rushed forward to seize the evidence. However, Xu Congjing was on guard and calmly stepped back, leaving Meng Shicheng raging in the cell. "If that rebellious woman hadn't known but didn't report it, I would have gotten rid of you long ago. How could you, a mere brat, act so arrogantly in front of me!"
"Unfortunately, I'm the one who's laughing last. None of you from the Meng family will survive!" Xu Congjing's face was half-hidden in darkness, his deep eyes sharp and piercing. Meng Shicheng, who had lived a glorious life, could not accept that the Meng family would be wiped out. He immediately started cursing, but the louder he spoke, the more disheveled he looked, while Xu Congjing's smile grew even wider.
Without further ado, Xu Congjing glanced at her disdainfully, his steps becoming lighter, and he left the place of trouble in a moment. The midday sun broke through the clouds, its light dancing in his eyes. He couldn't help but raise his hand to shield his eyes, and through the gaps in his fingers, he could see Lou Yanxu smiling radiantly in the hazy light.
She was waiting for him.
This thought made his heart flutter. He went over and took her hand. It was a little cold, but that was alright. He warmed it for her.
Lou Yanxu didn't break free, and as they walked side by side, she asked, "What did he say?"
"Always stubborn." I never expected to be able to pry open that iron tongue. With this evidence in hand, my enemy won't be able to go to hell.
"It doesn't matter, they won't live much longer anyway." She sighed softly, "It's just a pity that Meng Lingshang escaped, otherwise we could have captured them all in one fell swoop."
A moment of silence followed. The two walked quietly, their clasped hands damp with sweat, but he didn't let go; instead, he gripped them tighter and tighter, not wanting to let go now, not wanting to let go for the rest of his life. Lou Yanxu looked down at him, a faint smile spreading across her face.
"What are you laughing at?" Xu Congjing asked, tilting his head.
She smiled without saying a word, pulling him forward as they ran. The cold wind stung their ears, but their hearts were warm and tender. At that moment, they forgot everything, their eyes tracing each other's faces.
As you reach the wide street, the crowds are bustling, and the sounds of shouts and singing fill the air. The puppet show in Panlou tells a fresh story, and the people chat and laugh together.
Xu Congjing suddenly stopped in front of Panlou, leaned close to Lou Yanxu's ear and said, "It's not impossible to catch them all in one fell swoop."
His gaze was fixed on the puppet stage filled with people. Lou Yanxu followed his gaze and, as if by telepathy, understood what he meant.
He was trying to use the puppet show to lure Meng Lingshang out.
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