Xie Lin eagerly stared at Zhou Gu, eager to hear his explanation.
However, Zhou Gu did not continue. He turned to Xie Lin and said, "What’s the point of sitting around here? Why not go horse racing?"
Xie Lin looked at him and reminded, "You haven’t fully recovered from your injuries yet."
"It’s not a big deal anymore."
Xie Lin shook his head, "The snow outside the city hasn’t melted yet. If we go horse racing, the horses won’t be able to run properly, right?"
"Then let’s go hunting," Zhou Gu suggested.
Xie Lin hesitated, "I think it’s best not to. Didn’t you hear Su Rong warn you to get well the other day? If you can’t let her go, at least listen to her."
Zhou Gu fell silent.
Seeing that Zhou Gu had dispelled his desire to leave the city, Xie Lin proposed, "If you feel melancholy and want to vent, why don’t we invite a few brothers and listen to some music in the tavern? Maybe let the girls in the tavern play General’s Song?"
Zhou Gu was not interested, "Are you certain the music played by the girls in the tavern is not an insult to the General’s Song?"
Xie Lin scratched his head, "This...is just for fun."
Zhou Gu scoffed, "The dignitaries really do find any chance to have fun. In my opinion, it’s a dereliction of duty for the Jingzhao Prefecture not to rectify the situation in the Red Building tavern." He then gave Xie Lin a sidelong glance, "You didn’t use to go to the Red Building, did you? Now, are you also learning from the youngsters of the Capital City? Are you not afraid of Rui’an King breaking your legs?"
Xie Lin immediately pleaded for mercy, "Brother, please, I really haven’t been there before. The first time I entered the Red Building was when you took me to the third floor in Jiangning County. After returning to the city, I have been preparing for the imperial examination. After the examination, I was pulled by my father to assist him with cases. Where would I have found the time? I just heard people say that the General’s Song played by the girls in the tavern is very powerful and interesting. I have never heard it before and was thinking about finding some amusement for you. If you don’t want to go, then we won’t. Don’t get mad at me."
Zhou Gu responded by tapping his fingers on the table and standing up, "Let’s go."
"Where are we going? Are we going back?" Xie Lin reached out to hold him, "Don’t, we just sat here not long ago. It’s not easy to get out."
"I’m not going back, I’m going to your residence. While the people there are still not sentenced, I’m going to meet the Crown Prince’s Concubine and Ning Ze." Zhou Gu said.
Xie Lin grumbled, "That’s still going back."
Zhou Gu looked at him, "So, are you going back or not? If you don’t, I can go on my own."
Xie Lin helplessly agreed, "Let’s go, let’s go, we’ll go back."
Filled with curiosity, he followed Zhou Gu, "What are you going to do by seeing them? The Crown Prince’s Concubine won’t end up well, as for Ning Ze, with Marquis Nanping here, he won’t be beheaded, but his status will not be good either. Even if he did well in the examination, he will be expelled."
"To get them to confess something beyond the case," Zhou Gu said, heading for the door.
Xie Lin suddenly grew interested, "That works?"
The two of them left the teahouse and headed straight for the Rui’an King’s Residence.
Currently, in the Rui’an King’s Residence, only the Crown Prince’s Concubine, Ning Yao, and her brother, Ning Ze, were imprisoned. However, the two were not held in the same area.
The Rui’an King did not mistreat Ning Yao, providing her with good food and drinks. She could not leave the cell, but all her necessities were suited for a pregnant woman. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
This was because the Rui’an King was uncertain whether the Emperor would keep her child. Until an imperial decree regarding her case arrived, nothing could happen to her.
Upon entering the residence, Zhou Gu first went to see the Rui’an King.
This time, the Rui’an King was truly ill. He was drinking medicine, lying in bed, sweat dripping down from a recent fever.
Seeing Zhou Gu’s arrival, he waved his hand and asked, "Why are you here? Came to play with Xie Lin?"
Zhou Gu shook his head, "I’d like to see the Crown Prince’s Concubine and Ning Ze. I hope His Majesty can accommodate me."
The Rui’an King didn’t ask any more questions, he just waved his hand, "It’s easy. Go! But you need to be careful. The child in her belly needs to be dealt with by the Emperor. Don’t cause any casualties."
Zhou Gu nodded, "Your Majesty can rest assured."
Xie Lin accompanied Zhou Gu to visit Ning Ze first, Zhou Gu planned to talk to Ning Ze first.
Ning Ze’s treatment was not as good as his sister’s. Not only was his finger chopped off, he did not have any protective amulet in his stomach. The food and drink were much worse than Ning Yao’s. Living in a dark cell was even worse than a dog’s kennel – it was shadowy and cold.
Ning Ze had almost lost his spirit by being locked up in the pitch-dark cell all day. He was on the verge of collapse and even contemplated suicide.
But he was afraid of dying. Suicide was not an option. It was better to live by shamelessly clinging on to life.
The cell door opened, and Zhou Gu was the first to enter the dungeon. Half inside and half outside the door, the smell was choking. Zhou Gu almost retracted his extended foot and walked away.
Xie Lin also had a similar feel as Zhou Gu.
But Zhou Gu did not leave. He entered the dark cell, and Xie Lin had no choice but to pinch his nose and follow behind him.
Ning Ze wasn’t shackled or chained. He could move freely within the little jail cell, but his freedom was limited to that.
Usually, the servants brought in food without uttering a word before leaving. Regardless of his inquiries, they remained silent; he had no one to talk to.
Today, he thought it was still the servant, but never expected Zhou Gu and Xie Lin to come in. He didn’t have much interaction with these two. Zhou Gu was from the Eastern Palace, and Xie Lin’s family, the Rui’an King’s Residence, had always remained neutral. If it wasn’t for that day when Fen Ling decisively chopped off his finger in front of Xie Lin, and Xie Lin remaining calm, making Ning Ze reevaluate him, honestly speaking, he used to look down on Xie Lin, who grew up under the protection of his family and lived a carefree life.
When he was once proud and arrogant, enjoyed his father’s favor, and had a sister who became the Crown Prince’s Concubine, he felt superior to everyone. After coming to the Capital City, he didn’t curb his character either. He believed that with the collective strength of the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, he could control half of the world. However, who would have thought that before the results of the examination were released, his sister was exposed, and he ended up in this situation.
He regretted it to death. If he knew this would happen, he would’ve never come to the Capital City for the examination. Like Ning Chi, he would’ve stayed back home, planned schemes against Ning Chi. Holding his father’s noble rank, wouldn’t life be good?
Seeing Zhou Gu and Xie Lin now, he asked anxiously, "What are you here for? Has the Emperor said he will release me?"
Zhou Gu looked at him, expressionless, "Ning Ze, do you wish to live or die?"
Ning Ze’s pupils constricted, somewhat panicked, "Of course, I want to live."
Zhou Gu looked at his cowardly behaviour, somewhat disdainful, yet often it was such unpromising individuals who proved to be useful. Because no one would hold him in high regard, they would be neglectful and careless as a result. "If you want to live, then answer whatever I ask you. If you say nothing, or what you say isn’t enough, then you can await death."
After saying this, he sternly declared, "Anyway, crushing you is even easier than crushing an ant."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
