Ning Ze had long grown weary of living in suspense and darkness. So, after Zhou Gu finished speaking, he nodded repeatedly, indicating that he would reveal everything he knew.
Zhou Gu looked at him and said, "I want to know about the Crown Prince’s affairs." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂
Ning Ze turned pale, "What... what about him? The Crown... Crown Prince’s affairs... Don’t... don’t you already know all about them?"
"Regardless of whether I know or not, you just tell what you know." Zhou Gu said.
Ning Ze opened his mouth, seemingly not knowing where to start or what Zhou Gu wanted to hear.
Zhou Gu looked at him, "Let me give you an example. For instance, how many silver taels does the Marquis Nanping Residence send to the Crown Prince every year, through what channels are they delivered, or what has the Marquis Nanping done behind the scenes to help the Crown Prince over the years, such as a list of court officials that were garnered in support of the Crown Prince, and so on."
Ning Ze was terrified, "If... if I tell you, will I really survive?"
Zhou Gu raised his eyebrows, "Do you think that if you don’t speak up, the Crown Prince will save you? Let me tell you, the Crown Prince’s Residence has long been sealed off by the Imperial Guards sent by the Emperor. Your sister has indisputable evidence against her, and the Crown Prince wishes he could disassociate himself from her. If the Crown Prince wishes to preserve himself wisely, he will shift all blame onto your sister. This way, he can save himself. Hence, use your not-so-smart brain to think, would he save you when he won’t even protect your sister?"
Ning Ze involuntarily shook his head.
Zhou Gu said, "So, will you speak?" He turned to look at Xie Lin, "Right now, we two are your only chance."
Xie Lin really wanted to turn around and leave. He was not really affiliated with the Eastern Palace faction yet. Zhou Gu was trying to involve him in this murky business, but considering the current political situation and the Rui’an King presiding over this case, could he maintain neutrality if he just left? Obviously not.
Perhaps in many people’s eyes, the Rui’an King Residence had already sided with the Eastern Palace. Although only he knew that his father, the Rui’an King, had not really sided with the Eastern Palace but was just placating them and investigating the case based on facts.
However, the situation was stronger than people. The Crown Prince was rising in power, and if the Rui’an King Residence wanted to behave prudently, they really should affiliate with the Eastern Palace.
Xie Lin silently took a deep breath and nodded in agreement with Zhou Gu, "Yes, if you want to live, you should tell everything you know. If you don’t want to, then no one will save a useless person."
"What about my father? How is my father faring now?" Ning Ze asked.
Zhou Gu said directly, "Marquis Nanping has already heard about the problems with the Crown Prince’s wife and you. He is secretly colluding with the Eighteenth Village to rebel. The Crown Prince has already sent someone to deal with it. If the Marquis Nanping Residence is branded as rebels, then you only have one path - to death. While Marquis Nanping hasn’t crossed the point of no return, there is still hope as long as you confess."
"If I’ve confessed everything, doesn’t that merely lead me to the same unidirectional road?Death?" Ning Ze, pale-faced, shivered as he asked.
"It’s not the same. I just want you to confess the Crown Prince’s deeds. As long as the Marquis Nanping Residence hasn’t committed the serious crime of rebellion, the Emperor, keeping in mind Marquis Nanping’s service in defending Nanping for many years, may deal with it leniently. At least it won’t result in slaughtering the entire family." Zhou Gu was out of patience, "So, will you say it or not? If you won’t, we’ll leave."
Ning Ze was really desperate, "I’ll... I’ll say it."
Ning Ze knew quite a bit. After all, he was the most favored son of Marquis Nanping, the biological brother of the Crown Prince’s wife, and the trusted brother-in-law of the Crown Prince. Therefore, the information he spewed out was all very useful. Zhou Gu was listening and felt that it was a good decision to come. With the secrets revealed by Ning Ze, they had enough to completely topple the Crown Prince.
Xie Lin was shocked as he listened, thinking if Marquis Nanping knew that his favorite son was so unreliable, he would have surely strangled him at birth. If the Crown Prince knew that Ning Ze could sell him out entirely, the Crown Prince would most definitely hate him.
After Ning Ze, shaking with fear, wracked his brain to tell everything he knew to Zhou Gu and Xie Lin and when he could not recall anything more, he finally stopped speaking. He stared at Zhou Gu and asked, "Zhou Gu, I have told you everything I know, you promised to save my life."
"Yes, I did promise, so you can rest assured." Zhou Gu had had enough of the place and got up to leave.
Ning Ze shouted, "I want to stay in a different place. I don’t want to stay in this dark dungeon."
Xie Lin thought, how idealistic! Apart from the prison, where else could they let him stay?
But Zhou Gu didn’t even look back as he said, "A change of place is not possible, but we can have it cleaned up for you, change some furnishings, and make it comfortable for you to live in. Well-fed and well-cared-for, that’s possible." He stopped and asked Xie Lin, "Right?"
Xie Lin nodded, "Ah? Yes!"
This was quite simple; he had the authority to make that decision.
Upon hearing this, Ning Ze didn’t dare make any more requests. He would be humbly satisfied with a comfortable sleep and a nice meal.
After leaving the prison, Xie Lin caught up with Zhou Gu and asked, "Is there still a need to see Ning Yao?"
"Yes." Zhou Gu said. "You lead the way."
Xie Lin nodded while walking and talking, "I never would have thought the Crown Prince had done so many underhanded deeds over the years. What are you planning to do next? Directly gather proof and present it to the Emperor?"
Zhou Gu shook his head, "I’ll hand it over to the Crown Prince for handling."
Xie Lin nodded, "You know the Crown Prince. So tell me, what will the Crown Prince do after verifying the evidence? Will he, combined with this case, topple the Crown Prince all at once?"
Zhou Gu glanced at him, "I don’t know."
Xie Lin: "..."
If he didn’t want to tell, then he wouldn’t. What’s this about not knowing? Did he think Xie Lin was foolish?
The two arrived at the place where Ning Yao, the wife of the Crown Prince, was being held. Naturally, the surroundings of Ning Yao were far better than those of the dungeon where Ning Ze was detained. Although it was also a dark cell, it was obviously much more spacious and the equipment was suitable for her status.
Ning Yao, who had been detained these days, was also extremely tormented. Though she had plenty to eat and drink, she couldn’t consume anything and was extremely frail.
Seeing Zhou Gu and Xie Lin arriving, she just lifted her eyelids to take a glance and unconsciously placed her hand on her lower belly, tensing up unintentionally. She thought that the Emperor’s decree had been issued and a verdict on how to deal with her had been reached today.
She was not panicked but very nervous, fearing that the child in her belly wouldn’t be seen valuable enough in the eyes of the Emperor to protect her life. After all, the Emperor had many heirs. Although hers was the first, other princes will also have children in the future. Whether the Emperor would value this child was uncertain.
Zhou Gu looked at Ning Yao. Naturally, he wouldn’t use the tactics he used against Ning Ze on her, "Crown Prince’s wife, do you think the Crown Prince will disassociate himself from you or shift all the blame to you? Do you think the Emperor will seize the chance to punish the Crown Prince or will he see through the charade and not believe that the Crown Prince is trying to clear your name for deeds that you didn’t commit?"
Ning Yao’s face changed, the artificial calm on her face shattered by his words, "What do you mean?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
