Chapter 54: Three years after the verdict was overturned, finally...
Hongsuo escaped from the dungeon. There were few jailers passing by on the road, and they were a little confused.
But he was afraid that Wen Ying would catch up with him, so he escaped from the side door of the Dali Temple without thinking too much and ran westward towards the Third Prince's residence.
Dark clouds and black rain obscured the figure of the flying eaves on the glazed tiles. Hongsuo suddenly heard a noisy sound on the street, with lights and decorations and gold powder paving the road, as if some noble family was getting married.
However, she vaguely heard voices like "catch him" and "stop him", but they were not directed at her.
She thought for a moment and then breathed a sigh of relief, as the mystery in her mind was slightly solved.
No wonder she had almost no obstacles along the way. It turned out that other thieves had taken up the manpower and left them no time to take care of other things.
Putting aside his remaining doubts, Hongsuo followed the old path and found an empty alley. He unlocked the secret passage mechanism with ease and slipped into the gap in the brick wall the moment it appeared.
The secret passage was narrow and dark, so she had to bend forward, thinking about what to say when she saw His Highness.
The musty and foul smells mixed together and rushed into the nose, indicating that this unknown road had not been used for a long time.
When was the last time you walked this road?
Probably a few years ago.
She had passed through this secret passage countless times, going out to do different dirty things and coming back to see the same person.
Until that day, His Highness held her hand and said lovingly: [Hongsuo, I can only rest assured if I leave this matter to you.]
After that, she became the Southern Protector, responsible for controlling and suppressing the rebellion. Her exchanges with His Highness became less and less, and they could be counted on one hand.
With her martial arts skills, she could easily find a rich master and live a leisurely life. If someone came to attack, she would go to work, and if no one came, she would just be kept idle in the mansion.
But Hongsuo still chose him.
Why?
The road gradually came to an end. Hongsuo pressed the mechanism in the dark and waited for the stone wall in front of him to slowly move to the right.
She looked around, trying to confirm the scent, but when she looked up, she saw an orange-red candle lit behind the Feihe screen, with a tall figure swaying behind it.
I don't know how long I have been waiting.
When her toes touched the ground, Hongsuo closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and straightened her clothes, but she soon discovered that her right arm was still bleeding and her clothes were not polite and really unsightly.
"Hongsuo?" A gentle voice came from behind the screen, which made her shudder. "Is it you?"
Have you received the news that she will come?
As expected of His Highness.
Hongsuo did not dare to neglect and quickly responded, "Yes, Your Highness, I'm back."
The person behind the screen seemed relieved, and his tone became lighter. He said with a smile: "They all said that something happened to you. I have been worried about you. I am relieved to see that you have returned safely."
Your Highness... you didn't give up on her?
A warm current surged in his chest. He was moved and knelt down, lowering his head and said, "Hongsuo has fulfilled his mission and has killed the traitor Gao Xuan. It's a pity... a yellow-haired girl appeared in the middle of the process and stopped him. He failed to kill Gao Xuan's daughter. The girl's name seems to be Wen Ying?"
"No problem." The man's voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, as if a feather was floating by. "Your coming back is more important than anything else."
Hearing this, Hongsuo's heart tightened. It had been a long time since His Highness had spoken to her like this.
She cautiously probed, "Your Highness, Hongsuo has something important to report. Please allow me to come closer and talk."
"In that case, come in."
I agreed very readily.
Hongsuo narrowed his eyes, walked slowly towards the man, and his left hand had already touched the whip at his waist.
As he walked around the exquisitely embroidered screen and saw the man's face clearly, Hongsuo suddenly relaxed and bowed, "It's been a long time since we last met, Your Highness."
Hua Chengce sat behind the desk and raised his hand to signal her to stand up: "There's no need to be polite between you and me."
"Yes." Hongsuo couldn't help but raise the corners of his lips and slowly stood up.
Her Highness seemed to have returned.
"Come," Hua Chengce pushed the teacup in front of him to Hongsuo's end, "Have a sip of tea and talk slowly. What's the important matter?"
Hongsuo drank the tea without hesitation and said respectfully, "Your Highness, since I escaped from Yan Jing, I have been collecting intelligence non-stop. I found that although the Suzaku Divine Cult has been wiped out, it seems that the Po Po has not received the news yet. That person is still willing to provide us with blood thorns."
"As long as His Highness agrees, we can still raise another 'Bu Xingde' and build a new 'Suzaku Cult'."
"That's great." Hua Chengce's eyes curved with affection, "If I give you full authority over this matter, do you have confidence?"
Hongsuo looked up in surprise when he heard that and quickly knelt down: "I will definitely fulfill your mission."
It had been a long time since she heard His Highness' words of trust, and her mind was a little dizzy with happiness.
She could have lived a leisurely life without having to risk life and death every day and putting herself on the edge of danger.
But she was still willing to devote herself to the Third Prince, just for a sentence he said when he was young -
[Hongsuo, a peaceful and prosperous world where everyone lives and works in peace and contentment, do you want to see it? ]
——I promise you that I will create a dynasty without illness, war, or despair. To achieve this goal, I need your strength.
——Hongsuo, help me.
"Red lock..."
His fingertips slid across the edge of the teacup, and the fragments gathered in his fingerprints. Hua Chengce lowered his eyes and looked at his reflection in the cup, which reflected his faint eyes.
With a "bang", the body fell to the ground. The rain-soaked hair leaked out from the hood, blocking the red cheeks. The bright color of the clothes blended with the liquid flowing from the wound.
"Don't follow the wrong person next time."
The door suddenly opened, and Wei Quan, who had been waiting for a long time, rushed in with his soldiers.
·
"This is impossible!" Hua Chengce stood up suddenly, pointed at the woman in red on the ground, and said firmly, "I don't even know this person. You are the one who slandered me by including her!"
His face looked extremely ugly. He finally understood why the prince proposed a family dinner today. It turned out to be a trap set against him.
Hua Chengce knelt down before the emperor decisively and said in a deep voice: "Father, please understand! I have never seen this woman, and I have no connection with the Suzaku Divine Cult!"
"Your Highness, the Third Prince, I have not yet finished reporting." Wei Quan waved his hand, and a guard threw a tied-up man from behind, "Do you know this man?"
Hua Chengce only took one look and his heart sank instantly.
This was the Qi Po person who usually provided him with blood thorns. He even found him. It seemed that Wei Quan came prepared and was determined to kill him.
"We have obtained a confession. The person who has been trading with him is His Royal Highness the Third Prince. If these are all slanders, then I would like to ask His Royal Highness a few questions."
Wei Quan raised his head, his eyes firm: "Why would the Southern Protector of the Suzaku Cult speak to you so intimately? Why does he know the secret passage in your mansion? How did this messenger know your contact information? Please explain it to me."
Hua Chengce pursed his lips and was about to explain when he heard someone standing up from his chair.
He tilted his head to look, and sure enough, he saw Yan Jing slowly walking to the center. He was only a few steps away from him and bowed to Hua Cang: "Your Majesty, I would like to take this opportunity to present something to you."
Hua Cang was a little troubled by the farce in front of him. Seeing Yan Jing also walked up, how could he not understand in his heart that this was a long-planned plan?
But the arrow has been drawn and no one can stop it. Even though he has already guessed what Yan Jing is going to do, he can only hold his forehead and let him speak.
Yan Jing took out a piece of letter paper from his sleeve and handed it to the eunuch serving beside him. As he presented it, he explained: "This is the letter General Gao gave me three days ago. Your Majesty, please take a look."
Hua Cang unfolded the letter and saw the shocking blood-red font on the white paper. The strong color penetrated the paper, leaving behind plum blossoms.
After reading to the end, he couldn't help but frown and look at Yan Jing, with a dark light in his eyes.
"General Gao wrote clearly on the letter that the raw material of the Suzaku Cult's vow-fulfilling potion is blood thorn. His Royal Highness the Third Prince threatened General Gao with his daughter to force him to do things for him, including framing General Wen. If he dies before the verdict is announced, it must be at the hands of the Third Prince."
"In recent years, I have also collected countless evidences pointing directly to the actions of His Royal Highness the Third Prince, and will present them to Your Majesty later. Now I only ask for one thing," Yan Jing knelt upright, kowtowed and said loudly: "Your Majesty, I implore Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate today's incident and re-investigate the case of General Wen's treason. Please do not discourage the loyalty of your loyal subjects."
Several people behind him knelt down with Yan Jing and said in unison: "Your Majesty, I beg you to do so."
Hua Chengce's mind went blank, leaving only four words: The game is over.
He knew that he had lost the big picture by gaining the small.
Even though he knew he was innocent, he had no way to refute himself now that there was so much evidence against him and people were talking about his crimes.
But he still insisted: "Father, please understand. I may be possessed by evil spirits and covet the money that faith brings, but I have never revealed any intelligence from my country, and I have never collaborated with the enemy!"
Even though Hua Chengce said so, it was almost certain that he had made a deal with Po.
After a long while, Hua Cang sighed deeply, covered his face and waved his hands: "Dismiss the Third Prince from his post and detain him. Wait until the truth is revealed before making a decision."
What a pity, he still loved this pleasing child very much.
Hua Cang said this, which means it is 90% certain.
Yan Jing's eyes moved slightly, and he kowtowed again: "Your Majesty is wise."
The reason why Hua Cang convicted Gao Xuan so hastily was because Wen Jian died suddenly and the war at the border was tense. It was impossible to find a second general to replace Gao Xuan in the short term. If Gao Xuan was executed at this critical juncture, it would allow the enemy to take advantage of the situation.
With no other choice, even though Hua Cang knew that Wen Jian was innocent, he still preferred to resolve the matter immediately. He then sent several trusted men to guard the place tightly, and asked Gao Xuan, who had no intention of collaborating with the enemy, to continue guarding the border.
Although nothing had happened over the years, and there were even signs that the war was easing, Hua Cang was still worried about Gao Xuan and was always looking for a replacement. Therefore, even when the situation was turbulent, he insisted on holding the Riding and Archery Banquet every year, but he never found a suitable general.
Gao Xuan is irreplaceable and his majesty is untouchable, so it is almost impossible for the emperor to overturn the result he has set.
Therefore, overturning a verdict is extremely difficult.
However, today the Third Prince and Gao Xuan were guilty of multiple crimes and could not be covered up, so it became easy to overturn the case for the innocent Wen Jian. In addition, Gao Xuan was dead now, so even if Hua Cang wanted to protect him, he would have no chance.
At this point, the dust has settled.
Three years have passed, and for the emperor, it was just a matter of a moment's thought.
But for Wen Ying, it was countless days and nights of tossing and turning, and countless near-death experiences.
In these three years, countless souls have died because Your Majesty was unable to save face.
"Once the imperial edict is issued and you are cleared of all charges, I can marry 'Wen Ying' as my wife." Yan Jing's eyes were full of affection, and he moved closer to Wen Ying's hand calmly.
"However, the Third Prince's position is stable and he is a strong contender for the throne. Why would he have to fight for his rights through such means?" Wen Ying did not notice the hand that was approaching slightly and lowered her head in thought.
Yan Jing: ...He was expressing his true feelings, but his sweetheart was thinking about another man.
"Do you want to know?" Yan Jing held her hand and smiled.
"ah?"
Before Wen Ying could react, the man pulled her into his arms, completely immersed in warmth and sandalwood.
Reaching out and lifting the girl's chin, Yan Jing glanced at her lips with a dark look in his eyes and said softly:
"If you want to obtain intelligence, should you be compensated accordingly?"
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