Chapter 83 But what are you anyway?
Du Cong knew, of course, that he had acted somewhat foolishly.
Your Highness must know this.
But he was just not willing to give up.
I'm not happy that there are always so many people around His Highness.
He was unwilling to accept it; no matter how hard he tried, he could never win the prince's favor.
He was even more resentful that there were always others who were valued more than him, taking away the attention that should have belonged to him.
Back when he was a staff member at the Princess's residence, His Highness hadn't even noticed him.
Even after he worked incredibly hard to pass the imperial examination and became a third-ranked scholar, the prince did not summon him.
He thought it was because there were two people ahead of him.
That's why, at the spring banquet, he deliberately encouraged the drunken top scholar Wang Li to write a poem satirizing aristocratic families, which enraged them and led to his transfer to a remote area.
Upon learning that the father of the second-place scholar He Guang was already bedridden and most vulnerable to shock, the emperor sent him a “congratulatory letter” claiming that He Guang was favored by the emperor and would be promoted exceptionally. This caused the old man to pass away from the shock, forcing He Guang to observe a three-year mourning period.
He originally thought that once all these eyesores were eliminated, he would be the only one left by His Highness's side, and she would always see his good qualities.
But unexpectedly, Su Qingci, Pei Huaijin, Lin Xuean, and Chen Yanqing also arrived...
Even Wang Li was recalled by His Highness and made contributions in impeaching the Second Prince, earning His Highness's appreciation.
On what grounds?
Didn't he do a good enough job?
Why can't His Highness ever see him?
"See you?"
Li Yuanzhao repeated these three words, his tone full of mockery.
Du Cong's eyes churned with emotions he had suppressed for a long time. "Yes! See me!"
"When I stand before you with Su Qingci, Pei Huaijin, and the others, will you even notice me?"
"When you are assigning tasks, please remember me."
Even if... even if you know the truth and kill me with your own hands, it's better than never seeing me again!
When he killed Wang Li, he was indeed blinded by jealousy, and he knew he couldn't escape His Highness's eyes.
But now, kneeling before His Highness, he actually felt a sense of relief.
Fortunately, with Wang Li killed, His Highness can finally only see him.
He wasn't hanging out with other people; he was all alone.
If I could die by her hand, it would be worth it.
Upon hearing this, Li Yuanzhao's lips curled into a sarcastic smile. "But what are you?"
Du Cong's eyes suddenly froze.
"Despicable methods, foolish actions." Li Yuanzhao's voice grew even colder. "What makes you think you can compare to others?"
"Kill you with my own hands?" She scoffed. "You wish."
“Killing someone like you would be beneath my dignity.”
With each word she spoke, Du Cong's hand, hanging at her side, clenched tighter.
Until the very end, he bit his lip tightly, and a hint of red appeared in the corner of his eye.
Li Yuanzhao was too lazy to waste any more words with him and directly ordered, "Drag him away and give him a hundred heavy lashes. If he dies, bury him directly and don't bother to report back to me."
"If you're not dead..." She paused, her gaze falling on Du Cong's suddenly pale face, "then I'll give you another chance."
She had her own plans.
Wang Li was indeed too foolish and too trusting of others; he died, and that was that.
But since he has already been lost, the court is already short of a capable person. It would be a bit of a waste to lose Du Cong as well.
Moreover, the imperial court needs both virtuous men and scoundrels.
Du Cong is a narrow-minded but ruthless man; if used properly, he can be a sharp blade.
Others might fear such sinister individuals, but Li Yuanzhao has never been afraid of raising "snakes."
However, if someone attacks a colleague, especially one from their own camp, and doesn't set an example for others, wouldn't that create chaos?
So, if he's lucky enough to survive those hundred blows, she wouldn't mind giving him another chance.
Upon hearing this, Du Cong felt a surge of joy welling up in his chest.
His Highness is actually willing to spare his life!
Chen Yanqing, who was standing to the side, clearly saw the light in his eyes and couldn't help but frown.
Is this person confused?
A hundred blows would be hard to withstand even for someone with an iron body, and would most likely kill them on the spot.
Even if they manage to grit their teeth and survive, they will surely be crippled for life.
He even looked pleasantly surprised, as if he had received a great blessing.
He subconsciously looked at Li Yuanzhao, and a chill inexplicably rose in his heart.
So this is what happens when you betray her.
But when he recalled that the last time he had intended to leave, Li Yuanzhao had only beaten him fifty times and had not pursued the matter further afterward.
Comparing the two, I felt a little sweet inside.
The execution was personally overseen by Chen Yanqing.
This was specifically instructed by Li Yuanzhao.
He watched as Du Tanhua was knocked unconscious several times, only to be revived by a bucket of cold water and continue to be tortured.
But he didn't utter a sound the whole time, and didn't even cry out in pain.
After the execution, his entire lower body was a pile of mud, unrecognizable.
The imperial physician rushed over to examine Chen Yanqing, took his pulse for a long time, and finally shook his head, saying, "His injuries are too severe, and there is nothing I can do. Whether he survives or not depends entirely on his abilities. Besides, his leg bones are all broken and his tendons are severed. Even if he recovers, he will be a cripple in the future and will never be able to walk normally again."
Chen Yanqing was alarmed.
But Du Cong, upon hearing this, actually let out a laugh.
Fortunately, he survived and was able to stay by His Highness's side...
Chen Yanqing only had one comment on this: "He's a ruthless person."
In the case of Wang Li, the Dali Temple ultimately ruled that he had "fallen into the water while drunk."
The eldest princess secretly sent someone to deliver a thousand taels of silver as a form of compensation to Wang Li's family.
Du Cong used the excuse of "accidentally injuring his leg" to submit a sick leave request to the court. He stayed in bed for a month and barely managed to save his life.
However, from then on, he could not walk normally, and he suffered unbearable pain whenever it rained.
From then on, Li Yuanzhao gave him all the dirty, tiring, and heavy work in the court, and he always did it willingly.
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