Zhu Tingmao remained silent, but his heart was churning violently.
He had suffered from rheumatism for many years, and choosing these two words as a code word would have been the least noticeable.
"Indeed, the words 'wind pain' and 'wind pain' may seem innocuous, but they actually indicate an illness. If you were writing to the elders and children at home, they would rarely appear once in a thousand letters. This is because illness is taboo and only adds to the trouble. These two words may seem reasonable, but they don't make sense. And in the letters you sent to your relatives in Haicheng Township, they appeared three times in just one month, and then the news of King Kang's death arrived. This is one of the flaws."
"During this expedition to Bijiang, you didn't anticipate that I would personally lead the charge. The secret reports I intercepted and sent to the palace were useless, so you had no choice but to find a way to follow the front lines. As an assistant historian, you weren't required to accompany the army, but you went so far as to enlist a few chief clerks to cover for you, which actually exposed your true identity. This is our second flaw."
"A few days ago, my right general returned to the camp in disguise to report to me. You suspected this might be related to your sabotage of the Guangyao Camp raid, so you immediately replaced the interrogator overnight, having him secretly kill the suspect. This is the third flaw."
"If you wish, I can list many more for you. Poor Lord Zhu, you have so many flaws, yet you think you are indestructible. The person who sent you here really has poor eyesight."
Zhu Tingmao was shaking all over, not sure if it was because of the pain or the anger. It took him a long time to squeeze out a word from between his teeth.
"Your Majesty, you can boast as much as you want. I am already a useless person. Listening to a few more words will only tickle my itch..."
"Master Zhu, are you planning to drag your entire family along with you to be buried with you? That's true, though. I heard Master Zhu's beloved only son passed away a year ago due to a fatal illness. I guess he has no regrets now."
Although Zhu Tingmao's expression did not change, his breathing became rapid.
Xiao Nanhui, who had been silent all the time, suddenly felt that the scene in front of him looked familiar.
Yes, this Zhu Tingmao was very similar to An Lu in Huozhou. Both were willing to risk their lives for someone whose identity was unknown, and both had lost their loved ones.
"This isn't the first time I've dealt with someone like you. I didn't hand you over directly to the Supreme Court and the Right Supervisor because I wanted to hear a few words from your heart. If you don't speak now, I don't know if you'll ever have another chance to speak."
Zhu Tingmao's expression changed. He seemed to be lost in memories of the past, and finally had to return to reality.
After a long while, he murmured.
"Your Majesty is the master of these mountains and rivers, but you cannot be the master of this world."
Su Wei lightly gathered his sleeves, and the wide robe covered the relic on his wrist.
"Birth, old age, sickness, and death, the ups and downs of life, the movement of the stars, when will they be changed by human nature? Master Zhu is probably getting senile and confused."
"I'm not confused!" Zhu Tingmao was agitated. This was the first time he struggled since being nailed to the wooden frame, and the chains on his body clanged loudly. "Your Majesty, may I ask you if you know how the Niehyun Qiu family, despite being so foolish and absurd, could still rule this land for hundreds of years? Your Majesty, do you really not want to know the Qiu family's secrets?"
Ding Weixiang had already drawn his sword, with the tip of the sword pointing directly at Zhu Tingmao's throat.
"presumptuous!"
"Wei Xiang." Su Wei's voice was faint, but Ding Wei Xiang still sheathed the knife, but he stood a little closer to the emperor.
"It's rumored that Qiu Yuan, the 49th Emperor of Nie Xuan, can communicate with the gods and control the five elements. Is this the secret you're talking about?"
The man said it lightly, but Xiao Nanhui, who was listening nearby, was shocked.
What kind of royal secret was this? Could she refuse to hear it? Was the emperor going to kill her to silence her?
Zhu Tingmao wasn't at all surprised by what Su Wei said. Instead, a look of madness flashed across his face. "That's right! Only those with divine blood can be the true kings of this world. To be a divine subject, I would not hesitate to die!"
"You want to tell me that a god has truly descended into this world, and that the people you pledge your allegiance to are the descendants of this god?"
"He's not a descendant of God, he's God himself." Zhu Tingmao raised his head, his eyes wide open, bloodshot. He seemed to no longer feel the pain, his eyes gleaming with a strange light. "Your Majesty, why don't you come with me to see that miracle? Anyone who sees it will be impressed. With sincere service, not only can you save the world, but you can also achieve immortality and eternal youth..."
"I think you are crazy."
Su Wei's voice grew colder, as if his interest in this person had also cooled.
"Take him away and interrogate him thoroughly. Find out if he's involved in Prince Kang's affair."
Ding Weixiang took the order and sent people to take Zhu Tingmao off the wooden frame and drag him out of the tent.
The chain dragged a trail on the ground and passed by Xiao Nanhui's feet.
Zhu Tingmao's gaze lingered on her face for a brief moment, and he suddenly shouted, "Master Xiao, is Marquis Qinghuai all right?"
Xiao Nanhui was stunned. Before he could react, Zhu Tingmao had already looked away and started muttering something incomprehensible. Sometimes he laughed loudly, sometimes he cursed wildly. It was unclear whether he was pretending or was really insane.
Zhu Tingmao's voice finally faded away until there was no sound at all.
There was a deathly silence in the big tent. Ding Weixiang and Lu Songping stood there silently, as if they had long been accustomed to this atmosphere.
Xiao Nanhui could only stand there awkwardly. She began to wonder why she appeared in this tent.
It seems that the emperor asked her to come in?
"You guys go out, I want to be alone."
Lu Songping and Ding Weixiang bowed and left, and Xiao Nanhui hurriedly followed.
"Xiao Nanhui."
She was only one step away from stepping out of the tent, but she stopped there. After a long while, she reluctantly turned back.
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