No, how did a perfectly normal questioning conversation suddenly turn into him kneeling on the ground and talking to her about Yuan Xingzhou's purge of the corrupt officials and traitors in the court?
Zheng Quchi quickly reached out to help the person up. In terms of seniority, the person was a senior, and in terms of age, he was a generation older than her. She dared not accept his thanks.
"No, no, Lord Ran, please get up. But aren't you His Highness the Crown Prince's man? Why do you seem... afraid of him?"
Although Yuan Xingzhou is indeed capricious and has a strange and eccentric personality at times, he wouldn't kill someone for no reason if he hadn't committed a crime... right?
Upon hearing this, Ran Rongting glanced around and lowered his voice, saying, "Lord Zheng, to be honest, I don't even dare to look His Highness in the eye. Whenever we speak alone, if his tone is even slightly harsh, I tremble with nervousness."
Does not killing mean there is no fear? No, there is a kind of fear in the imperial court called the unpredictable power of the emperor.
“Yeah, sometimes… I’m a little afraid of him too,” Zheng Quchi said, empathizing with him.
For example, when he suddenly goes crazy, looking like he'll lock her in a dark room if she dares to run away, he's completely unreasonable, as if he can't understand human speech.
"No, Lord Zheng, please don't be afraid of His Highness the Crown Prince. If you're afraid of him, who will stop His Highness from getting angry in the future?" he said urgently.
Lord Ran, you paused suspiciously when you said "fa" (发). Let's make a guess: did you originally mean to say "fa feng" (发疯)?
Zheng Quchi stared at him resentfully: "..." Such a scary thing, and they actually wanted to trick her into being their protector?
The last time was one thing, but if it happened again, she wouldn't be able to handle it. Didn't you see how she used all sorts of tactics, from threats and inducements to feigning madness and retreating to advance, even employing the Thirty-Six Stratagems to relieve the siege of Wei and rescue Zhao, to get this one reprieve?
She was resented afterwards and avoided seeing him. She even had to build a palace for him and his future queen as an apology. That wasn't enough. He also pushed her into the limelight to become a lady-in-waiting before the matter was barely over. Did they think it was easy for her?
"I think that as long as you don't cause any trouble, the young master won't make a big fuss about it," she said tactfully.
The key is not to save the day, but to ensure that you all behave yourselves and avoid running into his line of fire. She can only play a minor role, at most "lubricating" things a little.
"Of course, my friends and I have long been dissatisfied with the Empress's interference in politics and her numerous shameful acts that have humiliated the country. We all support the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne and will never betray him. We will dedicate ourselves to the country of Ye until our dying breath." Ran Rongting's words were as firm as if they were a vow.
Zheng Quchi noticed that his eyes were full of emotion, and he kept glancing at her, as if he was trying to convey some message in a cryptic way.
Ding—The two exchanged glances, and Zheng Quchi understood.
"Oh, Lord Ran, don't worry. I will definitely mention your loyalty to His Highness when I have time, so that His Highness knows about it."
Zheng Quchi has now incurred a favor from the Minister of Revenue. He simply had a wish that His Highness the Crown Prince would value him more. Since she has the means to offer a few words of advice, she can consider it as repaying the favor.
When Ran Rongting heard her say that, he was naturally overjoyed, but he had to say a few insincere words: "That's not what I meant. Oh well, thank you, Lord Zheng. You must be busy, so I won't bother you any longer. I'll take my leave and return to the palace to report."
"I'm sorry to trouble Lord Ran to make this special trip. Please see him off."
"No need, no need. Lord Zheng, you are busy, I can walk by myself."
After exchanging pleasantries, Zheng Quchi saw Ran Rongting off. When she turned around and saw that there were no more guests coming to pay their respects at the mourning hall, she temporarily entrusted the hall to the Chang family steward. She then went back to her room to tidy up, took off her mourning clothes, put on some casual clothes, and, together with Fu Rong, sneaked out through the back door.
At that moment, she had no idea that Brother Sang was limping and sweating profusely as he rushed over to the gates of the General's Mansion.
He wanted to go in, but the gatekeeper wouldn't let him in because he had no "obituary" and had no connection with the General's Mansion. Naturally, he was stopped at the front gate.
"Brother Sang, what are you doing here with your legs injured?" Liu Fengmian asked as he caught up with him.
Upon seeing Liu Fengmian arrive, Brother Sang clenched his fists: "I was just taking a casual stroll..."
Liu Fengmian's lips twitched.
Just browsing?
Does he think he's blind? Who would wander into the gates of the General's Mansion by chance?
Liu Fengmian feigned ignorance and asked curiously, "Brother Sang, do you know anyone from the General's Mansion? Are you here to find relatives?"
Upon hearing this, Brother Sang's eyes flickered, and he stammered, "No, no..."
Staring at the plaque of the General's Mansion, Brother Sang thought to himself, "Impossible. How could the ruler belong to the General's wife? He must have misheard. The 'Zheng Quchi' that the servants of the Liu family were talking about must just be a homophone, not the same character, and it certainly couldn't be their family's ruler."
As Chi Zi said, "Liu Fengmian" was not there; he had only gone to another place on behalf of his superiors. This has been corroborated by the Liu family. He was just a minor strategist, blind and weak. How could he possibly be the "Living Yama" Yuwen Sheng, whom everyone feared?
Their ruler couldn't possibly be so unlucky; it's impossible.
Brother Sang kept trying to convince himself to believe it, but in fact it was easy to believe. After all, "Liu Fengmian" was a son-in-law that Chizi had found for himself in the wedding procession in Fuxian. A general of a country would have many princesses and noble ladies seeking his hand in marriage. Why would he lower himself to marry a plain-looking craftsman's daughter?
This is illogical and against the rules.
Realizing that he had probably misheard and had given himself a fright, Brother Sang turned around apologetically and said to Liu Fengmian, "I'm sorry to have worried Young Master Liu and made him come out looking for me."
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