Chapter 119 Betrayal

Sui Yan stayed in the mansion for half a month to recover from his illness, and Duan Mingchong finally took care of all the affairs in the court.

"Just... just give me a fiefdom, and let me leave the capital, and that's it?"

Jun Jingxing said unhappily, "Are you really planning to let the crown prince harm his brothers? For a prince, being expelled from the capital is already the heaviest punishment. What else do you want?"

Sui Yan bit the spoon and said, "I thought you were going to give me some wine or something."

Jun Jingxing said: "Nonsense."

Sui Yan put the spoon back, leaned on the back of the chair and watched Jun Jingxing researching medicine, and said: "Duan Zhisu and Duan Ruwang never intended to seize that position from the beginning to the end. Letting them leave the capital is exactly what they want - have their fiefs been decided?"

Jun Jingxing said: "I only heard that the Third Prince originally decided on Yongzhou, but later on he changed his mind for some reason."

Sui Yan frowned: "Why?"

"Why?"

Duan Zhisu poured the tea gently into the porcelain cup, put two fingers in front of Duan Mingchong, and said lightly: "No reason."

Duan Mingchong lowered his eyes to look at the tea leaves floating in the cup, and said, "Yongzhou is poor and remote, and it's really not a good place to go."

Duan Zhisu took a sip of tea and said, "I like it."

Duan Mingchong smiled: "What do you like about that place? The dangerous border? The yellow sand everywhere?"

He drank the second half of the cup of tea slowly and leisurely, put the porcelain cup on the rosewood table, and said softly: "Wang Gui knows the reason."

Duan Mingchong: "..."

The smile slowly faded.

When Duan Mingchong stood up to leave the Third Prince's Mansion, he glanced at Duan Zhisu.

He sat at a small desk, looking sideways at the shimmering lake outside the corridor, his expression indifferent, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Duan Mingchong hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is it worth it?"

Duan Zhisu did not move, staring at the lake with eyes that seemed to be filled with broken light, and said lightly: "What is worth it?"

Duan Mingchong said: "You know A Yan's character very well. Even if you saved him from this disaster, he would never forgive you."

Duan Zhisu tightened his grip on the cup slightly, then tilted his head to stare at Duan Mingchong, and after a moment he said, "I didn't do this to ask for his forgiveness."

Duan Ming Chong wrinkled eyebrows.

Duan Zhisu turned his back to the sunset reflected on the lake. Although he smiled softly, no warmth could be detected in him.

Loneliness lingers all around.

I don't know how long it was before Duan Zhisu murmured something.

"The debt of the previous life must be repaid in this life."

"I……"

"Can I afford it?"

Duan Zhisu put his hand on his forehead and smiled softly, but his smile became more and more lonely and desperate.

.

Jun Jingxing shrugged, "So I don't know why, but the prince has decided on a piece of fertile land southeast of Shangluo Mountain. It is said that he has already submitted a memorial to the emperor."

If nothing unexpected happens, Duan Zhisu's fiefdom will be determined.

Sui Yan said: "Oh..."

Jun Jingxing saw through him at a glance, rolled his eyes, and said, "He has already taken the blame for you, why are you still thinking of plotting against him?"

Sui Yan patted the back of his chair and said, "It's not easy for me to make peace with others. Now I just want to see him unhappy, then I will be happy."

Jun Jingxing tapped him on the forehead in anger: "What's wrong?"

Sui Yan was slightly pushed back by his bounce: "What a petty and mean person."

Jun Jingxing couldn't help laughing. Just as he was about to say something, a dark shadow suddenly flashed before his eyes. Before he could react, a heavy object hit him hard in the center of his eyebrows.

There was a dull sound.

Jun Jingxing was stunned for a moment before he raised his hand to cover his aching forehead.

Only then did he realize that what hit him was Wuyuan's knife that appeared out of nowhere.

Jun Jingxing: “…”

Jun Jingxing even forgot how to get angry for a moment.

Wu Yuan was unwilling to stand in front of Sui Yan, and looked at him coldly: "Next time you fight, I will use a real knife."

Sui Yan: “Pfft…”

Jun Jingxing: “…”

After a while, Jun Jingxing's mad dog-like roar could be heard throughout the entire courtyard.

"Is there really something wrong with your brain? If you are, go see a doctor right away and stop causing harm to others!!"

"Is that what I call using your hands and feet? If your brain is not using your eyes, will it not work well?!"

"Speak! Speak! Say something back to me!!"

Not wanting to argue with him, she just looked at him with pity and said to Sui Yan, "Young Master, he seems a little crazy. Stay away from him. Be careful not to get bitten."

Jun Jingxing: “…”

Sui Yan: “Okay hahahahaha!”

Jun Jingxing was really going crazy.

.

After night fell, Duan Mingchong hurried to the marquis's mansion.

After deciding on the punishment for the two princes, Duan Mingchong still had to deal with the turmoil in the court caused by Duan Ruwang's sudden fall from power. He was busy for half a month, and this was the first time he stepped into the marquis's mansion.

Perhaps because he was afraid that Sui Yan would be angry, Duan Mingchong held a candied haws in his hand and a bunch of candied fruits in his arms.

He waved his servants away, stood in front of the gate of the side courtyard of the marquis's mansion for a moment, then took a deep breath, kicked the door open and walked in.

It was still early, but Sui Yan was rarely asleep.

Jun Jingxing was shaving medicine residue outside when he saw Duan Mingchong coming over and hurriedly bowed to him.

"I have met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Duan Mingchong nodded: "Where's A-Yan?"

Jun Jingxing said: "I have already taken the medicine and fallen asleep."

Duan Mingchong said: "Okay."

He walked into the inner room, first looked at the sleeping Sui Yan, and then left after seeing that Sui Yan looked fine.

Jun Jingxing had not left yet. He stood aside with his head lowered and his hands hanging, as if waiting for him.

Duan Mingchong said: "What's the matter?"

Jun Jingxing hesitated for a moment before whispering, "Your Highness, please forgive me. I entrusted her with the matter of Yanyi, which is why she is in trouble now. I hope Your Highness will punish her leniently."

Duan Mingchong lowered his eyes to look at the papers on the desk beside him, flipped through them casually and found that it was Sui Yan who was practicing calligraphy.

He chuckled, flipped through the paper casually, and said nonchalantly: "She plotted to murder the prince. No matter who ordered her to do so, her entire clan would be exterminated. Did you know that?"

Jun Jingxing paused before saying, "I know."

Ever since Sui Xun had said that his handwriting was ugly, Sui Yan had been secretly planning to practice calligraphy. However, whether it was because he was mentally weak due to his illness or he just wanted to act recklessly, he threw down his pen and stopped practicing after practicing five or six pieces.

Duan Mingchong finished reading the documents quickly. Seeing that Jun Jingxing had already kneeled on the ground, he rubbed his brow helplessly and said, "The crime of Yanyi has been exposed directly this time. If I say that he has not been severely punished, people will definitely criticize him."

Jun Jingxing lowered his head and gritted his teeth: "But she..."

Duan Mingchong interrupted him: "But I know exactly what she did. I was also involved in the incident back then, and I will not let her lose her life."

Jun Jingxing immediately raised his head: "Your Highness the Crown Prince means..."

Duan Mingchong said: "The death penalty can be avoided, but the living crime cannot be escaped. I will sentence her to exile and let her follow the Third Prince to his fiefdom."

Jun Jingxing was stunned for a moment.

"The Third Prince will definitely not treat her badly." Duan Mingchong said, "And if she wants to return to the capital in the future, she will have every opportunity."

Jun Jingxing finally felt relieved.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Duan Mingchong waved his hands casually, folded the papers in his hands neatly, and then...

He stuffed it into his sleeve without changing his expression.

Jun Jingxing: “…”

Okay, I didn't see anything.

After doing this, Duan Mingchong remained calm. He stood up and asked, "Where is Li Zhao?"

Jun Jingxing was shocked.

Sui Yan was either hesitant or had really forgotten about Li Zhao's matter. He had never mentioned the matter since returning to the Marquis' Mansion. Jun Jingxing was afraid that he would get sick so he did not dare to bring it up.

This delay lasted for more than half a month.

Jun Jingxing asked tentatively, "Your Highness, are you here today for this matter?"

Normally, Sui Yan would have to struggle for quite a while before falling asleep after taking the medicine. But today, for some reason, he fell into a deep sleep within less than an incense stick of time after taking the medicine, and no matter how much we called him, he couldn't be woken up.

Jun Jingxing seemed to have discovered something in a trance. He felt a chill in his heart and lowered his head, not daring to speak anymore.

Duan Mingchong looked down at him and said calmly, "He can't do it, I'll take me away for him."

Jun Jingxing: "Yes..."

The servants' rooms in the marquis' mansion were all in the backyard. It was already late, and Jun Jingxing lit a lamp and led Duan Mingchong to a room, then raised his hand and knocked on the door.

Soon, the door opened from the inside.

Candles were lit in the room, and the dim light was slightly shaken by the wind.

When Li Zhao saw Duan Mingchong and Jun Jingxing standing outside the door, he was stunned for a moment before kneeling down to salute.

Duan Mingchong walked in without looking around and said calmly, "No need. I cannot accept the gift from someone from Southern Border."

Li Zhaohun shuddered.

Duan Mingchong walked into the room and glanced at a small square box wrapped in red cloth on the table. He sneered, as if thinking of something.

Li Zhao was still kneeling on the ground. Perhaps he had already known his fate. He took a deep breath and said bluntly, "I'm sorry, Young Master."

Jun Jingxing watched coldly.

Duan Mingchong smiled: "I really want to know what Duan Ruwang promised you that would make you have the heart to kill your own master?"

Li Zhao said: "He didn't promise me anything. I am originally from Southern Xinjiang. When I was young, I was seriously injured at the border and was rescued by the old marquis by accident. I was willing to serve the old marquis to repay his kindness."

Duan Mingchong looked at him coldly.

Now that things have come to this, there is no need for Li Zhao to keep it secret any longer.

"I thought I would serve the Sui family for the rest of my life, but I never thought I would meet someone from Southern Xinjiang."

Duan Mingchong said: "So you are working together from the inside and outside to plot against Sui'an Hou who trusts you wholeheartedly?"

Li Zhao closed his eyes slightly: "It is difficult to fulfill both the righteousness of the country. I have said all. I am sorry to the old marquis, sorry... young master."

Duan Mingchong said nothing.

"I will apologize to the old marquis in my grave." Li Zhao looked at the small box wrapped in red cloth on the table and said softly, "Your Highness, please hand the things on the table to the young master."

After saying this, he raised his arm slightly, and the short knife that had been hidden in his sleeve for a long time flashed with a cold light and suddenly stabbed into his neck.

Blood gushed out immediately.

The dull thud of the body hitting the ground echoed throughout the room.

Duan Mingchong remained calm, as if he had expected it. However, Jun Jingxing was shocked. He didn't expect that this man would die so cleanly and efficiently.

The smell of blood gradually spread.

Jun Jingxing looked at the things on the table and said, "Your Highness, this..."

Duan Mingchong frowned slightly: "Don't worry about it, just burn it."

"But the Marquis..."

Duan Mingchong said: "Even if he used a knife from Southern Xinjiang to kill himself, it means he had already chosen his side. I dare not let A Yan use the things of a traitor."

Jun Jingxing: "This..."

Duan Mingchong said, "Just burn it, and after a while tell A-Yan that he has retired and left. There is no need to tell him the truth."

Sui Yan is not in good health right now, and he might not be able to bear the stimulation. Moreover, Duan Mingchong did not dare to let him know that he was so cruel to interfere with him.

Jun Jingxing hesitated for a moment before saying, "Yes."

He was about to take something from the table when the half-closed door was suddenly pushed open.

They were both startled and looked back.

Sui Yan stood outside the door at some point, looking at the room in a daze.

Although it was spring, the capital was still a little chilly. He was standing outside the door in a single layer of clothing and barefoot, his lips trembling slightly from the cold.

Duan Mingchong was stunned and his face suddenly turned pale, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.