Chapter 43 [43]
【43】/First release
As soon as this thought came to mind, Lu Zhiwan rejected it.
Gu Rongyu's heavy and serious look did not seem fake.
"Besides, if he wanted to let Zhao Wenshao go, he could have just planned it as described in the original text. Then, he could have released him openly and honestly. Both he and Zhao Wenshao would have been happy. Why would he go to all that trouble to stage a scene and bring disaster upon himself?"
"But if it wasn't him, who could it be?"
Lu Zhiwan lowered her eyelashes and speculated a lot, completely unaware of the meaningful look in the man sitting opposite her.
“…”
After slowly putting away all the black pieces on the chessboard, Xiao Jingting closed the red lacquer cover and looked at Gu Rongyu: "This time, the Ministry of Justice has gone through such a big blunder. You cannot escape blame."
Hearing this, Gu Rongyu lowered his head even lower: "I have failed in my duty. Please punish me, Your Majesty."
"There will definitely be a penalty."
Xiao Jingting picked up a white piece and played with it on his fingertips: "But I need to think about how to punish you."
Gu Rongyu pursed his lips and said nothing. Lu Zhiwan didn't dare to speak either. He just carefully looked at the expression of the person beside him.
"Look at that expression, I don't know what evil he's planning."
Fortunately, Xiao Jingting soon came up with an idea. His deep, dark eyes slowly gazed at Gu Rongyu. "Yes, the Prince of Liaodong told me a while ago that he wants to renovate his old residence in the capital and use it as Lan Chun's Princess Residence. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to find a reliable supervisor... How about this? I'll remove you from your position as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Tomorrow, you will go to the Prince of Liaodong and accept the commission to renovate the Princess Residence."
"Gu Qing, are you satisfied with this arrangement?"
The man's voice, as cold as gold and jade, resounded in the quiet palace. His tone was obviously calm, but it revealed a majesty that brooked no room for questioning.
Gu Rongyu's hunched back stiffened slightly, and he didn't answer immediately.
While Lu Zhiwan didn't say anything, his mind was already chattering—
"As expected of you, you dog emperor. You're the one who's so mean, actually sending Gu Rongyu to repair Xiao Lanchun's mansion."
"But this arrangement is also quite good. Building a mansion will take at least a year and a half. Xiao Ningning will be back in Yuzhang soon after the New Year, so the two of them can avoid each other perfectly."
She was sighing that Xiao Jingting had made a rare wise decision, and Gu Rongyu also responded.
"I am willing to accept the punishment, but..."
He paused, then bowed even deeper. "I beg Your Majesty to give me three more days. I want to investigate Zhao Wenshao's escape before leaving the Ministry of Justice."
Lu Zhiwan was quite understanding of this request, but Xiao Jingting rejected it without hesitation: "I didn't follow the Daxing Law and punish you with twenty strokes of the cane and banish you from the capital. I was already considering the favors of the Empress Dowager and the Prime Minister. Are you still bargaining with me?"
"Your humble servant..."
"Okay."
Xiao Jingting dropped the white piece on his fingertips into the chess box, his chiseled face revealing a deep sense of impatience. "The prisoner was able to escape even after entering the Ministry of Justice's jail, which shows that your Ministry of Justice has many management flaws. If I ask you to continue investigating this case, who knows what results you will come up with in the end? I will order the Jinyiwei to investigate this case with full authority, and you do not need to interfere."
Having said that, Gu Rongyu felt heavy-hearted and ashamed, and no longer had the nerve to argue. He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down..."
"Forget it, you leave."
Xiao Jingting waved his sleeves, his every move full of disappointment and distrust.
Lu Zhiwan watched from the side, his dark eyebrows furrowed and relaxed, relaxed and then furrowed again.
"Although Lady Gu was indeed negligent in her duties, this bastard's attitude is quite hurtful. He exudes a deep sense of dejection from head to toe. I guess he hates Zhao Wenshao and the prison breakers..."
"Alas, I love you, but I can't do anything to change your fate. You should just retire and start building the house. At least you can have some peace and quiet."
After Gu Rongyu retreated in a daze, Xiao Jingting immediately ordered the eunuch to summon the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Xing Zhou.
While waiting for Xing Zhou to enter the palace, Lu Zhiwan had dinner with Xiao Jingting.
Perhaps she was worried about Zhao Wenshao's escape from prison, so even though her favorite sweet and sour pork ribs with plums were on the table, she had no interest in it and only reached for her chopsticks a few times.
Seeing her like this, Xiao Jingting didn't say much.
After eating until he was about 70% full, he put down his silver-inlaid carved ivory chopsticks and looked at Lu Zhiwan calmly: "Is today's meal not to your liking?"
Lu Zhiwan came to his senses and said, "No, every dish is delicious."
Xiao Jingting: "Then why do you use so little?"
Lu Zhiwan said sullenly, "Your Majesty...Your Majesty doesn't have much of an appetite."
"Are you thinking about Zhao Wenshao or Gu Rongyu?"
His concise words made Lu Zhiwan choke.
"That's a weird way of asking. If you don't know, you might think those two have some kind of relationship with me..."
"But no matter who saved Zhao Wenshao, he was released from prison just like (original text), so will the future be the same?"
"No, no, I can't know the answers to the test and then make the wrong choice!"
Lu Zhiwan clenched his hands around the chopsticks, took a deep breath, and decided to give it another try.
"Your Majesty, do you still remember the ominous and strange dream I told you about?" Her face was serious and her eyes were burning.
Xiao Jingting narrowed his eyes slightly: "I remember. What's wrong?"
Lu Zhiwan pursed her red lips and said solemnly: "In my dream, the person who led the rebellion was actually..."
Before she could say anything, Xiao Jingting opened his thin lips slightly and uttered three words in a lazy voice: "Zhao Wenshao."
Lu Zhiwan was stunned: "How did Your Majesty know?"
Xiao Jingting glanced at her, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly: "Do you think I am as slow as you?"
Lu Zhiwan: “…”
"Are you cursing again?"
Suppressing the urge to complain, she returned to business: "If my dream is true, then Zhao Wenshao's escape from prison is the beginning of a nightmare! Your Majesty, what should we do now?"
It was not known whether Xiao Jingting believed it or not. His tall body was still lazily leaning against the back of the chair. The bright candlelight sprinkled on his three-dimensional face, half bright and half dark, making him exude an unfathomable mystery.
"Why isn't he talking? Doesn't he believe it?"
Just as Lu Zhiwan was about to emphasize the reality and horror of her dream, the emperor, who had been sitting calmly, finally spoke: "He escaped from prison without permission. His crime is unforgivable."
After a pause, he raised his narrow eyes and looked at her intently: "You couldn't kill her before, but you can kill her now?"
The tone was clear and cold, as if they were discussing the weather tonight, but the cold murderous intent surging in those dark eyes was so profound.
This look suddenly frightened Lu Zhiwan. He swallowed hard, his words stuttering a little: "Is...Is it okay?"
Escaping from prison without permission is a serious crime no matter which dynasty or era.
If Zhao Wenshao hadn't fled, he could have been considered innocent. But once he escaped, his innocence became a capital offense.
"Just kill him."
Xiao Jingting nodded slowly, as if noticing her nervousness. He softened his tone and smiled, "I'll issue an order shortly. A nationwide manhunt for Zhao Wenshao is imminent. Once found, he will be killed without mercy... Now you don't have to worry about him seeking revenge on you."
Lu Zhiwan: “…”
"Help me, please stop laughing. If you're not laughing, you're just a little weird and perverted, but once you laugh, you really look like some bloodthirsty pervert!"
“…”
Xiao Jingting's smile froze slightly, and then he suppressed it little by little: "Do you still want to spare his life?"
Lu Zhiwan finally came back to her senses and quickly shook her head: "No, I don't mean that."
Xiao Jingting hummed and gave her an ambiguous look: "That's good."
Soon, Yu Mingjiang quickly entered the palace and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, Lord Xing is already waiting in the South Study."
"knew."
Xiao Jingting responded, took the clean towel handed to him by the palace servant, wiped his hands, and stood up from the dining table: "I will go to the study to discuss matters. If you are sleepy, you can go to bed first."
"Your Majesty is busy with important matters, so don't worry about me." Lu Zhiwan also quickly stood up and knelt respectfully: "Farewell, Your Majesty."
Xiao Jingting glanced at her lowered black head and walked away.
When the sound of steady footsteps gradually faded away, Lu Zhiwan raised his head and looked at the hazy figure in the candlelight, frowning slightly.
Why do I always feel that something is wrong?
**
The cold moon was like a hook, and its chilling light slanted into the window of the southern study and also fell on the broad and upright shoulders of the young emperor.
After hearing the "kill without mercy" order, the Jinyiwei commander Xing Zhou, dressed in a dark blue flying fish uniform, bowed his hands in acceptance. Before leaving, he couldn't help but express his confusion: "If Your Majesty intended to kill Zhao Wenshao, why didn't he do it in prison? Why go to such great lengths... Please forgive my ignorance, I really don't understand."
Probably because a trouble had been resolved, the emperor was in a good mood and was willing to say a few more words.
"Someone told me that killing people requires evidence, and killing innocent people indiscriminately is the act of a cruel and incompetent ruler."
The cold moonlight shone between his deep brows, adding a touch of gentleness for no reason: "I want to be a wise ruler, and my name will go down in history. How can I commit such a crime?"
Xing Zhou: “…”
So is this the reason why you condoned those thieves to dig tunnels and even let the secret guards set fire to the Ministry of Justice to help Zhao Wenshao escape from prison?
The early winter evening breeze blew into the study, and the air seemed to be filled with chill.
The tall, jade-like figure by the window leaned half to the side. "Go, capture Zhao Wenshao as soon as possible to prevent future troubles."
Xing Zhou's expression became solemn, and he replied in a resounding voice, "I obey your orders."
He retreated quickly.
As the night deepens, the moon becomes brighter, and the shadows of bamboo sway in the wind, like the intertwining of algae and waterweed.
The man by the window stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the bright and silver moon, his thick and handsome eyebrows slowly relaxed.
The two men who were in the way were dealt with.
The moonlight tonight is so beautiful.
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