Chapter 226 A Choice Between Life and Death
Dou Wenyi raised her head and said calmly, "Xie Guidu, even though you sent me to the Northern Di army camp in the previous life, I thought you were thinking of the greater good. Even if I die, as long as I can win a way out for the people of Tianning City, I will not die in vain!"
"I also thought you had a noble heart, at least you hadn't lost your humanity. But in this life, are you going to aid and abet evil?"
Xie Guidu shook his head unconsciously. Faced with her questioning, he couldn't say whether he felt regret or remorse. He had been trampled into the dust by Pei Siyan. If he hadn't climbed onto the powerful tree of the Eldest Princess, he would have remained trapped in the imperial prison for the rest of his life, with no hope of ever rising again, not to mention…
He would only have a chance of survival if Pei Siyan fell from the throne of the crown prince.
Xie Guidu's face was clouded with anger, and a hint of pain flashed in his eyes. "Dynastic changes are beyond my control."
Dou Wenyi laughed, "In your past life, Pei Siyan led the Xuanjia Army and defeated the Northern Di people, right? With such a large army under his command, how could Prince Rui be a match for him? He must have ascended the throne and become emperor."
"Could it be that you're unhappy after I died? That shouldn't be the case. You protected Tianning City and made great contributions, so why?"
Xie Guidu felt as if he had been stabbed in a vital spot, his heart churning with pain. "You don't understand!"
Dou Wenyi looked at him and raised her voice, "Xie Guidu, Princess Fu'an and I are both your pawns. Why do you like to use women?"
He lowered his head, his fingers digging painfully into his chest, his voice low and hoarse, "Don't mention her again..."
"Why not mention it? She is your betrothed. You and the princess know perfectly well what you are plotting."
Xie Guidu's throat tightened, and he felt as if he had been transported to another world.
"Since your death, I have been idle at home, suffering from convulsions every night, tormented by nightmares, and drowning my sorrows in alcohol all day long. I am like a lonely ghost living in delusion, only hoping that you can enter my dreams."
Even if she came to curse him, he would gladly accept it.
But she never dared to enter his dreams!
At this moment, Dou Wenyi finally understood that Xie Guidu's hatred for Pei Siyan was a continuation from his previous life. "Pei Siyan never made things easy for you? You hate him? So you're doing everything you can to bring him down?"
Xie Guidu didn't want to admit it at all; Pei Siyan had fallen in love with Dou Wenyi in his previous life. But he didn't want the Crown Prince to ascend the throne, primarily because of her…
If Pei Siyan falls from power, he can save her from this predicament, even if it means being entangled with her, so that they can remain strangers for the rest of their lives!
He just wanted to beg her to come back to him.
But he simply couldn't explain these reasons.
Dou Wenyi pursed her lips, paused, and then said, "To satisfy your selfish desires and ambitions, do you want to turn Tianning City into a river of blood? Xie Guidu, you are truly shameless!"
"Yi'er..."
Xie Guidu's voice trembled slightly as he tried his best to defend himself, "No, this is not personal desire, but the general trend and the will of the people. Prince Duan is not Prince Rui. He will not join forces with the Northern Di to rebel. He can still create a peaceful and prosperous world. The common people have never had the right to choose their monarch."
"This is a noble family, the eldest princess, and the Emperor's choice. When the emperor commands a subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die, even the crown prince is no exception!"
“I am a courtier of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and it is not my duty as a subject to be loyal to the emperor.”
Dou Wenyi sneered. His twisted logic and heresies could easily fool ordinary people.
Moreover, they were people who had lived through two lifetimes and knew the course of history, yet he spoke so eloquently and righteously.
This is utterly absurd and laughable!
Dou Wenyi didn't want to waste any more words with him, and said coldly, "Xie Guidu, what the people desire, Heaven will surely grant; since you insist on going against Heaven, I have nothing more to say. Then we'll see!"
A sense of despair welled up in Xie Guidu's heart. He suddenly realized that even if Pei Siyan was deposed, Dou Wenyi would no longer want him.
Dou Wenyi was utterly disappointed. "If you have even a shred of conscience, then treat Dr. Zhang well."
This case is unprecedented and will surely reach the Ministry of Justice. If Shen Yanzhou were here, he would do everything in his power to help her without her having to ask, unlike a hypocrite like Xie Guidu who would only do things that she despises.
After saying that, she turned around and prepared to leave.
Just as she was about to leave, Xie Guidu grabbed her sleeve, his fingers tightening until his knuckles turned slightly white.
Xie Guidu's face was pale and dejected. "Don't go back to the East Palace. Now that you've left the city, go far away and never come back!"
Dou Wenyi squinted and forcefully broke free from his hand.
Xie Guidu had always been a civil official, but today he was the one leading the inspection team. Logically, the inspectors should have been the Prefect of the Capital and the Imperial Guards, but neither of them came.
not good!
Something has probably happened in the palace.
As soon as she arrived at the city gate, Dou Wenyi looked up at the imposing vermilion city gate. On the city wall, there were imperial guards in full armor everywhere, and the number of troops had increased more than three times compared to usual.
The eight gatekeepers guarding the city gate all carried portraits and carefully checked the appearance of people leaving the city before allowing them to pass.
Dou Wenyi's eyes were dark, her heart pounding like a drum. She mingled in the crowd, handed over the travel permit, and successfully entered the city.
Just now, she had clearly seen the person they were looking for on the drawing paper, and it was none other than herself.
No wonder Xie Guidu told her not to come back.
Returning would be tantamount to walking into a trap.
But if she leaves, she will be completely unaware of the conspiracy between Emperor Muzong and the eldest princess.
Moreover, the Dou family, consisting of dozens of people, is in Tianning City, and they will face annihilation.
What if the princess and her accomplices become ruthless and indiscriminately kill innocent people, using the lives of the entire Dou family to force her to reveal herself?
The fact that they are so impatient when the plague is still not under control can only mean one thing: Pei Siyan must be on his way back, and they can't wait any longer.
"Go through Sweetwater Lane, and head to the Dou residence first."
These days, Dou Wenyi needs to travel to the epidemic area discreetly, so this carriage does not bear the insignia of the Eastern Palace.
The fact that the guards at the city gate didn't recognize her shows that her disguise could fool the imperial guards who weren't familiar with her appearance.
Soon, the carriage stopped in a dark alley diagonally opposite the Dou family's residence. The guards, having ascertained the situation, returned and whispered, "Your Highness, the Dou family members have all been taken away by the Imperial City Guard, as have the Zhang family..."
Dou Wenyi felt a chill run down her spine. Only the emperor could mobilize the Imperial City Guard. Now that both the Dou and Zhang families had been captured, this was no small matter.
Her gaze darkened slightly, and her fingertips unconsciously tightened around the carriage curtain.
"Do you know why you were arrested?" Her voice was low and cold, but she couldn't hide a slight, barely perceptible tremor.
The guard shook his head.
It seems that Emperor Muzong has made up his mind to depose the crown prince.
However, he was wary of Pei Siyan's military power and would inevitably frame him with a fabricated charge, such as treason, collusion with the enemy, or rebellion...
They also need a credible person to expose Pei Siyan.
She wasn't sure when Pei Siyan would return, but they would definitely gather all the 'evidence' before he came back.
"Your Highness, where are we going now?"
"Return to the East Palace!"
Dou Wenyi's expression was solemn. She composed herself and knew she had to deal with this group of people to the very end.
As night deepened, the carriage slowly turned around and headed towards the center of the storm...
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