Chapter 63 Preparing to Leave the City
Where is she?
Zhou Congxian's gaze was icy, and the lightning and thunder behind him seemed to be about to cleave the person in front of him in two at any moment.
Song Jiyun stood up, supporting himself on the door frame.
Looking at the man in front of her, whose handsome features were still evident even in his disheveled state.
Her eyes were somewhat confused. "Brother Congxian, why did you lie to me too?"
"Why did you all lie to me..."
Zhou Congxian drew his sword and pressed it against her neck. "I'll ask you one more time, where is Jiang Shiyao!"
"Jiang Shiyao?"
Song Jiyun seemed to have just realized what was happening, and suddenly covered her mouth and laughed when she saw his expression.
"Are you looking for Jiang Shiyao?"
"You didn't come here to see me, you didn't come here to see me."
She seemed oblivious to the blade around her neck, laughing uncontrollably.
A muffled clap of thunder boomed in the distance, making her seem even more mad.
Wei Xun frowned slightly. "Your Highness, she seems to have gone mad."
Zhou Congxian ignored her completely, turned around and left, saying, "I'll turn the whole capital upside down to find her!"
Large raindrops began to fall.
Everything had settled down, and it should have been a joyous moment, but he couldn't find the person he wanted to confide in.
The sound of horses' hooves echoed in the rainy night.
Wan Quan rode up at full speed and said, "Your Highness, I have asked at all the city gates, but I have not seen Lady Jiang."
Zhou Congxian mounted his horse without even glancing at Wan Quan.
"I entrust the safety of the Jiang family to you, as her fate is currently unknown."
He didn't finish his sentence.
But Wan Quan understood what he meant: if Jiang died, he wouldn't have an easy time either.
He watched the prince's departing figure and gritted his teeth, saying, "Just a concubine..."
Wei Xun knew Wan Quan was unconvinced, "The young master is in a fit of anger right now."
Wan Quan turned his head to look at him and sneered, "Is he now prepared to turn the entire capital upside down for a woman?"
"The situation is still uncertain. Does Your Highness think that arresting all those people will solve everything?"
Wei Xun: "We've followed the young master for so long, what kind of person is he...?"
Wan Quan's face also turned cold.
“We are the Crown Prince’s right and left arms, but the Crown Prince only needs his right hand.”
“I am absolutely capable. Even without the heir, I can still make a name for myself.”
He glanced at Wei Xun one last time, then pulled on the reins and rode away.
The rainstorm came quickly and left quickly.
When Zhou Congxian returned to the courtyard, the rain had stopped.
The puppy was sleeping on the porch. Hearing the noise, it immediately stood up alertly, but when it saw it was him, it lazily lay back down.
He knew he didn't have much time to find Jiang Shiyao.
Those officials won't be in jail for long; they have more important things to do.
He stood by the open door and closed his eyes slightly.
"Jiang Shiyao, where are you..."
No one could answer him.
The only sound in the air was his own quiet breathing.
In the embroidery room next door, there's still that embroidered wild goose she made while she was imprisoned here.
It has only one wing, yet it still manages to soar high into the sky.
His gaze fell on that wing.
"Is this when you wanted to leave...?"
He suddenly looked up.
He turned and walked into the inner room.
There was very little jewelry, and the box that held the silver was empty.
Pulling back another layer, a letter was found pressed beneath the crimson gold hairpin.
He paused, then opened the letter.
When he saw the final word "suicide," he felt as if his mind had suddenly exploded.
All I could hear was a buzzing sound.
He stared blankly at the contents of the letter, unable to understand them.
Suicide?
Who wants to commit suicide?
Is it Jiang Shiyao?
Why should she commit suicide?
He seemed to have suddenly lost all his strength, and he staggered backward, unable to stand.
Finally, he fell to the ground with a thud, but couldn't get up no matter what he did.
"Jiang Shiyao!"
Zhou Congxian looked around, somewhat bewildered.
"Jiang Shiyao, come out! You've been hiding long enough, come out!"
His hand holding the letter trembled uncontrollably.
"Come out and tell me this is all fake! Come out!"
Outside, thunder and rain raged, and lightning streaked across the night sky, illuminating the house as bright as day.
The contents of the letter are now clear.
It was as if it was reminding him that the letter was genuine.
He scrambled and stumbled into the night.
He kicked open the gate of the Liu residence like a madman, and the collapsing gate nearly hit the servant who rushed to open the door.
"My lord, Lord Liu has already retired for the night..."
The servant didn't recognize people, but he recognized official robes.
"Liu Minghan, come out!" Zhou Congxian didn't even glance at the servant, gripping his long sword and barging straight in with bloodshot eyes.
"This humble official congratulates Your Highness on your rise..."
Liu Minghan walked out, dressed neatly, but before he could say anything.
He was then stabbed in the shoulder by Zhou Congxian's sword.
"Where is Jiang Shiyao?"
"She is dead."
Zhou Congxian stared at the composed man before him with bloodshot eyes, and roared from his throat.
"She's not dead!! Don't try to fool me!"
Liu Minghan, his face pale, slowly raised his eyes and finished speaking.
"This humble official congratulates Your Highness on your promotion."
He smiled and said, "The Crown Prince succeeded, so Jiang Shiyao's death wasn't in vain."
"The conflict between Miss Song and Jiang Shiyao may seem like just a power struggle within the inner quarters, but behind Song Jiyun is Song Yitang, and even more so the Empress Dowager's faction. You have been infiltrating this group, yet you have repeatedly narrowly escaped being discovered."
"Since the young master is indecisive, I, Liu, will make the decision for him!"
Zhou Congxian instantly flew into a rage, plunging his sword deep into the wound. "When did it become your business to interfere in my affairs?!"
"Where is Jiang Shiyao! You've had enough of watching the play about the young master! Release Jiang Shiyao!"
Unable to withstand the force, Liu Minghan was forced to retreat several steps until he crashed into the wooden door, where he had nowhere left to go.
He gritted his teeth, his face pale, enduring the pain in his shoulder.
He took a deep breath and continued, "The current situation... allows no further hesitation from Your Highness..."
"Old Master Li is right. Only when Jiang Shiyao dies... can the Crown Prince become a hero..."
"court death!!"
As Zhou Congxian drew his sword and swung it a second time, he was grabbed by someone.
"Your Highness! Killing a court official is a capital offense!"
Wei Xun broke out in a cold sweat. If he had been a step later, Lord Liu would have been a victim of the sword!
Liu Minghan covered his shoulder and slowly slid down to sit.
He closed his eyes briefly. "The fire in Wutong Lane the other day..."
“Wutong Lane! Those three charred corpses…” Wei Xun gasped.
“What charred corpse…” Zhou Congxian turned to look at him.
Wei Xun hesitated to look the young master in the eye. "The fire in Wutong Lane has revealed the charred remains of two adults and one child..."
"Little, little..."
With a "clang," the longsword in Zhou Congxian's hand fell to the ground.
He grabbed Wei Xun's collar, his voice filled with fear.
"What charred corpse! Are you talking nonsense too!"
Wei Xun lowered his eyes, his own eyes filled with pain. "It was my negligence..."
"You're mistaken! How could that be? She's not dead! I'm still going to look for her!"
Zhou Congxian shoved Wei Xun aside and stumbled out.
"Your Highness!" Wei Xun immediately chased after him.
Liu Minghan watched Zhou Congxian's departing figure, then slowly stood up, clutching his shoulder.
Only then did the servant dare to approach, "Sir, are you alright?"
His expression had returned to calm. "Take my token and go fetch the imperial physician. The bigger the show, the better."
The servant didn't understand, but he did as instructed anyway.
Liu Minghan staggered back to his room and eventually collapsed to the ground.
He slowly closed his eyes, and Old Li's withered hand gripped him tightly.
"Minghan, the Great Sheng Dynasty entrusted to me by Emperor Gaozong cannot be destroyed! I have served three emperors and guarded it for so many years; I cannot let the Great Sheng Dynasty fall into the hands of that vixen!"
“Zhou Congxian is a smart man and is deeply trusted by His Majesty. You are a civil official and he is a military officer. If there is no misunderstanding between you, His Majesty will definitely be suspicious in the future and will wait for the opportunity to have another wicked concubine.”
A slight smile played on his lips. "Teacher, I have done everything you asked me to do."
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