Chapter 54 Lying down once is lying down, lying down twice is also lying down...
The next morning, before daybreak, the capital was shrouded in a dark, gloomy silence.
Beneath the towering walls of the prison, more than a dozen dark shadows crept silently into the shadows of the corners like ghosts blending into the night, holding their breath and concentrating.
"No calamity!" Wu Jing pressed himself against the cold wall, his eyes warily scanning the distant torchlit gates of the Heavenly Prison. His voice was lowered to a whisper: "Think carefully! Raiding the Heavenly Prison is a capital crime punishable by the death of nine generations of your clan!"
Ning Wujie was dressed in night clothes, his eyes fixed on the prison door. His voice was low and resolute: "Except for my father and brother, there is no one left in our Ning family."
"I won't implicate you, go back."
Before he finished speaking, his figure had already passed by Wu Jing's sight like an arrow from a bow. With a light tap of his toes, he leaped and landed silently on the high wall.
"Bullshit! How could I let you go into this dangerous place alone!" Wu Jing cursed softly, followed him without hesitation, and climbed over the wall.
Below, patrolling guards held torches, their footsteps echoing regularly around the perimeter of the prison.
Wu Jing crouched low, his brow furrowed. "What are you going to do? With our limited manpower, storming the prison is a pipe dream!"
Ning Wujie's eyes were sharp as he watched the guards below closely. He spoke in a calm voice, "My men should have already infiltrated. When they open the prison gate, that's when we rush in."
He has not yet been dismissed by His Majesty, and the Inspector General is still under his command.
This was also his doubt. Since His Majesty was determined to accuse them of "regicide", why hadn't he removed him from his post as the commander of the Supervisory Office?
Even if he made up his mind at this moment, it would not be impossible for him to directly mobilize the Supervisory Department to attack the Heavenly Prison.
But he didn't want to implicate the brothers in the Supervisory Office. If they fought, there would definitely be casualties.
"Our Ning family's personal soldiers are stationed outside the city. As long as we rescue our father and brother, rush out of the city gate and reunite with the personal soldiers, and head straight to the northwest, there may be a glimmer of hope."
Wu Jing was still worried: "Why don't we go to the three camps to ask for help first?"
"Even if you have an insider, once the city defense camp reacts, your few personal soldiers will not be able to deal with it."
Ning Wujie shook his head decisively, "This is a prison robbery, which is no different from treason. I can't implicate them again."
He looked at Wu Jing again, "You should go back to the camp too. Once you follow me through this door, there will be no turning back!"
Anger flashed in Wu Jing's eyes. He slammed his fist on the wall and growled, "Stop talking nonsense! I won't leave! I never thought His Majesty would be so cruel!"
When he dotes on someone, he praises them to the sky, but when he turns against them, he is ruthless and will kill them!
The emperor's mind is truly unfathomable!
He glanced sideways at Ning Wujie, his eyes full of sympathy, thinking that his childhood friend had suffered a really miserable fate.
How painful would it be to be schemed against and used by the one you love?
He could hardly breathe just thinking about it.
When Ning Wujie heard the word "Your Majesty", his body stiffened almost imperceptibly, and the fingers gripping the hilt of the knife instantly exerted so much force that the knuckles turned white and veins bulged.
Seeing this, Wu Jing sighed inwardly and raised his hand to press heavily on Ning Wujie's tense shoulders: "I know you must hate him right now."
"I won't say anything nice to comfort you, but I'm your brother, and I'm at your disposal."
Ning Wujie suddenly closed his eyes and clenched his teeth, as if trying to suppress the surging emotions.
When he opened his eyes again, the burning anger in those deep eyes had been extinguished, leaving only a dead silence and coldness of despair.
He should have hated it.
But all his hatred melted away like ice and snow when he saw Wen Xing's broken and terrified look.
Instead, he felt even deeper heartache and fear. A chill swept through his limbs and bones, torturing every inch of his flesh and blood.
I am afraid that if I wake up a little later, I will make an irreparable mistake.
He couldn't hate that person at all.
Even if that person wanted to kill him, as long as he showed that fragile and pale face, or even just beckoned his finger...
He sadly discovered that he would still offer it without hesitation.
I'm afraid he's crazy...
The faint light of morning light passed over the horizon, outlining a hazy golden edge on the walls of the sky prison.
At this moment, several jailers walked to the prison door and talked to the guard.
Ning Wujie recognized at a glance that it was the shadow guard he arranged, and Qiao Zhuang became the jailer who took over the shift.
These shadow guards were unfamiliar to the jailers, and if they were spotted, they would have no choice but to attack by force.
His muscles tensed instantly, like a fully drawn bowstring. His right hand quietly pressed on the hilt of the knife, and he slowly pushed the knife out of the sheath three-quarters. A cold light flashed, ready to strike.
However, unexpectedly, the jailer guarding the door just glanced at each other briefly, without investigating further, and directly handed the heavy cell door key to the shadow guard who was "changing shifts", and then left.
The leading shadow guard winked inconspicuously towards the wall.
Ning Wujie's eyes became fierce, and he raised his hand without hesitation, and slashed with the knife cleanly and neatly.
More than a dozen dark shadows jumped down from the wall like ghosts, and before the patrolling guards could react, they were knocked to the ground silently.
At the same time, with a "creak", the heavy door of the sky prison was slowly pushed open.
Ning Wujie rushed into the prison like a gust of wind. The sharp long sword in his hand reflected a dazzling cold light under the torch. He was on full alert, ready for a bloody battle.
However, the scene before him made his heart sink——
Many jailers were lying in a disorderly manner in the prison corridor.
Wu Jing quickly stepped forward to investigate, then turned around and said, "They all fainted. It wasn't our people who did it."
Ning Wujie's nerves tensed instantly.
Who was it? Who had taken action before them? He shouted sharply, "Search! Quick!"
The subordinates immediately scattered and searched the cells nervously.
Ning Wujie gripped the hilt of his knife tightly and walked cautiously towards the depths of the prison. As he turned a corner, two figures suddenly flashed out from the shadows.
Ning Wujie reacted as fast as lightning, and swung the long sword in his hand with a sharp sound of breaking through the air.
But then I heard a voice: "No disaster!"
The tip of the knife stopped at the critical moment, and stopped dangerously in front of the nose of the person who was speaking.
Ning Wujie's pupils shrank: "Dad! Big brother!"
He looked at the two people who were intact and asked in disbelief: "How did you escape?"
He turned around and looked at the jailers who had fallen along the way. "Did you do this too?"
Ning Zheng nodded solemnly.
Ning Buhuo's eyes were filled with excitement. "Yes! I didn't expect the guards in the prison to be so lax. I saw the prison key hanging on the body of the prison boss who was delivering food, so I grabbed him by surprise and slammed the prison door shut. Then I used the key to open the door, sneaked my way out, and attacked the jailers. But the main door was locked from the outside, so my father and I couldn't get out, so we were looking for another way out. I didn't expect to meet you."
He pressed Ning Wujie's shoulder and said, "Good brother, I knew you would come to save us!"
"Wait." Ning Wujie keenly noticed the problem, "The prison guard who brought you food has the key on him?"
He himself was in charge of the imperial prison and knew the prison rules very well.
The key must never be easily exposed to the prisoners.
This is so unreasonable.
He frowned, a vague guess arose in his mind.
Wu Jing didn't doubt him and patted Ning Buhuo's shoulder, "Great job, Boss! You escaped without a fight. I was ready to fight to the death."
Ning Buhuo looked very proud.
Ning Wujie exchanged glances with his father Ning Zheng, who had remained silent, and they both saw the same doubts in each other's eyes.
This went so smoothly, it was weird.
Ning Zhengchen said, "Whether it's a trap or not, you can't stay here for long. Follow your father back to the northwest immediately!"
Without further delay, everyone quickly exited the prison, mounted their horses, and galloped towards the city gate.
The sound of horse hooves was particularly clear in the quiet streets in the early morning.
Ning Wujie galloped on his horse, but his nerves were always tense, and his vigilant eyes kept scanning the surroundings.
However, the expected pursuers did not appear, and the entire capital seemed to be still asleep, with a disturbing silence.
He couldn't help but look back in the direction of the Sky Prison, where there was also dead silence.
Ning Wujie rode his horse while his thoughts were swirling.
The suspicion in my mind became even heavier.
Could it be...
The more he thought about it, the more his heart surged, and his blood almost boiled.
After galloping out of the city gate, he suddenly reined in his horse and said, "Dad, wait!"
Ning Zheng, who was galloping ahead, reined in his horse and turned his horse around, his face filled with anger. "Don't tell Dad that you still refuse to leave at this time!"
Ning Wujie calmed himself down, suppressing his pounding heartbeat. He looked at Ning Zheng intently, "Dad, you've been through countless battles, don't you realize there's something fishy about all this? If we rush back to the northwest without figuring out what's going on, what if there's a bigger trap waiting for us?"
In fact, if he guessed correctly, their journey back to the northwest would be as smooth as their escape from the Heavenly Prison.
But only by saying this could he temporarily calm Ning Zheng down.
Sure enough, when Ning Zheng heard this, the anger on his face subsided a little, his brows were deeply furrowed, and a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes.
Ning Buhuo looked puzzled: "What's so strange? Didn't we escape?"
Ning Wujie looked at his brother speechlessly, too lazy to explain, and just said: "Brother, you accompany father back to the Marquis' Mansion first."
He then ordered his subordinates, "You guys, escort the Marquis and the eldest son back to the palace. Be careful along the way."
Wu Jing was shocked and said, "You dare to let them return to the Marquis' Mansion?! What if His Majesty sends people to arrest your father and brother?!"
"No." Ning Wujie said firmly.
He turned his gaze to Ning Zheng, "Father, think about this carefully. Since His Majesty has already determined that we are 'regicide', why hasn't he removed me from my position? Why hasn't he confiscated the Marquis's residence? Why hasn't he moved against our old subordinates in the capital?"
Ning Zheng's pupils suddenly shrank, and he was obviously awakened by his son. He asked in confusion: "Your Majesty, what do you mean?"
Ning Wujie lowered his eyes, "I'm not sure yet."
"In any case, we cannot leave the capital rashly until everything is clear. You should return to the Marquis' Mansion first, and I will go and ask His Majesty for clarification!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he pulled the reins and rode away.
Ning Buhuo seemed to have finally reacted after listening to the conversation between the two. He looked at Ning Zheng with confusion and a hint of anger in his eyes: "What exactly does your majesty want to do?!"
Ning Zheng looked at the direction Ning Wujie left and said, "Let's wait for Wujie's news."
After saying this, the father and son rode away together.
Wu Jing was left standing there in a daze. He glanced at the direction Ning Wujie had left, then glanced at the backs of the Ning family father and son, with a bewildered look on his face: "What the hell does that even mean?!"
*
The morning light is breaking in the Xishan Palace.
A figure quietly landed beside Wen Xing's bed.
The person on the couch had skin as white as snow, and her lonely body was wrapped in a gauze nightgown, looking as fragile as a handful of fresh snow that was about to melt.
Wen Xing had a thin layer of sweat on his forehead. He slept very uneasily, his brows were tightly furrowed, and his long eyelashes were trembling.
Was it a nightmare?
Ning Wujie looked at the man. All the things that happened last night felt like needles piercing his heart, causing a fine and sharp pain.
He couldn't help but reach out and touch the man's eyebrows. With gentle force, his fingertips slowly pressed from bottom to top, as if to smooth out the other person's frown bit by bit.
Wen Xing slowly opened his eyes.
The young man's face was as gloomy as water, and his eyes, as dark as a cold pond, trembled imperceptibly when he saw him wake up, and then glanced away.
The man suddenly withdrew his hand, but was caught by Wen Xing.
He propped himself up and sat up, his voice slightly hoarse from just waking up, "Why didn't you leave?"
Shouldn't you have robbed the prison, rescued your father and brother, and then fled back to the northwest without stopping?
Or, if he was more radical, he could immediately summon his old subordinates in the capital, surround the imperial city, seize power and usurp the throne.
He thought his voice was a question, but the ending tone revealed a hint of surprise that he himself was not aware of.
Ning Wujie didn't look at him, but lowered his eyes, his gaze fixed on their clasped hands. "Your Majesty, did you have a nightmare just now?"
Wen Xing hummed, and said against his will, "No."
Ning Wujie then raised his eyes, his gaze fixed on his face suspiciously: "Really?"
Wen Xing said seriously: "Answer my question."
Ning Wujie stared at him for a moment, his deep eyes seeming to see through him. He asked, "Since Your Majesty has determined that my father and brother committed regicide, how does Your Majesty intend to deal with me?"
Wen Xing was stunned.
How to deal with it?
What else should I do? Shouldn't I just wait for your family to rebel, and then I can naturally abdicate and let someone else take over?
Seeing his worried expression, Ning Wujie's eyes gleamed and he suddenly leaned closer.
The young man's eyes were filled with penetrating scrutiny. "Your Majesty, have you ever thought about this?"
Wen Xing was speechless.
Then Ning Wujie said, "Your Majesty knows that you should put away the bow after the bird is dead, but don't you know that before taking action, you must first clip the wings of the Ning family?"
With each sentence the young man came closer, his gaze strangely softer than before. "Your Majesty is well aware that the three major camps in the capital are filled with former members of the Ning family. Your Majesty is even more aware that I, as the head of the Supervisory Office, am personally responsible for protecting Your Majesty's safety."
The two were already very close, and the boy's pleasant scent was brushing against Wen Xing's nose.
"Your Majesty, before you eliminated the Ning family's power, you rashly attacked my father and brother, and left me alone to act freely."
"My power is so great that I can easily threaten your Majesty's safety. Your Majesty, are you not worried? Will I rebel in anger?"
Wen Xingxin said, I just want you to rebel.
But he couldn't say this, because if he did, he would face endless questioning.
He can't say that if you don't rebel, there will be no 500-year-long Zhou Dynasty in the future, right?
He raised his eyes and saw a gentle gaze falling on his lips under the other person's slightly drooping eyelids.
Wen Xing's Adam's apple rolled unconsciously, and he asked with all his might, "Do you dare?"
He heard a low, ambiguous chuckle escape from Ning Wujie's throat.
"When Your Majesty eliminated the Wang family, you took every step with such caution. Why are your methods so clumsy when it comes to me?"
Wen Xing: ...
Feeling ridiculed.
He pursed his lips and tried to force an excuse: "I just... didn't have time..."
"Is it too late, or have you never thought about it?"
Ning Wujie's voice was slightly low and hoarse, as if he was deliberately suppressing something.
The voice was so magnetic that it penetrated the eardrum and scratched all the way to Wen Xing's heart, making him feel itchy.
Wen Xing tried to retreat as if his ears were burned, but Ning Wujie gently pinched the tip of his chin.
He was forced to look up, and his eyes met Ning Wujie's dark eyes.
This kid is too smart. Now that things have come to this, no matter how much he explains, it will be useless.
The fact that he could say so much to him meant that he had already reached a conclusion in his mind.
So he just gave up and glanced away in a huff, "Whatever you think."
Ning Wujie looked at his childish appearance and said helplessly, "Your Majesty wanted to test me, but it almost cost me my life."
Wen Xing:?
Probing...
Is there any such explanation?!
I was enlightened by what I heard.
From Ning Wujie's perspective, he had just eradicated the Wang faction and was now worried that the Ning family would become the new threat. Therefore, he carefully designed this "regicide" trap to test whether the Ning family would rebel!
If the Ning family had not rebelled, he would have been a truly loyal and capable general, and could have been of great use.
Tsk.
Wen Xing really wanted to hold his forehead.
What kind of clever mind can come up with such a tortuous yet reasonable explanation!
He had a premonition that after being "tested" by him, it would be even more impossible for this kid to rebel!
As expected, as if in response to his guess, Ning Wujie said solemnly, "Your Majesty, there is no need to test me again. I will not rebel."
Wen Xing: ...
Why don’t you give me the opposite answer!
"If Your Majesty wants my life..." Ning Wujie's voice deepened, "You can take it at any time."
Wen Xing's forehead twitched slightly.
There is no need to be so loyal!
But he took a moment to react, then remembered the second half of the other party's sentence and asked in confusion: "What do you mean I almost took your life?"
Ning Wujie's eyes dimmed, and he suddenly pressed forward, pushing him down on the bed.
The young man looked down at him, his voice hoarse and dangerous, "Your Majesty nearly ripped out my heart. Isn't that also a death sentence?"
Wen Xing didn't understand for a moment.
Is it because he almost killed this kid's father and brother, so he was scared?
But thinking back, he had never seen Ning Wujie cry so sadly and heart-wrenchingly.
It seems really heartbreaking.
Wen Xing felt a little annoyed that the arrangements were made in haste, which allowed Ning Wujie to witness his father and brother being captured with his own eyes. It was really a huge shock.
According to the original plan, he should have kept the secret from Ning Wujie until Ning Zheng and the other man escaped back to the northwest. By then, when Ning Wujie discovered the truth, Ning Zheng had already established his own regime. Ning Wujie would at most face a dilemma and would not be too frightened.
He was regretting it when the man suddenly sealed his lips.
Wen Xing's eyelashes trembled slightly.
The man's tongue tip swept across his lips extremely gently, prying open his teeth lightly, and swept across every sensitive spot in his mouth, teasing and igniting fire everywhere.
Wen Xing's breathing slowed down. She was aroused by the teasing of lips and tongue and began to respond involuntarily.
Ning Wujie kissed him while taking his hand and placing it on his chest. It was burning hot there, and his strong heartbeat was transmitted to his palm one by one, causing his fingers to shiver slightly.
"Your Majesty..." Ning Wujie's voice was unclear, filled with sullen grievance: "Stop tearing out my heart."
Wen Xing's heart softened, and she didn't care what Ning Wujie said. She just nodded repeatedly and stretched out her arms to wrap around the other's neck, "I was wrong... I won't force you anymore..."
The main reason is that Ning Wujie explained it so clearly.
It's no use for him to force it.
Wen Xing suddenly felt very depressed and wondered helplessly when he would be able to retire.
Is there any other way?
However, his distraction did not last long. The overly clear and burning touch under his body made his waist tremble and his eyes widen in horror.
Seeing Wen Xing's expression, Ning Wujie immediately thought of the other party's terrified look last night and the nightmarish look he saw when he came here just now.
A chill instantly ran up his spine, he suddenly propped himself up and quickly retreated.
"Don't be afraid, Your Majesty. I will not..."
Wen Xing caught up with him and kissed him, interrupting him.
This can't go on, Wen Xing's mind was filled with alarm.
This kid is only eighteen years old. If every time he encounters this situation, he thinks of last night's nightmare, will he become impotent in the long run?
Thinking of this, Wen Xing's whole body stiffened.
Absolutely not!
He kissed her and vaguely comforted her, "No... I'm not afraid of you, not now, not last night. Don't let your imagination run wild."
As he spoke, he seemed to prove his point by pulling the other person's belt.
Ning Wujie's breathing stagnated. He pressed down his rebellious hand, slightly retreated to avoid his lips, and looked at him in disbelief to confirm again: "Really?"
Wen Xing blinked, "Really?"
"Even if I want to..." Ning Wujie said this, lowering his eyes and his ears burning.
Wen Xing followed the other person's gaze and couldn't help but choke.
He swallowed dryly, suddenly feeling that he was in a dilemma.
Is it too late to take back what I said now?
He raised his eyes, and his sight met the crimson corners of the boy's eyes and the tips of his ears that had turned as red as pigeon blood.
He didn't know if it was an illusion, but he seemed to see Ning Wujie's eyes filled with grievance and heartache.
Wen Xing took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, as if he had made some kind of decision.
He closed his eyes and made up his mind!
never mind!
Anyway...it's not like it hasn't happened before!
Lying down once is lying down, lying down twice is lying down! It’s no big deal!
He repeatedly prepared himself mentally, and when he opened his eyes again, there was a determination to fight to the death.
Now that things have come to this, if he backs down, wouldn't that just confirm his fear and leave a psychological scar on the other party?!
Thinking of this, he kissed the other's lips again, his voice trembling slightly but very clearly: "Just be gentle..."
Ning Wujie's pupils trembled violently and his breathing stopped for a moment.
His heart was pounding like a drum, and he couldn't help but push the man down on the bed again, his voice almost trembling, "Your Majesty..."
The sound of suppressed breathing and the slippery sound of water echoed quietly in the empty bedroom, intertwining with the gurgling sound of the stream outside the window...
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The author has something to say: Your Majesty, after you lie down once, you will have to lie down all the time~~
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