His heart was filled with regret.
He regretted not being able to protect Gu Sang, regretted not finding Gu Sang sooner, regretted not hiding Gu Sang in time...
The regret in his heart was so intense.
After Li Rong was taken to the prison, he was locked in the same room. He spent the whole day in a state of panic, not knowing whether he would be killed to silence him.
"Sir, what is your surname? My name is Li Rong, and I am a scholar," Li Rong said ingratiatingly to the yamen runner sitting opposite him.
"My name is Wang Dahu. This time, I'm on orders from above to arrest a fugitive."
"Fugitive? I'm a fugitive? You mean I'm a fugitive? You can't be talking nonsense. How could I, a mere scholar, be a fugitive? This is impossible, impossible! You must have made a mistake, you must have made a mistake. I could never be a fugitive."
"Not a fugitive? Are you sure? You assaulted Master Gao, so... you know what that means." Wang Dahu looked at Li Rong with a serious expression.
"Beating? I didn't! Don't frame me! I only had a dispute with that rich man Gao, I didn't lay a hand on him at all! Don't wrong an innocent person! I'm a scholar, I've never been involved in fights, I'm a studious person, you can't wrong me! I'm going to petition the court to ask the emperor to uphold justice for me!" Li Rong said excitedly, his eyes wide open, looking particularly comical.
"Alright, since you put it that way, I will take you to the palace and let the Emperor uphold justice for you."
Upon hearing Wang Dahu's words, Li Rong's face turned deathly pale.
He was completely out of options now; this guy wasn't easy to fool.
Just then, a voice came from the doorway: "It's not that you're a fugitive, it's that you assaulted Master Gao. But I think you did the right thing! That beast deserved to be beaten!"
As he spoke, Master Gu slowly walked in from outside, followed by the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.
“Your Excellency, I think this case is very clear. Young Master Li is completely innocent. It was that Master Gao who wanted to harm my daughter, and Young Master Li only intervened out of kindness,” Master Gu said to the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.
"Yes, yes, Master Gu, you are right. We will release Young Master Li immediately," the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice said respectfully.
"Wait a moment." Master Gu stopped the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.
The Vice Minister of Justice looked at Master Gu with a puzzled expression.
"Your Excellency, this was done by Master Gao. You must stand up for my daughter!" Master Gu said with a face full of grief and indignation, his expression as if he were acting.
"I know that."
"Your Excellency, I think you shouldn't hold it against Master Gu. He meant well," Li Rong whispered to him from the side.
"I understand, Lord Gu. Rest assured, I will investigate this thoroughly and give Miss Gu an explanation," the Vice Minister of Justice said earnestly.
"Thank you, Your Excellency," Master Gu said gratefully, then said to Li Rong, "Li Rong, you go into the prison with the Vice Minister of Justice."
"Yes," Li Rong replied respectfully.
Soon, Li Rong and the Vice Minister of Justice arrived at the prison. As soon as Li Rong entered the prison, he was so frightened by the coldness inside that he almost fell to the ground, but he managed to hold back.
"Tie him up and wait for the Emperor's judgment," the Vice Minister of Justice said, pointing at the kneeling Gao Yuanwai.
"Yes, Your Excellency." Two bailiffs dragged the trembling, kneeling Gao Yuanwai to a corner of the prison cell.
At this moment, Master Gu finally breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly closed the door and turned back to Li Rong with a smile, saying, "Young Master Li, don't worry, the Emperor will definitely not wrong you. He will handle this matter impartially and give you justice."
"Thank you, Mr. Gu."
Li Rong said with lingering fear, "Luckily, Master Gu intervened in time, otherwise I would have been in trouble."
Master Gu chuckled and said, "I only intervened because I didn't want my daughter to suffer any injustice; otherwise, I wouldn't have helped Young Master Li. Also, cough cough, I think Young Master Li is quite handsome and talented. Are you confident about passing the imperial examination?"
"Of course, I'm not bragging, but I'm sure I can become the top scholar."
"Hmm, very good, I like your type. But becoming the top scholar isn't something you can just get by. How about this, no matter how you do on the imperial examination, as long as you don't fail, I'll marry my Gu Sang to you. What do you say?"
"That couldn't be better... What? You want to marry Gu Sang to me!?"
Li Rong opened her eyes wide in surprise, looking incredulous.
"What are you saying? The imperial examination hasn't even started yet! Who knows if you'll fail? It's not even close to happening! You think it's that easy to marry my daughter?!" Master Gu said with a serious face.
"Master Gu is absolutely right, I am sure I will pass the imperial examination."
"So you're agreeing?"
"Don't worry, Mr. Gu, I would never deceive your daughter's feelings."
"Very well, since that's the case, I'll send someone to your house tonight to propose marriage."
"Okay, okay, I'll follow Master Gu's orders." Li Rong said excitedly.
Mr. Gu nodded and said, "Yes, I will spend more time chatting with you these next few days. I hope to see my precious daughter become your wife soon."
"Then I definitely look forward to seeing Mr. Gu's daughter become my wife as soon as possible!"
"Hahaha."
Seeing Li Rong's happy expression, Master Gu's mood also improved.
At this moment, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice entered the prison cell and said, "Master Gu, everything is ready. Young Master Li can leave now."
"Okay, let's go then."
Immediately afterwards, Li Rong and Master Gu left the prison under the guidance of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.
Li Rong had just left the cell when she noticed the key in her hand. She cursed inwardly, "That damned Vice Minister of Justice! He actually gave this to my father! This is terrible! If my father finds out, he'll be furious again. Luckily, I reacted quickly and hid the key in time."
After thinking it over, he quickly put the key back in his hand.
Seeing his expression, Master Gu asked in confusion, "What's wrong, Young Master Li? Did you forget your keys? Or were they stolen?"
"Huh? Oh... the key... the key is here."
As Li Rong spoke, she handed the key to Master Gu. Master Gu took the key, opened the prison door, and walked out. The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice followed him.
"Master Gu, Young Master Li," the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice greeted them with a bow.
"Okay, let's go."
The three of them left the Ministry of Justice together.
On the way back, Master Gu kept asking Li Rong what had happened, but Li Rong remained silent.
Although Mr. Gu had doubts, he could only put them aside for the time being and ask him about them properly when he got home.
Li Rong kept her head down, not daring to look Master Gu in the eye.
Upon arriving at the Li residence, Master Gu said to Li Rong, "Young Master Li, thank you for bringing us back today."
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