HCB Chapter 216 Unless he doesn't want to live anymore, we'll all die together.
Chapter 216 Unless he doesn't want to live anymore, we'll all die together.
However, his first reaction was to deny it.
No matter what happens, he insists that it has nothing to do with him.
"What do you mean by that, Father? Princess Ning'an is in my residence? That's impossible." He looked surprised and bewildered.
"Fourth Prince, if you don't tell the truth, I will have no choice but to send the Hidden Lin Guard to interrogate you." Emperor Xiangwu's face was gloomy.
He was just listening to the music while refining elixirs when the Hidden Scale Guard came to tell him about this.
It really annoyed him.
If it were anyone else, it wouldn't matter, but Yu Ningyao is the Ning'an Princess specially appointed by him, and also the future Crown Princess of Yunchi. He can't just let this matter slide.
“Father, everything I’ve said is true. I really don’t know why Princess Ning’an would be in my residence.” Pei Wuji knelt on the ground.
He still doesn't know whether Yu Ningyao is dead or alive, nor does he know whether the people he sent have been captured by the Hidden Scale Guard. He can only insist that Yu Ningyao's appearance on his territory has nothing to do with him, and that he knows nothing.
After being asked repeatedly, he only had this one sentence to say, which annoyed Emperor Xiangwu.
He concluded decisively, "Xie Zhao, this matter is entrusted to you. You must give me, Yun Chi, and Princess Ning'an a satisfactory answer."
"Your humble servant obeys the decree." Commander Xie Zhao bowed respectfully.
After giving his instructions, Emperor Xiangwu turned around and went back to the palace to continue refining elixirs.
"Fourth Prince, please." Xie Zhao raised an eyebrow and looked at Pei Wuji.
Pei Wuji didn't say anything and followed him to the Dark Lin Platform of the Hidden Lin Guard.
Anyone who has been here has been thoroughly humiliated.
A flicker of panic crossed Pei Wuji's mind, but he did not show it.
He was, after all, a prince, and without evidence, the Hidden Scale Guards certainly wouldn't dare to lay a hand on him.
However, he underestimated the extent of the Hidden Scale Guard's ruthlessness.
Although they politely offered him a chair, they treated him in no way like a prince.
Xie Zhao personally interrogated him.
"Fourth Prince, tell me, what exactly is the grudge between you and Princess Ning'an?"
Pei Wuji shook his head: "I don't understand what Lord Xie is saying. I've only met Princess Ning'an three times."
"The first time was when we were tasting dishes at Yunxiaolou."
"The second time was at Father Emperor's birthday banquet."
"The third time was yesterday. We met by chance on the road, and I congratulated her on becoming the Crown Princess of Yunchi."
Xie Zhao slowly picked up a piece of red-hot iron and put it into the water, where the water sizzled.
Is that really it?
Pei Wuji's heart skipped a beat, and he nodded again.
"That's all. We've only met a few times, so how could we possibly have any grudges? If Lord Xie doesn't believe me, you can invite Princess Ning'an here, and I'll confront her face to face."
"Fourth Prince, there's no need to try to trick me." Xie Zhao smiled slightly and held up the iron block in front of him.
Pei Wuji swallowed hard.
"I am a prince, do you intend to torture me?"
Xie Zhao shook his head: "Fourth Prince, you jest. How could I dare to torture you? I was just too tired from investigating the case yesterday, oh dear..."
He cried out in surprise as the metal block smashed into Pei Wuji's thigh.
Although the iron block had been cooled with water, its weight and scorching heat still dealt a heavy blow to Pei Wuji, causing him to scream in pain.
"Oh dear, Fourth Prince, it's all my fault. I was too tired and lost focus. I'm so sorry, so very sorry." Xie Zhao apologized as he put the iron block back into the furnace to continue heating it.
"Quickly, quickly summon the imperial physician to examine the Fourth Prince, lest he be injured in a place he shouldn't be injured."
Pei Wuji gritted his teeth and glared at him angrily.
"Xie Zhao, how dare you plot against a prince?"
"Your Highness, you flatter me. I don't have the audacity to say that. It's just that our Hidden Scale Guard is really busy. I haven't had a break for several days." Xie Zhao spread his hands, looking quite helpless.
"Your Majesty, I only want to know what grudge the Fourth Prince and Princess Ning'an have, it's that simple."
“I have no grudge against Yu Ningyao. We’ve only met three times.” Pei Wuji gritted his teeth and said only this one sentence.
"Then why was she in your private residence, bound hand and foot with iron chains?" Xie Zhao asked again.
"I am also very confused. I beg Commander Xie to help me find out the truth and clear my name." Pei Wuji insisted that this matter had nothing to do with him.
If he reveals his previous deal with Yu Ningyao, then neither he nor Yu Ningyao will survive.
He had no choice but to keep it a secret.
Unless he doesn't want to live anymore and everyone dies together, then he can reveal everything Yu Ningyao said and did.
Xie Zhao tried many methods, but Pei Wuji still wouldn't budge.
After all, he is a prince, and without evidence, it's not feasible to kill him.
In the end, they had no choice but to let him go.
Watching his retreating figure, Xie Zhao remarked with a sigh, "He's quite the ruthless one. Those other guys have always overlooked him."
If the Crown Prince loses power, this fourth prince might be the one to eventually ascend the throne.
However, he has now offended the Fourth Prince, and no matter what, he will not allow him to take that position.
"My lord, what do we do now? The Fourth Prince and Princess Ning'an each have their own version of events, and neither can explain why they were imprisoned. We can't just kill either of them. This is really troublesome," Wei Jing couldn't help but complain.
"Then let it drag on. There are so many unsolved cases; the Emperor won't remember them all," Xie Zhao said with a slight smile.
After all, the emperor's memory was getting worse day by day.
Most importantly, Princess Ning'an is about to get married, so this matter must not be publicized. As long as she doesn't make a scene, he can easily gloss over the matter discreetly.
The most important thing now is to find out about her background.
……
After Yu Ningyao was sent back to the Yu family, the whole family doted on her, worried that she might be feeling unwell.
Yu Ningyao had to use all her persuasion to convince her family members, whose eyes were brimming with tears, to leave.
She let out a long sigh of relief and went back to her room.
Just as I was about to lie down, I heard a "meow".
"Where did this cat come from?" Yu Ningyao got up and looked out the window.
She saw an orange and white cat leap down from the wall and bounce right up to her window.
When it got close, Yu Ningyao noticed a small medicine bottle hanging around its neck.
"For me?" She pointed to her nose.
The kitten responded with a meow, proudly raising its neck as if urging her to quickly remove the thing around its neck.
Yu Ningyao took the medicine bottle apart, opened it, smelled it, and found that it was a medicine for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis.
"Did Yun Chubai send you?" Yu Ningyao reached out and patted its head, and heard it purr softly.