Chapter 100

The dead can only go underground. Xie Kuang was once a hero, but in this era, he was not even as good as a commoner.

In the winter, the sky was clear and the white clouds soared high. Feeling the cold wind slowly passing by, who would know the sorrow of the hero?

In the vast universe, the general could not die on the battlefield. Standing in the fierce wind, Zhao Yougong looked into the distance. Yang Zaixing held his sword with one hand, his gaze complex.

For Xie Kuang, Yang Zaixing felt not only admiration but also gratitude. It was Xie Kuang who showed him the way forward. After five years, he would leave the Prince of Chu's mansion to seek his own ideals. As a son of the Yang family, he would raise his spear and die gloriously, how could he spend his life in foolishness with this useless person?

In the coffin, amidst the wailing, there were no geese, only the mournful cries of crows.

Back at the Prince of Chu's mansion, Zhao Yougong sat in the pavilion with a stern face, drinking a cup of wine but feeling no taste at all. Xie Kuang was "dead," but what about the living? He hadn't seen Zhu Lian for two days. Did this woman know something? Ah, women, no matter how rational Zhu Lian was, she couldn't escape the emotions of a woman.

In the elegant Zui Xin Pavilion, once the most refined place, sitting here now, he felt no peace, for his heart was already filled with too many things. There was guilt for Xie Kuang and anger for the young prince.

The lake water rippled, and Zhu Lian felt a great contradiction. She knew the young prince must have many unspoken secrets, but no matter how difficult, could he just watch Xie Kuang die?

She couldn't understand, and she never would. Could the man she chose be a cold-blooded and heartless person?

The cold wind raged, the silk skirt fluttered, revealing the thick clothes underneath. Her long hair fell over her shoulders, and the string of gemstones on her forehead was still dazzling.

Was she beautiful? Of course, she was beautiful, beautiful enough to break one's heart, to make one infatuated.

"Lady, it was really hard for this prince to find you!"

At the familiar voice, Zhu Lian's back trembled slightly, angry but not turning around. But the man behind her? He didn't care, walked up, bent down, and blew hot breath into her ear, "Still angry? Lady, do you know that many things in this world are not as they seem!"

Standing up, he pointed to the distant lake and smiled quietly, "Is the water clear? But when you get close or enter the water, you will find it is also murky and dirty!"

"Your Highness, I don't understand!"

How could Zhu Lian, so wise, not understand? She just didn't want to hear it. No matter what woman, when facing the one she loved, she couldn't help but have a bit of a girlish nature.

Zhao Yougong shook his head, sighed, and turned to extend his hand to Zhu Lian, "Lady, take it out!"

"What?"

"Don't make this prince do it himself!"

"I don't understand!"

"You! It seems this prince has to do it himself!" Sighing, in Zhu Lian's exclamation, the young prince of Zhao pounced, circled his arms, and held the beauty in his embrace, his hands groping and touching.

"Your Highness, let go... you scoundrel... let go quickly..."

"No way!"

Lady Zhu was so angry that her whole body trembled. Lowering her head, she bit the man's shoulder, but it was still no use.

In no time, Zhao Yougong found the papers, released the beauty, and jumped out of the pavilion, "Lady, go home and wait well, don't think about useless things too much!"

"Your Highness... give it back to me..."

"Daydreaming!" Turning his back, he walked away, waving his hand.

Leaving the garden, the young prince of Zhao went to Liang's mansion. Getting the papers, Liang Shicheng was so happy that his face almost bloomed with a flower.

"Prince, I heard your cold hasn't fully recovered. There are some fine ginseng in the mansion, you can take it back and use it slowly!" Saying this, Liang Shicheng handed Zhao Yougong a small red wooden box. Zhao Yougong, a habitual embezzler, was naturally delighted and thanked him repeatedly.

Leaving Liang's mansion, Zhao Yougong couldn't wait to open the red wooden box and count the money, which amounted to a thousand guan. Seeing the money, the young prince of Zhao cursed, Liang Shicheng, this dog, was really stingy. After such a big favor, he only gave a thousand guan. Ah, let Liang Shicheng be happy for a few days, and soon he would be miserable.

The case of Xue Qingxun ended hastily with Xie Kuang's death. When everyone thought the case was over, who would have thought that a rumor would soon spread in the city.

It was said that Xue Qingxun colluded with Grand Eunuch Liang Shicheng and Grand Marshal Gao Qiu, selling inferior grain and medicine. In short, the rumors were many and detailed.

Rumors spread, and Liang Shicheng was furious. Coincidentally, the young prince of Zhao hurriedly visited.

Sitting in the chair, Zhao Yougong looked miserable, his hands trembling, "Minister Liang, this has nothing to do with this prince. On that day, I handed over everything Xie Kuang left to you!"

Seeing Zhao Yougong's wretched appearance, Liang Shicheng lost interest. He had long guessed that this matter had nothing to do with Zhao Yougong. If this coward had the courage to do it, he would be worth looking at. Though he despised him in his heart, he still put on a smile, "What is the prince talking about? It's probably just those scoundrels spreading rumors. Liang and Cai are clean officials, why would we fear these rumors?"

Zhao Yougong was very impressed. Looking at Liang Shicheng's righteous appearance, one would think he was telling the truth.

No matter how much he said, after clearing his name, Zhao Yougong hurriedly left Liang's mansion. On his way out, he actually ran into someone, and that person was Gong Liang.

Zhao Yougong just glanced at Gong Liang, and of course, Gong Liang didn't pay much attention to Zhao Yougong, because he never thought the rumors would be spread by the young prince of Zhao. In his mind, the young prince of Zhao had already handed over the papers left by Xie Kuang, so there was no need to spread rumors. If he really wanted to cause trouble, keeping those papers would be better.

The capital was filled with all kinds of rumors, none of them positive. The people cursed, and the military camps were in turmoil. The military officials were corrupt, but taking fake medicine to harm people was intolerable. When the military camp was in chaos, the first to suffer was the Grand Marshal's mansion. To calm the military's anger, Emperor Zhezong had no choice but to severely reprimand his favorite ministers and order the Three Judicial Departments to investigate.

Whether the Three Judicial Departments could find anything, the favorite ministers had to avoid suspicion on the surface. They all stayed at home, especially Liang Shicheng, who didn't even dare to go out. Collaborating with Xue Qingxun to sell fake medicine, if the military caught him, who knew what they would do.

Along with Cai Jing and others, the young prince of Zhao was also cursed. As the Prefect of Kaifeng, knowing those people were guilty, he didn't investigate the case and even helped to eliminate Xie Kuang, the living witness. If you really talked about it, this young prince of Zhao was more hateful than those treacherous ministers.

In the capital, the curses against the young prince of Zhao never stopped, so adding a bit more, the young prince of Zhao didn't take it seriously. He still walked the streets during the day and rested at Xiefang Tower at night.

Tonight, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse. Zhao Yougong held Nian Nu, a cup of fine wine in his hand.

"Sir, have you heard the rumors in the city?"

"Of course, but why listen to them? Is this prince afraid of their gossip? But, my beauty, don't be wronged!"

Saying this, the young prince of Zhao lowered his head and kissed the beauty's pink lips. Nian Nu blushed, her small hand skillfully scratching the man's chest. The beauty's gentle touch ignited a fire in Zhao Yougong's belly. Without caring if Xiao Tan was nearby, he carried the beauty into the inner room.

Clothes scattered, red candles flickered, a pair of men and women entangled passionately. The next morning, they still didn't want to get up.

Feeling the warmth of the man, Nian Nu gazed deeply at the handsome face in front of her. She didn't know when, but his figure had already filled her heart. Even if he was really foolish, as long as he was good to her, wasn't that enough?

In the winter dust, a single ray of light danced alone.

In the flickering candlelight, a few heartbeats sang in dreams.

Woman, for whom do you bloom, and for whom do you wither?

In the dim light, in the bright and honest days, if everything was just a dream, Nian Nu hoped she would never wake up in the dream, because in the dream, she would never wet her pillow with tears.

Opening her eyes, seeing Nian Nu's dazed beautiful eyes, Zhao Yougong chuckled, hugged the beauty's white neck, and kissed her deeply again.

The young prince of Zhao lived a very comfortable life, but Gao Qiu and others were quite troubled.

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