Chapter 58 - 2#
He wrapped his big hand around the person and dragged him into his arms.
He still had to raise him a bit more, otherwise there was nowhere to bite. With only a few ounces of bones, what could he gnaw on?
…
Jingzhe’s return to the palace was as bizarre as his departure.
He closed his eyes and opened them again, and he was back in the Zhidian Si. He lay in his own room, looking at the familiar furnishings, a little dazed.
It was fine before, but this time, he was moved like this without feeling anything at all. Could it be that he was dead?
Jingzhe pinched his face, but usually in the palace, it wouldn’t be like this?
If he was asleep at night and there was any movement in the room, he would know clearly and wake up immediately.
As he sobered up a bit, he thought of what was said before going to bed last night.
Jingzhe huffed. Rong Jiu shouldn’t even think about tricking him.
Although he didn’t know what kind of ghost idea he had in mind, it didn’t sound like a good thing.
He wouldn’t make choices for Rong Jiu.
What a bad thing.
Jingzhe looked at the slightly bright sky outside and turned over.
He met Huiping’s gaze as he sat up.
The two looked at each other, and Huiping immediately sat up and shouted in surprise: “You’re finally back!”
As soon as Jingzhe got up, Huiping pounced over and looked him up and down.
Jingzhe hurriedly said: “I’m fine, not injured. Just went to… take care of someone.”
He spoke vaguely and with a guilty conscience.
Nominally, he went to take care of someone, but in fact, the person being taken care of was always not in the mansion. Instead, Jingzhe was taken care of a lot. In the few days after returning from seeing Wuti, his bones were almost massaged apart by Rong Jiu.
Huiping: “Although I know you’re fine, you’ve been gone for so long, I’m still worried.”
Jingzhe: “Then about the Director…”
“It’s fine, someone from the Imperial Guard notified the Director,” Huiping said happily, “Plus, Kangman was also locked up, so…”
Jingzhe interrupted Huiping in surprise, “Kangman was locked up?”
Huiping: “Don’t you know?”
Wasn’t Jingzhe taken away that night because of Kangman?
Jingzhe: “…I only knew that something might happen to him. But I didn’t expect… who caught him?”
Huiping: “The Prudent Punishment Department.”
This was a place that palace servants were terrified of hearing about.
…No, that’s not right.
Jingzhe paused. That night, the people who caught him were clearly from the Imperial Guard, so how could it be the Prudent Punishment Department?
Was it later that the Imperial Guard handed the person over to the Prudent Punishment Department? After all, in terms of dealing with palace servants, the Prudent Punishment Department was more justified than the Imperial Guard.
…But as long as he thought of Rong Jiu’s malice towards Kangman that night, Jingzhe didn’t think he could really hand the person over.
Speaking of which, it was also strange.
At the beginning, according to Rong Jiu, this matter was indeed being investigated by the Prudent Punishment Department. How did it end up being the Imperial Guard taking the person down for no reason?
This looked really like Rong Jiu suddenly went crazy and snatched the case from the Prudent Punishment Department.
After all, that night, he was really crazy.
Rong Jiu looked at Kangman as if he were looking at a dead thing.
Even though Jingzhe liked Rong Jiu very much, he couldn’t say the word “kindness” about that malice-filled gaze.
Rong Jiu cared about Jingzhe’s safety, which should have been a happy thing. But it would be even better if Rong Jiu didn’t always take such extreme measures.
Jingzhe pinched the bridge of his nose. When he went out, he attracted more curiosity from people. If it weren’t for having work to do, there would only be more people surrounding Jingzhe than now.
Huiping: “Jingzhe is going to see the Director, don’t stop him.”
Thanks to Jiang Jinming still having some prestige, when his name was brought out, these people reluctantly dispersed.
Jiang Jinming naturally had his own views on this subordinate, Jingzhe, who disappeared from time to time.
“If you weren’t Jingzhe, I would really have to whip you a few times.” Jiang Jinming shook his head and signaled Jingzhe to sit down. “Tell me, what happened exactly.”
Rong Jiu never stopped Jingzhe from making up stories. Even every time he sent Jingzhe back, it was open and aboveboard. The excuse was really an excuse, sounding perfunctory, but if one were to check, it was also seamless.
Jingzhe really didn’t expect that after coming back, he would hear such a natural rumor.
For example…
People from the Imperial Guard discovered something wrong with Kangman and accidentally knew that Jingzhe had contact with Kangman, so they asked Jingzhe to cooperate with the investigation. Later, in the process of capturing Kangman, Kangman resisted and someone in the Imperial Guard was injured. Jingzhe happened to be there, so he was asked to take care of the wounded and come back when he recovered. And that Kangman was also handed over to the Prudent Punishment Department and suppressed in the depths of the prison.
Although this sounded a bit ridiculous, it was very logical.
This was also the version most people knew.
Jingzhe made slight modifications to this version and told it to Jiang Jinming exactly as it was.
Jiang Jinming laughed angrily: “Do you really think such words can fool our family?”
Hearing this self-address, Jingzhe knew that Jiang Jinming was really angry. He smiled helplessly and said to the Director: “Director, there are some things that this lowly one really can’t say.”
What could he say?
Rong Jiu dragged him to go crazy and asked him to kill Kangman?
Jingzhe was curious. If he hadn’t held back that day and really killed Kangman, how did Rong Jiu plan to deal with the aftermath?
Where could he conjure up another living person?
Jingzhe: “This lowly one still doesn’t know why the Imperial Guard handed the person over to the Prudent Punishment Department?”
This was exactly the point of Jiang Jinming’s suspicion.
The Imperial Guard was the Imperial Guard, and the Prudent Punishment Department was the Prudent Punishment Department. These were two completely different places. Although their duties were different, there were also overlaps.
For example, in the case of Kangman, it was natural for the Prudent Punishment Department to deal with the offending palace servant, but if the Imperial Guard took him down in the name of Kangman endangering the palace, there was no room for criticism.
How did the person taken by the Imperial Guard get to the Prudent Punishment Department?
That Wei Haidong was not such an easy person to talk to.
Seeing that Jingzhe really didn’t know, Jiang Jinming didn’t make things difficult for him, but said lightly: “Was the injured person your friend in the Imperial Presence?”
Jingzhe paused slightly, sensing Jiang Jinming’s probing meaning, but still nodded.
Imperial Presence.
The Imperial Guard had different ranks. A guard in the Imperial Guard being injured and an Imperial Presence guard in the Imperial Guard being injured were two completely different concepts.
That is to say, someone from the Imperial Presence took action.
It meant that this matter might have the Emperor’s intention.
…Did this matter have anything to do with Consort Kang?
…
“Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough, cough—”
Such sounds often echoed in this new palace. Consort Kang was already weak, and after suffering such a blow, she was often bedridden.
The attendants coming and going were all cautious.
The head palace maid, Qiu Lian, sat by the bed, feeding medicine to Consort Kang. After taking a few mouthfuls, Consort Kang shook her head and refused to eat anymore.
Qiu Lian said with difficulty: “Your Highness, you didn’t eat much before, and now you don’t even want to drink medicine. What should we do?”
Consort Kang said with a faint smile: “Eating more is useless.”
Qiu Lian didn’t understand what Consort Kang meant and wanted to persuade her again, but seeing Consort Kang raise her hand and wave for her to withdraw, Qiu Lian had no choice.
Thus, the palace room became quiet again.
After a long time, no one knew when, a figure was curled up by Consort Kang’s bed.
The figure spoke in a low voice, sentences that no one could understand.
Consort Kang listened with a silent face until at a certain moment, a sharp light burst out from her eyes, interrupting the person’s words, “You just said that only the envoy is left?”
“Exactly.”
A somewhat strange expression appeared on Consort Kang’s calm face. Emperor Jingyuan’s handling of the Shanyou people seemed to have a kind of…
She didn’t continue thinking, but waved to the figure again and placed a small pill in the black figure’s palm.
“After going out this time, don’t come back again.”
Consort Kang didn’t speak the official language, and the person didn’t answer in the official language either.
“What about you?”
“Something happened to Kangman. The next one will be me.” Consort Kang said slowly, “Don’t think about coming back, leave quickly.”
She had spent so much effort to rely on the power of the Empress Dowager to exploit loopholes and pass messages back and forth.
But after the accident at Shoukang Palace, she could no longer be as unrestrained as before.
Now, it was the last opportunity.
…
Swish, swish, swish, swish—
Ning Hongru was a very adaptable person. At first, he was a little unaccustomed to being demoted to do work, but after a few times, he got used to it, doing it quickly and well every day.
Shi Lijun, who occasionally came to see him, knew this and couldn’t help rolling her eyes at him, telling this old boy to get lost.
Didn’t know what he could be proud of?
Reduced to this state, he could actually still laugh.
He scooped up clean water and rinsed his hands clean. He was about to go and fetch a new bucket when he turned around and saw a familiar figure standing not far behind him. His knees went weak unconsciously.
Ning Hongru knelt down, bowing his head, “This servant greets Your Majesty.”
As soon as he finished saying this, he seemed to remember something and quickly said: “Your Majesty, you have a body of a thousand gold, why come to such a filthy place?”
" The cycle of five grains is a common thing for people, what kind of filth is it?" Emperor Jingyuan said lightly, “Why don’t you get up?”
Ning Hongru was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly scrambled up from the ground.
He was very calm when facing Shi Lijun, but in front of Emperor Jingyuan, Ning Hongru was somewhat afraid.
Even though he had been by the emperor’s side for so many years, serving him from childhood to adulthood, Ning Hongru rarely did anything bold. He liked power, but didn’t have the impulse of overwhelming desire. As long as he could firmly hold the position of the chief manager of Qianming Palace, he was already extremely comfortable.
Precisely because of this, Ning Hongru never crossed the line.
Emperor Jingyuan looked cold and unfeeling, but had a very domineering temper. What was his, no one should dream of touching.
He was cowardly.
He wanted his life.
This was the first time Ning Hongru was so bold, and he was discovered.
Wait, no… it was only a matter of time before Emperor Jingyuan found out.
Who told this one to be so suspicious.
Emperor Jingyuan said lightly: “Shi Lijun said that you cry and complain here all day long, thinking about going back to serve every day. As I see it, Manager Ning, aren’t you adapting quite well?”
Ning Hongru’s knees almost went weak again.
Shi Lijun, oh Shi Lijun, we have no grudges in the past and no enmity recently, why did you describe me as a resentful woman?
Ning Hongru actually wanted to squeeze out a few crocodile tears, but the problem was that Emperor Jingyuan didn’t buy it at all!
If anyone who cried their heart out could be spared, then the number of dead souls in Emperor Jingyuan’s hands would be a few less.
After all, who didn’t cry and hope that His Majesty would be merciful?
“This servant, this servant naturally misses Your Majesty in his heart. It’s just not as exaggerated as Shi Lijun said.” Ning Hongru said with a stiff upper lip.
He didn’t know why Emperor Jingyuan came here.
Emperor Jingyuan was, to some extent, a nostalgic person. Those who had been with him the longest until now, as long as they had not betrayed the emperor, all had good places to go.
But apart from that, the emperor was also very ruthless and cold-blooded. As long as a mistake was made, no matter who it was, there was not much difference.
Ning Hongru thought that he would have to scrub here until the end of time and couldn’t get out.
After all, the fact that he was alive now was already an act of mercy beyond the law.
“Someone said,” Emperor Jingyuan’s gaze sank slightly, not knowing who he thought of, and his cold aura became softer, “Always give the people around you another chance.”
Most people were not worth it, and it was completely impossible for the emperor to make such a trip.
But Ning Hongru…
Being able to stay by Emperor Jingyuan’s side until today, he always had some ability. If it weren’t for the loyalty of him and Shi Lijun, the Ninth Prince in his youth might not have been able to hold on.
…
Two days ago, Jingzhe and Rong Jiu had a debate.
It was called a debate, but most of the time, it was just chatting.
However, as Jingzhe talked, he always wanted to block Rong Jiu’s mouth.
This was their usual appearance when getting along. Anyway, that person Rong Jiu could choke people to death with just a few crisp sentences.
This originated from the storytelling Jingzhe heard outside.
In Rong Mansion, Jingzhe only sneaked out this once.
He didn’t go far, carrying a little loose change on him, which he stole from Rong Jiu’s study.
Hoping he wouldn’t think he was running away with the money.
He was just a little bored staying in the room and wanted to come out for a walk.
Walking on the street, Jingzhe felt like an outsider who had broken into a bizarre world.
At first, he was a little constrained, but later, he became calm.
Following others, he entered a teahouse.
The private rooms in the teahouse were full of people, and the lobby was also very lively. Thanks to the help of the waiter, Jingzhe shared a table with others and got a seat.
This teahouse was not much different from many teahouses in the capital. The only difference was that they had a powerful storyteller.
It is said that the stories he told were very vivid and always made people travel thousands of miles to listen.
This made the whole teahouse noisy, and that noise made Jingzhe a little uncomfortable.
Jingzhe spent a few coins and ordered a pot of tea.
Together with so many people around, he listened to the storyteller tell half a story.
Related to betrayal.
The ending was stuck on whether the protagonist should forgive his friend or not.
This story was actually a bit cliché. Speaking carefully, even the plot had some problems. But the storyteller was capable. No one like him could tell a simple story so passionately, mobilizing the emotions of everyone in the teahouse.
When Jingzhe left the teahouse, he could still hear those unsatisfied people talking.