NCCnovel Chapter 467 Taking Liu Ruolan and her two daughters to the prison to see Han Zhong
Chapter 467 Taking Liu Ruolan and her two daughters to the prison to see Han Zhong
As Qin Mu stepped out of Huaqing Palace, a night breeze swept over him, carrying the chill of early winter.
He stood with his hands behind his back, the moonlight shining on him, making his pale figure stand out clearly.
He strode towards the side hall.
Li Si was still waiting there.
In the side hall, candlelight burned quietly inside lampshades, illuminating the room with a dim and warm glow.
Li Si sat in a round-backed chair, his brows furrowed.
Hearing footsteps, he jumped up, his chair slamming back with a loud thud.
The palace doors were pushed open.
Qin Mu walked in.
Without hesitation, Li Si knelt down on the ground with a thud, his knees hitting the gold bricks with a dull thud.
He braced himself on the ground with both hands, his forehead touching the ground, his voice hoarse and urgent.
"Your Majesty, I have important matters to report!"
Qin Mu walked to the main seat and slowly sat down.
He leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on Li Si, a half-smile playing on his lips.
Get up.
Li Si did not move, remaining kneeling on the ground, his forehead touching the cold gold brick.
His voice was very low, so low it sounded like an echo coming from underground.
"Your Majesty, I have something to report. This matter is of great importance, and I humbly request Your Majesty's review."
He took the secret letter from his sleeve, held it with both hands, and raised it above his head.
Qin Mu didn't answer, but just smiled faintly.
"Is it because of the northern border's collusion with officials in the imperial court?"
Li Si's heart skipped a beat.
He suddenly raised his head and looked at Qin Mu, his eyes filled with astonishment and awe.
He should have realized this long ago; how could His Majesty not know?
His Majesty's intelligence network is many times stronger than his. If he can find out something, how could His Majesty not find out?
Li Si lowered his head, his voice hoarse.
"Your Majesty is wise. This humble subject...this humble subject was overthinking it."
Qin Mu smiled, leaned back in his chair, and tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest twice.
"My dear minister, there is no need to worry. I am already aware of this matter."
The weight that had been hanging over Li Si's heart for so long eased slightly.
He looked up at Qin Mu, his voice urgent.
"Your Majesty, what do you intend to do?"
Qin Mu looked at him, and the smile on his lips deepened.
"Get up. Get up and speak first."
Li Si hesitated for a moment, then supported himself on the ground and slowly stood up.
His knees were a little weak, and he staggered, only managing to steady himself by grabbing the edge of the table next to him.
He stood with his hands at his sides, head bowed, not daring to look at Qin Mu.
Qin Mu leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on his face, his voice indifferent.
"What do you think I should do?"
Li Si's Adam's apple bobbed, and he swallowed.
His mind raced with thoughts.
He knew that His Majesty was testing him and probing him.
He raised his head to meet Qin Mu's gaze, his voice steady.
"Your Majesty, Xu Longxiang of the Northern Frontier harbors treacherous intentions and secretly colludes with officials in the court. His heart is wicked. I believe Your Majesty should strike swiftly and decisively to wipe out those treacherous officials and traitors, as a warning to others."
Qin Mu smiled and said calmly.
"To catch them all in one fell swoop? Easier said than done. There are so many people on the list, scattered throughout the court. Some hold military power, some control finances, and some have been operating in the local areas for many years."
"If I were to harm them, the court would be thrown into turmoil, and the people would be filled with fear. At that point, even before Xu Longxiang attacks, I myself would be thrown into chaos."
Li Si's brows furrowed even more.
He knew His Majesty was right, but he was unwilling to accept it.
Are we just going to let those traitors continue to roam free?
Of course, more importantly, he actually wanted to say that, but he didn't.
It was because he wanted to leave those words for Qin Mu.
Sometimes, one shouldn't appear too clever, but rather leave the final decision to the master.
Only in this way can the master appear wise, powerful, and unfathomable.
He himself was loyal and devoted, without any disloyalty.
"Your Majesty, then you mean...?"
Qin Mu leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the deep night outside the window.
"No rush. Let them jump around for a while. The higher they jump, the harder they'll fall. When they think they have victory in their grasp, I'll close the net."
Li Si's eyes flickered.
He understood. His Majesty was waiting, waiting for those people and Xu Longxiang to jump out together, waiting for them to reveal more flaws, and waiting for them to think the time was right before annihilating them in one fell swoop.
A deep sense of awe welled up in his heart, and he bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty's wisdom and foresight are truly admirable."
Qin Mu waved his hand casually.
"Is there anything else?"
Li Si hesitated for a moment, gritted his teeth, and finally spoke.
"Your Majesty, Han Zhong... must he really be executed?"
Qin Mu looked at him, and the smile on his lips deepened.
"Even if we don't kill him, there are plenty of people who want him dead."
Li Si was slightly taken aback, then nodded as if he understood.
His pupils contracted slightly, and his voice lowered.
"Xu Longxiang... wants him dead even more than His Majesty does."
Qin Mu smiled and tapped his fingers lightly twice on the armrest.
"They may already be sending men to kill Han Zhong."
Li Si's pupils suddenly contracted.
His fingers clenched tightly in his sleeve, his voice urgent.
"Can't they even wait one night?"
Qin Mu leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the flickering candlelight, his voice soft.
"As long as Han Zhong lives, Xu Longxiang will be uneasy. He's afraid Han Zhong will reveal everything, afraid I'll follow Han Zhong's lead to the northern border, and afraid his grand plan, which he's been working on for years, will be ruined. So, Han Zhong must die, the sooner the better."
Li Si's back was covered in cold sweat.
His lips trembled slightly, and his voice was hoarse.
"Your Majesty... has the necessary precautions been taken?"
Qin Mu smiled.
Don't worry.
Li Si felt relieved.
Qin Mu's gaze fell on Li Si's face, and the smile on his lips deepened.
"After you execute Han Zhong tomorrow, have some people spread rumors that Han Zhong isn't dead and has been secretly given an important position by His Majesty. Do you think Xu Longxiang will get anxious?"
Li Si's eyes suddenly flickered.
His mind raced, going over all the possible consequences.
Then Li Si suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with shock and admiration.
His voice trembled slightly with excitement.
"His Majesty intends to...force Xu Longxiang to take that step as soon as possible, and then raise an army to suppress him, thus winning the hearts of the people!"
Qin Mu smiled but remained silent.
He leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the deep night outside the window, the smile still lingering on his lips.
Li Si suddenly understood, and all his doubts vanished at that moment.
He bowed deeply, his forehead almost touching his knees, his voice filled with a heartfelt, almost pious reverence.
"Your Majesty is wise! Your humble servant... Your humble servant will take care of it immediately!"
Qin Mu waved his hand casually.
"No rush. We'll talk about it after the execution tomorrow. Go."
Li Si straightened up, turned around, and walked towards the door.
His steps were much lighter than when he arrived, as if he had unloaded a heavy burden.
He walked to the door, then stopped, without turning back.
His voice drifted over from the front, very soft and faint, as if seen through a thin veil, indistinct.
"Your Majesty, you must also be careful. Xu Longxiang is a ruthless man, capable of anything."
Qin Mu smiled but did not answer.
Li Si stepped forward, crossed the threshold, and disappeared into the night outside.
The palace doors closed slowly behind him with a soft "bang".
.......
Qin Mu walked out of the side hall, through the corridor, and headed towards the side hall where Liu Ruolan and her two daughters lived.
A night breeze swept by, causing his moon-white robe to flutter.
Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the eaves, spreading a thin layer of silver frost on the ground and casting his shadow long, long.
The door to the side hall was ajar, and a dim candlelight shone through, like a half-open eye peering into the night.
Qin Mu did not have the palace maid announce his arrival; instead, he pushed open the door and went inside.
Inside the hall, the candlelight burned quietly.
Liu Ruolan sat on the edge of the bed, her hands folded on her knees. Her face was as pale as paper, and her eyes were slightly red, clearly indicating that she was not asleep.
Han Xin'er sat beside her, her back ramrod straight, holding a book in her hands, but not reading it. Her gaze was fixed on the pages, empty, unable to see anything.
Han Qin'er curled up at the innermost part of the bed, hugging her pillow, her little face buried in it, only her big, watery eyes showing as she timidly looked towards the door.
Upon hearing the door open, Liu Ruolan's body stiffened abruptly.
Almost instinctively, she sprang up from the edge of the bed, strode to the center of the hall, and knelt down with a thud, her forehead touching the cool gold bricks.
"This humble servant... greets Your Majesty."
Her voice was hoarse, with a slight, suppressed tremor.
She didn't know why Qin Mu had come so late, nor what awaited her.
She thought that perhaps what she was worried about was finally about to happen.
The horrible images flashed through her mind, and her face grew even paler.
Han Xin'er also knelt down with her mother, her forehead touching the ground, her hands placed flat in front of her, her posture respectful.
Her fingers were trembling slightly, but she gritted her teeth and refused to make a sound.
Han Qin'er was stunned for a moment, then climbed off the bed and knelt on the ground like her sister.
Her movements were somewhat clumsy, and her forehead hit the gold brick with a soft thud. The pain almost brought tears to her eyes, but she bit her lip and held back her sobs.
Qin Mu looked at the mother and her two daughters kneeling on the ground, a smile still playing on his lips.
He didn't tell them to get up; he just stood there, hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on Liu Ruolan's face.
"Let's go, come with me to see a play."
Liu Ruolan was stunned and didn't react for a moment.
Watching a play? At this hour? Where to watch a play?
A great sense of confusion and unease welled up in her heart.
She looked up at Qin Mu, her eyes filled with trepidation and confusion.
"Your Majesty...am I...alone?"
She prayed in her heart, hoping it was just her and that her daughters wouldn't be involved.
She didn't know what kind of show they were going to see, or what awaited them. All she knew was that she didn't want her daughters to be frightened anymore.
Qin Mu smiled and said calmly.
"Of course we'll go together."
Liu Ruolan's heart sank, her lips trembled violently, and her eyes were filled with pleading and reluctance.
"Your Majesty...could you...not let them go?"
Her voice was hoarse, trembling with sobs, and every word she spoke was shaking.
She didn't know where Qin Mu was taking them, or what they would see. All she wanted was to protect her daughters, even if it was only this once.
Qin Mu looked at her, and the smile on his lips deepened.
"Are you sure? I'm taking you to the imperial prison to see Han Zhong."