NCCnovel Chapter 449 To prevent them from seeking revenge, why don't I bring your wife and daughter to t
Chapter 449 To prevent them from seeking revenge, why don't I bring your wife and daughter to t
The group exchanged glances, their eyes filled with complex emotions.
They felt something was strange. Han Zhong's desperate look just now didn't seem like someone who had lost a battle and was being held accountable. It seemed more like he was atoning for some greater sin.
But they dared not say anything, after all, His Majesty's casual yet unquestionable tone just now sent chills down their spines.
They decided to wait and see. Since they still had three days, they could investigate further and find out what was going on behind the scenes. That would be a safer approach.
Prime Minister Li Si stood at the head of the civil officials' line, taking a deep look at Qin Mu on the dragon throne, and then at Han Zhong kneeling in the center of the hall with his forehead touching the ground.
His brows were slightly furrowed, a faint knot forming between them, and his eyes were full of thought.
He didn't say anything, but turned around and walked out of the hall with the crowd.
His steps were steady and unhurried, but his heart was churning like a pot of boiling oil.
He had some vague guesses in his mind, some guesses that he himself dared not believe.
Han Zhong's crimes are not simply about losing a battle; there must be even greater, more secretive, and undisclosed culpability.
His Majesty did not say anything, nor did Han Zhong himself.
What crime would that be?
He dared not think any further.
The palace doors slowly closed behind the last person with a soft "bang," shutting out the sunlight and the whispers and complicated gazes.
Inside the vast Tianqi Hall, only Qin Mu and Han Zhong remained.
The candlelight burned quietly inside the lampshade, casting the shadows of the two people on the wall.
One high and one low
One sits, one kneels.
Like two silent, confronting statues.
Qin Mu leaned back on the dragon throne, his gaze falling on Han Zhong, who was kneeling in the center of the hall.
There was no anger or murderous intent in those deep eyes, only a faint sense of regret.
"General Han, I can say that I have left you with enough dignity."
Han Zhong knelt on the ground, his forehead touching the gold bricks, his long hair slipping down his shoulders, obscuring his pale face.
His voice was hoarse, carrying a deep-seated weariness and resignation.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
He gave his life to ensure his family's safety, to preserve the Han family's dignity, and to ensure he wouldn't be nailed to the pillar of shame after his death.
Whether the deal was worth it or not, he had no choice.
Qin Mu stood up and stepped down from the dragon throne.
The dark dragon robe trailed on the ground, making a soft rustling sound.
The pearl and jade tassels swayed gently in front of his face.
Qin Mu walked up to Han Zhong, stopped, stood with his hands behind his back, and looked down at the former Qin general kneeling at his feet.
His voice carried a genuine sense of regret.
"Han Zhong, your Han family has been loyal and virtuous for generations. Starting with your grandfather, you followed the founding emperor in conquering the world. Now, three generations have passed. Your father, Han Lie, fought a bloody battle against the Northern Barbarians outside Yanmen Pass. He was hit by seven arrows but did not retreat a single step, stubbornly defending the pass and protecting the northern gate of the Great Qin. The late emperor personally inscribed a plaque for him, bestowing upon your Han family the four characters 'Loyalty and Courage Passed Down Through Generations.' Your uncle, Han Cheng, fought against the Western Liang people in the western border for more than ten years, and finally died on the battlefield. Even his remains were never fully recovered."
"I never expected that you would make such a foolish decision. It's truly a pity."
Hearing this sentence,
Han Zhong's body began to tremble violently.
He regretted it.
He was filled with extreme regret at that moment.
He was so regretful that he could hardly breathe.
He regretted agreeing to Xu Longxiang's request, regretted being greedy for that favor, regretted listening to Zhou Cheng's advice to ask the Emperor for help, and regretted getting involved in this conflict.
If he had flatly refused Xu Longxiang back then, if he had directly reported Xu Longxiang's whereabouts to the court, if he hadn't sent Zhou Cheng to seek help.
Nothing will happen.
He was still the General Who Guarded the South, still Han Zhong who commanded 50,000 elite troops, still Han Zhong whose family was safe and sound and who had a clear conscience.
But there's no going back in this world.
No matter how much he regrets it, how upset he is, or how much pain he feels, he can't change anything.
No one can give him a second chance; he will ultimately have to pay the price for his decision.
Han Zhong's tears welled up silently in his eyes, dripping onto the gold brick and spreading out a small dark stain.
Qin Mu lowered his head, looking at his pained expression, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his lips:
"Rest assured. After your death, I will not make things difficult for your family; I will treat them well."
Han Zhong suddenly raised his head, feeling a sense of relief.
His forehead touched the gold brick as he kowtowed frantically, causing the wound on his forehead to reopen and blood to gush out, smearing his face.
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"
Qin Mu didn't speak, but just stood there quietly, watching him kowtow.
Once his emotions had calmed down a bit, Qin Mu spoke again, asking curiously:
"I've heard that you have twin daughters who look exactly alike, and are extremely intelligent and well-behaved, is that right?"
Han Zhong's heart leaped into his throat, and his body stiffened abruptly!
His mind was blank, with only one thought echoing wildly within him.
Why does Your Majesty ask this?
Why did Your Majesty ask about his daughter?
What does Your Majesty intend to do?
He dared not think any further, but he couldn't control himself.
The rumors about His Majesty, the gossip about his debauchery and lust for women, flooded his mind like a tide.
He used to disbelieve those rumors, thinking they were just hearsay spread by the common people.
But at this moment, he suddenly became uncertain. He was unsure whether the rumors were true or false, and he was unsure what His Majesty meant by "treating well" just now.
Han Zhong's back was drenched in cold sweat, his undershirt was instantly soaked, sticking stickily to his skin, and felt icy cold.
His voice trembled, and his tone was fearful:
"Your Majesty, my daughters are clumsy and not particularly clever. They are just two children who know nothing, only how to play with birds and flowers, and do not deserve Your Majesty's praise."
Qin Mu smiled, raised his hand, and gently patted his shoulder.
"Don't be nervous. I'm just asking."
Han Zhong's heart was not at ease; instead, it was even more anxious.
He dared not speak, dared not raise his head, and dared not even breathe heavily, for fear that he might accidentally anger His Majesty, causing His Majesty to change his mind and all the promises he had just made would vanish.
Qin Mu removed his hand from his shoulder, placed it behind his back, turned around, and said calmly:
"Do you think they'll try every means to retaliate against me after I let them go?"
Upon hearing this,
Han Zhong's heart leaped into his throat once again!
His face turned ashen, his lips trembled violently, and his voice was hoarse and urgent.
"Your Majesty, how dare they?! They would never dare! They are merely weak women, unarmed and powerless, not even daring to kill a chicken, how could they dare to retaliate against Your Majesty? They are only deeply terrified of Your Majesty's divine might, only grateful for Your Majesty's mercy in sparing their lives, and only praying for Your Majesty's long life every day!"
Qin Mu shook his head, turned around, looked at him, and smiled slightly.
"That's not necessarily true. People's hearts are unpredictable and impossible to guard against. Especially since, to them, I am the murderer of their husband and father, an irreconcilable enmity. This is a blood feud, how could they possibly accept it?"
Han Zhong's tears welled up again.
His face was filled with despair.
He kowtowed frantically, his forehead striking the gold bricks with muffled thuds that echoed through the empty hall.
He kept hitting his head until his skin was torn open, blood splattered everywhere, and the flesh on his forehead rolled up, revealing the white bone underneath.
"Your Majesty! I assure you, they would never do such a thing! They are merely weak women, unarmed and powerless. How could they dare to retaliate against Your Majesty?! They are only terrified of Your Majesty's divine power! I beg Your Majesty to have mercy! I beg Your Majesty to spare them! I kowtow to you! I kowtow to you!"
His voice was hoarse and broken, each word sounding like it was being shouted out with all his might, filled with sobs and despair!
Qin Mu looked at him, at the way he was desperately kowtowing, and smiled, saying...
"I do have a way to prevent this from happening."
Han Zhong raised his head, looking at Qin Mu with his bloodied and mangled flesh, and dared not speak.
Qin Mu's gaze was playful as he said calmly,
"Why don't we bring your twin daughters and your wife to the palace? That way, I'll feel more at ease having them under my watchful eye, and I can take better care of them. What do you think?"
Upon hearing this,
Han Zhong's heart sank completely, and he kowtowed even more frantically, his head bleeding profusely. The floor of the Golden Palace was covered in blood, a shocking sight.
But he dared not stop, continuing to kowtow and beg for mercy:
"Your Majesty, I beg you, spare them! Spare them..."
Qin Mu sighed, smiled, and said:
"Alright, alright. I was just saying it casually, why are you so nervous?"
He raised his hand and gently patted Han Zhong's shoulder.
"Since you're unwilling, then forget it. I won't make things difficult for them. Let them leave the capital and go far away, and I'll pretend this never happened."
Han Zhong was completely stunned.
He couldn't believe his ears; he couldn't believe His Majesty had agreed so easily.
But he dared not disbelieve it.
Han Zhong could only believe, kowtow, be moved to tears of gratitude, and respond to His Majesty's favor with the most humble attitude.
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"
His forehead slammed down again, making a loud "thump" sound, and blood splattered everywhere.
Qin Mu waved his hand, turned around, faced the palace gate, and spoke in a calm, emotionless voice.
"Throw him into the imperial prison."