readytorunbook Chapter 105 Chips
Chapter 105 Chips
After returning from the Ministry of Justice, Nie Sheng's attitude changed completely, and he forbade Nie Qing from interfering in Bai Yu's affairs any further.
"What does Father mean by this?" Nie Qing was utterly bewildered and dissatisfied with Nie Sheng's actions. If it were her father, An Daohe, he would have done everything in his power to seek justice for her!
The Nie family, as expected, are opportunistic and not innocent; they even sacrificed their own daughter.
"Do you know how many people from the Ministry of Justice went today? This is no longer a simple matter for you to handle." Nie Sheng impatiently flicked his sleeve. Moreover, the Third Prince wanted to make a big fuss about the death of the Imperial Guard official. The Nie family already supported the Third Prince and would not protect a servant for Nie Qing's sake.
Nie Qing stopped wasting words with Nie Sheng. Since the whole thing was just an act of filial piety, there was no need to continue the act since it wouldn't achieve its purpose. She stood up, bowed, and left.
Nie Qing checked the time; by now, his elder brother Nie Geng should have already arrived at the Imperial City Guard.
"I don't know why the Deputy Inspector-General is here. You should go and see him." A guard came down to report.
"Has Lord Han not returned yet?" Zhao Kun put down the whip in his hand, since he didn't intend to continue the torture anyway.
"No," the guard replied.
"Okay, I got it. I'll go check it out," Zhao Kun gestured towards Bai Yu, who was tied to the rack, and said, "Go and take care of him. He just got whipped twice. Stop the bleeding and make sure he doesn't die." With that, he left.
Nie Geng had been waiting in the side hall for a while. As a third-rank official, he was being left waiting here, and he was somewhat dissatisfied with the Imperial City Guard's hospitality: "You Imperial City Guard have quite the airs!"
"Lord Nie, please calm down! I was on official business and that's why I'm late. Please forgive me!" Zhao Kun pretended to be in a hurry as he rushed over to apologize.
“You know, all of our Imperial City Guards have been sent out to handle cases. Only Lord Han and I are left in the capital. We’re busy running back and forth,” Zhao Kun continued to wail before Nie Geng could get angry. “We’re constantly on the go. If we have been negligent, please forgive us, Lord Nie. But Lord Han is at the Prime Minister’s residence right now. Otherwise, he would definitely come to see you in person.”
Nie Geng, who was just about to get angry, immediately calmed down when he heard that Han Ji was at the Prime Minister's residence: "Lord Han went to the Prime Minister's residence because of this person today?"
“Sir, you are a smart man. We are all working for our superiors, as you can see?” Zhao Kun pointed at the other person and then at himself, his eyes darting around.
Just then, a guard came to report: "The General has arrived!"
"Which Lieutenant General is it?" Nie Geng already had a guess in his mind: "Chao Huaiyuan?"
The guard nodded. Zhao Kun also gave him a knowing look.
Nie Geng said nothing more and got up to take his leave. He knew that the Imperial City Guard was the Third Prince's power, and he originally thought that the other party would release the person readily out of respect for the Nie family. He did not expect that there was such a big story behind this, that it was actually the Prime Minister who ordered the detention.
It almost ruined everything.
Sure enough, as they were leaving, they brushed past Chao Huaiyuan. The two exchanged a simple greeting and nods before Chao Huaiyuan hurriedly went inside.
The eldest princess had been standing in the wind outside her bedchamber for almost half an incense stick's time.
The note in her hand contained a message sent by the sentry half an incense stick's time ago. The note was crumpled into a ball and damp with sweat from her palms.
"She actually went to see the Crown Prince..." The message on the note was that Bai Yu had killed Han Biao and had been arrested by the Imperial City Guard. Li Cen had already prepared himself and waited in his bedchamber, but instead, a maid came to report that Lu He had gone to the East Palace.
Why did she immediately think of seeking help from the Crown Prince? Why...didn't she come to me...?
Li Cen's gaze shifted to the stone table in the courtyard, where she had prepared a generous gift for Lu He—a bargaining chip that could help Lu He rescue Bai Yu.
At this time, Lu He was unaware that Li Cen had already paved the way for her. She was in the Eastern Palace negotiating with the Crown Prince about the conditions for rescuing Bai Yu.
"He's just a servant, why are you so eager to save him?" Crown Prince Li Guangqi looked at Lu He with a smile: "He killed one of my guards, why do you think I should help you?"
“Just because Han Biao was originally the Third Prince’s man!” Lu He pointed out the key point: “Your Highness, Bai Yu helped you eliminate future troubles and cleared away obstacles for you, didn’t he? You could have saved him, couldn’t you?” Lu He appealed to both emotion and reason.
Unfortunately, the Crown Prince just smiled. He laughed at this woman for not understanding. Bai Yu killing Han Biao was already a fait accompli. Whether he saved him or not, Han Biao had already been eliminated. There was no benefit to be gained, so what conditions could he discuss?
“Your Highness, Bai Yu is a human life. I know his life is of little use to you now, but he is an important friend of mine. You promised me that you would give Bai Yu a position in the Imperial Guard. How can you go back on your word?” Lu He realized that no matter how she tried to appeal to his emotions, the Crown Prince remained unmoved, and she finally became anxious.
It turns out that the idea that you can persuade villains with emotions in TV dramas is a lie. These people are cold-blooded and don't care about feelings!
She could feel the mockery in the Crown Prince's eyes after her words. How foolish of her to talk to him about human lives! Did he even care about such things?
Interests? Yes, only interests can sway the crown prince.
“Your Highness, if you can save Bai Yu’s life, I will certainly do my best to assist you…” Before she could finish speaking, the Crown Prince raised his hand to interrupt her: “What, do you think that if I don’t save her today, you will disobey me and your elder sister? Do you know the consequences of threatening me?” Li Guangqi’s smile clearly cooled down by several degrees.
"If there's nothing else, Mr. Lu, please leave today," Li Guangqi said, issuing a dismissal order.
"Your Highness, may I ask why? It's just a small favor, why won't you lift a finger?" Lu He was unwilling to give up on Bai Yu like this.
"Then I'll tell you, this matter was not authorized by me. If I were to intervene, wouldn't that confirm that I instructed Bai Yu to eliminate dissidents for me? He killed Han Biao, it was the will of Heaven, life and death were his fate, why should I get involved?" Li Guangqi cupped his hands and pointed outside: "Mr. Lu, please!" He then saw the guest out again.
Just then, a maid rushed in with a message: "The head maidservant of the Princess has brought a wooden box and instructed you to open it immediately. It's extremely urgent." Another maidservant followed behind her, carrying the wooden box.