Though torture was spared, the man grew thinner by the day.
If he had a choice, he would have preferred to die then and there, rather than to have kept the Zhulong Dan. He could have either saved Zhu Xiaoxian, or saved the child in Chi Lingying’s womb.
Alas, there was no medicine for regret, and no use in saying more now.
One night, when all was quiet, Zhu Hong heard movement outside.
He was not afraid of death, so he found nothing strange about it.
He didn't even bother to get up, continuing to sleep soundly on the wooden plank.
"Patriarch Zhu remains as calm as Mount Tai in the face of collapse. Liang admires you!"
The candlelight illuminated Liang Quanbin’s face, making him appear somewhat indistinct. However, the ferocity and calculation in his eyes were not concealed at all.
He and the Zhu family were already in an irreconcilable state. Therefore, as long as he captured the escaping Huo Chong and annihilated them all, the Zhu family would no longer pose a threat to him.
However, before that, he needed to know a few things.
For instance, where was the official grain the Zhu family had stockpiled?
And for example, how had he colluded with Prince Ke?
Upon hearing the name Prince Ke, Zhu Hong chuckled, a laugh that left Liang Quanbin somewhat bewildered.
So, he boldly said, "Don't think I haven't found out who is behind you! What of Prince Ke? He still can't protect you! If you're sensible, confess everything about your collusion with Prince Ke, and I might spare your life. But if you refuse, just wait; you'll surely face dire consequences!"
Looking at him now, Zhu Hong saw him as a mere clown.
He had no idea where this man got his information; he was truly an idiot.
However, Zhu Hong also understood that someone was plotting against Liang Quanbin from behind the scenes, otherwise, they wouldn't have deliberately guided him to think this way.
The thought of Liang Quanbin believing that overthrowing him would bring peace, or earn him favor with the Duke of Wei, made him unable to contain his excitement.
He deliberately feigned a surprised expression at Liang Quanbin, then asked with confusion.
"How did you find out?"
Upon hearing this, Liang Quanbin grew smug and deliberately said.
"Naturally, the Duke told me. The Ninth Prince and Prince Ke have always been at odds; why pretend now. Confess honestly, and it might leave some room for your Zhu family. At your age, if you wish to have another child, it's not hopeless. After one Zhu Xiaoxian is gone, how about a Zhu Xiaohou?"
The smug look on his face made Zhu Hong wish he could scratch it to shreds.
But he restrained himself. Since there was a celestial being behind the scenes who wanted this fool dead, he would naturally add fuel to the fire.
He simply pretended that his secret had been discovered and he no longer wished to hide it, saying dejectedly.
"Since you already know who is behind me, you merely wish to use me to bring him down. My Zhu family is like a grasshopper in autumn, with only a few days left to hop. However, there is one thing: I can turn against Prince Ke, but I must see the Duke and receive sufficient guarantees before I speak! Otherwise, even if you kill me or cripple me, it will be useless!"
Zhu Hong was now like a barefoot man unafraid of a shod one. Liang Quanbin had nothing to hold over him, and for a moment, he didn't know where to begin, so he could only let him threaten him like this.
His eyes narrowed into slits, staring at Zhu Hong as if contemplating the truth of his words.
But Zhu Hong had long since made his plans and naturally put on a good show.
After a long stalemate, Liang Quanbin finally said, "Wait and see if the Duke is interested in meeting you. If not, then you've walked this path to your own death."
"Hahaha, at this point, would I still fear death?"
Zhu Hong looked at Liang Quanbin with a bitter smile, the hatred in his eyes making even Liang Quanbin frown slightly.
Then, he simply flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.
Watching his receding back, Zhu Hong felt a great sense of relief. Although he didn't know who was plotting against Liang Quanbin, the thought of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, made him overjoyed.
Liang Quanbin, when your own disaster strikes, this good show will truly begin!
Leaving the naval camp, Liang Quanbin headed straight for the Directorate of Surveillance.
On the way, he kept thinking about Zhu Hong's words. He had originally planned to present himself to the Duke of Wei with evidence of Zhu Hong's collusion with Prince Ke, but he hadn't expected Zhu Hong to hold him at bay.
For a moment, he pondered whether to kill Zhu Hong, forge some evidence, and present it to claim all the credit for himself, or to send him to Dongdu City for the Duke to devise other plans.
Unfortunately, he couldn't come up with a good solution and found himself in a dilemma.
While Liang Quanbin was grappling with his troubles, Princess Qianling on the other side had largely recovered.
She had some martial arts background to begin with, and coupled with the excellent medicinal herbs that Xiao Tingyi had been sending, her recovery had been quite rapid.
Jiang Xun had been content accompanying her during this period, but some things ultimately needed to be said.
So, when he told Princess Qianling that he had sold himself to Prince Ding's estate, she was first taken aback, and then quickly came to terms with it.
"It's good to be with Uncle Prince Ding. Since the news of both our deaths has been announced to the world, and one of us has vanished without a trace, let's simply live a different life under assumed names. That way, we won't have to deliberate over every little thing due to our identities, and be opposed at every turn."
What Princess Qianling said referred to their marriage.
Long before Prince Yi's death, Jiang Xun had admired Princess Qianling for a long time, but he had never expressed it.
That was why she had said she would never marry and would guard Zhongzhou until death.
In the difficult years that followed, it was Jiang Xun who accompanied her through one hardship after another. The two had long been in love, but bound by their past vows, they had suppressed their feelings.
Now, this opportunity offered them the possibility of a life together.
Selling himself to Prince Ding's estate was not an act of treason. Furthermore, Princess Qianling vaguely felt it was a good thing.
If nothing else, the fact that Prince Ding could single-handedly bear the burden of the Southern Yue War was enough to show that his abilities were not to be underestimated.
Jiang Xun joining him was not a bad prospect!
Seeing Princess Qianling's unwavering resolve to follow him, Jiang Xun abandoned the thought he had once entertained of sending her away.
The hard-won present they had was too precious to waste on such futile matters.
So, he clasped Princess Qianling's hand and said.
"Alright, I will never fail you in this life!"
Princess Qianling smiled and nodded in response.
In the room, the two looked at each other affectionately. Yang Zhao outside felt he had arrived at an inopportune moment.
Not only was he a killjoy, but the news he brought was also rather inappropriate.
However, he had to obey the Prince's orders, so he braced himself and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?"
Jiang Xun asked warily.