Let's Squander A Billion First!-Chapter 1666: His Excellency the Prince (18)
"Father."
Zhu Dongfeng called out, his voice extremely hoarse.
"Hey." Father Zhu supported him. "Who beat you like this?"
"Ji... Ji Chuzheng."
"Who?"
Father Zhu didn’t react for a moment.
"Ji Chuzheng from the Ji Family." Zhu Dongfeng gritted his teeth.
"..."
Father Zhu looked at his son strangely, suspecting whether he had been beaten silly.
The Ji Family he remembered only had one, but that family was gone five years ago.
Zhu Dongfeng had one eye swollen, barely open; at this moment, he could only close one eye and open the other, filled with bloodshot veins, clutching Father Zhu’s hand tightly: "Father, she didn’t die. She’s still alive, she’s back."
Father Zhu furrowed his brows, reaching out to feel Zhu Dongfeng’s forehead.
"Father, I’m not crazy." Zhu Dongfeng brushed aside Father Zhu’s hand. "Everything I said is true, she’s living on Haitang Street."
Seeing Zhu Dongfeng’s serious expression, Father Zhu became solemn too: "Back then, we saw the entire Ji Family beheaded with our own eyes; how could there still be someone alive."
"I don’t know how she survived, but she is alive."
Father Zhu pondered: "Explain the events to me carefully."
Zhu Dongfeng meticulously recounted everything to Father Zhu.
Father Zhu’s expression grew heavier as he listened.
There was actually a survivor from the Ji Family.
How did she escape?
Back then, we clearly saw...
"Rest well, don’t think about anything else; Father will handle this."
"Father, why do you think she’s back, is she trying to overturn the Ji Family’s case?"
No matter how she escaped, now that she’s suddenly back, it must be to overturn the Ji Family’s case.
Father Zhu pressed Zhu Dongfeng’s shoulder, his face gloomy: "What is there to fear, the Ji Family’s charges are flawless. The witnesses from back then have all been dealt with, no one can overturn the Ji Family’s case. She’s a criminal’s daughter, and dares to appear now; it’s seeking her own death." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
Since she escaped, if she doesn’t live well outside and dares to return here.
Father Zhu patted his shoulder: "Rest well, don’t think too much."
-
Morning audience.
Father Zhu was lost in thought and almost bumped into someone ahead.
"Lord Zhou, sorry." Father Zhu returned to his senses and immediately bowed in apology.
"Lord Zhu, what’s the matter, so absent-minded?" Lord Zhou waved his hand, indicating he didn’t mind.
"It’s nothing, family trivialities."
"Oh." Lord Zhou’s gaze was somewhat strange, but Father Zhu was preoccupied and didn’t notice.
At the morning audience, the Emperor did not appear again, Yin Shen attended on his behalf.
The ministers in the court were clearly accustomed to this scene, finished what needed to be said, and then dismissed.
"Master Qiansui." Father Zhu called out to Yin Shen.
Yin Shen stopped and gathered his sleeves: "Lord Zhu, what is it?"
"How is Your Majesty’s health recently?"
"Still acceptable."
"Then can Master Qiansui convey a message, I have something to report to the Emperor."
Yin Shen chuckled: "Lord Zhu, the Emperor recently doesn’t wish to see anyone; I’ve mentioned this before. With the Emperor’s current mood, I dare not cross him; if you truly have urgent matters, I can report on your behalf."
Lord Zhu: "..."
Does the Emperor truly not want to see people, or is Yin Shen preventing him, it’s hard to say.
But right now in the palace, inside and out, Yin Shen is in control; what can they do?
Without Yin Shen’s permission, who dares let them in?
"It’s nothing urgent, once the Emperor is in a better mood, I’ll come again."
Yin Shen did not force him, nodded slightly, and left with his people.
Lord Zhu narrowed his eyes as he watched Yin Shen’s departing direction, and after a moment, turned to leave the palace.
Outside the palace, Lord Zhu met with Lord Zhou.
Lord Zhou seemed to have returned and was heading back into the palace.
Seeing Lord Zhu, Lord Zhou stopped curiously: "Lord Zhu, what did you want from... Master Qiansui earlier?"
"It’s nothing." Lord Zhu shook his head, actively changing the topic: "Why have you returned, Lord Zhou, are you entering the palace again?"
Lord Zhou: "A message passed from the palace earlier, the Emperor summoned me."
It’s not unusual for the Emperor to meet individually with a minister, Lord Zhu was curious about the purpose but did not ask, as their duties differ.
The two quickly parted.
In the following days, Lord Zhu continually tried to meet the Emperor.
Yin Shen refused him on the grounds of ’Your Majesty is unwell’ or ’Your Majesty’s mood is poor.’
It’s not just him, other ministers couldn’t see the Emperor either.
Except for — Lord Zhou.
Lord Zhou seemed to be handling some matter these days, and managed to meet the Emperor sporadically.
Lord Zhu carefully recalled Lord Zhou’s past deeds; back in the Ji Family’s matter, though he wasn’t directly involved, he didn’t exactly oppose that faction either.
Why not ask him for help?
Lord Zhu didn’t immediately ask ’Would you want to report the criminal’s daughter for a reward,’ but first tested Lord Zhou’s attitude.
After probing, Lord Zhu roughly determined there wasn’t a problem and finally took action.
"Lord Zhou, please stay."
After the audience, Lord Zhu caught up to Lord Zhou.
"Lord Zhu, is something the matter?"
"I’d like to invite Lord Zhou for a chat; do you have time?"
Being colleagues and with Lord Zhu frequently seeking conversation recently, Lord Zhou found it hard to refuse.
-
Lord Zhou left Zhu Residence with a complex and strange expression.
As he approached his own residence, he suddenly thought of something.
The girl he previously encountered, dressed in white, that’s why she seemed familiar...
Turns out she’s from the Ji Family.
The charges against the Ji Family were firmly established, regardless of any injustice, it was nearly impossible to overturn.
Now a Ji Family daughter is suddenly alive, this matter...
Lord Zhou recalled Yin Shen’s expression at the time, and immediately lifted the curtain: "To the palace."
-
"Master, Lord Zhou requests to see you."
Yin Shen was fiddling with a delicate teapot, upon hearing, placed the teapot into a box lined with thick velvet; there were also several small cups inside: "Send them to Miss Chuzheng. Let him in."
Lord Zhou was led inside.
"Master Qiansui."
Yin Shen reclined in his chair, looking at him with a half-smile: "Lord Zhou, the matter you were to handle should be near completion; why seek me now?"
Lord Zhou: "I have something to report to Master Qiansui."
Yin Shen’s fingertips brushed his chin, lightly caressing, feeling quite good: "Hmm, speak."
Lord Zhou quickly betrayed Lord Zhu.
As Yin Shen listened, he showed no reaction, making Lord Zhou anxious after finishing.
He recalled seeing Yin Shen’s gaze upon that girl, even halting his speech... it seemed odd, so refrained from outright presenting the matter to the Emperor, choosing to discuss it with Yin Shen first.
Lord Zhou needed something from Yin Shen, thus naturally flattering.
After a while, Yin Shen chuckled: "I understand, if Lord Zhou has no other matters, please leave."
Lord Zhou wanted to inquire what would be done regarding this, but Yin Shen showed no intention to explain, so he had to withdraw.
