In the grand hall, the officials all bowed in salute.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger," they urged.
The emperor no longer smashed teacups or overturned tables, but sat back in his dragon throne in defeat.
"I am not angry, I am heartbroken," he said tearfully, looking grief-stricken. "I never dreamed Duke of Chengguo would be such a person. I trusted him, treated him so well. How have I wronged him? Why would he do this to me?"
He reached out to pat his own chest, looking at the assembled ministers.
"Tell me, how have I wronged him?"
"Your Majesty, it is Duke of Chengguo who is utterly wicked," an official said while kneeling, "Your Majesty should not blame yourself."
Many others echoed this, though some looked complicated, unwilling to join in yet knowing there was nothing else to say, so they remained silent with lowered heads.
Huang Cheng scanned the hall, noting those silent ones, finally focusing on Ning Yunzhao in the front below.
Ning Yunzhao did not shout praise of the emperor's wisdom like before. Of course, this was not a moment to praise the emperor's wisdom. However, he also did not join in the echo. He was downcast, intensely focused on writing diligently.
As a diary officer, there was no fault in fulfilling his duty like this.
Huang Cheng sneered inwardly. Why had Ning Yunzhao not remembered his duties before? His face darkened further at the thought.
He had not expected Duke of Chengguo to resist the imperial decree and flee. He had thought Duke of Chengguo would come to the capital and cause a ruckus, relying on his merits to stir up the people. Who would have thought he would just run away like this?
The biggest mistake this time was sending the Imperial Guard and the Ministry of Justice to capture Duke of Chengguo.
These soldiers already held Duke of Chengguo in awe. The Imperial Guard's usual duties were mere posturing to intimidate the populace, unlike Duke of Chengguo and his son who were born and killed on the battlefield.
The Jinyiwei should have been sent to capture him.
These Jinyiwei were cold-blooded, fearless, and if the emperor issued a death order, they would act like a pack of mad dogs, biting Duke of Chengguo and his son to death even if it cost them their lives.
It turned out Ning Yunzhao had stopped the Jinyiwei and sent the Ministry of Justice to capture him to fulfill this purpose.
Cunning lad, he clearly harbored ill intentions.
Huang Cheng looked fiercely at Ning Yunzhao, but what could he do? It didn't change the outcome; whether Duke of Chengguo returned or fled, his fate was death.
"Your Majesty," he called out, stepping forward, "Duke of Chengguo's betrayal is evident. Please, Your Majesty, do not show mercy. Immediately order the capture of the traitor Zhu Shan."
He knelt as he spoke.
"Traitor Zhu Shan has wronged the first emperor, wronged Your Majesty, wronged the great Zhou. Only in this way can we console them."
With things having come to this point, whether willing or not, the officials in the hall could only kneel and request in unison.
The emperor looked at the kneeling civil and military officials. His grief-stricken expression gradually calmed as he straightened himself in his seat.
"Approved," he said.
.....
...
The entire court became busy and chaotic. The civil and military officials hurriedly retreated, some walking silently, others whispering in groups.
"Lord Ning, this matter, we…" some officials saw Ning Yunzhao and asked in a low voice.
"His Majesty's supreme wisdom, everything should comply with his intentions," Ning Yunzhao answered quietly.
What was His Majesty's present intention? Did he truly believe Duke of Chengguo had rebelled?
Just as a few of them were about to continue asking, Ning Yunzhao raised his hand in salute, took leave first, and walked quickly in one direction.
Among the bustling officials of the moving crowd, there was one person who seemed isolated from everyone, naturally making space wherever he went.
"Lord Lu," Ning Yunzhao saluted and called out.
Lu Yunqi stopped, tilted his head slightly to look at him, and remained silent.
He seldom spoke, especially taking the initiative to speak.
"It was you who took her away, right?" Ning Yunzhao, aware of his habits, asked straightforwardly.
This question was without preamble, not even mentioning a name.
Lu Yunqi withdrew his gaze but did not utter a word and continued forward.
"Lord Lu," Ning Yunzhao followed and called out, "What you did was inappropriate..."
Lu Yunqi stopped, turned his head.
"Lord Ning, what you did was inappropriate," he woodenly interrupted with the same words, "What do you think people will think if you say she has disappeared?"
Duke of Chengguo resisted the decree and fled, the rebellion charges confirmed, Miss Jun closely connected with him—what would people think if at this time it is said she disappeared? Escaping together out of guilt?
Even if they didn't think this way, the Jinyiwei could easily make people believe it. Moreover, the emperor already disliked Miss Jun.
"Is this a threat?" Ning Yunzhao smiled and said.
Many officials in front of him rarely smiled, especially not like this—relaxed and casual.
Lu Yunqi looked at him.
"Are fried tofu balls tasty?" he suddenly asked.
Ning Yunzhao was taken aback, fried tofu balls?
"I'm not threatening you," Lu Yunqi diverted his gaze and continued, "I'm just telling you, it's none of your concern."
He said this and moved forward.
Ning Yunzhao looked at his back, his expression somber.
"Lord Lu," he stepped forward again and said, "I believe you won't harm her, but for someone you care about, wouldn't it be better if you could make her happy?"
Lu Yunqi stopped but didn't turn back.
"No," he said.
What more could be said? Ning Yunzhao found it both amusing and frustrating. No wonder Lu Yunqi was difficult to befriend; on one hand, it was because of his status, and on the other, his personality was truly hard to fathom by normal measures.
Seeing Lu Yunqi walk away, several officials nearby sighed with relief, with a bit of curiosity—could Ning Yunzhao have been probing Lu Yunqi for the emperor's intent?
No one was more aware of the emperor's intent in the entire court than Lu Yunqi.
Little Lord Ning really was different from Ning Yan, never abandoning the likes of cunning tricksters.
They stepped forward, preparing to inquire, but saw Ning Yunzhao quickly walk away, navigating through the lowly conversing, emotionally complex, and scheming officials, heading straight out.
Such a big event happened, he must be rushing back to discuss with Ning Yan, so let's wait until they have discussed.
But Ning Yunzhao, after leaving the imperial palace, did not go directly to Ning Yan's residence, instead stepping into Jiuling Hall.
At Jiuling Hall, Chen Seventh and Manager Liu sat opposite each other with heavy expressions. Seeing him enter, they quickly stood up.
"In his hands," Ning Yunzhao said without letting them inquire first.
Chen Seventh kicked a stool.
"Gather men and get the person," he shouted.
"How to get them?" Manager Liu glared at him, "Gather men to besiege the Northern Administrative Court?"
This was not the old days. They didn't have an imperial decree in hand. Besides, it was always the Northern Administrative Court attacking others, not the other way around. Wouldn't that be courting death? They weren't the Duke of Chengguo's heir Zhu Zan.
Moreover, back when Zhu Zan dared to do so, it was because the emperor wanted to win over Duke of Chengguo.
Chen Seventh felt despondent, while Manager Liu pondered for a moment.
"It seems the only way is to announce the news publicly and leverage public opinion…" he said.
"Now, it's not feasible," Ning Yunzhao interrupted, "Duke of Chengguo's entire family has been convicted of rebellion and fleeing the decree."
What?
Chen Seventh and Manager Liu were shocked.
"The news should soon be made public, at the same time the defamation of Duke of Chengguo will inevitably spread," Ning Yunzhao stated.
Miss Jun, closely related to Duke of Chengguo, would naturally find it hard to escape.
Chen Seventh and Manager Liu immediately understood.
"How could it happen so quickly?" Manager Liu murmured.
"What do we do now?" Chen Seventh asked anxiously.
Ning Yunzhao pondered for a moment.
"Do nothing," he said.
Do nothing? But Miss Jun….
"The only unfortunate fortune is that Miss Jun initially fell into Lu Yunqi's hands, not the emperor's," Ning Yunzhao said.
Is there a difference? Lu Yunqi and the emperor are one and the same, Chen Seventh and Manager Liu slightly frowned.
"I think having an obsession at least makes one still human," Ning Yunzhao said, looking at the inscription of Jiuling Hall, "being human is somewhat better than not being human at all."
.......
.......
Soft footsteps echoed in the room, and the gentle light of the night pearl cast shadows.
"I'm late," Lu Yunqi said, full of apology, as he set down the food box and looked at Miss Jun seated by the bed, "Hungry? Let's eat now."
Although Miss Jun was no longer bound to the door plank like before, her hands and feet were still firmly restrained.
Lu Yunqi sat in front of her, scooped a spoonful of Eight Treasures Soup, and diligently, expertly brought it to her lips.
Miss Jun bit the spoon angrily, glaring fiercely at Lu Yunqi.