Han Zhao was "absorbed" into the Tongzhou Association just two days ago, and he was also the last third-rank official or above to "join" the association.
Unlike other people who "chased fame and fortune" or were "forced to have no choice", the reason for his "surrender" should be the most special one.
However, this matter is too complicated and will be discussed later.
In short, with his joining, Tongzhou Hui has temporarily achieved its phased goals, and Wei Changtian has basically played his last card in Daning Chaotang.
At this point, all the officials who had fatal consequences and were valuable to him had taken the Puppet Pill.
The total number is thirty-two, accounting for one-fifth of all officials with "power to go to court".
"Dang~dangdang~"
"It's safe and sound ~ third update ~"
The sound of gongs, one slow and two fast, sounded in the distance, and it was already midnight.
Tightening his collar, Han Zhao bent down and got into the sedan waiting outside the palace. All he thought about was Ning Wenyu.
There was no morning court meeting in the past few days, so he never knew that the second prince was actually in the same boat.
After seeing him just now, he already understood who sent that information...
It's not like Han Zhao never thought of helping Ning Wenyu.
But today, "higher authorities" just issued an order requiring them not to contact each other, not to communicate with outsiders, and not to act without authorization within five days.
To put it bluntly, the meaning is to let them each hide themselves to prevent Ning Yongnian from taking advantage of him.
In Han Zhao's view, this meant giving up on Ning Wenyu.
"well......"
He sighed softly, stretched out his hand to lift the curtain, and took another look at the palace in the night.
The tall wall almost blocked his sight, and he could only vaguely see the shadows of a few buildings.
The sunken palace, the arches and eaves, and the glazed animal spines were all quietly immersed in the night like a sea of ink.
In my ears, the sound of the clock watcher repeating it over and over again became increasingly distant.
"It's safe and sound, midnight..."
...
"Father, my son, please retire."
In Shiqu Pavilion, Ning Wenjun bowed out of the side room and took seven or eight steps back before slowly straightening up.
He turned to look at Ning Wenyu, who had been waiting outside, and whispered without changing his expression:
"Second brother, father allows you to come in."
"..."
"I see."
"Squeak..."
The sound of the door opening and closing was very quiet, and Ning Wenyu's steps were even lighter.
He knew that he had to pass this level no matter what, otherwise he would probably never see the sun tomorrow morning again.
"Father."
Walking around a screen, he saw Ning Yongnian with his back to him.
The latter did not turn his head. After a moment of silence, he just pointed to a picture on the wall and asked casually:
"Yu'er, what do you think of this writing?"
"..."
Ning Wenyu looked intently and saw the word "Struggle" written sharply.
"Father, this word... is too violent."
"The anger is too strong..."
Ning Yongnian did not deny it, but continued: "Yu'er, this word was written by your grandfather."
"Except for me, each of your thirteen imperial uncles has one with the word 'struggle' written all over it."
"At that time, I was just about your age."
The last sentence seemed to have some meaning, but Ning Wenyu had already been mentally prepared, so he just stood respectfully and waited for the next sentence.
After a few breaths, Ning Yongnian's voice sounded again.
"Yu'er, everything in this world requires competition."
"Mortals compete for fame and profit; warriors compete for luck and opportunity; emperors compete for power and the world."
"There is nothing wrong with the word 'fight', but you have to know why you are fighting and who you are fighting for."
Slowly turning his head, Ning Yongnian looked at Ning Wenyu with calm eyes and asked, "Do you know who you are fighting for?"
"Father!"
Ning Wenyu did not hesitate, and immediately raised his chest and said loudly: "My sons and ministers are naturally fighting for the foundation of the Ning family for generations!"
"Is it......"
Ning Yongnian smiled and did not respond directly to Ning Wenyu, but just shook his head.
"Yu'er, people in the court say privately that you are not as good as your brother, but do you know what I think?"
"..."
Upon hearing these words, Ning Wenyu's pupils suddenly contracted and his breathing stagnated uncontrollably.
"Son, I don't know."
"Hahaha, then I will tell you now."
Ning Yongnian took two steps closer and gently patted Ning Wenyu on the shoulder.
"Yu'er, as others have said, you are indeed inferior to Jun'er in both literary and military talents."
"But there is one thing you should be better than him, and that is that you know better how to achieve the goal by any means necessary."
"As a prince, this is a good thing, but it will also harm you."
"Yu'er...I am your father no matter what."
"You have to know that no father in the world wants his son to fall deeper and deeper into the wrong path."
"You are still young. If you do something wrong, I don't blame you."
"I only hope that you can come back from your lost ways and compete with your brother in an honest and fair manner."
"Whether you win or lose, at least you will be worthy of the ancestors of the Ning family, and worthy of me..."
"It's also worthy of yourself."
"..."
The drop of a needle could be heard in the room, and there was only one intermittent breath.
Looking at Ning Yongnian's calm and kind expression, Ning Wenyu didn't know what to say for a moment.
Before coming, he had imagined countless possible scenarios and made adequate preparations accordingly.
But this scene now was something he had never imagined.
"Father..."
He opened and closed his mouth several times, and what he was thinking in his mind was like a mess.
At this moment, Ning Yongnian finally got to the point for the first time.
And the moment he opens his mouth, it’s a sure kill.
"Yu'er, the reason why Jizhou's plan was exposed is that I already knew that it had something to do with you."
"To be honest, when I first heard about this, I really wanted to cut you into pieces."
"But as I just said, you are my biological flesh and blood no matter what."
"Tiger poison doesn't even eat its seeds, let alone me."
"Jizhou City will be destroyed one day, and the Xu family will be wiped out one day. But if I kill you, I will forever lose a son."
"I can't do it."
"Well, I have said so much, but I don't know if it has touched your heart."
"Actually, nothing else matters now. I just want to know one thing..."
Ning Yongnian paused, his eyes seemed to be filled with endless fatigue.
He looked at Ning Wenyu, who was breathing rapidly, and gently asked the last question with a little remorse and expectation.
"Yu'er, I wonder if you still recognize me as your father?"
"..."
At the foot of Laoweng Mountain, I returned to Yuyuan, where I planted thirty thousand green pines.
Just like Gantang, he will not be cut off, and his beard and white armor will be waiting to return.
It seems that no matter what the status is, the hearts of parents all over the world are always the same.
"Click..."
Ning Wenyu's body shook slightly, and his psychological defenses were completely torn apart at this moment, and an endless wave of regret and guilt rushed into his heart.
He didn't dare to look at Ning Yongnian, but he knelt down on the ground with a "pop" and said word by word as if he was choking:
"Father!"
"Son, I was wrong..."
"The incident in Jizhou was indeed leaked by my son. At that time, my son was confused, so he told the matter, uh..."
Suddenly, Ning Wenyu's eyes widened suddenly, and only then did he remember the puppet pill he had taken.
Betrayal leads to death, it turns out it is true...
His vision instantly became blurred, and thick liquid seemed to gush out from the corner of his mouth. Ning Wenyu could truly feel the rapid loss of life in his body.
In great pain, he wanted to reach out and grab the clothes of the person in front of him, but his trembling hands finally dropped down weakly midway.
And the name that could not be spoken became a secret forever.
"..."
Everything seems long, but in fact it only takes a blink of an eye.
When the truth suddenly stopped before being revealed, Ning Yongnian suddenly felt a chill.
And as time went by, this fear turned into incomparable anger.
"boom!!!"
A palm mixed with majestic power was blasted out, and the stone wall opposite exploded with a loud noise.
Countless guards heard the sound and fired towards them. Ning Wenjun, who was waiting at the door, was the first to rush into the room.
The room was in a mess, and Ning Yongnian was still venting his anger wantonly.
As for the body lying in a pool of blood at his feet...
Ever since he realized that the latter was really dead, Ning Yongnian had never looked at him again.