For a revolting peasant, what is most important? Gold and silver? Rights? Honor and justice? Of course not, the most important thing is his own life. For Zhang Xianzhong now, nothing is more important than his own life.
Everyone knew that King Daorui's men taught him a lesson but he didn't respond. That's because everyone didn't know that the bodies of those people were found early the next morning, and they died in miserable conditions.
The only fact Zhang Xianzhong saw was that there were people who could quietly come and go in the military camp, killing people and setting fires, and these people who died had just offended King Rui. So many people, no one noticed,
Although only a few ordinary soldiers died, the impact is obvious.
Zhang Xianzhong, who had been hesitating all the time, decisively chose to give up this time. He didn't want to take Hanzhong at the cost of his own life, not to mention that he couldn't take it yet. Why not find a prince with a better temper to play with?
Zhou Ze left. Zhang Xianzhong also left, so it's a pity that they didn't see the continuation of the story.
The Ding family, which used to be bustling with activity in the past, was eerily quiet today. Countless expressionless guards surrounded the place.
King Rui looked at the house. This place was familiar to him. He had been here countless times since he was a child, but he had never felt so weak and exhausted as he did today.
This place used to be more like home to him than the imperial palace and Prince Rui's Mansion. It was the place he wanted to visit most during the holidays. He even knew the servants here better than he did about Prince Rui's Mansion. However, this
He is no longer welcome at home.
He looked coldly at the couple kneeling in front of him, Ding Wensheng and Mrs. Zhang.
Ding Wensheng had been silent since he came in. Mrs. Zhang was shaking with anger. She asked sternly: "May I ask, my lord, how did the Ding family feel sorry for you? Even if you didn't want to marry Xiaoling, we never forced you to marry her.
, for so many years, the Ding family has treated you as if they were their own, what do you mean by that today?"
"Madam, do you want me to repay kindness with revenge?"
"The common people don't dare." Zhang's eyes were red.
The usual gentle smile appeared on King Rui's face: "I don't want to turn against you one day. I know that Madam has always regarded me as her own child, and the gifts she prepared for Xiaoling have never been left behind.
Remember."
Zhang's voice was a little softer: "Then what are you doing today?"
"Today? Today is probably what Madam thinks. I am here for the business and connections in the hands of the Ding family, and to expand my own power. And the Ding family knows so many of my secrets, how can I rest assured?
Right, isn’t this the most important thing to you?”
A look of astonishment appeared on Zhang's face: "Hao'er, do you know what you are talking about? This is who we are in your eyes? Did the master and I ever worry that you would kill us and silence us? When did you start thinking of us like this?
of?"
"It's a little embarrassing for me to ask you this, madam. I can't remember when. Why don't you ask Mr. Ding when he started adding various herbs that conflict with it when he was looking for medicine for me?"
"What did you say?"
"Madam, do you still remember that I was often sick last year and could never find out the reason?"
Mrs. Zhang covered her mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"Yes, maybe Mr. Ding's mutual restraint has finally worked. I took it for a whole year and never thought about asking someone to check whether there is anything other than the prescription in the medicine before decoction. What do you think?
Am I confused? In fact, he was too careful. He let go and used a larger dose. Maybe I’m dead and you don’t have to face me today.” Mrs. Zhang shook her head vigorously with red eyes: “No.
Yes, that's not the case. The master often said that the Ding family and you are tied together. We will both prosper and suffer. It is impossible for the master to do such a stupid thing. There must be something wrong somewhere."
"I don't want to believe it either. I checked it out, and I really tried hard to clear your name and prove that my idea was wrong." He took out a stack of letter paper from his arms, bent down and handed it to Mrs. Zhang. "I think you know your master's words better than I do. The reason why the Ding family does such stupid things is because the Ding family is no longer tied to me. Ding Wensheng, I gave you I have been given many opportunities. The reason why I haven't made a move against the Ding family is because I was waiting for you to come to me and explain to me that you were confused for a moment, and I might even forget about it."
Mrs. Zhang pulled the corner of Ding Wensheng's clothes: "Master, explain it quickly. This must be a misunderstanding. Explain it to Hao'er quickly, he won't blame you."
Ding Wensheng took the letters in his wife's hand. The words he wrote now seemed very unfamiliar. He could no longer remember what mood he had in writing down what King Rui was most afraid of when he was ill. When are you not at home and how long will it take for you to return?
He piled up the letters and put them at Prince Rui's feet: "One person does things and others take responsibility. Madam has always regarded the prince as her own child, and the child Xiaoling is devoted to the prince. They don't know about these things, and beg the prince to spare their lives." "
Prince Rui sighed: "Mr. Ding, if you ask me to spare them now, have you ever thought about who can spare the lives of the people in Prince Rui's house if I die one day?"
It was only then that Ding Wensheng was truly ashen-faced. He pulled the hem of King Rui's clothes and begged: "I was confused for a moment, and I deserved it. I am worse than a beast, but mother and daughter are innocent. Please consider the love we have had for so many years." Please forgive them."
"So many years of friendship? So many years of friendship, and you use it to blind me? My whereabouts have not been hidden from you, so you tell it to King Xiang? Tell me what does he have that I can't give you?"
Ding Wensheng didn't say anything. He let go of King Rui's clothes, stood up and pulled out a guard's long knife. He held it against his neck amidst everyone's exclamations: "I'm sorry for you, and I deserve it. You are only wrong for one thing. Yes, I’m not doing this to protect the Ding family’s property and status, nor am I afraid that you will get rid of me one day.”
He only said so much, and he would never say the rest again. Zhang threw herself on Ding Wensheng's body. She did not cry. She picked up the knife on the ground and looked at King Rui sincerely: "Hao Son, whatever I owe you, we will definitely pay it back to you in our next life, even if we are like cows or horses. Xueling is still young, please help her if you can, thank you."
The knife was raised.
"Mom! Dad! You, you, Zhu Changhao, why do you do this, why!? I want to kill you."
"Your lady is tired, take her down to rest." King Rui said indifferently, "There are still corpses, throw them out to feed the dogs."
Ding Xueling's whole body was like an exploding firecracker: "Get out, you all, get out of here, get out!"
The man in white quietly turned around and left.
Just like more than ten years ago, the young man in white walked in here for the first time with unknown nervousness and shyness.