Chapter 1202: Chapter 1038: Whose Residence Did He Visit?

Zhou Yuancong’s lips trembled as he stared intently at the Jade Pendant, refusing to speak. Gu Chengyu showed a hint of impatience as he stepped forward, moving closer to Zhou Yuancong.

Zhou Yuancong now saw it even more clearly; he recognized this Jade Pendant and could never forget it.

He turned his gaze to Gu Chengyu, only to see that Gu Chengyu’s face was as calm as water, with no discernible emotion in his eyes.

"I’ll ask one more time, Lord Zhou, have you thought it through? Otherwise, I’m going to have to resort to torture again." Gu Chengyu spoke softly, his voice gentle, but the content of his words caused Zhou Yuancong to shudder.

He stared into Gu Chengyu’s eyes but still couldn’t detect any unusual emotion. It seemed that Gu Chengyu’s intentions were clear, and he was not going to divulge any more information.

"Mr. Gu! For the sake of us once serving together in the court, just give me a swift end! Otherwise, no matter how you torture me, I won’t speak, so why waste your time?"

"Lord Zhou, that’s not for me to decide, so please don’t make it difficult for me." Gu Chengyu sighed and waved to the prison guard who was already prepared.

He had barely stepped out of the torture chamber when the sound of a whip cracking against flesh echoed behind him.

How could a whipping not be painful? He touched the Jade Pendant hanging at his waist, a pang of guilt surfacing in his heart.

It wasn’t his intention to threaten Zhou Yuancong, but he had no choice. If Zhou Yuancong couldn’t withstand the torture, then Prince Jing’s plans would be prematurely exposed, which wouldn’t be good for him either.

However, after taking a step forward, he suppressed that trace of guilt deep in his heart.

Zhou Yuancong was never going to survive; he should have prepared to be caught before the rebellion. Prince Jing remained in the shadows, using Zhou Yuancong as a pawn to fish in troubled waters.

As the saying goes, capture the leader first. Once the Crown Prince is seized, everything else will follow naturally. If the plan fails, as long as he controls Zhou Yuancong, he can still retreat unharmed.

The blame lies only with Zhou Yuancong’s foolishness. The political arena is like this, with conspiracies and schemes abound; a slight misstep, and one becomes a pawn in others’ hands.

Just as he exited the torture chamber, Gu Chengyu bumped into Xia Qing and Mr. Pang.

"Mr. Pang, do you have other matters to attend to?" Gu Chengyu was somewhat surprised; having announced the Crown Prince’s decree, shouldn’t they have immediately taken the person out of the Heavenly Prison?

Pang Chu glanced at Xia Qing beside him, unsure whether to speak. Although Xia Qing had been stripped of his official title, who knows what the Crown Prince was thinking!

If, after some time, he’s recalled to the court, although it might not be to his original position, a demotion by a couple of grades is possible.

Thinking this way, he couldn’t offend this person for the time being. So, when Xia Qing said he wanted to wait for Gu Chengyu, he agreed, figuring it was just a trivial matter anyway!

"Mr. Gu, it was I who asked Mr. Pang to wait for a moment. I heard that this time, with the rebellion by Zhou Yuancong, Mr. Gu protected the Crown Prince and rendered significant service. And for clearing my name and getting out of this Heavenly Prison, I owe thanks to your few positive words before the Crown Prince!"

When Gu Chengyu heard this, for a moment, he was taken aback. Then he smiled a little, inwardly cursing, saying a few nice words? If the Crown Prince would listen to me, I would have asked him to get rid of you long ago.

"Lord Xia, you’re too courteous; your service to the court has been exemplary and diligent. The Crown Prince, for old time’s sake, decided to grant you leniency."

Gu Chengyu’s expression had already returned to normal, as if his previous anger never existed, remaining respectful and courteous towards Xia Qing.

Xia Qing smiled superficially, "Mr. Gu, don’t be modest; I am no longer the Grand Secretary and don’t deserve such respect from you."

Seeing Gu Chengyu’s face quickly return to normal, he inwardly sighed, this young man is indeed formidable.

"Mr. Pang, why hasn’t His Highness released me too? Since even Lord Xia’s suspicion has been cleared, why not release me as well? Please, Mr. Gu, say a few good words before His Highness to get me out of here?"

The iron chains clinked as You Shaofeng clung to the bars, pleading towards Gu Chengyu.

He had clearly heard Xia Qing’s previous words. Seeking Gu Chengyu’s help was indeed desperate, with his current dire situation leaving him no time to ponder the meaning in Xia Qing’s words.

Hearing the urgency in his voice, Gu Chengyu turned to look, seeing his body covered in lash marks. His white inner clothes had become tattered rags, stained red by blood, clearly having endured punishment these past days.

"What are you doing? Behave, or you’ll be strung up and whipped again." A prison guard hurriedly stepped forward, scolding.

"Mr. Pang! Let’s go now!" Xia Qing didn’t even bother to glance at You Shaofeng, urging Mr. Pang to quickly leave this detestable place.

The man was of no further use; he wasn’t worth Xia Qing’s effort or attention. Besides, with the Crown Prince releasing him, who knows what purposes there are, and he must think carefully of a strategy upon returning.

After bidding farewell to Mr. Pang, Gu Chengyu watched the two walk towards the corner. As they were about to disappear, Xia Qing looked back at Gu Chengyu.

"Mr. Gu truly possesses great talent, of which I am much less!" Xia Qing said, not waiting for Gu Chengyu’s reply, before disappearing from sight.

"If he confesses, come report to me." Gu Chengyu paid no heed to Xia Qing’s words, instead sitting in the prison guard’s resting area, listening to the groans from the other side, feeling the weight in his heart.

Flesh and blood naturally feel pain. To endure till now was truly not easy.

About an hour later, as Gu Chengyu watched the Imperial Physician with a medicine box enter, he turned and left the Heavenly Prison.

There was still a stall outside the palace waiting for him; after some thought, he decided not to go to the Eastern Palace.

As he stepped out of the palace gates, Ming Mo was already waiting there.

"Sir! Last night, Lord Jiang indeed made a move."

"Oh? Did he see anyone?" Gu Chengyu cocked his head towards Ming Mo; this Jiang Shaohua likely had some issues.

But it was uncertain whether he was a big fish, and Jiang wasn’t just any ordinary person either.

"Late last night, he first returned home, then went to Mr. Zhu’s residence." After pausing, Ming Mo recounted Jiang Shaohua’s movements from the previous night.

Gu Chengyu had just climbed into the carriage, not yet seated properly, nearly falling on the cushion.

"Which Mr. Zhu?" He steadied himself against the small table, his heartbeat quickening.

"It’s Mr. Zhu Kui!"

"Zhu Kui?" Gu Chengyu muttered unconsciously, then fell silent.

After a while, he finally said, "First, go check on Peng Fang’s progress from last night."

"Yes! Mr. Peng is currently waiting for you at the teahouse!" Ming Mo understood that the lord’s heart must be somewhat troubled now. Having accompanied him for years, how could he not understand the lord’s character?

Now that the lord was getting older, he was becoming even more calm and steady. No matter how difficult or panicked, he wouldn’t show it on his face.

That Zhu Kui was the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, Zhu Pang’s biological father. And Zhu Pang was a close friend of the lord’s.

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