Chapter 718 - 719: You Still Don’t Know
Chapter 718: Chapter 719: You Still Don’t Know
Fan Chengzhuo never imagined Zheng Baosu would say such a thing. Shock and pain churned within him.
He struggled to turn his head, looking at Zheng Baosu as if he were a complete stranger.
Those words had utterly cast them all into the abyss.
It wasn’t that he was afraid to die. If he were, he would have panicked and fled when that bloody line first appeared on his arm.
But—but he never, ever expected that the one to give him the final push would be Zheng Baosu!
However, seeing his reaction only brought Zheng Baosu a deeper sense of satisfaction.
"What? Surprised? We did those things together, so we’ll face the consequences together today!"
’In what world do you get to enjoy all the rewards without taking any of the blows!?’ Zheng Baosu thought, his heart seething with resentment.
’Since they wouldn’t save him, they couldn’t blame him for being merciless!’
After a brief, stunned silence, Xie Anjun, who was standing to the side, leaped to his feet and began shouting, his voice fierce but his heart trembling.
"Slander! Utter nonsense! Zheng Baosu! We have no grievance between us, so why do you keep coming after me!? If Fan Chengzhuo hadn’t spoken up for you back then, I never would have written you that letter of recommendation! How else would you have had your meteoric rise!? Don’t you dare be so ungrateful!"
"Me, ungrateful?"
Zheng Baosu looked as if he had just heard the joke of the century, his eyes filled with scorn.
"You! And that man surnamed Fan! Why did you scheme for me? Wasn’t it just so you could arrange for me to go to the Northern Border and do your dirty work!? Now that the whole thing has blown up, you want to throw me out to take the blame and die for you? Dream on!"
Fan Chengzhuo swayed and finally managed to speak, his voice strained. "You... you really think that..."
"What else?"
Zheng Baosu spat out a mouthful of bloody foam. He, who had been a deserter on the battlefield countless times, knew now that there was no escape, and paradoxically, it made him bolder.
Once a man has nothing left to lose, he fears nothing.
"I thought it was strange from the beginning. I’m just a distant relative of yours, we’d only met a handful of times, yet you suddenly offered me such a huge favor, saying you’d help me build a career... To think I was foolish enough to believe you back then!"
Thinking back on it now, it’s absolutely laughable!
"I blame myself for being too stupid at the time. I never stopped to think why you’d offer such a ’good deal’ to me of all people, and not someone else! Now I finally understand. You were preparing for this day all along!"
A deep hatred flooded Zheng Baosu’s eyes, and his teeth ground together.
"If it weren’t for you, I’d still be in Fuyang living my carefree life! I wouldn’t have had to suffer for all these years on the Northern Border! And I certainly wouldn’t be about to lose my life!"
Fan Chengzhuo opened his mouth, but he didn’t know what to say. An unprecedented despair filled his eyes.
"If I die, I won’t let you off even as a ghost!"
These words seemed to be a great shock to Fan Chengzhuo. His breathing quickened, and he actually coughed up another mouthful of blood.
He looked defeated and hopeless, as if the last of his spirit had been burned away.
Xie Anjun’s mind was in turmoil.
He wanted to say something in his own defense, but Zheng Baosu had launched into such a tirade that he couldn’t get a word in at all!
Growing frantic, he couldn’t help but look at Fan Chengzhuo. "Mr. Fan! He’s slandering us like this, and you have no reaction!?"
Xie Anjun was filled with immense regret. If he had known this uncle-and-nephew pair was so unreliable, he would have never agreed, not even if they had promised him ten times the profit!
To lose his own life in the end was a price not worth paying!
But for some reason, Fan Chengzhuo remained silent from that point on.
As if resigned to his fate, he slowly closed his eyes, his face ashen like a ghost’s.
He remained motionless, letting Zheng Baosu and Xie Anjun tear into each other in a life-or-death struggle.
He looked as if he were about to die.
Emperor Muwu lowered his gaze, his world-weary eyes resting on Fan Chengzhuo.
"These accusations of his, Fan Chengzhuo—do you have nothing to say? If you remain silent, does that mean you admit that everything he said is true?"
"Your Majesty—" Xie Anjun began urgently.
Emperor Muwu said coldly, "We were not addressing you."
The rest of Xie Anjun’s words were choked back in his throat.
All eyes turned to Fan Chengzhuo.
Even a fool could see that he was the lynchpin in this whole affair.
If he confessed, everyone connected to him would be doomed. If he denied it...
It seemed there was little room for denial.
Fan Chengzhuo knelt there, trembling slightly as if chilled to the bone.
’He never imagined it would all come to this...’
But Zheng Baosu wasn’t satisfied yet. He sneered, "What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue? Should I help you recall how you persuaded me to go to the Northern Border? Or how you convinced me to sell those supplies and weapons to the Wazhen for a high price? Can’t speak? When we were splitting the money, Mr. Fan, you were quite happy! How come you’re not saying a single word today?"
Zheng Baosu’s every word was a sharp arrow aimed straight at Fan Chengzhuo, relentlessly pressing him!
Yet no matter what he said, Fan Chengzhuo did not reply with even a single word.
He kept his eyes closed, his lips deathly pale, looking as though he might pass out at any second.
Just as Zheng Baosu was about to continue his interrogation, a calm and dignified voice suddenly came from outside the hall.
"Mr. Fan was wholeheartedly devoted to your interests, yet you treat him so. I’m afraid you’ve broken his heart."
Hearing this familiar voice, Ye Chutang turned and curtsied to the newcomer.
"Greetings, Eldest Princess."
After a moment of shock, the others in the hall finally reacted.
’Why is the Eldest Princess here!?’
Court affairs had been hectic recently, but the Eldest Princess had been unwell and hadn’t left her residence for quite some time.
Yet today, she had suddenly appeared here...
When Emperor Muwu saw the Eldest Princess, his stern expression softened slightly.
"Sister, what brings you here today?"
The Eldest Princess sighed. Her gaze swept over everyone in the hall, lingering for a moment on Xie Anjun, before she said with a hint of resignation, "Your Majesty summoned the Marquis Zhongyong to the palace early this morning, and the Xie Family fell into chaos. I had no choice but to summon Jia Yi to my residence to ensure her safety and prevent any mishaps."
At the mention of Xiao Jiayi’s name, the expressions on the faces of those in the hall were varied.
Ever since Xiao Chengxuan was exiled to Yizhou, Jiang Qingmei was sentenced to death, and the Jiang family’s assets were confiscated, the name Xiao Jiayi seemed to have been deliberately ignored and forgotten.
Only the Eldest Princess would dare to mention her so directly.
As expected, Emperor Muwu’s brow furrowed slightly.
"The Xie Family residence is under the watch of the Imperial Army; how could there be any trouble? Instead, it seems we have troubled you again, Sister."
The Eldest Princess sighed inwardly.
’Everyone knew, of course, that Xiao Jiayi’s life had not been easy lately. But who could she blame for having such a mother and brother?’
’Now, she didn’t even have a proper place to live.’
"Actually, I summoned her for more than just that reason. She also told me a few things, which is why I made a special trip here."
After she finished speaking, the Eldest Princess’s gaze finally settled on Zheng Baosu, her expression thoughtful.
"It seems you are not yet aware."