Chapter 609: Winner Takes All
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Shen Zhuo looked like he was coaxing a petulant child.
But Yu Niaoniao was not a child.
She was not throwing a tantrum.
She enunciated each word. “I don’t understand.”
Shen Zhuo sat down in front of her and smiled. “What don’t you understand?”
Yu Niaoniao said, “Why did Prince Jia change sides on the spot? And why did a few cabinet ministers help you refer to a deer as a horse?”
There were no outsiders here. Shen Zhuo did not hide anything and generously gave an answer.
“Father gave Prince Jia an imperial edict and allocated all the areas north of the river to him. As long as he accepted the imperial edict, he would be able to obtain half of the Dayan Dynasty.”
Yu Niaoniao’s lips twitched. “I see. What about those old cabinet ministers?”
Shen Zhuo said, “Gave them what they wanted. If they want money, we’ll give it to them. If they want power, we’ll give it to them.”
Yu Niaoniao mocked, “Don’t tell me everyone is blinded by greed?”
Back then, the reason why she planned to reveal the truth at the birthday banquet was because she knew that although not all the officials in the court were reliable, there was no lack of loyal and straightforward people.
As long as that portion of people knew the truth, they would not let the old emperor continue to fool the world.
Shen Zhuo smiled. “That’s right. There are two stick-in-the-muds. Threats and temptations are useless against them. Compared to their personal interests, they care more about the livelihood of the world. Therefore, I told them that if Deng Yuchuan exposes the truth in front of everyone, it will definitely cause chaos in the court. At that time, the nobles everywhere will take the opportunity to rise up, and the neighboring countries will take the opportunity to invade. Internal and external problems will erupt at the same time, and the entire Dayan Dynasty will collapse. The flames of war will be smeared, and the people will live in misery. This is a result that no one wants to see.”
Yu Niaoniao said hoarsely, “So they compromised?”
Shen Zhuo said, “In order to protect the peace of the world, they’re willing to be evil people for once.”
Yu Niaoniao seemed to have heard a funny joke and laughed softly. “Heh, in that case, I look more like an evil person. I ignored the world for my personal grudge. How detestable am I?”
Shen Zhuo comforted her gently. “You’ve actually done very well. I almost fell into your trap.”
He was telling the truth. He really did not expect Niaoniao to do that at the birthday banquet.
Unfortunately, she had miscalculated the human heart.
Everyone had seven emotions and six desires. Even those loyal and straightforward people would have things they cared about.
Yu Niaoniao clenched her fists. “The winner takes all. I lost this time. You can kill or torture me as you please.”
Shen Zhuo smiled. “Let this matter go. We’ll forget about it and start over.”
As he spoke, he wanted to hold Niaoniao’s hand again.
However, Yu Niaoniao shook him off again.
Shen Zhuo did not stop there. Instead, he ignored Yu Niaoniao’s resistance and held her hand tightly.
“I know you’re indignant. I promise you that there will be a reasonable explanation for the deaths of your mother and stepfather. I won’t let you suffer for nothing. You just have to wait a little longer.”
Yu Niaoniao would not believe a punctuation mark of what he said.
No matter how hard she tried, she could not break free from Shen Zhuo’s hand. She was angry and anxious, and her eyes were filled with hatred.
“It’s impossible for us! Not in this life, not in the next! Give up!”
Her words pierced Shen Zhuo’s heart like a knife.
Shen Zhuo was furious and could not help but raise his right hand. “Shut up!”
Yu Niaoniao did not dodge. Her red eyes were wide open in anger, like an injured little beast that had been forced into a corner and still refused to admit defeat.
Shen Zhuo’s hand stopped in midair. In the end, he could not bear to hit her.
He retracted his hand weakly. “Niaoniao, why can’t you be more obedient? As long as you’re obedient, I can promise you anything.” Yu Niaoniao asked, “Including letting me go?”
Shen Zhuo said, “You know this won’t do.”
Yu Niaoniao looked at him cynically.
Shen Zhuo said, “But I can help you do other things, such as protecting your family. Although you didn’t appear directly this time, Father can guess that you were the mastermind. Now that Deng Yuchuan is dead, Father won’t do anything to the Deng family for the sake of the Empress Dowager, but your family won’t be so lucky. Father will definitely vent his anger on your family.” Yu Niaoniao stopped talking.
She had originally thought that the plan would succeed. The emperor could not even protect himself. He should not be in the mood to cause trouble for the Yu family.
But now that the plan had failed, the outcome was completely different.
After a long time, Yu Niaoniao spoke.
“What are your conditions?”
Shen Zhuo said warmly, “I said that I just want you to be obedient.”
Yu Niaoniao took a deep breath and tried her best to suppress the hatred and unwillingness in her heart. She squeezed out a word with difficulty.
“Okay.”
Shen Zhuo smiled, his eyes filled with tenderness. “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely do what I promised you.”
When Yu Sheng and Yu Pingping heard Duke Lang’s words, they immediately began to get someone to pack up. As soon as their father returned home, they pulled him away.
However, Yu Kangtai was unwilling to leave.
He felt that Duke Lang’s words could not be trusted and strongly condemned his unauthorized return to the caDital.
If not for the fact that Duke Lang was his son-in-law, he would have personally entered the palace to complain!
The siblings could not persuade their father. Just as they were feeling anxious, they saw a group of masked people rush into the Yu Residence.
Without a word, they knocked Yu Kangtai, Yu Sheng, and Yu Pingping out and carried them away.
Not long after they left, the imperial guards arrived at the Yu Residence with the emperor’s order.
They were here on orders to capture Yu Niaoniao’s family.
In the end, they were told that they were too late. Yu Kangtai, Yu Sheng, and Yu Niaoniao had already been abducted.
Night fell.
In the courtyard, Yu Niaoniao looked at the table full of delicacies, but she had no appetite.
Shen Zhuo picked up a piece of fresh fish and placed it in her bowl.
“Eat quickly. It won’t taste good when it gets cold. Be good.”
He emphasized the last word “good.”
When it stopped in Yu Niaoniao’s ears, there was a hint of threat.
She had no choice but to pick up her chopsticks, pick up the fish, and put it in her mouth.
The fish was delicious, but it tasted like chewing wax in her mouth.
She repeated the chewing mechanically.
Shen Zhuo said as he picked up some food for her, “After dinner, I’ll take you to see someone.”
Yu Niaoniao was not interested in what he said and did not respond.
After dinner, they walked along the promenade for a while before stopping at the door of the tea room.
Shen Zhuo pushed open the door and walked in with Niaoniao.
There was a teapot sitting on the small stove, gurgling hot steam.
There was a familiar man sitting at the table.
Yu Niaoniao could not help but be stunned when she saw that person.
“Father?”
Yu Kangtai had been waiting here for a long time.
When he saw the Crown Prince appear, he hurriedly stood up and bowed.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
Then, he looked at Niaoniao, unable to hide the surprise in his eyes.
“Why are you here?”
His gaze paused on the Crown Prince’s hand holding Niaoniao’s, and his expression became even stranger..
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