Chapter 619: Convinced
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Because the emperor had passed away, the entire country mourned.
White lanterns were hung on all the streets and alleys in the Jade Capital. The commoners in the city also changed into plain clothes, and places like brothels and pleasure houses were temporarily closed.
The entire city became cold and solemn overnight.
In the palace, the emperor’s body had already been placed in a coffin. Empress Wen and Crown Prince Shen Zhuo knelt in front of the memorial tablet with a group of concubines and princes. The eminent monks who had been specially invited from the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple were reciting the Reincarnation Scripture.
Chanting, crying, and the knocking of the temple block intertwined like a
gloomy cloud. The atmosphere was extremely oppressive.
It was already time for dinner, but Empress Wen and the Crown Prince were still kneeling and not moving. The others naturally did not dare to mention this.
In the end, it was Wei Huai’en who reminded them.
“Your Majesty, His Highness, it’s time to eat.”
Empress Wen wiped the corners of her eyes. “I don’t have an appetite. Junzhi, go eat something.”
Shen Zhuo said, “If Mother doesn’t eat, how can I eat?”
Empress Wen had no choice but to stand up with the help of others.
“It’s getting late. Everyone, go eat something to fill your stomachs. The night is still growing. Don’t let your bodies burn out.”
Everyone agreed.
When Shen Zhuo walked out of the mourning hall and saw the commander of the Imperial Guards and Wei Liao waiting outside, he stopped and asked.
“Have you captured them?”
The commander of the imperial guards lowered his head and replied, “Not yet.” Shen Zhuo frowned. “You haven’t found any clues in a day?”
The commander of the imperial guards said, “Our people once found traces of a suspected Duke Lang near the city gate, but that person ran very quickly. Our people chased for a while before he shook them off.”
Shen Zhou cursed coldly.
“Trash. ‘
The commander of the imperial guards knelt on one knee. “We’re still investigating. I believe we’ll find Duke Lang soon!”
Shen Zhuo reminded him, “He’s not Duke Lang anymore. He’s a traitor who assassinated the emperor.”
The commander of the imperial guards immediately changed his words. “We will definitely catch that traitor, Xiao Juan, and bring him to justice to comfort the emperor in heaven!”
Shen Zhuo turned to Wei Liao and asked.
“You have no clues on your side either?”
Wei Liao said, “We checked everyone who left the city, but we didn’t find Xiao Juan’s whereabouts.”
Shen Zhuo was very dissatisfied with this outcome.
However, the current situation was a time to use people. He could not flare up.
He instructed calmly.
“I’ll give you two days. If you still can’t find Xiao Juan, issue a sea arrest document to all places. As long as one can help us capture Xiao Juan, one can get a reward of a thousand taels no matter if he is dead or alive. If it’s an official, he can can advance two levels at one. If you discover that Yu Niaoniao is still following him, try your best to capture her alive. Don’t hurt her.”
“Yes!”
Wei Liao and the commander of the imperial guards lowered their heads and sent the Crown Prince off.
After they were gone, Wei Liao looked up.
He saw Wei Huai’en standing nearby.
Wei Huai En looked at him quietly, his gaze very complicated. Wei Liao walked forward and bowed. “Father.”
Wei Huai’en said calmly, “Follow me. I have something to ask you.”
With that, he turned around and left.
Wei Liao immediately followed.
The father and son walked for a long time before finally arriving at Wei Huai’en’s residence in the palace.
Wei Huai’en retreated, leaving only the father and son in the room.
There was only one oil lamp lit in the room, and it was relatively dim.
Wei Huai’en stared at his adopted son, who was taller than him, and suddenly spat out two words coldly.
“Kneel!”
Wei Liao lifted the hem of his clothes and knelt down without a word.
Wei Huai’en said, “Take off your clothes.”
Wei Liao took off his shirt in a few moves, revealing his well-defined upper body.
Wei Huai En took out the branch in the vase and asked expressionlessly.
“You brought people to guard the city gate today. Did you find anyone suspicious among the commoners leaving the city?”
Wei Liao lowered his eyes. “I didn’t notice.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the branch in Wei Huai’en’s hand slapped his back hard, immediately leaving a deep red scar.
Wei Liao couldn’t help but tense his muscles, but he gritted his teeth and didn’t make a sound.
Wei Huai’en looked at him and continued to ask.
“I’ll ask again. Did you find anything?”
Wei Liao said, “No.”
Wei Huai’en raised his hand and the branch whipped down again.
With a slap, another wound appeared on Wei Liao’s back.
Slap! Another blow.
Next, Wei Huai’en kept asking the same question over and over.
But no matter how he asked, Wei Liao insisted on answering no.
The branch as thick as a thumb slapped Wei Liao’s back again and again. In the end, because he used too much strength, the branch broke.
Wei Huai’en threw the broken branch to the ground and looked at Wei Liao with disappointment.
He had raised Wei Liao himself. It could be said that he knew Wei Liao the best in the world.
When the Crown Prince asked Wei Liao a question just now, Wei Huai’en was watching from afar. He could tell at a glance that Wei Liao was not telling the truth.
That was why he had interrogated Wei Liao in private.
He wanted to give Wei Liao a chance to confess, but Wei Liao would rather be punished than change his words.
Wei Huai’en glared at him and scolded him in expected better from someone.
“Xiao Juan killed the emperor. He’s a traitor, but you actually helped him hide his whereabouts. Do you want to become an accomplice of a traitor?!” Wei Liao lowered his head for a long time before speaking.
“I’m not helping him.”
Wei Huai’en said, “Then who are you helping?”
Then he quickly reacted and blurted out. “Are you helping Yu Niaoniao?”
This time, Wei Liao did not refute.
Wei Huai’en took two steps back and fell into a chair. He pointed at Wei Liao and cursed.
“You’re really muddle-headed! If you really like Yu Niaoniao, you should have thought of a way to keep her.”
“Now that they have run away and left you alone in the capital, what are you going to do? What you’re doing is thankless!”
Wei Liao naturally knew this.
However, when he saw Yu Niaoniao cry, he immediately lost his mind. His eyes were filled with love for her.
In that instant, not to mention letting Yu Niaoniao go, even if she wanted the moon in the sky, he had to think of a way to pluck it for her.
This was probably what ordinary people meant by being blinded by lust.
It was too late to regret it now. Wei Liao almost gave up on himself.
“It’s good that she’s gone. It saves me the trouble of seeing her again.”
Wei Huai’en scolded with a dark expression, “Useless thing, do you have to do this for a woman? If you really like her so much, think of a way to snatch her back.”
Wei Liao laughed at himself. “Forget it. It’s quite good for her to follow Xiao
Juan. ”
Although he was very annoyed with Xiao Juan, he could not help but admire his courage.
He had the courage to give up all wealth, power, and even his life for the sake of the person he loved.
This was something neither he nor Shen Zhuo could do.
So he was convinced of his defeat..
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