freenovelworld Chapter 214 Can he really be locked up for life? He'll always get out...
Chapter 214 Can he really be locked up for life? He'll always get out...
The night was as dark as ink, and the rhythmic footsteps of patrolling soldiers echoed through the camp.
Ying, carrying two jars of wine, headed straight for Deputy General Shi's tent.
Upon arriving at the tent, Ying Yi coughed lightly and announced, "Vice General Shi, are you resting?"
From inside the tent came Lieutenant General Shi's slightly gruff voice: "Who is it? Come in."
Yingyi lifted the curtain and went inside.
Lieutenant General Shi was sitting at his desk, wiping his sword in the dim light.
Upon seeing Ying enter, he was slightly taken aback: "Lord Ying, what brings you here?"
Yingyi gently placed the two jars of wine on the table. "Deputy General Shi, the night is long, and I thought I'd come and have a few drinks with you to catch up."
Upon hearing this, Deputy General Shi frowned immediately, a troubled expression on his face: "Lord Ying, drinking alcohol is strictly prohibited in this military camp, you..."
Yingyi, however, seemed not to have heard his refusal. He simply stood quietly in place, looking calmly at Vice General Shi, without moving an inch.
Deputy General Shi and Yingyi exchanged a glance for a moment, then he sighed helplessly: "Alright, alright, since Lord Yingyi is in the mood, let's go out for a drink."
After saying that, he hung his sword back on the wall and left the East Camp with Yingyi, arriving at a small hill not far away.
The moonlight, like water, shone on the two of them. Yingyi opened a jar of wine, handed it to Deputy General Shi, and picked up another jar for himself, tilting his head back and taking a big gulp.
Deputy General Shi hesitated for a moment, then took the wine jar and drank along with him.
With a few gurgling sounds, the jar of wine was quickly emptied.
Lieutenant Shi wiped the wine stains from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, looked at Yingyi with eyes full of respect: "Lord Yingyi, please speak frankly."
Ying Yi put down the wine jar, his eyes instantly turning sharp as an eagle's as he stared into Vice General Shi's eyes, asking each word slowly and deliberately, "How did the Eldest Princess die back then?"
Upon hearing this, Deputy General Shi's body jolted, and a few drops of wine spilled onto the back of his rough hand.
"Lord Yingyi, why did you suddenly ask about this? Back then, wasn't the Eldest Princess..." He stopped mid-sentence and swallowed his words.
Under the moonlight, Yingyi's gaze was fixed on Deputy General Shi, not missing any subtle changes in his expression.
"Deputy General Shi, do you really think that the death of the Eldest Princess was as simple as everyone knows?" Yingyi's voice was deep and powerful, echoing across the silent hill.
Lieutenant Shi's Adam's apple bobbed. He avoided Ying Yi's gaze, looked at the dark night sky in the distance, and remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking.
"Back then, the eldest princess fell seriously ill, and despite all medicine, she passed away in the palace. This is common knowledge throughout the country. My lord, why..."
He paused for a moment, then asked the question that had been on his mind, "Could there have been other reasons for the death of the Eldest Princess back then?"
"This...this is impossible! How could the news that came from the palace back then, along with the imperial physician's diagnosis, be false?"
His voice trembled slightly, clearly indicating that he was deeply shaken.
Lord Shadow wouldn't make a statement without a reason...
Yingyi stood up, walked to Deputy General Shi's side, and looked down at him: "That's why I came to ask you. You were once the Princess's personal guard, and later you were promoted to deputy general. Are you really unaware of what happened?"
Deputy General Shi suddenly stood up, his expression agitated: "Lord Yingyi, I swear to God, I really only know that the Princess has passed away."
"After the eldest princess died, her personal guards were scattered and merged with the soldiers of the Eastern Camp. I was promoted by General Feng because I made meritorious contributions in the suppression of bandits."
"If I have uttered even half a lie about the death of the eldest princess, may I be struck by lightning!" he said, clenching his fists tightly, veins bulging on his forehead.
Looking at Vice General Shi's excited expression, Yingyi frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.
Judging from Lieutenant General Shi's reaction, he seems to be genuinely unaware of the situation.
After a long while, Ying nodded, her expression returning to calm.
He turned around, preparing to leave, but after taking a few steps, he turned back and gave Deputy General Shi a deep look.
"Let's not make a fuss about what happened today." Deputy General Shi quickly clasped his hands in a fist and replied, "Yes, Lord Ying, rest assured."
Watching Shadow One's figure disappear into the darkness, Vice General Shi sighed heavily, tilted his head back, and drank the rest of his wine in one gulp.
If the death of the eldest princess was not an accident, then who buried the truth behind it?
Deputy General Shi was filled with doubts. That night, he sat on the hill for a long time before slowly getting up and returning to camp.
Back in his tent, Deputy General Shi lay on his bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep...
Yingyi and Gu Junze sat facing each other in the tent, the atmosphere heavy.
Yingyi frowned slightly and spoke first: "Judging from Vice General Shi's reaction, he probably doesn't know anything. It seems our investigation needs to take another direction."
Gu Junze nodded slightly, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table, his eyes thoughtful.
Yingyi continued, "Little Stone was too young back then to have been exposed to these things."
At this point, he changed the subject, "But Feng Shaoyu, who started as a lowly soldier, managed to rise all the way to the position of General Weiyuan."
“I investigated him secretly, and he didn’t achieve any military merits. His path to promotion probably has some hidden secrets.”
"So, his promotion was deliberately supported by someone?" Gu Junze's eyes turned cold.
“Very likely.” Yingyi nodded.
"Your Highness, I'll go and bring him here."
"The prison is heavily guarded; there's no need to take the risk. Besides, we don't have enough evidence right now, and acting rashly might put us at a disadvantage."
"Can he stay locked up forever? He'll get out eventually..."
He can wait...
Ten days later
Lu Ge'er passed the imperial examination and became the youngest scholar in the Great Jin Kingdom.
The news spread throughout the capital.
After Gu Chen left the court, a group of officials immediately surrounded him with beaming smiles, showering him with flattery.
"Brother Gu, congratulations!" A middle-aged official dressed in a fifth-rank official robe spoke first, his smile almost overflowing.
"Your grandson is truly a promising young man with a limitless future! No wonder he was taught by the heir of the Marquis of Anyang's family; a great teacher produces a great student!"
“Yes, yes,” another official quickly echoed, “The Crown Prince is renowned throughout the capital for his profound learning.”
"Your grandson is so envious..."
Gu Chen suppressed a smile, but still pretended to be humble, cupping his hands and saying, "You flatter me, everyone. It is Lu Ge'er's good fortune to be taught by the young master."
Gu Chen dealt with the officials' flattery, feeling overjoyed. He finally found an excuse to leave and hurriedly returned to his residence.
Gu Chen strode forward, raised his hand and gently patted Lu Ge'er's shoulder, his face full of satisfaction.
"Good boy, your passing the imperial examination this time has brought great honor to our family! You truly are worthy of being my grandson, Gu Chen!"
Lu Ge'er bowed slightly, then raised his head with a hint of melancholy on his face: "Grandfather, I owe everything I have today to your guidance and that of all the elders in the family. But..."