Hou Ye's palm heart is a black lotus

Chapter 718 You Still Don't Know (First Update)
Fan Chengzhuo never expected Zheng Baosu to say such a thing, and he was both shocked and pained.

He turned around with difficulty, looking at Zheng Baosu as if he were looking at a complete stranger.

These words completely plunged them all into the abyss.

He wasn't afraid of death; otherwise, he would have panicked when that line of blood appeared on his arm.

But, he never expected that the one who would give him the final push would be Zheng Baosu!
However, Zheng Baosu found his reaction all the more delightful.

"What? Surprised? Since we did those things together, let's share the responsibility today!"

Where in this world can you find a life where you can eat meat without getting beaten up?
Zheng Baosu thought with deep resentment.

Since they won't save him, then don't blame him for being impolite!
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Xie Anjun immediately jumped up and shouted a barrage of curses, his voice trembling with fear.

"Speaking nonsense! Talking rubbish! Zheng Baosu! I have no grudge against you, so why do you keep harping on me?! If Fan Chengzhuo hadn't spoken up for you back then, I would never have written that letter of recommendation for you! How could you have achieved your later success?! Don't be ungrateful!"

"I'm ungrateful?"

Zheng Baosu seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world, his eyes full of mockery.
"You! And that guy surnamed Fan! Why did you plot against me? Wasn't it to send me to the northern frontier to work for you?! Now that the truth has come out, you want to push me out to take the blame and die for you? You're dreaming!"

Fan Chengzhu swayed, finally managing to utter a difficult sentence, "You...you really think that way..."

"if not?"

Zheng Baosu spat out a mouthful of blood with disdain. Having deserted countless times on the battlefield, he now knew there was no escape, which only made him bolder.

Once a person is willing to risk everything, they are no longer afraid of anything.

"I found it strange from the beginning. I'm just a distant relative of yours, and I've only met you a few times. Yet you suddenly offered me such a huge benefit, saying you would help me achieve great things... And I actually believed you back then!"

Looking back now, it's ridiculous!
"It's my fault for being so stupid back then, never thinking of such a 'good thing'! Why did you give it to me and not someone else? Now I finally understand, you were planning for this day all along!"

A deep hatred welled up in Zheng Baosu's eyes, and his teeth were grinding.

"If it weren't for you! I would still be living a leisurely life in Fuyang! Why would I have to suffer so much in the northern frontier for so many years! And even lose my life!"

Fan Chengzhuo opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say. His eyes were filled with an unprecedented despair.

"If I die, I'll haunt you even as a ghost!"

These words seemed to greatly agitate Fan Chengzhuo, causing him to breathe rapidly and vomit blood again.

He looked dejected and hopeless, as if he had burned out his last bit of energy.

Xie Anjun was in a state of utter confusion.

He wanted to defend himself, but Zheng Baosu had already made such a scene, and he couldn't get a word in edgewise!

He was extremely anxious and couldn't help but look at Fan Chengzhuo, "Lord Fan! He's slandering us like this, and you don't even react!?"

Xie Anjun was filled with regret. If he had known that this uncle and nephew were so unreliable, he would never have agreed even if they had offered him ten times the benefits!
In the end, they risked their lives, which was a huge loss!
But for some reason, Fan Chengzhuo didn't say another word from beginning to end.

He seemed to have resigned himself to his fate, slowly closing his eyes, his face as pale as a ghost.

Despite Zheng Baosu and Xie Anjun's fierce bickering and life-or-death struggle, he remained unmoved.

It looks like he could die at any moment.

Emperor Mu Wu lowered his eyes, his weathered gaze falling on Fan Chengzhuo.

"Fan Chengzhuo, don't you have anything to say about these accusations? If you don't speak, are you admitting that what he said is true?"

"Your Majesty—" Xie Anjun said hurriedly.

Emperor Mu Wu coldly replied, "I didn't ask you." Xie Anjun's remaining words were completely cut off.

All eyes turned to Fan Chengzhuo.

Even a fool could see that he was the most crucial link in this matter.

If he admits it, then everyone involved is doomed; if he denies it…

It seems there's little room for denial.

Fan Chengzhu knelt there, seemingly freezing cold, his whole body trembling slightly.

He never imagined things would turn out this way...

Zheng Baosu, however, still felt unsatisfied and sarcastically retorted, "What? Can't say it? Do you want me to help you recall how you persuaded me to go to the northern frontier, and how you lobbied me to sell those supplies and weapons to Wazhen at a high price? Can't say it? When it came time to divide the money, Lord Fan, you were very happy! Why are you silent today?"

Zheng Baosu's words were like sharp arrows, aimed directly at Fan Chengzhuo, and were extremely aggressive!

However, no matter what he said, Fan Chengzhuo never responded.

He closed his eyes, his lips pale, as if he were about to faint at any moment.

Just as Zheng Baosu was about to continue questioning, a calm and dignified voice suddenly came from outside the hall.

"Lord Fan is devoted to you, yet you treat him like this; I'm afraid you'll break his heart."

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Ye Chutang turned around and curtsied to the person who had entered.

"I've met the eldest princess."

After a brief moment of astonishment, everyone in the hall finally came to their senses.

—Why is the eldest princess here?!
The court has been busy with affairs lately, but the Princess has been unwell and hasn't left her residence for quite some time.

But today you suddenly appeared here...

When Emperor Mu Wu saw the eldest princess, his originally stern expression softened slightly.

"What brings you free today, my royal sister?"

The eldest princess sighed, her gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall, lingering on Xie Anjun for a moment before she said helplessly, "His Majesty summoned the Marquis of Zhongyong to the palace this morning, and the Xie family is in chaos. I can only summon Jiayi here first to settle her down, lest something go wrong."

Upon hearing Xiao Jiayi's name, the people in the hall reacted in various ways.

Since Xiao Chengxuan was exiled to Yizhou, Jiang Qingmei was sentenced to death, and the Jiang family was raided, the name Xiao Jiayi has been deliberately ignored and forgotten.

Only the eldest princess dared to mention her directly.

As expected, Emperor Mu Wu frowned slightly.

"The Xie family is guarded by the Imperial Guards, so how could anything go wrong? It's just causing trouble for my elder sister again."

The eldest princess sighed inwardly.

In fact, everyone knows that Xiao Jiayi has not been having a good time lately, but who told her to have such a mother and brothers?

Even now, they don't even have a place to settle down and make a living.

"Actually, I summoned her not just for this matter. She said some things to me, which is why I made this special trip."

After the princess finished speaking, her gaze finally fell on Zheng Baosu, as if she were deep in thought.

"It seems you still don't know?"