The Prodigal Son

Three days later, the Chu army, along with the captured Min soldiers, formally surrendered to Qin Yu.

Qin Yu's act of sending Liang Jingzhe a coffin and allowing someone to send Liang Jingzhe's coffin back to Chu first reduced the Chu army's hostility towards him.

Although the surrender process had some minor hiccups, it was completed relatively smoothly.

After the surrender was completed, Qin Yu immediately sent someone to deliver the message to Fang Junji, and at the same time wrote a handwritten order, instructing Zeng Guan to deliver it to Yun Zhao at the front line of Yinzhou as quickly as possible.

At the same time, they ordered people to bring back the wounded soldiers they had previously left behind.

Later that evening, Qin Yu brought wine and food to "visit" Yu Wu.

Qin Yu treated Yu Wu quite well.

He did not lock Yu Wu in a prison, but gave Yu Wu a small room.

Although the room was a bit run-down, it was still much better than a dark and damp prison.

Even though he had become a prisoner, Yu Wu's eyes were still filled with hatred the moment he saw Qin Yu.

Qin Yu ignored Yu Wu's gaze, placed the food and wine on the table, and asked with a smile, "Want a couple of drinks?"

"Is this my last meal before I'm executed?"

Yu Wu coldly watched Qin Yu, striving to maintain his imperial dignity.

Qin Yu smirked and asked, "If it were your last meal before you were executed, would you dare to eat it?"

Yu Wu's heart skipped a beat, but he tried his best to appear fearless. "What's there to be afraid of? I never expected to survive after falling into your hands!"

Yu Wu spoke toughly, but his slightly trembling voice betrayed him.

Of course he's afraid of dying!

He's so young, he hasn't enjoyed life enough yet!

How could he be willing to die like this?

He wanted to beg Qin Yu to spare him and give him a chance to live, but his pitiful dignity prevented him from saying the words of pleading.

Most importantly, even he himself didn't know what reason to use to convince Qin Yu to let him go.

Yu Jing is still alive!

I don't even have the qualifications to be a puppet of Da Ning!

Rather than begging for mercy in humiliation only to lose one's life, it's better to die with some dignity.

"Hmm, not bad, he does have some of the backbone of an emperor."

Qin Yu put down the food and wine, and looked at Yu Wu with a smile, "He's just... a little silly!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Wu glared angrily at Qin Yu: "Though I am a prisoner, I will not tolerate your humiliation!"

Scholars can be killed, but not humiliated!

"Humiliation? You're overthinking it! I'm just stating the facts."

Qin Yu looked at Yu Wu with a smile, "Alright! At a time like this, stop putting on airs! You don't have that much face to make me personally deliver your last meal."

Not that much face?

Those few simple words struck Yu Wu deeply.

He was a man who had once sat on the throne, yet he didn't even have the right to have Qin Yu personally deliver his last meal before his execution?

A phoenix without hair is no better than a chicken!

At this moment, Yu Wu deeply understood this feeling.

"You won, now it's your turn to be smug!"

Yu Wu tried hard to suppress the urge to curse, slowly stood up, and walked step by step to the table to sit down.

Qin Yu glanced at Yu Wu with a smile, poured himself a glass of wine, and drank it leisurely without eating any food.

Yu Wu suppressed his fear and glanced at Qin Yu before picking up the wine pot.

Even though he tried to control himself, his hands still trembled uncontrollably, spilling the wine out of the glass.

Seeing his disheveled appearance, Yu Wu's face flushed slightly, and he cursed himself for being spineless with grief and indignation.

Qin Yu has already said this isn't a death sentence, so why am I still doing this?

Qin Yu didn't laugh at him. After taking a sip of wine, he asked with great interest, "By the way, before you crossed the Yangtze River, did you hide any gold or silver treasures?"

Upon hearing Qin Yu's words, Yu Wu's heart suddenly stirred.

Gold and silver treasures?

Could this be Qin Yu's real purpose in inviting him to dinner and drinks?

He keenly realized that this might be his only chance to survive!

He won't kill me as long as Qin Yu doesn't get those so-called gold and silver treasures!

Thinking of this, Yu Wu's fear subsided slightly. He suddenly grabbed a wine glass, poured a full glass of wine down his throat, then raised an eyebrow and snorted, "So what if I have it, so what if I don't?"

Qin Yu glanced at him indifferently, "If you have something to say, just tell me honestly to avoid suffering. If you don't, just say you don't. Don't waste my time."

"No!"

Yu Wu answered in a muffled voice, pretending to pick up his chopsticks to eat, but secretly observing Qin Yu's expression.

However, Qin Yu's face remained completely expressionless.

"All right!"

Qin Yu didn't seem to doubt his words, and instead asked with a gossipy look, "I heard that after Huang Dengxing was ambushed and seriously injured by Liang Jingzhe, he still managed to rescue your mother despite his severe injuries. What exactly is his relationship with your mother?"

Upon hearing Qin Yu's question, Yu Wu's expression suddenly turned ugly.

Even knowing he was now a prisoner, he couldn't help but unleash a murderous intent.

He didn't know about Empress Wu and Huang Dengxing's past, but he knew that Huang Dengxing and Empress Wu had some disgraceful relationship.

After he ascended the throne, Huang Dengxing even stayed overnight in Empress Wu's palace on several occasions.

He knows everything, but he pretends not to.

To save face for the royal family, they even had to help them cover up their scandals.

This was undoubtedly a huge humiliation for him!

If Huang Dengxing weren't a grandmaster, and if Huang Dengxing weren't still of use to him, he would have eliminated Huang Dengxing long ago!

Now that Qin Yu has asked this question in front of him, it is undoubtedly an insult to him!

Sensing Yu Wu's killing intent, Qin Yu already understood.

It seems that Nan Que'er's guess was correct.

Empress Wu and Huang Dengxing were likely having an affair!

Damn it!

That old fox Huang Dengxing is really something else!

"You'd better not show any murderous intent in front of me."

Qin Yu composed himself, his gaze suddenly turning sharp. "While I won't kill you for now, if you dare to do this again, I won't hesitate to let you experience real torture!"

Meeting Qin Yu's gaze and considering his current predicament, Yu Wu unconsciously lowered his head, and the murderous aura emanating from him quickly dissipated.

After giving Yu Wu another warning look, Qin Yu got up and left.

As soon as he stepped outside, Nan Que'er excitedly greeted him, "Did you get the answer?"

"..."

Qin Yu looked speechlessly at Nan Que'er, who had a gossipy expression on her face, and reached out to pinch her nose. "Why are you so gossipy?"

"Aren't you curious?" Nan Que'er slapped Qin Yu's hand away, her eyes full of anticipation. "Did you get the answer yet?"

"No!"

Qin Yu glanced at her, "However, your guess is probably pretty accurate."

"Then why didn't you ask clearly?" Nan Que'er pouted slightly.

"Yu Wu's performance has already said everything, what else is there to ask?"

Qin Yu was speechless. "He was once an emperor. If he had any self-respect, he would never tell you about his mother's affair with Huang Dengxing."

Nan Que'er tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said excitedly, "Then I'll go ask his empress! If I still can't get an answer, I'll make him taste the agony of ten thousand insects gnawing at his heart..."

"..."

Qin Yu's lips twitched, and he looked at Nan Que'er with a wry smile.

Her gossipy nature is incurable.

Just as the two were talking, Xu Wan quickly arrived.

"Qin Yu, Senior Zhao Po and Xue Lie have arrived!"