Courtyard House: A System Connecting Two Worlds, Resources for the Nation

"Lord Lei? You mean Lei Jing?"

The guard smiled and tilted his head to look at Yu Zhongquan: "He seems to have died last night, without even leaving a body."

He was quite bored in the prison, so he enjoyed listening to these guys bring up people, and then refuting them one by one, observing the changes in their expressions.

Yu Zhongquan's face turned pale instantly.

Looking through the gate at Gu Qianfan who was about to leave, she hesitated, unsure of what to say.

He and Gu Qianfan had always been at odds. He believed that he was far more capable than Gu Qianfan, and that the only reason Gu Qianfan could surpass him was because of her family background and connections.

Now that everyone is locked up in this dungeon, Gu Qianfan is still the first to escape. What else can he say?

Asking him to plead with Gu Qianfan for mercy would be worse than killing him; it's absolutely impossible for him to do it!

While Yu Zhongquan was still struggling with his decision, Shen Ruzhuo had already stood up from the straw mat and strode to the prison door in two quick steps, looking through the bars at the black-clad guard who was about to turn and leave.

His voice was already a little hoarse, but he still maintained an extremely respectful demeanor: "My lord, my sir, please hear me out! Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, everything needs to be rebuilt, and it is a time when people are in need. I am not talented, but I have a past relationship with Minister Lin Pin, the Minister of State Affairs. If you would be so kind as to let me out, I will definitely put in a good word for you before Minister Lin, and you will be more than capable of rewarding me with an official position and lucrative post."

"Do you have a past relationship with Lin Pin?"

The guard in black, who had already walked halfway, stopped again, slowly turned around, looked down at Shen Ruzhuo, and his expression first showed confusion, then turned into a sneer.

"You said you have a past with Lord Lin Pin?"

"Indeed, I have a very close relationship with Lord Lin. Now that I am in this situation, all I need is for you to..."

Seeing that things were going well, Shen Ruzhuo became even more excited, and her voice unconsciously grew louder.

After he finished speaking, the guard smiled faintly and said, "Lord Shen, are you saying you have a relationship with Lord Lin Pin?"

"They have a very close relationship!"

"Then let me tell you something about Lord Lin Pin. Last night, he wrote a memorial of apology and knelt at the entrance of the Hall of Diligent Governance before dawn, his face covered in snot and tears, and handed over all the account books of bribes he had received in the past. Right now, he is at home reflecting on his mistakes and waiting for the new emperor's judgment."

"Huh?" Shen Ruzhuo's expression froze.

Who knew my backer would be so unreliable?

Despite it being a major event of dynastic change, he not only gained no benefit but also became one of the first casualties.

Seeing that he seemed somewhat distracted, the guard glanced at Song Yinzhang inside through Shen Ruzhuo, then suddenly chuckled and took a half-step closer: "Lord Shen, would you like to guess who the current emperor is?"

Shen Ruzhuo's Adam's apple bobbed, his throat so dry it was almost inaudible: "Is...is it the Eighth Prince?"

The guard stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly burst into laughter. After a long while, he straightened up and wiped his eyes. "Eighth Prince? You mean Zhao Yuanyan? I didn't expect you to be so naive, thinking that the outside world belonged to the Zhao family and that you wouldn't even dare to mention Zhao Yuanyan's name there. Unfortunately, you're disappointed. The current emperor outside has nothing to do with the Zhao Song dynasty. He is surnamed Zhou, and his given name is the character 'Feng' from 'mountain peak'."

"Zhou...Zhou Feng?"

This time, not only Shen Ruzhuo, but also Yu Zhongquan, Uncle De, Zhou She and everyone else who had been captured earlier were dumbfounded.

Of all those present, who hadn't dealt with Zhou Feng?

How did that guy suddenly become an official?

Even Gu Qianfan, who was standing at the entrance of the dungeon, was somewhat bewildered. How long had he been imprisoned here?

The regime has changed hands outside!

The guard's gaze passed over Shen Ruzhuo and landed on the figure huddled in a corner further inside: "Oh, right, there's one more piece of news I forgot to tell you. According to the Emperor's decree, all cumbersome procedures have been abolished, including the enthronement and the appointment of an empress. So, at the same time as the Emperor's enthronement, the Empress has also been chosen. Her surname is Zhao, and her name is Zhao Pan'er. There is also a Noble Consort, surnamed Sun, named Sun San Niang. Are you familiar with them?"

There was a hint of mockery in his expression.

The people in this prison are Zhou Feng's greatest source of emotional value. Therefore, those who guard them must be people Zhou Feng trusts the most, that is, people from this world.

The guards knew perfectly well about the identities of the people in the prison through the original TV series, and even knew them better than the guards themselves.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have deliberately mentioned Zhao Pan'er and Sun San Niang's names and identities in front of Song Yin Zhang.

Anyway, the leader told him to subject these detainees to both physical and mental torture as much as possible.

What could be more agonizing than being a prisoner while your best friend becomes the most respected person in the world?

Most of the people in the prison had naturally heard of these two names, and some had even had dealings with them.

The cell fell silent. Song Yinzhang huddled on the straw mat in the corner, looking much thinner with sunken eyes.

She sensed something was wrong when she heard Zhao Pan'er's name.

Upon learning that the other party had become empress, she trembled all over, her fingernails digging into her palms, drawing out a few thin strands of blood.

"Impossible, how could this be? Sister Pan'er... Third Sister..."

If she could stay by Zhao Pan'er and Sun San Niang's side, although she might not be able to enter the palace as a concubine, given her relationship with Zhao Pan'er, she would certainly receive many benefits.

At that time, let alone her lowly status, it's not impossible for her to be elevated to the rank of princess!

But now…

The guard glanced at Song Yinzhang and immediately noticed the despair, helplessness, and regret in her eyes.

"What are you calling the Empress? You're not her sister, how dare you address her like that?"

The guard offered Song Yinzhang another way out, and the latter immediately became excited, saying repeatedly, "Sister Pan'er and I are truly sisters. If you don't believe me, go to Qiantang and ask around. Everyone knows our relationship. I've been with her since I was a child, from Qiantang to Tokyo. We grew up together, inseparable. Let me out, let me see her, she will definitely..."

"I'll definitely slap you across the face and then kick you out!"

The guard picked up where Song Yinzhang left off, his mockery no longer concealed: "I heard that when Her Majesty the Empress was of low status, someone went to her and severed ties with her, saying something like, 'Let bygones be bygones,' was that you?"

Song Yinzhang stood there, completely stunned.

She knew perfectly well that the damned guard knew everything. He was doing it on purpose, playing her for a fool!