I play the role of Jiajing in Zongwu: What crime have I committed?

Chapter 191 No mistakes are merit

Tian Dezhi wrote down what he saw and heard at the scene of the prison break in a secret letter and personally handed it to Zhu Shou.

Zhu Shou then took out an exquisite wooden box and put Fei Liu's head into it.

Then he took the secret letter and sent it, along with the wooden box, to the East Palace.

Xiao Jinghuan paced back and forth in his study, glancing at the door every now and then, anxiously awaiting news.

After all, if this matter were true, reporting it to the Emperor would be a great achievement.

It's not impossible that the lockdown will be lifted in the future.

At this moment, a trusted aide suddenly reported: "Your Highness, Mr. Zhu requests an audience."

"Let him in."

Zhu Shou then slowly walked into the study, carrying a wooden box in one hand, and then respectfully bowed.

"Your Highness."

Xiao Jinghuan looked up at the wooden box, his brows furrowing slightly.

"What is this?"

Zhu Shou smiled slightly: "This is the evidence that the Jiangzuo Alliance is a remnant of the Chiyan Clan. Your Highness will know once you open it."

Seeing this, Xiao Jinghuan suspiciously reached out and gently lifted the lid of the wooden box.

hiss~

Upon seeing what was inside, he gasped sharply, his pupils contracting rapidly.

"Fei Liu?"

Inside the box, Fei Liu's face was as pale as paper, and his eyes were tightly closed.

Although the bloodstains at the cut on the neck had dried, the ruthlessness and efficiency of the strike were still faintly visible.

He looked up at Zhu Shou in shock.

"Sir, what's going on?"

Zhu Shou said calmly, "Fei Liu is the one who broke the prisoner in the West Market today. He killed Xia Jiang and was then beheaded by me on the spot."

As he spoke, he took out Tian Dezhi's secret letter from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

"Minister Tian witnessed the entire process and recorded the details here for Your Highness to review."

Xiao Jinghuan quickly took the secret letter and began to read it carefully.

Indeed, the letter detailed how Fei Liu fought fiercely with Xia Jiang, how he killed him, and how he was then beheaded by Zhu Shou.

From Tian Dezhi's words, he finally realized just how unfathomable Zhu Shou's strength truly was.

After reading the secret letter, Xiao Jinghuan slowly put it down and looked at Zhu Shou with a complicated expression, a mixture of joy and apprehension.

"Sir, you are indeed a man of great talent."

Zhu Shou smiled slightly.

"Your Highness flatters me. Although Fei Liu is a Grandmaster, he is still just a child at heart. Besides, he had a lot of trouble fighting with Xia Jiang. I was just taking advantage of the situation."

"So, Mei Changsu is truly a remnant of the Chiyan Army?"

"Absolutely true. With the intelligence capabilities of the Suspended Mirror Bureau, I believe Su Xuan's true identity will soon be revealed."

Xiao Jinghuan nodded after hearing this.

He then closed the wooden box and paced back and forth in the study.

At this point, he completely believed Zhu Shou's words; Su Xuan was most likely Wei Zheng.

Otherwise, why would Xia Jiang personally escort them?

How could I possibly risk my life for this!

"What a shrewd man, Mei Changsu!"

Xiao Jinghuan slammed his fist on the table and gritted his teeth.

"I have been deceived by him until now."

"What does Your Highness intend to do next?" Zhu Shou stepped forward and asked in a low voice.

Xiao Jinghuan stared at the wooden box in Zhu Shou's hand, his eyes shifting between light and shadow.

After a while, he suddenly sneered and slowly stroked the lid of the box.

"I intend to personally hand Fei Liu's head to my father, the Emperor. At that time, I will have accomplished a great service."

"Given Father's attitude towards the Chiyan Rebellion, he will definitely not let Mei Changsu off the hook. He might even use him as a tool to kill someone and bring Prince Jing down as well."

So fun!

In the Wanshou Palace, Zhu Houcong was taken aback after hearing this.

damn thing.

Go against Tiangang!

You're plotting against your dad?

If I, your father, could kill Mei Changsu directly, would I have waited until now?

Do you think you have the right to play tricks here?

Looking at Xiao Jinghuan's smug face, Zhu Houcong wished he could slap him on the spot.

Rebel!

You are so filial!

I'm not even dead yet, and you dare to use me as a weapon.

Calm, calm.

We need to dissuade this big idiot first.

The next second, Zhu Houcong quickly controlled Zhu Shou to speak.

"Your Highness, I believe this action is inappropriate."

"Oh? Is there something wrong?" Xiao Jinghuan frowned upon hearing this.

Zhu Shou's expression was solemn as he slowly said, "Your Highness, how do you intend to explain to the Emperor why Fei Liu's head is in your hands?"

"Of course, I told them the truth, saying that it was the gentleman who killed him."

"That's the problem."

Zhu Shou said firmly.

"Your Highness, given His Majesty's suspicious nature, it's likely that he never reported to you the fact that you have a master capable of killing a Grandmaster hidden by your side."

"What do you think the Emperor will think?"

Before Xiao Jinghuan could answer, Zhu Shou preemptively said, "The Emperor will most likely think that you harbor malicious intentions, or that he is wary of Your Highness, to the point that father and son are suspicious of each other."

"Disaster will surely occur in the future."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinghuan frowned and hesitated before saying, "I don't think so. You're being too sensitive."

Zhu Shou shook his head and slowly said, "Grandmasters are different from ordinary martial artists. Does Your Highness still remember what happened on the first day of the Lunar New Year?"

"Naturally remember."

"After this incident, His Majesty is extremely wary of the existence of Grandmasters. If he were to find out that Your Highness is secretly recruiting Grandmasters..."

"But I am the Emperor's son!"

Xiao Jinghuan swallowed hard, his voice no longer carrying the confidence he had at the beginning.

He stared blankly at Zhu Shou, a look of surprise and uncertainty flashing in his eyes.

"Why do you think that His Majesty will definitely not harm you, Your Highness?"

"This... sir, please be careful with your words. I would never dare to speak so carelessly."

"Your Highness, Prince Jing, Prince Yu, and Prince Chu are also the Emperor's sons. If the Emperor doesn't pass the throne to you, is it possible that it will be passed to them?"

These words struck Xiao Jinghuan like a thunderbolt.

It made his scalp tingle.

He then slumped heavily into the chair.

That's right!

It was he who was careless.

Secretly contacting a Grandmaster would surely arouse suspicion in the Emperor, given his suspicious nature.

"Then what do you think I should do, sir?" Xiao Jinghuan hurriedly asked.

Zhu Shou's gaze darkened slightly before he gave his answer.

"It would be better to secretly send Fei Liu's head to the Suspended Mirror Bureau."

"The entire Xuanjing Division has long hated Fei Liu for killing Xia Jiang."

"If they find out that the mastermind is the Jiangzuo Alliance, how do you think they will deal with Mei Changsu?"

Xiao Jinghuan looked extremely unwilling after hearing this.

"But wouldn't that mean giving all the credit to the Suspended Mirror Division for nothing?"

Zhu Shou chuckled and shook his head, saying, "Your Highness is now the Crown Prince; why should you care about such insignificant merits?"

Merit and demerit always go hand in hand; to seek no merit is merit in itself.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinghuan trembled and murmured the same words.

"To err is human, to forgive divine..."

Silence fell over the study.

After a while, Xiao Jinghuan suddenly stood up and bowed solemnly to Zhu Shou.

“Sir, your words are truly insightful and hit the nail on the head.”

"Such wise words, I will certainly keep in mind."

"Your Highness flatters me. I learned this phrase from a gentleman named Zhao Zhenji."

"Zhao Zhenji?"

Xiao Jinghuan was taken aback: "A person who can utter such golden words must be a great talent of our time. I have never heard of such a person before."

"I will introduce you to His Highness when I have the chance."

Chapter 192 Everyone must die

Xiao Jinghuan nodded slightly, and then made up his mind.

"Let's follow your plan, sir. Let the Suspended Mirror Bureau fight Mei Changsu. As long as we keep that wicked Mei Changsu busy dealing with him, he won't have time to stir up trouble in the shadows."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Shou immediately bowed and said, "Your Highness is wise."

Xiao Jinghuan quickly stepped forward, helped him up, and held his hands tightly.

Their gazes were intense, their eyes conveying deep emotions.

Zhu Houcong (Zhu Shou) almost thought he was about to transform into Sister Hong.

I felt a wave of nausea.

My hands... are dirty!

"Sir, there's no need for such formality."

Xiao Jinghuan said sincerely.