Chapter 339 - 88: Sometimes Living Is More Painful Than Death

After Marquis Rong’gong finished his explanation,

everyone’s expressions changed slightly.

It wasn’t that they doubted him.

After all, anyone could see—it wasn’t likely that Marquis Rong’gong would be lying at a time like this.

Which makes things more interesting.

"So this assassin was deliberately trying to lure you into attacking the envoys!"

Lei Zheng stroked his chin, thinking it over calmly.

Although he didn’t know who was behind all this, it was clear the mastermind’s mind was exceedingly meticulous.

Otherwise, there’s no way the plan could have been this thorough.

Either the one who tried to assassinate Marquis Rong’gong and the one who attacked the envoys are the same group,

or, someone knew the envoys would be attacked and used that as a chance to set up Marquis Rong’gong.

In any case, Marquis Rong’gong’s enemy—that’s for sure.

So after all that fuss...

the unluckiest one is still Marquis Rong’gong.

"Enough! Enough!"

It was late, and Lei Zheng didn’t want to waste any more time here—after all, nobody had actually been hurt.

This kind of case just isn’t suited for thorough investigation.

The emperor’s birthday is almost here—this kind of thing, the sooner it dies down, the better. As long as things look calm on the surface, that’s good enough.

"Since it was all a misunderstanding, let’s just let it go!"

"It’s already late. Envoys, please go back and rest!"

"Don’t worry. For the next few days, I’ll assign the Embroidered Uniform Guard to protect the inn. Such a thing will not happen again!"

Lei Zheng rattled off several sentences, looking at the envoys as he spoke.

They were already in the wrong for crippling a Marquis in their defense.

Clearly, when Lei Zheng spoke, they took the opportunity and nodded, playing along gladly.

"In that case, we’ll trouble the Embroidered Uniform Guard, then!"

The lead Fifth Grade Mage smiled and nodded.

He signaled to the other envoys, turned, and left.

"Uh!"

Wait.

What about me?

Marquis Rong’gong tried to lift his hand, but found, because his Dantian had been destroyed, he no longer even had the strength to raise it.

He didn’t move until the envoys were gone.

Only then did Lei Zheng’s smile disappear. He turned to look at Marquis Rong’gong.

"Lord Lei, about this business—"

Marquis Rong’gong wanted to say something more.

But Lei Zheng cut in immediately.

"If you’re smart, you should realize—it’s precisely because you were crippled that this matter can be smoothed over, isn’t that so?"

"..."

Marquis Rong’gong wasn’t a fool.

Otherwise,

he’d never have built such a vast enterprise with only a Marquis’s title.

Of course he understood the meaning behind Lei Zheng’s words.

But urging others to sacrifice and sacrificing yourself—those are two very different things.

Marquis Rong’gong could offer a few painless, empty words persuading others to be generous, to sacrifice.

But when it came to his own neck, it was a completely different story.

At least right now, Marquis Rong’gong felt a fury stuck in his chest—he could barely make a fist, let alone anything else.

But in the end, Marquis Rong’gong still lowered his head in silence.

What else could he do?

He’d already been ruined. If he just let it die down, maybe he could still earn a good reputation.

But if he really tried to make a fuss...

he knew that Lei Zheng here would be the first not to spare him!

"I understand."

"Good."

Seeing Marquis Rong’gong say this with his eyes lowered,

Lei Zheng nodded in satisfaction, flicked his hand, and led the Embroidered Uniform Guard away.

As for Marquis Rong’gong, he simply sat slumped against the wall, and nobody paid him any mind. Only after a long while, once some strength had returned, did he use the wall to push himself upright and stagger back home!

Not far off,

Feng Feiyi hadn’t left. His gaze was ice-cold as he watched Marquis Rong’gong’s departing figure.

If he made his move right now,

Marquis Rong’gong wouldn’t have a chance in hell of escaping alive.

Except...

Feng Feiyi ended up simply crossing his arms and watching Marquis Rong’gong leave, making no move to attack.

Some people, living, suffer more than if they were dead.

If he ended things for Marquis Rong’gong now, wouldn’t that be letting him off too easy?

Thinking of how he’d seen his own parents’ bodies, ravaged by torture in prison all those years ago, Feng Feiyi only grew more reluctant to let Marquis Rong’gong die so quickly—the more suffering, the more it avenges his parents.

"Father! Mother! Do you see? Your son is already taking revenge for you!"

Head raised to the sky, Feng Feiyi couldn’t help but break down in tears beneath the moonlight.

Finally, it wasn’t just a matter of making Marquis Rong’gong lose a little business anymore.

But,

all the more so...

Feng Feiyi found himself even more convinced by Ye Liuyun.

After all, the whole plan was Ye Liuyun’s idea. If it weren’t for Ye Liuyun, he’d probably still be wracking his brains trying to quietly burn down Marquis Rong’gong’s businesses without getting caught!

...

The next morning,

Sure enough, the city was calm—nothing had happened.

A few people knew the truth, but the rest hadn’t the faintest idea what had taken place last night.

"It failed?"

In the Prime Minister’s Mansion,

Fu Zhengqing sat in his courtyard, as usual, a chess piece in hand, playing himself. This had always been his favorite way to pass the time.

About last night’s events—

Fu Zhengqing already knew: the assassination had failed. Not a single envoy was killed.

He also knew Marquis Rong’gong had been crippled by the envoys, and that because of this, the envoys from Liuli Dynasty chose not to make a scene about being targeted for assassination.