Chapter 1321: Chapter 1321: The Villain Urges Me to Release the Tiger Back to the Mountain
Emperor Chu looked leisurely at Mr. Ning, but there was an unreleased killing intent in his eyes.
The hiding of those people really frustrated him. Without Mr. Ning, the wolf, they would be even more difficult to emerge, making it harder to capture them.
Mr. Ning opened his mouth, just about to speak.
Song Zhiyuan added, "If the Cabinet Minister intends to use the crown princeās heir as a bargaining chip, then save your words."
Mr. Ningās pupils slightly contracted.
"If the Cabinet Minister wishes to discuss whose heir it is, itās meaningless. With your wisdom, you should have guessed, otherwise, the strongholds in the city wouldnāt have been dismantled one by one, and Zhao Guangyiās family wouldnāt have been raided, all because of this."
To put it simply, if you want to tell us who the real heir is, donāt bother. We all know he has exposed himself.
Mr. Ning laughed and said, "Indeed, the Yangtze Riverās waves push the old forward; I am truly old, not as quick-witted as you youngsters."
Inside, he cursed Xia Houzhe, an incompetent fool.
Seeing Emperor Chu dismantle those strongholds, he guessed it was Xia Houzheās side that was first exposed, but a small hope remained in his heart. The result?
Even though they did so much behind the scenes and diverted Emperor Chuās attention to Shang Pu, it was ultimately of no use.
This idiot wasted all those years of nurturing for nothing.
"No, no matter how quick oneās mind turns, it canāt match yours, Mr. Ning. After all, ginger gets spicier with age, and it makes sense. Youāre decisive and have the courage to choose, otherwise, we wouldnāt have come up empty-handed." Song Zhiyuan smiled.
Mr. Ning looked at him, "No wonder the Emperor regards you as a pillar, indeed a capable arm."
Song Zhiyuan said, "If the Cabinet Minister wants to protect the Ning family, apart from the old associateās strongholds, there are no other bargaining chips to offer."
Mr. Ning said, "Over the years, theyāve long resigned their old identities and willingly become citizens of the Great Qing. The Emperor loves his people like sons; why not let them return? The heir has been punished, and they have no excuse to rise up."
"Have you forgotten that you also kidnapped one of Xia Houzheās children?" Emperor Chu chuckled, "Donāt say things like that child canāt become a great person. If you were in my shoes, you wouldnāt believe it either. To love the people as sons depends on whose son it is. The Emperor wouldnāt dare to love traitors and rebels; thereās no need to foster future trouble."
Trying to persuade an emperor to let a tiger return to the mountain, is this old man becoming muddled in his final days? Truly the first joke of the year.
Mr. Ning sighed and said, "History is written by victors, in this game I lost, I have nothing to say. From the moment I made my choice, I knew nothing about their future or fate after my death. In the remainder of their lives, I cannot interfere. My only request to them is to protect a single bloodline of the crown prince, to fulfill my loyalty to the Crown Prince. So, the only thing I can say is the whereabouts of the real Chu Ze. And about the former strongholds, even if I speak, it would be for nothing; they left and hid from the moment I ordered."
"Where is Chu Ze, speak."
Mr. Ning mentioned a place name along with a manor.
"Cabinet Minister, better discuss the business that the old associates rely on to survive."
Mr. Ning raised his head, looking at Song Zhiyuan, the latter curling his lips with dark light floating in his eyes.
Strongholds can be abandoned, but what about the business?
To support so many people, there must be survival, right? Eating, drinking, toileting, sleeping doesnāt require silver, training people doesnāt require silver?
As long as thereās business to conduct, one can always trace along the vine, catching several big fish online.
Mr. Ning pursed his lips and said, "Before this, may I first meet Xia Houzhe?"