sjar Chapter 118 The Cunning King Liang
Chapter 118 The Cunning King Liang
Inside the study of the Liang Prince's residence.
The air was filled with the delicate scent of ink. The man on the desk stared at the painting in his hand, then reached out and brought the painting close to the candle, burning it to ashes.
Qinghuai pushed open the door and entered. "Your Highness, Wen Guzhu has made all the arrangements and is just waiting for the autumn examination."
"Make him change his name." He lifted his eyelids and withdrew his hand from the candlelight. "It's to give him a chance to enter the officialdom of Yanjing, and also to make him understand how difficult it is to exonerate the Wen family."
"Back then, the Wen family ended up in such a state because of the Imperial Noble Consort and the Duke of Liu."
"He must have found enough evidence to exonerate him."
Gu Liang's slender fingers rested on the pale blue porcelain cup lid, her gaze shifting to the burning candlelight.
He slowly spoke, "Has there been any movement from the Duke's mansion?"
"I heard," Qinghuai nodded, "that the Duke summoned several doctors to the manor, but they were all helpless. Does His Highness really intend to give him the antidote?"
"Here you go." Gu Liang smiled. "Of course I'll give it to you."
"Of course we can't let him die so soon."
Qinghuai raised the tail of her eyebrows slightly.
That Duke Liu deserved it; how dare he provoke their prince.
midnight.
All the lights in the Liang Prince's mansion were extinguished, except for the study, which was brightly lit.
Gu Liang sat by the window, looking at the chessboard in front of her. As she placed the white piece in her hand, hurried footsteps sounded outside the study.
The footsteps stopped. "Your Highness, the Duke's people have arrived."
Upon hearing the sound, Gu Liang raised her eyelids slightly and smiled calmly.
"Let them wait until dawn tomorrow."
A voice responded from outside the door, "Yes, Your Highness."
The footsteps faded into the distance, and the study light went out.
In the middle of the night, thunder rumbled.
In front of the Liangwang Mansion, Liu Shi was supporting the Duke Liu, who was in excruciating pain.
Duke Liu was in so much pain that he couldn't stand up, and blood kept spilling from the corner of his lips.
Lady Liu was so distressed she was almost in tears. "Master, has His Highness the Prince of Liang refused to see us?"
Duke Liu took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and stared at the plaque of the Liang Prince's Mansion. Just as he was about to rush in, the gate suddenly opened.
Duke Liu knelt on the ground uncontrollably, raising his eyes to look up.
"What is the Duke doing?" Qinghuai looked at Duke Liu with a mischievous grin. "Is he trying to pay a grand salute to the juniors, or is he planning to break into the Liang Prince's residence tonight?"
"Today, the Duke blocked our Highness and Princess, and now he's still bothering them. He's truly shameless."
"His Highness also told me to tell you that if you want the antidote, it depends on what you do, Duke."
At this moment, Duke Liu clenched his teeth tightly, his eyes were already moist, and cold beads rolled down his forehead one by one.
Despite the excruciating pain throughout his body, he finally spoke: "If His Highness Prince Liang doesn't give me the antidote, does he believe I'll impeach him before His Majesty tomorrow?"
"Lord Duke," Qinghuai sneered, "Don't speak so soon. Let's talk about it after you've had your night. You actually dared to anger His Highness. You really have guts."
Qinghuai shook her head, looking at him with sympathy. "Now that I have conveyed Your Highness's words, I will take my leave."
Without hesitation, he went straight into the Liang Prince's residence.
He had just entered when Liu tried to force her way in with her entourage, but was stopped by the guards.
Qinghuai turned to look at him, raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly, "Lord Duke, is this how you ask for favors?"
"Here's a choice for you: kneel outside the Liang Prince's mansion all night, and perhaps our prince will be in a better mood and give you the antidote?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the gates of the Liang Prince's Mansion were closed tightly.
The excruciating pain returned, and Duke Liu murmured, "I'll kneel down if I can get the antidote. How dare he torture me like this! I will never let him get away with this!"
He has no other choice but to stay here and suffer in silence, and everything can only be discussed after he obtains the antidote.
The thunder continued to rumble, and the rain soon began to fall, mercilessly lashing their faces and clothes.
Duke Liu knelt on the ground, his weakened body contorted with rage once more. Bloodstains clung to his pale lips as he struggled to lift his head, looking once more toward the gates of the Liang Prince's residence.
It was completely silent inside.
The rain stopped, and it got light.
When Gu Liang woke up, Qing Huai's voice could already be heard outside the door.
"Your Highness, the Duke knelt in the rain all night last night."
Gu Liang got up from the other side of the bed. "Dead?"
"He's not dead." Qinghuai shook his head. "But he looks like he's suffered a lot."
The man quickly changed his clothes, and with a flick of his wide robe, he tucked a delicate little wooden box from the table into his sleeve.
"Send him to the front hall."
Qinghuai nodded, "Yes, Your Highness."
Jiang Zhi woke up groggily, got up, and looked around without seeing Gu Liang.
Her expression turned cold, and her long eyelashes concealed the subtle disappointment deep within her eyes.
The atmosphere in the front hall of the Liang Prince's Mansion was solemn.
When Gu Liang arrived, no one dared to utter a sound.
Tea was served on the table.
Gu Liang, dressed in an ice-blue, narrow-sleeved, front-buttoned long gown, leaned casually against the chair.
Before long, Duke Liu led Lady Liu in.
He was afraid he wouldn't get the antidote, so he did kneel in front of the Liang Prince's mansion all night.
As soon as he stepped into the front hall, before Gu Liang could even speak, Duke Liu knelt down in front of him with a thud.
After being soaked all night, Duke Liu looked extremely disheveled.
But he's a cunning old fox; he knows his current predicament and that only by yielding will he have a chance.
He said sincerely, "Yesterday I offended Your Highness without knowing the proper etiquette. Your Highness is magnanimous and will not hold it against me. I hope Your Highness will grant me medicine."
Gu Liang casually toyed with the teacup in his hand, his eyes devoid of any emotion, a mixture of languor and pressure, exuding a sharp aura.
Duke Liu knelt on the ground, the pain returning, and he endured the trembling in his body.
Gu Liang glanced at him, her thin lips curving slightly upward, and put down the teacup in her hand.
"Your Excellency, why are you so discouraged? Weren't you going to impeach me?"
"No, no." Duke Liu looked up at Gu Liang. "It was my momentary lapse of judgment that offended Your Highness. Your Highness will certainly not hold a grudge against a petty person like me."
"Your Highness, rest assured. Please consider yesterday's words as mere farts. If Your Highness bestows medicine, I will not only refrain from harming the Jiang family, but will also take good care of them."
A low chuckle escaped his lips. "Very well, since the Duke is so sincere, I cannot refuse."
As he spoke, he pulled a wooden box from his sleeve and threw it in front of Duke Liu.
Duke Liu's eyes followed the wooden box closely. He hurriedly opened the box and shoved a pill into his mouth.
He couldn't take it anymore and just wanted to take the antidote as soon as possible.
He swallowed the pill with his saliva, and Duke Liu looked relieved.
As soon as she looked up, she met Gu Liang's mocking gaze.
The man looked up, took a sip of his tea, and then chuckled through his nose.
The laugh was like a bewitching monster from the deep sea, its voice deep and resonant.
Upon hearing his smile, Duke Liu felt a chill run down his spine.
What's wrong? Why is he laughing? Could it be that the medicine...?