Jun Mo glanced at Su Li, a faint curve on his lips.
This girl truly understood human hearts, grasping their vulnerabilities.
Seeing Su Li about to speak again, Wang Sui interrupted her, saying, "Stop! This general, as a general of Nanjiang, has long made peace with death. All your words are nothing but thinly veiled ulterior motives.
Let me tell you, this general will never betray Nanjiang until death! Give up on that thought! Considering you spared my life, I will pretend you were never here today. Now, leave!"
Su Li stepped forward. "General Wang, we are not here to make you betray Nanjiang. On the contrary, we are here to help you set things right! Your unwavering devotion to Nanjiang, we all deeply admire.
But there's a difference between loyalty and foolish loyalty. You keep saying you won't betray Nanjiang, but the Emperor of Nanjiang is not Liang Shao."
"Given Liang Shao's character, do you believe that if his father and son ascended that throne, it would truly be good for the people of Nanjiang? Look at this war between Nanjiang and Tianqi; Nanjiang alone lost over three hundred thousand lives.
If he were to ascend that throne, with his ambition, he would certainly send troops to Beiyan and Xichen sooner or later. At that time, what would Nanjiang face? What kind of life would the people of Nanjiang lead?"
Wang Sui's face fell, filled with a sense of defeat. "His Majesty has been missing for so long, I'm afraid he's already... Currently, only the Prince has the capability to ascend that throne."
Su Li frowned. "I heard that the former Emperor and Empress of Nanjiang were very kind to their Fourth Imperial Uncle, Liang Shao, and the young emperor also relied heavily on this uncle. What became of them in the end?"
Wang Sui looked up in surprise, gazing at Su Li. "You mean to say that the current Emperor was also targeted by him?"
Seeing his astonished expression, Su Li knew that Liang Shao had definitely not involved him in that matter.
However, the word "also" in his sentence indicated that he indeed knew the inside story of the former Emperor and Empress's deaths.
Su Li said coldly, "Then tell me, who else in Nanjiang could act against the sovereign of a nation within the heavily guarded Imperial Palace?"
Wang Sui's eyes widened. For a moment, he was speechless.
"General Wang, do you choose to be a treasonous villain, bearing a fabricated crime, and being scorned by all, implicating your family? Or do you choose to be a meritorious official who rights wrongs and whose name will live in history? Choose for yourself." Su Li finished speaking and retreated to Jun Mo's side.
Finally, she sighed. "I wonder if your esteemed mother can endure the conditions in the dungeon."
Wang Sui thought of his elderly mother, who trembled when she walked, his wife, who had spent most of her life worried sick by his side, and his grandson, who still barely spoke clearly. His heart was filled with maddening contradiction.
One side was his master, the other, his family.
Jun Mo spoke. "It's said that loyalty and filial piety are hard to uphold simultaneously, but that doesn't describe your situation, General. You can clearly uphold both loyalty and filial piety, yet you're still hesitating."
Wang Sui said coldly, "Even if I wanted to right the wrongs, I can't do it alone. No one will believe me."
Su Li breathed a sigh of relief when she heard him say this.
This indicated that his inner resolve had begun to waver. Her lengthy persuasion had not been in vain.
"Who says you're alone? We received news that to counter Tianqi, Liang Shao has recalled Fu Yecheng. He is the Emperor's maternal uncle and commands a large army."
Wang Sui was greatly alarmed and frowned. "If Liang Shao falls, won't Nanjiang then fall into Fu Yecheng's hands?"
Su Li glanced at Jun Mo. Jun Mo slowly said, "General Wang, why do you think we broke through Jiukong City with such little effort?"
Wang Sui frowned. This was also the main reason the Prince suspected him of treason.
He suddenly looked up, his eyes wide. "His Majesty is in your hands!"
Jun Mo neither affirmed nor denied. "General Wang, this Prince knows that you must be suspicious of our words. This Prince didn't expect General Wang to agree immediately; that wouldn't be like you.
How about this: although General Wang is confined here, with your abilities, you must have your own ways to investigate whatever you wish. You can go and investigate where your family is, and investigate why your young emperor went missing.
When you've figured it out, send a message to the pastry shop on East Street. Tonight's intrusion was a disturbance, so we shall take our leave!"
With that, he took Su Li's hand and walked out.
He suddenly stopped again and turned back. "Investigate as you will, but time is short. We can wait, but your family might not be able to."
After speaking, the two exited the room.
They left the Prince's residence just as they had arrived.
Back at the inn, Su Li removed her human-skin mask and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Do you think Wang Sui will understand?"
Jun Mo took a sip of tea and chuckled. "He will. If we hadn't come today, he might have resigned himself to serving his former master loyally. But since we came today, he has a choice."
Then he looked at Su Li again and said, "Tonight, thanks to Li'er, if not for you, I don't know how long Wang Sui would have held out. Now it seems, at most, three days."
Su Li heard him refer to Liang Shao as Wang Sui's 'former master' and nodded in agreement. He had already wavered; wasn't Liang Shao his former master now?
"Then we'll have to stay here for three days?"
Jun Mo looked outside and said, "I estimate Fu Yecheng will reach Ningdu in another day or two. We need to let Liang Chengnian meet him before he enters the city."
Su Li asked worriedly, "Is it safe?"
She had only heard Little Nian speak of this maternal uncle, saying he was an upright person, but she hadn't met him and dared not easily put Little Nian in danger.
Jun Mo walked over and sat beside her. "Sleep. That boy will be fine."
Su Li tried to ask more, but he gently laid her down and pulled the quilt over her.
"Sleep. You're tired today too."
Su Li gently nodded.
The next day, Fourth Prince's Residence.
Wang Sui saw someone bring him breakfast, and he went forward as usual.
"General, please enjoy your meal."
Wang Sui nodded. "You may leave now."
"Yes."
The servant quickly left the room, looked around, passed through the corridor, and returned to his own room.
He secretly took out a piece of paper from his hand. After reading its contents, he burned it and then hurried out of the Prince's residence.
...
Liang Xuanting was lying by the headboard, a maid feeding him medicine.
Just then, Liang Shao entered from outside. Liang Xuanting took the medicine and drank it in a few gulps.
"You may leave now."
After the maid left, Liang Shao sat by his bed.
"How are you feeling today?"
"Same as always, Imperial Father. As long as you don't avenge me, I won't feel at ease."
Liang Shao was silent for a long moment, then said, "This needs to be done slowly."
"Imperial Father, you've imprisoned Wang Sui. What do you intend to do with him?" Liang Xuanting asked.
If his hatred for Jun Mo was bone-deep, then his feeling towards Wang Sui was annoyance.
Liang Shao said, "He only has three days left to live."
"I never thought this old fellow would dare to betray the country. He truly deserves death!" Liang Xuanting's lips curved slightly.
After a while, he asked again, "Then what about Wang Sui's family?"
"You rest and recuperate. You don't need to worry about these matters."
The two father and son talked for a while, then Liang Shao left the room.
Liang Shao walked in the courtyard and suddenly stopped.
"Three days from now, send Wang's entire family to reunite below."
"Yes!"
Liang Shao raised his head and looked at the sky. He would never be lenient with those who betrayed him!
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