Du Gu Luanyue quickly put down the teapot. Her long eyelashes fluttered uneasily for a moment, and then she smiled.
"Yes, Your Majesty. This is a case that has shocked all the court officials. As a woman in the harem, I just like to hear about such things.
Does Your Majesty have any new news? I'd like to hear more. Life in the palace is so boring for me."
Mu Rong Min frowned with displeasure. "The Queen should inquire less about such matters."
Fearing being suspected, Du Gu Luanyue didn't dare to ask further.
After accompanying Mu Rong Min for dinner, she claimed to be unwell and returned to the Fengluan Palace.
She couldn't figure out why Lu Wanyin's remains were found in the backyard of Prince Huo Wei's mansion. Was it someone who deliberately put them there, or did Huo Wei bury them himself?
If it was Huo Wei, did it mean Lu Wanyin was really his mother?
Outside the palace hall, the wind and snow howled like knives, sweeping across the pale and desolate palace courtyard. With boundless force and coldness, they broke several plum - blossom trees in the imperial garden.
The palace maids walked with their heads down, whispering to each other about the upcoming execution of the Prince of Yuzhang in a few days.
The remains of Lu Wanyin in the backyard of the Prince of Yuzhang's mansion were a suspicion that Huo Wei couldn't escape.
He had been in the death - row cell for God knows how many days. At this moment, the chains on the cell suddenly made a clear rattling sound.
The jailer stood in front of the cell and unlocked it. Someone bowed their head and put a gold ingot into the jailer's hand.
Huo Wei slightly raised his deep and solemn eyes but didn't clearly see who it was.
The jailer reminded, "Someone from above has said to find a way to let you meet this death - row prisoner. Hurry up. He's at the center of the storm now. I don't dare to take risks with you."
The hooded person nodded. "Okay, thank you."
Huo Wei recognized the voice. He stood up from the straw pile, looking at the visitor with a cold expression without saying a word.
He Zhi Zhou took off his cloak hood, his eyes cold and clear.
"Now, you know what kind of person Mu Rong Min is, don't you?
Cold - blooded and heartless, he turns his back on people easily. No matter how much merit you've made for Northern Yan, he can still kill you whenever he wants."
Huo Wei played with a piece of dry grass in his hand. There was not the slightest trace of sadness on his face. He just sneered.
"I've always known what kind of person Mu Rong Min is. But I can't figure out who reported me. Only a very few people knew that my mother's remains were hidden in the backyard."
He Zhi Zhou took out a military tally from his sleeve and handed it to him.
"This is not the time to pursue these things. This is the military tally for the 300,000 troops in the Western Border. I took it away for you when Mu Rong Min sent people to raid your mansion.
Huo Wei, Master has a way to get you out of the death - row cell. As soon as we return to the Western Border, we'll immediately rise in rebellion and kill Mu Rong Min without leaving a single man alive."
Huo Wei's black eyes were a bit shaken. He asked doubtfully.
"Master, this is the most strictly guarded death - row cell in Northern Yan. Over the years, no one has ever successfully escaped from here.
Moreover, I'm at the center of the storm. How are you going to smuggle me out?"
He Zhi Zhou carefully looked behind him and then looked back.
"Apprentice, you just have to trust Master. Mu Rong Min has already set his mind on killing you. He has killed your parents and even your nine clans.
It's heartless of him to treat the loyal and good - hearted like this. You're the last hope of the whole clan now.
You mustn't be sent to the execution ground by Mu Rong Min like this. You should resist and rise in rebellion against him to avenge your clan!"
He Zhi Zhou got a bit excited as he spoke. The deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes tightened, and his eyes were full of expectation for Huo Wei's answer.
But at this moment, Huo Wei had no answer in his heart. He was full of doubts.
It seemed that he didn't understand his master at all, and he never knew if there was someone more mysterious behind his master.
His black eyes stared at his master sharply. "Master, in the few days since I was captured, have the lieutenants who used to follow me and Shen Guilan also been imprisoned?"
He Zhi Zhou grabbed Huo Wei's arms with both hands and looked at him seriously. "Don't worry. None of them have been captured by Mu Rong Min.
As soon as we rescue you, we'll immediately rush to the Western Border to rise in rebellion. Master has arranged everything on the way.
Good apprentice, you can't be soft - hearted. This time, apart from Master who will spare no effort to save you, others are just watching the show.
You bear the blood feud. You can't die. You must live to avenge everyone.
If you don't rebel against Mu Rong Min this time, what will happen to your lieutenants and those who once followed you in the future? It's also death.
Huo Wei, there's no time. Cheer up quickly and accomplish your great cause."
Huo Wei's long eyelashes drooped slightly. He looked at the military tally in his hand, rubbing it with his calloused fingertips. His tone was a bit cold. "Master, you've hidden too many things from me."
He Zhi Zhou said, "No matter what Master has hidden from you, it's for your own good."
Huo Wei's black eyes narrowed. "I'm the child raised by Master. Master has been bent on avenging the Xie family. I'm naturally grateful to Master. Please give me a few more days to think. Master, please go back first."
He Zhi Zhou's heart tightened. After a long while, he said calmly, "Okay, Master will always wait for your answer."
He turned around and walked out of the cell. After taking a few steps, he glanced back at Huo Wei inadvertently.
He saw Huo Wei's black eyes, which were like those of a wild beast in the middle of the night, staring at him deeply and calmly.
The sharpness in those eyes was like a blade, making him feel that the little wild beast he had raised before had now grown up completely. It was a fierce beast with its own thoughts.
He Zhi Zhou didn't dare to say more. After secretly leaving the death - row cell, he came to a temple outside the city.
His subordinate told him that Shen Guilan had disappeared early this morning. He Zhi Zhou's face instantly changed.
He said coldly, "Did he show any signs before he left?"
The lieutenant, wearing a monk's robe with a shaved head, shook his head. "No."
He Zhi Zhou paced back and forth under the big Buddha statue with his hands behind his back.
"Don't worry. I've already given the military tally to Huo Wei. This is a chance of survival. He can't just let it slip away.
If Huo Wei keeps hesitating, we'll rescue him from the execution ground. The final destination remains the same."
Seven days passed. Huo Wei was as quiet in the death - row cell as if he were already dead.
His handsome and cold face was both as calm as a god and as wild as a devil.
It seemed that there were only three days left in his life.
The cell door was opened again. A woman in a black robe stood in front of him. Her fair fingertips were frozen red, and there was still some unmelted snow on her shoulders.
Huo Wei suddenly sneered. "Your Majesty the Queen's visit has really brought honor to this death - row cell."
Du Gu Luanyue took a step towards him and got very close to him. So close that the cold air on her body rushed towards him.
Du Gu Luanyue's heart was pounding with panic and a bit of fear.
This time, she was going to play a big game.
"Huo Wei, I have a way to keep you alive, but you have to cooperate with me on one thing." She took out a note from her sleeve and handed it to him.
Huo Wei took it without even looking and tore it up.