Zheng Bingrong staggered back a few steps, covered half of his swollen cheek, and spat out bloody spit.
He didn't fight back, but just snorted coldly. "Why do you think it was me who did it? Why should I burn down my own home?"
"Why?" Zheng Binghong stared at his younger brother, "You know it yourself."
When he saw Zheng Bingrong's nonchalant look, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
Zheng Binghong rushed to Zheng Bingrong, lowered his voice and said: "In order to destroy the evidence, you will burn down your home today, will you kill Ning'er tomorrow? I'm warning you, from today on, you'd better burn incense and pray to Buddha for blessings.
Ning'er is safe and sound. If she loses a hair, I will blame it on you."
Go ahead and push Zheng Bingrong away.
That night, the entire Yiyong Hou Mansion could hardly sleep.
In the morning court a few days later, Shangguan Yue, who returned from his inspection tour, still did not submit a memorial. According to Mu Jingrui's observation, he seemed to be completely unaware of this matter.
Mu Jingrui walked out of the court hall alone and thoughtfully. He walked outside the east gate and was about to get into the sedan when he heard someone calling him from behind.
He turned around and saw Li Dahai walking towards him.
"General Mu seems to be in a low mood?" Li Dahai said with a smile, "Is there something on your mind?"
Mu Jingrui calmed down his emotions and smiled contemptuously: "Master Li is not related to me, so why do you care whether I am happy or not?"
"I would like to have something to do with a young hero like General Mu. It just so happens that I have a daughter from a concubine who is only twenty-eight years old. How about being a concubine for General Mu?"
"Don't dare to take it seriously."
Li Dahai knew that he and Mu Jingrui were not the same person, so he leaned into his ear and whispered: "I understand what you are thinking. I might as well tell you that the list and evidence in your hand have been destroyed long ago.
"
Mu Jingrui frowned slightly and his eyes became sharp.
"Do you think you want to fight me when you are just starting out? You are so young that you would trust a woman. How stupid!"
After Li Dahai finished speaking, he laughed and walked away, leaving Mu Jingrui standing there with clenched fists.
He did not believe that Shangguan Wan Ning would betray him, but it was true that Shangguan Yue did not submit the memorial. Could it be that something happened that he didn't know about?
Mu Jingrui returned home with a lot of worries. As soon as he entered the door, Mu Jingyan greeted him.
Her hands were hidden behind her back, and her face was filled with a meaningful smile.
"Brother, someone from Shangguan Mansion just sent a letter."
Mu Jingrui was startled and said eagerly: "Give it to me."
"It's okay if you want me to give it to you. You promise me one thing first."
The slower Mu Jingyan became, the more anxious Mu Jingrui became. He impatiently grabbed his sister's hand and snatched the letter away.
"Brother, you hurt me." Mu Jingyan complained angrily.
Mu Jingrui just glanced at her and couldn't wait to open the letter. After reading it, he immediately went out and went straight to Zuixian Tower.
Shangguan Wan Ning wandered around the private room restlessly. She had practiced admitting her mistakes to Mu Jingrui countless times, but she was always unsatisfactory.
The door was pushed open and Mu Jingrui walked in expressionlessly.
Not sure if it was a psychological effect, but Shangguan Wan Ning felt that Mu Jingrui's eyes were particularly cold today.
"Jing Rui..."
All organized language is stuck in the throat.
"Jing Rui, I have something to tell you."
"Tell me." Mu Jingrui also wanted to hear Shangguan Wan Ning's explanation.
"As for the list and the evidence, I'm afraid... you can't hand it over to the emperor for the time being." Shangguan Wan Ning's voice was low, and she instinctively lowered her head to avoid Mu Jingrui's gaze.
"What's the reason?"
"Can I...not tell?" Shangguan Wanning was not sure about Mu Jingrui's attitude. If she rashly told Zheng Binrong, she didn't know what would happen.
Mu Jingrui walked up to Shangguan Wan Ning. He tried his best to suppress the anger in his heart and asked in a hoarse voice: "If it were you, would you agree to it?"
"I..." Shangguan Wanning was speechless for a moment.
"Do you know that the hands of the people on that list are stained with the blood of border officers and people? Do you know how much time and energy I have spent on collecting evidence of their crimes?"
"I... understand..." Shangguan Wanning lowered her head in shame.
To protect one's shortcomings, this is probably the price that needs to be paid.
"Do you understand? Then do you understand that if Li Dahai continues to sit in the position of Minister of the Ministry of War, such a tragedy will happen again in the future?"
Shangguan Wan Ning was at a loss. She was already feeling uneasy, but now she became even more panicked.
"Tell me, why can't you hand over the list?" Mu Jingrui tried to calm down.
Shangguan Wan Ning pondered for a long time, and finally shook her head.
Suddenly, Mu Jingrui's heart felt desolate.
He thought that he and Shangguan Wan Ning could trust each other, so he entrusted her with such an important thing.
But at this moment, Mu Jingrui realized that everything was just his own passion.
"Shangguan Wan Ning, I really mistrusted you." Mu Jingrui's tone was calm, but it revealed disappointment and dissatisfaction.
He glanced at Shangguan Wan Ning, turned around and left.
Shangguan Wan Ning felt as if she was exhausted. It turned out that not a single word of those well-rehearsed words was used.
She fell down on the stool and stared at the ground in a daze.
From her previous life to this life, she had finally spent so much effort to gain Mu Jingrui's trust so that she would not let the tragedy of her previous life happen again, but now she failed.
It wasn't until Lu Tong came in and pushed Shangguan Wan Ning gently that she woke up from a dream.
"Miss, it's past noon, should we go back?"
Shangguan Wan Ning stood up slowly. When she walked outside, a dazzling sunlight made her unable to open her eyes.
"Lu Tong, I don't want to sit in the sedan. You let them go back first, and you come with me for a walk to relax."
"yes."
Lu Tong dismissed the bearer of the sedan chair and followed Shangguan Wan Ning as she walked aimlessly through the bustling streets.
"Miss, did you have a quarrel with General Mu?" Lutong probed cautiously, "Don't be unhappy. General Mu will come to you to apologize in a few days."
Lu Tong's comfort made Shangguan Wan Ning even more sad.
This time, I'm afraid he might not even be willing to pay attention to her if she apologizes.
"Miss, look, there is a windmill seller in front of you. I heard that windmills can transport goods, so I will buy you one."
After Lutong said that, he ran over.
Shangguan Wan Ning didn't have time to stop her, so she followed her.
She walked to a nearby bridge and sat down on the steps. A ragged child came over.
"Sister, there is a big brother who asked me to tell you. He is waiting for you in the alley in front."
Shangguan Wan Ning's heart moved slightly. "What kind of big brother?"
"He is very handsome and tall. He said his surname is Mu."