Chu Lu looked at the captives, feeling that something about this was off.
On one hand, they had come far too quickly. He had only been on the road for two days before they had intercepted him head-on.
On the other hand, they had confessed far too readily, selling out the Prince Consort without a second word.
Most crucially, the Prince Consort had somehow raised private troops and even dared to attack the Emperor. It was utterly absurd. Setting everything else aside, did the Princess have no objections?
To be safe, Chu Lu subjected them to another round of harsh torture and questioning, but gained no new clues.
Thus, he fell into hesitation. His instincts told him there was a trap ahead and that he should not press deeper, but turning back halfway seemed rather foolish too.
"Forget it. To hell with it." In the end, Chu Lu made his decision. "I'll follow this road into darkness. First, we'll go to the Prince Consort's residence and see what's really going on. Then we'll draw conclusions!"
He ordered the soldiers to keep the captives under strict guard, told everyone else to rest well and continue the journey tomorrow, then went to sleep himself.
Two days later, news of the failed ambush reached the Prince Consort's residence.
Inside one of the side chambers, two people were talking.
One was the Prince Consort, Tang Zhiyin. She was tall and slender, dressed in a moon-white robe.
Standing before her was her concubine, Jiang Xuening.
"As expected, it failed." The Prince Consort said uneasily, "The Emperor will arrive tomorrow. What do we do? What do we do?"
"Master, there's no need to be afraid. Have you forgotten Cuihua's instructions?" Jiang Xuening said. "As long as you follow the plan, that Emperor will not dare touch a single hair on your head."
"Right! Right, right, right!" As if she had seized a lifeline, the Prince Consort nodded repeatedly. "Cuihua has boundless powers. Her method will definitely work!"
"Mm." Jiang Xuening said, "As long as you do not panic tomorrow, Master, draw your dagger and stab the Emperor once. Whether it succeeds or not, the Emperor will be helpless against you!"
The Prince Consort clenched her fists and said, as though hypnotizing herself, "I will. I will..."
Two more days passed, and Chu Lu arrived at Linyang.
They did not stop for even a moment, continuing onward until, under the astonished gazes of the townsfolk, they reached the Prince Consort's residence.
The vermilion gates of the Prince Consort's residence were tightly shut. The stone lions before them held their heads high and their chests out, eyes glaring as though they would slaughter every enemy to the last.
Chu Lu rammed the gates open and charged inside. Beyond them was a bluestone path leading straight to the main hall. Upon reaching it, he found a group of people already waiting there.
The Prince Consort stepped forward, saying in fearful reverence, "This humble subject is terrified. I did not know Your Majesty was arriving and failed to welcome you from afar. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."
Chu Lu looked at the person before him. Xu Liniang had told him in his mind that she was the Prince Consort, Tang Zhiyin.
Looking at the scholarly-looking Prince Consort, Chu Lu had many questions he wanted to ask, but he began with the most important one. "Where is Cuihua?"
"Cuihua is not here at the moment, but please do not be impatient, Your Majesty. This humble subject knows where she has gone. She has gone to a very dangerous place. I can only tell Your Majesty alone." As she spoke, the Prince Consort moved closer.
"Stop. What the hell is wrong with you?" Chu Lu frowned. "Say what you have to say. What are you messing around for? What do you mean, you can only tell me alone?"
The Prince Consort's expression stiffened, but she insisted, "This is very important. I truly can only tell Your Majesty alone! This humble subject is not lying!"
Chu Lu was getting impatient. "Cut the nonsense. Either tell me now, or tell me after I torture it out of you."
A bead of sweat immediately trickled down the Prince Consort's forehead.
She realized she could not get any closer, so she could only steel herself and say, "I understand."
She reached into her robes. "Your Majesty, this humble subject will take out the map and point it out to you... Look!"
At the final word, the Prince Consort let out a furious roar, pulled a dagger from her robes, and charged at Chu Lu.
Seeing this, Chu Lu froze for a moment before he could not help laughing.
Just as he was about to act, a figure suddenly rushed out from the side, lunging at the dagger in the Prince Consort's hand and shouting, "Your Majesty, watch out!"
Squelch.
The Prince Consort's dagger plunged into the soldier's body.
The Prince Consort froze, then suddenly came to her senses. She tried to pull out the dagger and slash at Chu Lu again.
But Chu Lu reacted a step faster. He strode forward and swung a fist into the Prince Consort's face, sending her flying.
Chu Lu caught the soldier and saw that her front was covered in blood, her face pale. He immediately said, "Arrest everyone in the Prince Consort's residence! Not a single one may escape!"
Half an hour later, all loose ends had been dealt with.
The Prince Consort's residence was completely under control, and the soldier who had stepped forward in righteous courage received proper treatment.
The stab had come in haste, so it had not struck any vital point. Though she would inevitably have to lie in bed for several months, her life had at least been saved.
That made Chu Lu breathe a sigh of relief.
In dealing with people, he generally followed the principle of repaying kindness with kindness and avenging hatred with hatred.
Although the soldier's act of rushing forward to save him had been somewhat unnecessary, it had ultimately come from wholehearted loyalty. If she had simply died like that, Chu Lu would have felt terrible for quite some time.
But since she still had a life left, it was easy to handle. Grant her rank and title, give her everything she deserved, and their debts of gratitude and resentment would be settled.
Chu Lu instructed the physician to care for her properly, then went to find the Prince Consort.
When he arrived at the main hall and saw the Prince Consort trussed up like a bundle, his expression immediately darkened.
When he had first arrived, he had only wanted to find Cuihua and held little interest in the Prince Consort. Now, however, he did.
"To be honest, it's impossible for me to leave you alive now." Resting his chin on his hand, Chu Lu said, "But death comes in different forms. There's a quick death and a painful death. Cooperate properly, and I'll let you die quickly. Otherwise, you can sample every torture first."
"Hahahahaha!" Yet the Prince Consort actually began to laugh. "Killing only me would be letting me off too easily, wouldn't it? I openly tried to murder the Emperor. You should exterminate my nine generations of kin! Your Majesty, has shit flooded your brain?"
The Prince Consort's words struck the ground with force, her voice full and powerful.
Chu Lu stared at her, dumbfounded.
The soldiers present were dumbfounded as well.
"I... you... fuck." Even Chu Lu was cowed by her momentum. Only after a while did he calm down and say slowly, "This is the first time I've heard such a request... Fine. I'll grant it. I'll exterminate your nine generations of kin, so you won't be lonely on the road to the Yellow Springs."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Then when will Your Majesty slit your own throat?" the Prince Consort asked mockingly.
"Huh?"
"Your Majesty wants to exterminate my nine generations of kin, but have you forgotten? I am your elder sister's husband, and you are also among my nine generations of kin! Since my nine generations of kin are to be exterminated, you naturally have to die as well!" The Prince Consort continued, "Or do you intend to go back on your word? But a ruler's word is no joke, Your Majesty!"
Chu Lu: "..."
Before you continue