Hearing Wei Sizhong's anguished plea, Chu Jinghui softly uttered a single word: "Who!"
Wei Sizhong had been kneeling on the ground for a long time now. His already disheveled clothes had been crumpled beyond recognition, a far cry from his usual appearance, for he prized neat attire above all.
But at that moment, Wei Sizhong could no longer concern himself with such things. Having secured Chu Jinghui's permission, he immediately spoke.
"Your subject has a memorial to present!"
"As everyone knows, my official career began in Yan Prefecture. Over the years, my ties to Yan Prefecture have been far more extensive than those to any other place."
"But that does not mean I harbor disloyal intentions."
"If you harbor no disloyal intentions, how do you explain your correspondence with that rebel, Li Yi?"
Chu Jinghui held several letters in his hand—the very letters Wei Sizhong and Li Yi had exchanged all those years ago.
Given Wei Sizhong's disposition, he had naturally ordered them destroyed after reading. He had never imagined, however, that he would encounter someone obsessed with calligraphy and painting.
"Your Majesty, on the surface, this Li Yi was a wealthy man of Yan Prefecture, renowned for his charity and generosity. Yet all these years, I have also been investigating the truth behind the attack on Your Majesty."
"If that is so, how much of the truth have you uncovered?"
"In answer to Your Majesty, I have studied military strategy since childhood. My favorite maxim has always been 'all is fair in war.'"
"The vicious bandits of Yan Prefecture are cunning by nature. They remained undefeated for years because they had an exceptionally tightly knit organization."
"I tested the waters several times, but failed to win their trust. In the end, I had no choice but to buy tea