It's all ruined, who cares about the chastity arch

"What do you mean?" Although Zheng Chengyan vaguely guessed that Zheng Yinyin's death was related to the emperor, he was still puzzled about the deeper reasons behind it.

The slender fingers of the King of Liang gently tapped the exquisite bird cage, making a series of crisp and pleasant sounds. Then, he spoke slowly: "I have secretly sent my confidants to investigate in detail. Your sister actually planned such a bold drama, letting someone pretend to be the emperor's sister. Such courage is really amazing."

He paused slightly, his eyes deep, "However, since she has chosen this dangerous path and accidentally left clues, how could the emperor let her go easily? The crime of deceiving the emperor is punishable by death according to the law. Granting her a death sentence has already taken into consideration the century-old reputation of the Zheng family to the greatest extent possible."

King Liang raised his eyebrows, a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes, and asked back: "Do you think I still have the energy to ask for a glimmer of hope for your sister before the emperor?"

Although he had hidden ambitions deep in his heart, after the unsuccessful assassination attempt on the Regent last time, Prince Liang became much more cautious, restrained his edge, and no longer easily revealed his ambitions and actions.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Chengyan hurriedly shook his head, his expression sincere and anxious: "No, I came to see the prince today not for this purpose. I just hope to get your protection."

King Liang's eyes were sharp, and he saw through Zheng Chengyan's disguise. "If you want to obtain my protection, you must first tell me what kind of benefits you can bring to me? Do you have any gold, silver or treasures?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he laughed at himself again, "Obviously, you don't have such conditions. You can't even properly handle the women around you. Your ability is really limited!"

In the memory of his previous life, Zheng Chengyan had cleverly used the huge Su family wealth in the hands of his wife Su Wanyu, not only to satisfy his own family's luxurious life, but also generously funded King Liang to help him recruit soldiers and strengthen his power.

At this moment, facing the questioning of King Liang, Zheng Chengyan lowered his head, with a bit of helplessness and defense in his tone: "Your Highness, no matter what, Wanyu is my wife after all. In the future, we will definitely have children to continue our bloodline. By then, won't the Su family's wealth belong to me? As long as you need it, no matter how much silver, I will do my best to raise it."

However, the trust and expectation in the eyes of King Liang no longer existed. He said calmly, "Second Young Master, I am helpless. The one your family has repeatedly angered is the Emperor himself. This matter is beyond my ability."

"If you really want asylum, it might be wiser to ask the Regent for help. He might let you go and protect you because you still have some value. But..."

King Liang changed the subject, with a warning in his voice, "If he knew about the cooperation between you and me, I'm afraid he would not show mercy."

Zheng Chengyan caught the hint in the words of the King of Liang: "You mean, you hope that I can be the inner supporter of the King of Regent?"

King Liang dropped the handle of the bird cage and wiped his hands carelessly. "There's no need for an insider. I need you to help me investigate someone."

"Who?" Zheng Chengyan asked.

King Liang slowly approached and sat down, his posture calm, "Luo Wenxuan."

Zheng Chengyan's eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of surprise, "He is Wanyu's cousin."

King Liang nodded slightly, confirming the fact. "Yes, you should call him brother. This man has been following Gu Linjun since he dealt with the flood in Jiangzhou. He is very skilled. Please help me understand his background and see if he can be used by us."

Zheng Chengyan was silent for a moment, and finally agreed: "Yes, I will definitely follow the prince's instructions."

King Liang handed him a cup of steaming hot tea, and said with a hint of joking, "Don't take women too seriously. Since she is your wife, you should be in control."

Zheng Chengyan's face darkened slightly, and he did not respond.

King Liang gently pushed the teacup towards him and said earnestly, "Second Young Master is always smart. You should know how to balance the importance of your career and women."

"By the way, the imperial examination is coming soon, with only half a month left. Are you confident?" King Liang asked with concern.

Zheng Chengyan clenched his fists, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and answered firmly: "Your Majesty, I will definitely be able to pass the imperial examination this time."

Upon hearing this, the King of Liang smiled with satisfaction, "This is the best. Once we can stand out in the joint examination and enter the top three, the palace examination will be a piece of cake."

Zheng Chengyan bowed his head and said yes, his voice weak but firm: "Yes, I will follow your arrangements."

King Liang filled his tea cup again. The aroma of tea was lingering and warm like spring, which seemed to warm Zheng Chengyan's uneasy heart.

As the night deepened, Zheng Chengyan left Prince Liang's mansion, with Prince Liang's words echoing repeatedly in his mind.

Unconsciously, he had walked towards the quiet path leading to the Princess's Mansion.

Perhaps, surrendering to the regent who holds real power is a feasible option.

Whether it is Prince Liang or the Regent, as long as he can get the support of one of them, his foothold in the court will undoubtedly be secure.

Just when he was full of thoughts.

Not far ahead, the Regent's carriage slowly came into view. Gu Linjun got off gracefully, just blocking Zheng Chengyan's way.

Zheng Chengyan was stunned for a moment, then quickly stepped forward and saluted respectfully: "Lord Regent, you came out of the car specially, is there anything important that I can do for you?"

Gu Linjun's steps were steady and slow, and every step seemed to be calculating the distance between him and Zheng Chengyan. The crimson robe swayed gently in the wind, as if carrying an invisible sense of oppression.

The night was as dark as ink, gently covering the entire capital city. Against this backdrop, the clothes made of Xiangyunsha lost their luster during the day and became dim and mysterious. Only the osmanthus patterns embroidered with gold thread on the robe sparkled sharply under the moonlight, as if each flower concealed an unspeakable secret.

Zheng Chengyan noticed Gu Linjun's arrival and felt nervous. He lowered his head in a hurry, trying to cover up his uneasiness with the shadow.

His voice was weak but firm: "Your Highness must have misunderstood. I just went to the back mountain to bury my sister tonight and just returned from that sad place."

There was a barely perceptible chill in Gu Linjun's tone, which became more pronounced as his voice volume subtly increased. His sharp eyes seemed to be able to see through all hypocrisy.

"Really? Such a coincidence?"

After he finished speaking, he gently reached into his bosom and took out an exquisite jade ring. He raised his eyebrows, his eyes full of deep meaning as he stared straight at Zheng Chengyan. There was a mystery in his words.

"Second Young Master Zheng, have you ever heard of the popular drama in Fangxi Tower?"