Female martial arts fanatics only love to fight, while men fight for their lives.

59

"It seems that we have to ask the Duke of Zhenguo to come over."

What Xiao Zhengdu said sounded very unpleasant. The servant lowered his head and tried to make excuses for his master, "How can she see the Duke of Zhenguo whenever she wants? Your Highness, why don't you ask His Majesty first..."

Xiao Zhengdu looked up and saw that the empress was listening to the envoys' gifts and flattery with great interest. He said nothing.

It was Lou Xiao who made the decision herself, "Let's go, lead the way."

She looked at Xiao Zhengdu and said, "Aren't you curious whether she and I know each other? Have someone follow me with a pen and paper, and write down everything I say and do. Don't miss a single thing."

Very calm and confident,

Unlike Xiao Zhengdu, she was not afraid of disturbing the empress's interest, so she went straight to the empress and reported in a low voice. The pendant hanging from her hair crown trembled beside her cheek, and she didn't care how many people were watching her.

Xiao Zhengdu only felt the Queen sitting on the high platform looking at him, then nodded in agreement, with her smile unchanged.

After Lou Xiao confirmed that the secret guards around Her Majesty were on duty and Lu Huan was also sitting beside her, no one would come forward like the children of Prince Jin and bring danger to the Queen,

She briefly reported what happened between her and Tang Wang and then left.

She and Xiao Zhengdu both left, which made those who were interested speculate. But if you think about it carefully, the King of Youshan was interrogating the assassin, and the Duke of Zhenguo Lou Xiao pierced the assassin with a sword.

I guess it's related to that incident.

The backs of the two people are one gorgeous and incomparable, while the other is dark and calm. Who knows who will be implicated and suffer the consequences.

The servant just lowered his head and led the way along the way. Lou Xiao also walked quickly without saying a word, and soon arrived at the gate of the prison where the prisoners were held.

Before entering, one could smell the faint smell of blood and rotten mold, and occasionally a scream.

Lou Xiao frowned, but showed no fear or disgust on his face. He held up the corner of his robe and followed the servant, stepping onto the filthy road of the prison.

Xiao Zhengdu walked behind her and asked, "Is this your first time at the prison, Duke Zhenguo? How do you feel about it?"

Lou Xiao thought to herself that this was all nonsense. She had only been in the capital for a short time and there were many places she had visited for the first time.

Just ignore him.

Xiao Zhengdu was not discouraged after being rejected. He seemed to be introducing his territory to her, regardless of whether she listened or not.

"The prison is full of extremely evil people. Some are just waiting to be executed in the autumn. Some have committed serious crimes but refuse to admit them, and have to confess bit by bit under torture."

In the prison locked with iron chains, some were half lying down with no one knowing whether they were alive or dead, while others looked unrecognizable but were still holding onto the fence and staring at Lou Xiao.

Xiao Zhengdu gave him a cold look and shrank back in fear, hoarse but unable to speak.

The group happened to pass by a cell. The prisoners inside looked like they had just been there. They were stripped of their clothes and huddled together, shivering in a pile of hay.

Lou Xiao saw that they were young and looked frightened, and they didn't look like they had done anything evil.

Asked, "What crime did they commit?"

Are they also going to be tortured? Some of the people inside still looked childish.

Xiao Zhengdu glanced at them and said, "That is the servant who followed King Jin into the palace this time. His Majesty ordered a strict investigation, but the palace did not want to see bloodshed, so they were placed here and interrogated one by one."

He added, "The wet nurse who served Prince Jin's children is being held in the inner cellar, being interrogated by people from the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple. Does the Duke of Zhenguo want to go and take a look?"

Lou Xiao shook her head and said forget it, "In that case, I won't go. I think we'll get the result soon."

Xiao Zhengdu's face showed "of course". "The Minister of Justice was promoted by Her Majesty the Queen. He is very capable and resourceful. He is Her Majesty's favorite minister. Why don't you go and see what he is capable of?"

Why did he have to go by himself? Lou Xiao would not listen to him.

She had an impression of the young people in the cell just now. She thought about how His Majesty arranged for King Jin and his children before she knew he was chasing the assassin with a sword.

Now is the right time to ask him,

"How will your majesty deal with Queen Jin? If the servants around her have nothing to do with this matter, will you let them go?"

Although she knew that assassinations would only be punished severely, blood would have to be shed to appease the Queen's anger, and the most severe punishment would be imposed to serve as a warning to others.

But those innocent servants who had nothing to do with the incident did not lose their lives.

As for King Jin... he was no longer someone she could care about.

"Your Majesty has had Prince Jin imprisoned and awaiting his fate. The two children are to remain in the palace and be raised by Your Majesty for the time being."

Xiao Zhengdu talked about Prince Jin's children, "Your Majesty likes those children. No matter what, they should have no worries."

Speaking of which, the Queen has always loved raising children, and so did he and Xiao Zhengze.

He suspected Lou Xiao was the same.

But since the Queen didn't say anything, he couldn't ask. But from witnessing Her Majesty the Queen and Lou Xiao getting along, he could tell that they were closer than he was.

"Imprisoned..."

It seems that his life has been saved, but who knows when he will be released?

Lou Xiao didn't know much about their royal affairs, so she asked, "What kind of person is King Jin?"

Why would the people around her take the risk to assassinate the Queen? If she had planned it, how could she have been so careless?

It seems that everyone knows that King Jin is innocent, but no matter what, King Jin is at least guilty of lax rule. The extent of his crime depends on the Queen's thoughts.

The servant led them into the deepest part of the prison. The stench was so strong that it hurt their eyes.

Xiao Zhengdu only felt dizzy and quickly got used to it, while Lou Xiao felt better after covering his eyes with his sleeves. Hearing that he was still talking freely,

"She is... a fence-sitter." Xiao Zhengdu said bluntly, "She will stand by the stronger person. You can also say that she is very good at judging the situation."

Each of the late emperor's children has his own way of survival. For someone like King Jin who lacks the ability and has no support behind him, this approach is not unwise.

Lou Xiao stopped and asked him, "What about you? What kind of person are you?"

What she was asking about, of course, was his position in the previous battle for the throne.

"This prince has followed the emperor sister wholeheartedly and has never hesitated."

He would not tell her that he was a half-blood who was not seen and even despised in the palace. If it were not for his royal sister, he would have died in the palace long ago.

Lou Xiao seemed satisfied and stopped asking questions. Xiao Zhengdu seemed to remember something and lowered his eyes without saying anything.

────

From being the thriving head of the Tang family who had a place in the martial arts world, to now being penniless and seriously injured, he will soon die without a burial place.

The huge gap makes Tang Wanghao hate...

She originally had everything, but it was blown away like smoke in the wind, leaving her with nothing.

She was lying on the hay when she heard footsteps approaching, but there was only one person. She was about to raise her head and repeat that she wanted to see the Duke of Zhenguo, but she saw her right in front of her.

He stood firmly, looking down at her.

Even if I squatted down, I still had to raise my head with great effort to talk to her through the fence.

"I remember who you are..."

Tang Wang held the fence with his bloodshot hands, veins bulging, "It's you...it's you who destroyed my Tang family..."

Xiao Zhengdu's brows furrowed behind Lou Xiao, and he raised his hand to ask the waiting servants and the jailers who were packing up the torture instruments to leave.

But Lou Xiao just said in a cold voice, "Tang Wang, you are crazy."