Chapter 8 Calamity Does Not Come Alone

  I don't know how long I slept in a daze, but suddenly the sound of noise came, I got up to check, just opened the door, my neck was already held by two long knives. What happened? Looking at their clothes, are they officials or soldiers? I was taken to the courtyard outside the main hall of the Xiangfu, and I saw that Wanday Cheng had also been arrested, as well as several newly summoned servants and maids who were also being taken away, crying and shouting injustice.

  In the courtyard, a man in a green military uniform stood upright, with a rough face and unclear eyes. He squinted his eyes to search for Wang Richen's figure on the other side. I wanted to ask him what happened but it was impossible now. Sima Nan was not here, had he hidden?

  "What's going on, sir?"

  That burly man walked over, indeed a rough and robust fellow. He sized me up before saying: "By imperial decree, the traitor Shen Heshan is guilty of treason and rebellion against the country, with conclusive evidence. From this moment on, the entire household will be sealed off, and all members of the household will be taken to the Jingwang Fu for trial by King Jingming. And you people, stop your wailing!"

  As soon as the words were spoken, those crying servants and maids dared not to make a sound, but only sobbed softly. Then the military officer ordered his men to start counting the number of people and prepare to take them away.

  My neck was hung with an iron cangue, and my hands were also trapped in the cangue. My feet were locked in iron chains. I, Wang Richen, and the newly summoned servants and maids were thrown into a prison cart like this. As we left the Prime Minister's residence, passersby pointed at us, what was going on?

  Could this be the arrangement of Lord Xiang, if so, I don't like it, isn't this going to lead to imprisonment? I don't know if there's a law that allows beheading here, or maybe something went wrong in between. Wanri Cheng is far away from me, I couldn't understand what happened, and now I regret it. These past few days, I was just laughing it off, but I haven't even asked him how Lord Xiang arranged things. And where did Sima Nan go? I don't know if he listened to my words or not.

  I don't want to get involved, to be honest. Whether it's a thousand-year-old grudge or a ten-thousand-year-old grudge, it has nothing to do with me. Even if it's an ancestor's teachings, I can still choose not to follow them. Why should later generations carry on such a distant legacy? After thousands of years, all grudges should be let go.

  Nowadays, I only hope that the Jing Wang Fu or Ming Wang Fu is still there. I hope that some king can be honest and upright, not to slap me to death with one palm. I am just a passerby who has mistakenly crossed time and space. Even if I want to intervene, I am powerless and cannot solve it, nor can I escape. My eyes are sour, and tears flow down.

  If I can escape this time, I will leave far, far away. Even if I cannot return to my original time and space, I must live a happy and fulfilling life here, with all things going well.

  The prison van slowly came to a stop, I thought we had arrived at the Jingwang Mansion. My mind suddenly relaxed, and on this road, there were no passersby throwing eggs or rotten vegetables at us, which was truly fortunate. Having watched too much TV, my thoughts are indeed very complicated.

  The gate of the King's Palace was wide open, and several people were standing in front of it. They seemed to have received some news and were waiting here. The man in blue clothes at the forefront, was he the King of Jing Ming? A military officer stepped forward, clasped his fists, and whispered something to him. He only saw the blue-clothed man turn his head in our direction, then nodded to the military officer, and stepped aside, as if making way. Wasn't that the King of Jing Ming?

  The military officer waved at us, and several soldiers came over to open the prison cart. They roughly pulled us out of the vehicle. I was shackled hand and foot, so when my feet were yanked, I flew out of the cart and landed hard on the ground. A soldier walked back, grabbed the iron chain attached to the cangue on my neck, and pulled me up. The chain was also tied to my feet, so when he yanked it, my ankle throbbed in pain. But I didn't dare make a fuss, and was dragged along, stumbling and staggering.

  I hastened to the entrance of the mansion, I raised my head, and the man in blue was right in front of me. I took a glance, and my heart skipped a beat, then lowered my head. On this person's right cheek, a long scar extended from the corner of his mouth to the corner of his eye, very frightening.

  After walking for a few minutes, the footsteps of the team stopped. Someone said, "Kneel down in a row." Then everyone knelt down one by one. "Your Highness, all prisoners are brought here."

  "What kind of people are they?"

  The voice is lazy, but the tone is very young and has a strong magnetic field, which is completely different from Wan Ri Cheng's. Wan Ri Cheng's voice is clean and concise, low and calm, but lacks magnetism; it is also different from Sima Nan's, whose voice has magnetism, but sounds gentle.

  I followed the sound and took a stealthy look, but found that right in front of me was a couch, and a man was leaning on it at an angle. However, his appearance couldn't be seen clearly. There were also several people standing beside the couch. I didn't know who had spoken earlier, nor did I know if the person half-reclining on the couch was King Jingming or not. I didn't dare to look again and lowered my head.

  "Wan Ri Cheng and several family members, a total of seven people." The military officer who brought us over responded.

  "Come here."

  "Yes, yes."

  "Who are you in the Prime Minister's residence?"

  "The little man, the little man is a household servant who was summoned into the mansion just yesterday."

  "Perhaps Wan Hu can make it happen." It was the young man's voice.

  "Yes, Your Highness." So this was King Jingming, not an old man?

  I asked several people, and everyone's answers were vastly different. They all said they had been newly summoned by the Prime Minister's residence, but differed on which day they entered the residence. Of course, I was also asked, so I went along with them and said I had entered the residence a couple of days ago.

  "Bai Qiao, take these people to the prison cell for further interrogation."

  "Yes." It turned out that the man in blue with scars was called Bai Qiao.

  Then the few of us, except for Wanday Cheng, slowly got up and moved forward, dragging our feet. When we passed by Wanday Cheng, he lowered his head and didn't dare to exchange eye contact with him. It seemed that we could only take it one step at a time, and truly had no idea how we would be interrogated next.

  "Wait," said Jing Ming Wang, "you stay there, you're the last one walking." Oh no, it's me.

  "Come over here."

  My back was pushed by someone, and I walked shakily to the front. Suddenly, my leg was kicked from behind, it went numb, both knees hit the ground, the kneecap cramped in pain, I fell on the stone, tears flowed down, pain and fear all gathered together, tears couldn't stop flowing, but I didn't dare make a sound, I lowered my head, suppressing my crying voice.

  "Raise your head." I sniffled and raised my head, but froze.

  This is a face that can bewitch people's hearts! Such a soft, beautiful and elegant face, with a slightly raised nose bridge, eyes that are slightly long and narrow, hair casually combed back and tied up, with loose strands of hair dancing at the temples, what a demonic appearance.

  He wore a purple robe, with only one soft belt around his waist, the opening of the robe slightly open, and I could even see a hint of exposed skin. However, in such cold winter weather, isn't he feeling cold?

  He still didn't move, just leaning there with his hand propping up his head, staring at me expressionlessly. I felt uneasy and guessed my current expression was terrible, not knowing whether to lower my head or continue looking at him, so we just remained in this awkward standoff.