Chapter 297 - Chapter 297: Escape
Chapter 297: Escape
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Upon seeing Wang Ke’s attitude, Han Feng, who was standing nearby, stepped forward, kicking Wang Ke squarely, causing him to immediately spit out blood.
Yet even so, Wang Ke looked at Jiang Peihuan with mocking eyes, “1 never even took your father seriously. As for you, I care even less.”
“It doesn’t matter whether you take me seriously or not. What matters is, do you care about your family?”
“What do you mean?”
Hearing this, a hint of panic flashed in Wang Ke’s eyes.
Jiang Peihuan, however, remained composed. She didn’t look at Wang Ke, but instead signaled to Han Feng. A moment later, a young boy was brought over.
The boy, who appeared to be around three or four years old, began to cry out upon seeing Wang Ke.
“Xu Er?”
Upon seeing his son, Wang Ke’s expression changed.
Gazing darkly at Jiang Peihuan, Wang Ke coldly said, “What did you do with my son?”
“Of course, it’s to threaten you.”
“You?”
Hearing Jiang Peihuan’s candid response, Wang Ke was so infuriated he was at a loss for words.
The boy continued to cry out for his father. Hearing his son’s cries, Wang Ke’s eyes were filled with conflict and his gaze towards Jiang Peihuan became more resentful. “I never imagined Jiang Hong would have such a ruthless daughter.”
“My father was indeed very generous to you all, but didn’t each of you betray him?”
Facing Wang Ke’s accusations, Jiang Peihuan responded calmly.
Having returned from the dead, she only remembered Meng Yi as the main culprit but had forgotten about those associated with him.
“Wang Ke, my patience is limited. Will you talk or not?”
At Jiang Peihuan’s indication, Han Feng drew a dagger, aiming it at Wang Ke’s son’s throat.
Seeing this, pure panic filled Wang Ke’s eyes.
After a long pause, he finally murmured, “I’ll talk, I’ll talk.”
Subsequently, Wang Ke recounted his collaboration and deals with Prince Qing.
After he finished, he looked at Jiang Peihuan, “I’ve told you everything you wanted to know. Can you now release my son?”
“Not just yet. Later, I’ll take you to the Emperor. Only after you repeat everything in his presence will 1 release your son.”
After saying this, Jiang Peihuan signaled Han Feng, who then carried the boy away.
Watching this, Wang Ke’s eyes darkened.
He didn’t look at Jiang Peihuan, but turned to Xiao Nanye instead, “King Cheng, they say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Would you really keep such a woman by your side, without fearing for your life?”
“I admire her ruthlessness,” replied Xiao Nanye. “If she truly desires my life, 1 would gladly offer it to her.”
Wang Ke was speechless.
He had intended to sow discord between Xiao Nanye and Jiang Peihuan, but he didn’t expect such an answer from Xiao Nanye.
That night, Jiang Peihuan and Xiao Nanye took Wang Ke into the palace.
The Qianqing Hall.
Emperor Qi Ming was clearly waiting for the two of them. Seeing the two bowing to him, he asked in a calm voice, “How did it go? Today is the last day, have you found out everything?”
“It’s all clear. The deaths of those two have nothing to do with Huan Er. It’s all the scheming of Prince Qing behind the scenes,” Xiao Nanye answered immediately.
The emperor, who was reviewing official documents, paused his brush when he heard this. Setting the brush down, he looked at Xiao Nanye and Jiang Peihuan and asked, “You say the culprit behind this is Prince Qing. Do you have any evidence?”
Soon after, Wang Ke was brought before Emperor Qi Ming. Without needing Xiao Nanye and Jiang Peihuan to prompt him, Wang Ke repeated everything he had previously disclosed.
Upon hearing Wang Ke’s words, the emperor’s eyes burned with anger.
Looking to Wang Kun at his side, he ordered coldly, “Summon Prince Qing.”
“Yes.”
Though the distance from Prince Qing’s mansion to the palace was quite considerable, Xiao Junhao appeared before the emperor within an hour.
Entering the Qianqing Hall, Xiao Junhao seemed to have a sense of what was happening.
Approaching the emperor, he greeted, “1 greets Imperial Father.”
“Prince Qing, you’re quite audacious, daring to plot against the first prince of the grassland tribes.”
“Imperial Father, I am wronged!” exclaimed Xiao Junhao, immediately kneeling.
“You claim to be wronged, but do you dare deny knowing Wang Ke, or having dealings with him?”
“Imperial father, 1 indeed have associations with General Wang, but the death of Prince Ha Chi really has no connection to me. 1 have been occupied with the disaster areas recently.”
“You’ve been busy with the disaster areas?”
“Yes, even though the heavy snow has ceased, the people still suffer greatly. During this time, I have been focusing on the disaster relief. If Imperial father doesn’t believe me, you can inquire with the officials. Moreover, 1 have already thought of a solution to aid the victims.”
“What solution?”
Hearing Xiao Junhao mention the disaster areas, Emperor Qi Ming immediately forgot about the deaths.
“I would like to discuss the solution privately with Imperial father,” whispered Xiao Junhao, casting a glance at Xiao Nanye and Jiang Peihuan.
While others might have missed it, Jiang Peihuan clearly saw the smug look in Xiao Junhao’s eyes.
With a hint of displeasure, Emperor Qi Ming still agreed and they retreated to the inner hall.
Once seated, the emperor coldly said, “Now, you can speak.”
“Imperial father, this is the solution I have in mind.” As he spoke, Xiao Junhao placed a black wooden box in front of the emperor. This box was previously given to him by Jiang Yan.
Originally, he planned to present this sum of silver later when the disaster worsened. However, upon hearing of Xiao Nanye and Jiang Peihuan’s entrance into the palace, he realized his plan had been exposed, and hence brought the box with him.
When Emperor Qi Ming saw the banknotes in the box, his eyes were filled with surprise.
Outside, Jiang Peihuan and Xiao Nanye waited quietly.
Seeing the silver notes inside the box, the emperor’s eyes widened in surprise.
Outside, Jiang Peihuan and Xiao Nanye waited in silence.
After a while, Emperor Qi Ming emerged, followed by Xiao Junhao.
“The matter has been clarified; it was a misunderstanding,” declared the emperor. “You two can go home now.”
Xiao Nanye and Jiang Peihuan exchanged glances, both sensing each other’s surprise. Without uttering a word, they bowed and left.
Once outside the palace, Xiao Nanye remarked, “It seems this matter will be left unresolved.”
“It’s likely that Prince Qing promised some benefits to Emperor Qi Ming,” Jiang Peihuan speculated.
“That’s a given,” Xiao Nanye responded with a hint of sarcasm in his eyes.
Jiang Peihuan remained silent, having already known much about Emperor Qi Ming from her previous life..