Was he really that cruel?

For the sake of profit, was there no choice but to kill?

Jingrong said, “General Wen, oh General Wen, in this world, killing is not the only way to solve problems. This prince has never harmed others’ lives for profit, unless someone tries to kill this prince.”

Wen Panshi said nothing.

Jingrong stood up and walked to his side. “Do you think killing your way back to the capital will vindicate Duke Yuguo? That’s nothing but the behavior of a brute. You at least used to follow Duke Yuguo in campaigns everywhere—did you only learn those killing techniques from the battlefield? Having courage without strategy—think about it, if Duke Yuguo were in your position now, what would he do?”

Uh!

Wen Panshi turned to look at him.

This prince was indeed different from the other imperial princes.

He had long heard about the Emperor’s four sons. One only knew how to run after his father’s backside, hoping to scoop up some golden excrement. One was a medicine jar, always kept in the deep palace, with few people having seen what he looked like. One, though normal, was too clever, so much like Emperor Qizhen that even the Emperor had to guard against this son.

And then there was the one standing before him now—Prince Rong.

It was said that this person hadn’t grown up by the Emperor’s side, nor had he grown up in the palace. Because his mother consort had made a mistake back then, he was implicated as well and was sent outside the palace to be raised from a very young age. It wasn’t until he came of age that he was enfeoffed as a prince. So in the court, he had always been invisible. Major decisions never involved his participation, but when there were thorny matters, they were often pushed onto him—things like the Linjing Case, or this current case of the disaster relief silver in Yu Prefecture. To put it bluntly, he had no status as a prince whatsoever. Yet he had always endured it, never making a fuss, never causing trouble, very obedient.

Such a prince—he didn’t have the weakness of that medicine jar prince, nor did he have the power of that clever prince. But this role of silently playing the invisible one made him even more inscrutable. Who knew just how capable this person was? Whether he was intelligent? Or what he was hiding?

But through this incident, Wen Panshi had seen through him clearly.

This was a person who hid very deeply!

A… very intelligent person.

Not receiving a response from Wen Panshi for a long time, Jingrong said, “Since you can’t answer, then fine, this prince will tell you. If it were Duke Yuguo, he would hold his troops steady and do everything possible to investigate the truth behind the great fire at Duke Yuguo’s mansion. If it truly was man-made, then he would find the right opportunity to raise troops for revenge, instead of acting like you all—not knowing the truth, yet insisting it was ‘consolidating power by eliminating obstacles,’ even willing to kill to achieve your goal. You were all soldiers under Duke Yuguo. Even if you’re not clever, you should have learned his calm way of handling things, right? You must know that sometimes, impulsiveness can kill people, while patient forbearance is not a discouraging or pathetic thing. On the contrary, it can be a good thing.”

It was as if… he were talking about himself.

Wen Panshi understood, mulling over these words in his heart.

He said, “We followed our lord into battle against enemies, captured cities, slaughtered barbarians, devoted ourselves entirely to the Great Lin empire, eliminating all hostile forces. Originally, the late Emperor’s throne was meant to be passed to our lord, but the Eighth Prince back then was just like Your Highness now—not fighting, not competing, carefree as clouds and cranes. Our lord believed such a person was more suitable to sit on the throne, so he yielded it to the Eighth Prince. But after the Eighth Prince ascended the throne, killing continued endlessly. Our lord knew that sooner or later it would be his turn, so he prepared early, sending the young heir out of the capital and dispersing all hundred thousand soldiers under his command. And the facts proved that what our lord worried about did happen, but what no one expected was that it ended in the form of a great fire. We are all brutes who can only fight with our last breath to seek justice for our lord. You want us to wait? How can we wait? We’ve already waited fourteen years.”

Waited until their hair turned white!

From the young men who once campaigned north and south with Duke Yuguo to middle-aged men now in their forties.

He took a sharp breath and continued, “But the young heir has given the order—before the Linjing Case is solved, we will not act rashly until the case is clear. This is an order, and we will not disobey. But if you want to kill us, do as you please. However, after you kill us, if the great fire at Duke Yuguo’s mansion is proven to be the Emperor’s doing, then the hundred thousand troops will break through the capital. Even if blood flows like a river, we will not hesitate.”

Hehe!

Jingrong laughed again, but not at his arrogance. Rather, he laughed because this person was truly a tough man. Having risked his life following Duke Yuguo back then, he was indeed an upstanding great general.

Such bearing commanded respect.

Just as Jingrong was about to speak—

“Father!”

A small figure rushed in.

“Father!” Little Xiyue shouted loudly.

As soon as she ran in, she threw herself straight into Wen Panshi’s arms, looking up with tear-filled eyes, choking out, “Father.”

Called in such a soft, sweet voice that it could melt anyone’s heart.

Wen Panshi was surprised—how could his daughter be here?

“Xiyue, how are you here?”

“Big brother brought me from the yamen and told me to wait here for you and Mother to return.”

“Silly girl.”

He touched his daughter’s little face. That stern and dignified appearance, when facing his own daughter, ultimately still revealed a father’s loving expression.

“Xiyue, Father has wronged you.”

“Father, big brother said you and Mother will be fine, so you definitely will be fine.”

Of course, the “big brother” she referred to was not Wen Xian, but Ji Yunshu.

Wen Panshi pressed his lips tightly, unable to say a word.

He had besieged a prince and been caught red-handed. If not death, he would have to languish in prison.

Seeing such a touching and warm scene, who could bear to separate them?

Jingrong’s expression showed no trace as he walked before little Xiyue. When the girl saw him, she shrank back a bit.

For some reason, little Xiyue was very afraid of him.

But unexpectedly, Jingrong suddenly reached out his hand and gently pressed it on little Xiyue’s head, saying to her,

“Go home with your father.”

Hm?

Little Xiyue was stunned for a moment before her face broke into a smile, her eyes gleaming. “What about my mother?”

“She’ll be out very soon.”

“What about my big brother?”

“He’ll be fine too.”

“Really?”

Jingrong’s cold, stern features revealed a gentle, indulgent look as he continued rubbing her little head. “This prince never lies.”

“That’s wonderful!”

Little Xiyue was so happy she almost jumped up, clutching her father’s clothes tightly, overjoyed beyond measure.

However, Wen Panshi was shocked.

Did this mean he was releasing him?

Not killing him?

Coming to his senses, his parched lips slowly parted. “You mean you’re releasing everyone?”