Film and Television: The Collector Who Rampages Across the Heavens

Chapter 72 A Powerful Manipulator Behind the Scenes

"Soon, baby, don't worry, he'll definitely die. If you want, I can arrange for you to kill him yourself."

Su Li held the beauty in his arms, stroked her hair, and said with a soft laugh.

Gong Yu bit her lip and breathed a sigh of relief.

After several days of contact, she realized that the man in front of her was quite cunning, and that the palace was full of experts, even more terrifying than the Jiangzuo Alliance where the sect leader was.

On the surface, Prince Ling seemed to have no extra thoughts, but in reality, he had already begun to plot and scheme in secret.

She wanted to pass on some messages, but she was always kept under close surveillance and never had a chance to be alone with anyone.

"During the days I was missing, the sect leader and the others must have been searching for me everywhere, right?"

Gong Yu's mind raced, and she said softly, "Your Highness, I've been staying in the Prince's residence for so long, and I'm getting a little bored. Why don't you tell the servants to let me go out for a walk?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the other person looked over and said, "My beauty, you're not being good. Who in Jinling doesn't know you're missing? If your face appears on the street, Mei Changsu will probably find out in no time."

Gong Yu's pretty face remained unchanged as she said coquettishly, "Then it's no fun for me to stay in the Prince's mansion all day. I get so bored being alone like this."

"Then I'll see you out of Jinling. There are many prosperous places in the northern states. You can go there and have a look around. What do you say?" Su Li said.

Gong Yu's pretty face flushed, and she chuckled dryly twice: "Well—I can go again in a few days."

"Oh!"

Zurich remained noncommittal.

These ancient women were not like modern women. Even if you won her over, her heart would still be far away. It would take a long time of contact and emotional warmth for her to become devoted to you.

The conclusion of the case concerning the Duke of Qingguo has led to different evaluations of the two princes who have not yet secured the throne.

Prince Jing's uprightness and Prince Ling's insightful and benevolent nature are evident to everyone. The Crown Prince and Prince Yu have also turned their attention to the two, but not much. At present, their biggest rivals are still each other.

The previous case had just ended when the Lan Garden corpse case emerged. Mei Changsu was going to buy a new garden, but he inadvertently unearthed a long-forgotten case.

This directly implicated Lou Zhijing, the Minister of Revenue. The case had a significant impact in Nanjing, and the evidence was irrefutable.

Su Li had no interest in getting involved, but Emperor Liang had clearly tasted the benefits after the last case, and still wanted him and Prince Jing to preside over the trial.

This time, they were unusually united. Even with the Crown Prince's secret intercession and various forms of coercion and enticement, they still decided to arrest him, imprison him, and execute him in the autumn.

This infuriated the Crown Prince, who privately declared that he would never let Prince Jing and Prince Ling off the hook after he ascended the throne.

Ding Peng, the Imperial Guard Captain, listened from the side, his eyes flashing, but he remained silent.

Xie Yu, a trusted advisor, advised, "Su Zhe has clearly sided with Prince Yu, and his power has greatly increased. If Your Highness offends Prince Jing and Prince Ling as well, the situation will become rather delicate."

Moreover, both of these men are valiant generals with distinguished military achievements and extensive connections within the military. It's best not to offend them, even if you can't befriend them.

Ding Peng quickly added, "Your Excellency is right, Your Highness, please reconsider."

The crown prince frowned for a moment, then waved his sleeve and said, "Fine, I'll listen to you."

Xie Yu said in a deep voice, "At this point, we can't just passively defend; we must take the initiative."

The crown prince wore an intrigued expression and asked, "What do you mean?"

"I've already set a trap for He Wenxin, the son of He Jingzhong, the Minister of Personnel, and I'm waiting for him."

Xie Yu spoke, slowly and softly recounting the plan—

Several days later, at Miaoyinfang.

Although the loss of Gong Yu, the top courtesan, has diminished the group considerably, there are still many princes and nobles among them.

Like butterflies, countless beautiful women flitted through the corridors, but the twin sisters dancing on the central stage were the most dazzling.

They are the Xin Yang and Xin Liu sisters, hailed as one of the three wonders of Nanjing.

"Ah—murder!"

A commotion erupted from the second-floor pavilion. Several noblemen, stumbling and bleeding, came running out of the upper floor—

He hadn't run more than a few steps when he collapsed to the ground, vomiting black blood, and died silently.

Mr. Thirteen, the head of the Jiangzuo Alliance of Miaoyinfang, arrived at the second floor with a group of guards and found the floor littered with corpses.

He Wenxin, the son of the Minister of Personnel who frequented the place, was slumped on the ground with a blank expression, holding a bloodstained dagger in his hand.

"Oh no?"

Mr. Thirteen's pupils contracted, and he secretly thought that something terrible was about to happen.

These deceased sons were all from powerful and influential families in Jinling City, including Qiu Ze, son of the Earl of Wenyuan, and Zhang Sheng, son of the Third-Rank General Who Conquers the West.

He grabbed the terrified songstress beside him and shouted, "What happened? Tell me quickly!"

"Young Master He attacked suddenly. I don't know what happened. It has nothing to do with me." The only surviving songstress in the blue dress retreated in terror, muttering to herself, looking completely terrified.

When the Prefect of the Capital, Gao Sheng, who had received the report, personally led a team to investigate, his expression hardened with each corpse he saw. When he saw that the flat-chested killer was the son of the Minister of Personnel, he felt as if the sky was falling.

"Take them all away. As for Miaoyinfang—bring all related personnel back for thorough interrogation."

The news that He Wenxin's son, the Minister of Personnel, had killed several people in Miaoyinfang spread throughout Nanjing in a very short time. The families of the victims were all extremely powerful figures.

They quickly surrounded the Prefect of the Capital, demanding that the murderer be brought to justice immediately.

This matter also alarmed Emperor Liang, and Prince Yu was equally uneasy. The Minister of Personnel was one of his key generals, and if something happened to him, his influence in the court would be greatly reduced.

"Your Highness, it must be Your Highness plotting against me."

Prince Yu was furious, but he was completely helpless in the face of this situation, as all the witnesses and evidence pointed to He Wenxinqian.

How can he overturn the verdict?

Left with no other choice, he sought advice from Mei Changsu again, but the latter, who was already planning to ruin the Minister of Personnel, naturally wouldn't help. He simply gave him a few words of deception and sent him away.

Mei Changsu was also wondering who was behind it. After thinking it over, he figured it must have been the Crown Prince, but the other party was too ruthless, directly implicating five or six high-ranking officials in the case.

"That's good, it saves me from having to take action."

His idea lasted only a day before it was shattered by another piece of news: the only surviving witness, the blue-skirted songstress, was poisoned in prison, leaving behind a letter written in blood before her death.

It is said that the person who ordered He Wenxin to kill him was Mr. Thirteen, the manager of Miaoyinfang, who had a grudge against the son of Wenyuanbo and deliberately set up the trap.

Upon hearing this, Mei Changsu's expression changed; someone was trying to shift the blame onto him.