Chapter 1297: Chapter 1297: If I Am Ruthless, Why Should He Be Righteous?

How Xia Houzhe reached that point was naturally due to stupidity, arrogance, and obstinacy.

These were the words of his servant, Zhang Zhi.

Looking at his master, who had visibly aged, a person who once had the prospect of living to a hundred, now looked as if King Yan stood beside him, ready to snatch him away with the Soul Hook Chain at any moment.

Especially upon hearing that the Ning Family was being escorted to Shangjing, Mr. Ning, who was already feverishly ill from his injuries, instantly fainted, and when he awoke, his hair was completely silver.

Tong Qian entered from outside, covered in snow, and was stopped by Zhang Zhi, who gestured for him to first warm himself by the charcoal brazier.

Mr. Ning seemed to sense something, opened his eyes, and struggled to sit up.

"Sir, please, lie down," Zhang Zhi hurriedly went to support him.

Mr. Ning coughed a few times, waved his hand, and looked at Tong Qian, "What about it?"

Tong Qian replied, "The Young Master has already been sent out of the city."

Mr. Ning couldn’t decipher his feelings, he just made a sound of acknowledgment and then fell silent.

Zhang Zhi and Tong Qian exchanged a glance, "Sir, can you rest assured now?"

Tong Qian said, "A message also came from Old Zhao’s side; on the day of the Lantern Festival, he will accompany Emperor Chu to the Tiantan to perform rituals. Then you can leave the city with his carriage."

The annual ritual coincided fortuitously with the Lantern Festival this year. Knowing this, they couldn’t help but feel delighted. The Lantern Festival was naturally bustling, making it a perfect day for withdrawal.

Mr. Ning coughed twice, waved his hand, and said, "Let’s not rush this. Since the Young Master has already been sent out of the city, instruct those we have hidden in the city to disperse and leave. Also, notify all outposts to evacuate. There’s no need to mention the main base; Tong Qian, you will handle it personally."

"Sir..."

Tong Qian and Zhang Zhi were taken aback by the tone, as if it were a final testament.

"Listen to me, even if this body of mine makes it out of the city, it won’t last much longer. It might be better to delay here as much as possible. As for the old subordinates, let them all go into hiding." Mr. Ning took a deep breath, looking at the two of them, "With the Young Master gone, the master will surely understand why. Knowing his temperament, he’d rather let everything fall apart than let these people off the hook."

"He dares! He’s a Xia!" Zhang Zhi said angrily.

Mr. Ning smiled bitterly, "If I am not benevolent, how can he be righteous?"

Abandonments, after raising them for many years, required immense resolve.

He knew Xia Houzhe’s character too well; if persuasion were possible, they wouldn’t be at this point.

Because he knew this character, he aimed to minimize losses.

Tong Qian said, "Now Emperor Chu puts the blame on us, and the master’s side is temporarily stable. Once he returns to his fiefdom, can he..."

"He can’t return," Mr. Ning shook his head, "Emperor Chu won’t let him return to Xuzhou, so this piece is basically wasted."

His tone carried an immense sense of regret.

Earlier, he had reached an agreement with Xia Houzhe, to use every means necessary to return to the fief to plan for the future. But what was the outcome? Imprisonment, and then a staged act of self-harm by taking poison.

He couldn’t understand what was in his mind; didn’t he consider that if the poison was taken and Emperor Chu didn’t save him, or if he had no chance to take the antidote, wouldn’t it be like stabbing himself viciously?

Well, this act got him out of prison, but Emperor Chu’s statement that he should ’heal before returning to his fief’ silenced all the whispers across the land, and no one could say a word against it.

But would Emperor Chu really let him heal?

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