Chapter 185 How Sad
After the Duke of Zhenguo walked out of the palace in the dark, he headed straight for Prince Ling's mansion.
Xiao Jingheng had been staying with Song Shiwei, but when he heard Qing Mo coming to report that the Duke of Zhenguo wanted to see him, he reluctantly returned to his mansion through the secret passage.
After changing his clothes, he walked slowly to the flower hall.
The Duke of Zhenguo was sitting on a chair, his expression more solemn than ever before. When he saw Xiao Jingheng come in, he stood up and bowed without saying a word.
Xiao Jingheng sat down in the main seat and asked, "Duke Zhenguo came here at midnight, is he here to call me to task?"
"The prince is joking."
The Duke of Zhenguo said, "Qing'er was ignorant and deceived into doing such a foolish thing, which almost ruined your reputation. I feel sorry for it and came here to apologize."
Xiao Jingheng didn't exchange pleasantries with him. He leaned lazily on his chair and said with a smile, "Duke Zhenguo, if you have anything to say, just say it directly."
The Duke of Zhenguo didn't expect that Xiao Jingheng was too lazy to even pretend to be polite.
That's right. Ever since Qing'er called off the engagement with him, not only did he not take care of her, he also attacked her secretly many times and wanted to kill her.
All his life's planning and scheming finally came back to haunt his daughter.
The Duke of Zhenguo felt miserable, but thinking of his daughter he had to put aside his pride and state his purpose.
He said, "Because of a childhood engagement, Qing'er could not let you go, and because of this, she became obsessed and did many wrong things.
As a father, I really couldn't bear to see her trapped in love day and night, so I shamelessly came to see the prince.
I hope you can give her some thoughts because of the past relationship you had with her."
"Ah."
Xiao Jingheng sneered: "Does the Duke of Zhenguo want me to marry her?"
The Duke of Zhenguo also knew that his request was a bit excessive, and he said: "I know that Qing'er's reputation is now ruined and she is not worthy of being your princess.
I am willing to let her marry you as a concubine, and please give her a chance, Your Majesty, to fulfill her infatuation with you."
"Why should I agree to you?"
Xiao Jingheng's face was a little gloomy, and his tone was not as kind as before.
The Duke of Zhenguo raised his head, looked at Xiao Jingheng with a pair of sharp eyes and said, "What if I can help you overthrow the prince and help you rule the world?
Haven't you always wanted to know what happened to the Huo family sixteen years ago? I can tell you everything I know."
Xiao Jingheng raised his eyebrows and asked him with a smile: "Do the Queen and the Crown Prince know that the Duke is here? Are you really willing to abandon your sweetheart?"
Upon hearing this, the Duke of Zhenguo's expression changed and he looked at Xiao Jingheng in disbelief.
Xiao Jingheng curled his lips: "Why did the Duke do this unexpectedly?"
He tapped his fingers on the table and said, "If it wasn't for his beloved, why would the Duke of Zhenguo support the Crown Prince with all his might?
If you want your daughter to become the queen, I am also a good choice, right? But you gave up on me and chose the prince.
You have no sons but one daughter, and your backyard is clean without even a concubine.
You must be deeply in love with that woman and willing to do anything for her.
The woman I have loved for so many years is giving up on me just like that. Is it because there is nothing more sad than giving up on me, or do I want to do something for her in the end?
So, I don’t trust you unless you can show enough sincerity, such as killing the crown prince and the queen? "
The Duke of Zhenguo was shocked. He frowned and stared at Xiao Jingheng with a gloomy face.
He thought that he could tempt him into agreeing to marry Qing'er by using the Huo family's affairs, but he didn't expect that he was so ruthless and actually got the better of him.
He clenched his fist and asked, "Your Majesty, are you refusing?"
"Yes!"
Xiao Jingheng answered very confidently: "Don't talk about the Huo family. Even if you really send the prince's head to me, I will not marry your daughter.
Duke Zhenguo, please don't blame me for being heartless, because matters of the heart cannot be forced.
Everything you did was done in the way you thought it was for the good of your daughter, but in fact you were the one who harmed her.
Since she has an obsession with me that she shouldn't have, you should help her give up this thought instead of tempting her to cooperate with you by offering benefits and letting your daughter fall deeper into trouble.
Although I will not marry Miss Wen, I can promise you that if the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion is overthrown one day, I will do my best to save Miss Wen's life, of course, the premise is that she does not seek death herself."
He picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip, then said in a calm voice, "This is all I have to say. Please go back, Duke."
The Duke of Zhenguo stood there as if he had lost his soul.
In fact, he didn't have much hope at first, he just wanted to give it a try for Qing'er.
But Xiao Jingheng's words hit him directly in the heart, making him completely defeated.
He looked at Jamel Xiao with cloudy eyes, and seemed to see another person in a trance.
That person was just like him, righteous and dazzling.
The Duke of Zhenguo moved his lips as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he couldn't utter it.
He withdrew his gaze, turned around and left with heavy steps.
After he left, Song Shiwei came in from the flower hall. She asked with a gossipy look on her face, "Does the Duke of Zhenguo and the Empress really have an affair?"
Xiao Jingheng said: "I deceived him on purpose. When the Duke of Zhenguo sent someone to assassinate me outside the city, I had my suspicions.
It is obvious that the Duke of Zhenguo was also involved in the Huo family's affairs back then.
The Sun family murdered the Huo family for power and the position of queen, so what was the purpose of the Duke of Zhenguo?
He and my uncle were close friends back then, so what made him betray his friend?
Is it for power, fame, women, wealth or hatred?
What benefit did he get from this?"
"So, you think he did it because of the woman he loves?"
Song Shiwei frowned and said, "But there is one thing I'm curious about.
Marquis Yongning was rewarded by His Majesty because he defended Pingyang Pass. Then how did Duke Zhenguo get the title of Duke?
Could it be that it was the Queen's pillow talk that brought this about?"
"That's because he saved my father's life."
Xiao Jingheng explained: "About ten years ago, officials from Shu presented a brown bear to my father, and my father hosted a banquet for all officials to enjoy.
Unexpectedly, the brown bear suddenly went mad, broke through the cage and attacked everyone.
It was the Duke of Zhenguo who blocked the fatal blow for his father, but his wife unfortunately died at the hands of a brown bear.
The emperor was grateful to him and conferred him the title of Duke of Zhenguo."
"This is too much of a coincidence."
Song Shiwei felt that this matter was most likely not just an accident.
Xiao Jingheng sighed: "Yes, an accident caused the death of the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo, and he was promoted to a higher position.
It seems like a coincidence, but in fact, someone just built a ladder to send the Duke of Zhenguo to the sky. "
Although Song Shiwei had long known that human hearts could be so filthy, she still couldn't help but feel a chill all over her body after hearing these words.
How sad is the woman who married the Duke of Zhenguo?
Just like her in her previous life, she became a stepping stone for the man to achieve success.
Who will ask for justice for them?