HLnovel Chapter 300
Chapter 300
"Closing things up? What am I supposed to shut up? You're the ones who should be thinking about how to shut things up now."
Zhou Chu suddenly appeared outside the prison cell of Chen Wanyan and his son.
"Zhou Hengqi, do you even know what you're doing? Once the Empress tells His Majesty, you'll really have to think carefully about how to explain it to him."
Chen Wanyan said with a gloomy expression.
At this moment, he didn't think he would be in any trouble. He had been to the Imperial Guard's prison once before, and what happened? He was politely asked to leave by Lu Wanshan, the commander of the Northern Garrison, in less than half a day.
"Zhou Hengqi, as the saying goes, once is enough, twice is not enough. You have twice attacked me without cause. Aren't you afraid of the Empress's wrath?"
When Zhou Chu heard this, it was as if he had heard a joke.
"I forgot to tell you, the Empress was deposed yesterday, and your Chen family was raided by the Northern Garrison. The things they found are enough to kill you two ten times over."
Zhou Chu looked at Chen Wanyan and his son, who still couldn't grasp the situation.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible! Don't try to fool us. I know the methods of your Northern Garrison Command. You just don't dare to use torture on my father and me, so you're trying to trick us into confessing with these words."
Upon hearing this, Chen Wanyan was taken aback for a moment, then sneered.
"Chen Wanyan, what time is it? You are still so stubborn. Don't you think that if the Empress were safe and sound, would you have been kept in this prison for so long?"
Zhou Chu looked at Chen Wanyan with a pitiful expression.
Zhou Chu really didn't want to subject the father and son to severe torture. After all, Chen Wanyan was the emperor's former father-in-law, and some dignity had to be preserved.
In the original history, after the Chen family was deposed, Chen Wanyan was considered to have died a peaceful death. After all, Chen Wanyan at that time did not have the same level of indulgence as Jiajing, and he did not have much power. The positions he held were basically nominal.
The reason why Chen Wanyan has become so arrogant is entirely due to Jiajing's deliberate guidance and indulgence.
Even so, Zhou Chu knew very well that the emperor probably did not want to kill the father and son. After all, even the original Yan Song and his son, who were even more corrupt, had a relatively peaceful end.
No matter what, Chen Wanyan served as a useful tool for Jiajing. Whether it was voluntary or not, the fact remains. Moreover, he was Jiajing's father-in-law, and he had to maintain a certain level of decorum.
Upon hearing this, Chen Wanyan's face visibly panicked. In fact, he hadn't been as calm as he appeared these past two days.
He originally thought that his entry into the Zhaoyu prison was just a formality, and that he would be released before he even made it through the day, so he was extremely arrogant.
After that day, Chen Wanyan actually started to panic, but he still believed that he would be fine. He thought that His Majesty must have been delayed by something, after all, His Majesty was very busy.
But now two more days have passed, and there has been no movement in the entire Zhaoyu prison. No one has said they will release them. Chen Wanyan's heart is already filled with unease. He realizes that things may not be as he expected.
Hearing Zhou Chu's words, he actually believed it in his heart, but he didn't dare to believe it, because once the empress was deposed, it would mean that their Chen family was completely finished.
"Chen Wanyan, as long as you explain yourself properly, His Majesty will still give you some face and won't take your and your son's lives."
Zhou Chu was too lazy to waste time arguing with Chen Wanyan and said...
"I think you're just lying to us."
When Chen Shaozu suddenly learned that his sister had been deposed as empress, he could not accept it no matter what.
He had only enjoyed a few good days; if what Zhou Chu said was true, it would mean he was instantly brought back to his original state.
Without the support of status, position, and money, Chen Shaozu is nothing.
"Whether you believe it or not is no longer important. The things we confiscated from your home are more than enough to punish you. I'm here to give you a chance, to leave you a way out."
Zhou Chu wasn't in a hurry. The Imperial Guards following behind him were quick to notice and placed a folding stool down. Zhou Chu sat down directly.
"You would be so kind?"
Chen Wanyan looked coldly at Zhou Chu.
“If you and your son have no relation to His Majesty, I naturally wouldn’t care whether you live or die.”
Zhou Chu scoffed.
"Even though the Empress has been deposed, you still have a relationship with His Majesty. Your dignity is His Majesty's dignity. As the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, I naturally have to share His Majesty's burdens. I don't need to say more about this, and I think you should understand."
Zhou Chu's words plunged Chen Wanyan into silence.
He knew very well that Zhou Chu was right. His daughter had been an empress, and if his family were executed, it would make the emperor seem cold-hearted and would be a stain on his personal morality.
In just a moment, Chen Wanyan seemed to have aged ten years, and the haggardness and old age in his eyes could no longer be hidden.
“Lord Zhou is right. If you need me to say anything, please do so.”
Chen Wanyan said with a look of utter defeat.
"Just tell the truth. How it is announced to the public in the end is a matter between me and His Majesty."
Zhou Chu said.
"Father, don't be fooled by him! How could the Empress be deposed? His Majesty and she have such a good relationship!"
Chen Shaozu acted as if he had gone mad.
"Shut up!"
Chen Wanyan looked at his good-for-nothing son and roared.
Chen Wanyan knew very well that the most foolish thing to do now was to provoke Zhou Chu. Zhou Chu only wanted to make his father and son die with dignity, but that didn't mean he wouldn't dare to kill him and his stupid son.
At this moment, Chen Wanyan's mind suddenly became sharp, as if he had suddenly gained enlightenment.
"Lord Zhou, please don't take him seriously, he's just a fool."
Chen Wanyan smiled wryly.
He had originally intended to be more obsequious, but his current mood simply prevented him from doing so.
"Just tell me the truth, I won't hold it against him."
When Zhou Chu said this, he didn't even bother to glance at Chen Shaozu.
Zhou Chu naturally couldn't be bothered with such a piece of trash; to say even a single word to him would be beneath his dignity.
"Don't worry, sir, I will tell you the truth."
At this point, Chen Wanyan had no will to live; to have survived was already a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Chu nodded, got up, and left.
"Father, how could you believe his nonsense?"
After Zhou Chu left, Chen Shaozu said anxiously.
"Nonsense? Lord Zhou has no reason to lie to us. If the Empress were still in power, the Northern Garrison Command wouldn't dare to interrogate us. Now that they're interrogating my son and me, don't you understand what that means? You fool!"
Chen Wanyan glanced coldly at his son, thinking to himself, "How could someone as wise and powerful as me have given birth to such a fool?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Shaozu finally realized what was happening and collapsed to the ground. His dream of becoming the heir to a marquis's mansion had been shattered in no time.