Yan Daoxin usually spoke with the confidence of soone who even King Yan had to obey, full of assurance and certainty.
It was the first ti everyone present heard such discouraging words from his mouth.
If a person is always speaking negatively, over ti, those around them might beco accustod to it and not think much of it.
But if the situation is reversed, and a normally confident and optimistic person suddenly says sothing discouraging, it makes those who hear it feel an inexplicable unease.
This is exactly how Fu Wen and Fu Lu felt after listening to Yan Daoxin’s words.
The two brothers looked at Lu Qing, seeing her silent, then turned to look at Zhu Yu, who also remained quiet.
Eventually, they couldn’t hold back, and Fu Wen spoke to Yan Daoxin, "Divine Doctor, there’s no need to speak so pessimistically.
Over the past few days in this Shackles Prison, no one has troubled us. We have good food and drink, just unable to move freely, nothing else.
If the Holy Emperor truly believed that nonsense from King Fan’s nephew and wanted to deal with us, he wouldn’t need to wait this long!
Besides, as Prince Shu said when he ca earlier, apart from Duke Yan’s faction, many in the court are pleading for the Prince.
There must be a turning point!"
"Exactly, exactly!" Fu Lu nodded hurriedly, "In this matter, we are originally wronged!
Initially, our concern was that those people might dispose of us without asking questions. Now, it seems a thorough investigation will follow.
We least fear a thorough investigation, as it will reveal the truth!
So we will surely turn our danger into safety this ti!"
Yan Daoxin looked at the two of them, with expressions tense and focused on him, and couldn’t tell if they were comforting others or convincing themselves, and couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
"Besides those people speaking for Lu Qing in court, who knows if they’re just arguing whether he should be kept in Shackles Prison or handed over to the Imperial Eunuch Prison.
Think about what type of people they are! Those at Zongzheng Temple and the Imperial Censors! These are all stubborn people who talk about whether things are proper or according to protocol!
They don’t care if we live or die in the end, nor do they care about your so-called truth.
What they care about is whose hand we’ll die at in the end."
Fu Lu, hearing this, wanted to respond but was silenced by Yan Daoxin’s gesture.
"You don’t need to say anything more, nor rack your brains to comfort ." He looked at Fu Lu with so helplessness, "No matter the case, did King Fan take the antidote I prepared for him before he died?
And that nephew of King Fan’s, never mind how the High Priest Yishaen of Fan Country confused King Fan before, brewing up so nonsense, causing King Fan not to let this nephew into the Fanwang Mansion at all.
Besides the eunuchs and servants of Fanwang Mansion, outsiders may not know. They only knew King Fan had no offspring, so this nephew was regarded as the heir, if not a princely heir, pretty much the sa.\p>
Now this character appears, stirring up the city, claiming we poisoned King Fan, and indeed we did prepare dicine for him.
The High Priest who truly poisoned King Fan is already a dried corpse, dead during his retreat, making it unprovable and undeniable.
So, from any angle, the Emperor couldn’t simply brush this matter aside without explanation and just send King Fan’s nephew away.
Especially since a King Fan related to a prince of Jin Country died unclearly, how would the other vassal kings view this?"
Having said that, Fu Wen and Fu Lu were left speechless. The optimism they had suddenly felt had evidence was now turned into a pressing stone on their hearts again, thanks to Yan Daoxin’s words.
"But you two need not worry." Yan Daoxin, seeing their dark faces, turned to comfort them, "The antidote given to King Fan was prepared by alone; Lu Qing never touched it.
And as for that High Priest Yishaen, it was you who found him dead when you arrived.
However, a dried corpse like that can’t be blad on you no matter what.
If they insist on blaming Lu Qing, it would only be for the deaths of those at the Great Priest Mansion allegedly related to you.
But, aside from bloodline, Lu Qing has properly undergone the rite of adoption and is recorded on the Imperial Family Faith Book.
If they had him beheaded for causing the deaths of a few servants at the Great Priest Mansion, the Emperor could not save face.
So long as the Emperor doesn’t stubbornly tie King Fan’s death to Lu Qing, I can bear the burden alone.
The burden Lu Qing carries is quite small; at most, he’ll suffer so flesh wounds, but it shouldn’t cost him his life."
Fu Lu felt what Yan Daoxin said made sense, and thinking that as long as their Prince’s life wasn’t at risk, the rest could be managed. But then, realizing Yan Daoxin implied Lu Qing would survive while he faced certain death, that breath of relief stuck in his throat again.
Just as the brothers racked their brains for comforting words, Yan Daoxin stretched, got up, and returned to his straw bed.
"Life is but a dream. Who knows, maybe waking up is the true beginning!" He gathered the scattered straw, "Let’s sleep! If we don’t seize this chance to sleep soundly now, we might not get another!"
Having said this, he turned away, with his back towards Lu Qing and the others, not saying another word. Whether he truly slept or not, no one knew.
Fu Wen and Fu Lu looked at Lu Qing in confusion, but Lu Qing shook their head, indicating not to disturb Yan Daoxin.
The two brothers reluctantly nodded and stepped aside, troubled.
The cell, housing five people, felt as silent as if it only held one person, with an unprecedentedly oppressive atmosphere lingering.
Ti passed unknowably, when suddenly, footsteps were heard approaching outside the prison.
Zhu Yu opened their eyes and looked outside, seeing the dim corridor where footsteps, accompanied by flickering torchlight, were coming closer.
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