Chapter 102: No Use for Persuasion
Ning Fengzhe tried to persuade her for a long time and tried his best to hint and guide her, but Mu Rong still didn't find anything strange.
But seeing that he was so persistent, they went to the inn where Zhuang Shao was to find out what was going on.
After knocking on the door and entering, she saw Zhuang Shao sitting quietly reading a book. Mu Rong turned away unhappily and glared at Ning Fengzhe.
Ning Fengzhe was secretly shocked when he saw Ning Yunxi choose to take advantage of the situation.
Ah.
She is fearless and bold.
Do you really think you are so wise and invincible?
Ning Fengzhe became extremely angry and depressed at the thought of being ridiculed and questioned by his mother again.
Zhuang Shao raised his eyes and saw that it was them. He immediately showed joy on his face and greeted them happily.
"Why are you here?"
"Did you find my brother?"
Mu Rong smiled her usual smile and turned kind.
"There is indeed news."
"Your brother is in the palace. I will arrange for you to meet him in a few days. Is that okay?"
Zhuang Shao was full of surprise and nodded repeatedly.
"Thank you, Madam Ning. I am very grateful!"
Mu Rong sat opposite him and asked tentatively.
"Mr. Zhuang, have you met your sworn brother recently?"
Zhuang Shao shook his head to deny it.
"Never seen it before."
Having said this, he seemed to suddenly remember something, turned his gaze to Ning Fengzhe, and coughed awkwardly a few times.
"I was so focused on reading that I forgot about Master Ning's instructions. I'm really sorry."
"But I still think there should be no deception between mother and son."
"Please think twice, Mr. Ning."
"What's more, Madam Ning has been kind to me, how can I bear to play tricks on her?"
Ning Fengzhe had expected this and was not surprised at all.
However, Mu Rong's expression changed and she was shocked.
"What do you mean, Mr. Zhuang?"
"What deception? What trickery?"
Zhuang Shao lowered his head guiltily, acting as if he had done something wrong.
"Nothing, I just made it up."
Mu Rong was even more curious and kept asking.
"Please explain clearly, sir."
"What did Fengzhe ask?"
Zhuang Shao sighed helplessly.
"Madam Ning is my benefactor, so I naturally cannot lie to her."
"It's not a big deal."
"Young Master Ning has left a message. No matter if Madam Ning asks whether I have seen my brother or Third Miss Ning recently, I will answer that I have."
"Between mother and son, there may be deception, but there will be no calculation."
"Young Master Ning definitely has no evil intentions, please don't blame me, Madam Ning."
Mu Rong responded with a smile and did not get angry immediately.
"I see."
"Fengzhe has been filial since he was young. I know he has no bad intentions."
"Thank you, Mr. Zhuang, for telling me the truth."
"I came here just to inform you about my elder brother's affairs."
"Now that we have finished talking, it is time to go back to the mansion and take care of things. I will take my leave first."
Zhuang Shao politely stood up to see him off.
"Madam Ning, Master Ning, take care."
Mu Rong responded politely.
"Mr. Zhuang, please stay."
The two left the inn together, and Ning Fengzhe made an excuse to get away and then returned.
Zhuang Shao smiled and gestured for him to sit down.
"Master Ning, is there anything else?"
Ning Fengzhe was very cautious and did not sit down at the seat he indicated, but chose another chair.
"I turned back to remind you, my Lord, that the Emperor and you are brothers of different surnames, and Fang Zhixuan is just a sworn brother. You know which is more important, right?"
Zhuang Shao was also cautious and pretended to be frightened and acted dumb.
"How can the emperor and I be brothers with different surnames?"
"Master Ning, please do not speak out of turn. The royal family and I have no blood relationship."
"Strange, why do you call me uncle?"
"Since I was exiled and convicted, my official status has been revoked. I have no identity to this day. I can't even call myself a commoner. How can I be worthy of being called Lord?"
Ning Fengzhe sneered and did not explain further.
"Why do you ask when you already know the answer?"
"Ning Yunxi used the same trick against me. She couldn't hide it from me."
"I just hope that when my mother goes to the palace to expose the truth, Lord Bo can recognize the situation, be loyal to the emperor, and not help the tyrant. After the matter is done, I can agree to plead with you to save Fang Zhixuan's life."
"What do you think, sir?"
Zhuang Shao was slightly surprised.
"really?"
"Are you really willing to beg for mercy?"
As he spoke, his eyes were filled with innocence and he nodded solemnly.
"Okay, I promise you."
Feeling that he was being teased, Ning Fengzhe's throat became dry and he was so angry that he almost couldn't breathe.
"My Lord, you insist on doing what you want. Aren't you afraid of losing your life?"
"Once you abandon your identity, you will lose the emperor's protection."
"Please think carefully, Master. If Fang Zhixuan crosses the river and destroys the bridge, what will you do?"
"I believe that brothers are as inseparable as lips and teeth, and should work together. As for sworn brothers, there have always been many who have gone back on their words, so they are not worthy of trust."
Zhuang Shao brushed his clothes lightly and adjusted his sitting position, implying sarcasm.
"I heard that Mr. Ning is getting married soon."
"Is this what Lord Ning means by the close relationship between lips and teeth?"
Ning Fengzhe twitched the corners of his mouth but couldn't laugh.
"That's why I turned back and asked the uncle to think twice and let my second brother go."
Zhuang Shao's eyes darkened, as ferocious as a lion.
"If it were really Uncle Ge Jiwu, and if they were friendly and respectful brothers, when they found the secret room in the Zhuang Mansion, Lord Ning should have kept silent and pretended to know nothing, instead of guiding Madam Ning to set up this plan to murder my brother!"
Ning Fengzhe was depressed and unhappy, with a hint of helplessness and sorrow in his eyes.
"The Emperor is your brother, and they have a deep brotherly love. Lord Bo only needs to look at the glory of the Zhuang Mansion to understand it."
"How can you bear to slander me?"
Zhuang Shao explained the pros and cons.
"If I support you, your whole family will be killed; but if I help you, you will not suffer any loss."
"At most, it's just that Lord Ning broke his promise to my brother."
"I think the father is kind and the son is filial, brother won't make it too difficult for you."
Ning Fengzhe was secretly shocked when his identity was suddenly revealed, but he did not admit it on the surface.
"My Lord is helping Fang Zhixuan, but the Emperor is facing a great disaster."
"Fang Zhixuan's purpose in approaching the emperor is self-evident. Doesn't Lord Bo know this?"
Zhuang Shao did not say it explicitly, but just asked in return.
"Why do you think, Lord Ning, that those who commit treason and rebellion should go unpunished?"
Ning Fengzhe's brows suddenly furrowed.
Zhuang Shao smiled politely.
"I took the liberty."
"Lord Ning is the governor of the state. He is neither under the jurisdiction of Yinsitai nor involved in the affairs of Tinghetai. It is understandable that he does not know the laws."
Ning Fengzhe smiled coldly.
"It is useless to persuade him any further. I already understand what the Lord wants."
"But please be careful, sir."
As he spoke, his face was filled with anger, as if slowly emerging from an endless abyss, filled with suffocating gloom.
"If you dare to abandon your identity as the emperor's younger brother, I will have countless ways to make you unable to survive!"
Zhuang Shao was not afraid at all and smiled calmly.
"I have never thought of accepting the identity of the emperor's younger brother."
"If Lord Ning is dissatisfied, you can take action now."
Ning Fengzhe was helpless, with displeasure and contempt on his face.
"There are experts around Lord Bo, and I am just a civil official, so I am no match for him."
"But after entering the palace, the safety of the Lord Bo cannot be guaranteed."
"I would like to kindly remind you that the guards in the palace are all from the Tongshitai. Only if you acknowledge the identity of the emperor's younger brother can you save your life."
"That's all I have to say. I'll take my leave now."