dognovel Chapter 614 Lowering oneself into the Zhaoyu Prison
Chapter 614 Lowering oneself into the Zhaoyu Prison
"Oh no, we've been discovered. I'll hold off Shi Qing, you escape through the backyard," Xia Yeran said without hesitation.
He had long heard of the efficiency of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so it was not surprising that they could investigate Lin Ping's case within a few hours.
"Can we still leave? The courtyard is surrounded by Imperial Guards." Lin Ping shook his head and said, "What's meant to come will come. I only ask one thing of you."
"To take care of Miss Zhou and keep her from causing trouble?" Xia Yeran blurted out.
After spending these days together, he gradually came to understand Lin Ping's personality.
No matter how great the difficulties, he didn't want the woman to suffer along with him.
Or rather, everything Lin Ping did was for the woman, not for the greater good.
"Commander, there's no need to search anymore. I, Lin Ping, am right here." Lin Ping grasped Zhou Xiyin's trembling hand and stepped out of the room.
She already knew that Lin Ping had stolen the Wu Kingdom's defense map, which was a matter of life and death.
I thought Xia Yeran could help cover it up, but now it seems it's all too late.
Once Lin Ping is in the imperial prison, there is no way he will not confess. Besides, Lin Ping is not the kind of person who is stubborn.
He could confess to Xia Yeran without reservation, and he could also explain himself clearly to Shi Qing.
"My lord, you are, after all, a great general, and have made many contributions. As long as you hand over the defense map, the king will certainly not make things difficult for you," Zhou Xiyin pleaded in Lin Ping's ear.
Because I understand Lin Ping, I know he won't obediently hand over the defense map.
Therefore, this pleading tone is used.
"What a foolish woman. Didn't you say that I'm not afraid to be enemies with the whole world?" Lin Ping said calmly, then looked at Zhou Xiyin with deep affection.
"Someone reported that the General stole the defense map. Please come with me," Shi Qing said respectfully.
Lin Ping was, after all, a general of the Wu Kingdom. Even the Northern Garrison Command had no right to convict him directly. They had to get Lin Ping to confess.
"Oh? Who reported it?" Lin Ping asked with great interest.
"Several officials jointly filed a complaint; otherwise, I, Shi, would not have gone to such lengths to surround the General's Mansion," Shi Qing confessed.
"What a coincidence! Such a confidential matter has been known by several people." A cold smile appeared on Lin Ping's lips.
He had hoped to use this opportunity to learn about the Lotus Palace master hiding in the shadows, but the current situation shattered his plans.
If Lin Ping hadn't guessed correctly, the expert from Lotus Palace wasn't even among these people.
"General, please!" Shi Qing said politely, waving his hand.
"Husband!" Zhou Xiyin unconsciously clenched Lin Ping's large hand, unwilling to let go for a long time.
"Foolish woman, stay home and wait for me. Don't do anything foolish. If anything happens to you, even if I clear my name, I will regret it for the rest of my life," Lin Ping said earnestly.
He also understood Zhou Xiyin's personality.
She's very single-minded; it's hard to get her to stop taking risks.
But if it comes at the cost of a lifetime of regret, Zhou Xiyin must think carefully before she acts.
"Okay, I'll wait for you to come back here!" Zhou Xiyin nodded vigorously, sitting obediently at the front door and watching Lin Ping's back.
She firmly believed that Lin Ping would return safely.
"He doesn't want to see me sad, so I'll wait for him with a smile." Zhou Xiyin smiled, but couldn't hold back the tears in her eyes.
"Lord Shi, what exactly happened? Why do you say Lin Ping stole the defense map?" Xia Yeran asked knowingly.
"As everyone knows, the Inner Treasury is a heavily guarded area of the Royal Palace, surrounded by hundreds of guards. Not even a fly could get in. Stealing the defense map would be no easy task." Shi Qing had no reason to hide anything from Xia Yeran and spoke frankly:
"The only incident was a theft of the inner treasury two months ago. Since only one luminous pearl was stolen, His Majesty did not investigate it further. But now the defense map has disappeared, which is very likely to have been stolen along with it."
"What does this have to do with Lin Ping? I was with him the whole time that day!" Xia Yeran blinked and said, clearly feeling a little guilty.
“Your Highness, there are some things you can’t say carelessly. Don’t think that everything can be kept secret. Just because the King doesn’t pursue the matter doesn’t mean he doesn’t know anything about it.”
Shi Qing said coldly.
Clearly, he had found clues in the palace records from that day, and Lin Ping's name was obviously added later.
The person's handwriting was very similar to Xia Yeran's.
Even if you deliberately write with your left hand, you can't change many habits.
"They didn't even investigate, yet those ministers knew the palace exit records had been tampered with? Truly brilliant." Lin Ping sneered.
Clearly, the Lotus Palace expert hiding in the shadows holds a considerable position in the court and is also skilled in political maneuvering.
Previously, the imperial treasury had only lost a luminous pearl, and even if it was found that Lin Ping was responsible, the king would not do anything to him.
But now that the defense map has been stolen and exposed, it's a matter of life and death. That person fueled the fire and directly brought Lin Ping out.
"Whether it's true or not, it has nothing to do with the General anymore. What you should worry about now is whether you can prove your innocence," Shi Qing reminded him.
He had high hopes for Lin Ping both personally and professionally, but he never expected Lin Ping to do something like this.
"Can someone who's been imprisoned in the imperial prison still have a clean record?" Lin Ping mocked. This was clearly the direction leading to the imperial prison, obviously the king's intention.
"Since I took command of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, I have never arrested the wrong person!" Shi Qing said angrily, not wanting Lin Ping to remain obstinate.
Having said all that, Lin Ping didn't bother to argue and instead turned his head to look at the scenery along the way.
"Doesn't the General want to say anything?" Shi Qing asked anxiously as they were about to arrive at the prison.
"Lord Shi has already made a judgment, what can I say?" Lin Ping replied leisurely, hands in his pockets.
"The king has secretly decreed that as long as the general is willing to hand over the defense map, the past transgressions will be forgiven," Shi Qing said with a laugh.
Since Lin Ping won't listen to force, let's try a softer approach.
"I stole it with my own abilities, why should I hand it over? Wouldn't that be incredibly embarrassing?" Lin Ping turned his head away, looking fearless.
Shi Qing was ashamed; he had never encountered a prisoner like this before.
Before him lay the Imperial Prison, a name that would terrify any ordinary person, yet Lin Ping was utterly fearless.
"General, you'd better watch yourself!" Shi Qing slammed the prison door shut and left angrily.
"Is this cell door made of black iron? Can it withstand the thermite reaction? I'm going to break out, so you'd better send more people." Lin Ping shouted, clinging to the cell door.
Shi Qing was furious, but could only pretend not to hear.
The prison gates were made of fine iron, though not as fine as black iron, they were by no means something that could be cut by ordinary weapons.
Let alone one Lin Ping, even a hundred Lin Pings wouldn't be able to escape.
Besides, if you're going to escape, just escape. Why announce it to the whole world? Do you have to spend the rest of your life in jail before you give up?