Gong Ningsi learned from Su Shang what she had been doing during this time. Now, while the medicine's effects had not yet taken hold, she triumphantly informed the Prime Minister of the news that his family had died at the hands of mountain bandits.
"Are you happy, Prime Minister? Isn't this exactly what you did back then?" Gong Ningsi leaned down and kicked him.
The prison door was wide open, but the Prime Minister could only glare with wide eyes, unable to do anything.
"You, you disregard the law."
A sound like a malfunctioning machine emerged from the Prime Minister's throat.
Gong Ningsi laughed heartily. So what? You still lost, lost to Su Lang's child.
The Prime Minister's eyes widened, and he closed them with utter unwillingness.
Gong Ningsi continued to kick him a few more times, still not satisfied.
"It's too easy for him to die like this."
Su Shang chuckled, his gaze dark, but his voice was extremely deferential, "Isn't this exactly what Mother wished for?"
"Shang'er has found out that Father's body was collected by kind villagers. If you are willing, why not go and see him?"
Without Su Shang's persuasion, hearing news of her beloved, even if it was just the burial place of his body, was enough to send Gong Ningsi into a frenzy of joy.
"Really? Where? Hurry and take me."
Su Shang nodded slightly and led Gong Ningsi away from the prison, all the way to a carriage.
"Shang'er knew that Mother would be eager to reunite with Father as soon as she heard the news, so I prepared a carriage. Now that revenge has been served, Mother should go and find Father!" Su Shang smiled with extreme gentleness.
Gong Ningsi, oblivious, nodded with great emotion, "Shang'er, I truly didn't raise you in vain. But, aren't you coming with me?"
Su Shang shook his head, "The Prime Minister has died in prison from poisoning. If this is not dealt with quickly, it will surely cause many problems in the future. Moreover, my sudden departure will inevitably arouse suspicion among some people in the capital. Once everything is handled, Shang'er will naturally fake his death and escape."
Su Shang's demeanor was too gentle, as if he truly considered himself her son. A hidden sense of pride flashed in Gong Ningsi's heart. Eager to find Su Yu's grave, her murderous intent lessened considerably, and she did not make things difficult for him.
Because she felt that the current Su Shang could never leave her, she merely left a hurried instruction, "Come find me after you've handled things," and then left in a rush.
Su Shang watched the retreating carriage, an unyielding darkness in his eyes.
Mother, I gave you a chance. This path leading to death was your own choice.
You taught me that the sole meaning of my existence is revenge, but this meaning cannot belong only to me.
It should belong to Mother as well.
He had prepared a grand spectacle at the place where his father's soul had returned. As long as Gong Ningsi saw it, she would surely go mad, and once she went mad, she would surely follow him in death.
Heh! It was truly amusing.
I wonder, when she reaches the underworld, will Mother truly be as deeply devoted as she appeared?
Su Shang boarded another carriage, changed his clothes, and went to General Li's mansion.
The scapegoat was ready – a certain disciple who harbored resentment towards the Prime Minister. All she needed was an alibi to clear herself completely.
However, with her revenge complete, what should she do next?
Su Shang felt as though she had fallen into an endless darkness, her soul sinking endlessly in the darkness, yet never reaching the ground.
At this moment, Prince An主动 sought her out.
That day, Su Shang was training soldiers at the military camp as usual, but on her way back, she encountered someone who had been waiting for a long time.
The guards led Su Shang into a private room in a restaurant, where she met Prince An, the younger brother of Emperor Feng.
Prince An smiled warmly and personally pulled out a chair for Su Shang, saying with a friendly demeanor, "General Su, it's been a long time!"
Although Su Shang felt she was not well acquainted with Prince An, she patiently sat down out of consideration for his status.
"Prince An, what do you need from me?" Su Shang asked politely.
But Prince An was not polite. He sat down directly and got straight to the point, "I want to cooperate with General Su."
Su Shang picked up the teacup on the table and gently swirled it. The clear tea reflected his figure. A complex emotion flickered in his eyes, but when he spoke again, it was as calm as ever.
"I'm afraid I have nothing to cooperate with Prince An on."
Prince An laughed twice, stood up, and his clear voice revealed Su Shang's identity, "The son of General Su Yu, are you going to be a coward?"
"What I can find out, I don't believe you can't. Or perhaps, young General Su has softened your heart, and you've become soft towards those who killed your entire family? That's truly laughable!"
Su Shang pursed her lips, her face turning pale. The water in the teacup in her hand rippled in circles, but in the end, she chose only silence.
Prince An glanced at Su Shang with disappointment. "I thought the son of General Su Yu would have the same integrity as him, unable to tolerate even a speck of dust in his eyes. I didn't expect him to be a coward."
"I'm not," Su Shang retorted in a low voice, but she didn't know whether she should act.
The Prime Minister held immense power, but there was someone in the world whose power far surpassed his, someone he even had to obey. That person could only be the Emperor.
"Then cooperate with me. You and I will work together, and with your identity as the orphan of General Su Yu, Emperor Feng's legitimacy is already questionable. Then, it will not be a problem for you to personally kill your enemy."
Prince An was full of spirit. This matter had been weighing on his mind for a long time. He had been preparing for it all these years, but he had never had complete confidence, until... Su Shang appeared.
Prince An was absolutely certain of one thing: as long as Su Shang was willing to lend him a hand, he would surely succeed.
Why hesitate over something like this?
Before, Su Shang could still deceive herself by saying it was because she couldn't do anything about Emperor Feng. But now that the opportunity was presented to her, why was she still hesitating?
Su Shang had an answer in her heart. It was because of the person at home. But her existence was for revenge!
She had not been heartless when she was young.
That year, she was seven years old, and she had a favorite thing for the first time – a snow-white pony.
She raised it carefully, fearing her mother would find out. But that day still came. Her mother took her small hand and plunged a sharp dagger into the little horse, which was affectionately rubbing against her pant leg.
Su Shang watched the ground covered in blood, watched the little horse collapse in a pool of blood, its breathing growing weaker until it closed its eyes and never opened them again.
Su Shang closed her eyes, recalling the feeling of that time. When she opened them again, her eyes were clear.
She looked at Prince An and uttered the word, "Good."
"However, I have a condition. If Prince An agrees, I will work for you."