Seeing Madam Gu's earnest plea, Song Chaoyu merely scoffed dismissively, "So Madam Gu believes that by handing over this Taiyi Zhenren, you can save Gu Xuezhuo?"
Madam Gu finally realized with a jolt that Song Chaoyu had never intended to do so from the very beginning.
She stammered, "Princess Consort... what do you mean? How can handing over this Taiyi Zhenren not save my husband? My husband only did those things because he was controlled by his evil sorcery!"
Song Chaoyu merely lowered her head, toying with the handkerchief in her hand, "If you say that what happened in your Gu family's cellar was because your husband was controlled, then what about the other twenty-odd charges? Did Taiyi Zhenren also order your husband to do those things?"
Regarding this, Song Chaoyu would not give them any opportunity, "If Madam can provide a reasonable explanation for the other matters, I might consider it before making a decision."
"You—"
Madam Gu seemed to have lost her reason, glaring at Song Chaoyu with wide eyes, "How can you be so obstinate?! Can't you just forget about these messy affairs? I promise, as long as you release my husband, the Prince and Princess Consort will not be shortchanged in benefits! I implore the Princess Consort to inform the Prince that we are willing to do anything to have our lord released!"
Had she really gone this far?
Song Chaoyu's brows furrowed even tighter, "I truly don't understand what Madam Gu means. So, those many lives lost back then, and the horrifying cellar in your Gu family, are just to be forgotten like this? Does Madam Gu think that the Prince, like Lord Gu, is only concerned with wealth? That is utterly absurd and laughable. I still advise Madam Gu, before the fire burns its way to you, do not harbor any foolish delusions."
As she spoke, she also threw the handkerchief in her hand onto the ground, "Your Liang family is considered a prominent clan in Haizhou. The Prince has not yet implicated you in this matter, so why are you rushing to court trouble? Otherwise, once the matter implicates the Liang family, how will Madam explain it to your family? Will you also tell your family that it was all because of this Taiyi Zhenren that Madam was bewitched? I doubt the Liang family would believe that!"
At this point, Madam Gu finally seemed to understand that Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi were not so easy to "deal with."
"Ah—"
Madam Gu had exhausted all her methods. Now, all she could do was stomp her feet vehemently in front of Song Chaoyu, looking utterly distraught, "You... you just wait! Do you think you are the only ones who are noble and pure? I tell you, this world is inherently corrupt! You will face retribution for acting this way! If my husband dies, I will not live on alone!"
Was this a threat?
Song Chaoyu scoffed, "Madam Gu is truly deeply affectionate! Back then, when Lord Gu was indulging in carnal pleasures with the captured women in that cellar, I imagine Madam Gu was also so magnanimous and devoted, until death do you part? Rest assured, Madam, if you truly wish to follow Lord Gu in death, I will certainly ask Prince Qingqiu to bury you both together, ensuring you are not separated, thus fulfilling Madam's devoted affection."
Song Chaoyu's casually spoken words had, in fact, pushed Madam Gu to a dead end.
Madam Gu finally slumped onto the ground, bursting into tears, "Heaven's wrath, what should I do! This is a sin, you all deserve to die, you all deserve to die!"
Such curses, however, did not faze Song Chaoyu in the slightest.
She merely looked at Xiao Ruizi, "If Madam Gu has no other matters, we can escort her out. Crying here will only make people think something has happened here, as if we have bullied Madam Gu. Looking at it now, it's really hard to tell who is bullying whom!"
Xiao Ruizi understood Song Chaoyu's unspoken meaning.
Madam Gu, however, refused to leave. She sat on the ground and began to throw a tantrum, "No! If you do not release my husband, I will never leave! Release my husband!"
Song Chaoyu gave Xiao Ruizi a look, and Xiao Ruizi immediately understood.
He called out loudly, "Guards! Drag this shrew out! She is disturbing the Princess Consort's peace."
Song Chaoyu was not afraid of "killing with a single word," and continued to say to Madam Gu, "Madam Gu should leave quickly. If you are any later, you might miss the execution at the city gate. The Prince is merciful and has allowed you to retrieve Gu Xuezhuo's body after the execution. Madam should prepare early to avoid being flustered at the time."
"Ah—you all deserve to die, you all deserve to die!"
As she was dragged out, Madam Gu continued to shout.
Song Chaoyu, however, treated these words as mere wind, not even bothering to listen.
It was just that Song Chaoyu did not expect that even after Madam Gu was dragged out, Taiyi Zhenren was still sitting cross-legged on the ground.
He closed his eyes, muttering incantations.
Listening closely, he seemed to be saying, "I am Taiyi Zhenren, a person of the Heavenly Way. If you seek my life through violent means, I will surely summon the clouds and rain, causing Haizhou to be incessantly rained upon, turning it into a vast ocean."
For some reason, hearing these words, Song Chaoyu could only think of laughing.
She let out a soft cough and said to Taiyi Zhenren, "Venerable Sir, you have reached this point, and you are still playing the charade? If you ask me, you should stop now. I am very curious, how did you, who have been hiding for so long, get captured by Madam Gu and brought here?"
Seeing that her attempts to lure him were completely ineffective, Taiyi Zhenren, though flustered, still maintained a calm demeanor, "She... used a honey trap."
A honey trap?
"Hmph—"
Song Chaoyu could not help but burst into laughter, then nodded, "Xiao Ruizi, take Taiyi Zhenren down! Find a bright and clear day to execute him. Let Taiyi Zhenren see for himself that lurking in the darkness and playing tricks is not a good place to be. All darkness must eventually be exposed to the sun."
"Yes!"
Xiao Ruizi also smiled as he pulled Taiyi Zhenren up, "This living immortal, please come with us? Lest you suffer any physical pain and blame us."
Taiyi Zhenren was truly afraid and dared not say anything more, only continuing to mutter his incantations.
Song Chaoyu couldn't understand, how could such a person, who clearly appeared to be a charlatan, have deceived the esteemed prefect of Haizhou City?
Or perhaps, the heart of evil was originally Gu Xuezhuo's. It was merely ignited by Taiyi Zhenren, and he then acted accordingly.