"Li'er?
How did you get here?"
Wu Cheng Wang gazed at Zhou Zeli, who had suddenly appeared in the grand hall, surprise mingled with a suffocating sense of panic.
This scene felt vaguely familiar…
Fortunately, Zhou Zeli walked directly to him and greeted,
"Father King."
However, before Wu Cheng Wang’s falling heart could settle, Zhou Zeli turned and walked before someone else, bowing,
"Student Zhou Zeli greets you, my lord."
"You brat, you’re quite something. I was almost completely fooled by you."
Lin Qingge, who felt like awarding him a small golden statue, patted Zhou Zeli’s shoulder with satisfaction.
"It's all due to your excellent tutelage, my lord."
Zhou Zeli cupped his hands in return and then took out a roster from his sleeve, handing it over.
"My lord, this is a list of officials from all the forces that secretly submitted to Father King, along with information on Father King’s troops and assets."
Lin Qingge looked at the roster, which was more precious than an army of ten thousand men.
If the timing were different, she would have given him a double thumbs-up!
At that moment, two long, slender fingers with well-defined joints reached over from the side and plucked the roster away.
"My lord, you and Old Master Yan are truly in sync~
I almost feel sorry for Royal Uncle~
To offend both of you at once, his spring dream was shattered before it even began, scared awake by you both."
Glancing at Hua Jinrong, who was speaking sarcastically while swiftly collecting the roster, Lin Qingge couldn't help but roll her eyes towards the heavens.
Everyone present looked surprised.
Leng Ningyue, who always stayed close to Lin Qingge, had not seen the latter exchange any glances or secret signals with Zhou Zeli.
Rummaging through her memories, she suddenly realized,
"Was it that poem?"
Lin Qingge smiled and nodded. Although Zhou Zeli later sent someone to stuff a handkerchief in her mouth.
It was precisely because of that that she became even more certain of her guess.
Because if Zhou Zeli truly sided with them for power, upon hearing her recite poetry about bamboo, his favorite, he would have surely felt mocked and ridiculed.
Even if he hadn't flown into a rage, he certainly wouldn't have remained so calm.
At the very least, he wouldn't have specifically ordered someone to find a clean handkerchief to gag her.
As if recalling his actions during this period, Zhou Zeli bowed again,
"A true gentleman should be like bamboo, upright and unyielding, with unbent pride.
A true gentleman is also like bamboo, steadfast and self-disciplined, never forgetting his true heart.
Zeli offended both you and Madam greatly at the time, but it was all due to circumstances. I hope you both will not take offense."
"Circumstances?!
What do you mean by 'circumstances'?!"
Wu Cheng Wang, having recovered from a series of blows, looked at his recently acknowledged son in disbelief.
His voice trembled and broke with emotion due to his intense anger.
"Father King, I was truly happy when you found me and told me you were my father.
But Father King, you have been lying low for twenty years, all for the sake of ascending the throne one day.
However, if Father King were to truly make a move, you would inevitably clash with His Majesty.
At that time, the common people would be displaced and suffer immensely.
These are not things I wish to see, and they go against the great principles in my heart.
Therefore, emboldened by wine, I made a bold decision."
"Li'er, are you saying that the reason you chose to come with me was to coordinate from within and uproot my forces entirely?"
Wu Cheng Wang, who was almost 'killed by filial piety' and could not raise his severely fractured arm, could only glare to express his rage and sorrow.
Zhou Zeli couldn't help but give a wry smile,
"Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety have been difficult to reconcile.
I knew that this action would put myself, and even Father King, in a position of disloyalty and injustice.
But did Father King ever truly trust me?
Under the guise of protecting me, Father King had people guarding me around the clock, constantly monitoring my every move."
"Li'er, that's not true. Father King only wanted to protect you."
"Since Father King voluntarily acknowledged me, you must have investigated me beforehand and known about my deep ties with Lord Lin.
Father King suspected my motives were impure and thus sent people to monitor me.
I do not blame you, Father, because my motives were indeed impure.
And I played along with your plan. To dispel Father King's doubts, I repeatedly opposed my lord and even voluntarily handed my lord over to you.
All of this was to gain Father King's trust and obtain that roster."
After hearing Zhou Zeli's account and recalling the events, Wu Cheng Wang suddenly understood,
"So that's why Li'er stopped Father King from killing them directly in a fit of rage, and deliberately arranged for them to be in the deepest dungeon to facilitate their actions?
Then the explosives Father King asked you to plant at Wolong Villa…"
"The explosives did explode, but before they detonated, I had Master Long evacuate everyone.
Therefore, the explosion that just occurred actually had no casualties."
Lin Qingge couldn't help but look at Master Long, who was hidden in a corner, having achieved his fame without recognition.
She had found it strange earlier that such a massive explosion had occurred at Wolong Villa.
As the Villa Master, Long Xiaotian, even if he was on Wu Cheng Wang’s side, he should have logically gone to take charge of the situation.
Yet, Master Long appeared before the grand hall, merely saying with slight urgency, 'This is bad.'
This was clearly not normal, but it also made her suspicion even stronger.
However, Wu Cheng Wang found it difficult to accept, "Long Xiaotian, you too have betrayed this king?!"
"My Lord, Lord Lin has shown kindness to our Wolong Villa. How could I, Long, repay kindness with enmity?
Moreover, Brother Yan and his wife are also here. How could I dare to act recklessly?"
Master Long secretly glanced at Mr. and Mrs. Yan. Thinking of something, he raised his hand and rubbed his aching chest.
"You are all truly good, good, good!"
Wu Cheng Wang choked, nearly passing out from anger.
Zhou Zeli walked back to Wu Cheng Wang, lifted the hem of his robe, and knelt down with a thud,
"The grace of birth is greater than that of any person, and the grace of raising me is greater than heaven.
Your child knows he can never repay Father King's grace of birth in this life. In the next, I wish to repay you with my eternal gratitude!"
With that, he kowtowed three times heavily to Wu Cheng Wang.
Wu Cheng Wang, however, seemed to have aged ten years instantly, his entire body swaying precariously.
"Tsk, as expected, those who do evil will eventually bring ruin upon themselves~
Out of four sons, two are dead, and of the remaining two, one has seen the light and the other has turned against you.
So, what's the good of having too many sons?
By the way, my lord, was Zhou Zeli's failure at the imperial examination also part of your plan~"