905 Everything (2/2)
”Then think about it carefully. But I can't wait too long.”
Zhang You's face changed again, regretting that he hadn't learned more about the rules of the Western Regions, ”Actually… I did the Dragon King a big favor in the Four Noble Truths Temple during daytime.”
”Mm. Keep talking.”
”Governor Wei feels that you're a very dangerous man, so he and the Unique King formulated a plan. They intended to frame Dragon King and Madam Luo for the assassination of the envoy, and then eliminate Dragon King in an above board manner. Because of that woman, even Prince Xiao, who is far away from here in the Central Plains, wouldn't dare to look into it. But I think that the Dragon King is of no threat to the Central Plains. On the contrary, I think that you're a very good ally, so I advised Governor Wei to abort the plan.”
”Your advice worked.”
”I'm just a cheap servant in the royal palace. Governor Wei respects me, so he took my advice for my sake.”
”Um. So you knew of Wei Song and Shangguan Fa's plan before the meeting?”
”I did… ” Zhang You answered in an unnatural manner.
”Why did Wei Song tell you the plan?”
”He… He was afraid that the deputy envoy would become suspicious, so he hoped that I could keep Lord Sun under control.”
”But you changed your mind during the meeting and no longer wanted to support Wei Song.”
”I… I felt… felt that it would be a pity if the Dragon King was tricked like this. And letting Golden Roc Castle become the only strong force goes against the interests of the Central Plains. It was not until I saw the Dragon King with my own eyes that I realized this.”
”I want the truth,” said Gu Shenwei. He hit Zhang You's chest with another palm strike. Then he turned around, walked up to the brazier and toasted his hands, thinking about something.
After less than half a quarter, Zhang You couldn't bear any more. Trembling, he rolled off the bed, kowtowed to the Dragon King, and pleaded for mercy.
Gu Shenwei waited for a while and then expelled the coldness from him.
His face deathly pale, Zhang You was lying on the ground, panting heavily. ”I… I'll tell… tell the truth. But… But would Dragon King please… give me a hint? What do you want to know exactly?”
”Everything.”
”I really don't understand… ”
”Here's your hint – the Gu family in the Central Plains, Conquering General Gu Lun.”
The look on Zhang You's face suggested that he did know some inside information,.”Dragon King… the Gu family… This… I really can't… ”
Gu Shenwei raised his palm. Zhang You immediately changed the word from ”can't” to ”can.” ”Wait. I'll tell you. Let me get the blanket first.”
Kneeling on the ground, Zhang You grabbed the blanket, wrapped it around himself, and leaned against the edge of the bed. After quite a while, he said, ”Can you keep it a secret, Dragon King?”
”Yes.”
The Dragon King's promise sounded totally insincere, but Zhang You had no choice but to believe it. ”The truth is that I have orders to come here and investigate the Dragon King's true identity.”
”Orders from whom?”
”Middle Assistant Minister Yan Qin.”
Gu Shenwei had never heard of this name before. ”Whose orders did Yan Qin take?”
”I really don't know. Please have mercy on me, Dragon King. Don't torture me again. I really really don't know. Disclosing Assistant Minister Yan's order is already punishable by death.”
”Keep talking.”
”Wei Song told me with absolute certainty that the Dragon King's surname was Yang, and that you are the son of the Gu family's servant. I believed him, but today, when I saw you with my own eyes… you and old general Gu look like two peas in a pod. I immediately understood what was going on, so… ”
”Are you saying that old general Gu and I look very much alike?”
”Not exactly the same, but I can still tell that the Dragon King is a descendant of the Gu family.”
Zhang You didn't seem to be lying. Gu Shenwei suddenly felt relieved. The Second Consort had always hinted that the Dragon King was not Gu Lun's son, and Gu Shenwei had almost believed her. Now that he knew for sure that he and his father looked alike, a knot had been undone in his mind.
But he couldn't remember what his father looked like. When Gu Lun was killed, he was already fourteen. And since then, he had stoked the flames of hatred in his heart all this time, but he couldn't remember what his family members looked like anymore. Even the image of his elder sister, who had favored him the most, was just a vague shadow in his memory.
”Why did you help a descendant of the Gu family?”
Zhang You swallowed and glimpsed over the Dragon King's shoulder. ”It's a long story, but I have to warn you, Dragon King. Governor Wei is very afraid of you, and he has probably already left the army camp and fled to the Loulan Kingdom… ”
Gu Shenwei moved to Zhang You in a single step, pinched his mouth open and threw a pill into it. ”This is a poison pill. And it will take effect in three days. If you want to live, then come to me with the truth.”
After saying this, Gu Shenwei turned around and left the tent. He couldn't afford to let Wei Song escape from him again.
In the tent, Zhang You exhaled deeply. He had finally managed to buy himself some time to perfect the ”story.” Even if this would cost the life of the Governor of the Western Regions, it was well worth it.