Zheng Chang's voice was low and trembling. This military strategist who had followed Wang Shiquan for many years, giving him advice and planning strategies, looked so panicked for the first time in his life.
"Yuan Zhongnan stabbed us in the back..."
"The Governor's Mansion has fallen into his control, and everyone in the Wang family is under his control..."
"Sir, we've been fooled this time. I'm afraid our Wang family is finished..."
Looking at the despair on Zheng Chang's face, Wang Shiquan, who had just woken up, felt his heart plummet.
Finished?
He raised his head with difficulty, and saw the dark and cold cell all around him.
The oppressive atmosphere made it difficult for him to release the emotions in his heart.
"how so?"
Wang Shiquan muttered to himself. Yuan Zhongnan's sudden betrayal and backstabbing was too sudden. He found it difficult to react and hard to believe.
Not long ago, Yuan Zhongnan clearly promised...
Why do you turn your back on me in the blink of an eye?
Could it be that Yuan Zhongnan wanted to use their Wang family as a sacrifice to appease Lin Hengzhong's anger?
Thinking of this, Wang Shiquan's face became gloomy and angry.
"I underestimated Yuan Zhongnan!"
A sharp look flashed in his eyes: "However, it won't be that easy for Yuan Zhongnan to use my Wang family as a pawn!"
"If you insist on fighting to the death, don't blame me for being rude!"
The voice was extremely cold.
As the governor of Xunyang, he was no ordinary man. To have dared to take such a step, he must have made preparations.
Since Yuan Zhongnan dares to be unjust, don't blame him for being rude!
After a brief panic, Wang Shiquan gradually calmed down.
What happened tonight was too sudden and completely unexpected. But after calming down and analyzing it, he realized that things were not the worst yet.
"Zheng Chang, where are Madam and the others?"
Wang Shiquan asked in a deep voice.
"Madam and the others are fine, but they have also been detained..."
Zheng Chang said in a deep voice: "Sir, what should we do now?"
Hearing that his wife was fine, Wang Shiquan breathed a sigh of relief, then frowned and said in a deep voice, "Wait."
"wait?"
"Yuan Zhongnan will definitely come to see me."
Wang Shiquan spoke expressionlessly.
As soon as he finished speaking, footsteps approached and a middle-aged man appeared outside the cell.
He was wearing a brocade robe, had a dignified look on his face and had a distinguished aura.
Yuan Zhongnan.
Wang Shiquan slowly raised his head and met Yuan Zhongnan's gaze outside the cell, countless emotions flashing through his mind.
At this moment, Wang Shiquan fell to the ground, his hair was disheveled, and his clothes were stained with dust and blood. He looked miserable and had lost all the temperament of the Xunyang prefect.
But his eyes were still bright, staring at Yuan Zhongnan intently, with a questioning look in his eyes, "Why?"
"You lose!"
Yuan Zhongnan did not answer his question, but just said something without any reason.
Wang Shiquan suddenly frowned and stared at him without saying a word.
"From the beginning, you shouldn't have provoked the Lin family."
Yuan Zhongnan put his hands behind his back and shook his head expressionlessly: "You can't afford to offend them."
Wang Shiquan said in a deep voice: "Even you are afraid of the Lin family?"
"Why should I, the governor, be afraid of them?"
Yuan Zhongnan's eyes were indifferent. "Although the Lin family is extremely powerful, what does it have to do with the governor?"
Naturally, he was not afraid of the Lin family. The Governor of Yanzhou was no ordinary person. In this chaotic world, he was also a big shot whose words were law.
"Why did you do that?"
Wang Shiquan stared at him with scorching eyes and said coldly, "Don't forget what you promised me before!"
There was a hint of betrayal and anger in his tone.
He never imagined that he would be backstabbed by the person he trusted the most.
Taking advantage of the city defense army's entry into the prefectural government, when the prefectural government was at its weakest, the entire prefectural government was captured without bloodshed.
Good trick!
Yuan Zhongnan was silent for a moment. "I only promised you that if Lin Hengzhong sent troops into the country, I would not sit idly by, but I did not promise to protect your Wang family to the death!"
Before Wang Shiquan could speak, a cold look flashed in Yuan Zhongnan's eyes: "This time, your Wang family has brought this upon yourselves. Your loss is not unfair."
"Even this governor can't protect you!"
Wang Shiquan stared at him: "What do you mean by that?!"
Yuan Zhongnan took out an account book from his arms and threw it in front of Wang Shiquan.
Wang Shiquan was stunned. He picked up the account book and flipped through a few pages. The next second, his expression suddenly changed: "Where did you get this from?"
"What do you think?"
Yuan Zhongnan sneered.
Wang Shiquan stared at the account book in his hand. The yellowed pages were so familiar. The contents recorded on them...
"Secret Chamber?!"
He suddenly remembered the origin of this account book.
But he soon realized something.
wrong!
Didn’t the secret room in the back mountain explode and collapse?
Isn't everything in there buried?
So, where did this account book come from?
Wang Shiquan suddenly looked up and stared at Yuan Zhongnan.
Yuan Zhongnan said expressionlessly, "Someone gave it to this governor."
"Anyone?"
Wang Shiquan's expression suddenly changed: "Who?"
Yuan Zhongnan did not speak, but said in a deep voice: "This governor originally thought that your Wang family was just forming a clique behind the scenes to enrich themselves. I didn't expect you to be so bold..."
"If you're courting death like this, even this governor can't protect you."
Wang Shiquan's face was gloomy for a long time. He stared at the account book in his hand and took a deep breath. "It's just an account book. What can it represent?"
The secret room in the back mountain has collapsed and all the evidence has been buried.
It's just an account book, nothing can be changed.
"Just an account book?"
Yuan Zhongnan glanced at him and said, "What if this account book appears in the hands of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"
After these words were spoken, Wang Shiquan's expression changed again.
"The current emperor is in seclusion, not attending to state affairs. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is acting as regent. You and I know His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's character very well. If this account book falls into his hands, do you think your Wang family can escape this disaster?"
Wang Shiquan's face became increasingly ugly.
A mere account book does not mean anything, but if it falls into the hands of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, its nature will be completely different.
If the third prince is implicated, the consequences will be unimaginable!
Everyone knew that the Crown Prince and the Third Prince were currently at odds. This account book might not have much of an impact on the Third Prince, but it would be an absolute disaster for the Wang family!
But soon, Wang Shiquan suddenly thought of something. He looked up at Yuan Zhongnan and said, "This account book won't reach His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, right?"
Since Yuan Zhongnan can get this account book, as long as it doesn't reach the hands of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, everything will be fine.
"Oh!"
Unexpectedly, when Yuan Zhongnan heard his words, a hint of a meaningful sneer appeared on his face: "You really don't know who gave this account book to this governor?"
Wang Shiquan was stunned and stared at him: "Who?!"
At this moment, Zheng Chang, who had been silent all this time, seemed to realize something. His face turned pale and his voice trembled: "Lin, Prince Lin?!"
When this name came out, Wang Shiquan was stunned.
After a moment, he was in disbelief and his eyes were filled with horror.
"Lin, Lin Jiangnian?!"
"He, he's not dead?!"
When Wang Shiquan saw Yuan Zhongnan's calm expression, he suddenly came to his senses.
The only person who knew the secret of the secret room in the back mountain was Lin Jiangnian. This account book was also the account book in the secret room in the back mountain.
Now that the account book appeared in Yuan Zhongnan's hands, did this mean that Lin Jiangnian was not dead?!
Have you met Yuan Zhongnan?
even……
What kind of agreement did they most likely reach? !
Is this why Yuan Zhongnan suddenly turned against us?!
Wang Shiquan understood everything in an instant.
Lin Jiangnian is not dead!
When this thought came to his mind, he was surprised and happy.
The good news is that Lin Jiangnian is not dead, and their Wang family does not have to worry about Lin Hengzhong being destroyed.
But what was shocking was that even if Lin Jiangnian was not dead, he would definitely not let their Wang family go.
I'm afraid this matter will become more complicated.
"He, is really not dead?!"
There was a slight tremor in Wang Shiquan's voice, and he was still unsure.
Wang Changjin clearly asserted that he killed Prince Lin with his own eyes, so how come he is still alive?
Yuan Zhongnan didn't answer his question, but simply said, "Do you still think that this account book won't reach His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"
Wang Shiquan's face showed a hint of despair, and all the breath in his body seemed to be drained away in an instant, and he fell to the ground.
“No wonder…”
Wang Shiquan muttered to himself, his face pale.
That’s Prince Lin!
And this account book will definitely be delivered to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
Given the character of Prince Lin, how could he let the Wang family go if he didn't die?
I'm afraid he will be beaten to death!
Wang Shiquan finally realized that their Wang family might really be finished this time!
only……
He was unwilling to accept it.
He stared at Yuan Zhongnan in front of him and said, "Don't forget what you promised me."
"If my Wang family falls, it will not benefit you at all, and it may even..."
A hint of coldness flashed in Yuan Zhongnan's eyes: "Are you threatening me?"
Wang Shiquan gritted his teeth and said, "Over the years, my Wang family has done so much for you... Now that my Wang family is in trouble, are you really going to sit back and do nothing?"
Yuan Zhongnan was silent for a moment: "This time, this governor can't help you."
He shook his head slightly, his tone adding a hint of regret.
Over the years, the Wang family has indeed supported him a lot behind the scenes. It is reasonable for him not to want the Wang family to fall.
But now, things are no longer under his control.
"If he had died, your Wang family might have had a chance to escape this time. But he didn't die..."
Yuan Zhongnan shook his head expressionlessly: "He won't let you go, and your Wang family can't escape either..."
"Even without this account book, do you think your Wang family can defeat him?"
Wang Shiquan was silent, and for no reason he recalled his previous brief contact with the Prince of Lin.
The Prince of Lin's intelligence, calmness, composure and reaction were far beyond his imagination.
Hide your shortcomings!
This was the idea he had at the time.
"That Prince Lin is as talented as Lin Hengzhong."
Yuan Zhongnan narrowed his eyes as if thinking of something, and after a while he shook his head slightly: "Lin Hengzhong, you are indeed playing a big game!"
At this moment, Wang Shiquan's face had lost all color.
He looked defeated and fell to the ground.
He realized that the Wang family might be in real trouble this time!
Yuan Zhongnan had obviously made his choice. The Prince of Lin must have reached some agreement with him when he found him.
And their Wang family eventually became abandoned!
Wang Shiquan was unwilling to accept this, but in the end, this unwillingness disappeared.
silence.
There was a long silence.
“Do me a favor!”
Wang Shiquan spoke in a deep voice.
"This time, our Wang family has indeed been defeated. This loss is not unfair..."
"Since this feud started with me, I will end it..."
Wang Shiquan stared at Yuan Zhongnan: "But my wife and children are innocent. My Wang family can fall, and I, Wang Shiquan, can die without regret, but my wife and children cannot die, especially Qin'er, who is the only bloodline of my Wang family..."
"Rescue them and send them safely out of Xunyang County..."
Wang Shiquan spoke in a deep voice. Seeing that Yuan Zhongnan said nothing, Wang Shiquan took a deep breath.
"If you save their lives, I'll give you what you want... I promise it will never affect your position as the Governor."
Yuan Zhongnan then slowly withdrew his gaze, retracting the last trace of coldness in his eyes.
"good!"
“…”
It was just dawn, and the sky was getting light.
Inside Xunyang City, the prefectural governor's residence was silent.
There was no trace of last night's fight outside the yard, as if nothing had happened.
The entire mansion remained as normal as ever. Aside from the occasional lingering scent of blood that hadn't yet been completely washed away, there was nothing unusual.
In Xunyang City, some people heard the noise last night, but they didn't know what happened and were talking about it.
Outside the prefectural government office, in a house near the east side.
"That's it..."
Lin Jiangnian sat under the eaves and slowly began to explain.
Zhiyuan, dressed in white, stood aside, with a thoughtful look on his cold face.
"Why did Yuan Zhongnan agree to help you?"
She asked.
"Why would he refuse?"
Lin Jiangnian was smiling and wanted to hug her, but Zhiyuan dodged him without a trace.
Lin Jiangnian withdrew his hand awkwardly after finding nothing. He sighed, "He has no reason to refuse..."
"The Wang family is nothing more than a chess piece to him, an agent in Xunyang County. Without the Wang family, there are still the Liu family and the Zhao family... To him, this chess piece can be replaced at any time."
"In this way, Yuan Zhongnan will naturally not completely fall out with the Lin Wang Mansion for the sake of the Wang family..."
Lin Jiangnian's explanation was flawless.
After listening to this, Zhiyuan frowned slightly and looked at Lin Jiangnian a few more times.
She always felt that Lin Jiangnian seemed to be hiding something from her.
Seeing that she seemed still confused, Lin Jiangnian stood up and moved closer, gently hugging her from behind. "Although Yuan Zhongnan is the governor of Yanzhou, he is not favored in the court. In recent years, the court has been constantly inserting people around him... For him, as a governor of a state, it is natural that he does not want his territory to be interfered with by others. Instead of surrendering to the court, it is better to give it a try..."
"Of course, there is another reason..."
"Although the Wang family is just a pawn, they have secretly held some leverage over Yuan Zhongnan over the years. For Yuan Zhongnan, if he can seize the opportunity to eliminate the Wang family, it would be a good option..."
Being hugged by Lin Jiangnian, Zhiyuan turned her head slightly unnaturally and struggled subconsciously, but to no avail.
He didn't move again.
She just glanced at him sideways: "Just that?"
"What else?"
Lin Jiangnian smiled and said, "Do you think I would lie to you?"
Zhiyuan didn't say anything.
"So, this time, this prince and that Governor Yuan hit it off, and we are in such a mess..."
"A match made in heaven!"
Lin Jiangnian sneered.
"The Wang family won't have a chance of survival this time!"