Chapter 551: Guilty (1)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Yu Cunzheng said this with almost all his strength, his voice almost roaring.
He seemed to want to vent all the sorrow he had suppressed for nine years with these few words. It was so intense and sorrowful, with the determination to fight to the death.
These words had been buried in his heart for nine years. He had said them countless times in his dreams during the afternoon, but every time he woke up, it was all for nothing.
He was afraid that if he missed this opportunity, he would never have the chance to say it again.
For these nine years, he had lived in an endless nightmare. Every time he closed his eyes, he went back to that time. He dreamt of him and his comrades defending the city of Tailing, of the city being breached, of being buried alive together, and of his desperate struggles underground…
In the past, he thought that he would never be able to wait for this day, but in the end, he did!
The man’s tragic voice spread far away with the night wind, echoing in the empty palace.
Not far away, Chu You walked over from the direction of Qianqing Gate and heard Yu Cunzheng’s words clearly.
His tall body shook violently, and his footsteps paused for a moment.
Yu Cunzheng’s shoulders trembled as he said excitedly, “Back then, even if we couldn’t wait for help, even if there was no food and no one, Marquis Gu was still holding on. Even the soldiers and commoners had reached the point of eating cowhide and peeling tree bark.”
“We even successfully intercepted the State of Yue army’s rations. For this, we lasted for more than half a month…”
“Back then, when we were about to starve to death in the city, it was the Marquis of Dingyuan, Gu Ce, who led the soldiers to s.n.a.t.c.h the provisions of the State of Yue army. Otherwise, Tailing City wouldn’t have lasted until February. Before the so-called “surrendering to the enemy”, the soldiers and commoners in the city would probably have died in the first month!
“If they weren’t involved, they wouldn’t know how tragic it was back then. There were commoners in the city who committed suicide out of hunger. There were even people who had reached the point of cutting off their flesh to feed their children. At that time, everyone was wondering if they had been abandoned by the imperial court…”
“As the dignified general of Yangzhou, Gu Ce had the chance to abandon the city, but he didn’t. He fought with all the soldiers and commoners in the city until the last moment…”
Yu Cunzheng still had a lot to say, but he was interrupted sternly.
“Ridiculous!”
Chu You couldn’t listen anymore. His eagle eyes flickered with a cold light.
Everyone’s eyes surged in his direction.
Chu Yi looked steadily at Chu You, who was gradually approaching. His beautiful lips curled up slightly with a gentle smile, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.
Chu You walked quickly in the direction of the south study room. He glanced at everyone sharply and said loudly, “Can you believe the words of a deserter?” “He’s just fabricating lies to escape punishment. Desertion is a capital offense!” Chu You stopped a few steps away from Imperial Duke Wei and questioned him high in the air. “Imperial Duke Wei, you brought this person here, right?
Therefore, I believe you know his ident.i.ty very well. As a dignified Duke, it’s impossible for you not to know the crime of harboring deserters!!”
Chu You’s voice was colder and sharper than io,ooo-year-old ice. His aura was oppressive, like an unsheathed, long knife that released a murderous aura.
Facing the overbearing Chu You, Imperial Duke Wei, who had experienced three dynasties and seen many storms, was still calm and fearless as he looked at him.
Imperial Duke Wei casually brushed his sleeves and asked proudly, “Could it be that Kang w.a.n.g wants to punish me?”
Chu You was speechless.
Imperial Duke Wei stared at Chu You. His gaze didn’t waver at all, and he was even smiling.
He sneered and called out his name arrogantly. “Chu You, who do you think you are! You’re just a Prince of the Second Rank. Do you still want to punish me?”
In the Great Jin Dynasty, other than the Emperor and Feng Yang, probably only Imperial Duke Wei dared to call Kang w.a.n.g by his given name.
Fang Huairui laughed without any scruples. He crossed his arms and casually helped Imperial Duke Wei. “It’s not your turn, Kang w.a.n.g.”
Chu You gritted his teeth and glared at the two of them, his eyes sharp and cold.
Imperial Duke Wei puffed out his chest and took a step closer to Chu You. “Chu You, let’s talk about the facts. We’re talking about Gu Ce’s case, but you’re holding on to the matter of the deserter. Do you not want the truth of what happened back then to be revealed?”
The two of them were only two feet apart. Sparks flew wherever their gazes met.
“Ha.” Imperial Duke Wei suddenly laughed. “I almost forgot.. Back then, you were also in Yangzhou’s Sishui County, right? Was it in Tailing City?”