Cheng Bai swayed on his feet. He offered no reply, simply turning to walk away, his silhouette looking utterly dejected.
"He has to work through this himself," Xi Ning said, then turned his burning gaze to Cheng Li. "Since you've heard about what happened at the shore, do you know about Pan Shulin's actions?"
"......" Cheng Li was startled, then lowered his head and replied, "I have heard."
Pan Yue's spirits sank. In a hushed tone, he asked, "City Lord... did my younger brother truly commit such an act?"
"Your younger brother—what do you think?" Xi Ning retorted sharply, his anger evident. Pan Yue was rendered speechless.
Xi Ning calmed himself for a moment, then asked Pan Yue, "Now that your brother has done this, what will you do?"
"......" Pan Yue was taken aback. He looked up at Xi Ning and saw him staring straight at him, as if testing his attitude.
He hurriedly said, "Naturally, we cannot let it go unpunished. If my younger brother has done wrong, he must accept punishment. However, City Lord, I heard my father also caused you trouble... I beg you, considering my father's past loyalty, to spare him, please?"
Hearing this, Xi Ning felt somewhat relieved: "Since you can say that, I am reassured. Set your mind at ease. Although your father angered me, he ultimately did not participate in today's events. I will not make things difficult for him. But I will absolutely not spare Pan Shulin. You must understand this."
"Pan Yue understands. Pan Yue will definitely cooperate with the actions to capture my younger brother as soon as possible to accept punishment. My Pan family will have no objections to whatever punishment he receives," Pan Yue said with a pained heart.
"......" Xi Ning was silent for a long while. "I know you dote on your younger brother. Asking you to personally capture him for punishment is too cruel for you. The mistakes your younger brother made have nothing to do with your family. Do not involve yourself in this matter. I have my own arrangements."
Pan Yue felt a warmth in his heart and hurriedly bowed: "Thank you, City Lord, for your consideration."
Xi Ning pressed his lips together and said, "But remember, if I discover your Pan family secretly helping your younger brother, then not a single one of your Pan family will escape punishment."
Pan Yue's heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly pledged his loyalty: "The Pan family would not do that, City Lord, rest assured. If my Pan family receives any news of my younger brother, we will definitely report it truthfully."
Xi Ning narrowed his eyes in satisfaction: "Very good."
Having said that, he looked at Cheng Li, his brows tightly furrowed. After a long moment, he spoke and asked, "I just want to ask you, did you really know from the beginning that the letter was sent to Yao'er by Pan Shulin?"
"...Yes," Cheng Li acknowledged.
Xi Ning, barely containing his anger, said, "You knew and still concealed it for him? Give me an explanation, otherwise you will share his punishment."
Pan Yue, hearing this, hurriedly interjected: "City Lord, Elder Brother Cheng did it for Cheng Bai. He believed my younger brother was simply acting out of concern for Cheng Bai, just as he was. It wasn't a deliberate attempt to hide the truth. I can personally attest to this. Punishing him as an accomplice would be unjust."
He knew his own younger brother would definitely be punished severely this time, likely losing his life. This Cheng Li was innocent and should not be implicated.
"Is what he said true?" Xi Ning asked Cheng Li.
Cheng Li swallowed and bowed: "This matter was indeed my fault. Your subordinate is willing to accept any punishment."
"You have some backbone," Xi Ning snorted coldly. He thought for a moment and said, "This time you should be heavily punished, but since Yao'er returned safely, and your subsequent performance was excellent... go to the punishment room for one month of reflection."
This punishment was already extremely light.
Pan Yue breathed a sigh of relief. Cheng Li's nose stung: "Thank you, City Lord. This subordinate has disappointed you this time."
"......" Xi Ning pressed his lips together, feeling uncomfortable too.
This Cheng Li was his brother and one of his most trusted men. This time, he actually...
"Since you know I'm disappointed, don't make such a mistake next time."
"Yes," Cheng Li accepted the order and went out. Pan Yue also took his leave and departed.
Xi Ning looked at the items spread out on the ground. There were many seafood products he hadn't seen before, and he wondered what the ancient beastman and his younger brother had brought them back for.
"Uncle Shan," Xi Ning called for Uncle Shan and pointed at those things: "Take good care of these. Yao'er might ask for them when he wakes up."
"Yes," Uncle Shan acknowledged the order. Xi Ning said, "Investigate the people in the pavilion, find out who accepted Pan Shulin's money to deliver the letter to Yao'er. Also, send someone to inform me when Yao'er wakes up. I'm going back now."
"See the City Lord out."
Pan Shulin was running around everywhere. People all over Ning'an City were trying to catch him now, but he felt too unwilling to leave Ning'an City.
Pan Shulin hid in a dark corner. He noticed several beastman guards had seemingly spotted him. Watching the beastmen walk towards him, his heart pounded with fear. He quickly tousled his hair to hide his face better and shrank back deeper into the shadows.
He retreated until his back was against a wall with no escape. Suddenly, someone beside him grabbed his arm, pulling him into a narrow alleyway and breaking into a run. Pan Shulin stumbled as he was dragged along. Peeking through his disheveled hair, he tried to see who was leading him.
He discovered it was actually Zhao Xiang's servant.
He hadn't seen this person for a long time. Ever since he heard that Zhao Xiang had his eyes gouged out and his tongue cut off, Pan Shulin had had no further contact with Zhao Xiang. He hadn't even seen Zhao Xiang, let alone Zhao Xiang's servant.
The servant led him, weaving through twists and turns, until they somehow arrived at the back gate of Zhao Xiang's rear courtyard. Like thieves, he tugged Pan Shulin inside, dodged the other people, and finally escorted Pan Shulin into Zhao Xiang's personal quarters.
No comments:
Post a Comment