Married To The Cruel Crown Prince

Jian Guozhi scolded Commander Yang and the soldiers for not saving Sheng Li from the attack. "Nab the shooter, else be ready to get beheaded. Take the military control over Changying. No one is allowed to leave the place," Jian Guozhi passed the order.

Commander Yang lowered his head and walked out with a section of soldiers. Jian Guozhi walked inside the resthouse. Xiao Zhan was also unconscious and it made the situation complex.

The door was pushed and Jian Guozhi walked inside the room where Sheng Li's treatment was going on. Zhe Yan bowed seeing him.

Jian Guozhi walked ahead and looked at Sheng Li. If he would be his past self, he has left Sheng Li to die and usurp the throne. However, he felt terrible for not being able to protect his younger brother well. Moreover, he was the Emperor, yet he lightly took the security around him.

Jian Guozhi picked the arrow that was placed on the round table and examined it. Those arrows were not famous in Luoyang and none from the Royal Family or noble families used such a type. So, his doubt about them had already cleared.

He checked the tip and its unique construction. He walked out of the room and told Commander Yao to keep his eyes and ears open.

Jian Guozhi came to the basement of the resthouse where Mingze was captivated.

"Who did that?" Jian Guozhi asked him.

"I do not know," Mingze replied.

"Mingze, I know the Emperor won't harm your family but I am the opposite of him. I did not spare my own mother when she crossed every limit of hers. I don't pity anyone except the ones close to me. So, tell me the truth." Jian Guozhi's words were indeed intimidating.

Lian Zoumu, who was tied on the other pole, started to laugh. Jian Guozhi, who already was annoyed and troubled, got irritated to hear his laugh.

Jian Guozhi gave the order to his soldiers, "Feed him to the hungry wolves in the forest." The soldiers started to remove the ropes from around Lian Zoumu's body.

"Mingze, don't tell the truth to the First Prince. Accept the death, else—" he paused when Jian Guozhi strangled his neck. His fingers pressed on Lian Zoumu's skin, who struggled for oxygen. His body thrashed about for the air and his eyes almost popped out.

Jian Guozhi let go of him and Lian Zoumu got unconscious. He tilted at Mingze and scowled at him.

"Drag his wife out of the residence and his daughter too. Bring them here," Jian Guozhi commanded the soldiers.

"I beg you, Your Highness, not to do this. I indeed, do not know. If I had known then, I would not have told the Emperor to move away," Mingze pleaded with Jian Guozhi, who was not ready to believe him. Mingze's tone had also turned polite. He knew the cunning nature of the First Prince, but he had no idea that Jian Guozhi would not even pity a pregnant woman and a young girl.

Sheng Li's words he recalled when he told him once that Jian Guozhi was crueler than him. Mingze regretted planning all this against Sheng Li.

"How can I trust you, Mingze?" Jian Guozhi screamed at him. "You plotted against the Emperor. You knew the results of your actions, yet you proceeded with your stupid plan! Father trusted you and chose you as the Governor of Changying, yet you betrayed us all," Jian Guozhi had turned a bit calmer.

"You care about your wife and your child, yet you forgot that the Emperor also has a wife, who is pregnant. You ridiculed him," Jian Guozhi showed him the mirror of his actions.

"Leave! Everyone!" Jian Guozhi ordered the soldiers, who left the basement.

"Indeed, Sheng Li has changed for good, but when it comes to women and children, he gets lenient. If the word spreads out, then everyone would only ask for a death sentence for your entire family. The officials won't spare your family even if the royalty forgives them," Jian Guozhi proclaimed.

"I indeed do not know who's behind this attack," Mingze repeated his previous words. "Don't listen to Lian Zoumu, First Prince. Trust my words. I swear on my daughter's head," he affirmed and again requested Jian Guozhi to not do anything to his pregnant wife and daughter.

"I will wait for the Emperor to wake up. Your life is almost at an end and so are the people you will leave behind," Jian Guozhi stated, and turned to leave when Mingze said something which stopped him.

"First Prince, this arrow—" he paused and looked into Jian Guozhi's eyes.

"What about it?" He queried and furrowed his brows together.

"Did the Emperor get a blow with this?" Mingze asked to confirm.

"Yes," Jian Guozhi answered.

"I recognize it," Mingze stated.

"What?" "Don't try to astray me," Jian Guozhi warned him.

"I do not dare to do it," Mingze affirmed. "It's from the Eastern Province… the people from a small town who are known for their shooting skills. The Empress Dowager also belongs to that town," he stated.

Jian Guozhi was shocked to hear it.

"Mingze, stop!" He urged.

"The First Prince can even confirm it with any High-rank official in Changying if he doesn't believe me. I wonder, why did the First Prince fail to recognize it?" Mingze said and it made Jian Guozhi doubt the intentions of Deng Hui.

"How is it possible?" He murmured and again peered at Mingze.

"I think the Emperor still has enemies left. I never wanted to kill him though. I only wanted him to surrender Changying to me," Mingze pronounced.

Jian Guozhi walked out of the room in the basement and told the soldiers to keep an eye on Mingze and Lian Zoumu. He could not let Lian Zoumu die as it might be useful for him, he thought.

Zhe Yan came to Jian Guozhi and asked about the Emperor's condition.

"The treatment is going on," Jian Guozhi replied. "Do you recognize this type of arrow?" He asked Zhe Yan. He should not have, but somewhere he thought that Zhe Yan might have knowledge about it.

Zhe Yan keenly looked at it and shook his head. "I never used any weapon, so I have a limited knowledge about it, Your Highness," Zhe Yan said truthfully.