50: Chapter 50 Ning Hongxiu and Zhao Zilong Cooperate! (Part 1)

"Will you really let me go?"

Ning Hongxiu stared at Zhao Zilong in disbelief. Was he really kind-hearted enough to let her leave?

How could she possibly believe that?

Even if she believed Zhao Zilong had such intentions, did he have the authority to do so?

Zhao Zilong was merely a small Banner Master.

Just a minor official of the ninth rank.

Zhao Zilong said, "Naturally. However..."

Zhao Zilong suddenly changed his tone. Ning Hongxiu chuckled, knowing it wouldn't be that easy.

She said, "Banner Master Zhao, did you boast too much just now, and now you're regretting it?"

Zhao Zilong said, "Princess Ning, I am sincere about letting you go. However, whether you can ultimately leave depends on your cooperation."

"Banner Master Zhao, after all this talk, you still want me to confess. I've already said, that's impossible. Even if I, Ning Hongxiu, have to die, I will not betray anyone. Give up that thought. Don't think that just because you said a few words to gain my trust, I will tell you everything. That's impossible."

"Of course, I am very grateful that you did not torture me or violate me. If I, Ning Hongxiu, survive and leave here, and one day you fall into my hands, I will not torture you either."

Ning Hongxiu said with a serious expression.

Looking at him now, Zhao Zilong seemed somewhat righteous and hadn't done anything to her.

However, wanting her to confess was impossible.

Zhao Zilong sighed slightly and said, "Princess Ning, you really are stubborn. However, it doesn't matter. If Princess Ning doesn't want to confess, then don't. But regardless of whether Princess Ning confesses or not, I will find a way to let Princess Ning leave."

"Banner Master Zhao, our positions are different. I am already grateful that you didn't use inhumane means to torture me. You don't need to use such words to deceive me again. I cannot believe it. We are not related, and you are just a small Banner Master. What qualifications do you have to release me? Is it necessary to risk yourself for me? What is the reason?"

Ning Hongxiu did not believe that Zhao Zilong would let her go, and she couldn't understand what the reason would be.

Zhao Zilong said, "Since Princess Ning wants to know the reason, I will tell you. Ever since Lin An described the Princess's appearance and I drew it, the moment I saw it, I was captivated by Princess Ning."

"How could I watch idly as Princess Ning dies?"

Love at first sight, and so he wants to let her go? Is this guy that lecherous?

Ning Hongxiu was too beautiful; no man would dislike her, and Zhao Zilong was no exception. However, the reason Zhao Zilong wanted to let Ning Hongxiu leave was definitely not as simple as being captivated by her.

He just thought that this reason would be easier for Ning Hongxiu to believe.

Ning Hongxiu stared intently at Zhao Zilong, and Zhao Zilong stared back just as intently. Their gazes met, and in the end, it was Zhao Zilong whose thick skin prevailed, causing Ning Hongxiu to look away first.

Ning Hongxiu said, "Even if I believe that what Banner Master Zhao said is the truth, how will Banner Master Zhao let me leave?"

Zhao Zilong said, "How to let Princess Ning leave brings us back to the previous topic."

"What topic?"

Ning Hongxiu didn't think of it for a moment.

Zhao Zilong said, "I told Princess Ning before that it is not the Imperial Court that is forcing you people of the former dynasty."

Because of Zhao Zilong's previous behavior, Ning Hongxiu, even if she wouldn't admit it out loud, actually had some trust in him in her heart, and her impression of Zhao Zilong was not as bad as before.

She said, "Banner Master Zhao says it is not the Imperial Court, then who or what force is it? As far as I know, Chen Cang, the Director of the Qingyang County Fuzheng Division, captured over a hundred of my former dynasty people in less than two months and executed them all."

"Those people never even thought about rebelling against the Daye Imperial Court; they just wanted to live normal lives. Yet, they were captured and killed by the Daye Fuzheng Division. Banner Master Zhao is now telling me that the Daye Imperial Court is not forcing us? Isn't that ridiculous?"

By the end, Ning Hongxiu was clearly agitated, her eyes rimmed with red.

Zhao Zilong could understand Ning Hongxiu's feelings; who wouldn't hate it when their own people were killed?

Zhao Zilong said, "Princess Ning, what if I told you that although Chen Cang is the Director of the Fuzheng Division, his true identity does not belong to the Daye Imperial Court, but rather to your former dynasty organization?"

Boom!

As soon as this statement from Zhao Zilong came out, Ning Hongxiu's expression shook violently. Chen Cang was a member of their organization? How was that possible?

If he was one of their people, why would he capture and kill their people?

Was he sick in the head?

Was Zhao Zilong resorting to such brainless methods to deceive her?

Ning Hongxiu stared at Zhao Zilong with hostility.

Zhao Zilong acted as if he didn't see the look in Ning Hongxiu's eyes and slowly said, "Chen Cang was originally the Deputy Director of the Qingyang County Fuzheng Division. Because he constantly captured former dynasty people to earn merit, whenever there was a change in the position of Fuzheng Division Director, he would inevitably be promoted. Coincidentally, a year ago, the former Director, Wu He, died of poisoning, and Chen Cang successfully took the position of Director."

"I investigated this case before, and I suspect that Wu He died at the hands of Chen Cang."

"Banner Master Zhao, why are you telling me this?"

Ning Hongxiu snorted lightly; Zhao Zilong's words jumped too much.

Zhao Zilong said, "I believe that the reason Chen Cang made a move against Wu He was because Wu He suspected that Chen Cang was a member of the former dynasty. In order not to be exposed, Chen Cang murdered Wu He."

As Zhao Zilong spoke, he gazed at Ning Hongxiu and said, "Princess Ning, have you never wondered why Chen Cang was able to capture over a hundred of your people in less than two months before, but afterwards couldn't capture a single one? Even someone with my meager skills, like me, can capture your people; could he, Chen Cang, not do it?"

"Princess Ning, have you never thought about a deeper reason, which is that Chen Cang no longer wants to capture people of the former dynasty?"

Ning Hongxiu followed Zhao Zilong's line of thought, her delicate eyebrows furrowed deeply; she seemed to have thought of something.

However, she did not speak, wanting to hear what Zhao Zilong had to say.

Zhao Zilong continued, "Princess Ning said that those former dynasty people Chen Cang captured were all people who wanted to live normal lives and did not want to rebel against Daye. Since Chen Cang captured and killed them, wouldn't that provoke all the former dynasty people who didn't want to rebel against Daye, forcing them into a dead end?"

Ning Hongxiu had just thought of this point as well.

Zhao Zilong said, "And ever since more and more former dynasty people have joined the anti-Daye organizations, Chen Cang has never captured another former dynasty person."

"And what role did Chen Cang play in this whole process? It was to make more people start rebelling against the Daye Imperial Court."

"And the ultimate beneficiary is the person in power in your former dynasty organization."

"Therefore, I judge that Chen Cang is a member of your former dynasty organization."

"Moreover, this time when Princess Ning wanted to sneak into Qingyang County to carry out your mission, Chen Cang found a reason to leave two or three days beforehand. Was this intentional to avoid Princess Ning, for fear of affecting Princess Ning's affairs?"

"All of this, he must be following the arrangements of your organization's higher-ups."

"Banner Master Zhao, I have to admit that what you say makes a lot of sense, but what about evidence? Without evidence, no matter how perfect your reasoning is, it's useless."

Ning Hongxiu had hit the key point. Zhao Zilong indeed had no evidence right now; even if he captured Chen Cang, as long as Chen Cang didn't admit it, he would be helpless.

However, fortunately, Ning Hongxiu was now in Zhao Zilong's hands, and this was a card he could play.

Why did Zhao Zilong say so much to Ning Hongxiu? It was to get Ning Hongxiu to cooperate with him.

Zhao Zilong said, "Princess Ning is correct. I currently have no evidence. However, as long as Princess Ning cooperates with me, not only can I prove that everything I said is true, but I can also let Princess Ning leave."