Chapter 292: Chapter 264: Let Him Write!
Even though Zhe Yu was a tough man, he hadn’t expected to be slapped like this. Just as he started to sit up straight, he was knocked over to the side.
He looked up in shock. "Aunt, why is this?"
"I’ve raised you for many years, and now you dare to deceive me and conspire with others! You ungrateful traitor, complaining to me on one hand and enlisting others on your own accord on the other. Do you even see me in your eyes? You must immediately draft a letter and have someone deliver it to the government office to withdraw the case!"
Zhe Yu looked at the gloomy-faced Princess Rong before him, then glanced at the indifferent Xu Yin beside her. Gathering his strength, he propped himself up again. "Aunt! Xu Yin attempted to murder me, aiming to incite conflict between you and the Princely Heir. The assassin is proof of Xu Yin’s plot!
"I handed him over to the Princely Heir’s wife because she is also a victim. Xu Yin is so scheming, and only by handing the assassin over to the Dali Temple can he be brought to justice!
"Aunt..."
"Silence!" Princess Rong shouted angrily. "This morning, when I arrived, you didn’t hand over the assassin to me, but instead, you did it after I left to hand him to Mrs. Zhang. It seems you’ve already colluded with Mrs. Zhang! How can I trust your words?"
"Aunt, please see clearly! I am a member of the Zhe Family, how could I abandon you and side with others? Aunt..."
"Do not call me Aunt!"
With a sharp cry, Princess Rong abruptly interrupted Zhe Yu’s words.
Zhe Yu stared at her blankly, and only after a while did his throat bob slightly.
After Princess Rong left him, she went to Xu Yin in anger to question him. If everything was as he thought, then Xu Yin wouldn’t be standing calmly by her side at this moment, and she wouldn’t be asking him to withdraw the case!
But he couldn’t comprehend why he had been mistaken.
Princess Rong had raised him for so many years, wasn’t it to ensure his loyalty to her, allowing him to support the Zhe Family’s honor and backing her as the Princess?
Why would Princess Rong tolerate Xu Yin trying to have him killed, thus weakening her own family’s strength?
It seemed to be Xu Yin’s doing!
Zhe Yu had never thought that Xu Yin had the deep power to manipulate people’s minds!
He calmed his mind. "...Zhe Yu’s life may be small, but Xu Yin harbors ill intentions, ambitious and deceitful; Princess must see this clearly!"
"Bring paper and pen!"
Ignoring his words, Princess Rong once again barked an order, as if his words weren’t worth hearing. After receiving the paper, she slammed it heavily on his bedside. "Write it for me!"
Zhe Yu was the involved party, and when Mrs. Zhang handed the assassin to the Dali Temple, it naturally had to be under his name. And now to withdraw the complaint, naturally, Zhe Yu had to come forward himself.
The people had already reached the government office, and it was Mrs. Zhang who personally sent them. If he delayed a moment longer, who knew what would happen next? Where would she find the patience to listen to nonsense here?
Could she not understand these principles?
What she wanted was a voice in Prince Rong’s Mansion. Even if Xu Yin were poison, she would have to take the risk!
Zhe Yu looked at the pen and paper in front of him as if hot oil was boiling inside his chest.
The murderer with murderous intent, aiming to kill him, was right in front of him. Yet the only person who could stand up for him, Princess Rong, was forcing him to withdraw the complaint and spare him!
He knew he was at the edge of a blade for the sake of interests, but in the Zhe Family, where he was once unremarkable, he was chosen by Princess Rong and taken into the Prince Manor, studying, practicing martial arts, and becoming a General, and living a completely different life!
He was grateful to her!
He remembered every word she said!
So, from a young age, she and Yongping were gods in his eyes. He would absolutely stop anything that might harm them, and only help with all his might for their benefit!
But he never expected that those he respected so profoundly never truly valued his life and dignity!
He turned his face aside. "I won’t write it! I can’t just stand by and watch you be deceived by him!"
"You!—"
Princess Rong was livid but didn’t know what to do next.
The Imperial Physician had said Zhe Yu’s condition had improved greatly, and he could still serve her in the future. If he firmly refused to write, how could she possibly sever his hands?
Xu Yin said, "It seems General Zhe has been misled by some traitor and deeply misunderstands me. You haven’t answered Princess’s earlier question. Why did you not hand the assassin in your hand to Princess first? Who’s been instigating you behind the scenes?"
Princess Rong furrowed her brows, then thought, "Who caught this assassin?"
Zhe Yu glared angrily at Xu Yin, then turned his eyes away. "I arranged people to capture him!"
Every time Fu Zhen came, she sneaked in stealthily, never entering through the main gate openly. Even the Lu Chongyang he invited only came at night to treat him.
Zhe Yu didn’t know why this was. But at the very least, he knew it was Fu Zhen who saved him; it was because of Fu Zhen that he discovered the Xu Yin he trusted all along was the real murderer. For this reason alone, he couldn’t reveal her!
"You were gravely injured in bed and there were no guards in the manor, how could you possibly capture the assassin?" Xu Yin sneered coldly, "It seems General Zhe has been deeply deceived by a villain.
"Princess has given you such immense grace, yet you are betraying her to protect this person. You’ve turned your back on everything Princess has bestowed on you over the years!
"So easily swayed by others, what need does Princess have to show you any further mercy!"
Princess Rong’s face turned pale with anger at these words.
She approached the bed, "You lost your father at three, abandoned by your mother with no one to care for you. I brought you from the icy wilderness to the prosperous capital city, provided you with fine clothing and food, sent you to study, and taught you martial arts. Over two decades have passed, and now you dare to defy me!
"Guards! Hold his hand and draft the withdrawal document!"
Several guards immediately burst in from outside, forcefully placing the pen in Zhe Yu’s hand, then grabbed his hand and dipped the pen in ink!
Zhe Yu had practiced martial arts from a young age, worked hard to meet Princess Rong’s expectations, and had long achieved results. Yet now, he was entirely powerless to resist this violence!
He lifted his bloodshot eyes and, through clenched teeth, asked, "If I withdraw the lawsuit, the wrongs I’ve suffered from multiple murder attempts can never be pleaded again! Is Princess choosing Xu Yin over me?!"
Each word came from his very soul, his anger piercing directly into Princess Rong’s heart.
Having invested more than two decades of effort into him, could she truly do this so mercilessly? She paused for a moment in silence.
Xu Yin said, "Is General Zhe trying to threaten Princess? Everything you have was given by Princess, what right do you have to question her? I am like a son to her, and you are merely her nephew. Even if she chooses me over you, what can you do? What are you capable of?"
This speech reignited Princess Rong’s resolve.
Zhe Yu had been molded by her own hands; besides her, what did he have? Without her, without the Prince Manor, he would be nothing!
So Xu Yin was right; even if she did this, so what? What right did Zhe Yu have to speak such words to her?
She said sternly, "Make him write!"