Chapter Fifty-Three: The Snare

  The lord's mansion was heavily guarded, and it had been taken over by Qian Buding's army. To ensure Ji Shengjing's safety, sentries were stationed at every corner of the mansion.

  Actually, from the first day, He Junming let Ji Shengqing move into the city master's mansion, he had no intention of leaving. Unexpectedly, Qian Buli ordered the guarding soldiers to deliberately make things difficult for him. As the master of a city, entering and exiting his own mansion was not free. Later, He Junming angrily moved into the municipal government office.

  He Zicheng was undoubtedly very familiar with his own home, and under Wang Rui's leadership, they walked into the city master's mansion without any obstruction, finally arriving at the backyard. In He Zicheng's impression, this was where the servants lived.

  Wang Rui looked around cautiously, pointing to a small room and saying: "General Ren is in there. I'll stay here to keep watch, try to be quick. If Commander Qian's personal guards patrol this area, I won't be able to stop them."

  "Understood." He Zicheng stretched out his hand and solemnly shook hands with Du Bing, then turned around and walked towards that room.

  As mentioned earlier, it was a small room. When He Zicheng arrived at the door, he quickly pushed open the door and walked in. The situation inside the room clearly appeared before his eyes.

  In the center of the room, there was a large wooden bathtub. In the bathtub, three beautiful women were playing and frolicking in the water. Although He Zicheng couldn't see much due to the angle, he could feel the temptation generated by those smooth and snowy shoulders swaying gently. As for Ren Shuai... who knows where he is!

  Just as He Zicheng was stunned, the three women had already discovered He Zicheng, this uninvited guest. Women react faster than men at times like these, and a sharp, long scream instantly rang out.

  It's done! He Zicheng's head buzzed, and he turned to escape. Suddenly, a man's loud shout came from outside the door: "Who is it?! How dare you disturb His Highness?!"

  Your Highness? Upon hearing this "Your Highness", He Zicheng's heart chilled, and he knew the severity of his crime! He Zicheng suddenly turned around to look at those three women. Since he couldn't escape death, wouldn't it be a waste not to take a few more glances? He Zicheng had some fugitive nature.

  Ke Lan and Ke Li trembled as they shielded Ji Shengqin behind them, although they were mortified at the moment, but they still hadn't forgotten their duties.

  The door opened, and He Zicheng felt a cold long sword placed on his neck. Then he heard a lazy voice: "My Lord He, haven't you had enough? Please!"

  He Zicheng turned around and saw Qian Buli's bright, calm, and slightly sarcastic gaze. He looked away, we all looked away! He Zicheng let out a long sigh and followed Qian Buli out with his head hung low in dejection.

  "Get him tied up!" As soon as Qian Bu Liao gave the order, several soldiers rushed in and pinned He Zi Cheng to the ground. They took out a rope they had prepared beforehand and trussed him up like a chicken.

  "Easy... Ah... Go easy!" He Zicheng begged for mercy while struggling, looking at Qian Buli: "Commander Qian, there's no need to torture me like this, is there? You should send someone to inform my father right away."

  "Oh?" Qian smiled and sat down on the chair brought by the soldiers: "Tell me, why should I inform your father? Wouldn't it be better to just kill you directly?"

  He Zicheng sneered, hunching his back: "It's simple, the conditions you want I have no way to satisfy you, only my father can nod in agreement. I don't believe you'd go to so much trouble just to kill me."

  "You're wrong! Qian Buli is an upright and honest person, he wouldn't be like those despicable people who spend all day thinking about how to cheat others!"

  "You... Alright, I'm guilty, I'm a rat!" He Zicheng's face twisted in pain: "Commander Qian, it's all my fault. Can't you loosen the ropes a bit? They're really too tight."

  "It's for your own good, the more painful you look, the faster Lord He will agree to cooperate with me. That way, the time you spend suffering will be shorter too. Doesn't that make sense?"

  "That makes sense! What you said is really reasonable!" He Zicheng accompanied with a smile: "Qian Tongling, things have come to this point, and you don't need to cheat me anymore. All of this was written by your hand, wasn't it?"

  "I... can't write." Qian Buli fiddled with his own hem.

  "So, all of these are your plans?"

  "I also can't paint."

  "Facing the political idiot he had recognized, He Zicheng suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness. After thinking for a long time, He Zicheng decided to try another angle: "I have learned from Qian Tongling's tactics, I didn't expect that before you even arrived at Liancheng Pass, you had already thought of ways to deal with us. You actually instructed General Du and General Wang to put on a show for us at the city gate, and from then on we fell into your trap. Admirable! Admirable!"

  "Heh heh, now that it's come to this, if I continue to shirk responsibility, I'd be too hypocritical." Qian Buli's expression turned stern: "Not bad, actually, as early as in Xueyuan City, I had already thought of a way to deal with you all! In this world, no one can deceive me, my eyes can see through the layers of fog and reach the truth, my wisdom is like the vast ocean, unfathomable...".

  He blinked, and suddenly Heshi Cheng thought of Qian Budui, who had been boasting at the wine party... Who was he really? Was he a wise man beyond measure, or a lucky fool? A true sage would never boast about himself like that, but where could there be such a lucky fool?

  He Zicheng thought that through his own probing, he would definitely be able to uncover Qian Buli's true face. But now he suddenly realized that he was even more confused than before he started probing. He couldn't help but let out a groan.

  "So... Today, Qian Buli's speech was not very long, he quickly got to the point: 'Don't oppose me, don't ever!' "

  "I understand..." He Zicheng replied weakly, his head hung low and unable to see the gleam in Qian Buliang's eyes. People are always like this, searching for an answer with great difficulty but unable to find it, only to have it quietly pass by when they give up.