Chapter 995: Metamorphosis 69

here should have been pain, but Your Highness felt nothing.""Pain doesn't affect this King much anymore," Du Gu Su said, looking at the silver needle in Li Wu Yan's hand.These words may seem insignifi...“It’s possible to see through Xue's attitude.”

Feng Lingxi saw that Dugu Cheng's expression was solemn, and jokingly said, "What if they fall in love with you"

Dugu Cheng's handsome face sank. "How is that possible Her eyes didn't look like they held any emotion, more like she was testing me."

"Don't you suspect that wasn't you last night"

Du Gucheng nodded, thinking of Luo Xue's gaze, "Could it be that Xi'er hasn't noticed that she was probing, wanting to know why he didn't speak to her in the evening and even tried to have a private conversation with him"

"Suspect what, it's already sleep time. Even if she knew, it doesn't matter. Just release the person."

She wasn't worried about this, but she was concerned about just how capable Luo Zhe actually was. This was something she couldn't find out. During this time, she had secretly kept an eye on him and discovered that Luo Zhe had quite a few granaries near Linxi County. To say he had ten thousand acres of fertile land wasn't necessarily true. It meant his granaries were abundant.

"If my guess is right, all the grain released by the Empress Dowager is here. Don't forget, when Dugu Xiu led his troops before, how quickly they needed grain. If I'm not mistaken, the grain was provided by Luo Zhe."

"In that case, capturing Luozhe would be equivalent to taking hold of the Great Yuan Dynasty's granary"

Feng Lingxi narrowed her eyes, looking at Dugu Cheng. Her gaze flickered, a sly glint flashing past. Just as she was about to speak, Dugu Cheng interrupted her, "I won't seduce you."

"Who let you seduce him I mean, why not design a plan to make Luo Zhe surrender, take him down."

"Impossible."

Dugu Cheng didn't hesitate to refuse, "Don't forget, this Luo Xue man isn't under me. If he were truly brought under my command, wouldn't Luo Zhe be beyond our control The Empress allowed him to stay here, supplying him with grain. He could easily join my ranks."

Feng Lingxi looked at Dugu City, her eyes filled with worry.

"Thus, one can only be a bandit."

"I will think of a way to handle this as soon as possible. As for you, be more careful these days. I'm worried that Luo Xue won't just give up. Don't let her hurt your mother and Wan'er."

I know.

She is now at the county office every day, just watching Luo Xue. Although her life seems like a drama all the time, she has benefited greatly from it.

The next day, Dugu City went to Luo Zhe to collect grain and grass. Luo Zhe personally escorted the grain and grass to the military camp. Along the way, Luo Zhe tried Du Gu City in every possible way, but he couldn't get the answer he wanted, so he hesitated whether to defect.

"Your Highness, the current situation in the court is that both the Prince Su and the Third Prince are at a disadvantage. This official heard that Prince Su has joined forces with the Third Prince now. I wonder what Your Highness thinks"

"What are your thoughts"

Dugu City pretended not to know, pointing at the soldiers who were training.

These soldiers followed me, not seeking anything else but food and shelter.

"My lord, I mean to ask, do you have any plans"

Dugu City nodded, "Here, expanding the territory and allowing these soldiers to have food and clothing, and not fighting on the battlefield, this is all I desire."

"My lord, don't you want to..."

Before Luozhe could finish his words, Dugu City interrupted him, "Lord Luozhe, if you have something to say to this king, just speak plainly."

"Let me be blunt, the current situation in court is precarious. The Empress Dowager is displeased with the Emperor and has designs on deposing him. Both Prince Su and the Third Prince have fallen out of favor. Now, however, is a golden opportunity for the Fourth Prince."

"It sounds like Lord Luo is saying that this King can get the Empress Dowager's favor"

Luo Zhe saw him ascend the stage and continued, "Your Highness, think about it. Your Highness is intelligent and wise, the late emperor praised you greatly, and with the Saintess of the Yao Clan as your wife and 500,000 troops under your command, in terms of qualifications, who is more suitable than Your Highness"

獨孤城麵色無喜,眸光冷峻,提醒道,“洛大人,這話若是讓人聽見,本王怕是要揹負謀反的罪名,洛大人自己也該注意言辭,免得到時候連累雪兒。”

**Translation:**Du Gu Cheng's face was emotionless, his eyes cold and sharp as he reminded, "Lord Luo, if anyone hears this, I fear I will be accused of treason. Lord Luo should also be careful with your words, lest you implicate Xue'er later on."

When mentioning Luo Xue, Luo Zhe gave two dry laughs.

"Rest assured, Your Highness. I only dared to say these things because I was instructed to."

Dugu Cheng stopped in his tracks, raising an eyebrow at Luo Zhe.

"Lord Luo, what do you mean"

"The Empress Dowager's intention."

Luo Ze stared at Dugu City's eyes, "Your Highness can rest assured, this official speaks, always counts."

"So, today Lord Luo is willing to give grain to this king, is it also the Empress Dowager's intention"

"This is my intention, Empress Dowager has nothing to do with it."

獨孤城收起了神色,“本王無心帝位,洛大人可以轉告太後,父皇諸多皇子,誰都比本王合適,本王隻想在這兒待著,不想捲入朝中的是非。”

"Your Majesty, this Imperial throne..."

"Master Luo!"

Dugu Cheng coldly said, "If you mention it again, don't blame this king for treating you as a traitor."

"You..." Luo Ze looked at Dugu City, angrily, "Stubborn."

獨孤城 ignored Luo Zhe. This probing was enough to keep Luo Zhe busy.

After receiving Luozhe's food supplies, the soldiers' food problem was solved. Luozhe came several times afterward, wanting to discuss this issue with Dugu City, but he was avoided by Dugu City every time. Luozhe was very angry about this and relayed Dugu City's meaning back to the capital.

But Empress Cen did not believe it.

"Mother, how could this lonely city be so peaceful He holds heavy troops in Linxi County, and refuses to surrender his 500,000 soldiers. He also refuses to go out to quell the rebellion here. Doesn't this seem like he has rebellious intentions"

Dugu Xiu and Yue Fei went together before Empress Cen's presence. Yue Fei chimed in, "Your Majesty, this concubine also thinks the Emperor is right..."

"Concubines are not allowed to participate in politics. Didn't the Emperor tell you"

The Empress Dowager's words turned the Moon Consort's face pale, subconsciously biting her lip. This pitiful appearance made Duke Dugu feel reluctant to look at her.

"Mother, the Imperial Consort merely wants to share my worries with me. You needn't..."

"Your Majesty, this month Consort Yue…" Empress Cen looked at Consort Yue and immediately thought of her as Feng Yu Xi, feeling agitated.

Don't let me see her, let her not flutter about in front of me and make me uneasy.

The imperial concubine rose and bowed to Empress Cen, "This servant will take her leave."

"Yue Fei..."

Dugu Xiu hurried to catch up. Empress Cen's headache was getting worse, truly troublesome and foolish. She even brought him into the palace despite everyone warning her about the stormy weather. How could she have given birth to such a clueless son

"Your Majesty, Lord Luo has a message."

"How do you say"

Cen Taizi, without raising her head, said to the people below, "Lord Luo said that Fourth Wangye did not agree to his request. He said he wanted to guard the border and would not be involved in court affairs. He also doesn't believe what Lord Luo said and has no intention of doing so."

And

Empress Cen's forehead ached faintly, this Dugu City truly wasn't planning to interfere.

"Lord Luo also said that the Fourth Princess lives in the County Government every day, and there is no sign of jealousy about taking a concubine. Moreover, she allows the King to favor her daughter, saying it is to help the Fourth Prince have descendants."

"Feng Ling Xi actually allowed Dugu Cheng to reach this state"ther people present""What do you mean by that"Wind Ling Xi's eyes gradually turned cold. Feng Ao Tian saw her displeasure and explained, "This time I came here to investigate not only the assassinatio...