Chen Ke's words were merciless, causing even the bold and unbridled Song Duanping to stifle a cough, hinting that he should stop while he was ahead.

  But Chen Ke was a person who either didn't do something or did it to the extreme. He heavily punched the wall, causing dust to fall down: "Everyone has their own grand theory, and no one can convince anyone else. I only believe in one thing: the decline of a dynasty starts from the hearts of its people. If ordinary people start standing on the side of 'rebels', then this dynasty must have big problems! It can't always think about covering things up! When there's poison festering on your body, you must cut it off immediately, don't keep being nostalgic for that 'peaceful and prosperous world'! The more you cover it up, the easier it is for the poison to penetrate deep into your bones!"

  Seeing the other party not speaking, Chen Ke sighed and said: "I'm an insignificant person, now saying these presumptuous words, offending you Zhao family people", saying that he self-deprecatingly smiled and said: "Anyway, I just want to vent for a moment, hoping you will treat me with the same kindness as Lingnan Wenwu..."

  "...That Zhao Zongji was born with a calm and waveless face, but now it's changing with the weather, obviously being stabbed by him. After a long time, he sighed heavily: "You underestimate us Zhao family too much...", but it's not surprising, after Zhao Kuangyin, the three emperors of the Song Dynasty, compared to each other, lost the prestige of the founding of the country, and the blood courage of the Huaxia nation was all lost, how can people look up to them?"

  "I hope you can prove me wrong..." Chen Ke said with a expressionless face.

  "I", Zhao Zongji heard this and was taken aback, shaking his head bitterly after a long while: "I am powerless to do anything..."

  "That person outside is your father, right?" Chen Ke said calmly: "Although I am a commoner, I also know that the King of Beihai Prefecture has a close relationship with the current imperial family." Who in the world does not know that the King of Beihai Prefecture, Zhao Yunbi, was the playmate of the current emperor when he was still a prince? The two had a very deep affection for each other, beyond the normal ruler-subject relationship. In those years, before the birth of the imperial family's prince, they even took one of his sons and another king's son into the palace to raise them.

  In Chen Ke's view, if he could let the King of Beihai help him reach the Emperor, it would be much better than that useless Yu Wenshuai.

  "My father can't talk about it either." Zhao Zongji sighed and said, "He can't get too involved in local affairs, let alone this kind of... ", a case that shook half the sky.

  "When I didn't say anything." Chen Ke crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, his heart burning with anger.

  Seeing him like this, Zhao Zongji felt his face burning and let out a long sigh: "I'll send you guys out first."

  "Have everyone withdraw a hundred steps away, then I want a two-horse carriage, with sufficient water and dry rations... it would be best if it could showcase the culinary skills of the Wang Fu's head chef." Since it was the prince's words, naturally the requirements were higher. Chen Ke thought for a moment, then said: "Assign a coachman, we won't be driving the carriage ourselves."

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Including Beihai Junwang, everyone retreated, and the carriage was driven down to the building, with only one coachman left.

  Of course, as a price, Chen Ke also let go of those two dolls.

  "Brother..."... When she was put down, that woman who was probably the county lord's daughter finally shed tears and pulled Zhao Zongji: "Let me go with you."

  "Get out!" Zhao Zongji shook off her hand and said in a tone that brooked no argument: "Leave at once!"

  Then drive that county master away. Song Duanping couldn't help but shake his head and say, "With a brother like you, how could you bear to be cruel to such a lovely sister?"

  Qì" Zhao Zongji gave him a cold look, which made Song Duanning involuntarily shrink his neck. His sister had already left, and he didn't have anything to worry about anymore, so his true nature of being cold and aloof was revealed.

  Chen Ke ignored Tianyuan's expression and said to Song Duanping: "Go take a look at the car."

  "Hmm." Song Duanping went down first to check and confirmed that there was no problem, then gave a thumbs up.

  Chen Ke and Wu Lang, one on the left and one on the right, escorted Zhao Zongji down the stairs, with two gleaming waist knives pressed against his neck. The monk Xuan Yu, who had cut off a piece of his robe to use as a headscarf, followed closely behind.

  As everyone got on the bus, Chen Ke was about to close the door when he heard a stern voice say, "Please wait a minute!"

  Soon, a middle-aged man who looked 80% like Zhao Zongji appeared, walking over with several guards in tow. He must be the King of Beihai, Wu Yu.

  "This young friend," said the King of Beihai, looking at Chen Ke and bowing his hands, "thank you for not harming my little girl."

  Chen Ke didn't say a word, coldly staring at him, obviously still angry about what had just happened.

  "I heard a little girl tell about your experience," said the King of Beihai, sighing: "I also know the answer from Little Quan, but there are some things he is not clear about."

  "Oh"… Chen Ke finally reacted.

  "I guarantee you three things," said the Duke of Beihai, holding up three fingers: "Firstly, I will not make a fuss about this matter and will not investigate or retaliate in the future; secondly, regarding your father's case, although I cannot mention it openly, I can inform the officials through private letters; thirdly, even if things come to a head, I will do my best to help you avoid being implicated and ensure that it does not affect your future prospects."

  These three promises weighed heavily on him, and Chen Ke naturally knew how to respond: "Thanks to the king's virtuousness in repaying grievances, I am ashamed and my face is hot. If Father is rescued, I will definitely visit your door with a humble heart and apologize." He paused for a moment before continuing: "I also promise to Your Majesty that I won't harm Young Master Wang in the slightest."

  "Alright, it's settled!" The King of Beihai waved his hand and the guards at a distance slowly opened the courtyard gate.

  Under the escort of a team of royal guards, the carriage drove out onto the main street from the back gate.

  On the main street, there were officials from the Department of Punishment, soldiers from Hengzhou, and tall, intimidating imperial guards searching house by house for spies.

  "Oh no, my dictionary!" Through the car window, Chen Ke saw the situation outside and felt a chill run down his spine.

  "Hehe..." Wu Lang smiled foolishly, untying the bundle from his shoulder. His dictionary, wrapped tightly in oil paper, lay safely inside.

  "Hey"... Chen Qiang let out a sigh of relief and wiped his sweat, saying: "This thing can't be lost."

  "Ah, it's your and Little Sister's token of love." Song Duanping said with a sly smile.

  "Get out of here", Chen Ke Xin said, no wonder that young master Wang didn't give you a good face, this mouth, is specially made to make people lose face. He sighed and said: "This dictionary, can make people feel comforted..."

  This nonsensical sentence, however, was understood even by Gorō. When they left the province, they were all happy and simple-minded young rascals, but now they have been drawn into such a desperate struggle. These young people with no power or influence, without any support or backing, are like dry leaves in a whirlpool, and it is hard for them not to be enveloped by despair and helplessness.

  The only thing that can make them relax now is good memories.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  After a quiet ride for a while, they arrived at the city gate. At this time, the sky had just brightened up and the city gate was just opened.

  The traffic police have dispatched more personnel, and all passing vehicles and travelers must get off the bus for inspection.

  Chen Ke and several others were somewhat nervous, but the leading guard held up a yellow flag, and the officials hastily withdrew their horses, letting them leave the city, who dared to come forward and inspect.

  The horse carriage drove away, leaving behind a trail of curious and indignant murmurs.

  Once out of the city, Chen Ke finally relaxed and said to the young king, "Tell the guards to stop, another thirty miles and I'll let you go back."

  "What are you going to do next?" Zhao Zongji asked, who had been in a daze all the way.

  "What's your bright idea?" Chen Ke looked at him.

  "I want someone." Zhao Zongji said in a low voice: "Should be able to help you."

  "Who?"

  "Lu Ling County." Zhao Zongji said slowly, "The other day I heard that he escorted the coffin of the Empress Dowager to Lu Ling County in Ji Zhou, which is 600 miles away from here. Although it's not close, it's also not far." He spoke more words when facing Chen Ke.

  "I was thinking of going to see Ouyang Gong, but he's still in mourning," Chen Ke shook his head and said, "How could I get into this kind of trouble?"

  "That's because you don't understand Luling Gong," Zhao Zongji said with a rare smile on his face: "He's someone who looks for trouble, how can he still be afraid of trouble?"

  "It sounds like you know a lot." Song Duanping curled his lips: "I do know, he has been exiled for ten years, how old were you ten years ago?"

  "You"... Zhao Zongji, a noble and aristocratic person like him, who would dare speak to him in such a manner on an ordinary day?

  "Don't be angry, Old Song's intention is that in ten years' time, people's hearts will change. How can it be otherwise when one has been exiled for ten years?" Chen Xiao sighed and said: "The Yu Wuxi you hold in high esteem... seems to have become a veteran official with a belly full of dark secrets?"

  "This...!" Zhao Zongji was so choked by Chen Ke that he took a deep breath and said: "People in the capital all say, 'Qing Shan is easy to change, but Ou Yang is hard to move.' My father even calls him the conscience of the great Song Dynasty!"

  "Then trust you again?" Chen Ke had actually thought about it earlier, whether he could ask Mr. Ouyang, who was "drunk by everyone and awake alone", for help, but Yu Jing's Yu Wen Shuai made him lose his appetite for the great ministers of the Song Dynasty. Now he only hopes that this Liu Yi Gong can still be a useful person and not become a soft banana after being worn out by time...

  "Hey"... Zhao Zongji sighed and said: "I'm asking you for a favor."

  "This relates to the image of the royal family."

  Chen Ke and Song Duanping nodded together, with an air of importance: "Whether or not it can be salvaged depends on this one move."

  ..." Little King was speechless.

  The horse carriage was thirty miles away, Chen Ke opened the door, but Zhao Zongji refused to get down and said: "If I leave, aren't you afraid of my family's guards chasing and killing me?"

  "Really." Chen Ke glared and said: "Is your dad that shameless?"

  "My father certainly wouldn't, but it's hard to guarantee that there won't be any guards taking matters into their own hands. In short, one can never be too careful," said the young master seriously: "So, I'll still follow you guys for now..."

  Even Xiaohe and Heiwu were stunned, Chen Ke said, "Could this be the legendary Stockholm Syndrome? Have they been kidnapped out of emotions?"

  If I had known this earlier, I would have taken that little county princess with a face as beautiful as a flower and a fragrance like heaven along the road...

  （）