Chapter 607

Xu Heming frowned as he looked at the newcomer. It was none other than Lu Zhengyu, the Minister of Personnel.

“Lord Lu?”

Xu Heming looked at Lu Zhengyu in confusion.

As far as he knew, the two of them had no grudge against each other. Xu Heming could not understand why Lu Zhengyu was targeting him.

“Prince An, who would have thought that you would one day fall into my hands?” Lu Zhengyu said smugly as he slapped Xu Heming’s face.

Whenever he recalled how he had once feared Prince An, hatred filled Lu Zhengyu’s eyes.

Xu Heming frowned at Lu Zhengyu. He could not remember when he had ever crossed the Minister of Personnel.

He could not understand how he had suddenly become a traitor accused of rebellion.

“I want to see the Emperor!” Xu Heming said, not bothering to engage with the man before him.

He needed to see the Emperor. After all, he still had to ask the Emperor to send an imperial physician to examine Li Zhiwei.

At that thought, Xu Heming wanted to see Zhu Jingchen and demand an explanation. He had been running around outside on Zhu Jingchen’s behalf, yet the moment he returned, Zhu Jingchen had branded him a traitor.

“See the Emperor? Does Prince An really think you can still see him? His Majesty has already ordered that you be executed after the autumn harvest.” Lu Zhengyu spoke with a smug expression.

“Lord Lu, I don’t believe a word you’re saying!” Xu Heming clenched both fists. He refused to believe that the Emperor would have him executed at a time like this.

“His Majesty personally declared that Prince An had rebelled. Do you really think you’ll have a chance to see him? Prince An, you should give up. Think carefully about whether anyone will even bury you after you die!” Lu Zhengyu finished speaking and burst into triumphant laughter.

Xu Heming was utterly stunned. He could hardly believe this was real.

Was Zhu Jingchen truly so heartless that he intended to destroy him completely?

Xu Heming frowned, eyeing Lu Zhengyu suspiciously.

A thought occurred to him: Whose man was Lu Zhengyu?

However, until he understood what was really happening, Xu Heming decided to remain silent.

When Eunuch Liu learned that Xu Heming had been thrown into prison, he was so alarmed that he personally hurried to the dungeon to retrieve him.

“Oh my, Eunuch Liu, what brings you here?” When Lu Zhengyu saw Eunuch Liu, the sinister look in his eyes quickly vanished, replaced by an ingratiating smile.

Inside, however, he cursed furiously. Why had Eunuch Liu come at a time like this?

Thinking of Xu Heming in the dungeon, Lu Zhengyu had a bad feeling. If Eunuch Liu had really come for Prince An, then the task his master had given him—to deal with Prince An—would become impossible. He had not even had the chance to do anything yet.

“Lord Lu, you’re here too? I’m here under His Majesty’s orders to escort Prince An into the palace,” Eunuch Liu said, somewhat surprised to see Lu Zhengyu.

“Of ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍course, there’s no need for Eunuch Liu to come personally. You only had to send someone to inform me, and I would have delivered Prince An to the palace myself,” Lu Zhengyu said with a smile.

He was already thinking about how he could kill Xu Heming without making a sound.

This was also for the sake of accomplishing his master’s grand plan. Once that happened, even Prince An would become his defeated opponent.

“Please lead me to Prince An,” Eunuch Liu said with a smile, without wasting any more words on Lu Zhengyu.

“Eunuch Liu, the dungeon is cold and damp. Why don’t I bring Prince An out?” Lu Zhengyu suggested. If Eunuch Liu agreed, he would have the chance to kill Prince An quietly.

That way, he could both hand Prince An over to Eunuch Liu and complete the order his master had given him.

“No need. I’ll personally go and retrieve Prince An,” Eunuch Liu replied.

The corner of Eunuch Liu’s mouth twitched. The Emperor was already angry with him for failing to handle matters properly. If he did not personally escort Prince An out, he dared not imagine how both the Emperor and Prince An would come to resent him.

“This…” Lu Zhengyu put on a troubled expression, secretly cursing Eunuch Liu as a useless eunuch for being so deliberately difficult.

“Lord Lu, let’s go. His Majesty is still waiting for me to bring Prince An back and report to him,” Eunuch Liu reminded him, his expression displeased.

“Yes, yes. I’ll take you to see Prince An at once.” Lu Zhengyu smiled as he lowered his head, hiding his resentment in his eyes.

Eunuch Liu was eager to see Xu Heming and did not notice anything unusual about Lu Zhengyu.

Lu Zhengyu discreetly signaled to one of the guards nearby.

The guard left ahead of them.

“Lord Lu, is His Majesty planning to interrogate Prince An?” Lu Zhengyu asked with a smile.

“Lord Lu, if it isn’t something you should be asking about, then don’t ask. Besides, Prince An hasn’t been convicted of anything!” Eunuch Liu was also cursing inwardly. Which blind fool had dared to throw Prince An into the imperial dungeon?

“Yes.” Lu Zhengyu frowned, displeased.

Could Xu Heming still have a chance to turn things around?

At that thought, Lu Zhengyu clenched his fists. He secretly decided that he had to eliminate Prince An as soon as possible.

Otherwise, his master’s grand plan might very well be ruined by Prince An.

“Xu Heming, His Majesty wants to see you!” The guard stopped outside Xu Heming’s cell and shouted coldly.

Xu Heming merely sat there, unmoving.

Zhu Jingchen could lock him up if he wanted, but now that he wanted Xu Heming to come out, it would not be so easy.

“Xu Heming?” The guard had not expected Xu Heming to refuse to play along.

“Tell the Emperor to come here himself,” Xu Heming said unhappily.

“What nonsense! This dungeon is a filthy place. How could His Majesty, with his exalted status, possibly come here?” The guard thought the Prince An before him must have gone mad.

How dare he make such a demand?

“Hmph. Have you forgotten that you’re a prisoner now?” Remembering his superior’s instructions, the guard shouted at Xu Heming impatiently.

“So what?” Xu Heming replied indifferently.

“Xu Heming, don’t tell me you still think you’re the Prince An of old. How could His Majesty possibly come here to see you? If you know what’s good for you, get out of here!” the guard urged impatiently.

“Move!” When he saw that Xu Heming seemed not to have heard him, the guard grew even more irritated.

His superior had just instructed him to deal with this man.

At that thought, the guard drew the sword at his waist and swung it toward Xu Heming.

Clang!

Xu Heming waved a hand, sending the sword clattering to the ground.

“You—you…” The guard staggered back a step, trembling with fear.

He had not expected Prince An to fight back.

“What are you doing?” Eunuch Liu called out from a distance when he saw the two of them apparently arguing.

When he saw the guard draw his sword, his heart leaped into his throat.

“Oh my, this old servant pays his respects to Prince An.” Eunuch Liu hurried forward and bowed to Xu Heming, his smile one of utter respect.

This was hardly the attitude one would expect toward a criminal.

Nearby, Lu Zhengyu glared at the guard, cursing him inwardly. Useless fool! You couldn’t even handle such a simple matter.

Now that Eunuch Liu had seen Xu Heming, Lu Zhengyu knew that his plan to kill Prince An would have to be postponed.

“Prince An, this subordinate has offended you.” Lu Zhengyu had no choice but to smile ingratiatingly at Xu Heming.