Started out getting scumbags, but then invested in the invincible Empress.

Chapter 261 Where the hell do you get so many questions!

Lu Cong braced himself on the ground, wanting to get up and help Wang Wan, but he didn't dare to touch her.

His arm was frozen in mid-air, looking both comical and pitiful.

One of the accompanying Vice Ministers of Rites, unable to bear it any longer, whispered, "Your Highness, your status is so noble, why do this..."

"You know nothing!"

Lu Cong whirled around, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at him, roaring hoarsely, "Kneel down before me! All of you kneel!!!"

The officials looked at each other.

But under Lu Cong's murderous gaze, they had no choice but to kneel down one by one.

In an instant, a whole bunch of Liang officials were kneeling in the water dungeon, a scene that was extremely bizarre.

Then, Lu Cong took a deep breath and said respectfully, "Please rise, Your Highness."

"Please rise, Your Highness!"

"..."

Other officials quickly followed suit, and there was a chorus of approval.

Wang Wan looked surprised.

Is she dreaming...?

Is this the treatment she, a prisoner, deserves?

She opened her mouth, somewhat bewildered, "What are you all doing...?"

"Your Majesty, this matter is a long story."

Seeing that Wang Wan refused to get up, Lu Cong looked bitter and had no choice but to explain the reason for the matter.

"Your Majesty, do you know what kind of person your nephew... Li Wudao is?"

Wang Wan was taken aback, then shook her head blankly.

Her knowledge of her nephew was limited to eight years ago.

However, when they met at the Prince's Mansion last time, Wudao gave her a great surprise, perhaps indicating some opportunity.

Seeing Lu Cong's solemn appearance, could it be that his nephew has an extraordinary identity?

"Your Majesty, you are unaware of the following..."

Lu Cong spoke rapidly and vividly described Li Wudao's various "feats" in the capital during this period.

For example, the Imperial Treasure Pavilion slashed the Second Prince and instantly killed the Marquis of Zhennan...

Then, all alone, he broke through the palace, suppressed everyone with ruthless methods, and became the new emperor of the Great Yu.

........

Finally, Lu Cong spoke with great enthusiasm, his mouth dry, before he could give a rough account of what had happened.

"this......."

Wang Wan was completely stunned.

It was unbelievable, yet I felt incredibly surprised and gratified.

Wudao, the nephew who was always taciturn and ridiculed by everyone when he was a child.

When they met again eight years later, he had transformed into a towering tree, becoming someone that the Prince of Liang and everyone else could only look up to!

This complex feeling is truly wonderful.

"So Your Majesty..." Lu Cong's voice was almost pleading as he said:

"Please, get up! If your nephew finds out, my head... will be hanging at the city gate tomorrow!"

Wang Wan seemed to snap out of a daze, then, as if remembering something, hesitated before saying, "Then... my husband's injury..."

Lu Cong quickly assured her, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. I will do my best to treat Prince Rui's injuries. Please get up quickly."

With his trembling support, Wang Wan finally managed to stand up slowly.

She looked at the Prince of Liang, his face filled with reverence, his magnificent robes stained with dirty water yet he seemed completely unconcerned, and then at the officials kneeling all around him...

His bewildered eyes suddenly cleared.

It's not that Lu Cong has changed.

He is her nephew... who has become so powerful that he instills fear throughout the entire Liang Dynasty.

She, too, benefited from the honor and felt proud.

"Your Highness, please rise."

She said softly, her expression somewhat complicated, "I was rude just now."

"Don't dare, don't dare..."

Lu Cong then shakily got up.

Ignoring his disheveled appearance, he turned and began to hurl insults at his still-stunned attendant:

"Are they all blind...? Can't they see that His Highness Prince Rui is seriously injured?!"

"Quickly summon the imperial physicians! Summon all the imperial physicians on duty at the Imperial Hospital!"

"And also, prepare a warm sedan chair, clean clothes, and hot water! If you don't get it done within fifteen minutes, you'll all have to answer to me with your heads!!"

The accompanying officials then seemed to wake from a dream and scrambled out of the water dungeon.

Lu Cong turned around and saw Prince Rui's pale face, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

He crouched down, carefully placed his hand on Li Long's wrist, checked his pulse, and his face turned even paler.

A weak, thread-like pulse that is intermittent is a sign of heart failure!

"Quickly... gently, carry His Highness Prince Rui out..."

He personally directed the guards, his voice trembling with tension, "Watch out for his left arm, it's broken... Yes, support his back... Slow down, slow down..."

The guards had never seen the prince so careful, as if he were handling a piece of porcelain that might break at any moment, their movements were as gentle as could be.

Wang Wan followed behind, watching this scene, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Not long ago, she was a prisoner, bullied by others, her life and death entirely in their hands.

Now, however, it's all because of a single sentence from his nephew.

The entire Liang Dynasty treated her with utmost respect, and this stark contrast in treatment made her feel somewhat smug.

This is probably a case of "when one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven."

A side hall of Mingde Hall.

The hall was warm as spring, and the incense burner was filled with calming sandalwood.

More than ten imperial physicians busied themselves around the bed, some decocting medicine, some administering acupuncture, and some applying ointment; all of them had solemn expressions.

Outside, Lu Cong paced back and forth like an ant on a hot pan.

He would ask every now and then, "How is it? How is His Highness Prince Rui?"

The head of the Imperial Medical Academy wiped the sweat from his brow and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, Prince Rui's external injuries have been treated, but he has too many old wounds, and his heart meridian is now severely damaged. Ordinary medicines may not be enough..."

"Get to the point!" Lu Cong interrupted impatiently.

The academy director shrank his neck and said, "He is now on his last breath. He needs to be kept alive with a 'superior-grade Great Rejuvenation Pill' and supplemented with the 'Pulse-Continuing Golden Needle Technique' to have any chance of survival."

At this point, he looked troubled. "But as far as I know, the last top-grade Great Rejuvenation Pill in the palace was given to His Highness the Crown Prince by His Majesty last year."

Crown Prince...

Lu Cong raised an eyebrow, his eyes brightening slightly, and said, "Go and get it quickly!"

The abbot hesitated for a moment, then whispered:

"Your Highness, this superior-grade Great Rejuvenation Pill is a seventh-grade spiritual pill. No one in our Great Liang can currently refine it. It is extremely precious. Would it be... to use it on a dying person?"

"I said, go and get it now!"

Lu Cong interrupted coldly, angrily saying, "You fool! If His Highness Prince Rui were to suffer any harm in my Great Liang, not even a hundred high-grade Great Rejuvenation Pills could atone for this crime!"

"Then how should I explain things to His Highness the Crown Prince?"

The chief physician was unaware of the potential troubles facing Daliang, nor did he know that his so-called Crown Prince would be sent to Da Yu to take the blame the next day.

Lu Cong suppressed the urge to hit someone and took a deep breath, saying, "Go and tell the truth. The Crown Prince is a smart man; he knows what to do."

But then he saw the person in the courtyard hesitate, opening their mouth as if to say something, "What if..."

"Why the hell are you asking so many questions! Get going!"

Lu Cong couldn't help but curse, and kicked the white-haired headmaster to the ground.

The academy director got up feeling wronged, dared not say another word, and ran out looking dejected.

Seeing this, Lu Cong breathed a sigh of relief.

Damn it, by the time this old guy finishes asking his questions, Prince Rui will probably be long gone.

When I turned around again, I saw Wang Wan come out from the inner room.

She had washed and changed into clean clothes. Although her face was still pale and her eyes were red and swollen, she had regained her usual dignified and gentle demeanor.

"Your Highness, my husband..."

Wang Wan looked worried.

"Your Majesty need not worry. The imperial physician has just administered the medicine, and the pulse has stabilized."

Lu Cong quickly offered words of comfort, his tone unconsciously becoming respectful.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"No, no..."

Lu Cong waved his hands repeatedly and said with a wry smile, "This is... what I should do."

He hesitated for a moment, then explained, "Well... back in court, I strongly advocated forcing the Great Yu to cede territory... and that was because I was in that position..."

Wang Wan nodded gently, "I understand. Your Highness is, after all, a man of Liang, and it is only right that you consider the interests of Liang."

These words relieved Lu Cong, and he cautiously asked:

"Your Majesty, tomorrow... I will personally escort you both back to Da Yu. But I wonder, what about your new emperor...?"

Wang Wan understood his meaning and said softly, "Your Highness, rest assured. Wu Dao... although his methods are ruthless, he is clear about gratitude and resentment. You saved my husband today, and I will tell him about this favor."

She paused at this point, then added, "But I cannot interfere with what he does; I hope Your Highness will understand."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Your words are enough!"

Lu Cong felt as if he had been granted a pardon, repeatedly bowing with his hands clasped in gratitude, his eyes even glistening with tears.

He was really scared.

Fearing Li Wudao's ruthlessness, he didn't listen to any explanations and directly slashed at them with his sword.

Now that Wang Wan has said that, at least... he can keep his life, right?

........

at the same time.

The secret chamber of the young sect leader's residence in the Xuantian Sect.

Wu Shaotian crushed the teacup in his hand, his eyes dark and gloomy. "What is Cheng Yuanliang good for? Three days have passed, and he still dares not reply to my messages. He's gone too far!"