Li Hongzhuo smiled and nodded.

But an old fox with that many years in officialdom was never going to take Ning Chen at his word so easily.

This time they had done no more than reach an understanding to work together.

"Marquis Ning, this old man will take his leave!"

"Safe journey, Lord Li Hongzhuo!"

Watching Li Hongzhuo's carriage draw farther and farther away, Ning Chen let out a cold laugh.

From the conversation with Li Hongzhuo he had distilled a lot of useful information.

First: Li Hongzhuo said he could secure him a lifetime of glory, which meant the man behind him stood very high — high enough to have a chance at the throne.

But that was a wide field.

There were plenty of men close to the throne. Besides the princes, there were the princes of the blood.

So for the moment he could not pin it on any one man.

Second: Li Hongzhuo knew about him and the Wu woman emperor, which meant he had a line into the Wu Kingdom.

Being able to dig up the business with the woman emperor meant the man was high in rank and heavy in power over there.

It had to be the Prince Regent of Wu, Song Tiancheng.

"Li Hongzhuo, you won't live out the month. I've said it, and Jesus himself couldn't keep you here."

Ning Chen said it under his breath, then turned his horse's head and left.

He reached the Inspectorate and found quite a few men from the Ministry of Justice there.

Li Zhixing had come too.

Ning Chen thought about it a moment and understood.

Ning Ziming might be dead, but the rest of the Ning household still had to go to the sword.

Ning Chen caught sight of Chang Ruyue, Ning Gan and the others.

And the mother and son saw Ning Chen.

They knew perfectly well they were finished... on the single charge of the Left Chancellor's treason, a hundred deaths would not have been enough.

So they did not beg.

But the pallor of their faces showed what they felt…