Pan Yucheng looked at Li Hongzhuo's earnest face and could not help laughing.

"Ning Chen said something once that I think is exactly right."

Li Hongzhuo looked at him, not understanding. "Said what?"

Pan Yucheng said, "Ning Chen said that when a man is in extreme panic or extreme rage, his brain isn't much smarter than a pig's."

"Care to guess why I'm here? And who sent me?"

Li Hongzhuo said at once, "I know Ning Chen sent you. But Pan the Gold Coat is a clever man, and ought to understand that a good bird chooses its tree."

"Ning Chen is carrying on with the Wu woman emperor. Once that is exposed, he'll be dead with nowhere left to bury him. Following him won't win you a thing — it'll drag you down with him."

Pan Yucheng's eyes filled with mockery.

"Lord Li Hongzhuo, I know about Ning Chen and the woman emperor. I knew it before you did."

Li Hongzhuo's face changed sharply.

Pan Yucheng said evenly, "And I know something more. The woman emperor is carrying Ning Chen's child."

Li Hongzhuo's eyes flew wide, his face full of shock.

"Lord Li Hongzhuo came to Wu to find hard proof that Ning Chen and the woman emperor are carrying on, didn't he? The child in the woman emperor's belly is the best proof there is."

"A pity you won't be going back to Great Xuan. Knowing it does you no good."

With that, Pan Yucheng stepped in close to Li Hongzhuo.

Li Hongzhuo's body shuddered. He looked down. A sharp dagger had gone into his belly.

Li Hongzhuo's eyes were full of terror. He clutched at Pan Yucheng's clothes. "You — you... why?"

Pan Yucheng said coldly, "High office and rich pay are tempting enough, but some things matter more... You meant to harm Ning Chen. So I kill you."

This was close by the Prince Regent's residence, where ordinary people did not dare come near even in daylight... and now the sky was dark and there was no one about at all.

Looking at Li Hongzhuo, who…