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A moment later, the eunuch at his side could not help but speak up, “Your Majesty
”
Hearing this, the Hou Zhu took a deep breath.
“Dai-ban (literally means Great Companion),” he started, “But my uncle promised to stay in the city to protect me at all times. Why would he go back on his word?”
The eunuch beside him couldn’t come up with a response.
Then he heard the Hou Zhu laugh.
“I will wait.” He said, “Uncle will not fail to return. What’s more, didn’t that old thief Lou Yue only block the city gates? He didn’t make any other movements, right? I don’t believe he will dare to bring troops into the imperial city and kill me. I will just wait–wait for my uncle to return and save me.”
After saying that, he stood up without greeting anyone, and walked away.
He had just taken two steps forward when he stumbled and almost fell, clinging onto a pillar carved with a golden dragon nearby.
“Your Majesty!” The surrounding eunuchs rushed to his aid.
“Your Majesty, don’t worry! Lou Yue’s rebellion must be aimed at the Chief Minister; he won’t really do anything to Your Majesty
” the old eunuch comforted him.
However, the Hou Zhu snapped, “Shut up.”
The old eunuch was immediately silenced.
The Hou Zhu’s eyes drooped.
He initially thought that when he was on the throne after that wicked concubine and his eccentric father were dead, he would no longer stand alone and be left alone like he used to be, especially when his uncle treated him so well.
Yet, he did not expect that he would be abandoned by his uncle one day.
“Your Majesty
” the old eunuch said tremblingly.
Hearing this, the Hou Zhu took a deep breath.
“Is Jiang Suizhou already locked up in the dungeon?” he asked.
The old eunuch promptly replied, “Yes.”
The Hou Zhu laughed.
“Then go.” He said, “I still have to discuss business with my brother.”
——
When Jiang Suizhou left the hall, those guards tied him up.
He had already anticipated what circumstances he would face.
Those people were really superfluous. Considering his feeble physique, was there a need for him to be tied up so? Even if he was not tied up, he would not be able to escape.
But
 he was kind of relieved as well.
The Hou Zhu was driven to such lengths to capture him, meaning Huo Wujiu didn’t fall into their hands. Things must have succeeded, too, so they could only detain himself.
That being the case
 at least Huo Wujiu is safe.
He was pushed and shoved all the way to a remote part of the palace. He entered a simple and solemn palace courtyard, and then was taken into an underground cell.
There seemed to be no living person in the cell, but the dampness mixed with the stench of decay and blood was pungent.
The smell was all too familiar, like the smell of Huo Wujiu’s body when he first met him that day.
This dungeon must be where the worst felons were held in the palace.
Jiang Suizhou couldn’t help but inwardly let out a bitter laugh.
The Hou Zhu really thought highly of himself.
The guards opened the cell door, threw him inside, locked the door and left. Jiang Suizhou crashed on the wet and rotten straw and felt pain all over his body. He gasped for breath, then began to survey how bad his surroundings were.
It was gloomy and rotten, with dark red blood stains on the straw and walls.
Jiang Suizhou had heard that no one who entered this dungeon survived more than three days. After all these years, the only exception was Huo Wujiu. There was no one else except him.
Jiang Suizhou lowered his eyes and sighed.
He had no chance of becoming a special case, considering his feeble body, which struggled to walk a few steps.
At this point, on the other hand, he actually calmed down quite a bit and didn’t have much fear.
He thought he was afraid of death, but to his surprise, he wasn’t at all afraid even when one of his feet was already inside the ghost gate.  On the contrary, he felt glad that the things he was worrying about in the courtroom did not happen.
Huo Wujiu is safe. That’s good.
After all, he was just a sickly prince who was recorded in history with a few strokes, while Huo Huo Wujiu was a treasure treasured by historians.
After all
 he would rather be locked up than let Huo Huo Wujiu suffer the least bit.
He sighed.
It was just a pity, though.
It was a pity that perhaps in death, he would only be the one who knew his feelings.
He closed his eyes.
Time passed unknowingly, then disordered footsteps sounded outside the dungeon. He opened his eyes and realized that someone had come to open the cell door. Once the door was opened, before anyone else could enter, two young eunuchs hurriedly moved a chair into the cell, and then retreated.
He saw a black hem embroidered with a golden dragon.
It was the Hou Zhu.
He looked up and saw the bloated fat man wrapped in his imperial robes, stepping into the cell expressionlessly and sitting down on that chair. Many eunuchs and guards followed in, so for a while, the narrow cell bustled with activity.
However, even after everyone came in, Pang Shao’s figure was nowhere to be seen.
Jiang Suizhou looked at the Hou Zhu, and found that he was also looking at him.
For a spell, two pairs of eyes faced each other, and both exuded cool detachment.
The Hou Zhu leaned back in his chair.
“Someone,” he ordered lazily, “Hang him up first for me.”
Jiang Suizhou vaguely had an inkling.
From the Hou Zhu’s appearance, it was clear he was not here to interrogate him.
Rather, it was more like he had come to vent his anger.