"I am justice itself..." When Duke Tang uttered these words, his tone was casual, but to Zhao Douan's ears, they distinctly showed the overbearing authority of an experienced border official and battle-hardened "nobleman."
So aggressive? Not giving any face to Cao Mao, who's also a duke?
Could the two have a grudge? Zhao Douan was stunned.
Of course, he wouldn't be so arrogant as to think that such a noble duke would offend another to please him, all due to a conflict involving his daughter...
So, it could only an that the two must have had their problems in the past.
"Duke Tang..." Cao Kedi's face changed, but this ti he dared not show his anger, his hand, which had been resting on the hilt of his sword, had long since dropped.
Zhao Douan's persona was naturally arrogant and overbearing, he did not care about verbally offending a duke; after all, he followed the "lone official" path.
But Cao Kedi did not have the courage to tear his face off with Duke Tang directly.
"Lord Zhao, haha, you go ahead and inspect the prison first. I'd like to see who dares to disregard the law and obstruct," said Duke Tang calmly, resembling a wealthy elder.
His tone carried a powerful confidence.
Zhao Douan hesitated for a mont, but nodded, picked up the food and drink, and stepped towards the inner part of the prison.
This ti Cao Kedi was silent as a rock, no longer obstructing.
...
Zhao Douan was familiar with the Imprisonnt, having been a frequent visitor several tis.
Upon entry, he was imdiately greeted by the jailer, who, smiling obsequiously, led the way.
"My lord, please."
As a serious offender, Lang Shiba was kept in solitary confinent deep within the prison. When Zhao Douan passed through the dim corridor and arrived at the entrance of a secluded cell,
He saw, by the pale light filtering through the ventilation hole of the cell, a shabby figure, sitting cross-legged on the cold ground, silently staring at the wall in a daze.
Only upon hearing the footsteps did Lang Shiba co back to his senses, awkwardly twisting his head. Underneath the ssy black hair was a worn, expressionless face.
Upon recognizing the visitor, a glimr of light appeared in his pupils, utterly surprised: "Mr. Zhao?"
"Open the cell; I want to speak with him alone," said Zhao Douan calmly.
The jailer responded imdiately, not daring to refuse, quickly unlocking the cell, then bowing out.
Even if such an action already violated the regulations, he didn't care at all.
After the jailer left, Zhao Douan carrying a jug and a paper-wrapped package, entered the cell and surveyed the area. Finding no bed, he simply sat down on the ground.
The prison cell was very cold in the depths of winter, especially without light, the cold seeped dampness.
Fortunately, the physique from the Divine Chapter Realm was enough to withstand such bone-chilling cold.
"Ji Yue ca to the governnt office to find , she told you were taken away."
Zhao Douan set down the jug and cracked open the clay seal. The mist from his breath turned into a wisp of white vapor:
"This godforsaken place really isn't fit for humans, it's too cold. Care to warm yourself a bit?"
The drinking Lang Shiba's eyes brightened, and without politeness, he grabbed the jug with his hands, shackled by special anti-magic chains, tilted it back, and took a large gulp. Only then did a pleasant grunt roll out of his throat:
"Good wine."
Zhao Douan unwrapped the paper package and said:
"I made inquiries and learned that you were imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's prison, so I ca to see you and find out what happened."
Lang Shiba, looking a decade older than his actual age due to his weathered appearance, sat with the jug in his lap, seemingly calm.
He grabbed a piece of half-cold at and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing vigorously as if he laughed:
"I did so things in the past, now they've co to light. I never expected that you would co, and even bring wine and at, I am deeply grateful."
He was very calm, brushing over what he had done, with no intention of providing a detailed explanation.
Nor was he in a state of desperation, trying to grab at straws and plead for rescue; appearing quite undignified.
He didn't even show the slightest hint of asking for help, as if he had known for many years that this day would co.
Or perhaps he had resigned himself, thinking that begging was futile.
But Zhao Douan felt strangely that, perhaps, the core reason was that the swordsman before him had long been resigned to death.
Zhao Douan was silent, watching Lang Shiba eat with one hand and occasionally sip his wine with the other.
After a while, he suddenly said:
"I heard it was Duke An, Cao Mao, who arrested you, charging you with the murder of many comrades in the military years ago. Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
Lang Shiba's hand, once again reaching for the at, suddenly paused, and then resud its natural movent:
"What he said is correct."
Zhao Douan frowned and said:
"If that's the case, with the cris you've committed, there's no hope of escaping doom, only the certainty of an imdiate execution."
Lang Shiba remained unruffled, even managing a smile:
"With this parting drink sent by you, my lord, I'd have no regrets in death."
Zhao Douan pursed his lips and said:
"I heard Duke Cao has been searching for you for many years, and this ti, despite angering His Majesty, he is determined to kill you because when you caused chaos in the military, Duke Cao's son arrested you, and not only did you resist, you even killed him. The Duke, tasked with garrison duty, thus suffered the agony of losing his son..."
"Bang!" Lang Shiba's smile abruptly vanished, and he slamd the jug onto the ground.
At this mont, the air around this Northern swordsman seed to grow heavier, veins on his neck bulged, his eyes reddened, and two streams of alcohol-laden breath jetted out: "He deserved to die!!"
Such a vehent reaction was unexpected.
"Why?" Zhao Douan stared at him, "The duke's son was enforcing the law impartially, what fault was there in that?"
At that mont, Lang Shiba appeared to recall a buried segnt of his past, and spat out his words with emotional scorn:
"Impartially enforcing the law? Arresting ? Bullshit! I marched into his military tent and chopped off his dog head! It was that old dog Cao Mao who sent his troops to kill , and now he's painted as pure as snow!"
Zhao Douan's heart stirred and he said:
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