Chapter 598: Masterful Painting

In the evening, when Ning Chen was having dinner with the Ninth Princess and Yudie, Gu Yichun came to report that Cui Yukang had arrived.

"Ninglang, are you full? Do you want me to leave some food for you?"

Yudie asked subconsciously when she saw Ning Chen getting up to leave.

Ning Chen waved his hand, "No need to leave any for me, you guys eat!"

According to the rules, Yudie and Zisu were not allowed to be at the table due to their status.

But Ning Chen never regarded Yudie and Zisu as concubines.

The Ninth Princess got along well with them.

So, Ning Chen mentioned it and the Ninth Princess agreed.

Ning Chen and Gu Yichun came to the front hall.

In addition to Cui Yukang, there was a sack on the ground.

"I am here to see the prince!"

Ning Chen waved his hand and looked at the sack on the ground, "Is Li Gui in it?"

"Yes!"

"Let him out!"

Cui Yukang opened the sack and let out the terrified Li Gui.

Li Gui's hands and feet were bound and his mouth was blocked.

When Ning Chen saw what was in Li Gui's mouth, his mouth twitched.

What blocked Li Gui's mouth was a wooden ball with a rope on it, which could be tied behind his head.

He had seen this thing in some Japanese action movies.

Ning Chen signaled Cui Yukang to take the thing out of Li Gui's mouth.

After the thing was taken out, Ning Chen said lightly: "Li Gui, we meet again?"

Li Gui looked at Ning Chen, terrified.

"Your Majesty, spare me, Your Majesty, spare me... It's all because of the greed of the villain, Your Majesty, spare me..."

Ning Chen's mouth slightly raised, he hadn't asked anything yet.

Li Gui's family was poor, and he suddenly became rich. He must have received money from others. This is not difficult to guess.

"Li Gui, since I brought you here, it proves that I have almost grasped the situation... Tell me yourself, if you let me ask, then we will change places, such as the prison of the Ministry of Justice, or the prison of the Supervisory Department."

Li Gui was scared pale.

"I, I said... someone gave us money to let Zhang Huaicai die at the gate of the palace, and then we incited other candidates to prove that the prince was the murderer who killed people."

"But Wang Bo and Li Jue were too scared and didn't dare to stand up... I was also scared, so I said a few words and didn't dare to say anything else."

"Your Majesty, please spare my life, Your Majesty, please forgive me... I deserve to die, I deserve to die..."

Li Gui was so scared that he kowtowed and begged for mercy.

"Wang Bo, Li Jue, are you staying in the same inn?"

"Yes!"

Ning Chen looked at Cui Yukang.

Cui Yukang leaned over, "I understand!"

After that, he went to catch Wang Bo and Li Jue.

Ning Chen frowned, looked at Li Gui and asked, "Who is so capable? If he wants Zhang Huaicai to die, he must die."

Li Gui trembled and said, "Zhang Huaicai has an eighty-year-old mother and a wife and children. He has taken the exam six times in a row, but he has failed many times and has been in debt for a long time. This is his last chance... But there are many people with extensive knowledge and talents this time, and Zhang Huaicai is completely desperate."

"At this time, someone came to us and was willing to spend money to buy Zhang Huaicai's life... As long as Zhang Huaicai committed suicide in front of the palace, he would give his family two hundred taels of silver."

"Zhang Huaicai actually agreed."

Ning Chen sighed slightly. Zhang Huaicai may know that he has no hope of passing the imperial examination, so he exchanged his life for a sum of money for his family. It's pitiful and sad.

But two hundred taels of silver is not a small amount. Ordinary people can't earn so much in their lifetime.

Sometimes, in front of money, life is really not that important.

A penny can make a hero fall.

The gun in the hands of the hero can turn the rivers and seas upside down, but it can't stop the three words of hunger, cold and poverty.

Ning Chen said, "Did he get the silver?"

Li Gui hurriedly said, "He got 100 taels, and he entrusted the escort agency to send it back to his hometown... The remaining 100 taels, after he dies, the employer will send someone to deliver it to his family."

Gu Yichun couldn't help asking, "Isn't he worried that the employer will default on the debt after his death?"

Li Gui shook his head, "I don't know about this villain."

Ning Chen sighed, "He has no choice... Even if it's 100 taels, it's enough for his wife and children to have food and drink without worry. As for the remaining 100 taels, he can only bet on the other party's credibility and conscience."

Ning Chen looked at To Li Gui, "How much did you get?"

Li Gui said in a trembling voice: "We each got thirty taels, but we only got fifteen taels... The rest will be given after the matter is done."

Gu Yichun said sternly: "You are so bold, you dare to incite candidates and slander the prince for thirty taels of silver... Do you know that this is a capital crime?"

Li Gui was so scared that his face turned pale, trembling, and kowtowed, "I know I am wrong, I know I am wrong, please forgive me, my prince!"

Ning Chen was not surprised, let alone thirty taels, sometimes three taels of silver can cost a person's life.

"Li Gui, I want to ask you, who is the person who gave you the money?"

"I don't know him."

Ning Chen's face darkened, "Don't know him?"

Li Gui was almost scared to death, and said in horror: "I really don't know him, I only know his name is Zhang Xiang."

"Zhang Xiang?" Ning Chen thought about it and didn't know this person, "Do you still remember what he looks like?"

"I remember, but..."

"But what?"

Li Gui said in a trembling voice: "He was in disguise, I can see that his beard is fake, and the mole on his face is also fake."

Ning Chen thought for a while and said: "Gu Yichun, go call Yudie and ask her to bring a paintbrush."

"Yes!"

Gu Yichun turned and left.

Ning Chen looked at Li Gui and asked, "Can you tell where your employer's accent is?"

"Jing, Jingcheng accent."

"Sure?"

"The villain is sure."

Ning Chen's eyelids drooped, hiding the sharp look under his eyes.

Is there anyone in the capital who dares to go against him now? It's like the old man hanged himself because he thought his life was too long.

"Li Gui, you just said that there are many talented people taking part in the scientific examination this time... Are there any popular high school candidates?"

Li Gui said hurriedly: "Yes."

"Tell me a few words and let me listen."

As Li Guizheng said, Gu Yichun and Yudie came.

Li Gui's eyes widened when he saw Yudie.

Ning Chen saw it in his eyes and was not angry. Yudie was so beautiful and stunning... This was a normal reaction for Li Gui.

Ning Chen asked Li Gui to describe his employer, and Yudie drew it.

Yudie's painting skills are very good, and she finished the painting quickly.

After Li Gui confirmed, the painting was accurate.

Yudie said softly: "This person must be disguised."

"Huh?" Ning Chen looked at her in surprise, "How do you know?"

Yudie smiled slightly, "Did Ning Lang forget? The Nu family learned the art of disguise when they were in the Ghost Shadow Sect... This man's disguise art is very poor. Ning Lang looked at his beard and it clearly matched his face shape. Mismatch."

Ning Chen really forgot about Yudie learning the art of disguise at the Ghost Shadow Sect.

"Yudie, can you find a way to restore this person's true appearance?"

Yudie nodded, "You can give it a try."

Ning Chen was overjoyed, all his women were talented.

Yu Die is good at painting, Zi Su is good at medicine, the Empress is good at fighting, and the Ninth Princess is good at... well, just being pretty and cute is enough.

In a home, there must be a little waste.

But the Ninth Princess is good at sword dancing. Is this considered a skill? Besides, she is a princess, and this status alone can overwhelm everything else.