Chapter 66: Heart of Stone

Zhou Wuji’s worries were not without reason.
Right now, Gao Changsheng was riding a wave of immense influence at court, drawing the gaze of countless watchful eyes.
Even out here in distant Liangzhou, there were bound to be numerous spies planted by the Crown Prince and the Empress.
They were all eagerly waiting to pin a fabricated crime on Gao Changsheng to ruin and destroy him completely!

"Your Excellency worries too much."
"Since this prince has set foot in Liangzhou, I care little for such idle gossip."
"Besides, I trust that His Majesty is fully capable of his own judgment."
"Could it be that Your Excellency believes the Divine Martial Emperor lacks such wisdom?"

Gao Changsheng chuckled softly, deliberately laying a verbal trap for Zhou Wuji.
Hearing this, Zhou Wuji instantly panicked.
"This official would never dare!"
"It's just that..."

Before he could finish, he caught the chilling, razor-sharp gaze in Gao Changsheng’s eyes.
It was a look as if he were about to devour a person alive.
"Lord Zhou, the military situation on the northern frontier is currently at a critical juncture."
"As the Prefect of Liangzhou, you ought to know the severe consequences of a breach on the northern defense line."
"My purpose in coming here is to mobilize every available force to resist the foreign invaders."
"If Your Excellency has any reservations, you need only send a memorial to the court to impeach me."
"Since Lord Zhou came from Jinyong City to Liangzhou, you should know that I have long since placed life and death out of my consideration."
"As long as the northern campaign ends in victory, what does this life of mine even matter!"

Gao Changsheng stood at the entrance of the prefectural office and spoke in a resounding voice.
Though these words appeared to be addressed to Zhou Wuji, they were actually meant for the ears of the hidden spies.
Among those spies were men of the Crown Prince, as well as agents of the Empress.
Yet, lurking among them were also operatives of the Qingwu Guard.
No matter who at court attempted to splash dirty water on Gao Changsheng, as long as the Divine Martial Emperor disapproved, not a single soul could touch him.
This was the source of Gao Changsheng’s unshakable confidence!

"Ah!"
"Your Highness speaks with absolute wisdom."
"If the northern defense line collapses, this prefecture of Liangzhou will hold no future for me either."
"Since it has come to this, this official shall take the risk alongside Your Highness!"

Abandoning his previous cautious demeanor, Zhou Wuji abruptly transformed into a loyal subject.
Seeing this, Gao Changsheng could not help but sigh inwardly at how endlessly calculating officials at court could be.
Presumably, Zhou Wuji had recalled the omnipresent shadow of the Qingwu Guard.
Coupled with Gao Changsheng’s status as a prince of the imperial bloodline, playing the role of a loyal minister carried a high probability of reaping rewards in the end.
This Zhou Wuji was quite the gambler!

"Then I ask Lord Zhou to lead the way."
With a smile, Gao Changsheng nodded.
Following that, the entourage entered the dungeon.
Guided by Zhou Wuji, they located the cell where Shen Cuo and Xiahou Ji were being held.
To Gao Changsheng’s surprise, the two centurion prisoners were actually locked in the same cell.
That made things rather awkward!

"Shen Cuo, Xiahou Ji."
"His Highness the Sixth Prince has come to see you in person!"
Zhou Wuji stated in a deep voice.

As soon as these words fell, the previously quiet and chilly dungeon instantly erupted into a commotion.
"Ha!"
"In the end, the Gao imperial clan still refuses to let us go!"
"So be it! The emperor has beheaded tens of thousands; a few dozen more heads make little difference!"

For over half a month, these private soldiers of the Duke of Liang had been living in constant terror.
They had long since lost any reason to cling to life.
Therefore, Gao Changsheng’s arrival was tantamount to a death sentence in their eyes.

"Silence, all of you!"
"Men, clap irons on Shen Cuo and Xiahou Ji."

At Zhou Wuji’s command, several jailers stepped into the cell carrying heavy chains.
With swift movements, they pinned Shen Cuo and Xiahou Ji firmly against the stone walls.
Thus restrained, they no longer posed any threat to Gao Changsheng.

"Lord Zhou, you are no longer needed here. You may withdraw."
"Oh, and a man named Han Cong will arrive shortly. Let him in."
Gao Changsheng instructed.

Hearing this, Zhou Wuji did not dare to linger and promptly led the yamen staff out of the dungeon.
With outsiders gone, Gao Changsheng stepped into the cell.
He then seated himself directly in front of Shen Cuo.
It was the familiar, oppressive sensation.
Aside from dampness, there was only bone-chilling cold.
A hellish place like a dungeon was truly no fit environment for living beings!

"I do not have time to negotiate with you."
"In a single sentence: become my personal guards, and I will let you walk out of this dungeon."
Gao Changsheng said calmly.

Shen Cuo and Xiahou Ji exchanged a glance, both of their eyes flashing with astonishment.
"The Sixth Prince, is it?"
"Many of our brothers have family and friends who perished at the hands of your father, yet you ask the two of us to acknowledge you as our master."
"Is the Gao imperial family always this arrogant?"
Shen Cuo sneered.

"I have already stated the benefits."
"Now, let us discuss the consequences of refusal."
Gao Changsheng maintained his calm expression.

Consequences?
Shen Cuo and Xiahou Ji laughed.
This time, the two men made no attempt to conceal their mockery of Gao Changsheng.
"What consequences could there be?"
"Nothing more than having our heads chopped off."
"We have been waiting for this moment for over half a month. We beg Your Highness the Sixth Prince to grant us a swift release!"
Shen Cuo shouted aloud.

At his roar, the dungeon once again surged into an uproar.
"Execution? How dreadfully boring that would be."
"Shen Cuo, you are a man of deep loyalty, willing to cast away your life for your brothers."
"Yet, aside from loyalty, is there nothing in this world more precious than righteousness?"

Gao Changsheng raised his eyes to look at Shen Cuo, his gaze revealing an absolute indifference to human life.
And the moment Shen Cuo met that gaze, an involuntary shiver ran down his spine.
"What are you planning to do!"
Shen Cuo thrashed like a madman, violently tugging at the iron chains in a futile attempt to break free.

"Shen Cuo, native of White Village."
"You share a son and a daughter with your wife, née Zhao, and you still have an elderly mother living."
Gao Changsheng recited softly.

At those words, Shen Cuo was driven nearly to the brink of insanity.
Yet Gao Changsheng had anticipated such a reaction.
Even so, this was not the outcome he wished to see.

"My Lord, I have brought them here!"
At that moment, Han Cong’s voice echoed into the cell.
Everyone turned toward the entrance.
There stood Han Cong, accompanied by a woman who was holding the hands of a young boy and a little girl.
Fear was written plainly across all three of their faces.
And upon catching sight of Shen Cuo chained to the wall, the boy and girl burst into loud tears.

"Ah!"
Gao Changsheng’s brows knitted tightly as he involuntarily averted his gaze.
In the end, he found himself incapable of maintaining a heart of stone.
If there had been any other choice, he would never have stooped to such despicable methods!

"Shen Cuo!"
"I do not have the leisure to spar with you."
"Agree to my terms, and I will let them go!"
Gao Changsheng roared.

In that instant, he no longer held any illusions of subduing Shen Cuo's loyalty.
Even if Shen Cuo remained obstinate, Gao Changsheng would never lay a single finger on the man’s wife and children.
Therefore, the fury burning within him stemmed purely from a bitter sense of frustration.

"I have failed my brothers!"
Tears of remorse streamed down Shen Cuo’s face.
Beside him, however, Xiahou Ji showed no trace of blame toward his comrade.
"This is not your fault, brother."
"If anyone is to be blamed, blame this surnamed Gao bastard!"
Xiahou Ji glared viciously at Gao Changsheng.

"Insolent!"
With a fierce bellow, Shi Meng lunged forward and grabbed Xiahou Ji by the throat.
*Crack! Crack!*
The sound of bones threatening to fracture rang out.
Xiahou Ji’s face turned violently crimson!

"Shi Meng, hold your manners!"
"How can you treat the future head of the Xiahou clan in such a manner?"