His appearance broke the deadlock.

"Zhuge Liang, are you doing something?"

"Prime Minister, my subordinates are here to plead for Mr. Jia."

Seeing this, Xi Yu sneered.

"Okay, Jia Xu, you have already arranged for Zhuge Liang to plead for you." A trace of anger and disappointment were revealed in his eyes.

Zhuge Liang smiled slightly and did not deny Xi Yu's accusations.

He whispered: "Although Jia Xu was wrong, it was hard to count the things that were chaotic after drinking. Besides, he has made a lot of contributions to you, and he can be said to be your right-hand man. Besides, the shopkeeper is just a small person. Therefore, I beg the master to let you go."

After hearing Zhuge Liang's words, Xi Yu frowned slightly.

Xi Yu looked at Zhuge Liang with a firm look and said seriously: "Human life is at stake. In my eyes, there is no difference between a small person and a big person. Although Jia Xu has made contributions, he must accept legal sanctions if he commits a crime. If everyone uses contributions as an excuse to commit, then how can the national law exist? If you plead with mercy, even you will be punished!"

Zhuge Liang felt a little guilty on his face after hearing Xi Yu's words.

"Zhuge Liang, go to the guest room in the east wing to find your brother Zhuge Jin to reminisce about the past. This matter has nothing to do with you."

When Zhuge Liang learned that his brother Zhuge Jin had arrived and was waiting in the guest room, his mood suddenly became excited.

"What? My brother is here"?

He couldn't wait to walk towards the guest room, his steps were light and rapid.

However, before leaving, he couldn't help but look back at Jia Xu.

His eyes were filled with apology and helplessness, as if he was saying: "I have tried my best and I am really powerless."

Jia Xu looked at Zhuge Liang's departure back and felt mixed feelings.

He knew that he had made a big mistake this time, and he also understood that Xi Yu's decision was unchangeable.

In Jiangnan, the soldiers sent by Xi Yu arrived at Sun Ce’s place like birds.

After Sun Ce received the news that his mother had arrived in Youzhou safely, a huge rock in his heart finally landed.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

Although my mother experienced many dangers along the way, as long as she was safe in the end, it was the greatest blessing.

Sun Ce immediately ordered someone to treat the soldier who was passing the message to express his gratitude.

Sun Ce came to his mother's room alone, stood quietly in front of the Buddha statue, and prayed devoutly.

He whispered, "Thank you for your blessing, my mother will be safe and sound."

He believed that her mother's safe return must be the result of her praying to God and Buddha on weekdays.

The room was filled with a faint smell of sandalwood, and the sunlight shone softly on Sun Ce's body through the window.

Zhuge Liang hurried to the guest room where Zhuge Jin was, opened the door, and a fragrance of books came to his face.

Zhuge Jin was sitting quietly by the window, reading the books in his hand intently.

The guest room is filled with various books and a few calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls, adding a bit of elegance.

When Zhuge Jin heard the knock on the door, he raised his head and showed joy in his eyes.

He walked quickly to the door, and the two brothers hugged each other tightly.

"Brother, long time no see!" Zhuge Liang said excitedly.

"Yes, brother, you are finally here." Zhuge Jin's eyes flashed with tears.

The two walked into the guest room, sat on a chair, and started talking.

The sunlight outside the window shines on them, warm and quiet.

Wang Liang returned to the county yard with a gloomy face. Seeing this, several clever yamen runners hurriedly came to him.

"Sir, you seem to have something to worry about." A yamen runner spoke carefully.

Wang Liang sighed slightly and did not answer.

Another yamen runner continued, "Sir, don't worry about Jia Xu's case. It's not a joke to offend the Prime Minister casually. No matter how good the Prime Minister is, he still has his own selfish intentions."

Wang Liang's brows frowned even more, and the worries in his heart became heavier.

Just as Wang Liang was pondering, a soldier from Xi Yu rushed over and conveyed the order.

"Mr. Wang, Prime Minister ordered you to lead the yamen runners to the Xifu to capture Jia Xu."

Wang Liang's mood was as relaxed and happy as the clouds opened and he suddenly became relaxed and happy.

A bright smile appeared on his face, as if the burden on his heart instantly dissipated.

He led two yamen runners and walked towards the opera house with firm steps.

Along the way, two yamen runners whispered as if they were in a panic.

"Is there no unspeakable purpose for the Prime Minister to do this? Will he really hand over Jia Xu obediently?" a yamen runner asked suspiciously.

"Maybe, he wanted to find an excuse to excuse Jia Xu? He asked us to arrest people, maybe it was just a gesture." Another yamen runner agreed, his face full of worries.

When Wang Liang heard their conversation, he couldn't help frowning and interrupted: "Don't think of people so badly, don't judge a gentleman with a villain's heart!"

On the streets, people were coming and going, traffic was hustle and bustle, and noise came one after another.

The opera house.

A trace of doubt suddenly appeared in Xi Yu's heart.

He began to think about Zhuge Liang's plea for Jia Xu.

The first two reasons are reasonable, but when he heard Zhuge Liang say that because the shopkeeper was a humble little person, even if Jia Xu killed him, Xi Yu frowned tightly.

"How could Zhuge Liang say such stupid words? Don't he know that such remarks will make me very angry?"

Xi Yu thought to himself.

"He should be clear that I have always valued fairness and justice and will never ignore a person's life because of his low status."

However, Xi Yu's thoughts suddenly became clear.

He realized that Zhuge Liang might have said this on purpose.

He is testing his bottom line or trying to trigger his emotional reaction.

Xi Yu's eyes became sharper.

He began to reexamine the ins and outs of this matter, thinking about Zhuge Liang's real intention to do so.

A sense of surprise surged in Xi Yu's heart, and he instantly understood Zhuge Liang's intention.

As Zhuge Liang's words echoed in his ears, Xi Yu realized that his murderous intent towards Jia Xu was further aroused.

"So that's it. The more Zhuge Liang said this, the more I wanted to kill Jia Xu. Could it be that he was looking forward to Jia Xu's death?"

Xi Yu thought about it secretly.

"Zhuge Liang is extremely talented, and Jia Xu is also very intelligent. Perhaps it is precisely because of this that Zhuge Liang has resentment towards Jia Xu."

Alert and doubt flashed in Xi Yu's eyes.

He began to carefully examine the situation in front of him.

He felt a chill of extreme thought rise from his backbone, as if he was trapped in an elaborate conspiracy.

A complex feeling surged in Xi Yu's heart, and he couldn't help but feel deeply pity for Jia Xu.

"Jia Xu is so pitiful. How could he naively think that Zhuge Liang would sincerely plead for him?"

Xi Yu sighed secretly.

"He obviously did not realize Zhuge Liang's hatred for him. At this point, Jia Xu's wisdom seems to be slightly inferior."

A hint of helplessness and regret appeared in Xi Yu's eyes.

Wang Liang and the two yamen runners stepped into the gate of the opera house with excitement and honor.

The yamen runners were brisk in their steps and their faces were filled with uncontrollable smiles, because they never thought they would be able to get in touch with Xi Yu so close.

They saw that the courtyard of the Xi Mansion was elegant and quiet, with green trees and colorful flowers.

The path is covered with stone slabs, and on both sides are neatly trimmed flowers and plants, emitting a burst of fragrance.

They soon arrived in front of Xi Yu's study.

The door of the study room was open, and Jia Xu was still kneeling there, lowering his head, motionless.

Wang Liang and the two yamen runners respectfully saluted Xi Yu.

Xi Yu sat on the Taishi chair in the study, his serious expression making people shudder.

Xi Yu looked at Wang Liang and said, "I have interrogated Jia Xu and he has admitted his crime. You should take him to prison now. Be sure to carefully examine him and find out all the details and then be executed."

Wang Liang replied respectfully: "As for orders, Prime Minister. I will definitely handle it impartially."

After saying that, Wang Liang and two yamen runners took Jia Xu out of the study.

Their footsteps echoed in the corridor, as if foreshadowed the arrival of a tragedy.
To be continued...