0p0 Chapter 1433 A Dead End
Chapter 1433 A Dead End
Her words hit the nail on the head, and Liu Chengze's face paled.
His fists clenched unconsciously, but he still tried to defend himself: "I was just desperate and wandering around the embankment. How could I have known that you would pass by here? The startled horse was an accident. I just happened to be there."
He deliberately softened his voice, trying to evoke Zhan Miao's compassion, his eyes still showing a hint of innocence.
Zhan Miao lowered his eyes and chuckled softly, then raised his hand and pointed to the willow grove by the embankment, his tone even more sarcastic.
She said coldly, "When the horse was startled just now, although I was flustered, I clearly saw two dark figures flash past in the willow grove. Before the wild horse broke free of its reins, I saw the servant leading the horse secretly stuff something into its nose, and then pretend to stop it without using any real strength. Young Master Liu, this city embankment is a major road in the capital, and the security is usually very strict. How could a mad horse suddenly appear and only come towards my carriage?"
These details were all deliberately noticed by Zhan Miao amidst the panic of the startled horse.
She was always alert, and the moment Liu Chengze suddenly rushed out from the side, she already understood everything.
Her father, Zhan Yanping, taught her to read people's hearts, to distinguish truth from falsehood, and to remain calm and observant in the face of adversity. Those words were already etched in her heart.
When she first met Liu Chengze, she was momentarily taken aback, but she quickly calmed down and carefully went through the whole story, only to find that there were flaws everywhere.
A thin layer of sweat appeared on Liu Chengze's forehead, and his back was already soaked with cold sweat. He did not expect that Zhan Miao, who seemed so simple in the past, would be so meticulous and notice even these subtle details. He secretly thought that something was wrong, but he still refused to give in.
He even raised his voice, with a hint of pleading: "Miss Zhan must have seen wrong. Those were just passersby, and the servant lost his composure in his panic! If I really had a plan, why would I risk getting injured to save you? Is the wound on my shoulder fake?"
As he spoke, he tried to raise his hand to pull open the shirt on his shoulder to prove his injury, looking anxious and aggrieved.
At this point, the onlookers couldn't bear to watch any longer and began to sympathize with Liu Chengze.
Some even shouted, "Miss Zhan, how could you repay kindness with enmity? Young Master Liu risked his life to save you. Even if you don't want to be grateful, you shouldn't speak ill of him!"
Zhan Miao's cold gaze swept over, and the loudest person immediately shrank into the crowd.
Zhan Miao ignored him and instead looked at Liu Chengze's shoulder, whose gaze was sharp as a sword: "Young Master Liu's injury looks frightening, but it is actually just a flesh wound. The location was chosen so cleverly that it will not cause serious injury and will also win people's sympathy. You really put a lot of thought into it."
She paused for a moment and then said, "Your so-called desperate attempt to control the horse is nothing more than using clever techniques to restrain it."
Having practiced riding since childhood, she immediately saw through the trick: "You appear to be locked in a stalemate with the wild horse, but in reality, you are constantly guiding its movements, making the scene seem extremely dangerous while ensuring that you don't actually get hurt!"
She suddenly shouted sharply, "If you really wanted to subdue it, with your skills, why did you wait until I was almost trampled by the horse's hooves before making your move? You just wanted to appear at the most dangerous moment so that I would remember your life-saving grace."
His words were sharp and incisive, completely exposing Liu Chengze's scheming.
Liu Chengze's face turned pale and then red, and he unconsciously increased the pressure on his wound with his fingers, causing him to gasp in pain. He could no longer maintain his aggrieved yet heroic appearance, and the panic in his eyes could no longer be concealed.
He knew that this play was probably over, but he was still unwilling to give up and tried to make one last attempt.
His voice was urgent and pleading: "Miss Zhan, I really didn't scheme against you! The Liu family's affairs were all my father and elder brother's idea. I never participated in the slightest. I just wanted to live! I saved you. I only ask that you remember this kindness and spare my life. I will leave the capital immediately and will never implicate the Zhan family!"
As he spoke, he disregarded Zhu'er's attempts to stop him and tried to grab Zhan Miao's sleeve, hoping to move her with his pitiful and pathetic appearance.
With quick reflexes, Zhu'er immediately stepped forward to block Zhan Miao, her eyebrows furrowed as she looked at him warily: "Young Master Liu, please have some self-respect! You are a wanted criminal by the imperial court, how dare you approach my young lady! Don't be so presumptuous!"
Zhan Miao took a step back, avoiding his touch, and the last trace of complexity in her eyes faded away, leaving only a coldness.
Zhan Miao's voice turned colder, each word clear and distinct, "Young Master Liu, you plotted against the runaway horse, risking my life in an attempt to curry favor with me through a fake act of saving my life. You even wanted to use me as a hiding place to implicate the entire Zhan family. Do you think I still have any feelings for you?"
She raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping over the direction of Liu Lin, her tone icy: "The people you placed in Liu Lin are probably waiting to see me soften towards you, so they can help you get away, right? Liu Chengze, you underestimate me, Zhan Miao, and the Zhan family too much."
Upon hearing this, Liu Chengze panicked completely. He hadn't expected Zhan Miao to not only see through his scheme but also discover the assassins he had hidden in the willow grove.
He suddenly looked up at the direction of Liu Lin, his eyes filled with fear, and a chill ran down his spine.
Zhan Miao took in his panic, a mocking smile playing on her lips: "Do you think my father, who has been a powerful figure in the court for so many years, wouldn't have taught me how to judge people? Do you think the daughter of the Zhan family would be a pushover? Liu Chengze, your self-inflicted injury act was terrible."
She paused, then called out to the coachman outside the carriage, "Han Qing, go to the Dali Temple immediately to report that Liu Chengze, a wanted criminal, has appeared here. Tell them to come and arrest him as soon as possible."
"Yes, Miss!" the coachman replied, quickly mounting his horse and galloping off ahead.
Seeing this, Liu Chengze knew that the situation was hopeless. Gone was his previous weakness. A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes, and he tried to pounce on Zhan Miao to take her hostage in a final struggle.
"Zhan Miao, you're going to refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit! Since you won't let me go, then don't blame me for being impolite!" His eyes were full of malice.
Zhu'er was prepared and immediately drew the short dagger from her waist to protect Zhan Miao. Zhan Miao was not weak either; he dodged to the side and kicked Liu Chengze hard in the back of the knee.
Liu Chengze, who already had a shoulder injury and was unsteady, was caught off guard by the kick and fell heavily to his knees. He grimaced in pain and could not get up.
"Liu Chengze, you're already at your wit's end, why bother making any more futile struggles?" Zhan Miao looked down at him, her eyes full of disdain.
She spoke with hatred: "Your Liu family framed my father, attempting to overthrow the court, and now you're plotting against me. Every single one of these crimes is a serious offense. Even if I release you today, you will not escape the capital, nor will you escape the punishment of the law."
Liu Chengze knelt on the ground, looking at Zhan Miao's cold and aloof eyes, knowing that he had lost completely, utterly and utterly.