Kindness to the enemy is cruelty to oneself.
To be honest, Liu Qi felt regretful from the moment he saw Duan Shen in prison.
When Ma Benliu was involved in smuggling salt, he only wanted to bring down Duan Yinbo. As for the other members of the Duan family, there is nothing to worry about.
Furthermore, he did not say that he pushed Duan Yinbo to death. No matter what happened to the Duan family, they would not have any deep hatred for him.
Not really.
Liu Qi underestimated the small role of the Duan family. It can also be said that he underestimated the dependence of the small role of the Duan family on power.
Although Duan Yinbo's life was saved, his power was lost. For the Duan family, this was simply more uncomfortable than killing them.
And this hatred naturally fell on Liu Qi.
Therefore, because of this incident, Liu Qi also understood that he should never take any chances with his enemies.
Either don’t do it, or do it absolutely! This is the law of survival in a court where the jungle prevails.
Liu Qi was slightly surprised when he saw Duan Shen.
He acted too calmly, as if he had already expected it.
"Hmph, I really didn't expect that this is the first time I've been a warden for so many years that I see someone walk out of the prison safely."
"Don't say anything anymore. If you want to kill or behead me, it's up to you."
Unexpectedly, this little guy turned out to be a tough guy.
Liu Qi felt very unhappy. With his indifferent attitude, if he simply killed him, it would be difficult to relieve the hatred in his heart.
"Duan Shen, do you think this king will let you die so easily?"
Listening to Liu Qi's threat, Duan Shen sneered without even frowning.
"I have been a warden for so many years. I have never seen any kind of torture. Come on, just go ahead and greet the workers."
Liu Qi smiled and nodded.
"Okay, come here, take him away for me."
Duan Shen thought that the prince was going to take him to prison to be tortured, but he didn't.
Full of doubts, within a short while, Duan Shen was taken to the compound of the original Duan family, which was also Duan Yinbo's former residence.
When the door opened, Duan Shen was stunned. He saw all the old and young of the Duan family kneeling in the courtyard, with soldiers in armor on both sides.
"Liu Qi, if you have the guts, come to me alone. It's labor that provoked you. What does it have to do with the rest of my Duan family?"
Duan Shen was really anxious. He didn't expect that Liu Qi would do such a wonderful job.
Liu Qi ignored him and walked straight to the Duan family.
As Liu Qi approached, the Duan family members began to tremble, and the children were also crying due to this depressing atmosphere.
"Let's put it this way, I have no hatred towards your Duan family. Duan Yinbo's dismissal was all because of the crime committed by Ma Benliu. It's just business."
"But I didn't expect that it would be him, this member of your Duan family, who would actually rely on his little power to take revenge on me. If things hadn't changed, I would have suffered from him."
"You think, should I let your Duan family go?"
When he said this, Liu Qi bowed and moved closer to the Duan family.
"Your Highness, please spare your life! Duan Shen made his own decision and has nothing to do with us!"
"Yes, Your Highness, you can do whatever you want with Duan Shen. From now on, we are willing to live in seclusion in the mountains and forests and never set foot in Kyoto again."
Liu Qi chuckled lightly and looked back at Duan Shen.
"You heard it, this is the Duan family that you protect, you are too intimidating to them!"
As the saying goes, murder kills the heart.
Liu Qi's words made Duan Shen's face no longer look as arrogant as before.
Gives a feeling of extreme disappointment.
But for Liu Qi, this was simply not enough.
"I'm sorry. Since you have done some things, you must pay the due price."
"I'm right, I'm right. Is there someone among you involved in Ma Benliu's smuggling of salt?"
"Also, while I was in prison, you guys met with Duan Shen several times..."
At this point, some people were already breaking out in cold sweat, and some even knelt forward while shouting.
"Your Highness, I did meet with Duan Qian, but I definitely didn't discuss anything about you, Your Highness."
Liu Qi narrowed his eyes.
"Oh? Really? But how did I hear that you asked someone to inquire about the situation in my East Palace?"
After hearing these words, the Duan family members who were still whining and begging became numb instantly. His mouth moved for a long time, but he couldn't say a word.
"Come here, kill all the people on this king's list!"
"Oh, by the way, before you die, I want to tell you that if it weren't for what Duan Shen did, you would never be where you are today."
To put it bluntly, your deaths are all because of Duan Shen.
No matter how much the Duan family members whined and howled for mercy, there was no mercy in Liu Qi's eyes.
When the first Duan family member fell to the ground, Duan Shen's face turned pale.
In just a moment, nearly ten people from the Duan family fell into a pool of blood.
When other people saw this scene, some were so frightened that they could not speak, some burst into tears, and some kept falling to the ground, banging their heads.
Regarding all this, Liu Qi seemed not to see it.
Do you want to say that everyone in the Duan family is wronged? Not entirely, but are they innocent?
After Zhang Dehai's investigation, it was found that the Duan family members made many small moves during their imprisonment.
You pity them today, but when you lose power one day, these people will not have any mercy on you.
At this time, there were only a few young people left in the Duan family, and the others were women, children and the elderly.
Liu Qi is cruel, but not to the point of being extremely cold-blooded.
"How about Duan Shen, are you satisfied with the result?"
"Liu Qi, kill me!"
Liu Qi shook his head and chuckled.
"No, no, no, you forgot what I told you, how could I let you die so easily?"
"Someone! Take him away!"
Duan Shen was very surprised. He didn't understand what Liu Qi was going to do.
But when he walked outside the courtyard and closed the door of the courtyard, Liu Qi's words made him collapse to the ground in an instant.
"Your Highness, what should we do with those people inside?"
"The Emperor has ordered that the Duan family and others are involved in smuggling salt, the Yi clan!"
The Yi clan, that is to say, everyone in this courtyard, will not be spared.
At this moment, Duan Shen felt how terrifying Liu Qi was.
The torture he inflicted on himself was simply more uncomfortable than having him cut into pieces by a thousand cuts.
"Your Highness, what about him?"
"Send him to the prison and tell the warden that he will be tortured, but don't let him die."
"Liu Qi, kill me! Kill me! Kill me! Hahaha, kill..."
In an instant, Duan Shen's spirit collapsed and he started talking like crazy.
Looking at his back being taken away, Liu Qi took a deep breath.
This small grudge was avenged, but the big grudge that put him in jail needed to be settled.
However, when Liu Qi went to Fuling Palace, Yang Mi's words made Liu Qi feel a deep sense of powerlessness.
