Two days later, the men sent to Qingcheng returned, bringing all materials concerning Li Keji as well as portraits of all relevant people in the area. Stone Buddha immediately recognized that Ye Zhiqiu, who claimed to be Lady Ye’s cousin and had been living in the Li household, teaching and managing Li Keji, was Iron Flute Autumn. On the second day of the fourth month, the Hongwu Emperor personally interrogated Li Keji in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, but the result was temporary imprisonment pending further trial—what the Imperial Guard called “hanging him up.”

The Imperial Guard’s prison held all criminals tried by imperial decree, called the “imperial prison.” When the Imperial Guard tried cases by imperial order, they naturally used torture without restraint, so whether high officials or common people, once they entered the imperial prison, barely one in ten survived.

Although Li Keji received special care from Shen Guangli out of respect for the Immortal Mountains of the Sea and was not tortured, he still had to wear shackles and chains according to regulations and was confined alone in a narrow cell.

Unexpectedly, apart from the jailer who brought meals, the first person he saw after imprisonment was the young captain Meng Jianqing from Shen Guangli’s side.

Meng Jianqing sat down across from him and said with a smile: “I know Master Li must be very worried about your family, so I came specially to tell you that His Majesty, because those family members knew nothing of the situation, has already had the Imperial Guard release them. The old servant Wan An and your book boy Bao Yan will remain outside to look after you, while the tenant farmer couple who brought you to the capital by boat will rush back to report the capital’s situation to your mother. If you have a family letter, they can take it back.”

Li Keji was startled. Since he had been imprisoned in the imperial prison, this matter would certainly be recorded in the court gazette, and by now it had probably spread throughout Qingcheng. Not knowing the details, his mother at home must be extremely anxious. He really should write a letter home. But what should he write in such a letter? Everything was still unclear—he couldn’t rashly speculate about the Hongwu Emperor’s thoughts to comfort his mother, yet the true situation would only make her more anxious.

After a long pause, he shook his head: “No need.”

Meng Jianqing watched him and said, “In my opinion, you should still write a family letter, at least to let your mother know you are currently safe. Moreover, there are too many rumors outside. With this family letter, Master Tie would also know the true situation and be able to respond accordingly.”

Li Keji suddenly understood in his heart. This letter would be written to Master Tie rather than to his mother. This was also Meng Jianqing’s true purpose in coming.

Meng Jianqing smiled as he looked at him.

Li Keji was not unaware of the subtleties involved. During the court trial, the Hongwu Emperor bore him no ill will—the key issue was that Iron Flute Autumn’s wild arrogance had made the Emperor’s anger difficult to resolve. A grudge of ten or twenty years was not easily forgotten or dissolved.

Li Keji remained silent for a moment, then finally said: “I still won’t write a letter. The current situation—letting my mother and Master Tie know would serve no purpose and would only disturb their minds.”

Meng Jianqing paused before saying: “If you ever want to write a family letter, just have the jailer report it, and I’ll arrange for reliable people to deliver it.”

Meng Jianqing took his leave.

Li Keji watched him go. Was this visit Meng Jianqing’s idea, or was it at the behest of the Hongwu Emperor or Shen Guangli?

Li Keji immediately dismissed his first guess. Given the Hongwu Emperor’s temperament, even if he wanted Iron Flute Autumn to personally come and plead, he wouldn’t hint so clearly through a mere captain, lest it appear he was threatening Iron Flute Autumn and reveal his narrow-mindedness.

As for Shen Guangli, if he had such thoughts, he could easily come himself. Moreover, Shen Guangli seemed to be the type of person who couldn’t get very interested in anything, unlikely to take such an active approach.

Could this be entirely Meng Jianqing’s idea? What purpose could a mere captain have for doing this?

Meng Jianqing soon returned, and the person following him was Wen Ruhai. Previously, Wen Ruhai had also come to visit, but was turned away each time. It seemed the situation had now become clear, so visits were permitted.

Wen Ruhai carefully sat on the edge of the rickety prison bed that looked ready to collapse at any moment. He looked Li Keji up and down, shaking his head with a smile: “Truly, ‘you can’t judge a person by appearance’! You know, I never dreamed you had such impressive backing! Hey, the day you were invited to the Imperial Guard, a betting pool opened at the Imperial Academy—betting on whether you could get out, whether you’d be carried out, or walk out. I placed heavy bets on you walking out, so don’t let me lose so much I can’t even afford a welcome-back banquet!”

Li Keji truly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

While Wen Ruhai talked at length, Meng Jianqing stood silently outside the iron bars. As soon as the half-hour was up, he immediately knocked on the bars and half-invited, half-dragged the reluctant Wen Ruhai away.

As they walked through the long, silent corridor leaving the prison, Wen Ruhai said: “Captain Meng, honestly, I didn’t expect you would dare let me see Li Keji. I’m quite self-aware—someone like me doesn’t have that kind of influence. You wouldn’t have some ulterior motive, would you?”

Meng Jianqing glanced at him: “What do you think?”

Wen Ruhai smiled bitterly: “I guess you want to ask why I latched onto Li Keji from the moment he arrived in Yingtian, right?”

Meng Jianqing smiled slightly.

Wen Ruhai’s description was apt. Initially, it was indeed he who had tried every means to befriend Li Keji.

Wen Ruhai gazed at the distant sky and said with a sigh: “Before Li Keji came to Yingtian, I had already seen a copy of his painting of Monk Haitong holding his eyes, which he painted in Leshan. Though it was only a copy, it could still make one feel an indescribable shock. That’s something you people wouldn’t understand. When I met Li Keji himself, I became even more certain of my judgment. Heaven gave me talent precisely to appreciate and cherish the beautiful things in this world—how could I miss such a wonderful person and such wonderful paintings when they were right before me?”

Meng Jianqing remained silent. He had once secretly entered Wen Ruhai’s study and examined all the paintings Li Keji had given him. He indeed couldn’t feel the “shock” Wen Ruhai spoke of. However, when he first unrolled those scrolls, he did sense a flowing rhythm and vitality permeating the paintings that made him able to see those images again whenever he closed his eyes, even now.

Wen Ruhai turned to look at him.

The exit at the end of the corridor was already in sight.

Meng Jianqing stopped: “Someone is waiting for you outside the exit. Just follow him out.”

Wen Ruhai cupped his hands in salute and said with a smile: “Thank you for your trouble, Captain Meng! Many thanks!”

He departed leisurely, leaving Meng Jianqing behind, thoughtfully watching his retreating figure.