Song Zhi didn’t blame him, which instead made Old Qiao feel even more guilty.

Old Qiao grabbed Song Zhi’s hand and said, “Song Zhi, I know you’re a good person, which is why you don’t blame me, but I caused you to sit in prison for so long—I’ve truly wronged you.”

“Please don’t say that…”

“How about this—after I get out, I’ll definitely treat you to sweet wine every day.”

Uh!

Song Zhi had never liked eating sweet things.

Too much made him feel queasy, and he would vomit.

So he really couldn’t accept this kindness, because Old Qiao was indeed a man of his word, and when the time came, he would definitely send bowl after bowl of sweet wine soup his way every day.

Song Zhi quickly said, “No need, no need.”

“Yes, yes, you need it.”

The two pushed back and forth, until even the jailer was speechless. He stepped forward to pull them apart, saying, “That’s enough, you two. Do you think this is a teahouse? Still chatting away—this is a prison, a place for holding criminals.”

He reminded them.

Old Qiao quickly shrank to the side.

Song Zhi also walked a few steps to the side.

The jailer patted Song Zhi, “Alright, hurry up and leave. Don’t stay here anymore.”

“Thank you, Officer.”

“You should thank the heavens instead. The heavens won’t let you die—you have great fortune.”

“But I don’t believe in such things.”

“Alright, alright, stop talking nonsense and get out quickly.”

The jailer pushed him out.

Then he locked Old Qiao inside.

Old Qiao sighed and accepted his fate.

The jailer said to him, “You stay inside obediently. The lord has ordered that you be kept here for seven days, then after taking thirty strokes of the rod, you can leave.”

Old Qiao asked pitifully, “Then… can I not be beaten?”

“You can.”

“Really?”

“If you don’t want to be beaten, then go to the execution platform instead.” The jailer threw out the words mercilessly.

Old Qiao’s liver trembled, and he immediately walked to the innermost part of the cell, saying as he went, “Never mind then, I’d rather be beaten.”

Having said that, he plopped down on the straw, not at all particular like Zhang Xiaobai.

Thus, the jailer urged Song Zhi, who had already come out of the cell, “Go on, Young Master Song. This place—it’s best to come here less often in the future.”

“Officer, could you give me a little more time?” Song Zhi said softly.

“What do you want to do?”

“I want to say a few words to Young Master Zhang.”

The jailer looked at Zhang Xiaobai, who was gripping the wooden post and staring eagerly at Song Zhi, thought for a moment, then agreed, saying, “Then hurry up.”

“Thank you, Officer.” Song Zhi walked in front of Zhang Xiaobai and said to him, “Young Master Zhang, I’m leaving first. Remember to eat well in prison. You didn’t eat at noon or in the afternoon today—don’t starve yourself. Your body is most important, and the prison has heavy dampness, so it’s easy to catch a cold. Also, remember to drink more water—it’s good for your throat. After all, you sing opera, and if something goes wrong with your throat, that would be a big problem.”

He gave instructions one by one.

Zhang Xiaobai did listen, but still looked at him with a face full of resentment.

Song Zhi continued, “Young Master Zhang, rest assured, if you didn’t kill anyone, you definitely won’t have any problems.”

“Go away.”

“Young Master Zhang…”

“It’s all because of you. If it weren’t for you, so many things wouldn’t have happened, and I wouldn’t have been locked up. You’re really a pest.” Zhang Xiaobai was angry inside and wished he could break through the wooden post in front of him and give Song Zhi a good beating.

Song Zhi also felt very guilty and lowered his eyes, “I’m truly sorry. After I get out, I’ll definitely find a way to save you.”

Oh!

Zhang Xiaobai’s eyes immediately brightened, and he said, “You said it—you must find a way.”

“I, Song Zhi, keep my word and will definitely not deceive you.” Thus, Zhang Xiaobai looked at him as if seeing a family member, tightly gripping his sleeve and saying, “Good, then I’ll wait for you to save me. Although I dislike you, we’ve at least been cellmates for a day—share blessings and bear hardships together. After you get out, you must pull me out too. I don’t want to die, and I don’t want to stay in this prison—I’m starting to stink.”

“Alright.” Song Zhi agreed very firmly. Actually, Song Zhi was very clear in his heart that although Zhang Xiaobai was currently the biggest suspect, after spending this day together, he felt Zhang Xiaobai was quite an interesting person. He was sharp-tongued but soft-hearted, and didn’t have any bad intentions. He spoke directly and had no schemes at all. Whether doing things or speaking, he carried a sort of foolishness!

Such a person couldn’t possibly kill someone!

Moreover, he was someone who loved cleanliness very much. If even a bit of dirt got on his hands, he would cry out to heaven and earth for ages. To expect him to endure this germaphobia to kill someone, and then strip the flesh and skin from the corpse—that was simply impossible.

So Song Zhi believed him.

Believed he hadn’t killed anyone!

After Song Zhi left the prison cell, Zhang Xiaobai still looked at him very reluctantly.

Having been locked up together for a day, they had naturally developed some affection.

Old Qiao sat across from him, looked at the reluctant Zhang Xiaobai, and asked, “Young Master Zhang, could it be that you really did kill Young Master Wang?”

When Zhang Xiaobai heard this, he immediately became angry, “If I, Zhang Xiaobai, really killed someone, the first person I’d kill would be you, old fellow.”

“Why are you so angry?”

“Mind your own business. Just wait to be beaten.”

“If I’m beaten, I’m beaten. I accept it, after all, I wronged Song Zhi.”

“Hmph!” Zhang Xiaobai paid him no more attention.

He sat back in his original spot.

Having changed cellmates, he really wasn’t used to it.

Moreover, that Old Qiao wasn’t as pleasant to look at as Song Zhi.

Zhang Xiaobai really missed today.

He also missed Song Zhi a little.

Thinking of this, he looked up at the window above his head and muttered, “Brother Song, oh Brother Song, you must come save me! This life of mine, I’m entrusting to you.”

He patted his own thigh.

He placed all his hopes on Song Zhi.

…

When Song Zhi came out of the prison, the sky was already very dark.

He stood outside the prison for a long time…

Looking at the road ahead, feeling very lost.

Not knowing what he should do.

How to save Zhang Xiaobai?

How to clear his name?

The jailer guarding the prison saw him standing in place for a long time and couldn’t help asking, “Young Master Song, you’re not reluctant to leave, are you?”

He immediately came to his senses and said, “No, I’m thinking about something.”

“You’re already free—why aren’t you leaving quickly?”

“Leave? Leave to where?”

“Wherever you want to go—what’s it to me? Just don’t block the doorway.”

“Oh!” He responded, then left.

The two jailers at the door were completely dumbfounded!

One scratched his head and said to the other, “Do you think that Young Master Song has a problem?”

“What problem?”

“I don’t know, but I think he has a problem.” The two looked at Song Zhi’s retreating figure and both wiped away sweat!