This expression of hers—how much it resembled those times years ago when she played and quarreled with him in mock anger!

But Yan Lin knew she was serious.

So he suddenly felt somewhat regretful. What a pity he would soon have to leave the capital—otherwise he truly wanted to know what kind of ability that Zhang Zhe possessed to have so utterly captivated his Ningning.

But he was probably a decent person, wasn’t he?

He raised his eyes to look at Zhou Yinzhi’s faint figure in the corridor on the other end of the prison, remained silent for a moment, and still said: “You should go.”

To actually sneak into a place like the imperial prison to visit a criminal who would soon be exiled could certainly be called extremely bold.

Jiang Xuening also knew that if she stayed too long, it would definitely put Zhou Yinzhi in a difficult position.

Though her heart held infinite melancholy and reluctance, she still rose, saying: “Then I’ll go.”

However, after walking out just a few steps and reaching the prison door, her footsteps couldn’t help but stop again.

Yan Lin looked toward her.

She gazed at him and smiled: “The sword you entrusted to me is still there. I couldn’t bring it in for you today, so I’ll keep it for the day you come to retrieve it.”

Yan Lin remembered the sword he had entrusted her to put away at that time. He also smiled and said: “It’s a promise then.”

Jiang Xuening said: “It’s a promise.”

Having said this, she finally turned to pull up her cloak again, wrapping herself up tightly once more, and walked toward Zhou Yinzhi.

Seeing her emerge from inside, Zhou Yinzhi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Without speaking, he only walked ahead of her, intending to silently lead her out from here.

The guards of the imperial prison, even after the heavy troops had been withdrawn, still appeared more stringent than ordinary prisons.

They had to pass through three checkpoints along the way. The first two were manageable—seeing it was Zhou Yinzhi, no one stopped them. However, just as they approached not far from the final checkpoint, noisy clamoring voices suddenly came from ahead!

“Which lords are you?”

“This is His Majesty’s personal decree, ordering that the exile punishment be carried out on the Yan clan today, departing for Huangzhou, and they must leave the capital region before New Year’s Eve. His Majesty said he doesn’t wish to see these people blocking his view and spoiling his mood on such fine days.”

“Yes, yes…”

…

Quite a few people had come. Just hearing the sound of armor and weapons clashing as they walked, one could tell they were all Imperial Guards who had come bearing the Emperor’s personal command.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yinzhi was shocked.

Jiang Xuening was also startled.

According to this dynasty’s laws, once criminals entered the imperial prison, visits were forbidden. Everyone who secretly came to visit relied on their own abilities, but if they ran into this group of Imperial Guards coming to take prisoners and were caught red-handed, things would become serious.

Implicating Zhou Yinzhi would be the lesser problem—it might even involve the Yongyi Marquis Estate!

Jiang Xuening looked at the road ahead and decisively lowered her voice: “First find me somewhere to hide.”

Hide?

But the imperial prison was only so big, and there were no duty rooms here, only cell after cell.

Cold sweat also appeared on Zhou Yinzhi’s forehead.

He first led Jiang Xuening to retreat, turned left into a long corridor flanked by prison cells, walked all the way to the very end, and discovered a cell that actually appeared clean and tidy, with a gap between the bed and the corner wall that could fit a person.

Zhou Yinzhi said: “I must trouble Miss to bear with this.”

But Jiang Xuening knew the situation was urgent. She quickly crouched down and hid in this corner, saying to Zhou Yinzhi: “No matter. I’ll hide for a while. You go see what’s happening outside first.”

Jiang Boyou had said that the exile wouldn’t happen until after the New Year at the earliest.

How could they be taking prisoners now just like that?

She was truly somewhat worried.

Zhou Yinzhi then steadied himself, straightened his robes, and walked out of this cell as if nothing was wrong. However, when he saw from afar that group of Imperial Guards who had come to take prisoners for exile, something flashed through his mind like lightning, and he remembered a very wrong detail: this cell deep in the imperial prison had its door open as if no one lived there, yet the bedding on that bed just now had been neatly folded…

The winter wind was cold, and two lanterns hung outside the prison, constantly swaying in the wind.

The Imperial Guards took the decree and brought people out from the prison. The most important prisoners were all pressed into prison carts, one after another, while other less important people were all locked with chains and hung behind the carts to walk.

In just over a month, Yan Mu looked much older.

His temples were white as if frosted, yet his expression was extremely tranquil.

The leader of the Imperial Guards was rather respectful toward him. Once everything was prepared, he even clasped his fists and said: “My Lord Marquis, we must depart now. The weather is cold and the wind harsh. We are only following orders—please bear with us.”

Yan Mu lightly hummed in acknowledgment.

Yan Lin was in the prison cart behind him, but he looked back worriedly toward the inside of the prison, silent.

The group set out in grand procession, yet all were very orderly without making too much noise.

The prison carts traveled along the streets.

The capital at midnight had already fallen into deep sleep. The common people in the marketplace didn’t know that the meritorious ministers and fine generals of the former Marquis Estate were passing before their windows on such a night, going to a desolate distant place.

In a dark corner of the street, a carriage stood quietly.

The horse let out a sneeze that emitted hot air.

Yan Mu was someone who had long been in the military and could be said to be extremely familiar with the sounds horses made. Suddenly hearing this insignificant sound, his eyelids jumped sharply. He opened his tightly closed eyelids and suddenly raised his head to look toward where the sound came from.

Then he saw that carriage.

And also saw the person sitting inside the carriage who was also looking this way.

The procession escorting the prison carts was still some distance from the carriage.

It was also so dark that Xie Wei shouldn’t have been able to see clearly.

However, in this instant, he happened to see Yan Mu’s suddenly bright eyes, that burning gaze—

“Hahahahaha…”

For some unknown reason, Yan Mu suddenly threw back his head and laughed heartily.

The laughter was full of satisfaction and relief.

The escorting soldiers were all startled by him but didn’t know the reason behind it.

The prison cart soon went far away.

The laughter also gradually could no longer be heard.

The capital’s layer upon layer of buildings rose up and concealed the prison carts’ traces. Only after the last few people wearing prisoner’s clothing in his line of sight also disappeared did Xie Wei finally slowly lower his eyelids.

Daiqin, Jianshu, and all stood beside the carriage.

Xie Wei quietly clenched his palm. He should have appeared to see him, but given his current circumstances and current status, such a decision would definitely not be a wise move for him.

After a long time, he finally raised his eyes again.

But he asked: “How are preparations on that side?”

Both Jianshu and Daiqin knew what he was asking about.

The reason the people of the Yongyi Marquis Estate had to be exiled to Huangzhou so urgently was not only because Emperor Shen Lang truly didn’t want the Marquis Estate’s people to be an eyesore under his nose, but more importantly because of the “luring the enemy into a trap” plan that Xie Wei had proposed in the imperial study.

The Imperial Guards guarding the prison had been withdrawn.

Now even the most important prisoner in the prison had been removed.

Those lurking in the shadows were eager to try, thinking they had encountered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and were preparing to make their move.

Jianshu said: “Just as you predicted, it will be tonight.”

Jiang Xuening crouched in that corner, her ears pricked to listen to the movements outside.

People came, people left.

But Zhou Yinzhi hadn’t returned for quite a while, which truly made her feel somewhat strange. She couldn’t help but cautiously poke her head out to look around.

When they came earlier, it had been so rushed that there was no time to look carefully.

Looking now, she discovered this cell was somewhat too tidy.

Though both the floor and walls were all blackish-gray, the bed before her eyes was arranged neatly and tidily. The folded quilt didn’t have even a single wrinkle visible, and there were also two blue-black outer robes carefully folded and placed on the quilt.

It seemed the person living here was someone who loved cleanliness.

Wait…

At this thought, Jiang Xuening’s head suddenly buzzed, and she immediately realized something was wrong: someone actually lived in this cell?!

Thinking this was quite serious.

Immediately after, more abnormalities surfaced—for instance, this cell was deep within the prison, and though it clearly looked like someone lived here, when Zhou Yinzhi had hurriedly brought her in, the cell door hadn’t been locked.

A strange, ominous premonition crept into her heart.

Jiang Xuening decisively decided to leave.

But the development of events was far faster than she thought, and far exceeded her expectations.

Almost at the same moment she lifted her skirt hem to stand, shouts of alarm and killing suddenly came from the prison entrance!

The jailers’ voices were extremely panicked.

“Who are you people? What are you here for?”

“Ah—”

“Prison break, prison break, someone’s breaking into the prison!!!”

The sound of close combat suddenly rang out sharply, transmitting from the entrance all the way to the depths of the prison.

Most of those imprisoned in this prison were utterly wicked, notorious bandits.

Hearing this commotion, then hearing the words “prison break,” whether they had been awake or had already fallen into deep sleep, they all perked up. The cell that had originally been silent as death suddenly seemed to transform into hell on earth. Everywhere were carnival-like calls and shouts. Before every cell door stood crazed figures—some disheveled and grimy, some in mad states—demons dancing in chaos!

Jiang Xuening’s heart went cold.

Only now did she remember that in her previous life, there had indeed been such a famous prison break incident in the capital. It was the beginning of the Heaven Teach rebel faction surfacing to cause chaos. Xiao Dingfei’s whereabouts had also been revealed because of this incident and he was later found.

But was it on this day?

No matter what, she had never imagined that coming this one time, she would happen to encounter this event!

This prison was full of vicious criminals everywhere. Once they were released, who knew what evil deeds they would commit.

If she were accidentally discovered…

Jiang Xuening’s scalp exploded. Her steps had already reached the cell door, but she didn’t know whether she should take this step, whether she should risk charging out from inside while the situation was chaotic.

Cheering sounds came from the entrance.

The criminals in the cells also began to make a commotion.

Someone used a blade to hack down the oil lamps embedded in the walls, and the corridor immediately darkened considerably.

Hurried footsteps actually came from along the corridor!

Jiang Xuening heard those footsteps seeming to come closer and closer. She immediately wanted to hide, but unexpectedly, just at the moment she turned around, that figure ahead came extremely fast, instantly entering the corner of her vision.

In that moment, her heartbeat suddenly stopped!

A blue-black coarse cloth robe that looked extremely ordinary, only a bit better than the other criminals imprisoned in this prison. However, the swaying lamplight couldn’t warm the coldness around him. Between his slender fingers, he actually held a long string of brass keys. He was frowning, and compared to his usual silence, at this moment on that thin face, there was even more of a fierce sternness as if facing a great enemy!

Zhang Zhe had absolutely never expected there would be someone in his cell.

The other party was already dumbstruck the instant they saw it was him.

He was even more stunned the instant he saw the other party. Immediately after, his eyes floated up with a rare thin anger. In his urgency, he didn’t control his tone: “Why are you here?!”

Jiang Xuening was tongue-tied, not knowing what to say.

Standing at the cell door, she couldn’t move a single step.

In her mind, only one thought flashed hazily past: Compared to why I’m here, isn’t it more worthy of doubt why you’re also here?

However, she couldn’t say anything, could only stare at him blankly.

Zhang Zhe only felt a fire in his heart rising up for no reason. Looking around at the surroundings, how could there be any place to shelter?

The Heaven Teach rebels had come to break into the prison, and he had even more important duties.

However, Jiang Xuening was a delicate woman, deeply trapped in such a dangerous situation. If he ignored her and didn’t care, who knew what would happen afterward?

Moreover…

How could he watch her fall into danger?

“Come in!” Zhang Zhe had no time to explain more. He directly pulled her, who hadn’t yet reacted, into the cell, then threw down the string of keys in his hand, grabbed one of the outer robes originally neatly folded on the bed, and said: “Take off your clothes.”

Jiang Xuening couldn’t believe what she’d heard.

She stared wide-eyed at Zhang Zhe, who was so close before her, standing there dumbly without moving.

But Zhang Zhe was annoyed that this usually quick-witted person seemed stupid now. Hearing the chaotic sounds outside gradually drawing near, he couldn’t care about much else. He himself reached out and quickly unfastened the cloak she wore outside, the robe worn outside, and directly put that deep blue coarse cloth robe meant for men on her outside, then tightened it at her slender waist.

Then there was her arranged hair.

Fortunately, since Jiang Xuening had come secretly at night, concealing it from others, she naturally couldn’t have dressed too elaborately. It was just a silk ribbon tying her hair behind her head. Using that ribbon, Zhang Zhe tied her hair into a man’s topknot and bound it up.

The young woman wearing his robe inevitably appeared somewhat large, the robe hanging very low, both hands tucked into the wide sleeves, making her appear even more slender and small.

Like an obedient little cat.

She blinked at Zhang Zhe, that face without powder or rouge, on such a chaotic and critical night, projecting a kind of incongruous stunning beauty and allure.

When Zhang Zhe lowered his hands, he saw this face, and also saw her excessively focused gaze as she looked at him.

Jiang Xuening wanted to ask what exactly was happening.

However, Zhang Zhe, gazing at her, in the next moment turned away his gaze. He actually directly wiped a handful of black ash from the wall. When his hand reached before her, he paused slightly, his lips pressed tight, said “Pardon me,” then wiped it toward her face!

Jiang Xuening’s words that hadn’t yet left her mouth were suddenly all swallowed back: “…”

Zhang Zhe’s palm was rough.

When the black ash was applied to her face, she could clearly feel the calluses on his fingertips and palm sliding across her tender skin, yet what they left behind was a dry yet warm tremor.

In just a moment, Jiang Xuening’s beautiful face was smeared dirty all over, at least concealing several degrees of her bright coloring. Aside from being somewhat thin and small, she actually looked like a fellow prisoner in the jail.

And those Heaven Teach rebels who had charged in to break into the prison also quickly arrived.

They actually seemed to know the location and came directly toward this cell.

There were quite a few of them, led by several criminals still wearing prisoner’s clothing. They held blades and swords in their hands, their faces all covered with black cloth, revealing only a pair of eyes, yet all carried several degrees of murderous intent. Seeing Zhang Zhe as if seeing one of their own, they directly asked: “Where is Lord Gongyi?”

Zhang Zhe said: “I went to check earlier. Lord Gongyi is not in the imperial prison. I’m afraid the court has set a trap! There’s no time to delay. We can’t worry about more now—we must withdraw first!”

Everyone was immediately shocked: “What!”

The Heaven Teach side had all come to rescue Gongyi Cheng and incidentally rescue more Heaven Teach members imprisoned in the jail. Now hearing this undercover agent who directly answered to Gongyi Cheng say that Gongyi Cheng wasn’t in the prison, they immediately understood the seriousness of the matter. Not daring to hesitate for even a moment, they prepared to withdraw.

However, the leader’s gaze shifted and he saw Jiang Xuening standing diagonally behind Zhang Zhe.

His brow furrowed.

He said somewhat doubtfully: “Lord Zhang, who is this?”

Zhang Zhe stood before Jiang Xuening, directly grasping her hand, and said without a ripple: “My person.”

The gazes of the others all flickered over Jiang Xuening’s face.

But this moment wasn’t the time for deep inquiry either. The leader didn’t ask more, directly blew a loud whistle, then waved his hand: “We withdraw!”

Heaven Teach members near and far heard this whistle sound and all retreated.

Some cell doors had already been hacked open.

The criminals originally imprisoned within also surged out like a tide. All the people converged together, entirely passing through this already chaotic prison, charging toward the entrance!

Jiang Xuening was in this chaotic crowd with a feeling of being swept along involuntarily.

However, ahead of her, there was always a hand tightly gripping her hand.

His back was silent and forbearing. He didn’t turn back, only pulled her, protecting her behind himself, never letting go, leading her forward all the way.

Heaven must have heard her heart’s voice, right?

To actually let her meet him here.

The surroundings were extremely clamorous.

Yet that corner of her heart suddenly became quiet, so quiet that Jiang Xuening could hear her own once again violently beating heart.

What kind of danger would they encounter ahead?

She didn’t know.

Nor did she want to know.

At this moment, this back had already filled her vision, occupied her entire heart. Even if going toward mountains of blades and seas of fire, to the ends of heaven and earth, she was willing, without regret.