Yunyi nodded silently. After she changed clothes and lay down to rest, Ruyi and the others extinguished the lamp on the table and withdrew. Yunyi lay in bed with chaotic thoughts, thinking of Wu Laosan one moment, then Meixue and Mother Empress the next, finally falling into a confused sleep around the third watch.
The next day, everyone in the residence learned about Li Chengzong’s situation and came to visit. Upon discovering that Li Chengzong truly couldn’t hear any sounds, they all sighed, though only they themselves knew how much of that sighing was genuine and how much was false.
Li Jiancheng gathered all the servants in the residence together and had Qiulin identify them, but there was no such Ayue among them. Afterwards, following Qiulin’s description, they drew her appearance and posted it throughout Chang’an City. Several days later, they finally had a small lead. Someone recognized her as living in a small alley on West Street, where quite a few people had lived. For some unknown reason, they all suddenly moved away about ten days ago, leaving no one behind.
Li Jiancheng sent people to search that house, finding only some leftover old household items with nothing that provided any clues. Where Ayue had moved to, no one knew, and the matter reached another deadlock.
While Jirong was deeply saddened by Li Chengzong’s deafness, Li Chengdao, who had been sent to Madam Fang’s side, cried night after night and developed a high fever due to suddenly being separated from Zheng Shi who had cared for him since infancy. This made everyone in Madam Fang’s quarters frantic and completely sleepless.
At this time, Li Yuan also followed Li Jiancheng’s request and ordered someone to present a list of all prisoners in the jail for his review. Anyone who wasn’t guilty of the most heinous crimes would be released.
When he saw one particular name, Li Yuan frowned. Li Jing… Li Jing… this name seemed very familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere. After pondering for a while, he finally remembered. Right, this person was Han Qinhu’s nephew, serving as Deputy Governor in Mayi County under Wang Rengong. How did he end up in Chang’an and imprisoned for committing crimes?
Li Shimin was beside him. Seeing that Li Yuan hadn’t put pen to paper for a long time, he asked: “Father, what’s wrong?”
Li Yuan set down his brush and said: “Do you remember this person Li Jing?”
Li Shimin had an excellent memory. Upon hearing this name, he remembered: “I remember him. When I was fighting the Turks in Mayi, I had dealings with him. He’s talented. I originally wanted to recruit him, but when I went back to find him, I discovered he had disappeared without a trace, so I had to give up.” Speaking of this, he asked curiously: “Why does Father suddenly ask about this person?”
Li Yuan tapped the册子 filled with prisoners’ names: “Look, he’s right here.”
Li Shimin leaned over to look and indeed saw the two characters “Li Jing” written there. He was also puzzled: “Logically speaking, he shouldn’t appear in Chang’an. Could it be someone with the same name?”
“Summon him here and we’ll know after questioning.” With that, Li Yuan said to Zhangsun Wuji beside him: “Go to the prison and bring someone named Li Jing here.” Zhangsun Wuji was precisely Zhangsun Shi’s elder brother. After Li Yuan raised his army, he also came to seek refuge and served under Li Shimin.
This trip took over an hour. When he returned, a middle-aged man followed behind him. The man had a clean, pale face with heroic features, though he looked somewhat haggard.
Upon seeing the newcomer’s appearance clearly, Li Shimin immediately said in surprise: “Yaoshi, it’s really you.” This person was indeed the Mayi Deputy Governor he knew, Li Jing, who had later disappeared without a trace.
Li Jing snorted coldly without speaking. Li Yuan looked him over and said: “For what crime were you imprisoned?”
Li Jing stared at him and said coldly: “I committed no crime.”
Li Yuan became even more puzzled upon hearing this: “If that’s the case, why are you wearing prisoner’s clothes and locked in the jail?”
“Because of you!” At this moment, Li Jing’s eyes were filled with deep hatred: “What a pity that Heaven doesn’t help me, Li Jing, and instead made possible the success of you, this traitorous subject. Truly blind!”
Li Yuan never expected Li Jing to have such an attitude and was stunned for a moment. After coming to his senses, his face also turned cold as he shouted: “I treated you courteously in consideration of you being Han Qinhu’s nephew, yet how dare you be so arrogant and rude? What’s the reason for this?”
“Reason?” Li Jing sneered: “What qualification does a rebel like you have to speak of reason?” Before Li Yuan could get angry, he continued: “You want to know why I’m here? Fine, I’ll tell you!”
At that time, Li Jing, serving as Deputy Governor in Mayi, had inadvertently learned that Li Yuan was secretly recruiting soldiers in Taiyuan, planning to raise an army in rebellion. Being wholeheartedly loyal to the Sui Dynasty, he naturally despised Li Yuan’s actions and decided to go to Jiangdu to inform Yang Guang.
But he was a court official in territory under Li Yuan’s jurisdiction. Going to Jiangdu was easier said than done. He feared that as soon as he made a move, Li Yuan would hear the news and have him captured. After much thought, he finally came up with a clever plan: disguise himself as a prisoner and mix in with the prisoners being escorted to Jiangdu. This way, he could justifiably go to Jiangdu.
This had originally been a good plan, but unfortunately, human calculations cannot match Heaven’s plans. When their group reached Chang’an, Guanzhong was already in great chaos, roads were blocked and they couldn’t proceed. Their group was imprisoned on the spot. Not long after, Li Yuan raised his army in Taiyuan and quickly captured Chang’an City, forcing Li Jing to stand here.
Upon hearing his words, Li Yuan immediately broke into a cold sweat. Fortunately, Guanzhong was in chaos and they couldn’t proceed, while his own actions were also quite swift. Otherwise, if he had delayed any longer, he might have died at the hands of this inconspicuous Li Jing.
After his fear subsided, he was also quite angry. He slammed the table and stood up, glaring at Li Jing: “In my life, I hate informants most of all, and you’ve committed exactly this taboo. Li Jing, you’re seeking your own death!” With that, he shouted: “Someone come! Drag this man away and behead him!”
Li Jing showed no fear but instead laughed heartily: “Li Yuan, if you have the ability, go ahead and sit on that throne in Daxing Hall. But I’ll wait for you, this rebel, on the road to the underworld to see how you’re cast down to the eighteenth level of hell to suffer the torment of red lotus karmic fire!”
These words were undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire, making Li Yuan even more furious: “Drag him away!”
“Father, please wait!” Li Shimin finally found a chance to interject, cupping his hands: “Please listen to what your son has to say.”
Li Yuan said with icy eyes: “I know you value his talent, but unfortunately this person is two-faced and cannot be used!”
“Li Jing is now in our hands. Father can kill him anytime. After Father hears your son’s words, it won’t be too late to kill him.” Seeing Li Shimin repeatedly plead, Li Yuan reluctantly agreed: “Take him out first.”
After Li Jing was escorted out, Li Yuan said coldly: “What do you want to say?”
Li Shimin’s gaze was as clear as a mountain spring: “Your son believes that Li Jing cannot be killed!”
Li Yuan was still in the heat of anger and immediately said upon hearing this: “Ridiculous! Is there anyone in this world I cannot kill?” This wasn’t Li Yuan being arrogant – given his current situation, let alone Li Jing, even if he wanted to kill Yang You, what would the world dare to do about it?