The capital.
Northern Bureau prison, dim oil lamps.
After a clang, Xu Lai descended the stairs step by step.
Not a breath of wind in the prison—stuffy, damp, hot, with a smell of blood permeating the air, making one nauseous.
Xu Lai quickly took out a handkerchief to cover his nose and mouth.
“Lord Xu, watch your step.”
The jailer led the way, occasionally turning back to remind him. Soon they reached the innermost cell.
Xu Lai pulled out banknotes from his breast, and the jailer received them with a smile, stuffing them into his own breast while smoothly taking out the keys from his pocket and opening the cell door.
“My lord, speak freely. This humble one will guard the door for you.”
“Go!”
Xu Lai bent down to enter the cell and coughed forcefully several times.
Ji Lingchuan lay on his side on a torn straw mat. He lifted his eyelids and watched for quite a while before he could see clearly who had come.
Xu Lai frowned and walked over, crouching in front of Ji Lingchuan. After restraining himself several times, he finally lowered his handkerchief.
“Ji Lingchuan, I came to tell you something. Your youngest son…”
Ji Lingchuan’s eyes snapped wide open at the mention of his beloved youngest son.
Xu Lai smiled triumphantly to himself.
See? There’s no parent in this world who doesn’t love their own child.
“Your youngest son coughed up a large mouthful of blood an hour ago and is now unconscious.”
Ji Lingchuan felt his heart being cut by knives. He struggled to sit up, his foot chains and hand shackles clanging with grating sounds.
“What, what did you say?”
“A pampered young master who’s lived in luxury—how could he endure the hardships of prison, let alone with his illness.”
Xu Lai clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“Old Ji, speaking from the heart, we’ve spent a lifetime fighting each other, but in the end, isn’t it all for our children and grandchildren? For the white-haired to lose the black-haired before their time—it’s agonizing.”
Ji Lingchuan’s hands clenched into tight fists, his teeth grinding as he remained silent.
“You’re a smart man, and smart men should do smart things. Don’t walk a dead-end road. Think more about your children and grandchildren.”
“What exactly do you want?”
“I came to relay a message for someone.”
Xu Lai covered his nose with the handkerchief, but his voice came through very clearly.
“As long as you implicate the Zhang family, that person guarantees your son won’t die and that you, Ji Lingchuan, won’t die either!”
“Bah!”
A mouthful of bloody spit landed on Xu Lai.
Ji Lingchuan’s body trembled slightly, blue veins bulging on his forehead as he said: “You want me to betray my master? Dream on, you bastard!”
Xu Lai didn’t care in the slightest and actually smiled coldly.
“Old Ji, I’ll give you three days. Whenever you come around within these three days, you can find me. But once three days pass… don’t blame me, Xu Lai, for being ruthless and heartless.”
“What do you want to do?”
“To you, naturally I wouldn’t dare do anything.”
Xu Lai’s eyes revealed a vicious gleam.
“But to someone who’s already sick and about to see the King of Hell, if I want to do something, no one will be able to detect it, right!”
“You, you, you…”
“I’ll say it again—think more about your children and grandchildren. Don’t let the white-haired send off the black-haired.”
Xu Lai leaned closer, lowering his voice.
“Old Ji, you know me. I love to make trouble. I never let people die peacefully.”
“You vicious dog!”
Ji Lingchuan’s blood surged, and he spat out a mouthful of blood that sprayed right onto Xu Lai’s face.
Xu Lai slowly wiped away the blood with his handkerchief, then straightened up.
“Old Ji, the show has begun.”
…
Eastern Palace, Crown Prince’s residence.
In the western courtyard, Shen Chong knocked on the study door.
“Enter!”
Shen Chong pushed open the door and walked to the desk.
“Master, news just came from the Northern Bureau. A quarter-hour ago, Xu Lai secretly met with Ji Lingchuan.”
“Oh? What did he say?”
“Can’t find out. Ji Lingchuan was so enraged he coughed up a mouthful of blood.”
Zhao Yishi put down the brush in his hand and stood up from the chair, pacing to the window.
He had grown up at the Crown Prince and Emperor’s side. Born with an imperial aura, when he didn’t speak, his imposing presence bore down—not just on Shen Chong, but even his most favored close attendant Yan Xi dared not breathe heavily.
Zhao Yishi turned back and looked at Shen Chong for a moment. “How long have Fifth and Mingting been gone?”
“A full two and a half months.”
“Success or failure—they should return soon, shouldn’t they!”
Zhao Yishi paused. “Pass down the word—guard Ji Lingchuan well. He absolutely must not have any mishap.”
“Yes!”
Shen Chong withdrew.
Yan Xi saw that the Imperial Grandson’s right thumb joint had a bit of ink on it and quickly wrung out a cloth to wipe it.
Zhao Yishi waved away his hand and took the cloth himself, wiping it bit by bit.
Suddenly, he paused.
“With the case dragged out for two and a half months, why did the Prince of Han have Xu Lai go see Ji Lingchuan at this time?”
Yan Xi lowered his head, knowing the Imperial Grandson wasn’t asking him.
“Ji Lingchuan held out stubbornly for two and a half months, bearing it all himself.”
Zhao Yishi frowned lightly. “How much longer can he hold out? And if he can’t hold out, what will the consequences be?”
Yan Xi lowered his head even further.
“From the Ji family being raided to Ji Lingchuan being imprisoned, His Majesty hasn’t mentioned or asked about this matter at all…”
Zhao Yishi tossed the cloth into Yan Xi’s hands. “Why is that?”
Yan Xi held the cloth, his head nearly lowered to his chest.
…
The next day.
As dawn broke faintly, six swift horses departed from the station, heading straight for the capital.
May was a season of frequent rain. Except for the first day of clear weather, the remaining time was spent advancing through rain.
Everyone was covered in mud, at the end of their strength, sustained only by the ethereal thought that “the Ji family is in dire straits.”
When still several hundred li from the capital, the rain fell so heavily they couldn’t see the road ahead. Xie Zhifei and Yan Sanhe discussed and decided to find shelter until the rain lessened before continuing.
Suddenly, a horse charged toward them.
Zhu Qing, Li Buyan, and Huang Qi saw this person coming aggressively and grew secretly alert.
When the horse rushed close, all three breathed a long sigh of relief.
It was actually Ding Yi.
Ding Yi reined in his horse. After the horse turned in place, he waved at Xie Zhifei and galloped off again.
Xie Zhifei wiped the rainwater from his face and cracked his whip hard. “Follow him!”
They didn’t go far before Ding Yi turned from the main road onto a small path. After galloping for another half hour, they finally stopped before a temple.
Xie Zhifei looked up, his eyes immediately growing hot.
At the temple entrance, Elder Brother Xie Erli held a black oiled-paper umbrella, craning his neck to search for him among the horses and people.
When their eyes met, Xie Erli nearly shed tears.
This brat—how did he end up like this?
“Elder Brother!”
Xie Zhifei dismounted and walked toward Xie Erli.
Xie Erli couldn’t care that Third Brother was covered in mud and water. He raised the umbrella and stepped forward to embrace him, growling: “You still knew to come back!”
Xie Zhifei didn’t know what to say and could only stand there like a wooden pole.
Xie Erli released him after one embrace, his gaze catching sight of Pei Mingting half-dead and leaning on Huang Qi. He quickly called out: “Quick, quick, everyone get into the temple.”
At this moment, Yan Sanhe and Li Buyan approached. Xie Erli saw these two people soaked through, more bedraggled than drowned rats, and quickly said:
“Clothes and shoes are all in the side rooms. Hot water is also prepared. Young ladies, go change quickly, or you’ll catch cold.”
He picked up the umbrella from the ground and held it for them. “This journey must have been hard.”
Yan Sanhe wasn’t good at being warm or handling social situations. She took the umbrella and nodded forcefully.