HXC Chapter32

The light from the vast sky couldn’t penetrate the heavy walls of the imperial prison.

 

In this human hell, the air was thick with a fishy smell, and agonizing screams were constant. Black rats with long tails scurried across the damp floor, leaping into a puddle of half-dried blood. Startled by the approaching voices and footsteps, they vanished into a pile of straw.

 

“Lord Shen, we’re almost there.” The jailer fawned over Shen Yanqing, bowing as he led the way. “Please be careful, the ground is filthy…”

 

A prisoner groaned in pain, and the jailer’s face immediately changed. He roared, “What are you wailing about? If you dare disturb the noble gentleman, I’ll seal your rotten mouth with paste.”

 

Deep within the prison, a high-profile criminal was held. Dressed in a thin white robe with his hair half-down, he had his back to the cell door. Even surrounded by filth, his back was as straight as bamboo, like a cleansing wind sweeping through the darkness.

 

The jailer used a large bunch of keys to open the lock. “Lord Shen, please, take your time.”

 

Shen Yanqing stooped slightly to enter the foul-smelling cell. He stood still, gazing at the figure, and called out, “Lord Ji.”

 

Ji Jue slowly turned to face the newcomer.

 

They hadn’t seen each other in nearly ten days. Shen Yanqing didn’t look as high-spirited as Ji Jue had imagined. Though impeccably dressed in his court robes, his lips were pale, as if he had been through a serious illness and had come despite his weak state.

 

Yet Ji Jue felt no curiosity about Shen Yanqing’s recent state, nor did he care to learn why he had personally come to the prison. He simply asked about the person he cared about most: “Is Zhen Zhen doing well?”

 

Shen Yanqing’s eyes flickered, as if he was trying his best to suppress something. He said in a cold voice, “Everything is as it was.” He paused, then continued, “Your grand plan has failed. Jiang Yunyu has already returned to the northern desert.”

 

This finally caused a shift in Ji Jue’s expression. He pondered, “Zhen Zhen has always listened to me the most. I’m afraid you held him back and wouldn’t let him go, didn’t you?”

 

Shen Yanqing’s brows furrowed.

 

Despite being in prison, Ji Jue remained as arrogant as ever. He let out a light laugh and asked, “Has Lord Shen come to blame me?”

 

Shen Yanqing suppressed his displeasure and took a palm-sized wooden box from his sleeve, tossing it to Ji Jue. Ji Jue raised his hand and caught it.

 

“Grand Tutor Zhang will be returning to the capital soon. The deposed Crown Prince entrusted him in a letter to beg His Majesty to pardon you.”

 

Grand Tutor Zhang was nearly eighty years old, he was a man of great learning and talent. He was not only the deposed crown prince’s tutor but also the emperor’s master. Seven years ago, he retired to his hometown and hadn’t returned to the capital since.

 

A few days earlier, Shen Yanqing had bribed a food attendant from Chengqian Palace and acquired two handwritten letters from the deposed crown prince.

 

One was given to the Third Prince, and the other was sent by urgent courier to the Grand Tutor’s residence. After much deliberation, Grand Tutor Zhang had already set off for the capital. On the day that Ji Zhen left the mansion, Shen Yanqing had originally planned to bring him some milk curds and tell him about this matter, but things didn’t go as he had expected.

 

Ji Jue opened the wooden box. Inside was a pill.

 

“Grand Tutor Zhang was His Majesty’s first teacher. If this proceeds smoothly, it could spare you the death penalty and reduce your sentence to exile three thousand miles away,” Shen Yanqing said flatly. “The road of exile is bitter and perilous. If Lord Ji cannot endure it, the item in this box can help you find release.”

 

When he said the word “release,” Shen Yanqing deliberately emphasized it.

 

Ji Jue clutched the wooden box. “Is Lord Shen not afraid that by helping me, you’ll end up in the same predicament as me?”

 

“In the capital, it’s hard to distinguish between friends and foe. Today’s friend is tomorrow’s foe, it’s commonplace. Only those with something to gain can survive,” Shen Yanqing looked up and said lightly, “If one day there is gain, then there will be gain every day, year after year, without end. When I finally reach a point where all my resources are exhausted, that will simply be my fate.”

 

How did it come to be that Shen Yanqing, who always planned every move and thought ten steps ahead, would now disregard his own future?

 

Ji Jue looked at Shen Yanqing in the dim light and said in a low voice, “I only ask that Zhen Zhen be safe.”

 

“Lord Ji, there is no need to worry. That is my duty,” Shen Yanqing stepped toward the door. When he reached it, he slightly turned his head and added in a chilling tone, “However, I must advise you, Ji Zhen thinks of you as his elder brother. An elder brother is like a father. I only hope that from now on, Lord Ji will not have any other thoughts.”

 

Ji Jue’s face stiffened, crushed by the words “an elder brother is like a father.” He was left speechless.

 

He watched as Shen Yanqing strode away. After a long while, in the desolate prison, he weakly closed his eyes, locking away an unspeakable, wild thought.

 

A sliver of light from a crack in the wall fell on his pale knuckles. He gripped this single ray of light, illuminating the hope in his heart.

 

Zhen Zhen, we will be reunited eventually.

 

—

 

The main residence of the Shen Mansion was eerily silent.

 

After washing up, Ji Zhen changed into clean clothes and sat in front of the bronze mirror. His black hair was half-wet, and beads of water dripped from the ends, wetting the floor. The underfloor heating steamed the water, creating rising plumes of heat.

 

Ji An, who had been tied up for several days, was released from the woodshed last night. If it weren’t for Yu He secretly feeding him, he would have surely lost half his life.

 

Ji Zhen’s deep bond with his servant made him furious, and he wanted to seek an explanation from Shen Yanqing. When he learned that Shen Yanqing had left early that morning, his anger had nowhere to go. He didn’t want to vent on the servants of the Shen Mansion and was utterly frustrated. In the end, he simply sent Ji An back to rest, not letting him serve him.

 

He sat there pouting as a maid dried his damp hair. Looking up, he noticed an attendant about to pour fresh water into the tub and asked, puzzled, “I already washed.”

 

Ji Zhen had tossed and turned all night before finally crying himself to sleep, only to have one nightmare after another. One moment, it was Shen Yanqing’s cruel expression; the next, it was Jiang Yunyu’s distant silhouette; then, it was the scene of his elder brother being tortured in prison. As soon as he woke up, attendants were bringing in pot after pot of hot water to his room, under the pretense of “washing away the dust of travel.”

 

Perhaps Shen Yanqing had given instructions, because no matter what he asked, no one would answer him.

 

Ji Zhen had indeed been through three days of exposure to the elements and was a bit disheveled, but he had already washed up. Why would he need to wash again?

 

As expected, the attendant ignored him. After pouring the water, she bowed and withdrew.

 

Just as Ji Zhen was about to ask where Shen Yanqing had gone, the very person he was looking for appeared in the room. He slowly stood up, nervously watching Shen Yanqing by the door.

 

“Everyone, retreat to the courtyard. No one is to enter without my command.”

 

Ji Zhen’s words of accusation were already on the tip of his tongue, but seeing the cold, focused look in Shen Yanqing’s eyes, he tightened his grip on the wooden comb and became tongue-tied.

 

Shen Yanqing approached him and compelled him to remain still. Pressing down on his shoulders, he made him settle back onto the stool. Remembering he needed to get justice for his elder brother, he bravely called out, “Shen Yanqing…”

 

The wooden comb was taken from his hand. Through the polished bronze mirror, Ji Zhen watched the man behind him. Shen Yanqing was actually combing his hair and said calmly, “I just went to see Ji Jue.”

 

Ji Zhen’s eyes lit up. He immediately turned and looked up at Shen Yanqing, asking urgently, “How is my elder brother?”

 

The two brothers’ words of concern were identical.

 

Shen Yanqing used two fingers to turn Ji Zhen’s face back to the mirror. The truth was on the tip of his tongue, but it came out as, “Not very well.”

 

Ji Zhen’s eyes flickered. “Did they torture my elder brother?”

 

Shen Yanqing gently combed Ji Zhen’s hair. “What do you think?”

 

Ji Zhen’s heart was burning with anxiety, and he didn’t want to play guessing games anymore. He pulled away from Shen Yanqing’s hand, stood up abruptly, and raised his voice anxiously, “Will you or won’t you take me to see my elder brother? If you won’t, then let me leave the mansion. I’ll find a way myself…”

 

Shen Yanqing placed the wooden comb on the mirror stand with a ‘thud.’ Ji Zhen flinched slightly, realizing that he no longer had the confidence to challenge the other party. He bit his lip and softened his tone. “I’m just really worried about my elder brother. I didn’t mean to yell at you…”

 

Ji Zhen had just washed, and he was still damp. Shen Yanqing’s gaze fell on his loose collar, and the red and blue bruises on his skin uncontrollably appeared before his eyes once more.

 

Since bringing Ji Zhen back from the outskirts, Ji Zhen had only spoken of Jiang Yunyu or Ji Jue or of the bothersome topic of divorce. He hadn’t mentioned a single word about his mistake of secretly leaving the mansion to elope, nor did he show any guilt for his entanglement with someone else.

 

He was unrepentant.

 

Shen Yanqing lowered his eyes. “Are you truly willing to die with Ji Jue?”

 

Ji Zhen was stunned. Though he was afraid of death, he still nodded with reddened eyes.

 

“Good.” Shen Yanqing paced forward, walked to the table, sat down, then taking out a small porcelain bottle. “In that case, drink this poisoned wine. One life for another. I will save Ji Jue for you.”

 

Upon hearing this, Ji Zhen trembled uncontrollably. After all this, Shen Yanqing still wanted his life.

 

The deity he had believed in was originally a murderous fiend, repeatedly coming for his soul.

 

“What’s wrong? Were you just talking?” Shen Yanqing said in a deep voice as he placed the porcelain bottle on the table. “It seems you’re not as devoted to Ji Jue as you claim.”

 

Ji Zhen stepped forward hesitantly, his throat tight as if he had swallowed a needle. “If I die, will you truly save my elder brother?”

 

He came before Shen Yanqing, his eyes filled with tears, but he wasn’t crying. He just stared intently at the porcelain bottle.

 

He had heard that poisoned wine was extremely potent and that those who drank it would suffer from a burning, corroding agony. Shen Yanqing hated him to this extent, wanting him to die a tortured death.

 

Ji Zhen wanted to ask if there was an easier way to die, but after thinking it over, he realized that death by an arrow to the heart, hanging from a silk rope, or drowning in a well were all equally painful. It would be more pleasant to just have his throat slit.

 

At the sight of Shen Yanqing’s cold eyes, all of Ji Zhen’s words were swallowed back down.

 

“I…”

 

Shen Yanqing said, “If you don’t dare…”

 

Ji Zhen gritted his teeth. “I dare!”

 

Driven by his devotion to his elder brother and a sudden burst of courage, he snatched the porcelain bottle, pulled off the red stopper, and brought it to his lips.

 

Shen Yanqing’s fingers slowly tightened as he coldly watched Ji Zhen drink the “poisoned wine” for Ji Jue.

 

The cold liquid went down, Ji Zhen couldn’t taste anything. His hand went slack, and the porcelain bottle rattled as it rolled twice on the floor. His legs also gave way, and he slumped to the ground. The momentary surge of bravery was replaced by boundless panic. The thought that his soul would disperse today made him cry out, unashamedly covering his stomach.

 

Since he was going to die anyway, Ji Zhen sobbed and said a cruel thing: “If you’re lying to me, my elder brother and I won’t let you go, even as ghosts.”

 

He then glared at Shen Yanqing while pleading for Ji An. “After I’m dead, you’re not allowed to mistreat Ji An. He’s been with me since we were young; I consider him a sort of brother. You must give him food to eat. If you think he eats too much, just kick him out of the mansion. Give him all my jewels so he can have a good life for the rest of his days.”

 

Having arranged his affairs for the afterlife, Ji Zhen suddenly felt immensely aggrieved. “Why do you always want to kill me?”

 

Shen Yanqing listened to his rambling. Ji Zhen even thought of Ji An but didn’t leave a single “dying word” for him. He stood up, his figure enveloping Ji Zhen. “You had an affair with another man. Don’t you deserve to be killed?” His eyes turned bloodshot as he said, word by word, “Ji Zhen, I truly wish I could… slice you and Jiang Yunyu into a thousand pieces.”

 

Ji Zhen muttered, “Why do you care what I do with others?” Perhaps people recall old memories before they die. He cried as he brought up old grudges. “Back then in Jiangnan, that bastard governor treated me like a boy toy, and you were completely indifferent.”

 

“I was indifferent?” Shen Yanqing gritted his teeth. At the peak of his rage, his voice became even colder. “Yes, why should I care? I should have known long ago that you were licentious and shameless…”

 

Ji Zhen was scolded for no reason and became dizzy with anger. He wanted to argue with Shen Yanqing but realized that at some point, his limbs had become limp and his breathing was hot and heavy. A strange yet familiar burning sensation rose from his abdomen. He shook his head and lifted his hand, touching a thin sheen of sweat.

 

He smelled a faint scent of hibiscus.

 

Shen Yanqing half-knelt in front of him as he presses the back of Ji Zhen’s neck with his palm to push his head forward. His vision blurred, and even the sounds he heard seemed unreal.

 

A warm breath brushed against his ear, accompanied by a voice so low, “Whore.”

 

Ji Zhen couldn’t believe that the usually dignified and proper Shen Yanqing would utter such a vulgarity. He widened his watery eyes. “What did you say?”

 

Shen Yanqing met his gaze and said slowly and clearly, “A little whore that can’t be washed clean.”

 

In front of him was Shen Yanqing’s cold and severe expression. Ji Zhen froze, stunned by the vulgar words, his mind blank. Then, he was grabbed by the collar and plunged into the steaming hot tub.

 

The warm water completely swallowed him.

 

He opened his eyes and looked at the elegant features, distorted by the clear waves of water in the light.

 

In the half-suffocated feeling of drowning, Ji Zhen suddenly felt that he had never truly known Shen Yanqing.

 

The author has something to say:

Extra, extra! The dignified and proper Lord Shen has revealed his true colors!

Lord Shen, your wife is most afraid of ruthless people. You’re utterly doomed!

Ji Zhen (drooling): Egg[mfn]It’s a kind of wordplay here. “完蛋” means “to be doomed,” but Zhen Zhen, being naive and silly, mistakes it for talking about a real egg, which is “鸡蛋”.[/mfn]? Where are the eggs?

Lord Shen: ……