In the long and narrow passageway, there was only one oil lamp hanging at a very long distance. It was so dim that one could not see the path under one's feet clearly. A thin and small figure appeared under the light. He was so light that it seemed like a gust of wind could blow him away. Fortunately, the prison cell was very stuffy and there was no wind at all.
He was carrying a food box, and there was no sound under his feet. However, the two prison guards behind him walked with heavy footsteps. Their footsteps echoed in the empty passageway, making the figure in front look like a ghost. The two rows of prison cells were empty. When they reached the end, the two prison guards rushed forward a few steps and picked up the big lock on the door. Both of them took out a key from their waists and opened the lock respectively.
The sound of the iron chain awakened the person in the prison cell. He turned his head and suddenly sat up, shouting in surprise, "Little Lingzi!"
Little Lingzi entered the cell and said respectfully, "Second Prince."
The door was locked from the outside again. The two prison guards stood by the door and looked at the two people talking in the prison cell like door gods. Zhu Rangjin jumped off the bed happily, but he forgot that he was wearing shackles. The iron chain almost tripped him, and Little Lingzi quickly went forward to support him.
There was no light in the prison cell, but with the light on the opposite wall, Little Lingzi could see Zhu Rangjin's appearance clearly. He was wearing a white prison uniform. His hair was no longer in a bun, and half of his face was covered by his long hair. The shackles on his feet were obviously the special treatment for serious prisoners.
Little Lingzi couldn't help but sigh. "Second Prince, it's been hard on you."
Zhu Rangjin grinned. The dim yellow light reflected on his eyes and made them sparkle. The young master dressed in black, who used to be elegant and refined, now had a hint of wildness. "What's the big deal? Although I am a murder suspect, Lord Lu did not make things difficult for me. Even if I passed the trial, I passed it in the Second Court."
A faint smile appeared on Little Lingzi's wrinkled face. Holding his hand, the two of them slowly sat by the bed. Zhu Rangjin asked, "Did father ask you to see me? How is father? Is he well? "
Little Lingzi nodded. "His Highness is well. Second Prince, why don't you ask about your own case? Aren't you worried at all? "
"What are you worried about?" Zhu Rangjin raised her eyebrows and said, "If you don't do anything shameful in your life, you won't be afraid of ghosts calling your door in the middle of the night. It was clear that someone had framed me. I thought that the Department of Investigation would definitely be able to find the culprit and prove my innocence, but … sigh! Imperial Uncle Jingqing, he … "
Little Lingzi coughed, opened the food box, and placed the dishes one by one on the bed. Then, he took out a cup and placed it on the food box. He filled it with wine and said, "Second Prince, the food in prison cannot be compared to the food in the residence. These are all your favorite dishes. They were personally made by Madam. Have a taste."
"Alright!" Zhu Rangjin was not worried about her own situation at all. She excitedly took the chopsticks and picked up a mouthful of food. She chewed with relish. Suddenly, she seemed to have thought of something and her movements gradually slowed down.
Little Ling sat cross-legged opposite him and asked, "Why? Not to your liking?"
Zhu Rangjin shook her head and smiled. "No, I just remembered that when we were young, every time we finished practicing martial arts, we would drink wine in the forest like this. Since I gradually grew older and no longer lived in the imperial harem, you were always by father's side. It was a rare opportunity. I didn't expect to meet with such an undeserved disaster today. Master, accompany me for a cup of wine. "
A trace of warmth flashed in Little Lingzi's eyes. He took the cup that Zhu Rangjin respectfully handed over and sighed. "Yes, the Old Slave has always been following His Highness everywhere to seek medical treatment. Second Prince, you spend your time in the mountains and rivers. It's been a long time since we had such leisurely days."
The two of them chatted about everything under the sun while talking about interesting things in the past. If it weren't for the empty walls and the two prison guards standing outside the prison, it would really be as carefree as drinking and chatting in the forest under the moonlight.
Little Lingzi looked small and skinny, but his appetite was astonishing. His appetite was even bigger than Zhu Rangjin's. The two of them seemed to be competing as they drank and laughed. Very soon, the cups and plates were swept clean. Little Lingzi moved his legs and walked to the door. He bowed and said, "Officers, can you do me a favor and allow me to talk about some private matters with Second Prince?"
He had been by the King of Shu's side for a long time. Even the Sixth Grade Eunuch of the King of Shu's Mansion and the Chief Steward of Internal Affairs did not dare to be disrespectful to him. However, he was used to serving others and was extremely polite to the two jailers.
The two prison guards looked at each other and said awkwardly, "I'm sorry, eunuch. Lord Lu has personally instructed that no matter who wants to see Second Prince, he must do it under our watch. Please don't make things difficult for us. Second Prince is inside. We are very respectful to him and can't wait to curry favor with him. Why can't we do it if it's convenient? It's really an errand. "
Little Lingzi smiled wholeheartedly and took out two ingots of silver from his sleeves. He stuffed them into their hands through the gap of the railing and said, "Of course, of course. We are all servants. Both of you have taken such good care of Second Prince. This is just a small token of appreciation. Please take it back and exchange it for a glass of wine to relieve your fatigue."
The two Yamachi guards put their hands into their sleeves and felt the ingots of silver. There were at least ten taels. They couldn't help but smile. However, when they looked at Zhu Rangjin, they were in a dilemma again. Little Lingzi observed their expressions and smiled apologetically. "How about this. Both officers don't have to leave our sight. Just stand a little further away. This … Madam is worried about her son. Prince also has a few words to say to Second Prince.
Hehe … Prince is a famous virtuous king. He is law-abiding and can be said to be a model for all vassal kings in the world. The Former Emperor and the current Emperor have repeatedly praised him. Naturally, he will not do anything against the law and make things difficult for both of you. What the Old Slave wants to talk about is just a little private matter in the Prince's Mansion. I believe both of you are not interested, right? "
Not interested? Who said that? Even if they were interested, who would dare to inquire about it? That was a prince. The more they knew, the more taboo they would have. The two jailers exchanged glances and said with a fake smile, "Then … alright. You accompany Second Prince to have a chat. Old Eunuch, please make it short. Both of us brothers will stand a little further away."
The two of them turned around and walked away. They stood a distance away and continued to look over. Little Lingzi walked back to the bedside and tidied up the plates and cups in the food box. He glanced out of the corner of his eyes and stretched out his hand to open the food box. There was a light clicking sound. There was actually a shallow layer at the bottom of the food box. There were writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones inside.
Zhu Rangjin's eyes flashed. She asked in astonishment, "You … why did you bring these things?"
Little Lingzi's wrinkled face was still smiling. However, his pair of turbid old eyes became sharper than the edge of a knife. "Second Prince, Prince asked me to bring these."
Zhu Rangjin was stunned. "Father? What … does this mean? "
Little Lingzi said softly, "Lord Lu, reporting to Prince, I found out that Miss Mengli is pregnant during the autopsy. Based on this, Prince concluded that you and Miss Mengli had an unspeakable affair, so … "
Zhu Rangjin's body shook violently. He immediately realized something. His eyes were filled with shock and anger. For a moment, he was speechless.
The wrinkles on Little Lingzi's face deepened. "In Prince's eyes, the reputation of the King of Shu is something that everyone has to protect at all costs. Even Prince himself can be sacrificed for this."
He sighed softly. "The Old Slave has followed Prince for twenty years. I have long understood Prince's intentions. Second Prince is Prince's biological son. How can you not understand?"
Zhu Rangjin's face was filled with pain and anger. He said miserably, "Is that so? If Big Brother was the prisoner in prison, would Father make the same decision? "
He closed his eyes. Two streams of tears of despair rolled down his cheeks. "Even a vicious tiger won't eat its cubs … What does Father want … What does he want me to do?"
Little Lingzi looked at him sympathetically and said softly, "The Prince and Commandery Prince Jingqing have discussed this matter. Both princes think that there is no need to investigate this case anymore. Otherwise, it will be a scandal for the royal family. The Prince of Shu's Residence and Prince Jingqing's Residence will become the laughing stock of the world."
He sighed and said leisurely, "So, the 'truth' of this case lies on the Second Prince. Miss Mengli was not pregnant, nor was she strangled to death. She had a heart disease. The imperial physician of Prince Jingqing's Mansions can testify to this. Today, Second Miss was attending a banquet. Because she quarreled with the Second Prince, her chronic illness broke out and she died.
The Second Prince didn't know what was going on. In a panic, he abandoned the corpse. After he was imprisoned, the Second Prince deeply regretted that he had angered his sister to death because of the quarrel, causing Prince Jingqing to lose his beloved daughter. This worsened Prince Jingqing's illness. He felt that it would be difficult for him to defend himself. So … he wrote his last words in prison and hanged himself. "
Zhu Rangjin was dumbfounded. After a while, she jumped down from the ground and laughed heartily! He clenched his fists so hard that his knuckles made cracking sounds. As if he had heard the funniest joke in the world, he raised his head and laughed loudly.
Little Lingzi silently looked at him without saying a word. The two jailers heard the wild laughter and were afraid that something bad had happened. They hurriedly rushed over to the bars and shouted, "Second Prince, Second Prince, are you alright?"
Zhu Rangjin laughed wildly. The two of them called out several times. Suddenly, Zhu Rangjin shouted, "Shut up! Don't call me Second Prince. What kind of prince am I? "
The two prison guards were shocked. Although the person inside was a prisoner, his status was not someone they could afford to offend. The two of them shivered and didn't dare to respond.
Zhu Rangjin parted his hands and revealed a pair of fierce eyes from his messy hair. He dragged his shackles and took two steps forward. Suddenly, he knelt down in front of Little Lingzi and said word by word, "Zhu Rangjin is not something that can be sacrificed casually. I will keep my eyes open and look at this case. One day, I will be taken out of prison fair and square! "
Little Lingzi accepted his bow calmly. His eyes revealed a look of praise and he nodded slightly. The two prison guards outside the door looked at each other and listened to the Second Prince's words. However, they didn't know what he was talking about.
Zhu Rangjin bowed three times and said loudly, "Master, I'll leave everything to you. Please report back to Father that Zhu Rangjin will not die. I can't die! I will patiently wait for the time to see the light of day again. I will never die! "
His voice echoed in the prison cell and traveled far …
* * *
"I won't die. I will never die!" The same oath echoed in Li Dayi's heart at this moment.
The moonlight was dim. There was a mountain in front, standing in the dark night. He would be able to see her after he crossed this mountain.
"I promised her that I would come back alive to see her." Li Dayi thought to himself. His eyes were already brimming with tears.
He didn't dare to stay for two days and two nights. He only cared about traveling over mountains and rivers to rush back. He wasn't afraid that someone would search the mountain. The mountain range was endless. Even if all the people in Bashu were to search the mountain, he might not be discovered if he hid in a patch of grass.
However, he understood his injuries. He had killed too many people, including many experts. Therefore, he had also suffered many injuries. He clearly knew that if he didn't rush back as soon as possible, he would die silently in the mountains and become food for wild dogs and wolves. He would never be able to see her again.
The sword that pierced through his shoulder blade injured his tendons and veins. Even if his arm was treated, it would definitely be greatly affected. However, with his physique, if it was just this injury, it would at least not cost him his life. What was fatal was the bullet in his chest.
Sword wounds wouldn't leave anything in the body, but that bullet, which was even smaller than a pill, had pierced his chest and penetrated deep into his lungs. Even if the government hadn't sealed off the roads and allowed him to seek treatment, he wouldn't have been able to find a skilled doctor who could remove the bullet from his chest.
The lead bullet was poisonous. His wound was rotten and swollen. Now it was flowing with black blood. If it was someone else, he would have died in the barren mountain, but he was still struggling. However, Li Dayi was now an arrow at the end of its flight. His footsteps were sluggish. The mountain in front of him could be crossed in ten minutes with his usual foot strength, but now he didn't know how long it would take to climb.
But no matter what, he had to crawl over. Feiwu was waiting for him there, waiting for him to come back. If he wanted to stop and rest, he might have to sleep here forever, separated from his woman and his unborn child, separated by mountains and worlds, never to see each other again.
Li Dayi was lying on the ground in mud, gasping for breath for a long time. Suddenly, he grabbed a handful of weeds and crazily stuffed them into his mouth, chewing and swallowing …
It wasn't because he was hungry. He could still endure not being able to eat for two days. It was because of the burning pain in his chest and the bitter taste of grass. Now that he was chewing it, it didn't feel so bad anymore. Instead, it stimulated his numb nerves and body to feel a surge of vitality.
He let out a terrible roar like a beast, then staggered up, leaned on the wooden stick in his hand, and moved forward step by step …
Behind him was a lone wolf foraging for food. It had been watching him from afar for a long time. The aura of death emanating from this human's body made it so vigilant that it didn't dare to approach him. It wasn't sure who would bite who if it pounced on him. Li Dayi let out a terrible roar, and finally made its last trace of greed disappear. The gray wolf dragged its tail and fled dejectedly.
Giving up greed was sometimes a kind of gain.
※ ※ ※
Liu Feiwu was still awake. Under the dim oil lamp, she sat at the head of the kang and clumsily sewed a child's clothes. The cloth was not big. It was a small piece, but it should be enough to make clothes for a baby.
Looking at the finished clothes, Liu Feiwu happily lifted it up and looked at it from left to right. Although the sleeves were long and short, and the front of the clothes was a little strange, it was the first finished product of Miss Liu, who had never learned needlework. She was so happy that she could not feel the pain of the needle wounds on her fingers.
How big could a newborn child be? Will this dress fit me? Never mind, if it was big, she would wait for him to grow up before wearing it. Children grow very fast.
Liu Feiwu folded the clothes like a treasure, and her little hand reached behind her back and gently massaged her waist.
It was a village in the valley, or rather, it could be called a village, because there were only three houses and two families, both of whom were hunters in the mountains. From here to the countryside beyond the mountains, one had to walk a dozen or so miles along the mountain road. The house she was living in now was originally occupied by a hunter who was surrounded by hyenas when he went hunting in the mountains. He did not have time to climb up the tree and was eaten alive. The wife and child could not survive in the mountains, so they moved out.
This place was almost isolated from the rest of the world. The two families of hunters were simple mountain people who treated people with sincerity and enthusiasm. Li Dayi found this place and temporarily settled her down. He gave Hunter Deng some loose silver and asked them to take care of her on his behalf.
In the past, when she ran for her life with Li Dayi, her heart was full of resentment and sorrow. Now that she had let go of the past, she really regarded him as her own man. She cared about him, liked him, and looked forward to the future of the two of them. The little girl who did not know the affairs of the world was already a wife and a mother. Her romantic fantasies were no longer there, and she actually liked this kind of practical feeling.
"Sigh! He's been gone for so long. Why hasn't there been any news yet? He … "A trace of shadow flashed across her heart, but it was immediately thrown away. She comforted herself again and again," He won't. He's an alert person and has high martial arts skills. If he doesn't have a chance, he won't act recklessly for me. He will definitely come back. "
Suddenly, the door was scratched twice. Liu Feiwu was shocked. She hurriedly stood up and asked, "Who is it?"
There was no answer from outside the door. Liu Feiwu nervously grabbed a stick. With her mediocre martial arts skills, she might not be able to deal with bad people if they barged in. But how could there be bad people here? The two hunters' families were simply the most simple and honest country people she had ever seen in her life. Just because she had received some money from them, they gave her the best food every day. They were even afraid of mistreating her. The two aunts were very nice people. Could they be the hunting dogs of their families?
Liu Feiwu dispelled the thought again. This was a small house built with stone and wood on the hillside. She had to pick a relatively flat place to build the foundation. The three houses were separated by dozens of feet, and the two hunters' families tied up their dogs at night.
At this moment, the door rang again. Although the sound was very soft, Liu Feiwu heard it clearly. She couldn't help but shout, "Who is it? Who is it? If you don't say anything, I'm going to shout! "
It was quiet outside the door for a while. Then, a weak voice came from outside. Although the voice was faint and inaudible, it sounded like a bolt from the blue to Liu Feiwu's ears, "Zihao? Zihao! It's you! "
Liu Feiwu threw away the stick with a "clang" and rushed over to open the door.
A mournful scream rang out. Liu Feiwu was scared out of her wits. If she hadn't heard his voice clearly, Liu Feiwu definitely wouldn't have been able to recognize who the person in front of her was. His face was ashen and miserable. He was the handsome and arrogant Second Young Master. He was my Zihao?
Liu Feiwu's tears fell. She hurriedly dragged Li Dayi into the room and hurriedly poured a cup of water. However, Li Dayi only drank two mouthfuls before he choked and spat it out. Black blood flowed out from the corner of his mouth. Liu Feiwu wailed loudly.
"Don't … cry." After spitting out a mouthful of dirty blood, Li Dayi's complexion suddenly became much better. He also spoke with more strength. He held Liu Feiwu's hand tightly and said, "I … I've traveled a lot in the past. I've been busy rebelling and killing people. But this time, I've been in such a hurry. It's just … just to see my wife. "
Li Dayi trembled as he raised his head and caressed Liu Feiwu's cheeks and lips. His tears also flowed down. "I wanted to give you a good life. I wanted you to live in luxury. I wanted … you to be as beautiful and happy as before. But … I only brought you misfortune …"
"Zihao, I'll bring you to the doctor. I … I'll bring you to your father. I'll let him avenge you. I'm not afraid that he'll vent his anger on me. I …"
"Don't say anymore." Li Dayi suddenly held her hand tightly. He stared at her and said, "Listen to me. Listen to what I have to say. Don't interrupt …"
He opened his mouth and took a few rapid breaths like a fish out of water. He said, "Feiwu, I can't do it anymore. It's already God's blessing that I was able to rush back to see you …"
"Feiwu, don't go to my father. I won't agree. I don't want my son to rebel and kill people. I want him to marry and have … children. I want him to live a good life. Even if he's a village man. If he returns to the cult, my son … can only become … become a killing tool for my eldest brother and third brother! You … promise me. I beg you, don't … take revenge. Don't return to the cult. You … promise me! "
Liu Feiwu nodded with tears flowing down her face. Li Dayi heaved a sigh of relief. He let go of her hand and stared at the ceiling. He said slowly, "This is not a place for you to stay for a long time. You should stay here for a few more days. You can leave after the news has passed. Your appearance … has changed. Plus, you're pregnant. The officials … can't recognize you based on the wanted list … "
"Feiwu, our Li family's ancestor is one of the four … Great Elders of the White Lotus Cult. More than sixty years ago … our Li family established our own sect and established the Maitreya Cult. At that time, some of the old, weak, women, and children in our family, or those with poor talent were arranged to … Shaanxi Mizhi.
These people with the surname Li formed a village of their own. The risk of rebellion is too great. Maybe it's to … leave a line of incense for the Li family once the matter fails. The cult masters of the past generations never stepped into the Li family village when they preached. They also don't … have any contact with them. You should go there. My father … will rebel sooner or later. When the world is in chaos, you and your child will stay there. Maybe it will be … a pure land that won't be affected by the chaos of war … "
Liu Feiwu choked with sobs and nodded. Tears streamed down and fell on Li Dayi's face.
Li Dayi fumbled and took out a handful of gold leaves from his bosom. He smiled bitterly and said, "I, Li Dayi, have rebelled all my life … I want to use this life to fight for the throne. But this last transaction … is to become a kidnapper. I will use my life … in exchange for this handful of gold … haha! "
His laughter stopped abruptly. He suddenly straightened his back and widened his eyes. He grabbed Liu Feiwu's hand tightly and said anxiously, "Feiwu, bury me quietly. Don't be filial and don't make a sound … I, I'm sorry …"
His voice stopped abruptly. Li Dayi's body stiffened for a moment before it softened. He opened his five fingers and the gold leaves scattered on the ground. The dazzling golden light blurred his teary eyes …
* * *
"Damn it. He shouted that no one is allowed to get close to the second prince again. Otherwise, we will be the ones to blame. Who made the fart just now?"
The two prison guards, one tall and one short, sent away Eunuch Little Lingzi from the King of Shu's Residence. They had just returned to the restricted room of the prison cell and were lying on the bed when the warden sent another person in. The two of them couldn't help but curse in their hearts.
They opened the cell door. Before Warden Gu Che, Lord Gu Che, came in, a huge man with curly hair and a brown face. This gave the two prison guards a shock.
This person was wearing a dark cyan Tibetan robe with three stripes and two open lapels. His bulging muscles tightened the robe. He had a tall stature, broad shoulders, and two thick eyebrows that were as thick as halberds. Beneath them was a pair of sharp, cold, and large eyes.
As soon as he entered the door, he stood by the side. Other than the pair of huge earrings on his ears that were still swaying, he was like a towering mountain. The two jailers could not help but gasp in shock.
Following that, Gu Che walked in with a lantern, bowing and smiling apologetically. He raised the lantern high and said with a flattering smile, "Lord Tuoba, please!"
The two jailers believed that another imposing Tibetan was about to enter, but in a blur, a snow-white and lithe figure walked in. She was dressed in the simple white robes of Ü-Tsang, her hair wrapped in a white scarf, and her fair forehead was adorned with an exquisite gold chain. Her oval face was as exquisite as porcelain, and it was an extremely exquisite sight.
The two prison guards couldn't help but hold their breaths, afraid that they would breathe out and profane this beautiful woman who was as pure as snow and as beautiful as a fairy. A fairy's daughter had the pride of a fairy's daughter. This lady didn't even bother with the bowing warden. To her, the two prison guards were more like paintings pasted on the wall. Her black eyes didn't even glance to the side as she walked straight in.
The beauty flew by, her cheeks were as white as snow, and a small portion of her neck could be seen through her collar. Her lines were soft and smooth, delicate and beautiful. That beauty only appeared briefly in front of the two men's eyes. Her alluring charm was like throwing a stone into water, the ripples lingering in the air.
The two jailers took a deep breath. Firstly, it was because they were suffocating, and secondly, they wanted to smell the fragrance of the beautiful woman. Although there was a faint and refreshing fragrance on the beautiful woman's body, there was also a faint smell of wine. The two couldn't help but be startled.
"Bastard! What an ignorant fool! Hold the lantern for Lord Tuoba! "Warden Gu Che hurriedly scolded.
"Humph!" A giant spirit palm suddenly stretched out and snatched the lantern from Gu Daren's hand. With two strides, it caught up with the beauty who was walking with her hands clasped behind her back. The way it acted as if no one else was around, it was as if the Chengdu Prefecture's prison was their vegetable garden.
Lord Gu hurriedly waved his hand. The two prison guards understood and hurriedly chased after them.
Tiptoeing to see them pass through the second prison door, Lord Gu shook his head and let out a long sigh. "Barbarians, so barbaric! But this barbarian woman, tsk tsk, she has a slender waist and is very alluring. "
That beautiful and refined white robed beauty walked gracefully in the corridor. Her soft white robe fluttered rhythmically. Her shoulders were flat, as if she was gliding on water. She was extremely beautiful and graceful.
The two prison guards were like dragons, moving left and right to go around the mountain-like burly man. While peeking at the beauty's gait, they muttered in their hearts: Today is really strange. Why are the people who come to visit the prison walking like they're floating? Just as a eunuch floated out, another beauty floated in. And it's an official? Other than Commander Song, are there any other female officials in the Chengdu prefecture?
Tuoba Yanran was in charge of the specific affairs in Jinchuan. She was also a local official and was mainly responsible for dealing with the imperial court and Han officials. Therefore, during the banquet of the King of Shu, she attended on behalf of her father. She only went to the back palace to pay her respects to the consort before returning to the front hall to attend the banquet. She did not need to sit with the madams, so naturally, she was addressed as an official.
Zhu Rangjin was sitting cross-legged on the couch with his side facing the door. He seemed to have a lot on his mind. When he heard someone coming, he turned around and saw that it was Tuoba Yanran. His face instantly lit up with excitement. He hurriedly jumped down from the floor and rushed to the door. Holding onto the wooden railing, he said joyfully, "Yanran! I knew you would definitely come to see me. "
Tuoba Yanran did not reply. Her pretty face was as cold as ice. Her eyes glanced to the side and said coldly, "Go away!"
The two prison guards stammered, "Miss … Ah! Tuoba Master, Master Lu has instructed that no matter who it is, if they want to see the second prince, they must do so under our watch … "
Their vision darkened. The tall Tibetan was already standing in front of them. The two of them could not help but swallow their saliva and swallow the rest of their words. Their eyes darted around. Luckily, this fellow did not bring any weapons.
"Ba Wang!" Her voice was crisp and cold, like two ice beads falling onto a jade plate.
The tall Tibetan heard the voice and paused for a moment. Then, he reached into his bosom. The two prison guards could not help but take a step back. Following that, their hands sank. The two prison guards looked down and their eyes immediately widened. There were two glistening gold ingots. The pure gold was mined from the Big and Small Gold Rivers. The color was extremely good. This lady … was too generous!
The tall Tibetan stretched out his hand and grabbed their shoulders. The two of them could not help but be dragged far away. It was only when they were about to turn a corner that the tall Tibetan stopped and let out a heavy grunt. Looking at the gold and the pair of big hands, the two prison guards obediently did not make a sound.
Zhu Rangjin looked at the two prison guards being dragged away. He smiled and stretched out his hand. He called out, "Yanran, come here quickly. Why are you only here now?"
Tuoba Yanran raised her hand. Her fair and fragrant little hand allowed him to hold it. Just as their hands touched, Tuoba Yanran suddenly grabbed his hand and bit the back of his hand. Zhu Rangjin was stunned. There was a sharp pain on his hand, but Tuoba Yanran was biting it tightly. If he forcefully withdrew his hand, not only would he tear off a piece of flesh, Tuoba Yanran's teeth would also be injured.
Zhu Rangjin endured the pain and cried out, "Yanran, what are you doing?"
Tuoba Yanran bit his hand tightly and slowly raised her head. Blood flowed down from the corner of her mouth. Her peach blossom face was so strange and mournful that she looked like a bloodsucking banshee.
When Zhu Rangjin saw her eyes, his heart turned cold. He could not speak anymore.
Tuoba Yanran finally let go. She swallowed the blood into her stomach and stuck out her small red tongue to lick her lips. It was as if she had tasted the most delicious food in the world. She smiled and said, "What am I doing? I was about to ask, what did you, second young master Zhu, do? "
She was smiling, but her eyes were filled with hatred. There was not a hint of a smile in them. "Zhu Rangjin, you have forgotten what I told you, haven't you? If you want me, you have to be worthy of me!
If … you dare to touch another woman, I will kill you with my own hands. I will peel off your skin to make my saddle, break your bones to make my drumsticks, and use your skull to make a butter lamp. "
Zhu Rangjin had heard that some slave masters used prisoners of war or executed slaves to make these things. But when such bloody words came out from the mouth of a delicate beauty like Tuoba Yanran, it made him feel like he had fallen into an ice cellar. His entire body turned cold.
Tuoba Yanran smiled very sweetly. Her smile was indescribably charming. Contrasting with the blood at the corner of her lips and her vicious words, it formed a creepy scene. "My lover, when you enjoyed me, did you treat it as my sweet words? You must be very happy that I love you, that I love you with all my heart? "
Zhu Rangjin took a step back in shock. He muttered, "I … I did not do anything wrong to you. I have never touched another woman …"
A thought flashed in his mind. He suddenly exclaimed, "Mengli? How did you know about this? Yanran, tell me! "His gaze suddenly changed at this moment. He stared sharply at Tuoba Yanran.
Since his father was certain that he was the one who did this and treated it as a great humiliation to the family, he did not even have the courage to continue investigating. He would definitely try his best to cover up this matter. Even if it was the princess, his father might not tell her. How could Yanran know about it?
Tuoba Yanran giggled. She tilted her head and smiled. She lightly clapped. "You've finally learned your lesson. I haven't even asked, and you've already confessed! Dirty, shameless! Zhu Rangjin, you are both descendants of Ming Destiny's royal family. She is your clan sister. You found a woman behind my back, and it's your own sister. You are a beast in human clothing! "
Zhu Rangjin stared at her. His eyes were also filled with coldness. His fingers gripped the wooden railing tightly. His knuckles had already turned white. He did not answer Tuoba Yanran's words. He only asked coldly, "How did you know about Mengli's pregnancy? Yanran, answer me first! "
"How would I know? Hahaha! How would I know? I wish I could never know! " Tuoba Yanran said angrily, "I didn't know that Mengli's death was related to you. After the banquet ended, I returned to the guest room. When the wives of the chieftains came back and discussed it, I found out that you were the suspect!
Zhu Rangjin was the man I chose. He was an unparalleled man in the world. He had great intelligence and was loyal. Why would he do such a thing? Of course, I, a foolish woman, immediately ran out to help him.
I went to the inner palace to ask around and found out that the Bureau of Investigation had taken away Mengli's corpse. I knew that they would definitely conduct an autopsy, so I immediately sent people with a large sum of money to find the culprit. There are a total of four culprits in the Bureau of Investigation. I didn't know who Lord Lu was going to call, but each of them offered thirty taels of gold. As long as I could get information, I would know the development of the case at any time so that I could rescue you. Hehehe, Zhu Rangjin, I bought a piece of good news! "
Tuoba Yanran shook her head. Her tears couldn't stop flowing. She suddenly burst out with a scream. "I hate you! Zhu Rangjin! I, Tuoba Yanran, am blind! "
As she said that, she suddenly put her two fingers together and fiercely stabbed at her own eyes.
Zhu Rangjin was shocked and suddenly pounced over. His body slammed heavily into the pillar. He couldn't care less anymore. He reached out and grabbed Tuoba Yanran's wrist, bringing her over.
Tuoba Yanran hated him to the core. She opened her mouth and bit down on his wrist.
Zhu Rangjin didn't move and just looked at her. His lips slowly curled up into a smile.
"Yanran, you didn't come to see me. I was feeling strange. You should have been the first to come, but it turns out that you have been running around for me. You look as weak as water on the outside, but your heart is like a raging fire. You are the one and only Tuoba Yanran in the world!
Beauties and skeletons, in my eyes, are all like dirt, except for you. I, Zhu Rangjin, didn't pick the wrong person. Yanran, you didn't pick the wrong person either! "
Tuoba Yanran was still biting his hand hard, but the look in her eyes softened, revealing a pitiable weakness and suspicion that she was afraid of getting hurt. She was like a vigilant little animal that wanted to run away but also wanted to get close to him.
Zhu Rangjin smiled lightly. "Yanran, your teeth are really sharp. They hurt me, but I am very happy, really very happy …"
Tuoba Yanran's mouth slowly loosened. Zhu Rangjin didn't retract his hand. He let the blood flow down his wrist and drop by drop onto the ground. The prison was so quiet that one could hear the dripping sound of the blood on the ground.
The two jailers were standing in the distance and couldn't hear the conversation between the two. However, they were able to see the two's actions and couldn't help but be stunned. They raised their heads to look at the huge man named Bawang. That man was still standing there calmly. The muscles on his face looked like they were carved from stone and didn't show any signs of movement.
"Mengli is indeed dead, and she is indeed pregnant. My jade pendant is also in her hands. The jade pendant is mine. You didn't believe that I am the murderer just because my jade pendant is in her hands. I don't know who the child belongs to, so why are you so certain that it's me? "
Tuoba Yanran's eyes were also confused. She was stunned for a long time before she said, "That's different …" She thought about it and tilted her head. She looked at Zhu Rangjin with suspicion. "It really isn't yours?"
"It really isn't mine!"
"… You … Just this one sentence? You're not going to give me any more reasons? "
"Tuoba Yanran is exceptionally intelligent. If she believes me, then one sentence is enough. If she doesn't believe me, then no matter how much I say, it will be useless!"
"Stop flattering me!"
"… …"
"Rangjin, give me some more reasons to believe you. I … My heart is in a mess. "
"I don't have too many reasons. Mengli often comes to the Prince's Residence to stay. These past two years, she has been staying here even longer than in her own home. Because I have a close relationship with Prince Jingqing's Residence, my relationship with Mengli has always been very good. You know this as well, so I can't extricate myself from it."
Tuoba Yanran's expression, which had just warmed up, became cold again, like transparent ice.
"If it was me, based on how careful I am, Mengli and I would have distanced ourselves from others to avoid suspicion. If it was me, I could have easily coaxed her and found a safer and more secretive place to kill her. Why would I take the risk of killing her in a place where there are always people passing by? What's more … She said she was pregnant for more than two months. Two months ago, it was you and I who had just … "
"Don't say anymore!" Tuoba Yanran's face was as red as a pomegranate. The ice turned into fire.
Two months ago, the King of Shu's illness worsened and he stayed in the Qingyang Palace to recuperate. Zhu Rangjin's brother, the royal family, and the various officials all came to visit. They all stayed in the enormous Shu Palace.
That period of time was when her and Zhu Rangjin's relationship had advanced by leaps and bounds. Under the moonlight, they were intimately intimate. In the summer, they were already wearing thin clothes. It was during that period of time that the couple, who were in love with each other, secretly had a taste of intimacy.
Would Zhu Rangjin go and seduce his cousin at this time? Even if the two of them already had an affair, during those days, they would be together whenever they had free time. They would play the zither, write poems, and paint. Even if he was afraid that the three of them would bump into each other, he would find an excuse to avoid Mengli's entanglement. Moreover … with my beauty …
The snowstorm came and went quickly. Spring was warm and the flowers bloomed.
Tuoba Yanran suddenly exclaimed, "Your hand …" She quickly took out a snow-white silk handkerchief and wrapped it around his hand. She said in a panic, "Rangjin, I … I'm sorry …"
"It's okay. I'm used to it."
Tuoba Yanran choked and smiled obediently. She was so gentle and obedient that she did not look unruly at all.
"Then … who could the murderer be? There aren't many people who have the chance to come into contact with Mengli, and there are even fewer people who have the chance to kill her. He's in the palace, that's for sure, but you're the most suspicious. When will this case be solved? "
After getting rid of her jealousy, Tuoba Yanran immediately became worried about Zhu Rangjin's situation. Zhu Rangjin endured it for a while, but finally, he could not restrain himself. He told her in a low voice about how his royal father and Prince Jingqing had decided to abandon the pawn to save the king. In order to maintain the dignity of the royal family, they had hastily ended the case.
"What?" Tuoba Yanran's eyebrows raised. She angrily said, "What do they think you are? A dispensable item? A commodity that can be used and disposed of at will? They dare! Royal Prince Jingqing was yelling and yelling about punishing the murderer. When he heard that his daughter was not behaving, he couldn't wait … "
When she said this, she remembered that she and Zhu Rangjin were still unmarried and had an affair first. Her face couldn't help but heat up. She vaguely said, "I will keep an eye on them and have the authorities investigate this case so that you can leave this place with a clean record. I will immediately go see the King of Shu and tell him not to have any foolish ideas! "
"No, you … with your temper, if you meet Royal Father again, I'm afraid that the discussion will collapse. In the future …"
"Yes! You are still the most thoughtful. I will go see Royal Prince Jingqing. With his weakness in my hands, let's see if he still dares to treat people's lives like grass! "
Zhu Rangjin worriedly said, "Yanran …"
Tuoba Yanran raised her eyebrows and said, "Don't worry. Royal Prince Jingqing's fields and mines are all under the jurisdiction of the Miscellaneous Valley Discipline Bureau. That place is our Pula (Tibetan: Little Jinchuan, also under the jurisdiction of the Miscellaneous Valley Discipline Bureau). Privately, he is lacking in virtue! Publicly, he needs to rely on us. I will go and inform him. I believe he will not dare to have any ideas about you again! "
This delicate and moving woman had a soft and charming figure. She really did not look like a commoner in a barbarian place. However, her temperament was full of ups and downs. She did not have the appearance of a young woman who was affectionate and reluctant to leave. She helped Zhu Rangjin bandage her wounds and immediately left with her bodyguard, Ba Wang. She went to visit Royal Prince Jingqing that night.
※ ※ ※
Warden Gu Che, Lord Gu, stripped naked. He hugged his wife's naked body and was trying his best to perform a human etiquette under the quilt. The Black Dragon entered the alley and was fighting with all his might against the ambush from all directions. He wanted to fight his way out of the mud. Suddenly, the door knocker 'dong dong' sounded.
Lord Gu raised his head from between his two fleshy peaks. He sweated profusely and scolded, "Which blind person is it?"
Outside the door, a Yamachi lowered his voice and said, "Lord, someone has come to visit the Second Prince again. If you don't come out, who would dare to let them in?"
"Damn it, I won't come out. I won't come out!" Lord Gu said angrily. He suddenly pushed his butt forward.
"Ouch!" His wife cried out. She stretched out her hand and pinched his sweaty butt. She scolded in a low voice, "Get up quickly. The two groups of people who came just now, the later they came, the more gold they sent. This group came at midnight. Who knows how much gold they will send. You old fart, are you tired of money biting your hands?"
Since his wife had spoken, Lord Gu had no choice but to shout, "You go and answer them first. I'll be there soon."
Lord Gu 'struggled' a few more times unwillingly. He was kicked off the kang bed by his wife, who was greedy for money. Only then did he put on his clothes while swearing and hurried to the front hall.
There was also a small main hall in front of the Chengdu prison. There was a separate courtyard where the prison guards, odd-job workers, and some prison officials who were qualified to bring their families lived. After passing through the middle courtyard, there was a high wall at the back. It was the real prison cells.
In the small main hall, there were a total of six people, two sitting and four standing.
Lord Gu's anger subsided a little when he saw this. Eunuch Ling came from the King of Shu's Mansion and gave 30 taels of silver. Two people from Chieftain Tuoba of Jinchuan came and gave 20 taels of gold. This time, there were six people … Oh my god! Father could have a concubine now!
Seeing him coming, a burly man who was standing with his hands behind his back immediately turned around and stopped in front of him. He cupped his hands and said, "Lord Gu, sorry to disturb you so late at night. The two lords sitting in the upper seats would like to visit the Second Prince. Please do us a favor."
"Lord? Are you as old as Eunuch Ling who serves the King of Shu? Are you as old as Chieftain Tuoba? " Lord Gu sneered in his heart and glanced at the two people sitting in the upper seats. Two young men. One was in his early twenties, while the other was in his thirties. How high could they be officials at this age? They must be hotheads who heard that the prince had committed a crime and rushed to suck up to the prince regardless of the situation, right?
Gu Che curled his lips and dragged his voice as he said slowly, "Brothers, which yamen are you from? It's not that I don't want to give you face, but according to Lord Inspector's orders, no matter how high your official rank is, you can't enter this prison as you please. Brothers, do you have Lord Lu's handwritten note? "
He spread his hands in front of him and twirled his fingers slightly as he asked with a smile.
"Haha, I don't have Lord Lu's note, but I do have this!" That person reached into his pocket. Gu Che's eyebrows flew up. "The people who came today are all quite smart."
That person took out something and placed it in Gu Che's hand. Gu Che weighed it in his hand and his face darkened. Damn it, isn't this too light for six people?
Lord Gu lifted it up to take a look and immediately felt his legs move forward. As if that thing had bitten his hand, he hurriedly stuffed it back and trembled as he said, "Lord … Lord, are you sent by the Imperial Bodyguard? I … I wonder what official … official business you are here for? "
That person stroked his mouthful of beard and glanced at him from the corner of his eyes. Then, he patted Gu Che's shoulder and said with a smile, "Official business … of course it's official business. Lord Gu, do you want to know?"
"No, no, no …" Gu Che's head shook like a rattle drum. The Imperial Bodyguard specialized in investigating major cases of rebellion. Nine out of ten people that they sent in would be carried out dead. Who would be willing to work with them on official business?
"Heh heh, that's good. Lead the way!"
Gu Che tumbled and crawled to lead the way. Perhaps it was because he had suddenly stopped halfway in the cell and was caught in the wind and frightened. Halfway through, his lower abdomen began to twitch in pain. Prison Officer Gu didn't dare to make a sound. He gritted his teeth and led them to the cell door. His forehead was already covered in beads of sweat.
In the end, he couldn't care less about the identity of these people to the two resentful prisoners. He gritted his teeth and stretched out his neck to say, "Quick, bring these lords to see the Second Prince."
These people hadn't even gotten far when he turned around and stepped out of the cell door, falling on his butt. The two guards beside him hurriedly came forward to support him and asked, "Lord Yue, what's wrong with you?"
"Quick, quick, quick, find a doctor. My … stomach hurts …" Gu Che had already fainted before he could finish his sentence.
"These six people are different from the previous two groups. They're not floating, but … the six of them are walking at the same pace. It's too intrusive," the two jailers muttered as they led them to Zhu Rangjin's cell.
Zhu Rangjin had already fallen asleep. The two prison guards called out, "Second Prince, someone wants to see you."
People who practiced martial arts were always alert when they slept. Zhu Rangjin woke up and sat by the bed. Seeing that he didn't know the people standing outside the door, he couldn't help but ask warily, "Who are you people?"
The leading man waved his hand at the two prison guards and said, "Go away!"
"This place is under our jurisdiction. Why are you telling us to go away whenever someone comes? And your tone is so harsh?" The two prison guards said unhappily, "We brothers are only following orders. The higher-ups have instructed us not to …"
"Throw them out!" Four burly men came forward and grabbed the two prison guards from the left and right.
"This is rebellion!" The two of them were startled and angry at the same time; they were just about to shout for their brethren to come and help when they heard a loud and clear voice from behind them, "I am the Imperial Bodyguard stationed in Sichuan. I heard that a criminal of the Maitreya Cult has appeared in Chengdu, and that the Second Prince has met that criminal face to face, so I am here to investigate."
The two jailers immediately pursed their lips and were carried out without a word. If it weren't for the fact that they were wearing official robes of the prison guards, just by looking at their faces, they would definitely be a pair of Jianghu heroes.
"This excuse … is a bit stupid. But the Imperial Bodyguard is already giving me a lot of face by finding an excuse before doing anything." Yang Ling thought to himself. Without waiting for the surprised and suspicious Zhu Rangjin to speak, he appeared from behind the thirty-year-old Embroidered Robes Deputy Administrator. He cupped his hands and smiled, "Brother Rangjin, sorry to disturb you by visiting so late at night."
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