Leaving Prison

Silent and desolate, cold and damp, the air was thick with the musty stench of blood. Walking down this long, somber corridor, only the hollow footsteps of Xu Yuan and Xu Mengxi echoed quietly. As they walked along, Xu Yuan could clearly see the wretched state of the prisoners in the cells on both sides. The people locked in this Imperial Prison were either provincial titans or court ministers who had once wielded great prestige in the imperial court. Now, however, some were mangled messes of flesh and blood, while others were beaten beyond human recognition. The agonizing groans issuing from their mouths were blocked by the cells' sound-isolation arrays. Once inside the Imperial Prison, one essentially ceased to be treated as human. This was Xu Yuan's first time in such a place. Together with the Heavenly Prison and the Black Prison, the Imperial Prison was known as one of Great Yan's Three Great Prisons. The former two were official state institutions, whereas the latter was private. All of them held many major figures: great demons and notorious bandits who plunged the realm into chaos, officials who dominated court politics, and even foreign royalty. Their reputations were renowned among the dignitaries and nobility, boasting countless stellar accolades like framing the loyal and honest or extracting confessions through torture. Mulling over these random thoughts, Xu Yuan turned his gaze to the slender figure walking before him. A long high ponytail swayed continuously behind Xu Mengxi's head; she seemed quite delighted to have hauled him into this Imperial Prison. Just as in Cangyuan, she was a textbook tsundere beauty—cold on the outside, warm on the inside. Considering their past grievances, however, to him she was likely cold on the outside and downright frigid on the inside. As he was thinking, Xu Mengxi suddenly came to a halt. Collecting his thoughts, Xu Yuan asked, "We here?" Xu Mengxi ignored him, unlocked an adjacent cell with a key, glanced back, and coldly spat out two words: "Get in." Her rather sharp voice echoed down the somber corridor. Xu Yuan glanced into the cell and didn't budge. What a joke. Could a playboy dandy stay in a place like this? Dark and damp, with a single wooden table, a single wooden chair, and a straw mat stained with the dark brownish blood of its previous occupant. Seeing this, Xu Mengxi's not-so-buxom chest rose and fell twice as she said sarcastically, "Third Young Master, do you feel this place isn't befitting of your status?" Xu Yuan glanced across the bloodstained torture implements in the torture chamber that sent chills down one's spine, then turned his gaze back to her. "If I remember correctly, your Secret Investigation Bureau only handles arrests. Interrogating and assigning torture chambers should be the responsibility of the Imperial Prison's Judicial Directorate." Hearing this, Xu Mengxi offered him a faint smile. "No need to trouble yourself with concern, Third Young Master. The stretch along the Longping River falls under my jurisdiction. Since you committed a crime there, according to Great Yan law, as a Judicial Inspector of the fourth rank, junior grade, I have the authority to detain you for three days." "Oh?" Xu Yuan didn't understand the intricacies of the law. "Really?" "How would I dare deceive you?" Xu Mengxi's eyes curved into two crescents. "Next, Third Young Master, you and I will be spending an unforgettable time together in this room." Xu Yuan smiled. "Fair enough." He strode into the torture chamber, crossed his legs as he sat on the room's sole chair, and glanced back at the flat-chested woman at the doorway. "Since a beauty invites me, this young master naturally cannot refuse." With that, Xu Yuan fetched a bottle of Zuixian brew and two portable bright-pattern lamps from his Sumeru ring. Pouring himself a drink, he said, "Come on, hang these up for me. This place is too dark; this young master isn't used to it." "Hssss-hoo..." Flames danced in Xu Mengxi's eyes. "Stop huffing. No matter how much you heave, they won't grow any bigger." "......" Taking a final deep breath, Xu Mengxi marched forward and slammed a palm down onto the table, making the fine liquor in the bottle slosh. She ground out word by word, "Xu Changtian, this is the Imperial Prison. Hand over your Sumeru ring!" Xu Yuan froze mid-sip and blinked. "Huh? Sumeru rings aren't allowed in the Imperial Prison?" "......" Xu Mengxi caught her breath, letting out a laugh of pure exasperation. "What do you think?" Xu Yuan nodded. Slowly slipping the Sumeru ring from his finger, he placed it on the table and smiled gently. "Fine. Since you say so, Mengxi, I won't use it." Xu Mengxi snatched the Sumeru ring. A flicker of surprise showed in Xu Yuan's eyes. "Are you sure you want to take my Sumeru ring?" Xu Mengxi scoffed. "If you're worried I'll steal your things, there's no need. This Sumeru ring will be deposited in the Imperial Prison's storage pavilion. If you manage to get out, it will naturally be returned to you." "All right, keep it if you want. It's just some wealth and pills inside anyway." Xu Yuan gave her a deep, meaningful look, then spread his hands. "If there's anything you want to do to me, Mengxi, you'd best do it now. If you wait another half-quarter of an hour, you probably won't get the chance." "Xu Changtian, you seem to have misunderstood your situation." Xu Mengxi stood beside the table, where the bright-pattern lamp cast an eerie pall over her face in the dim cell. "Your past deeds were petty scoundrel business, but today you interfered with critical affairs of state! Do you really think you can still walk out of here?" Xu Yuan pushed up his sleeves and propped his elbow on the desk. "Even though I didn't know beforehand, the end result is that an important envoy was killed. Considering the imperial court and public sentiment from various factions, I don't think I'll be getting out very quickly." Xu Mengxi smiled at that, but in the next breath, Xu Yuan's drawling voice came again: "However, I also don't think I'll be staying in a place like this." "......" Xu Mengxi tightened her fist slightly. Defiant of the law. Utterly lawless. She naturally understood that because of the Prime Minister who dominated court politics, this playboy would never be executed even after committing a heinous crime. Yet on the charge of slaying a foreign envoy, she at least wanted to strip a layer of skin off him—to teach this scoundrel an unforgettable lesson for all those who had suffered at his hands. "Don't scoff," Xu Yuan sighed softly, tapping his fingers against the table. The steady *thump, thump* echoed in the room. "To prevent you from doing something foolish to me, within a quarter of an hour, a high-ranking minister will almost certainly come looking for you. It might be the Imperial Prison's Minister of Justice, but more likely your master, the Director-General of the Secret Investigation Bureau. In short, this person will tell you that he is taking over the case. "You'll feel resentful, you'll feel wronged, but he will forcefully sideline you on grounds like your rank being too low to handle such a matter. "And when I see him, I'll tell him that you took my Sumeru ring. He'll order you to return it, except by then, a Yang Marrow Pill inside my ring will be missing. Not terribly expensive, only about ten thousand taels of silver. "He will naturally know you wouldn't take my things, but he will still compensate me, and then transfer me to the best cell in your Imperial Prison. That cell will be furnished with all kinds of arrays and books, and if I want, I could even have the jailers go to the entertainment quarters to fetch a few courtesans to sing and play the flute for me..." "Why?!" A voice brimming with fury and grievance echoed through the quiet corridor. Xu Mengxi stared at her master, whose face was as grim as still water. Her fists clenched tightly. "Master... That Xu Changtian committed murder in broad daylight for all to see! Are... are we just going to let it go?" "It's not letting it go; I will interrogate him personally. You've been with the Secret Investigation Bureau for seven years; you should know how to see through the surface to the heart of the matter." An elder with graying hair and beard spoke with earnest gravity. "This matter involves the Great Desert Royal Court, the current Emperor, and Duke Xu. With your rank and cultivation, Mengxi, do you truly think you are equipped to handle the subsequent investigation?" "......" Xu Mengxi looked at the affectionate old man before her and seemed to understand. Biting her lower lip, she said in a slightly raspy voice, "Master... I didn't touch Xu Changtian's Sumeru ring." The elder smiled, raising a hand to gently pat his disciple's downcast cheek, and comforted her, "Your master naturally knows you didn't touch it." Ten days later, in a pavilion within the Imperial Prison. A gentle breeze drifted in along the windowsill. Source Qi emanating from Source Crystals filled the entire "cell," and faint sandalwood incense wafted lazily from a small burner beside the bed. While seated cross-legged on the balcony with his eyes closed in cultivation, Xu Yuan suddenly heard the cell door creak open from outside. Opening his eyes to see the visitor, Xu Yuan dispersed his technique and smiled. "What brings you here?" Xu Mengxi walked into the cell with a frosty face and asked, "You didn't ask my master for that Yang Marrow Pill?" Xu Yuan chuckled wryly at her words. Getting up, he strolled over to the table, picked up the hot brewed tea, and poured himself a fragrant cup, watching the steam rise as tea flowed from the spout. "It's not like I lack such things. Why would I bully you?" Xu Mengxi glared at him coldly. "Drop the saint act. If you had the chance to oppress someone, you would never pass it up." Hearing this, Xu Yuan glanced at her, the corners of his lips curving slightly. "You really do know me well. If it were the old me given this chance, you'd most likely end up destitute, having to sell yourself to sleep with me." Xu Mengxi looked at him with contempt. "Sleep with you? With your cultivation?" "......" Turning around, Xu Yuan swept his gaze up and down her slender figure and laughed. "Mengxi, you might not know this, but sleeping doesn't just involve a single position." "......" Xu Mengxi blanked for a moment, then flushed red, her eyes flashing with embarrassment and indignation as her fair hand instinctively tightened around the saber at her waist. Xu Yuan waved a hand dismissively. "All right, with your level of wit, don't try to win verbal battles with me. I didn't ask your master for anything simply because I find bullying someone like you rather pointless now." The casual indifference in Xu Yuan's tone made Xu Mengxi bristle. Like a dog—a dog ready to bite at any moment. Her delicate frame trembled faintly, as if she were about to draw her blade. Xu Yuan showed not the slightest panic. Sipping from his teacup, he watched with keen amusement as she fumed while trying to act nonchalant. This female constable from the Secret Investigation Bureau was neither the giant block of ice nor the washboard Saintess, and besides, he could beat her in a fight now. After a long pause, Xu Mengxi finally spoke again, her voice thick with suppressed anger. "...Xu Changtian, I hope you're telling the truth." "Hm?" Xu Yuan didn't catch her drift right away. "What truth?" Xu Mengxi released her grip on the saber at her waist and straightened her back. "Since bullying a humble woman like me is pointless, I trust you, Third Young Master Xu, won't go around harassing the common people of the world anymore." "......" After a brief silence, Xu Yuan suddenly grinned at her and reached out to pat her shoulder. "Don't worry. If this young master bullies anyone now, it'll be sects, noble clans, princes, and high nobility. I won't do those boring things from the past anymore." With that, Xu Yuan walked straight toward the cell door. *Slap—* Xu Mengxi grabbed Xu Yuan's wrist and snapped angrily, "Xu Changtian, what are you doing?" "Leaving prison." Xu Yuan took it as a given. "Didn't you come to this cell to let me out?" Xu Mengxi fell quiet for a moment, then pulled out two iron rings. "Put these on. I'll take you to see the Minister of Justice first." Xu Yuan held out his hands with a smile. "Mere formalities." Xu Mengxi glared at him. "Xu Changtian, don't get cocky. I will settle every single score from the past with you one day." As the cuffs were fastened on him, Xu Yuan casually laughed. "If it's by yourself, you'll probably have to wait until you reach the Saint Realm." After the better part of ten days, the weather was clear and cloudless for ten thousand miles. The Imperial Prison sat in the southwest corner of the Imperial Capital's inner city, in a rather secluded spot. Outside the prison lay a deep, quiet alley. Accompanied by the Imperial Prison's Minister of Justice and Xu Mengxi, Xu Yuan was politely escorted out. The moment he stepped outside, Xu Yuan spotted a black dragon carriage that had long been parked at the entrance of the alley. "Since the manor has already sent a carriage, Minister, there's no need to see me off." The Imperial Prison's Minister of Justice was pudgy and looked very genial. He insisted on escorting him over. "It's only a few steps. If we neglected you in any way during your stay at my Imperial Prison, Young Master Xu, please don't take offense." Xu Yuan glanced at the minister. "Well, you weren't prepared, after all. Next time I come, I'll let Mengxi know in advance so you can get things ready." Xu Mengxi kept a cold face and said nothing. The minister gave an awkward chuckle. His post as Minister of Justice was neither particularly grand nor insignificant. On his own little turf in the Imperial Prison, his word was absolute law, and many people would beg him for favors. The trouble was that those begging him were either condemned prisoners no one dared touch, or young masters like the one before him now. His position and authority were awkward, so he knew very well where he stood. Drawing a deep breath, he dabbed at his sweat with a handkerchief in his chubby hand. "Third Young Master, you're joking. All of this is merely my duty." "......" As they walked along and neared the black dragon carriage, the Minister of Justice suddenly hurried forward and bowed toward the carriage. "Lord Chancellor, the Third Young Master has come out." "......" Xu Yuan blinked at the sight. Just leaving prison, and his old man came in person to receive him? Wasn't this a bit too grand? No wonder this fat minister insisted on walking him all the way here. While the fat official bowed, Xu Mengxi stood silently off to the side. A thief who usurped the state—she refused to bow. After a moment, a steady, middle-aged male voice drifted out from the carriage: "Minister Wang, my thanks for this." The Minister of Justice kept his head bowed, his voice carrying a hint of flattering laughter. "Duke Xu, there is no need for thanks; this was only what this humble one ought to do." With those words, silence descended upon the alley. After a while: "Still not getting in? Do you need your father to invite you?" "......" Xu Yuan glanced sideways at the two beside him, gave a nod of acknowledgment, and stepped up into the carriage. The space inside the carriage was as spacious as ever, with only a middle-aged man with graying temples sitting quietly cross-legged on the cushioned couch. Xu Yuan gave a bow. "Father, why... why did you come in person?" Xu Yinhe kept his eyes closed, answering bluntly, "The Emperor wants to see you. I have come to take you there." "......" Hearing this, Xu Yuan's mind raced, and he asked in a low voice, "Is it because of that Dachao prince?" Xu Yinhe slowly opened his eyes and shook his head. "He wants to see you regarding your marriage alliance with Marquis Wucheng's Manor."