Chapter 63: Chapter 63

Lu Wenyu led Zhao Jiu to a halt before a stone gate. Before they could call out, the gate opened, revealing a middle-aged man in a blue-green official robe who had been waiting behind it.

The middle-aged man took Lu Wenyu’s official hat, while a Banner Officer behind him tactfully stepped forward to take Zhao Jiu’s. Zhao Jiu and Lu Wenyu accepted hot cotton towels from the subordinates and settled into Grand Tutor’s Chairs, leisurely wiping their hands.

“Muzhi, this is Pacification Commissioner Yu Jielin.” Drinking his tea, Lu Wenyu introduced Zhao Jiu to everyone. “This is Zhao Muzhi, my own nephew. Jielin, don’t put me in a position where I can’t answer to your sister-in-law.”

Zhao Jiu was the first to rise and salute, cupping his fists toward the Thousand-Household and Hundred-Household Officers standing nearby.

Everyone promptly returned the salute, presenting a picture of fraternal affection and harmony. Even Lu Wenyu could not stop nodding in approval.

Only after everyone had finished exchanging compliments and jokes did Lu Wenyu set down his teacup.

“Get back to your duties. I’ll show Muzhi around the prison.”

Everyone acknowledged the order and left. Zhao Jiu resumed his role as an attendant and followed Lu Wenyu toward the prison cells.

After passing through a short corridor, they stopped before another stone gate. Several Banner Officers inside verified Lu Wenyu’s and Zhao Jiu’s identities, then worked together to open the heavy gate and usher them through.

Beyond the stone gate stood row after row of partitioned prison cells. Lu Wenyu walked ahead, explaining as he went.

“The Imperial Prison is divided into four wards: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. The Yellow Ward isn’t controlled by the Embroidered Uniform Guard; it’s housed in the Capital Prison.

“The ground floor is the Profound Ward. Most of the prisoners held here are high officials, nobles, and members of the imperial family. You need to be particularly careful here. Many officials are sent to the Imperial Prison before they’ve even been convicted. Never mind whether they’ll live or die—even whether they’ve truly lost power remains uncertain.

“You can torture them, but you need to know when to stop. Don’t kill them, or you’ll wind up with the stink all over you.

“It’s best to leave them locked up and ignore them. That way, whatever happens to them can’t be blamed on us. You must be cautious. Military officers are easy enough to handle; they can endure a few lashes. But civil officials? Heh. Watch out, or they’ll use their pens to stab you in the backbone.”

Although Lu Wenyu spoke lightly, Zhao Jiu carefully committed every word to memory. After all, this concerned whether he could live comfortably. It was better to be cautious and meticulous.

The Profound Ward was not large, containing only around thirty cells.

Then again, there were not enough people to fill any more.

Beyond the Profound Ward were several torture chambers. Past those stood another stone gate, but this time no Banner Officers were present to open it. A mechanism was turned, and the gate opened automatically.

Behind it was a downward-sloping passage. The two descended and reached a bend after only a few steps.

Lu Wenyu continued explaining as he walked ahead.

“This is the Earth Ward. It holds martial artists of Jianghu who use their martial prowess to defy the law. You don’t need to hold back as much here. These martial artists have thick skin and tough flesh, so they don’t die easily.

“After putting them through the major tortures, lock them up if they still refuse to talk. Whether they live or die isn’t particularly important. If one dies, drag the corpse outside and bury it.

“But remember this well. Their vicious nature is difficult to change. Their Major Acupoints may be sealed, but having one bite you will still hurt.

“Don’t believe them when they pretend to be pitiful. When they were murdering people, setting fires, and raping women outside, none of them shed a single tear.”

Zhao Jiu followed behind and listened in silence.

Whether these people lived or died had nothing to do with him. He certainly was not so idle that his balls hurt that he would waste time listening to their bullshit.

Wasn’t it better to sleep, drink tea, and listen to a tune? Why bother listening to their fabricated stories?

At a glance, some prisoners in the Earth Ward were little more than skin and bones. Their coarse hemp prison uniforms hung loosely from their bodies, allowing drafts to pass straight through them. They had sallow faces, emaciated bodies, and deeply sunken eye sockets. Their half-human, half-ghost appearances made it obvious that they were starving.

Other prisoners, however, had ruddy complexions and even wore cotton prison uniforms.

Within the same ward, their circumstances were as different as heaven and earth.

The underground level never saw sunlight. The stench of decay and the clammy chill made Zhao Jiu uncomfortable.

Fortunately, they only walked around once and did not linger.

They continued descending through the passage. To Zhao Jiu’s surprise, there was another level below.

After a few steps, they reached an iron gate. Two Banner Officers sat on stools outside, puffing on dry pipes. Lu Wenyu waved for them to open the gate, then led Zhao Jiu inside.

The conditions on the second underground level were even worse. The cells were so cramped that they were only tall enough for an ordinary person to stand upright. Anyone slightly taller would strike their head against the ceiling.

There were no beds, only a thin layer of straw spread across the floor.

Not many prisoners were held there—only a little over a dozen. Every one of them was fully shackled, and some even wore cangues.

“This is the Heaven Ward. It holds rebels guilty of treason and spies from enemy states. Everyone who reaches this place is already a dead man. They simply haven’t finished spilling everything they know.

“The prisoners on these two underground levels are our highest priority. They absolutely cannot be allowed to leave the Imperial Prison alive. Otherwise, it will be a grave crime!”

Lu Wenyu explained at the appropriate moment. Neither man entered the cells. They merely stood beside the iron gate and looked inside for a while before ordering the Banner Officers on duty to close it.

They retraced their steps and returned to the courtyard. Lu Wenyu briefly explained the pavilion’s purpose: it was used for administrative work and observation.

There was nothing particularly remarkable about it.

By the time they finished touring the prison, the sky had already grown dark. Lu Wenyu led Zhao Jiu to a small building on the left.

Sure enough, it was the kitchen.

The head cook was surnamed Li. One of his legs was lame, earning him the nickname “Old Limp.” He was currently bustling about with several apprentices.

When he saw Zhao Jiu and Lu Wenyu enter, he hurriedly served the dishes and called everyone over to eat.

To give credit where it was due, the food tasted quite good.

By the time Zhao Jiu returned to the compound in Wallfoot Alley, full of food and drink, it was almost Hai Hour.

Fortunately, Gong Lianyou could endure hunger.

At Sword-Washing Manor in Qizhou, a corpse covered by a white cloth lay inside the main hall.

Lin Yicheng, the Lin Family’s eldest son, stood beside the corpse with his arms folded. His gaze was lowered, and his expression was dark and sinister.

“My son! My son!”

Below the hall, the Manor Steward supported Lin Yuanjing, the Master of Sword-Washing Manor, as he entered.

Lin Yuanjing had already been overwhelmed with grief when he first learned that his youngest son was dead. Now that he saw the white cloth covering the corpse, his anguish intensified, and he cried out mournfully.

Lin Yuanjing had been nearly fifty when Lin Yining was born. He had treasured the boy so dearly that he feared dropping him when holding him in his hands and feared he would melt when held in his mouth.

He had doted on him beyond measure.

Now his living, breathing son was gone, leaving behind only an icy corpse. How could Lin Yuanjing possibly hold back his tears?

With tears in his eyes, he lifted the white cloth. When he saw the saber wounds crisscrossing Lin Yining’s body and his missing head, grief and rage surged into his heart.

He spat out a mouthful of blood.

“My son! My son!”

Lin Yicheng hurried forward and helped the Manor Steward support his elderly father.

Blood stained the corners of Lin Yuanjing’s mouth. His eyes were scarlet as he glared at Lin Yicheng and asked hoarsely, “Who? Who killed Yining? Have you found out?”

“Father, we still don’t know. There wasn’t a single survivor at the scene. Even the prostitutes were killed to silence them.”

“Then Yining died for nothing?”

Lin Yuanjing appeared almost insane as he roared through gritted teeth.

Lin Yicheng supported his elderly father but stood cowed and did not dare answer. He feared that saying the wrong thing would further enrage him.

Lin Yuanjing tore himself free from their grasp, bent down, and embraced his youngest son’s mutilated remains. He was utterly overcome with grief.

Only after crying out for a long time did he raise his head and speak viciously.

“Investigate! Find out who did it, then kill them! Yining died at Mount Tai, so start searching there. Whoever dared kill my son, I’ll slaughter their entire family!”

As he spoke, the murderous intent in his eyes seemed almost tangible, frightening the other two so badly that they did not dare approach.

Lin Yicheng cupped his fists and acknowledged the order, then turned and left to make the necessary arrangements.

Only Lin Yuanjing, weeping as he embraced his son’s corpse, and the Manor Steward consoling him remained in the hall.