Chapter 131: Parting II

Chapter 131: Parting II

"You've been deceived, Xiang Yan!"

The explosive rage in He Mengfang's voice reverberated in their ears.

Shen Yuan slowly lifted his eyelids, only to see the grimy walls of Jiu Li's dungeon.

He recalled Chi Zi'e forbidding them from ascending to the Jade Mountain Hall, revealing that the mastermind behind the scenes was none other than Fairy Jiaomiao of the same hall.

Shen Yuan had just awoken, feeling slightly weary, but he could clearly hear the conversation between the two people nearby.

Xiang Yan said, "We are well aware of the truth behind the sinking of Chen Island – it was someone with Ayuan's face who did it. Since there is indeed someone who looks like him, how can you be certain that the person who tried to kill us on the ship that day was him?"

He Mengfang replied, "I... I don't know..."

Xiang Yan responded, "If you're unsure, don't indulge in baseless speculation. Your suspicion of Ayuan is no different from those islanders who are ignorant of the facts. They know little about Ayuan, but what about you? You've been his uncle since childhood! If even you doubt him, who else will believe in him?"

"He Yuan rushed out of the room all of a sudden... He really wanted to kill us!..." He Mengfang sounded pained, and after finishing, sobs could be faintly heard.

Xiang Yan waited for He Mengfang's sobs to subside before he said, "No, I believe that person isn't Ayuan."

He Mengfang asked, "Who else was in the room besides Wang Pan and Ayuan? If there really was someone else, how could Wang Pan not have noticed?"

Xiang Yan replied, "I've always had doubts about whether I can trust Wang Pan." He insisted relentlessly, "I just believe in Ayuan! After playing with him for so long, who cares who he is? Even if he's a demon god, I knew Shen Yuan first, not his identity!"

"Heck, you can't give any reasons either. All you can say is that you believe in Ayuan and shout blindly..." He Mengfang continued, "Xiang Yan, everyone changes. Can you honestly say you're exactly the same as when you were young, apart from your appearance?"

"Stop bringing up these irrelevant things!" Xiang Yan's voice unintentionally rose. "If you suspected Ayuan from the start, then don't yap here! Trust is like a broken bowl; once it cracks, it's already on the verge of shattering. Mending it only fixes the surface; it's best to discard it before it splits completely during the next meal, wasting good food..."

"Xiang Yan, don't say that," Shen Yuan interjected.

Dragging his weary body, he approached the pair, but the cage kept them at a distance.

Upon seeing him, He Mengfang snorted and turned away, folding her arms.

Only Xiang Yan stepped forward, his concern audible through the bars. "Ayuan, don't worry. Once the truth comes out, we'll release you right away and drink Yi Zi Chun together until we're drunk! How could they force the blame onto you if you weren't the real culprit behind the incident on Sunken Island?!"

He Mengfang spoke coldly, "Is he the devil?"

"You know nothing!" Xiang Yan was furious and agitated. "Just because she's an Ancient God, it can't be her? And just because of Ayuan's identity, you automatically assume he's the culprit? That's prejudice! Where's your evidence?!"

He Mengfang spoke calmly, making Xiang Yan appear irrational in comparison. "No one is stopping you from proclaiming to the world that Empress Jiaomiao is the real culprit. See how many people would believe you. Forget about the lack of proof; even with evidence, few would trust you."

Xiang Yan mumbled, "Equality... You always preach such grand ideals but practice the opposite! Slowly torturing someone to death... Because of prejudice, I've already lost my mother. I don't want to lose..."

After a moment, he summoned his sword, Changyang, and began hacking frenziedly at the prison door.

Changyang was the pride of the Xiang family. Legend had it that the metal used to forge this sword was a celestial stone from the sun, unable to slay gods but potent enough to sever all evil spirits with its pure yang energy. If Changyang couldn't kill a ghost, only an Ancient God could do the job.

The sword cut through steel effortlessly, a natural nemesis to the Yin Ghost Iron used to construct the Jiu Li Execution Dungeon. A hundred years ago, as a reward for their military achievements, the ancestor of the Jiu Li family bestowed Changyang upon the Xiang family, granting them immunity from capital punishment.

In the blink of an eye, Xiang Yan carved a breach in the cell.

"Ayuan, hurry up and leave!" He stopped his attack, entered the cell, and pulled Shen Yuan out.

Shen Yuan pulled away from his grip.

Xiang Yan stood frozen, perplexed, "What's wrong with you?..."

Before he could finish, Shen Yuan raised his hand and struck Xiang Yan's neck.

Then, darkness befell Xiang Yan's vision.

Shen Yuan caught Xiang Yan as he fell, addressing He Mengfang, "Standing by my side will only bring trouble. Mengfang, take him out. Until this matter is settled, don't let him come back."

Upon hearing this, He Mengfang was at a loss. His heart leaned towards Shen Yuan, but the reality of that fateful night held him back.

He had assumed Shen Yuan would escape, so he didn't hinder Xiang Yan. Yet, he never expected Shen Yuan to knock him unconscious.

He asked, "The prison is breached. Are you going to seize this chance to run away?"

Shen Yuan shook his head.

He Mengfang grew irritated, pressing further, "Why not escape? Do you know what will happen if you stay?"

Shen Yuan still shook his head. "I can't predict the future." Then he explained, "The dragons trapped in the East Sea, the islanders who lost their homes and families, the young boys and girls sacrificed by Ang Liu, and others whose misfortunes I'm unaware of... all their disasters originated with me. If I can put an end to it this time, why not? Besides, I've already been deceived by Wang Pan, fleeing the island with him as a fugitive. If I escape again, it would be an admission of guilt."

"But what about you? Have you thought about yourself?!" He Mengfang grew angrier.

"I?" Shen Yuan lowered his head, then turned to look behind him, where only a moldy wall stood. "I want to preserve my last bit of innocence in this world. I trust you; you're my family and friends, and you won't falsely accuse me or wish me dead."

A pang struck He Mengfang's heart, leaving him speechless. He entered the cell, taking Xiang Yan with him. As he left, he muttered indignantly, "If you're innocent, you have nothing to fear. Your conscience is clear! I hope the people you trust are also worthy of your unwavering faith... until death."

Exiting the dungeon, the noon sun blazed down upon them. After being in the dark and damp environment, the sudden brightness was overwhelming, so He Mengfang rested for a while before moving on.

Not far away, he encountered Dian Shan and his guard Ruan Yong. From a distance, he greeted them briefly, saying nothing more.

Afterward, he handed Xiang Yan over to General Xiang, instructing him to lock the youth securely and wait for his notice when the situation had passed.

Then, he returned to the palace that the He family had built in the capital of Jiu Li.

In a foul mood, he, for the first time, drank Yi Zhi Chun, a wine typically reserved for special occasions.

He secluded himself within the palace hall, forbidding anyone from entering. He then began to drink, one jar after another, until he was nauseous, until the dusk settled and the sun, like a bloodied remnant, spilled its rays into the chamber.

"Pay respects to Empress Dian."

Half-drunk, He Mengfang's mind swirled, yet his thoughts remained coherent. He could discern that the voice outside the hall belonged to Dian Chan, and the one who had just spoken was his mother, Fu Wan.

Dian Chan commanded sternly, "Open the palace gates!"

"This...," Fu Wan hesitated, appearing somewhat conflicted.

Dian Chan whispered, "Am I not allowed to enter?"

Despite being a woman, her solemn demeanor carried an imposing presence that left others feeling suffocated.

Fu Wan gently furrowed her brow and said, "I'm merely concerned that Xiao Meng is growing up as a boy. It might be awkward for him if we barge in unannounced. Please allow me to ask Xiao Meng first."

As the mother of three boys herself, Dian Chan understood this reasoning. She softly grunted in approval through her nose, giving Fu Wan permission to proceed.

To their surprise, before Fu Wan could even speak, He Mengfang loudly interjected, "Please forgive me for any inconvenience, but Mengfang's chamber is currently in a state of great disorder."

Speaking, he slightly lifted his head from his supine position to glance at the floor, where wine jars were scattered all around.

He lazily lay back down again, "It's indeed untidy..."

No sooner had his voice faded than a loud crash echoed as Dian Chan burst through the door. She asked in a grave tone, "I heard from the prison guards that you visited Shen Yuan today. You just left, and then Dian Shan came right after?"

"Yup—" He Mengfang remained lying down, drawling his response in a languid manner.

Seeing this, Fu Wan chided, "How can you be so listless? What kind of image does this portray?"

However, her voice was too gentle, and even though it was a scolding, it didn't really sting.

He Mengfang coaxed Fu Wan, "Mother, I can't get up for a while yet—"

"Dropped it," Dian Chan said expressionlessly. "Dreamfang, did Ayuan mention where he planned to take Little Shan?"

"How would I know where Shen Yuan took Dian Shan?" He Mengfang, still tipsy, blurted out.

Immediately after, Dian Chan instructed the guards nearby, "Search thoroughly."

"Wait!" He Mengfang realized belatedly, and with a loud cry, he sat up straight like a leaping carp, saying, "Ayuan... Ayuan escaped? Haha, Ayuan actually escaped!"

He frowned, but the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. Dian Chan and the others couldn't tell if he was angry or delighted.

Only he knew just how overjoyed he truly was!

"Go," Dian Chan urged the guards with a slight turn of her head.

"Wait!" He Mengfang shouted again. He continued, "Usually, Ayuan doesn't even let us speak ill of Dian Shan. I find it hard to believe that he would abduct Dian Shan."

After a moment of recollection, he added, "Ah! What about that guard who was always by Dian Shan's side? We should question him first, as he was right there when everything happened; he must know more than we do."

"Ruan Yong?!" This realization struck him like a sudden enlightenment. Dian Chan hastily led the guards away and marched grandly towards the palace.

He Mengfang got up, straightened his clothes, and hurried after them.

Upon reaching the palace and encountering Ruan Yong, He Mengfang couldn't help but inwardly marvel: No wonder he has been by Dian Shan's side since childhood, he is on a whole different level compared to those other guards.

It was said within the palace that although Ruan Yong didn't quite measure up to the princes, he was still a handsome man. Tall and well-built, one could tell at a glance that he was skilled in martial arts; yet, his face was as fair as powder, and his lips were rosy while his teeth were pearly white.

He Mengfang had never been particularly interested, always observing from afar and finding it ordinary. Today, up close, Ruan Yong's skin was indeed as delicate as a bubble ready to burst.

However, he had grown up by Dian Shan's side, enjoying privileges that far exceeded those of an ordinary guard. This was only to be expected.

"Dian Chan," she began straightforwardly, "what really happened in the prison today? Why did you keep it from me?"

Ruan Yong stammered, "This... Can I say?... I'm afraid..." His voice suited his gentle demeanor and frail appearance, more like that of a scholarly man than a sword-wielding guard.

Dian Chan slammed her palm on the table, her voice tinged with irritation. "Speak!"

As the ruler of Jiu Li, she had long mastered the art of concealing her emotions. Yet, her frequent displays of anger today indicated her genuine concern for Dian Shan and Shen Yuan.

Without hesitation, Ruan Yong responded, "When the young prince and I entered, many of the Dark Yin Iron bars were already broken, enough for one person to pass through."

He Mengfang had anticipated Ruan Yong shrinking back from the sudden outburst, but he remained composed and answered Dian Chan's question. Clearly, his outward weakness was just a facade.

Hearing Ruan Yong's words, Dian Chan huffed, her disappointment laced with anger. "So Shen Yuan had planned to escape all along! It was just a coincidence that you caught him with his imperial brother... What is Shen Yuan running from?... Does he fear we can't discern right from wrong?..."

He Mengfang stepped forward, speaking the truth. "Xiang Yan's Chang Yang sword was what severed the Dark Yin Iron."

Dian Chan's brows relaxed. "Are you saying that even though Ayuan could have escaped earlier, he didn't?"

He Mengfang replied, "Yes. Ayuan said there was no point in running."

Upon hearing this, Dian Chan's brow furrowed slightly. "This child..."

She pondered: If Ayuan had fled, it would have been considered an evasion of justice, and the guilt would have remained. However, he would have preserved his life, depending on how long it took to catch him. She could have easily turned a blind eye and not actively searched for him.

This thought brought her sudden relief.

If he didn't escape, the outcome of the situation was uncertain, with equal chances of life or death. She also considered that if Ayuan truly didn't run, then this child was indeed naive.

But...

"But if Ayuan didn't escape then, why did he later..."

Dian Chan knew such a scenario made no sense.

It was as if there were two paths before them, both leading to the same destination, but differing in length.

Shen Yuan's approach was to seek the distant at the expense of the nearby.

"Second Prince and Younger Prince were fine, even laughing and chatting," Ruan Yong recalled. "But suddenly, Second Prince took Younger Prince hostage and said, 'Let me out! Or I'll kill him!' I was afraid something might really happen to Younger Prince, so I had no choice but to comply. When Second Prince left the death prison, I thought he would release Younger Prince. But he told me, 'I'm going to the East Sea to kill those who slandered me. Your master is still in my hands. If you dare speak a word, I'll strangle Dian Shan!' Then, he left with Younger Prince."

"Why would Ayuan bother telling you where he's going? Wouldn't it be more secretive just to take Dian Shan away?" Shen Yuan was very astute, He Mengfang believed he wouldn't be so careless as to reveal his plans beforehand.

Ruan Yong spoke slowly, "Second Prince did indeed tell Ruan Yong—" Though his words were measured, his tone conveyed certainty; this was not an offhand remark.

It seemed likely that Shen Yuan's sudden change in demeanor was due to his demonic nature. Dian Chan pressed, "What was Ayuan's state at that time?"

Ruan Yong replied, "Aside from his hair turning completely white, he seemed no different from usual."

Upon hearing this, both He Mengfang and Dian Chan fell silent.

After a long moment, Dian Chan commanded, "Fetch the Imaging Pearl!" Then, she whispered to Ruan Yong, "Dare you deceive me?"

Her imposing presence exerted absolute dominance over anyone in her presence; no one dared to lie to her.

The two exchanged glances. Ruan Yong answered frankly, "Of course not."

Next, the Illusory Shadow Bead was brought forth, and indeed, the scene depicted within was in line with Ruan Yong's account.

After watching, Dian Chan took a deep breath, wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, then abruptly stood up and commanded, "Capture Shen Yuan!"

In that instant, the bond of maternal love between her and Shen Yuan was utterly washed away.