Chapter 4

Chapter 4

"Come on! Come and kill me!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Wanqing wildly struggled to lunge forward. She didn't think at all, allowing her emotions to run wild as she screamed with all her might, "Jiang Shaoyan, come back! Come and kill me!"

"Hold her down! Shackles! Lock them! Lock them on her!"

Unprepared for such strength from a lady of high birth, the jailors hurriedly rushed over.

"Cover her mouth! Drag her back to the cell!"

Amidst the urgent cries, some held her hands while others covered her mouth, subduing the utterly irrational Luo Wanqing. Then, several of them lifted her up, carried her through the long corridor, and threw her into the cell before swiftly locking the iron bars and turning away.

Luo Wanqing tumbled a few times on the ground but immediately sprang up. She scrambled to the door, and amid the onlookers' curiosity and astonishment, she grabbed the bars and shook them frantically while roaring.

"Open the door! Let me out! I want to see the Censorate!"

"My Luo family is innocent! My father didn't smuggle salt! I'm going to appeal to the Board of Censors! The Supreme Court! The Censorate! Jiang Shaoyan framed my Luo family, we're innocent!"

"Let me out! You corrupt officials! Let me out! I want to see Xie Heng! Open the door! I have a grievance to air! This is a miscarriage of justice!"

"Wan Qing, what's wrong with you, Wan Qing?"

In her distraught cries, Yao Zelan and Su Hui rushed over, each trying to hold her back. However, Luo Wanqing, in her frenzy, kept attempting to charge at the iron bars. Luo Wenshui, beside her, was frightened into tears. The onlookers started murmuring whispers until finally, Yao Zelan could no longer endure it and sternly shouted, "Luo Wanqing!"

At her mother's sharp rebuke, Luo Wanqing paused, as if her scattered senses were finally returning. She lifted her head blankly, meeting Yao Zelan's deeply concerned gaze.

Seeing her daughter regain consciousness, Yao Zelan quickly approached and embraced her, soothingly saying, "It's alright now, Wan Qing. Mother is here."

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing's grip on the dagger gradually loosened. She didn't know what was happening to her; it felt as if the accumulated grievances she had been suppressing for a long time surged up in an instant. Clenching her lower lip, she leaned against Yao Zelan, trembling from head to toe, tears falling like raindrops unchecked.

She sobbed softly. Watching her, Su Hui spoke with concern, "Mother, help Wan Qing back first."

Yao Zelan nodded. She coaxed Luo Wanqing and, together with Su Hui, supported her back to their spot.

The detention room was a large space accommodating over a hundred people, each with their own designated area.

Luo Wanqing returned to her family's spot and cried for a while before finally regaining her composure. Su Hui, holding her child, observed her calming down before asking worriedly, "Wan Qing, what happened?"

Luo Wanqing paused in her actions upon hearing the question, unsure if she should reveal the truth.

She remembered how her mother's hair had turned half-gray overnight when she heard of her father's death in her previous life. Touched by this memory, Luo Wanqing hesitated for a moment before selectively disclosing, "Jiang Shaoyan said that our case is too significant for him to handle."

"Is that all?" Yao Zelan didn't believe it was so simple, fixing Luo Wanqing with a sharp gaze. "What about Jiang Shaoyan?"

"He has someone else now," Luo Wanqing whispered, not daring to reveal the truth. "He's getting married and came to bid me farewell."

"That scoundrel!"

Yao Zelan's anger erupted, but noticing the attention from the surrounding people, she suppressed her fury, took a deep breath, and held Luo Wanqing's hand, whispering firmly, "It's alright, Wanqing. Don't be too heartbroken. Your father has other friends outside, and I have my connections as well. We don't need to rely on him. When we're out of here one day, I'll find you a good family to marry into, making him regret his decision!"

Luo Wanqing remained silent, simply nodding in agreement to soothe Yao Zelan temporarily.

The other female prisoners discreetly observed them. As the family quieted down, whispers filled the cell, and it was evident they were discussing Luo Wanqing.

Frustrated and resentful, yet powerless, Yao Zelan thought of Luo Wanqing's pain and was about to console her when Luo Wanqing spoke up, "It's okay."

Yao Zelan was taken aback. Luo Wanqing turned her head, leaning against the earthen wall, and said calmly, "Mother, it's not a big deal."

But how much could mere words affect her?

In her dream, soon the jailers would neglect them, allowing the other prisoners to torment them. Then they'd be sent to Lingnan, where they'd perish one by one during their exile.

That was the true hardship.

Contemplating the future, Luo Wanqing closed her eyes, forcing herself to remain composed.

After venting her emotions, everything should return to normal.

After all, seeking mutual destruction was an impulsive act. She couldn't kill Jiang Shaoyan, and now her family's well-being was paramount.

She had hoped to persuade Jiang Shaoyan to save her kin, but with her father's death, there seemed no way to turn the situation around.

She couldn't simply let Jiang Shaoyan live comfortably in this world. Therefore, he would never allow any chance for her Luo family to rise again.

Counting on Jiang Shaoyan was futile. The Ministry of Justice was corrupt, so within this Yangzhou Prison, only one authority remained that could alter the outcome of the Luo family case: the Censorate.

Established five years ago by the emperor himself, the Censorate answered directly to the sovereign and operated independently from the Three Ministries. It oversaw criminal justice nationwide, investigating even the highest-ranking officials and correcting miscarriages of justice. Below the emperor, above the masses, the Censorate was revered by common folk almost as deities, often worshiped. The Chief Censor's power could be said to be second only to the emperor himself.

In that prophetic dream, the powers of the Inspectorate had continually expanded, especially after its Chief, Xie Heng, had supported Jiang Shaoyan's rise to power. For a time, Jiang Shaoyan had become nothing more than a puppet to Xie Heng. However, at some point, Xie Heng mysteriously met his end, executed in a most gruesome manner.

But even after his death, the Inspectorate's influence remained unshaken, granting Qin Jue, the second Chief, the authority to dethrone Jiang Shaoyan before her own demise.

In that dream, Xie Heng was Jiang Shaoyan's mentor and they made an excellent team. Perhaps because of this, she instinctively used Xie Heng to provoke Jiang Shaoyan.

Given Jiang Shaoyan's temperament, even if he didn't care about her, he would now likely harbor some resentment towards Xie Heng.

If only Jiang Shaoyan were impulsive enough to make a move against Xie Heng.

Luo Wanqing closed her eyes, momentarily soothing herself. The mere thought of Xie Heng eliminating Jiang Shaoyan made her blood boil with excitement.

However, it was clear that this was just a fantasy. Unless pushed to the brink, Jiang Shaoyan would never dare to act against Xie Heng, whether now or in the future.

As of now, Jiang Shaoyan had recently regained his status as a prince and likely had no connection with Xie Heng, not being the allies they were in the dream.

The Inspectorate thus became the sole avenue for the Luo family to seek redemption.

What could she possibly offer to convince the Inspectorate to reopen her case?

Luo Wanqing pondered. Jiang Shaoyan had been treated as a son-in-law by her father, who had never kept business matters from him all these years. If he wanted to frame her, it would have been effortless.

But if the case was already ironclad, why did Jiang Shaoyan visit her father and give him the pottery shard, leading to his suicide?

Luo Wanqing meticulously recalled every detail and analyzed every piece of information at her disposal. When she finally opened her eyes, it was deep into the night.

The others were sound asleep, while dark clouds shrouded the sky, casting an oppressive gloom.

Looking at the sky from behind the iron bars, Luo Wanqing felt just as stifled as the heavy atmosphere. She was like a trapped beast in a cage, struggling fruitlessly.

She had no evidence. The only leverage she had left to sway the Inspectorate was the mysterious death of her father. Whether they would investigate or not depended on the Inspectorate's disposition.

But Jiang Shaoyan was a prince; the average Inspectorate official might not dare to investigate. The only person with the audacity to do so was Xie Heng. Thus, if she were to file a complaint, it had to be to Xie Heng.

But what kind of figure was Xie Heng?

Born into a prominent family of six generations, descendant of founding heroes, with three generations of prime ministers and a lineage of high-ranking officials, he was personally carried into the imperial court by the emperor as a child and had never left since. At merely twenty-three years old, he established the Inspectorate and became its Chief, an isolated yet loyal servant of the sovereign.

For such a figure to come to Jiangnan was already a rare sight. As a mere merchant's daughter, she, not to mention being guarded against by Jiang Shaoyan, would have no right to meet Xie Heng even if Jiang did nothing.

But Xie Heng was her only hope. Apart from him, who else in the entire Yangzhou prison could stand up to Jiang Shaoyan and Zheng Pingsheng, to save her Luo family from calamity?

At any cost, she needed to see Xie Heng.

She would take a gamble on whether he would be willing to save her family.

She started searching for all information about Xie Heng in Yangzhou within her dream. Trapped in the detention cell, she knew little. Her only knowledge about Xie Heng seemed to be that assassins had infiltrated the prison, reportedly from the renowned assassination group, Fengyu Pavilion. Their target was someone within the prison, though who exactly was unclear. But in the end, they were all apprehended by Xie Heng's ambush –

except for one woman named Liu Xiniang.

To capture the fleeing Liu Xiniang, the entire prison, especially the women's detention cell, was thoroughly searched multiple times by the guards.

This was because the escaped assassin had been hiding in the detention cell all along.

What did this assassin look like?

Perceiving the potential in this person, Luo Wanqing promptly began to recall, but her thoughts were interrupted by the rhythmic chirping of birds outside.

Everyone else slept soundly, so the bird's song went unnoticed. However, Luo Wanqing's intuition told her otherwise.

In the depths of a frigid winter night, where did such a bird come from, and why was it calling out with such regularity?

As she pondered, she heard rustling in the crowd. Looking up, she spotted a seemingly severely injured woman struggling to stand, staggeringly making her way towards the courtyard designated for private use.

The sight immediately triggered recognition in Luo Wanqing.

It was her!

The assassin who had fled after attempting to kill Xie Heng, the salt smuggler whose face had been disfigured by the jailor during interrogation.

The assassination attempt had taken place tonight. That bird's call must have been their signal to strike, and now she was preparing to depart. If Luo Wanqing didn't intervene, she would never see this person again.

With this realization, Luo Wanqing didn't hesitate. She quickly rose to follow the woman out of the detention room. However, as they reached the backyard, a sharp gust of palm wind rushed towards them. The woman seized Luo Wanqing's neck, forcing her roughly against the wall, and coldly asked, "Why are you following me?"

Luo Wanqing remained silent, feeling the icy fingers constricting her throat, making it difficult to breathe.

She lifted her head slightly to discern the woman's appearance.

The woman's face was scarred from burns, making it impossible to discern her original features. Only the malicious glint in her smiling eyes revealed a hint of her former self – she must have been quite attractive once.

It was Liu Xiniang.

Luo Wanqing confirmed.

As she sized up her opponent, the other woman stared back intently.

Perceiving the killing intent in front of her, Luo Wanqing's heart raced. She tilted her head slightly, trying to regulate her breath and appear composed. "I need Miss Liu's help with something."

"What kind of help?"

"Take me with you when you leave."

Where Liu Xiniang was headed, Xie Heng had already set an ambush. Although there was a risk that she might be mistaken as an accomplice and killed alongside Liu Xiniang, this was her only chance to see Xie Heng.

She was willing to stake her life on this opportunity.

Yet, hearing her words, the woman before her misunderstood the meaning.

Liu Xiniang's grip loosened slightly as she said helplessly, "I'm not escaping."

"I know," Luo Wanqing replied calmly. "You're killing someone."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiniang looked surprised. "You know?"

"Yes," Luo Wanqing stared at her, half-threateningly. "If you don't take me with you, I'll immediately report to the guards. You can forget about silencing me too – I've already informed someone before coming here. If I don't send the safety signal within fifteen minutes, she'll report you."

Liu Xiniang's face showed shock upon hearing this. After a moment of thought, she seemed to have grasped something and nodded seriously. "I understand."

With that, she unexpectedly released Luo Wanqing and turned to walk back into the cell, waving her hand. "Alright, then I won't go."

"Wait!" Luo Wanqing was stunned by these words, grabbing her sleeve and urgently asking with a frown, "You're not going? After all the planning and your prolonged concealment here, enduring so many punishments, you just decide not to go?"

"I didn't choose to hide here; it's part of my mission," Liu Xiniang explained with resignation, still patiently reasoning with her. "But think about it – if even you know about such a significant matter, how could the person I'm targeting be unaware? The news has leaked so badly. If I still went ahead, wouldn't that be simply throwing myself to my death? I'm not stupid!"

Luo Wanqing was left flustered by this reasoning. She stared blankly at Liu Xiniang, unsure of what to do next.

Observing the situation, Liu Xiniang looked at her with empathy. After some contemplation, she sighed and placed her hand on Luo Wanqing's shoulder, consoling her, "You're Luo Wanqing, right? I'm Liu Xiniang. From now on, in this detention center, we can consider ourselves half friends. Thank you for warning me; I owe you a favor. If you ever need help, feel free to approach me, even if I might not be able to assist directly, I can still offer words of comfort as a form of support. What do you think?"

Luo Wanqing remained silent, seemingly deep in thought.

Feeling awkward, Liu Xiniang smiled and suggested, "Well, it's quite cold out here. Let's head into the cell first, where it's warmer and more crowded."

As Liu Xiniang released her grip, she tried to slip away unnoticed.

However, as soon as she moved, Luo Wanqing spoke up resolutely, "I want to see Xie Heng."

Liu Xiniang's steps halted, and she turned back in astonishment.

Luo Wanqing lifted her clear and determined gaze to meet hers and declared earnestly, "If I don't get to see him, I'll report you and earn credit to meet him."

Silent, Liu Xiniang stared at the woman before her who was as beautiful as a piece of lustrous glass. In that moment, she felt that the sky was too dark—just as dark as Luo Wanqing's resolve.

Author's Note:

While writing, I visited a real-life prison from history, but it was so grim that I couldn't incorporate it into my story at all. T_T This isn't the ancient, romantic literature I had in mind.

Therefore, the prison regulations and layout in the story are purely fictional, based on my own creation. Don't ask me why there's an open-air restroom in the cellblock; it's simply because I wanted to provide them with a ventilated toilet area. ==