Chapter 54 Part 1

 

She was extremely anxious. When she came out, she did not get into the carriage, instead she grabbed a horse from the palace guards, jumped on it, and galloped back to Yongning Mansion without any obstruction. After she went in, she saw Qingtou, who had been missing during the day, had returned and was squatting by the door with his eyes wide open. As soon as he saw her, he started to say that he had gotten into trouble.

Xuyu had vaguely guessed the whole process and asked him to follow her inside.

As soon as he entered the room, Qingtou knelt down and told the whole story of his adventure during the day, until he met Master Pei who entered the palace at the gate of the waterside pavilion. Afterwards, he was watched by the palace eunuch, and only just now was sent out of the palace and returned here.

“Young master, have I committed a great crime? Have I been deceived by His Majesty by telling him that you are a young lady? When Master entered the palace and heard me talking about this, his face changed drastically. Now Master hasn’t returned yet. Could it be that he has been locked up by His Majesty?”

Qingtou looked depressed and started slapping himself in the face.

“It’s all my fault. Why am I so stupid? I believed everything His Majesty said just because he looked so kind. What should I do if something happens to you, Master, and Lord Pei?”

Xuyu became increasingly irritated by Qingtou’s crying and the sound of his face being slapped, so she ordered him out. She then sat, waiting for dawn. As soon as the lane gate opened, she immediately rode to the Luwu Division office. After inquiring, she found that no one in the office had seen him last night. Not only that, Liu Bo hadn’t seen him since the night before. He had been looking for him for something, so he went to Jinwu Guard office to search, but he didn’t see him there either. He was thinking of going to Pei residence in Yongning Lane to ask for news.

“Young Master doesn’t know where Chief went? Since the night before, yesterday, and last night, I haven’t seen Chief Pei. This has never happened before!” Liu Bo was very anxious.

Xuyu turned around and immediately rushed to Chengping, wanting to ask him to inquire for some news. When she was almost at the Jinzouyuan, she heard the sound of galloping horses behind her. Soon, someone rode past her on a horse. Then, the person turned his horse sideways, and she was blocked by a jade dragon horse with a golden bridle.

Xuyu raised her eyes and met a pair of dark eyes.

It was Yuwen Zhi whom she hadn’t met for some time.

The Jinzouyuan of County Prince Xiping Mansion and Chengping’s family were not far from each other, both in the same area. He looked as if he had just gone out with his entourage, saw her here, and rode up alone to block her way.

“Who are you looking for so early in the morning?” As he said this, he looked in the direction of Chengping across the street.

Xuyu had no mood to entertain him at the moment, but she remembered that she had written to him a few days ago asking for his help, so she suppressed her anxiety, thanked him, and hurried to leave. At this time, she heard him say, “You don’t know yet? Yuan Zhi came to see me in person yesterday and asked me some questions about you.”

Xuyu was startled.

Yuwen Zhi looked at her with suspicion: “Of course I replied according to your instructions. But who are you? It’s strange enough that you entered the palace as a painter, why is it that even Yuan Zhi targeting you now?”

In an instant, Xuyu understood everything clearly.

“This man is cruel and ruthless, as vicious as a snake. You have to be careful.” She heard Yuwen Zhi say again. She snapped back to attention, nodded twice, then said she had something else to do. Urging her horse to go around him, and was about to move forward, when suddenly a horsewhip with a tortoise shell handle swung out in front of her, blocking her way.

Yuwen Zhi looked around.

It was still early in the morning, and the nearby streets were deserted. He leaned toward her and said in a low voice with a somewhat strange tone: “I know you have that person as your backer now, and you have moved in with him. Last time at Qujiang incident, I heard that he was also the one who saved you in the end. You naturally look down on me, and won’t come to me when you have problems, so I don’t have to make fool of myself. But I still want to remind you that Pei guy is not as simple as you think. I advise you to stay away from him.”

Seeing Xuyu looking at him, he curled his lips and said, “If you can’t take my words to heart, just think of it as my own petty concerns!” After saying that, he sat up straight, and resumed his usual arrogant look. Turning his horse around, he snapped his whip against the horse’s flank and rode off on his own.

Xuyu watched him ride away with a frown, then let go and continued moving forward. Soon she arrived at the Jinzouyuan of Chengping’s family. He just came out and was standing at the gate with several followers beside him. He looked like he was about to get on his horse and go somewhere. When he saw Xuyu, his eyes lit up and walked up to her quickly. Before Xuyu could speak, he asked, “Where’s that Pei Er guy? I was just about to ask you. I looked for him yesterday but couldn’t find him. I heard from a brother who was on duty in the palace that he seemed to have entered the palace in the evening and never came out again. Could it be that something happened to him?”

Xuyu knew that he had a special relationship with Pei Xiaoyuan, so she rushed to find him this morning. She wanted to ask him to find out where the emperor had imprisoned Pei Xiaoyuan. However, she hesitated and changed the subject after thinking about what she had just heard about Yuan Zhi: “Did Yuan Zhi ask you about me yesterday?”

Chengping nodded: “Yes. I went to Pei Er yesterday for this matter. You have to be careful. Also, why did he target you? What happened?”

Her father’s appearance last night was too sudden, and she never expected that he would treat Pei Xiaoyuan like that. She was so emotional and couldn’t think straight. Now that she slowly calmed down, she seemed to have realized something.

She suppressed her guilt and confusion and said, “I understand. I will be careful. Master Pei must have something to do. Don’t worry, he will be back soon. I’m leaving first!”

She left Chengping, who seemed very surprise, mounted her horse and hurried away, heading towards Yuan Zhi’s residence.

Yuan’s residence was located in Guangzhai Lane, in the north of the city, adjacent to the imperial palace, making it convenient for eunuchs like Yuan Zhi to enter and exit the palace. She found Yuan’s residence and saw that the door was closed. She went up and knocked on the door. A doorman came out and heard her introduce herself and went in immediately. Not long after, a man came out quickly from the door. It was Yuan Zhi.

Although Xuyu had never met this man directly before, she knew what kind of person he was and felt a deep dislike for him. When she saw him coming out, she asked, “Where is Master Pei Erlang?”

Yuan Zhi always had a face that ghosts and gods avoided, but at this moment, his attitude towards her was very respectful. He glanced at her, didn’t say much, just said “Follow me”, and led her to the palace.

Xuyu also walked through the small gate between the city walls and came to a secret prison in the palace. Yuan Zhi personally led her down holding a fire stick, passing through a dark and narrow passage filled with a foul smell, and finally stopped in front of an iron bars.

From afar, through the bars, Xuyu finally saw Pei Xiaoyuan.

He was locked up in the innermost cell, sitting cross-legged on the dirty and damp ground. He was only wearing a white inner robe, with one side of his forehead wounded, crusted with dried blood. His collar was stained with countless spots of blood, which was shocking to see. Rats and ground insects crawled past him from time to time, and even jumped onto his legs. Yet, he kept his eyes closed and did not move, as if in deep mediation.

Seeing this scene, Xuyu’s eyes instantly turned red.

“Do you want to go down and talk to him?” Yuan Zhi asked behind her.

Xuyu just turned around and left without saying a word. She came out of the secret prison and went straight to Ziyun Palace. She walked in without waiting for people to announce her.

Several palace eunuchs on duty outside had never seen such a scene before. They were shocked and hurried forward to stop her. At this time, they heard a voice of “stop”, and turned around to see Yang Zai’en hurriedly coming out.

“Everyone get out!” Yang Zaien shouted. Everyone hurriedly left the palace.

Xuyu went straight in, while Yang Zai’en followed closely beside her, constantly begging in a low voice, saying that the emperor was in seclusion today. How could this stop Xuyu, she rushed all the way to the outside of the vihara. The door was closed, and she knelt down in front of the crystal curtain that fell quietly to the ground, shouted “Father” as tears welled up in her eyes.

“Father! I know you’re in there! Let him go! It has nothing to do with him! I will recognize you!”

Yang Zai’en knelt down in front of Xuyu with a plop and said, “Young master, please go back first! His Majesty has not slept for several nights. He fell ill again when he came back from outside last night. This servant wanted to call the imperial physician, but His Majesty dismissed it. His Majesty then took some pills, reviewed memorials, and just fell asleep this morning…” He kowtowed and wiped the corners of his eyes with his sleeves.

Xuyu stopped.

“Young Master, please go back! If you have anything to say, wait until His Majesty wakes up. This servant begs you!”

Yang Zai’en kept kowtowing to her.

After a long while, Xuyu slowly got up from the ground, wiped the tears from her cheeks, and whispered, “When His Majesty wakes up, please convey my words to him.”

She turned around and left.

The court on this day looked no different from the previous days. The emperor had not yet taken his seat, and the imperial court only handed over the approved memorials that had been piled up in the past few days. All the officials in the various ministries and offices continued to work as usual under the leadership of the lead officials. However, a piece of gossip that came from nowhere spread quickly in the palace.

It was said that Pei Xiaoyuan, the chief of Luwu Division, offended the emperor for some reason and was thrown into a secret prison, where his life or death was uncertain.

The secret prison was Yuan Zhi’s territory. Based on past experience, anyone who enter here would almost never be able to walk out again.

Just like a stone that stirs up a thousand waves. Within half a day, the news spread to everyone. Except for those who watched quietly, the rest split into two groups. Chengping and Cui Daosi went to find out the news from Prince Ning. Prince Ning immediately went to Ziyun Palace to ask for an audience, but the reply he got was that the emperor was in seclusion and would not see anyone. Just as Prince Ning, Chengping and Cui Daosi were anxiously running around to discuss countermeasures, it was rumored that Liu Ceye, Chen Sida and others were also in a secret meeting, speculating on the emperor’s motives for this action, and wondering whether the censor should take the opportunity to impeach him.

Night descended, and darkness covered the land, ushering out a day full of hidden undercurrents. By deep night, the palace water clock had struck the third watch. Suddenly, the sound of an iron lock clanging opened echoed sharply through the dungeon. Yuan Zhi appeared, making his way to the solitary cell and ordering the door to be opened.

Pei Xiaoyuan slowly opened his eyes.

A jailer took the official robe and belt he had taken off earlier and placed them beside him.

“Please!”

Yuan Zhi smiled faintly, nodded, and then led his people away.

Pei Xiaoyuan rose, took the clothes, and dressed himself again. He fastened the belt, smoothed out a few creases, put on his hat, and finally adjusted his attire before stepping out.

As he emerged from the secret prison and returned to the surface, he saw Yang Zai’en already waiting outside. He bowed and said, “Master, please follow me.” Then he turned and left.

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