Chapter 65#

It was already late at night.

Wen Zhuo and Shen Zhi sat on the stone benches in the courtyard, wrapped in wind-resistant robes, playing a game of Go by the faint light of the cold moon.

Shen Zhi made the first move, thought for a moment, and said, “Three, four. Star point.”

Wen Zhuo rubbed his slightly cold hands and replied unhurriedly, “Seventeen, four. Star point.”

“Seventeen, sixteen. Star point.”

“Three, six. Star point.”

“Five, three. Small knight’s approach.”

“Seven, one. Large knight’s enclosure.”

…

This style of play was the most mentally taxing, requiring one to lay out the entire nineteen-by-nineteen board in their mind, remember the exact position of every stone placed, and simultaneously deduce subsequent attacks and defenses.

But precisely because of this, with all their energy consumed by the game, they had no spare attention to worry about the prison situation, avoiding pointless, anxious thoughts.

This was exactly what Wen Zhuo wanted. He only needed to sit quietly and wait—for this play to unfold, rise to its climax, and then quietly conclude.

Mianzhou Prefecture gradually fell into silence, except for a sudden commotion at the South City Gate.

Under the pretext of searching for the villain who had injured Young Master Wen, the constables knocked on every door, forcibly waking the already-sleeping citizens.

Rubbing their sleepy eyes, the citizens repeated the same tired words they had already said countless times, while staring at the portrait that was shown to them over and over again—

“Haven’t seen him,” “Don’t recognize him,” “If I find any clues, I’ll report to the officers immediately.”

Thus, they were forced awake, and for a while, they couldn’t fall back into a deep sleep.

This was also Lou Changsui’s deliberate intent.

He wanted the citizens to witness with their own eyes that Liu Kangren, escaping from prison in fear of punishment, fought desperately with the officers at the South Gate, and eventually, unable to resist, was killed in action.

Then, when Wen Zhuo arrived and the imperial decree came, the citizens would naturally speak in defense of his actions.

As midnight arrived.

As if summoned, a patch of dark clouds drifted over, completely blotting out the last trace of moonlight.

Deep within the prison, Liu Kangren had not yet fallen asleep.

He had been imprisoned for many days, his days and nights reversed, his appearance haggard. His once upright frame was now reduced to merely skin and bones, his face covered in scruff and exhaustion.

He had long known he had fallen into a trap, but it was a trap with no way out—he had no choice but to jump.

He only regretted that when he was demoted to Mianzhou, he had left behind all the people from the Marquess of Guogong’s mansion, the Southern Border Army, and even his own personal attendants in the capital.

He had intended to bear the guilt alone and accept punishment sincerely, unwilling to implicate anyone else. But now, things had come to this, and not a single person could risk breaking through Lou Changsui’s blockade to inform his father of the truth.

He could imagine how Lou Changsui would frame him, and over these days, he had developed a faint, ominous premonition.

In this prison cell piled with weeds, eating coarse food, smelling the damp, rotting, and foul odors, he sometimes thought, “Let me die soon. Why continue to suffer, entangled in this world? Let this be my atonement for the defeat of the Southern Border ten years ago.”

But other times, he was unwilling.

He could die on the battlefield, under Fan Wan’s blade, from an arrow shot from Nanyang, but how could he die in a scheme crafted by his own people, dying such an unexplained death?

But whether to die or not was no longer his decision to make.

Liu Kangren lowered his head, planning to endure another day of this unchanging, repetitive torture.

Just then, two muffled thuds came from not far away, as if someone had suddenly collapsed.

Then, the sound of rustling footsteps approached from afar. At first, it sounded cautious, but gradually, all pretense was abandoned. The chaotic noise woke all the sleeping prisoners in the cell.

Liu Kangren slowly raised his head, keenly sensing the disturbance.

His heart pounded wildly, and an inexplicable premonition seized him.

He slightly straightened his upper body, and indeed, the footsteps grew closer. Finally, the light from a torch pierced the darkness, illuminating the blackened wall behind him and the weeds strewn across the cell floor.

“Lord Liu!” a joyful cry rang out, followed by an urgent shout, “Lord Liu is here!”

With a whoosh, seven or eight figures surrounded the cell. Staring at the rotten wooden prison door, they raised their feet and kicked.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The dull thuds echoed through the cell. The door trembled violently, splinters fell, and the wood let out a creaking sound, as if it could no longer bear the strain.

After the seven men took turns kicking dozens of times, the dilapidated cell door finally crashed down, raising clouds of dust and grass clippings.

Liu Kangren was stunned. He slowly stood up, leaning against the cold wall.

He was sallow and gaunt, his hands bound in heavy shackles. As he stood, he wobbled precariously, completely devoid of the heroic bearing he once had when mounting his horse and raising his spear.

The man at the front shouted, “Lord Liu, we have come to rescue you!”

“You… you dare…” Liu Kangren’s throat tightened, and for a moment, he couldn’t speak.

He had already recognized them. These were the banner soldiers who had followed him for many years, once ordered to oversee the porridge distribution in Mianzhou.

Back then, he had taken all the blame upon himself, allowing these people to escape unscathed.

Liu Kangren wanted to stomp his foot in anxiety, but he was completely weak. He could only shake his head repeatedly, his voice filled with pain: “Do you know that jailbreaking is a crime punishable by the execution of three whole generations of your family!”

His own death was nothing, but he absolutely did not want these loyal and brave men to die because of him.

“Lord Liu, the imperial approval from the capital is about to arrive. We could not bear to see you die unjustly!” One of them stepped forward, his tone earnest. “Please leave with us quickly, find a way to see the Marquess, and report the truth of Mianzhou to him. Even if we die, we will have no regrets!”

“You all…” Liu Kangren was overwhelmed with emotion, tears and snot streaming down his face. His knees went weak, and he was about to kneel in thanks for this heavy debt of gratitude.

“My lord, do not belittle us. Leave quickly!” One man hurried forward, hoisted the hungry and weak Liu Kangren onto his back, and turned to rush out.

Liu Kangren lay on the man’s back, the smell of sweat from his clothes filling his nostrils. He suddenly said quietly, “Wang Liu, thank you.”

He recognized this man. He was the banner soldier sent to Liangping County to distribute porridge.

Hearing his name called out so accurately, Wang Liu’s steps abruptly faltered. His eyes instantly grew hot, and tears nearly fell.

He clenched his teeth tightly, swallowing the sobs rising in his throat.

He knew better than anyone that Lord Liu was a rare good man. But for the sake of his parents, wife, and children, he ultimately had to personally send this good man into the already-laid trap of death.

Wang Liu had barely taken half a step out of the cell door when a gaunt prisoner in the cell suddenly lunged forward, clutching Wang Liu’s leg tightly. His eyes were full of hope, and he pleaded hoarsely: “Brother! Since you’re saving Lord Liu, take me with you too! I beg you, give me a way out!”

Wang Liu’s eyes turned fierce. Without hesitation, he raised his foot and kicked hard, roaring, “Get lost! A filthy criminal like you dares to compare yourself to Lord Liu!”

The prisoner was kicked to the ground, a dull cracking sound echoing from his chest—a rib had been broken on the spot.

He curled up on the ground, letting out weak cries of pain. His body twitched uncontrollably, and blood slowly trickled from the corner of his mouth. It seemed he wouldn’t survive.

This was also a vicious trick Lou Changsui had instructed beforehand—to use this kick to stir up resentment among the other prisoners, making them direct all their hatred towards Liu Kangren.

If the imperial court sent people to investigate later, these prisoners would certainly exaggerate and embellish, nailing Liu Kangren’s guilt firmly in place.

“Wang Liu!” Liu Kangren had spent a long time in the military and had seen all kinds of injuries. He knew at a glance that the man’s lungs were damaged and beyond help.

Wang Liu’s sudden ruthlessness, killing a man with one kick, sent a shock through his heart.

Wang Liu turned his head, his expression once again respectful, and explained to Liu Kangren in a low voice: “My lord, tonight, all pretenses have been cast aside. A little more mercy means a little more risk!”

Liu Kangren’s lips moved, but in the end, he closed his mouth.

He could barely protect himself now, relying entirely on these men risking their lives to save him. What right did he have to demand that they be meticulous in everything?

As they reached the entrance of the prison, Liu Kangren caught sight of four constables lying in a heap on the ground, unconscious—whether from a blow or just asleep, he couldn’t tell.

The night was deathly still, clearly the commotion in the cell had not yet reached outside. However, the prisoners in the cells behind them, stirred up by the recent events, were becoming increasingly restless, their dissatisfied shouts rising and falling.

Liu Kangren’s gaze swept around, and he happened to spot a set of keys hanging from the waist of one of the jailers. Surely, among them was the key to unlock his shackles.

He was about to open his mouth to remind them when Wang Liu stepped over the bodies without any intention of taking the keys.

Liu Kangren hesitated, wanting to speak but then stopping.

Although he was imprisoned, weak and exhausted, he had practiced martial arts since childhood. If his shackles were removed, he would not become a burden and could even protect others.

But then he thought again—the situation was critical. Wang Liu was probably too flustered to think of it.

So he said nothing more, only focusing his attention on the sounds around them.

“How do we get out of the city?” Liu Kangren asked in a low voice, still harboring some doubts.

“Through the South Gate!” Wang Liu answered without hesitation. “We’ve already bribed the archer on duty tonight. He’ll secretly let us out.”

With that, he signaled to the others behind him. They all tightened their grips on their weapons, looked around to confirm no one was watching, and then, holding their blades, hurried toward the South Gate.

While things were tense and critical on one side, the Liu residence remained as serene as a gentle breeze.

The last sliver of moonlight was devoured by thick clouds, leaving only an impenetrable darkness.

Shen Zhi gently wrapped his arm around Wen Zhuo’s shoulder. His brow slightly furrowed as he deliberated for a long time before finally speaking: “Fourteen, eleven. Hane.”

Wen Zhuo remained composed, placing his move with crisp precision: “Thirteen, twelve. Atari.”

“Sss—” Shen Zhi closed his eyes, replaying the game in his mind. His fingertips unconsciously traced patterns on Wen Zhuo’s arm before he spoke with certainty: “Fifteen, twelve. Connect.”

In the darkness, Wen Zhuo looked in his direction, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes. As he spoke, he said, “Fourteen, thirteen. Capture.” And he couldn’t help but think—there were very few people in the world who could play a blind game of Go like this with him. Though Shen Zhi’s Go skills weren’t top-tier, his memory was truly impressive.

“Then… ten, fifteen. Large knight’s move,” Shen Zhi said, unaware of Wen Zhuo’s thoughts, his voice tinged with caution.

“Nine, seventeen. Diagonal move,” Wen Zhuo immediately countered.

“Four, ten. Three-space extension.”

“Sixteen, ten. Three-space extension.”

After this move, while Shen Zhi racked his brain for the next move, Wen Zhuo suddenly spoke: “Your Highness’s memory is so precise. Back then at the Spring Board Go Tournament, when you said you needed half a month to memorize those three boards, were you deceiving your teacher?”

Shen Zhi was deeply immersed in the game. Caught off guard by this old grievance, his mind went blank for a moment.

He let out a low laugh, begging for mercy as he pinched Wen Zhuo’s shoulder: “Teacher, don’t be like this. You’ve scared away the brilliant move I had just thought of.”

In the alley, the torches gave off a pungent smell of tar.

Wang Liu, carrying Liu Kangren on his back, ran to a fork in the road. With a clatter, he kicked aside a piece of gravel and suddenly called out: “Officer!”

Liu Kangren was wondering who he was calling out to when a figure emerged from the shadows. It was the guard from the prefectural office.

Liu Kangren’s heart tightened. He quickly asked, “Who is this?”

“My lord, this is someone sent by the Marquess of Guogong’s mansion!” Wang Liu explained rapidly. “The Emperor has already issued an edict for your execution by decapitation. The Marquess could not bear to see you die unjustly, so he sent a team of men to arrive in Mianzhou ahead of the imperial decree. We learned the news from him. The Marquess has also dispatched a squad of elite warriors waiting outside the city to welcome you!”

After speaking, Wang Liu quickly exchanged a glance with the guard.

According to the original plan, they would play this part of the act with Liu Kangren up to this point. The guard would bring a horse, help Liu Kangren mount it, and ride to the South Gate. Meanwhile, they would lag behind, pretending that their foot speed couldn’t keep up. This way, they wouldn’t be seen clearly by the citizens at the South Gate, and when Liu Kangren was surrounded and killed by the officers, they could ‘helplessly’ fail to intervene.

This way, Lou Changsui would eliminate his greatest worry, and they could escape unscathed.

“Officer, where is the horse?” Wang Liu asked.

The guard tilted his head, a look of confusion on his face: “Horse? What horse?”

The expression on Wang Liu’s face froze instantly.

Liu Kangren’s suspicions grew stronger. He studied the guard carefully and found him extremely unfamiliar. Not only did his father strictly adhere to the laws of the land and would never commit such an act of treason as jailbreaking, but even if he were to send help, he would surely send someone Liu Kangren knew.

He secretly clenched the shackles on his wrists and said in a low voice, “Wang Liu, I think…”

Before he could finish his sentence, he saw the guard crack a grin. Suddenly, from the surrounding alleys and rooftops, more than twenty masked men, all well-trained, pounced down without a word. They threw punches at Wang Liu and the others.

“Not good!” Liu Kangren’s face changed dramatically.

The seven banner soldiers were utterly bewildered, momentarily forgetting to resist.

Their minds were filled with one question: Why had the plan changed?

How could they compare with the guards of the Yongning Marquis’s estate? Before their minds could catch up, their weapons were snatched away. They were struck hard on the back of the neck and collapsed limply to the ground, losing consciousness almost instantly.

Liu Kangren, weighed down by his shackles, couldn’t fight back. He could only stand barefoot in his prison uniform, his gaze dark and somber as he watched the scene unfold.

Just as he was bracing himself to die, ready to resist with all his might, the guard suddenly raised his hand and revealed a token. He said sternly: “His Majesty’s personally appointed Southern Inspection Governor and Head of the Hanlin Academy, Lord Wen Zhuo, invites Lord Liu for a talk.”

Liu Kangren was taken aback, utterly confused: “You…”

With a wave of his hand from the guard, two men immediately stepped forward, flanked Liu Kangren, and started running.

Liu Kangren gasped, twisting his body to look back. The seven banner soldiers were still lying on the ground.

“Lord Liu, rest assured,” the guard explained in a low voice. “They were indeed ordered by Lou Changsui to break you out of jail and lead you to the South Gate to be killed. But do not worry, they are just unconscious, not dead.”

Inside the prefectural office, Lou Changsui was like an ant on a hot pan. His bulky frame paced back and forth in the hall, his steps swift as the wind.

Finally, a stumbling sound of footsteps came from outside the door. A constable rushed in, his face dripping with sweat, and knelt on the ground, cupping his hands: “My Lord!”

Lou Changsui stopped abruptly, strode forward, and pulled him up. Overjoyed, he asked: “How is it? Has the fight already started at the South Gate? Is Liu Kangren dead yet!”

The constable’s face was deathly pale. Staring at Lou Changsui’s face, which was full of anticipation, his lips moved soundlessly for a moment before he gritted his teeth and said: “My Lord, we waited at Xiao Yangshi Road for a long time, but Liu Kangren never showed up! The chief constable couldn’t wait any longer and sent me back to ask for instructions. Has the plan… has the plan changed?”

“What did you say?” Lou Changsui felt as if he had been struck by lightning. Xiao Yangshi Road—wasn’t that very close to the prison?

Liu Kangren should have already passed through Xiao Yangshi Road with the officers long ago!

He shoved the constable hard, roaring: “Are you telling me that you bastards were negligent in your duty!”

The constable was pushed into a somersault on the spot. He quickly got up and knelt back down, his head lowered even further: “My Lord, we indeed saw no trace of Liu Kangren on Xiao Yangshi Road!”

A strong sense of unease seized Lou Changsui’s heart. He grabbed the steward beside him, his eyes wide open, and said sharply: “Didn’t I order that for every three streets and lanes, five men were to be stationed to watch? No one was allowed to leave without permission! Where are they? Have they all dropped dead somewhere!”

The steward’s face was full of distress: “My Lord, I strictly followed your orders!”

“Could it be that those seven banner soldiers have turned against us?” Lou Changsui muttered to himself. His heart pounded against his chest. A surge of blood rushed to his head, making the veins in his eyes stand out red. “Prepare a horse for me! With this net spread wide, let’s see where they can run!”

This matter concerned his life and freedom. Lou Changsui dared not be negligent. He threw on his robe haphazardly, clumsily but urgently climbed onto his horse, and led a squad of officers, galloping towards the prison.

In the prison, the jailers had already woken up and were whipping the shouting prisoners viciously.

Seeing Lou Changsui arrive, the head jailer came forward with a flattering smile: “My Lord, as per your orders, Liu Kangren has been ‘set free’!”

“Which direction did he go? Who did he go with!” The torchlight flickered on Lou Changsui’s face. The lump of fat twitched. His fish-like eyes bulged, burning with rage.

The jailer was stunned and stammered: “As per the plan…”

Lou Changsui didn’t wait for him to finish. He immediately turned his horse and galloped away: “Follow me!”

Finally, at that fork in the road, the horses neighed and stopped abruptly, startling crows and sparrows into flight.

“My Lord, look!” The steward pointed ahead.

Before them was a scene of struggle—the seven banner soldiers lay scattered on the ground, unconscious. Suspicous bloodstains remained on the wall. The white marks of blade strikes were embedded in the gray wall beside them, and dust and mud were trembling down.

By the light of the torches, they saw the horses that had been prepared earlier still tied to the trees. But Liu Kangren and that guard from the Prince Xian’s mansion had vanished without a trace!

Lou Changsui’s face instantly swelled into a terrifying purple. His features twisted in the flickering firelight. The chestnut horse beneath him seemed to feel its master’s agitation, constantly pawing the ground and snorting.

“Liu Kangren! Where is Liu Kangren! Ah!” Lou Changsui roared at the night sky around him.

It was 1:15 AM.

Wen Zhuo’s nose felt a little itchy, and he let out a soft sneeze. He buried his head and rubbed his reddened nose, then continued: “Nine, eighteen. Connect.”

Shen Zhi pressed his knuckles to his forehead, weighed his options, and played his final card: “Twelve. Hane.”

“Eleven, two. Connect.” Wen Zhuo was merciless, cutting off his last path.

Shen Zhi raised an eyebrow and sighed in feigned helplessness: “Do I have any place left to play… One, one. Dame.”

“Nineteen, one. Dame.” Wen Zhuo gathered his robes and glanced towards the pitch-black sky. His ears had already caught the faint rustling sounds coming from the back door of the Liu residence.

A knowing smile curled at the corner of his lips. He was slightly satisfied, comparatively satisfied, very satisfied…

So, instinctively, he sought something from his companion, even if he himself didn’t realize what he was seeking. He just said softly, “Your Highness, I won.”

Shen Zhi placed his stone in surrender. Before the guards could climb over the wall, he pressed his lips to Wen Zhuo’s, kissing him three times in succession, and said with double meaning: “How can Wanshan be so formidable? Truly, a bearing that orders heaven and earth, a strategy worthy of a great minister and a hero. How the world looks up to you, beyond reach, and how this prince… admires you.”