Qin Ziyu recovered from this illness faster than before. In less than two days, he could walk on the ground, and by the third day, he was able to go outside.
Xiao Ci took him out of the palace to visit the West Depot.
In the past, whenever the original host went out, the entourage of carriages, attendants, and Golden Guards would number in the hundreds. After all, he was a Crown Prince of noble status; it was done not only for his protection but also for the sake of imperial dignity. This time, however, it was extremely low-key, with only Qing’an and Qingkang brought along.
After reporting to the Noble Consort early in the morning, Qin Ziyu followed Xiao Ci’s carriage out of the palace. He had been here for nearly two months—from late autumn to early winter—and this was his first time leaving the palace walls. The street scenery outside was desolate, permeated everywhere with the bleakness of winter. There were few pedestrians on the streets; without the need for the Brocade Guards to clear the way, no one would recklessly charge into their path.
Xiao Ci sat to the side with his eyes closed, resting his mind. Qin Ziyu sat in the center, lifting a corner of the curtain to gaze at the pavilions and towers outside. Chang’an City was not as prosperous as he had imagined. Perhaps he was too used to the neon lights of the modern era and found this somewhat jarring.
“Wangchun Tower…”
Xiao Ci opened his eyes. “Wangchun Tower is the largest tavern in Chang’an. It only becomes lively in the evenings.”
Outside the tavern, there would be many vendors selling various snacks, snacks, hairpins, bracelets, and other trinkets. Usually, the curfew was quite strict, but during festivals, it was most boisterous, filled with street performers, clay figurine makers, and sugar painters an entire street that seemed to have no end.
The West Depot was located west of the Imperial Palace. The route crossed Huarong Street and Tingfeng Road, arriving at a gate flanked by two majestic stone lions.
Xiao Ci was the first to jump down from the carriage. His legs were so long that it looked more like he simply stepped down. Qin Ziyu had only just recovered and usually had a poor appetite, leading him to eat very little; consequently, his steps were somewhat unstable. Once he landed and found his footing, Qing’an took a step back and followed behind him.
Qingkang stood guard outside the West Depot’s government office. This was someone else’s territory, and he needed to remain vigilant. Should anything happen to His Highness, he would immediately release the signal fireworks. However, the possibility was slim; before leaving the palace, His Highness had sent someone to the Changle Palace. Since the Noble Consort knew of this matter, the Governor would surely have some reservations.
Stepping through the doors of the West Depot, Qin Ziyu felt a sudden, inexplicable shiver. Despite it being a bright, sunny day, the place felt as eerie as a haunted house.
Ever since Xiao Ci took the position of Governor of the West Depot, the East Depot and the Internal Secret Service had become increasingly redundant. The East Palace was already no match for the West Depot and was now rarely mentioned. Currently, Xiao Ci controlled all three depots and was the Emperor’s personal confidant, monitoring both officials and commoners. Even the slightest movement from the ministers could not escape the eyes of the West Depot; it all depended on whether Xiao Ci wished to report it upward and how he chose to do so.
The members of the West Depot wore uniform official robes, though the colors and materials varied slightly.
The Commandery Thousand-Man Officer in Charge of Punishment approached to report: “Li Yong has been locked up for three days and three nights. I watched him personally, but he is extremely stubborn and has not uttered a single word to this point.”
Xiao Ci gave him a flat look. The Officer lowered his head. “This servant is incompetent. I have ordered for Li Yong’s kin to be seized and brought in, along with all related persons, all held in separate cells.”
The Officer’s scalp tingled. With a “thud,” he knelt and shivered on the ground. The eunuchs behind him followed suit and knelt, not daring to plead for mercy or utter another word.
Qin Ziyu tucked his sleeves and, hidden beneath his wide cloak, clutched the hand-warmer to his chest.
“He isn’t being stubborn; he simply knows that once he speaks, it will be the day of his death.”
Qin Ziyu walked to Xiao Ci’s side, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him. “It remains to be seen if he can bear to let his wife and children suffer along with him.”
The entire West Depot was as silent as a cicada in winter. Only Qin Ziyu strolled about leisurely—looking less like he was there to witness an execution and more like he was there to admire flowers.
Xiao Ci stared at him for a moment before finally speaking.
“Lead the way.”
“Yes.” The Officer scrambled up from the ground, carefully wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. He looked at Qin Ziyu with half-lowered eyes. “This lord is…”
Is he a friend of the Governor? His clothing was luxurious and he remained unruffled by favor or humiliation; his status was certainly high.
As Xiao Ci walked inward, he said, “Eastern Palace.”
Upon hearing the words “Eastern Palace,” the crowd was clearly surprised. They knelt once more with a “clatter,” shouting, “Greetings to His Highness the Crown Prince!”
Qin Ziyu smiled. “Rise. I am merely idle and came out for a stroll with Lord Xiao. There is no need for such formalities.”
Idle and came to watch people be tortured?!
The men of the West Depot didn’t know how to describe him. Even though they monitored officials and utilized all manner of means—fearing no cruel punishment—no one actually enjoyed watching it. When a person is in extreme pain, they do not look very pleasant.
But was this truly the Crown Prince? He seemed quite different from the rumors. When they were selected for the West Depot, they were quite young; while there were older ones, they rarely had contact with the Eastern Palace, let alone a meeting with the Prince. The Crown Prince did not often move about the palace; even if they met on the road, they would kneel or avoid him early on. This was essentially the first time they had seen him in person.
Hadn’t they said the Crown Prince was so ill he was about to pass away? Now, while his complexion didn’t look good, he was certainly not at death’s door. Furthermore, they hadn’t expected him to look so… so…
The Officer searched his mind for a long time, flipping through every word he had known since childhood, before finally recalling a term.
Fair and delicate as a flower.
He was completely different from them. Although similarly pale and beardless, they were like rotten watermelons in a field, while the Crown Prince was like a luminous pearl of the night. Simply standing there made it impossible for one to look away; they dared not approach, yet wanted to steal a few more glances.
The Officer led the way while the others dispersed to their respective duties. The place where prisoners were held was underground, away from the light of day. The torture chamber was just outside the cells. The more eerie the place, the easier it was to cause a person’s mind to fracture.
Qin Ziyu had Qing’an stay outside. He could guess what the scene inside was like and didn’t want to frighten more people.
Walking down the stairs, which weren’t very wide, the Officer explained with a fawning smile: “Your Highness’s noble steps gracing this lowly place is the West Depot’s honor. The stairs are narrow to prevent prisoners from escaping; please do not take offense.”
“It’s no matter,” Qin Ziyu shook his head, walking very carefully.
Xiao Ci looked back and extended his left hand.
Qin Ziyu was surprised, yet Xiao Ci’s face was calm and revealed nothing. He placed his hand on Xiao Ci’s; it felt even hotter than his hand-warmer. The Officer shut his mouth and lowered his head, not saying another word.
Before they had even finished the descent, the sound of cursing could be heard from within, mingled with the cries of women and children. Reaching level ground, the scent of blood grew heavier. Xiao Ci withdrew his hand and strode forward, while the Officer hurried along, ordering the jailers to bring out Li Yong.
“Every member of the Li household, young and old, has been seized—thirty-two people in total.”
Xiao Ci nodded. “His son is eighteen this year, isn’t he?”
“Yes,” the Officer replied.
“Bring his son along as well,” Xiao Ci instructed.
Qin Ziyu frowned. “Do I hear the sound of an infant crying?”
The Officer replied, “Li Yong’s grandson has just reached one month of age.”
Qin Ziyu took a sharp breath.
Xiao Ci sat down grandly in a chair. “Does Your Highness feel pity?”
“Though Li Yong is at fault, an infant is innocent.” It was hard for Qin Ziyu not to feel pity. What did a one-month-old child know? “His parents and wife are one thing; since they enjoyed the wealth and status, they must bear the risks that come with it. But a newborn cannot distinguish right from wrong, nor can they choose their birth.”
It was like human traffickers they truly deserved to be held collectively responsible. He didn’t believe a single relative was unaware of what a trafficker was doing; none of them were good people.
Xiao Ci tapped the table with his finger. “Since he is innocent, bring him along as well.”
Qin Ziyu: “…”
Li Yong was soon brought in and tied to a rack, his son following suit. The man, around fifty years old, was covered in wounds. His clothes were tattered, showing marks of whipping and burns; the wounds were turning black, and the blood on them had already dried.
Seeing the infant in swaddling clothes, Li Yong was enraged: “Xiao Ci, you beast! What do you want?! He was just born! If you dare touch him, I will not let you go even as a ghost!”
“Eunuch dog! Bastard! You motherless little beast! You’re nothing but a rootless thing! Once I get out…”
“Ah!”
At a glance from Xiao Ci, the jailer standing nearby sliced off Li Yong’s index finger with a single blade. Blood sprayed onto the jailer’s body, yet he remained expressionless, as if he had just chopped ginger or garlic rather than a finger.
Qin Ziyu closed his eyes. He thought that Li Yong had made a wrong move. He was indeed furious when he saw his one-month-old grandson, his eyes bulging instantly, but he didn’t speak at that moment. The cursing only began three seconds later.
Three seconds enough for him to think clearly.
Li Yong was cursing to provoke Xiao Ci into killing him with one stroke, giving him a swift death. Unfortunately, Xiao Ci was not an impulsive man. Instead, the filthier the curses, the calmer Xiao Ci became.
A bucket of hot salt water was poured over Li Yong’s head. The infant’s cries and Li Yong’s howling rang through the entire torture chamber, echoing in the confined space.
After an unknown amount of time, the howling stopped first. The crying grew softer.
Xiao Ci spoke coldly: “Lord Li may curse to his heart’s content. For every curse, one finger will be lost counting your entire family.”
“There were exactly five sentences just now. I shall gift you another finger; cut off the Young Master Li’s left hand.”
Li Yong screamed, “No!”
In his terror, Young Master Li fainted on the spot. Subsequently, his left hand was cut off. He was jolted awake by the pain, his wails drowning out all other sounds.
Qin Ziyu’s ears were ringing. He clearly saw that at the same moment Young Master Li fainted, he had wet himself in fear. Looking at the clothes he wore, they were almost a match for his own as the Crown Prince; it was clear how much Li Yong spoiled this son. How useless.
Xiao Ci withdrew his gaze, letting it fall on Qin Ziyu’s face. The face was pale to the point of being bloodless, yet there was no panic or confusion—only disgust. Disgust for that father and son.
“Why are you looking at me?” Qin Ziyu’s voice was very soft, audible only to Xiao Ci.
“The things Li Yong has done are enough to warrant a thousand cuts. You are being too easy on him.”
Yesterday, Qin Ziyu had received news. Someone outside the Shuntian Prefecture had committed suicide by striking their head against a pillar out of desperation they were the father, mother, and husband of a woman who had once been victimized.