Ling Yanshuai followed his inclination and walked over to Yun Qiya.
Today, Yun Qiya wore a white cloak embroidered with blooming red plums. Ling Yanshuai’s gaze lingered on that branch of red plum blossoms.
“Young Master Ling, you’ve come to the Zongzheng Temple so early?” Yun Qiya hadn’t expected the sickly man to be so proactive. She didn’t know where he lived and couldn’t send a calling card, so she could only come to the Zongzheng Temple to try her luck.
Seeing him emerge from the Zongzheng Temple, Yun Qiya felt greatly relieved. He handled matters so efficiently; he was clearly a good partner on her path to revenge.
“Have you had breakfast, Young Master? Are you tired? Did the people at the Zongzheng Temple make things difficult for you?” Yun Qiya fussed over Ling Yanshuai with great attention, even contributing the small snacks from her purse.
Ling Yanshuai looked at the dried meat and preserved fruits in his palm. Listening to the girl’s overly obvious, flattering chatter, he placed a piece of preserved fruit into his mouth.
A sharp sourness shot from the tip of his tongue straight to his brain.
It was very sour. He frowned slightly.
“Eating sour dried apricots before breakfast might hurt your stomach,” Yun Qiya said, as if she had just remembered. “Young Master Ling, let me treat you to breakfast.”
Relationships were built through spending time together. If she didn’t find ways to get close to him, how could she find out about the Deposed Prince’s misery?
The Prince’s attendants, who had been stopped by the Prince’s gaze before they could approach, found the scene somewhat amusing. Their Prince hated crowded, noisy places the most; how could he possibly eat breakfast with her outside?
“Alright. Thank you, Miss Yun.”
The attendants turned their heads away. *Hmph, men really are fickle, even the Prince.*
As soon as the Old County Prince left the Imperial Palace, he hurried toward the Zongzheng Temple.
The Deposed Prince had committed countless atrocities and had to be executed before the people to appease public anger. According to Great An Law, prisoners were not to be subjected to private punishment after entering the Imperial Prison. However, ever since the Deposed Prince was imprisoned, the Empress had shown him much “consideration,” and the Emperor feigned ignorance of the matter.
Now that Prince Ruining had joined in, the Old County Prince truly feared the Deposed Prince would be tormented to death by the Emperor’s family before the day of execution arrived. If that happened, how would the Zongzheng Temple explain it to the common people?
“Eh?”
As his carriage sped past, the Old County Prince lifted the curtain and poked his head out the window, staring blankly at the retreating figures in the distance.
“County Prince,” a patrolling member of the Golden Armored Guards called out as he passed, “while the carriage is in motion, please do not stick your head or hands out the window.”
The Old County Prince lowered the curtain, a look of deep confusion appearing on his wrinkled face. Was the young gentleman walking with that girl just now Prince Ruining?
That couldn’t be right. Prince Ruining was always taciturn. Usually, he was nowhere to be seen in crowded places, so how could he be walking with a young girl?
It seemed he was getting old; his eyes were finally failing him.
“I haven’t been back in the Capital City for long, so I don’t know which breakfast stalls are good.” Considering the sickly man was a member of the royal clan and seemed to be in poor health, Yun Qiya specifically chose a refined food stall.
The food stall was elegantly decorated, and the waiters were dressed in clean, neat clothes.
The Capital City of Da An gathered delicacies from all over the world, with countless varieties of breakfast flavors alone.
Once the steaming food was served, Yun Qiya invited Ling Yanshuai to pick up his chopsticks. “Young Master Ling, please.”
Ling Yanshuai took a bite.
“How is it?”
Under the girl’s expectant gaze, he drank some milk to help swallow the food in his mouth. “Very good.” To him, food was merely for satiating hunger; there was no good or bad.
“Their milk is fresh without any gaminess, and the meat filling in the steamed buns is smooth and tender.” Yun Qiya took a sip of milk. “We should come back here next time.”
“Should we add an order of cherry cream?” Without waiting for Ling Yanshuai’s answer, Yun Qiya waved over a waiter. “Waiter, add a few more servings of cherry cream.”
Helu and the others at the neighboring table would also have some.
Cherry cream was an expensive item in the shop, so the waiter moved quickly and served it in no time.
Yun Qiya narrowed her eyes, eating with great satisfaction. “The sweetness and sourness are perfectly balanced. It’s delicious.”
Ling Yanshuai scooped a spoonful of cherry cream into his mouth. The rich milky fragrance enveloped the unique sweetness of the cherries; he seemed to taste the deliciousness she praised.
“Young Master Ling.” Once she was half-full, Yun Qiya began to actively fish for information. “Was your trip to the Zongzheng Temple successful?”
*Aha, eat first, ask questions later.* She really was a person of etiquette.
“It was very successful.” Ling Yanshuai set down his chopsticks. An attendant presented a handkerchief, and he wiped the corners of his mouth. “The Deposed Prince’s crimes are numerous. He is being held alone in a dark cell.”
He knew what Yun Qiya wanted to hear and had no intention of hiding it from her. “When I saw him, his old injuries had not yet healed.”
The Deposed Prince had been in prison for over two months. There was no need to look too closely into how those “old injuries” had come about.
“However, I’m afraid he won’t be able to accept the kind offer of putting ice on his bed to help him cool down.”
“Does your family not have any stored ice?” Yun Qiya said magnanimously, “It’s fine. My family has stored ice; I’ll send some over to you in a bit.” It was winter, after all; there was no shortage of ice.
“The dark cell where the Deposed Prince is held has no bed,” Ling Yanshuai explained. “Since he is a major criminal, the place where he is held has a floor of cold iron and walls of fine iron. In winter… it is refreshingly cool.”
In winter, cold iron was bone-chillingly cold. Anyone who touched it would feel the chill seep into their very marrow.
“Oh~” Yun Qiya reacted immediately. “His Majesty is also a man of character.”
She knew it; there was no way the Emperor and Empress didn’t hate the Deposed Prince.
Years ago, when the Empress was still a Princess Consort and was giving birth in the Prince’s Mansion, a sudden fire broke out in the Eldest Young Master’s room. By the time the fire was extinguished, only the remains of the wet nurse and the three-year-old Eldest Young Master were left in the room.
That tragedy nearly caused the Empress to lose both herself and her unborn child.
Everyone thought the Eldest Young Master was dead, until two years after His Majesty ascended the throne. Someone discovered that the deceased wet nurse had “come back to life.” Following that lead, they finally found the Eldest Young Master, who had been tortured beyond recognition.
From the age of three to thirteen—ten whole years.
“I thought the Eldest Young Master suffered that ordeal because of the families of corrupt officials His Majesty had executed when he was still a Prince,” Yun Qiya sighed and shook her head. “I didn’t expect that when the truth came out last year, it was actually related to the Deposed Prince.”
The Deposed Prince truly was evil to the core. The Emperor should have sentenced him to death by a thousand cuts.
“Do you also think he is very pitiful?”
“Who?” Yun Qiya was biting a cherry and preparing to spit out the pit. Hearing this question, she looked up at the sickly man in confusion.
“Prince Ruining.”
A thin layer of condensation formed on the fine porcelain bowl containing the cherry cream.
“Maybe?” Yun Qiya was somewhat lighthearted; she didn’t really care about someone she didn’t know. However, considering Young Master Ling was also a member of the royal clan, her words were more tactful. Too many people had been harmed by the Deposed Prince.
“But he must be a person of resilient nature.” Yun Qiya lowered her voice. “I’m telling you this, but you must never tell anyone else.”
Sharing an innocuous “secret” was beneficial for bringing two people closer. She still needed to use him to get revenge on the Deposed Prince, so she had to build a good relationship with him.
The girl leaned her neck forward slightly, looking as if she were about to be completely honest with him.
Ling Yanshuai leaned his upper body forward as well.
“I don’t know Prince Ruining. Maybe he is pitiful, but I think he’s quite impressive.”
“Impressive?” Ling Yanshuai’s voice was low and raspy.
“Mm-hmm!” Yun Qiya nodded, her head moving even closer to Ling Yanshuai. Since she was speaking ill of the Emperor’s beloved son, they couldn’t exactly plot loudly.
“He was only three when he was taken from the Prince’s Mansion.” Yun Qiya used her hand to gesture the number three. “Being beaten every day and never having enough to eat, yet he still managed to grow up. That’s already very impressive. Prince Ruining is like the ultimate survivor among children; people his age should call him ‘Big Brother’ when they see him.”
She had left the Capital City at six or seven with her parents and brothers to accompany her, yet she still complained of hardship and exhaustion sometimes, let alone a child who was abused every day.
In a storybook, such a character would definitely achieve great things.
Seeing the sickly man staring at her without speaking, his expression looking strange, Yun Qiya was puzzled. “Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you and Prince Ruining on bad terms?”
If they were on bad terms, she would take back what she just said. After all, this sickly man was the partner who would get revenge with her.
“No.” Ling Yanshuai sat up straight bit by bit, avoiding Yun Qiya’s gaze as she looked over. He looked down at the fine porcelain bowl on the table.
The water droplets on the porcelain bowl merged together and slid down to the bottom of the bowl like a tear stain. “My relationship with him is… acceptable.”
“That’s good then.” Yun Qiya felt relieved; her partner’s mood was most important. “What can you do at the Zongzheng Temple now?” It was better to focus on the main business.
“I have some slight acquaintance with the Minister of the Zongzheng Temple.” Ling Yanshuai satisfied the girl’s urgent curiosity. “The Deposed Prince still has atrocities he hasn’t confessed to, so I had him beaten with dozens of strokes of the cane and used wine to treat his wounds as well.”
He loathed the smell of wine, but seeing the Deposed Prince howling in pain, he realized that even the most disgusting things could be not so unpleasant when used in the right place.
“Young Master Ling, you are truly chivalrous and upright, eliminating harm for the people.” Yun Qiya excitedly gave him a thumbs-up. “Your actions have achieved perfect merit!”
Pouring wine on a wound—whoever tried it would be in more pain than a dog.
In all of Da An, who knew how many people wanted to subject the Deposed Prince to death by a thousand cuts? Young Master Ling was the messenger of justice for the people!
“Young Master Ling, are you going to the Zongzheng Temple again tomorrow?” Yun Qiya blinked her large eyes, her mouth full of praise for Ling Yanshuai.
Eliminating harm for the people, chivalrous heart, upright and incorruptible… she used every positive word she had ever learned in her life.
Ling Yanshuai smiled. “Yes.”
Over the next few days, the Zongzheng Temple welcomed their regular guest.
Every day at dawn, Prince Ruining would arrive punctually at the main gate in a low-profile carriage. Without needing anyone else to greet him, he would go directly to the dark cell where the Deposed Prince was held and begin their “friendly exchange” between uncle and nephew.
At first, the Deposed Prince would curse him, but later he grew quiet. Later still, he began to beg for mercy.
However, Prince Ruining was a man of firm mind. No matter what the Deposed Prince said, it did not affect his daily “caring” visits, come rain or shine.
“It’s raining.” The Emperor stood by the window, looking at the misty drizzle outside. “Lately, has the number of times Huai’er’s estate has called for an Imperial Physician decreased?”
The Empress looked delighted. “It is indeed several times fewer than before.”
“I want Huai’er to enter court.” The Emperor’s expression gradually became firm. “Perhaps… if he has things to do, Huai’er will gradually get better.” As long as there was a glimmer of hope, he didn’t want to give up.
As Ling Yanshuai walked out of the Zongzheng Temple gate, he indeed saw Yun Qiya’s figure again. Holding an oil-paper flower umbrella, she was particularly conspicuous in the hazy drizzle.
“Young Master Ling.” Seeing him come out, Yun Qiya tilted her head. “Come, let’s go eat breakfast.”
After half a month of spending time together, they were already very close partners. He put in the effort to deal with the Deposed Prince, and she spent the money to treat him to meals.
This was also the third time the Old County Prince had seen Prince Ruining walking with the young girl.
From his initial shock and suspicion to his current composure, the Old County Prince had accepted it quite quickly. There was no helping it; as an elder of the royal family, he was experienced and had extremely strong adaptability.
“Do you want to go to the Zongzheng Temple to see the Deposed Prince?”
A sentence from Prince Ruining drifted through the wind.
The Old County Prince took a deep breath. *It’s fine, it’s fine. I can accept this!*