Even after stepping through the gates of the Imperial Clan Court, Yun Qiya still found it hard to believe. She had gotten in that easily?
No one questioned her. No one stopped her. Even someone carried a lantern and led the way. Her little partner was truly capable.
The Imperial Clan Court prison looked nothing like she had imagined. Some cells contained tables and chairs, and one room even had brushes, ink, and paper. Surely the Deposed Prince wasn’t living in a place like this? He’d be delighted if he were.
Mindful of the guide walking ahead, Yun Qiya kept her thoughts to herself and quietly followed beside her little partner.
Unexpectedly, the clerk leading the way began explaining various aspects of the Imperial Clan Court to Yun Qiya and her companion. His attitude was so attentive it bordered on fawning.
Yun Qiya glanced sideways at her little partner. This was exactly why choosing the right powerful patron mattered.
“What is it?” Noticing her gaze, Ling Yanhuai stopped walking. “Are you feeling unwell?”
Ever since entering the Court, she had barely spoken.
Yun Qiya shook her head. “I was just wondering. Are all the prison cells here like this?”
“Not all of them.” Ling Yanhuai guessed what she was thinking and quickened his pace, leading her farther inside.
The deeper they went, the stranger the prison became. Without the lantern in the clerk’s hand, Yun Qiya could barely see the path. Then they arrived at a pitch-black cell. Its walls were enclosed entirely with refined iron. Curled up inside was a black lump. Hearing footsteps, the black lump stirred and seemed to shiver in fear.
That thing is the Deposed Prince?
Yun Qiya raised her lantern higher and looked at the vaguely human-shaped figure curled up in the corner, too afraid even to lift his head. Turning to her companion, she gave him an admiring look for the first time.
“Little partner, your execution skills are truly impressive.”
In her memory, the Deposed Prince’s features were indistinct. What she remembered was the crimson robe embroidered with gold patterns, the blood-stained corners of his mouth after drinking a child’s blood, and his unrestrained laughter.
Those memories had been among the worst nightmares of her childhood. It took one or two years after leaving the capital for them to begin to fade.
“Mm.” Ling Yanhuai accepted the praise without the slightest guilt.
The prison clerk’s eyes instantly widened. Fortunately, it was dark enough that no one noticed his loss of composure.
“The Deposed Prince’s wounds have not yet received treatment today.” Ling Yanhuai turned to the clerk. “He is a state criminal. Every aspect of his care must be handled diligently.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” The clerk bowed and withdrew, soon returning with a large jar.
“What is that?” Yun Qiya whispered.
“The strongest liquor in the capital.” Ling Yanhuai glanced at the Deposed Prince, who was trembling even more violently. “Do you have any suggestions?”
When the liquor was poured over the Deposed Prince’s wounds, he let out a scream of agony.
The sound brought back an old memory for Yun Qiya. A child whose arm had been cut open by the Deposed Prince, crying so hard his face was covered in tears as he repeatedly called for his mother.
The servants feared his tears would contaminate the blood the Deposed Prince intended to drink. They had wrapped clothing tightly around the child’s head to muffle his sobs and prevent him from making any noise, as though he were not a living human being at all. As though he were merely a chicken or a dog that could be slaughtered at will.
Disgusting. Cruel. Utterly devoid of humanity.
A sleeve suddenly appeared before her eyes, blocking her view.
“His appearance is filthy,” Ling Yanhuai said quietly. “Don’t let it dirty your eyes.”
“It’s fine.” Yun Qiya lowered his arm.
The Deposed Prince writhed on the floor, howling in agony, looking like a twisting maggot.
So once stripped of the support of power and authority, the Deposed Prince was nothing more than a heap of mud.
Listening to the rasping sounds coming from his throat, Yun Qiya grew a little concerned. Avoiding the clerk’s gaze, she rose slightly onto her toes and whispered into her companion’s ear: “He isn’t going to die right now, is he?”
If he really died, how would her little partner explain it to the Emperor?
Their cloaks brushed against each other.
Ling Yanhuai felt a faint ticklish sensation. “He won’t.” Lowering his eyes, he said quietly, “The more someone has possessed supreme power, the more they fear death.”
He looked toward the Deposed Prince, mockery flickering in his indifferent gaze. “He treasures his own life like a pearl, yet treats the lives of others as worthless grass.”
Yun Qiya turned to the clerk and smiled. “Sir, he has so many wounds. I’m afraid one jar of liquor isn’t enough. Why not bring another?”
The clerk: “?”
He had assumed that seeing such a scene would fill her with pity. Instead, her first thought was another jar.
“I know good liquor is expensive.” Yun Qiya untied her purse and poured out every coin inside. She did not even leave herself a single copper piece. Stuffing the money into the clerk’s hands, she said, “From now on, use several more jars on him every day. The strongest kind.”
The clerk held the heavy pile of silver and did not dare accept it. He secretly looked toward Prince Ruining. No wonder the two of you get along so well. Neither of you wants the Deposed Prince to have an easy time.
“Miss Yun means well. There’s no need to refuse.” Ling Yanhuai gestured for the clerk to accept the money. Then he turned back to Yun Qiya. “Do you have any other ideas?”
“More?”
The clerk’s hands trembled as he held the silver. Please don’t actually torture the man to death!
Yun Qiya shook her head. “There are countless people in the world who hate him. He must die before the eyes of the people.”
If he simply died quietly in some prison cell, it would be far too unfair to those he had harmed. If those who hated him to the bone could not personally witness his death, how could they ever find peace after being tossed about in a sea of hatred? And how could the souls of those who died at his hands ever rest?
“A man like him truly deserves to be sliced into a thousand pieces.” Thinking of what her eldest uncle had said the previous night, Yun Qiya sighed. “I only hope His Majesty won’t let him die too easily.”
Ling Yanhuai looked at the Deposed Prince.
The Deposed Prince did not even have the courage to meet his gaze. At first, he hadn’t been so compliant. But every time he looked directly at Ling Yanhuai, he was dragged away and subjected to needle torture. Within a few days, he had learned proper respect.
The Deposed Prince had committed so many crimes because the late Emperor had indulged him. People always said the Deposed Prince had been wild and untamable by nature. Wasn’t he quite obedient now?
“Clearly he wasn’t beaten enough when he was young. Rotten to the core,” Yun Qiya muttered all the way out of the gloomy prison.
Only after the two of them were seated at a dining table did she finally stop verbally abusing the Deposed Prince and turn her attention to ordering food.
“The Imperial Clan Court’s prison is too cold.” Looking at her companion’s still somewhat pale face, she said, “Don’t come here in the mornings anymore.”
“Come in the afternoons instead. It’s warmer in the afternoon.” Before he could answer, Yun Qiya poked at her teacup.
“You used to be an unimportant sickly. Now you’re my thoughtful little partner, so of course I’m more concerned about your health.”
Ling Yanhuai paused in the middle of pouring tea. If he started going to the Court in the afternoons instead, would she still come looking for him to share meals?
“I heard there are a lot of food stalls run by people from other regions in Ning’an Lane,” Yun Qiya continued. “They don’t do much business in the mornings, but the afternoons are lively. After you come out of the Court, we can go wander around Ning’an Lane.” She tapped her cup, signaling him to stop daydreaming and pour her some tea.
“Very well.” Ling Yanhuai filled her cup and pushed it toward her. “I’ve never been to Ning’an Lane.”
“I didn’t expect you to have been.” Yun Qiya shook her head confidently. “Don’t worry. Leave that sort of thing to me.”
Then she took a sip of tea. “Come to think of it, we’ve known each other for quite a while, yet I still don’t know your name.”
We’re already partners, and we don’t even know each other’s names. Is that reasonable?
“My courtesy name is Shou’an,” Ling Yanhuai said, looking at the pattern painted on the teacup. “Ling Shou’an.”
“Longevity and peace.” Resting her chin in both hands, Yun Qiya smiled. “Just hearing that name tells me your family must care about you very much.”
Ling Yanhuai couldn’t remember. The memories from before he turned three had long since been blurred by hunger and beatings. Later, when he finally returned to the palace, he discovered that the parents he had yearned for every day already had a child who was healthier and livelier than he was.
Every day they looked at him with guilt in their eyes. Every day they treated him with painstaking care. It was like endless winter rain, wrapping itself around all of them. No one seemed comfortable. No one seemed truly happy.
“Perhaps.” Faced with the girl’s question, Ling Yanhuai felt obliged to answer, even though he didn’t know the true answer.
“Has the old prince arrived yet?” The moment court adjourned, the Emperor asked the eunuch attending him.
“Your Majesty, the old prince is nearly at the palace gates.”
“Good.” The Emperor reviewed a few memorials but repeatedly glanced outside. Growing impatient, he pushed aside a stack of routine petitions asking after his health.
All day long they do nothing but ask whether I am well. Why is there so much nonsense?
The old prince had scarcely stepped into the Imperial Study when he met the Emperor’s eager gaze. “This old servant greets—”
“Great-Uncle.” The Emperor immediately reached out and helped him up. “Why should there be such formalities between us?”
Looking at the hand gripping his wrist, the old prince knew the Emperor was acting strangely again. Sure enough, before he could even sit down, the Emperor began questioning him about the Imperial Clan Court.
“Did anything important happen there today?”
The old prince replied, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. Everything proceeded as usual. Although last night, this old servant did have the entire Court cleaned from top to bottom.”
“Great-Uncle has worked diligently managing the affairs of the imperial clan. Having you look after these matters puts my mind at ease.”
“Your Majesty flatters this old servant. It is merely my duty.” The old prince remained modest because he knew this was not the true purpose of today’s conversation.
“My eldest son is somewhat reserved by nature. Today he brought a friend to the Imperial Clan Court. Did they interfere with your work in any way?”
The old prince understood immediately. “Prince Ruining conducts himself with propriety and treats those beneath him courteously. His presence at the Imperial Clan Court is an honor for us. How could it be called a disturbance?”
The old prince proceeded to praise Prince Ruining from head to toe.
As expected, the Emperor’s face brightened, and his smile never left.
“Great-Uncle exaggerates. My son is not that outstanding.” The Emperor modestly demurred for form’s sake. “Though his willingness to share my burdens is indeed most commendable.”
The old prince lowered his head and sipped his tea while listening to the Emperor praise his son.
A daily occurrence. The Emperor had developed his own rhythm for boasting about his child.
“Your Majesty’s judgment is wise. This old servant also believes Prince Ruining is exceptionally gifted.”
The First Prince had only returned at thirteen. Whether his studies were truly outstanding was beside the point. If the Emperor said they were, then they were.
Sure enough, the Emperor’s smile immediately grew even brighter.
Every monkey required its own method of restraint. Every peculiar madness required its own remedy.
The old prince took another sip of tea.
As long as one found the right approach, the Emperor was actually quite easy to please. This was the wisdom accumulated by an elder of the imperial clan.
“Your Majesty, Prince Ruining requests an audience.”
“Quickly, let him enter!” The moment he heard his son had arrived, the Emperor instantly lost interest in the old prince and strode to the door in a few steps.
The young man who entered wore a black cloak and was tall and slender. Before he could even bow in greeting, the Emperor stopped him and asked whether he felt cold, warm, hungry, or uncomfortable.
The old prince set down his teacup and rose to pay his respects to Prince Ruining before taking his leave. Then he saw something rare.
Prince Ruining, who ordinarily ignored almost everyone, gave him a slight nod. He was so excited that he even began wondering whether his old eyes were failing him.
“Father, I have a request.”
“If my son wants something, simply say the word.” The Emperor had already started thinking that if his son suddenly announced he wanted to be named Crown Prince, perhaps the investiture ceremony should be grander. Come to think of it, earlier crown prince ceremonies had been rather plain.
“I request that Father sentence the Deposed Prince to death by a thousand cuts.”
Whoa! Prince Ruining had actually taken the initiative to discuss affairs of state?
The old prince, who had just started to rise from his seat, quietly sat back down. He was merely old and slow of leg. Not because he wanted to stay and watch the excitement.