Chapter 78 [VIP]

Chapter Summary: We learned...

As Yu Jing stepped into the prison, she couldn't help but shiver. The prison was cold and chilling, penetrating to the bone. She pulled her cloak tighter around her and continued walking. The damp ground was covered with tangled dry grass, crawling with insects. Suddenly, something darted past her feet, and Yu Jing was so startled that she quickly took two steps back.

“The prison is dark and gloomy, and there are snakes, insects, rats and ants around. I’m sorry for frightening you, Master!” the jailer said to Yu Jing.

Yu Jing shook her head slightly and continued walking. After walking for a while, Yu Jing asked, "Are we almost there?"

"Soon, it's the first one around the corner ahead," the jailer replied quickly.

Yu Jing paused, then took a step forward and stopped at the corner. Candles were lit inside the cell, casting a dim light. On the floor lay a person. Yu Jing looked closely and recognized him as Xie Xuan. She resisted the urge to run to him and stood there. His long hair was disheveled, his appearance emaciated, and he wore only a thin, faded garment stained with bright red and dark red blood—a horrifying sight.

In this cold weather, if he continues to lie on the ground like this, he will freeze to death.

"Cough cough." He coughed softly twice, his voice so faint that it seemed as if he was about to stop breathing at any moment.

Yu Jing clenched her fist, turned around and said to the jailer, "Take the things away, there's no need to mention that I've been here."

"If he asks, just give him a vague answer and don't let him become suspicious," Yu Jing continued to instruct.

"Yes, I understand," the jailer replied, bowing.

Yu Jing gritted her teeth, turned around, and left. Ayu was a little confused; Yu Jing was already there, so why didn't she go to see Xie Xuan? But Ayu felt that Yu Jing must have her reasons for doing so.

Stepping out of the prison, the cold, crisp air swept away the lingering smell of blood. Yu Jing sniffed, then sighed and boarded the carriage.

After Yu Jing left, the jailer carried the food box to Xie Xuan's cell and tapped the wooden bars with the scabbard of his sword.

Xie Xuan lay on the ground, shivering with cold. He glanced at the food box on the floor. His body stiffened, and his breathing became heavy. He slowly sat up; every part of his body was injured, so sitting up pulled at his wounds, causing sharp pain, and his brows furrowed. It was so cold; the icy air seeped into his nostrils and trachea, making him itch slightly, and he couldn't help but cough twice. He reached up and patted his chest to catch his breath, his voice hoarse as he asked, "Is that the Empress Dowager?"

The jailer's eyes darted around, but it was dark in the cell and Xie Xuan didn't see it.

"I think you're dreaming, Your Majesty. If Your Majesty cared for you this much, how could you have ended up in such a state?" The jailer mocked as he took the food out of the box and put it back inside. "Hurry up and eat it while I take the food away. If others find out, neither of us will be in good shape."

Xie Xuan sat in the shadows, watching him take the contents of the food box out. His gaze fell on the plate of lotus root sandwiches, osmanthus cake, and a small bottle of wound medicine.

He suddenly remembered receiving a letter from Yu Jing when he was in Youzhou. Yu Jing said that the lotus root stuffed with pork in her palace kitchen was delicious, and that she would definitely let him try it if he had the chance. Almost instantly, he was certain that it was Yu Jing who had sent these things.

He reached out, picked up a piece of lotus root sandwich, took a bite. It seemed to be freshly made; in this cold weather, it was crispy yet warm.

My heart and body, which had been cold, began to warm up slightly.

Xie Ying had slept a lot during the day, and after lying in bed for a long time that night, she couldn't fall asleep no matter what she did. Perhaps it was because the charcoal fire in the hall was burning brightly, making her body very hot. After tossing and turning a couple of times, she finally couldn't resist throwing off the covers, putting on her shoes, draping the cloak from the rack, and pushing open the door. She had been going to bed very early these past few days, so this time wasn't considered late.

When the palace maids guarding outside the hall saw Xie Ying come out, they quickly stood up and asked her, "Does Your Excellency have any instructions?"

"It's nothing, I just couldn't sleep and wanted to go for a walk," Xie Ying replied, glancing at the courtyard by the light of the lantern under the eaves. The snow was still falling, the sky was gloomy and oppressive, and it felt a little suffocating.

"Your clothes are too light, let me fetch you a cloak," the palace maid said, glancing at Xie Ying's attire.

"No need, it's not cold here." Xie Ying, afraid of trouble, pulled her cloak tighter and walked to the side.

She walked along the corridor aimlessly until she reached a corner, where she heard voices coming from outside the wall. Xie Ying immediately stopped, and in that instant, she heard the words "Lord Xie." Sensing something was wrong, Xie Ying turned and gestured to the maid behind her to remain silent.

"...They've tortured Lord Xie, so the Xie family must be on the verge of collapse. If the Xie family falls, will our beauty..."

"It's probably coming soon. You know that His Majesty hasn't visited our Wanying Pavilion for a long time since the beauty lost her child."

"But when the beauty and the child were gone, Your Majesty..."

"The Emperor's favor flows eastward like water, and our beauty is no longer what she used to be." The man said this with great regret.

Xie Ying walked out very quietly, but they still noticed her. One of them saw Xie Ying first, and the moment she did, her face turned pale with fright, as if she had seen a ghost, and she couldn't speak. The other person turned her head and saw Xie Ying, screamed, and knelt down with a thud.

"Beautiful...beautiful woman," they stammered.

Xie Ying's mind was in complete turmoil, and she asked, "What did you mean by what you just said?"

“We servants deserve to die! We should never have gossiped behind people’s backs! We beg your forgiveness, my lady!” one of them pleaded in a trembling voice.

"Speak!" Xie Ying shouted sharply, momentarily losing control. "What exactly do you mean by torturing Lord Xie? The Xie family is doomed!"

They were terrified and stammered out a story to Xie Ying about what had happened outside. Xie Ying listened with a start, suddenly recalling the unusual behavior of the past few days. Qi Jin didn't often come to Wan Ying Pavilion, which Xie Ying could attribute to Qi Jin being busy with matters of the court, or perhaps having lost interest in her. But Yu Jing had also been coming less often lately, and even when she did, she looked unwell, as if something was on her mind.

Thinking of this, Xie Ying suddenly turned around and ran out of the hall. The palace maids behind her didn't have time to react and hurriedly ran after her, calling out, "My lady!"

Xie Ying ran quickly, her feet sinking into the snow, feeling no cold at all. She ran fast, the only sound the whistling wind in her ears. When she reached Qi Jin's bedchamber, she was stopped by the guards at the door.

"My lady, His Majesty has already made arrangements. If there is anything else, we can discuss it tomorrow." The guard at the door was surprised by Xie Ying's attire, but still dutifully advised her.

Xie Ying's hair was now disheveled, a head of black strands cascading down like moonlight. She was still wearing her cloak, but underneath, she was dressed in thin clothing, clearly having come in a hurry.

"How dare you! If anything happens, can you bear the consequences?" Xie Ying stood still and rebuked sharply.

The guards hesitated. Seeing Xie Ying's demeanor, they realized she wasn't bluffing, and Xie Ying had indeed been Qi Jin's favorite recently. The guards exchanged glances, and before they could say anything, Xie Ying had already barged in.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" Xie Ying ran inside, calling out repeatedly, which alerted Xu Xinshu, who was guarding the door.

Xu Xinshu was startled to see Xie Ying like this and quickly stepped forward, saying, "Lady Xie, His Majesty has already made his arrangements. If you have anything to say, please speak tomorrow..."

Before Xu Xinshu could finish speaking, the palace doors were pushed open. Qi Jin stood behind the doors, his long hair loose, wearing only a cloak.

"Your Majesty." Xie Ying stood opposite Qi Jin, looking exactly the same. She said nothing, only uttered a greeting. Before she could speak, Qi Jin had already stepped out of the palace gate. He was much taller than her, and when he stood looking at her, he always gave her a feeling of being superior.

"Sui Sui, the harem is not to interfere in politics." Qi Jin walked up to her and calmly said this.

Xie Ying knew she couldn't bring herself to say anything more. Qi Jin had already made his decision; whatever she said would be useless.

"Why?" Xie Ying asked, her voice choked with emotion. The emotions she had been holding back seemed to burst forth when she uttered those two words.

"Your Majesty, I know my father and brothers' character better than anyone. They would never, and would never stoop to, smuggling military rations! I beg Your Majesty to see the truth!" As Xie Ying spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, like pearls falling from a broken string, making her appear pitiful.

Qi Jin's eyes, however, were tinged with displeasure: "You mean, I've wronged them?"

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Only the howling wind and snow outside filled the air. Xu Xinshu, seeing the two of them locked in a tense standoff, neither willing to back down, felt utterly exasperated. Xie Ying, having learned of the situation, remembered Qi Jin's earlier instructions and sighed softly.

"Your Majesty, I dare not." Xie Ying sniffed and bowed slightly to Qi Jin. "It was I who was presumptuous and disturbed Your Majesty's rest. I request to return to the palace to face the wall in meditation. I take my leave."

With a single sentence, Xie Ying had everything arranged for him. Qi Jin wanted to say something, but he couldn't find any fault with her. He could only watch Xie Ying's figure disappear into the courtyard.

As soon as Xie Ying left, Xu Xinshu immediately knelt down: "This servant has failed in his duties, and I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"

Qi Jin knew that there were gossips everywhere in the palace, and it was impossible to keep this a secret forever. Keeping it from her for so long was already quite good. Qi Jin glanced down at Xu Xinshu kneeling on the ground, then stepped over.

The sharp pain in his shoulder made Xu Xinshu groan, but he remained kneeling properly.

"Find out who leaked it, and kill them."

"Yes," Xu Xinshu replied.

"Also, have someone keep an eye on Xie Meiren," Qi Jin added. Xu Xinshu paused for a moment, then realized what he meant and agreed.