Farewell in prison

A month after Jin'an Prince Meng Yu was demoted to a commoner and imprisoned, the Grand Court of Justice presented a memorial to the newly recovered emperor, stating that they had previously raided Meng Yu's villa in Ganchuan to apprehend bandits and seized a dozen unidentified women, who were brought back to the Grand Court of Justice for trial. Upon investigation, it was discovered that these women had been coerced and intimidated by Meng Yu into confinement in his villa. Several other women, driven to despair by torture, angered Meng Yu by attempting to escape, or died from exhaustion in the villa. Their remains had been exhumed from the hills behind the villa.

Hu Siqing said that the commoner Meng Yu imprisoned civilians and took human lives without restraint. His crimes were too numerous to list, and he requested the emperor to make a decision.

The emperor initially ordered the release of the women and appeased them. However, the news spread like wildfire. The fact that the prince had been deposed had already caused quite a stir among the people, and now that they knew that the deposed prince was such a beast in human form, everyone in the streets and alleys was talking about it.

The circulation of a pamphlet pushed the public discussion of this matter to a climax.

It's unknown who wrote the booklet, but everyone speculates it must have been written by an eyewitness, as she clearly has a deep understanding of the events. The booklet details the former Prince Jin'an's pursuit of women, imprisonment, and murder, completely shattering his former facade of gentleness and romance.

The booklet was distributed free of charge by the Zhijin Bookstore, and everyone in Shengjing, from the elderly to the youngest, carried a copy. It quickly became the talk of the town, the talk of restaurants and teahouses, and even the storytelling and opera. The court's intention to ban it proved ineffective, sparking widespread public backlash. People questioned whether the move was intended to protect Meng Yu. Despite being a commoner, he remained in the imperial court, committed such a crime, and escaped justice. They criticized the emperor for defending his own son while ignoring the grievances of innocent people.

The heated discussion swept across like a wave, shaking the solemn and dignified palace.

At first, it was just a discussion among the people. Later, led by Master Pei, many ministers also submitted petitions, hoping that the emperor would abide by the laws of Daxi and severely punish the criminals.

Petitions were heard throughout the court and the streets. Even though the emperor intended to spare the rebellious son's life, under immense pressure, he was forced to act impartially. The following month, the commoner Meng Yu was taken to the Dali Temple to await trial.

Perhaps knowing that his luck was up, Meng Yu did not make any excuses and readily admitted his crime.

Numerous crimes, the blood and tears of dozens of innocent women, and the confessions filled the books. The files were sent to the palace overnight to be reported to His Majesty, awaiting the final decision.

That night, a man in a cloak walked through the winding corridors of the Dali Temple prison and entered the deepest and quiet cell.

Xue Zhi led the way to the cell, whispered a few words to the jailer, and they left. Xue Zhi opened the cell door and glanced coldly and disgustedly at the man in prison clothes sitting against the wall. He stepped aside and gestured for the cloaked man to enter.

The prison door creaked shut. Meng Yu looked up at the person who came in and narrowed his eyes.

The man lifted his hood, revealing a face as pretty as a lotus flower under the moon. Meng Yu was stunned at first, then smiled and said, "It's you."

His smile was carefree and romantic, as if he was still the noble Prince Jin'an.

Cheng Yayin didn't look at him, but half-knelt in front of him, put the food box in her hand on the ground, and placed the wine and food she brought on the shabby Wan mat.

Meng Yu looked at her and said teasingly, "Even in this situation, you're still willing to come and see me. It seems your hatred for me is fake, but in fact, you still can't let me go. Why don't you give up Pei Songsheng and become a pair of desperate lovebirds with me?"

Cheng Yayin didn't react much, but simply said, "Your Highness has been imprisoned for these days, and I'm sure you haven't had a decent meal in a long time. These are all made by me. Of course, they can't compare to the delicacies you used to eat, but they are the best food you will ever enjoy for the rest of your life."

She handed the chopsticks to Meng Yu with a smile on her lips, but her eyes were full of mockery.

Meng Yu refused to take her chopsticks. The cynical smile on his face gradually disappeared, and his eyes flashed with a cold light, staring intently at Cheng Yayin. Cheng Yayin's smile widened as she said, "Your Highness is already at the end of his rope. Are you still afraid that I will harm you?"

Meng Yu sneered and waved her hand away, his eyes not even glancing at the food. He reached for the wine jug. He didn't use the wine glasses she had brought, but instead took a chipped bowl from the table beside the Wan table, filled it up, and then refilled the small white porcelain glass with wine, handing it to Cheng Yayin. "After all, we're acquaintances. Why don't you have a drink with me?"

Cheng Yayin took it and drank, showing him the bottom of the cup. Meng Yu watched her swallowing movements, waited a moment, then raised the broken bowl and drank it all in one gulp.

It had been a while since he'd drunk, so even though the wine Cheng Yayin had brought wasn't strong, Meng Yu took a full gulp. The liquid burned a burning pain from his throat to his stomach. He couldn't help coughing, turned his head away, and covered his lips with his hand, trying to maintain a last shred of composure. Cheng Yayin watched him silently from across the table, taking in his entire state of disgrace.

Her eyes were neither angry nor sarcastic, and were as quiet as a deep pool, but Meng Yu felt as if a whip dipped in strong liquor was lashing his face painfully.

He slammed the broken bowl down on the table and said in a self-deprecating tone, "Where's Pei Songsheng? Where is he hiding to watch me make a fool of myself? He dares to accuse me of treason, but doesn't dare to come out and face me?"

Cheng Yayin said calmly, "If the prince has anything to say to him, I can tell him."

Meng Yu could no longer maintain his composure. The muscles on his face spasmed slightly with anger. He looked at Cheng Yayin with eyes that seemed to be spitting fire. "You two may seem noble and kind, but in fact you are treacherous and rebellious, taking advantage of others' misfortunes! One of you poisoned the emperor and framed me, while the other wrote a letter to frame me and make me despised by the world. I never poisoned my father, nor did I write those letters with my uncle to plot a rebellion! You colluded with the crown prince to frame me, taking advantage of my father's illness and weakness to disturb his mind and make it impossible for me to defend myself. You are the sinners!"

Cheng Yayin listened quietly, sneered, and said, "Haven't you said these things to the Crown Prince? Haven't you said them to His Majesty? They are all people with sharp ears and eyes, but do they believe you?"

Meng Yu felt as if a bucket of cold water was poured on his head and he suddenly fell silent.

Cheng Yayin continued, "You are right. It was not you who poisoned His Majesty. You are not the only one in the world who can poison others. The letters found in your mansion were not written by you, and you are not the only one in the world who can forge other people's handwriting. But you can't defend yourself because you have nothing to defend yourself! Do you dare to say that you have never harbored any rebellious thoughts because of His Majesty's love for you? Have you never been dissatisfied with the Crown Prince's succession to the throne? Have you never coveted the throne? If you really have a clear conscience, then why did you occupy Ganchuan for many years and, together with your uncle, almost turn it into your private territory? Was it really just to find women that you had spies all over Shengjing? And what was the purpose of doing business and hoarding so much wealth?"

After being asked questions repeatedly, Meng Yu had no answer. He clenched his teeth and his face turned red and white.

Cheng Yayin: "Do you really think the Crown Prince doesn't know about these little actions of yours? It's just that His Majesty used to love you very much. If he hadn't made a hasty move against you without solid evidence, His Majesty would have thought it was just a quarrel between brothers, attacking each other. That's why he has been holding it in. But you want to shake his position, how can he tolerate you? So once we present our flaws to him, whether they are real or fake, he will seize on them and make you fall into eternal damnation."

Meng Yu listened to the reason for his defeat and smiled unwillingly: "It was because I didn't leave far away that you guys accidentally conspired together."

"You're not unlucky, you're just too arrogant and greedy." Cheng Yayin stared at him sternly, her gaze blazing like the sun in the dim cell, easily illuminating all his rhetoric. "You're the son of the emperor, a prince. As long as you behave yourself, you'll enjoy endless wealth and glory in this life. But you lust not only for power, but also for sex. If you hadn't hurt so many innocent women, how could you have exposed your ambitions so early? It's your own sins that have brought you to ruin."

"Before I came to see you, I consulted Hu Siqing. You were so ambitious that you plotted to murder the emperor and murdered several innocent women. According to the law, you deserve death by slicing. However, Your Majesty is kind and considers the father-son relationship, so he has only sentenced you to beheading. The execution order will be sent to the Dali Temple tomorrow. No matter what, you will not survive this autumn."

Meng Yu wasn't surprised to hear the news; instead, he laughed. He had once had a handsome face, but after experiencing the fall of his glory and imprisonment, his cheeks had become so thin that the bones were visible. A smile mingled with resentment, fear, and resentment stretched his skin, making him look like a vengeful ghost from hell. As he laughed, tears rolled down his cheeks, making him look even more hideous.

Cheng Yayin looked at him like this, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her eyes. She then shook her head and said, "But I don't think you deserve such a clean and neat death. But this is already the limit of what I can do to you publicly. His Majesty will not punish you more severely. So I came here today to personally send you off."

Cheng Yayin remained calm, but Meng Yu's expression changed drastically. His eyes turned around in panic and his gaze fell on the only wine jug he had touched at the banquet.

"You!" He grabbed the wine jug and, under Cheng Yayin's slightly sarcastic gaze, threw it against the wall. With a crash, the jug shattered, and the wine splashed onto the ground. Cheng Yayin said calmly, "It's not in the wine, it's in that broken bowl you use every day, and it didn't come from today. Xue Zhi smeared medicine on your bowl on the first day you came here. Calculating the date, it happened today."

Meng Yu picked up the broken bowl in disbelief, but suddenly felt dizzy and weak, and the bowl fell to the ground, hitting the table with a dull thud. He held his forehead and closed his eyes, trying hard to resist the dizziness in his head. He heard Cheng Yayin say, "You killed Xue Wan, so of course Xue Zhi would personally avenge his sister. As for the poison, you are also familiar with it. It was the Soul-Separating Powder. However, someone improved the recipe. Now not only is the poison working faster, but it is also several times more toxic than before. You have poisoned many people with this, and you never thought that you would one day be poisoned by it. I wonder how you feel right now?"

Meng Yu was filled with fear and indignation. The raging rage drove him to get up and pounce on Cheng Yayin, strangle her slender neck, and die with her. But as soon as he stood up, his head felt like it was being hit by a stick. He fell to the ground in pain, and his mind gradually became confused.

Through his hazy vision, he saw Cheng Yayin stand up and slowly walk towards the door. Her voice, sometimes distant and sometimes near, reached his ears: "Those who have their souls scattered will become confused and trapped in their most persistent thoughts and deepest fears. I want to see if you are truly fearless in your heart, since you take human life so lightly."

"Don't go..." Meng Yu murmured faintly from his throat. Looking at Cheng Yayin's figure getting farther and farther away, he reached out to grab her in vain, but couldn't even touch the corner of her clothes.

Cheng Yayin walked out of the cell and exchanged a glance with Xue Zhi, who had been waiting outside the door. She then put on her hood again and left alone. After she left, Xue Zhi locked the cell door again. The jailers were told not to come back tonight. He stood guard outside the door, watching Meng Yu's increasingly painful expression with cold eyes.

Meng Yu no longer had any trace of his former elegance and dignity. He was trembling all over, shouting something incoherently. Suddenly, he sat up from the ground, as if being chased by something invisible. His face was full of fear. He fled around the small cell. After falling, he used his hands and feet to crawl on the ground, shouting, "Don't come over here, let me go, let me go..."

Xue Zhi listened to his wailing and begging indifferently, his eyes gradually filled with tears, but there was a flicker of pleasure in his tears.

He finally avenged his sister. These tragic wails were the best requiem for the women who died at Meng Yu's hands.