The next day, after completing all the scheduled studies for the morning, Gu Yuzhi boarded a very low-key carriage and leisurely headed towards the prefect's prison.

There was no way around it. Ever since he appeared in Changzhou Prefecture and was recognized by the people, many more people set up stalls around the Wen residence. As soon as they saw Gu Yuzhi's personal carriage coming out, they would flock to follow it.

Yesterday, when we saw off Guard Qi and the others, they were caught up by the people not long after they left the house. Chief Secretary Xie was so scared that he had to take a long detour to shake them off.

Gu Yuzhi sat in the small carriage, shifting uncomfortably before resting his chin on his hand with a look of utter melancholy.

He secretly lifted the curtain and peeked outside. When the simple carriage came out, the people just looked up and then went about their own business.

He breathed a sigh of relief and said in a low voice, "Although the carriage is not very comfortable, it still has its advantages. At least the people won't find out."

Gu Yuzhi patted the carriage seat again, her little face immediately showing a hint of disgust.

Xie Changshi lowered his eyes and thought for a moment. As long as the young prince had not officially moved into Xinliang, this carriage would be used frequently.

He also whispered, "Your Highness, rest assured, I will have the carriage modified as soon as we get back, so that you can ride comfortably next time."

Gu Yuzhi nodded his little head, gave Xie Changshi a thumbs up, and then lifted the curtain to carefully look at the bustling street.

The carriage turned a corner, and the prefectural government office was not far ahead.

Perhaps for this reason, there were no vendors on the street from the entrance, making it rather quiet, a stark contrast to the bustling street behind it.

Gu Yuzhi puffed out his cheeks, thinking to himself that he would never prohibit ordinary people from setting up stalls in front of his Prince's Mansion in the future; he just liked the lively atmosphere.

Before long, they arrived at the prefectural government office. Prefect Qi was already waiting at the gate. When he saw the unusually simple carriage stop, he was first taken aback, and then a smile appeared on his face.

He stepped forward, about to take Gu Yuzhi's hand, when he saw Gu Yuzhi brace himself on the carriage shaft with one hand, let out a "hey," and jump down.

Gu Yuzhi clapped his hands: "Prefect Qi, hello there!"

Prefect Qi instantly remembered that the young prince had been learning martial arts with Guard Qi and the others. He suppressed his surprise and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, the prison is behind the yamen. Please come here."

Gu Yuzhi was filled with curiosity about every place he had never seen before. After entering the prefectural gate, he blinked his big eyes and looked around, listening to Prefect Qi explain to him what this place was and what that place was for.

As the prefectural government office, which he had only heard of before, gradually unfolded before him, Gu Yuzhi instantly understood what Chief Secretary Xie had said: "Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles."

After going around to the back of the government office and then through a small path, you soon see the prison.

Guards with knives stood at the entrance of the prison, and the gate was made of heavy steel, looking very imposing.

As soon as the guard pushed the door open, Gu Yuzhi looked up and saw that the prison was dark and there were gusts of cold wind blowing in.

Gu Yuzhi swallowed hard, feeling as if a huge monster was hiding in this prison, capable of devouring him whole!

He subtly slowed down by half a step, moved closer to Xie Changshi, and tugged at his sleeve before feeling much more at ease.

Prefect Qi led the way, while Gu Yuzhi kept his eyes straight ahead, but his peripheral vision kept scanning the prison cells on both sides. There were quite a few people locked up inside, and when they saw them come in, some of them excitedly walked over and leaned against the bars to watch them.

A dirty man, who looked like a beggar, suddenly stretched out his hand towards them, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, and called out, "Kids, come here quickly, kids, I have some good food here."

When he shouted that, the other prisoners burst into smirks, walked to the bars and chuckled, calling him "little kid, little kid."

Gu Yuzhi's expression was somewhat unpleasant, but he didn't seem to find the prisoners frightened.

He's not afraid of anyone who's going to be locked up here; they're all really bad guys!

On the contrary, the thought that so many people here had not been eaten by the monster he imagined made Gu Yuzhi feel safe.

Just then, the jailer who was escorting them inside suddenly pulled out his whip and lashed it at the ones who were making the most noise. He pointed at them and said fiercely, "Go back and sit down. Anyone who doesn't sit down will not get any food for three days."

In the past, they would have definitely dragged out the troublemakers and beaten them up; there would have been no need for them to persuade them like this!

But perhaps the power of hunger was greater, for as soon as the jailer finished speaking, the ringleaders obediently sat back down.

Aside from the person who first called out to Gu Yuzhi, his gaze remained fixed on Gu Yuzhi, his eyes sinister and provocative, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, ready to bite.

Chief Secretary Xie glanced at Gu Yuzhi and saw that he was walking forward step by step with Prefect Qi with his back straight. He suddenly stopped.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the jailers, Chief Secretary Xie suddenly drew a dagger, grabbed the man's head, and slammed it against the bars. The dagger swiftly plunged into the man's left eye, and then he punched him unconscious, silencing the screams that were about to escape his lips.

No one expected this seemingly refined man to suddenly launch an attack, nor did they expect his methods to be so ruthless.

Upon hearing the commotion, Prefect Qi turned around and glanced at the scene. He immediately gave a signal to the jailers, one of whom opened the cell and dragged the man to another location.

He stood behind Gu Yuzhi, carefully making sure Gu Yuzhi didn't notice anything amiss.

After Xie Changshi cleaned up the blood splattered on his body and face, he followed. At this time, Gu Yuzhi was already standing outside the cell where Li Yanping's confidants were imprisoned.

Li Yanping's confidants are the key targets of interrogation; generally, such people are directly hung in the torture chamber.

However, due to years of interrogation, the blood in the torture chamber couldn't be washed away even with water. In addition, the torture instruments made Guard Qi genuinely afraid of frightening the young prince.

So from the time we received him yesterday until now, this trusted confidant has been perfectly fine, lying intact in the cage next to the torture chamber.

Apart from being given medication and being in a coma, he was no different from other prisoners.

As soon as Prefect Qi stopped walking, the jailer immediately brought over a chair, and Gu Yuzhi sat down.

The jailer then opened the door and went in, without saying a word, he poured a bucket of cold water over the wound.

Chief Secretary Xie explained in a low voice, "This morning, I had someone stop the medicine. He should be awake by now."

As for why he didn't wake up, it's either because he was injured or he was faking it.

In short, no matter which one it is, a bucket of cold water can solve the problem!