Chapter 87

Zhou Keng locked them up and did nothing with them. In fact, he treated them to good food and drink, and they enjoyed a few days of a life of ease in prison. Tang Qi was so happy that he forgot about his home. Cheng Junshi and Ye Qian, who were outside the prison, were not so lucky. Sometimes they were so busy that they couldn't even get a hot meal.

Lu Juezhen had just let out a burp when he looked at Tang Qi with a wistful expression and said, "Brother Zhengye, do you think being locked up here is a good thing or a bad thing?"

Tang Qi was bored, so he leaned against the wall and listened to his question. He casually picked up a pebble from the ground and hit it squarely on the head before laughing and saying, "Whether it's good or bad, just eat your food, sleep your sleep, and live a peaceful life."

"We can't just stay here doing nothing, can we?" Lu Juezhen said, holding her head and giving him a resentful look.

"Who said we're not doing anything?" Tang Qi suddenly sat up straight and said mysteriously, "Aren't we just waiting for an opportunity?"

"Opportunity? What opportunity?"

Just as Lu Juezhen was completely baffled, a clear and steady series of footsteps suddenly echoed from the stone steps leading to the ground deep within the prison. The sound was neither hurried nor slow, but reverberated in the confined space.

"Speak of the devil and he appears."

Everyone inside the cell instinctively held their breath and looked toward the dimly lit passageway.

The torchlight shone in first, and then two rows of guards dressed in palace guard uniforms and with curved swords at their waists quickly descended and silently lined up on both sides of the passage, instantly taking control of the situation inside the prison.

Faced with such a grand display, Lu Juezhen stood up almost instantly. He had never seen anything like this in his life, and he could tell with his toes that the person who came must be a big shot.

Sure enough, a slender yet dignified figure slowly appeared in the firelight.

Upon seeing this, the group immediately knelt down.

The person opposite was dressed in a palace gown with flowing cloud patterns, covered by a gold-threaded cloak, and had her hair piled high in the clouds.

"No need for formalities. Get up."

She didn't glance at anyone else; her gaze fell directly on Zhou Ziye, who was slowly standing up.

"How is it?" she asked indifferently.

Zhou Ziye dusted off non-existent dust from his robes, his gaze calm: "Still alive."

"Then let's go."

As soon as he finished speaking, the lock on Zhou Ziye's prison door was opened in a few quick movements, and he regained his freedom so easily.

"Where is Qingqing?" Yun An asked Zhou Ziye.

“She’s not here. Ye Qian took her out a long time ago.” Zhou Ziye’s eyes were calm, and his words revealed no emotion.

Yun An snorted coldly: "So you guys are still somewhat useful. If I find out Qingqing is here, you and Ye Qian, every single one of you, will be waiting for me to settle accounts with you when you get out of here."

As she finished speaking, she was about to step out when Tang Qi, who was leaning against the prison door, called out, "Your Highness!"

A solemn-faced female official stepped forward to block him, and Tang Qi immediately raised his hands in surrender, saying, "Your Highness, I mean no harm, but how can you only rescue one person when you're doing this? Otherwise, Your Highness, please go all the way and rescue a few of us as well?"

Hu Xingche was so frightened by his words that his legs went weak and he almost knelt down again.

What do you mean by being so familiar? That's Princess Yun'an!

"Yes, yes! Your Highness, we've met before, at Dongshou Mountain, do you remember?"

Hu Xingche stared in disbelief at Lu Juezhen, who had spoken up. Why was there yet another one?

Yun An did indeed stand in front of them, but his gaze did not linger on Lu Juezhen's face; instead, it stopped on Tang Qi beside him.

“Of course I remember,” Yun An said, still not looking at Lu Juezhen. “We’ve met before.”

The lock opened again, and Tang Qi stretched and followed the others out slowly. Only after they stepped off the stairs did they realize that the outside world had been turned upside down.

Zhou Keng was now kneeling on the ground. The female official beside Yun An stepped forward again and said clearly, "Princess Yun An has come to investigate all matters related to the draft of the Jinan Grain Act by order of His Majesty. All those involved, kneel and listen to the imperial decree!"

Princess Yun'an's gaze swept over the kneeling crowd before finally returning to Zhou Ziye. The female official continued speaking calmly, her voice echoing among the crowd: "His Majesty is already aware of the events in Jinan. The granaries are empty, and the old grain has been replaced with new, a deception that has nearly caused unrest among the people and instability in the army. This is truly my oversight and a disgrace to the court."

The female official paused slightly, each word carrying immense weight: "His Majesty has decreed: whoever is involved in this case, regardless of their official position, will be severely punished once the facts are verified, in order to rectify the court and bring peace to the world."

Her gaze finally shifted, seemingly casually brushing against Zhou Ziye's face. Her tone remained calm, yet carried the air of final judgment: "Former Privy Councilor Zhou Keng failed in his duties of overseeing grain supplies, neglected his responsibilities in managing subordinates, and was also suspected of dereliction of duty, malfeasance, and cover-up. He cannot escape blame. Effective immediately, he is stripped of all official titles and honors, escorted to the capital, and handed over to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution. His family property is confiscated and deposited into the national treasury to cover the deficit."

The decree was simple and straightforward, without even mentioning any specific evidence, directly defining the nature of the crime and completely exposing Zhou Keng.

Zhou Ziye lowered his eyelids, and the last trace of doubt in his heart completely disappeared.

"Lord Zhou's actions today, though seemingly ruthless, were actually full of flaws, and could even be described as... absurd. He arrested and released people, killed key witnesses, yet left us alive, and even imprisoned you as well."

"This doesn't seem like silencing witnesses; it's more like—they're afraid things won't escalate, afraid the capital won't know about this huge blunder. Young Master Zhou, does your second uncle want to cover up the truth, or—they want to—rip the roof off?"

Tang Qi's words from the prison cell echoed in Zhou Ziye's mind again, and he finally lowered his head and chuckled.

He wasn't afraid of His Majesty's wrath; he was afraid His Majesty wouldn't wrath him at all.

After Princess Yun'an finished speaking, her gaze returned to Zhou Ziye: "Zhou Ziye."

Zhou Ziye looked up again.

"His Majesty has issued another decree, ordering you to temporarily take charge of the grain and provisions affairs in Jinan, and to work with Cheng Junshi and Ye Qian to inventory the stockpiles, appease the people, and stabilize market prices. If there are any further mistakes, you will be severely punished."

"Your subject...accepts the imperial decree and expresses gratitude." Zhou Ziye bowed deeply.

He felt no sense of relief at having escaped, only a chilling coldness; the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked. He was never a victor.

Zhou Ziye's hands were trembling. When Zhou Keng was taken away, he was still the same as before, with a cold and stern face, showing no surprise or regret.

Even at the very end, Zhou Ziye only had time to glance at him briefly.

It turns out that Zhou Keng had known all along that he was just a pawn to be discarded.

Tang Qi finally realized that this whole situation was a case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; the real protagonist had only just made his appearance.

Yun'an.

She was the one who ultimately won over the hearts of the people.

Zhou Keng was merely paving the way for Yun An's arrival. His ruthlessness and threats were all means to win the hearts of the people over Yun An. His Majesty wanted him to play the bad cop, to be hated and rejected by the people and even by Tang Qi and his group. Only in this way could Princess Yun An, who arrived late, become the only savior in this natural and man-made disaster.

The saying "if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold" resonated deeply not only with Zhou Ziye, but also with the others kneeling below.

Shen Zhiqing was so terrified that she felt nauseous.

"Qingqing?" Yun An went over and helped her up.

Tang Qi looked up at Yun An again; they were kneeling, while she was standing.

From the very beginning, they were ruler and subject, subordinates, and could never be friends.

Tang Qi only finally understood this fact now.

"Get up, all of you, no need for formalities." Yun An spoke hastily to the group, still supporting Shen Zhiqing, who was still trembling, but she took Shen Zhiqing's arm as usual.

“That Zhou Keng is really bold, daring to use the relief grain sent to Jinnan. Luckily I arrived in time, otherwise if he had arrested you and continued to harm Jinnan, that would have been a really big mistake!” Yun An patted her chest in lingering fear. Seeing that Shen Zhiqing was not speaking, she frowned in confusion, then looked at her and asked, “What’s wrong, Qingqing? Why are you still scared?”

Shen Zhiqing didn't know how to say it, so she could only avoid Yun An's gaze.

This scheme was set up by His Majesty, so she could naturally believe that Yun An was completely unaware, and she was certain that Yun An was completely unaware. But it was precisely this innate innocence that left her powerless to resist.

She cannot hate, cannot resent, and cannot be angry.

Shen Zhiqing could only be afraid.

They feared that they too would become pawns sacrificed by imperial power in the next moment.

Fearing Yun'an, one will unknowingly stain one's own blood.

"Ye Qian!" Yun An finally snapped, turning to Ye Qian beside her and saying, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and help Qingqing back to rest! And—this princess is hungry!"

The group set off again in a grand procession, but Tang Qi remained where he was. His gaze fell on Zhou Ziye, watching him get up dejectedly, watching him brush the dust off his body bit by bit, and then—watching him turn his back and leave without saying a word.

"Young Master Zhou—" Tang Qi suddenly spoke up, saying to his retreating figure, "Thanks."

Zhou Ziye stopped in his tracks, and Tang Qi chuckled and continued, "Not just this time."

He didn't turn around, but remained silent for a few moments before slowly saying, "This is the last time."

No one could call Zhou Ziye back anymore.

For some reason, Tang Qi suddenly felt a strange fear. He was too familiar with Zhou Ziye's back view; it was lonely, resolute, and everything about it was so familiar.

"What are you thinking about?" Cheng Junshi suddenly appeared in front of him.

Tang Qi blinked a few times and then smiled, "It's nothing, it's just—" He stared at Zhou Ziye's receding figure and murmured, "I just feel like I can't go back."

"Who can't go back?"

"There's no going back."

After a long silence, Cheng Junshi pondered for a moment and then started a conversation: "Have you been feeling unwell these past few days?"

Tang Qi shook his head and teased him: "Didn't you already make arrangements with the jailers? We're not worried about food or drink inside. Cheng Wang, what am I going to do without you?"

He deliberately bumped into Cheng Junshi with a smile, and the latter coughed twice, pretending to be serious, and said, "How did you know it was me?"

"Who else could it be but you? Zhou Keng isn't that meticulous. Ye Qian's whole mind is focused on getting Xiao Qing out of trouble. Who else would care about our lives but you?"

"Food is limited, and we can only give priority to the disaster victims every day. You've suffered a lot," Cheng Junshi said.

"That's nothing. We're tough and won't starve. By the way—where's Wang Shili? I haven't seen that guy. Isn't he always the one who loves to show off? Why didn't he jump out to take credit this time?"

Cheng Junshi's expression visibly worsened upon hearing the name "Wang Shili," and his previously slightly smiling face turned cold again.

Seeing his expression, Tang Qi immediately stated her position: "I'm not concerned about him, absolutely not! I was just asking casually. Where Wang Shili dies is none of my business!"

"Surely there won't be any problems now that you're so resolute," Tang Qi glanced at Cheng Junshi again, looking rather disgruntled.

Seeing his cautious demeanor, Cheng Junshi couldn't help but burst out laughing: "He's already gone to Luocheng. I heard it was Zhou Keng who sent him."

"This kid really knows how to run away when things get tough." Tang Qi curled his lip and continued, "Is Zhou Keng trying to do a favor? He's not entirely heartless. He locked up Zhou Ziye to distance himself from the situation. He only punished Zhou Ziye, so as not to implicate Zhou Ziye. In fact, in the end, Zhou Ziye might even be able to gain some merit by putting righteousness before family. Zhou Keng has really burned everything."

"He could have done more than this."

Tang Qi glanced at Cheng Junshi: "You're wrong, he has no other choice."

“From the moment His Majesty sent him here, Zhou Keng could only have this one ending.” He continued in a deep voice, “From beginning to end, he had no other choice.”

Were you like him before?