Chapter 18 "You don't know what you've got till it's cut into your own flesh..."
The words spoken inside the room left Yu'an breathless for a long time. Each word was like a thorny pebble, and when they were piled up, they made it painful for her to breathe.
Baozhu kept backing away, worried, "Miss..."
"Walk."
After uttering a single word, Yu An immediately pulled Bao Zhu back.
Everyone knew, except her; everyone had made plans, but she was still foolishly agonizing over that little bit of love.
Shen Qiulan has always been close to Ji Jinghe, so there's no need to guess what Ji Jinghe is thinking; it's just the same thing.
With the Chu family on the verge of collapse, she could only become a pawn to be discarded.
"Miss, shall we not ask the madam for help?"
Yu An shook her head. Since Shen Qiulan had already made her decision, even if she pretended to be stupid and begged, it probably wouldn't do any good. Rather than that, she should find a way herself. Even if she had to beg Ji Jinghe, it would be better than her.
"Have someone prepare a carriage to go to the imperial prison."
Unsure of what would happen, Yu'an still packed some clothes and personal belongings, and also tucked the written divorce agreement into her bosom.
In short, her relationship with Ji Jinghe couldn't last, so she might as well make the most of her remaining value. He wasn't a heartless person; if it was just a small favor, he had no reason to refuse.
About half an hour later, they arrived at the entrance of the imperial prison.
The Imperial Guards stood watch at the gate, and few officers came and went. Yu An sat in the carriage and looked around for a long time but couldn't find a single official who was familiar with Chu Xingjian.
Baozhu approached with two bags of loose silver to try and get closer to the person, and finally learned something from them.
She returned to the carriage. "Miss, I've found out that the master was taken in the day before yesterday. After two days of joint trial, there's still no progress. The master's case involves many people, and the Emperor is the chief judge. However... the young master seems to be an official assisting in the trial. Perhaps you could give it a try."
It took her quite a bit of effort to get these questions out of her. The Imperial Guards at the door were very secretive about the matter, and even when they did reveal these whispers to her, they did so cautiously and discreetly, keeping them away from others.
Yu An calmed down and said, "In that case, let's wait here. We'll see them eventually."
Since it was for a joint trial, a visit was inevitable. To avoid missing it, Yu'an and Baozhu got out of the car together and stood by the wall of the imperial prison to wait.
However, a moment later, a "tap-tap-tap" sound came from the bluestone street. Yu An looked up and met a pair of dark, black eyes.
Those eyes, always still and unmoving, never lingered on her.
Yu An took a step forward, her heart tightening slightly. The words she had prepared vanished upon seeing that face.
But because it was a critical moment, he had a surge of energy; as the saying goes, "no destruction, no construction."
Ji Jinghe dismounted, still wearing his crimson official robes, exuding nobility and dignity.
"How did you get here?" he asked, his voice slightly hoarse.
Yu'an: "My father is in trouble and he is very restless at home. I just want to come and see him. I wonder if you can make an exception for me, sir."
The unease was palpable to begin with, and as the lingering silence filled my ears, it felt as if ants were gnawing at my chest, slowly hollowing it out.
Ji Jinghe paused, then said with a somber expression, "This matter is complicated, and it's not appropriate for outsiders to get involved. You should go back first."
Speaking official jargon to his wife, he truly treated her like an outsider; Yu'an finally understood.
In her eyes, she had become an outsider, and what was considered normal human nature had become unreasonable. In the end, he was unwilling to help her.
Just how unwilling was he to accept this marriage?
Or perhaps, Shen Qiulan's longing was also his longing, and he also wanted to get rid of this unnecessary marriage, divorce his wife, and marry someone else.
Ji Jinghe: "This isn't a place for you in the first place. You should go back."
go back?
Are you suggesting that if we send her back, she'll just stay in the same old ways, completely oblivious and kept in the dark? Then she'll be divorced without a clue, ending up with no relatives or friends and nowhere to go?
Having said that, Ji Jinghe lowered his eyelids, assuming she would obey as before and leave. As he turned to leave, a disgruntled voice came from behind him: "What the master actually means is that he doesn't want to help, right?"
He looked back, and his almond-shaped eyes revealed a rare emotion.
Yu An tensed up, pressing her shoulders as she said, "My father was an honest and upright official. What he despised most in his life was using dirty means to harm people for profit. He was definitely not the one who harmed the Xu family... Why are you so insistent that it was him?"
"Can you just believe me this once... just this once?"
Her eyes were wide open and bright, and even with tears in them, she never showed the slightest weakness, resentment, or bitterness. She suppressed all of it, even though she was just one step away from saying "Why?"
Ji Jinghe sighed. He had things to say, but he couldn't say them out loud.
"Whatever the truth may be, it's best to investigate. His Majesty specifically ordered all officials to participate in the investigation in order to give everyone a fair judgment. Your current anxiety will only make things difficult for yourself and won't help at all, understand?"
“Of course I understand,” Yu’an said almost eagerly, her voice as calm as a taut line.
The significance of the Xu family to Ji Jinghe was self-evident. She didn't ask him to favor her; she only hoped that he would consider the only affection between husband and wife and do his best to be fair. Unfortunately, before she could even utter her request, he refused.
She really overestimated herself... She probably couldn't even compare to half of Xu Jingshu, after all, he wasn't like this when the carriage was startled last time.
“You don’t know the pain until you cut your own flesh. My father is in prison, and my uncle can certainly look down on me and tell me to calm down, but has he ever considered my feelings as a son or daughter?”
He paused for a moment,
"If it were Miss Xu asking you for help today, would you still be so calm, sir?"
She suppressed the stinging in her nose and tried to speak calmly. Perhaps because she had been holding back for so long, she blurted out the words without thinking.
Seeing his increasingly heavy brows, Yu'an knew she had guessed correctly.
Only members of the Xu family could move him; what was she to him?
“I know I’m not a good bride, and you don’t need to bother kicking me out. If I’m willing to take the initiative to divorce, could you please help me, even if it’s just to let me in for a meeting?”
Ji Jinghe was stunned upon hearing this, "Nonsense."
He frowned.
"I'm not talking nonsense. Don't you know better than me why our marriage was possible?"
When the air around you stagnates, it's like being in a stagnant pool of water.
Ji Jinghe stared silently at the person in front of him, unable to utter a single word.
Yu An: "If you are unwilling, I will not force you. Since we both had ulterior motives in the first place, we can only part amicably after we have used each other. As long as you take me to see my father, I will have someone pack my things and leave when I get back to the manor."
Ji Jinghe's face remained stiff, neither confirming nor denying: "Take the young mistress back."
Seeing that he was about to leave, Yu'an stepped forward to block his way, her voice trembling with tears: "Ji Jinghe, are you really this heartless..."
"Qingque," Ji Jinghe raised his voice, "bring the young mistress back to the manor. She is not allowed to leave without my order."
"Ji Jinghe!"
Yu An shouted, but Ji Jinghe didn't turn his head as usual.
I really underestimated Ji Jinghe; he is far more heartless and ungrateful than I thought.
Chu Yu'an, you are truly despicable. You are so despicable that you have wasted months on this kind of person and still can't see clearly. You have even lowered yourself time and time again, just hoping that he would look at you more... Why did you have to hit a wall before you would repent? Why did you only become willing to completely believe now?
Wasn't he always like this... You deserve to end up like this!
*
Ji Jinghe didn't know how she knew about his affair with Chu Xingjian, nor did he know how she learned that Chu Xingjian had been imprisoned.
The situation is now complicated, and he can no longer spare the time to study it; resolving the immediate issue is the most important thing.
As you step inside, a gloomy atmosphere gradually envelops you. In stark contrast to the heat outside, the smell of mold and blood mingles with a chill that assaults your senses. The perpetually damp stone walls gleam with a bluish-black light under the torchlight.
Every now and then, sharp groans echoed, like vengeful ghosts demanding lives.
Upon seeing Ji Jinghe appear, Qianhu, who had just sat down to have a cup of tea and rest, quickly stood up and went to greet him.
"They've been tortured?"
"No, no, as you instructed, it was just a verbal interrogation," the commander said respectfully, bowing.
Ji Jinghe: "Has anyone else come by?"
Qianhu: "Ever since Lord Yan came at Chenshi, there has been no one else."
Ji Jinghe glanced at the commander but did not speak.
Yan Ling and he were from the same school, and Emperor Hongwen appointed them to assist in the trial.
"Until the case is resolved, he will always be the Grand Secretary. If he asks for anything, you must fulfill it, understand?" he instructed.
The commander secretly grumbled to himself, but a sneer appeared on his lips, though he still maintained an obedient demeanor. "Yes, yes, yes, this subordinate will certainly comply."
Ji Jinghe waved his hand, and after the commander withdrew, he went to the cell where Chu Xingjian was being held.
The prison was cold and damp. Although there were beds, they were still very simple. Chu Xingjian sat upright at the table with his back to the door, seemingly resting with his eyes closed.
She vaguely sensed someone outside the door, opened her eyes and looked out; it was Ji Jinghe.
He struggled to his feet and waited for the Imperial Guards to open the door before sitting down with Ji Jinghe.
"I thought we'd meet on the rack." Chu Xingjian smiled wryly and poured Ji Jinghe a glass of water.
Ji Jinghe reached out and touched it; it was cold.
Chu Xingjian had been imprisoned in the imperial prison for almost two days, and today was the first time he had seen his son-in-law. With the charges against him now in hand, the two seemed rather awkward when they met.
He had assumed that Ji Jinghe was unwilling to see him.
Xu Yun's motives were clear. Ji Jinghe agreed to his request without hesitation, ostensibly because he wanted to join the cabinet, but now it seems that his real intention was to investigate him.
Ji Jinghe was about to ask a question when Chu Xingjian spoke first: "How's the investigation going? Have you confirmed my charges?"
Just as Ji Jinghe was about to answer, he noticed that Chu Xingjian was still making a move, so he didn't speak easily.
Chu Xingjian: "Has Yu Niang come looking for you? Do your two children at home still not know about my situation?"
Ji Jinghe found it strange that he had written on the table with his hand wet, and immediately replied, "She just found out. She was just saying she wanted to see you at the gate of the imperial prison. I had someone send her back."
The character "夏" (summer) was written on the table.
“Tell that child not to be silly, and to stay at home.” Chu Xingjian laughed self-deprecatingly. “If I’m in danger, pass on a message for me: tell her to take her younger brother and obediently return to Jiangling, and not stay in the capital.”
A list of court officials' names was left on the table; they were all members of the Xia family's faction. Among them, what surprised him were some officials he had never been associated with in factional strife.
Just how much did he uncover behind the scenes...?
Ji Jinghe carefully observed the expression on Chu Xingjian's face, while not daring to miss any water stains on the table.
"Until the situation is clear, I will not take sides, no matter who it is. As for where she will live in the future, that is not for Minister Chu to worry about."
Chu Xingjian smiled and sighed, curling his stiff, aching fingers. "Forgive this old man's fatherly heart; I truly can't bear to part with these two children..."
After saying that, Chu Xingjian wrote four more words on the table: "Bring her to see me."
“After she got married, she couldn’t go home whenever she wanted. Before the inspection last month, the servants found a few clothes that her mother had left for her among her old belongings. After the Embroidered Uniform Guard checked them, you can send someone to deliver them to her.”
Ji Jinghe held the ice-cold cup, the only reflection in the water being darkness.
"It's truly fortunate that Old Xu has been able to teach a group of students like you..."
Before Chu Xingjian could finish speaking, he coughed violently, gasping for breath. Ji Jinghe was about to call for hot water when he was stopped.
Having served as an official for half my life, I have made mistakes in being arrogant and conceited, and I have also made mistakes in reflecting on myself. The longer I am in the officialdom, the more I realize how difficult it is to be an official.
Now, due to underestimating his opponent, he is about to ruin half of his life, which is truly wrong. He also feels ashamed for dragging down his two children.
He suppressed his breath and said in a voice that only Ji Jinghe could hear, "I'm sorry to you. I couldn't help when Lao Xu had her accident. Even if you suspect me of being the murderer, I'll accept it. But the sins shouldn't be passed on to others. Please treat her well. You must have forgotten that you once saved her."
After saying that, he got up and waved his hands repeatedly before walking to the bed and lying down.
Chu Xingjian placed all his hopes in his hands. If he believed him and investigated, Chu Xingjian would have a chance to live; otherwise, he would surely die.
Having said everything useful, there was no need for him to stay any longer. Ji Jinghe got up and left, and after entering the duty room, Wei Ji followed him in.
For generations, the Ji family has maintained a secret guard force, dedicated to serving the family to the death, ever since inheriting the title. Over the past century, under Ji Jinghe's management, this force has become even more refined and reliable.
“Sir, someone was eavesdropping on your conversation with Grand Secretary Chu just now. It was the commander who spoke to you when you came in.”
"Was he tortured?" Ji Jinghe asked his subordinate, who was holding a pen. He had just spoken with Chu Xingjian and felt that something was different.
Wei Ji: "When Lord Yan came this morning, he made some movements."
With a slight twitch of his brow, Ji Jinghe paused, then handed over the completed list. "Send out all available personnel to check each of the above lists and see who has made any unusual moves toward the Chu family. The sooner the better."
Having just seen what Chu Xingjian had handed him, Wei Ji quickly realized what was going on. He noticed a string of names on the list, especially the characters "Xia" and "Yan".
Just as he was about to turn around after agreeing, Ji Jinghe stopped him again: "Send someone to the Chu residence to bring the young master to your home."
Wei Ji paused for a moment, then lowered his hands in response.
After everyone left, only Ji Jinghe remained in the duty room. He had intended to stay and sort through the case files, but once he sat down, he was extremely absent-minded and couldn't concentrate on reading a single word. His mind was filled with the scene at the gate of the imperial prison.
Never mind, let's go back and take a look.
A note from the author:
----------------------
Yuan: [crying]
Ji Jinghe: [resting his chin on his hand]
The remaining half of the chapter has been completed [kiss]. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it will be available for purchase next Tuesday. Unfortunately, this week was affected by the toxic rankings, and I've suffered a major blow. This means the book will have even fewer opportunities to be seen [chin rest]. As usual, there will be three chapters released consecutively upon the purchase date. Please support me! [confetti] Thank you for being there! [hug]
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