A few days later, Yan Sikong learned about the interrogation from Yan Zilian.

As for the assassination and treason, the father and son of the Feng family denied it until their death, and the few captured Feng family soldiers insisted that it was the guards of the Feng Mansion who came with military orders to mobilize troops, saying that the emperor and Feng Jianping were assassinated in the Shanhai Hunting Ground and asked them to rescue them.

But the guards they were talking about had long since disappeared in the melee.

The Ministry of Justice sent people to count the bodies in the mountains and forests. After multiple people identified them, they found the dead guard and discovered Feng Jianping's military token on his body.

But this is not enough to clear the injustice of the Feng family father and son.

Yan Sikong asked softly, "Were they... tortured?"

According to the laws of this dynasty, regardless of whether the accused is guilty or not, he must be flogged ten times before the trial in order to demonstrate the authority of the law and deter wrongdoing. During the trial, punishment is inevitable, not to mention that the father and son of the Feng family were sent to the imperial prison, which is known as purgatory on earth.

He knew exactly what Feng Ye was going through, but he could do nothing about it.

Yan Zilian nodded heavily and said, "I have asked Meng Duo to take care of it as much as possible, but His Majesty has been exerting pressure and ordered the three judicial officials to review the case as soon as possible."

"The guard is dead and there is no evidence...but is there any other favorable evidence?"

"General Feng was in the camp and could have responded, but Feng Ye was in the forest at the time and joined the fray, although he said he wanted to stop Feng's army."

"What about Zhao Fuyi? Didn't he see who was leading the troops?"

Yan Zilian shook his head and said, "There was fog in the forest at that time. He didn't even know that the invaders were from the Feng family army. He just received a report from the patrolling sentry that someone had sneaked into the Shanhai Hunting Ground, so he rushed over to kill the enemy."

"Could he really get the news so quickly? Who is that sentinel? He should be brought to trial together with him."

"I will let Meng Duo interrogate the sentry." Yan Zilian said in a deep voice, "No matter what, the current situation is extremely unfavorable. Zhao Fuyi does not believe that the Feng family will rebel, but as the commander of the garrison, he has no choice but to arrest Feng Ye himself."

Yan Sikong thought for a moment and said, "I want to visit General Zhao in person."

"What are you going to do?"

"Since he believes in the innocence of the Feng family and their son, he will definitely help us out of consideration for our old friendship."

"Now, Xie Zhongren's spies are everywhere in the government and the country. If you go to find him, it may not be helpful, but you will expose yourself." Yan Zilian said, "You can't meet directly. I will arrange this matter."

"Listen to the teacher." Yan Sikong said hesitantly, "The student has another request."

"You say."

"I...I want to see Feng Ye."

Yan Zilian frowned and did not answer.

"There are some things that Feng Ye is only willing to tell me. I want to know everything that happened in the hunting grounds that day."

Yan Zilian hesitated for a moment and agreed: "I will let Meng Duo arrange it. You must be careful in your actions."

Yan Sikong bowed deeply: "Thank you, teacher."

"Sikong." Yan Zilian said expressionlessly, "If...if Your Majesty really wants to kill them, what will you do?"

Yan Sikong clenched his fists: "Students must save Feng Ye even at the cost of their lives."

"How do you want to save him?" Yan Zilian asked word by word.

Yan Sikong stood there for a long time before he uttered two words from his thin lips: "Hell."

Yan Zilian's eyes widened, his face turned pale, his body swayed, and suddenly he staggered back a big step.

"Teacher!" Yan Sikong rushed over and supported him.

Yan Zilian coughed twice violently, and his skinny body trembled violently. He covered his mouth and nose with his sleeves, but saw that the cuffs were stained with scarlet blood...

"Teacher!" Yan Sikong was shocked and quickly took out a soft handkerchief from his arms and wiped the bleeding corners of Yan Zilian's lips. "Teacher, teacher, what's wrong with you?" He helped Yan Zilian sit down on the chair.

Yan Zilian waved his hands and coughed for a long time until his face was full of blood, and then he slowly stopped.

Yan Sikong knelt in front of Yan Zilian and said in a hoarse voice: "Teacher..."

Yan Zilian took a sip of water and gradually calmed down: "No... I don't blame you. Life is a matter of time. I am already old. I originally thought that I would risk my dying life to eliminate the treacherous villains for Dasheng. When the time comes, I can rest assured and leave. But now..."

Yan Sikong looked at Yan Zilian sadly.

Yan Zilian took a deep breath and said, "I know your personality. You seem to be very good at dealing with people and you are good at keeping to yourself. But in fact, you are very persistent in what you believe in and you will do whatever it takes to achieve it. I always feel that you can do something big that will overturn the world and turn the tide. Unfortunately, I may not be able to see it."

"Teacher, please don't say that!"

Yan Zilian waved his hand to stop him: "Sikong, I have been an official for forty years, and my students and former officials are all over the world. You are the smartest and the one I admire the most. I hope you can inherit my mantle and save this declining court and the people. Can you do it?"

Yan Sikong nodded with trembling hands.

"Teacher... lost." Yan Zilian stretched out his hand, and his old, skinny fingers stroked Yan Sikong's dark hair. He said in a sad voice, "In the end, you still lost to that bastard... No matter how hard you and I work, I'm afraid we can't save the Feng family, but you can't give up. As long as I can save you, I will watch you chop that bastard into pieces even if I go to hell."

Yan Sikong's eyes were filled with tears and he nodded solemnly.

"No matter what you do, you must protect yourself first. If you can save the Feng family father and son, there will be hope." Yan Zilian tightly grasped Yan Sikong's hand, "Teacher will help you."

Yan Sikong choked up and said, "Even if I die a thousand times, it is not enough to repay my teacher's kindness."

Yan Zilian's gray eyes flashed with a sharp light: "I will not be able to rest in peace even if I die. The prince is young and the country is in danger. Sikong, I will rely on you from now on."

Yan Sikong closed his eyes, held Yan Zilian's hand, and said solemnly: "Students will never let their teachers down."

——

Under Meng Duo's arrangement, Yan Sikong was secretly led into the prison on a dark and windy night. He observed the terrain of the prison along the way and memorized it silently in his mind. Although he was sure that Yan Zilian could get the most detailed drawings, someone still needed to conduct an on-site survey.

Both Feng's father and son were imprisoned in the deepest cell of the Imperial Prison where serious criminals were held, but they were not in the same place.

As soon as he entered the prison, Yan Sikong smelled a dull, dark, and foul smell that made him feel nauseous. However, he took a deep breath and exposed his mouth and nose without hesitation, because he knew that no matter how uncomfortable he felt at the moment, or how anxious he was outside, it was not even one tenth of the suffering that Feng Ye had experienced.

Passing through the dim corridor, Yan Sikong followed the jailer and turned into the innermost cell. He immediately saw the person hiding in the shadows deep inside the cell.

Yan Sikong felt as if a sword had struck him in the chest, and the pain was so severe that he could hardly breathe.

The jailer bowed and said, "Master Yan, you only have one stick of incense to wait for me. Please do not stay for too long."

Yan Sikong suppressed the turmoil in his heart and nodded.

The person in the cage heard the noise and moved.

The jailer turned and left. Yan Sikong could no longer control himself and rushed to the iron cage, calling out softly, "Feng Ye..."

The man in the darkness moved forward and appeared in the firelight.

Yan Sikong's tears fell instantly.

The young prince who used to be full of vigor and vitality, dressed in fine clothes and riding a horse, now had a dirty face and messy hair, and his prison clothes were stained with blood. The handsome face that once seemed like a god was now heartbreakingly haggard and emaciated.

When Feng Ye saw Yan Sikong, he was stunned and his eyes were full of struggle.

"Feng Ye, Feng Ye!" Yan Sikong reached his hand into the iron cage in vain. He wanted to touch Feng Ye, even if it was just the corner of his clothes with body temperature. He hated that his hands were not long enough to grab Feng Ye in one go. He also hated that his hands were not strong enough to take his beloved away from all the suffering.

He hated, hated Xie Zhongren, hated Emperor Zhaowu, and hated this world full of disasters and troubles!

Feng Ye stopped there, looking at Yan Sikong motionlessly.

"Feng Ye...are you seriously injured? Have you eaten enough?" Yan Sikong's voice was shaking. "I miss you so much. I worry about you every day. I, I brought the best medicine. I...say something!"

Feng Ye slowly straightened his body. From his twisted expression, one could tell how painful this action was for him, but he still managed it. He opened his cracked lips and said in a hoarse voice, "You're here. It's just right that I have something to ask you."

Yan Sikong was stunned. Feng Ye's unusual tone and attitude made him deeply puzzled.

"Do you know who was the guard who took the military token to mobilize the troops?"

“…Who is it?”

"Xiao Liu."

"Your...driver?"

"Yes, he was bought. He has no home or relatives, and knows no one except those in the mansion. But before we went on the spring hunt, someone went to look for him."

"who?"

"Your loyal servant, Ali." Feng Ye's eyes flashed coldly.

Yan Sikong was stunned.

"This is what Xue Bo told me when he came to investigate a few days ago." Feng Ye narrowed his eyes. His disheveled hair and the blood on his face made him look murderous.

"Ali... Why did Ali go to find Xiaoliu?" Yan Sikong murmured. He had never heard Ali say this before.

"This is what I want to ask you." Feng Ye leaned forward. Although he looked like a wolf, his eyes were as sharp as a beast, and he was as ferocious as before. "My father's token is hidden in his belt. I only told you that you were the only one who didn't show up at the banquet that night. My two thousand Feng family soldiers broke into the hunting grounds from the southwest foothills, which was exactly the same route you and I discussed that day!"

Yan Sikong knelt on the ground, staring at Feng Ye blankly.