Chapter 14

Yang Hong turned his head and said, “I should head back now, or the tigress at home will start making a fuss again.”

The woman following behind him, holding a child, had a delicate and charming appearance. Her frail and graceful demeanor made her particularly pitiful and endearing.

“When will you come again, my lord? An’er always fusses and misses his father when he doesn’t see you.”

The child chimed in, calling out “Father” twice.

Yang Hong happily kissed the child and said, “Don’t worry. In a few days, the tigress will be heading to Dai Prefecture to celebrate her grandmother’s birthday. She won’t be back for ten days or so. Then I’ll move in and spend quality time with you and the child.”

Compared to his aging wife, the flower before him was far more to his liking.

The woman immediately smiled radiantly and leaned in affectionately, saying, “An’er and I will be here waiting for you, my lord.”

“Good girl.”

Yang Hong pecked her lips, pinched her waist, and inhaled the fragrance of her makeup, feeling utterly entranced. After exchanging a few sweet words, he finally left, planning to find a place to rid himself of the lingering scent before returning home to avoid detection by the tigress. But suddenly, a short blade thrust horizontally, landing directly at his neck.

“Ah—”

“Shut up!”

Yang Hong trembled and barely managed to utter a sound before the blade pressed against his neck, instantly silencing him.

Su Jinyuan spoke calmly, “Master Yang, it’s best to stay quiet. Otherwise, if you alert the people outside and they see the esteemed Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice in a widow’s house, you might have a hard time explaining it to your wife.”

Yang Hong’s face turned pale instantly. He had been maintaining this mistress under the guise of a widow, always sneaking around during his visits. He never expected to be caught.

Turning his neck slightly, he gritted his teeth and said, “Who… who are you? Do you know what you’re doing? Are you not afraid of death?”

Su Jinyuan chuckled lightly. “Whether I fear death is none of your concern, Master Yang. I’ve come tonight with a specific request for your assistance.”

As she spoke, she loosened the dagger from Yang Hong’s neck. He quickly turned around, only to see a young person behind him whose gender was indistinguishable.

His face darkened, and just as he was about to shout for someone to seize her, Su Jinyuan said: “Master Yang, you’d better think carefully before calling for help. If you shout, I’ll have no choice but to take your little mistress and child down with me.”

Yang Hong quickly glanced toward the courtyard and saw that his mistress, who had just been bidding him a tender farewell, was now being held by the neck, and the child had been taken away.

“What exactly do you want?” Yang Hong asked, his face grim.

Su Jinyuan replied, “It’s nothing major. I simply need Master Yang to grant me a favor and send me to the Ministry of Justice’s prison.”

Yang Hong frowned and said, “If you want to enter the Ministry of Justice’s prison, you can just go yourself. As long as you grease some palms with silver, the guards will let you in…”

“If I could go in myself, why would I bother troubling you, Master Yang?” Su Jinyuan replied. “I need to see Xie Yunyan.”

At her words, Yang Hong’s expression changed instantly. He knew exactly who Xie Yunyan was and was aware of the biggest scandal currently shaking the capital. He glared at Su Jinyuan with wide eyes and asked, “Are you from the Xiao family?”

“You’re insane! The Emperor has already decreed the arrest of all male members of the Xiao family and placed the women under house arrest. And yet you dare to involve me in this mess? Aren’t you afraid of implicating the entire Xiao family?”

“What’s left for the Xiao family to fear now?” Su Jinyuan raised her dagger, pointing it directly at Yang Hong’s face.

The sharp tip of the dagger was less than half an inch from his eye. A slight push forward would pierce his eyeball, and Yang Hong’s words were abruptly cut off.

“I came to you today for one reason only: to see Xie Yunyan. I need you to send me into the Ministry of Justice’s prison and ensure I leave safely afterward.”

“You’re dreaming…”

“Am I?” Su Jinyuan glanced at Xi Junning, who, without hesitation, tightened his grip on the woman’s neck. Her face turned blue and purple, her hands flailed helplessly, and her once-beautiful features were distorted as her eyes bulged.

“I’m not one for beating around the bush. If you send me in, I promise not to cause you any trouble—I’ll leave after seeing him. But if you refuse, then your lovely mistress and the sole heir of the Yang family will meet their end here.”

As the young man finished speaking, the white-clad Xi Junning grabbed the child in his arms and gestured to throw him toward the ground.

Yang Hong was horrified and shouted, “Stop!!”

Xi Junning looked up at him, and Yang Hong, pale-faced, said, “I’ll take you there!”

Xi Junning carried the child away and left the woman in the courtyard, while Su Jinyuan followed Yang Hong out. Once they were in the carriage outside, she turned to Xi Junning and said, “Two hours. If Master Yang hasn’t brought me back by then, send the child to the Assistant Minister’s residence. I imagine Madam Yang would find him quite interesting.”

After finishing her words, Su Jinyuan smiled faintly at Yang Hong.

“It’s just a precaution for self-preservation. Surely Master Yang doesn’t mind?”

Yang Hong’s face turned ashen. His son was still in their hands, and if his wife found out about the mistress, he’d likely lose his life. Even if he minded, what could he do? He had no choice but to comply with Su Jinyuan’s demands and lead her to the Ministry of Punishments’ prison.

Xi Junning raised an eyebrow. “You’re going alone?”

Su Jinyuan nodded. “Wait for me here. If I’m not back in two hours, send the child away and leave on your own.”

Su Jinyuan had changed into men’s clothing before coming, looking inconspicuous in her drab attire. Yet her eyes remained strikingly bright and full of spirit.

Xi Junning watched her for a moment but didn’t insist on accompanying her. Instead, he suddenly stepped forward, grabbed Yang Hong’s chin, and flicked a pill into his mouth.

Yang Hong’s eyes filled with terror. “What did you make me swallow?”

Xi Junning replied, “Nothing rare—just the Seven-Day Gut-Rot Powder. Ever heard of it?”

“If you take this medicine, you must consume the antidote every two hours. Otherwise, your internal organs will suffer damage akin to thousands of ants gnawing at your insides. If you don’t take the antidote within seven days, your intestines will rot, and you’ll die in excruciating pain.”

Yang Hong’s face turned pale.

Xi Junning disdainfully wiped his hands. “I don’t believe in romantic entanglements, but I assume Master Yang values his life. I’ll have the antidote ready here, waiting for you. If you don’t return within two hours, I’ll have to say my apologies.”

Yang Hong shuddered violently, and whatever lingering thoughts he had vanished completely.

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After the carriage left Danfu Lane, it headed straight to the Ministry of Justice’s prison. Before leading Su Jinyuan, disguised as a servant, inside, Yang Hong lowered his voice:

“Xie Yunyan is a criminal wanted by the court. I can take you in, but don’t do anything reckless, or we’ll both lose our lives!”

Su Jinyuan reassured him, “Don’t worry. I’m only going in to see him—I won’t attempt a jailbreak.”

“Even if you wanted to break him out, could you actually succeed?” Yang Hong gritted his teeth.

Su Jinyuan smiled.

Yang Hong was furious but helpless. After leading her into the prison, the guards approached. Su Jinyuan, posing as Yang Hong’s servant, kept her head down and retreated into the shadows.

“Why has Master Yang come?”

“I need to interrogate someone inside. Wait outside.”

Yang Hong’s status was special, and the prison guards all recognized him. After dismissing them, he led Su Jinyuan to the cell where Xie Yunyan was held. He spoke in a low voice: “Fifteen minutes—no more than fifteen minutes. If you’re discovered, don’t blame me for not saving you!”

Su Jinyuan nodded and entered through the open cell door.

Inside, she saw Xie Yunyan slumped on a wooden bed, his eyes closed and his face deathly pale.

The once-spirited youth was no more. His phoenix-like eyes were tightly shut, and his lips were ashen. Shackles bound his hands and feet, hanging heavily to the ground like chains that clipped an eagle’s wings. The bloodied Xie Yunyan seemed lifeless, his chest barely rising and falling.