The Court of Judicial Review's imperial prison.
In an empty cell, Song Jing sat cross-legged, his mood calm.
In the four-plus months since his imprisonnt, he had been questioned many tis, but it bore no resemblance to interrogation whatsoever. Each ti was basically just asking questions, getting answers, confirming, following up—the sense of oppression it gave him wasn't even as great as during the year-end performance reviews at the Secretariat.
Let alone any use of torture.
Clearly, this didn't follow normal procedures.
But he had no way of knowing what was happening outside, so he could only speculate that certain powerful forces, far beyond his reach, were contending both in and outside the court.
Of course it wasn't his father-in-law's Cui Clan.
Though they were one of the Five Prestigious Families of the Capital, they weren't a top-tier aristocratic house and couldn't intervene in matters of this magnitude.
Could it be that a prince had entered the fray?
But the Prince of Jin clearly leaned toward the aristocratic families. Even if he wouldn't target Song Jing specifically, he wouldn't oppose the hundred officials in such an extrely sensitive situation either.
Could it possibly be... the Prince of Wu?
Were the Jin and Wu factions using this matter as a trigger for their power struggle?
He couldn't be certain.
But one thing he was certain of.
That was that Song Shi'an in Shuofeng, at least according to the military intelligence sent back by eight hundred li ergency courier, was still alive.
Otherwise, his own interrogation would have begun in earnest.
To think he could actually contend with that Ji Yuan for so long?
Just then, several Court of Judicial Review officials seed to be accompanying so esteed personage to the prison entrance.
Song Jing looked up and recognized him—it was Wang Chen, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Senior Second Rank.
"Vice Minister Wang."
Song Jing prepared to stand.
"No need, Magistrate Song, no need to rise."
Wang Chen responded with a smile, then had the others open the prison door.
After entering, he directly sat cross-legged on the ground before Song Jing.
Ordinarily, even if the Vice Minister personally conducted questioning, they should set up a chair inside.
He would sit on the chair, Song Jing on the ground.
After all, right now he was still a 'criminal official.'
But such intimacy and courtesy was extraordinarily irregular.
You must understand, he was currently acting as one of the Nine Ministers.
Even if his formal position was Vice Minister, his authority was considerably higher than Song Jing's.
The gold content of certain Senior Second Rank positions was extrely high.
Among the Nine Ministers, though of the sa rank, there were still gradations.
The Director of Ceremonies, the Director of the Imperial Clan, the Minister of Agriculture and such were equivalent to modern bureaus like agriculture, science and technology, environntal protection—naturally they couldn't compare to public security or finance.
This involved the weight of authority in a position.
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was among the top five of the Nine Ministers.
And the second-in-command of certain top ministers wielded more power than the heads of lower-ranking ministries.
At Wang Chen's current age, acting as Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he could basically be said to be half a step into First Rank.
If he was half a step into First Rank, then he was far, far above Song Jing.
"Vice Minister Wang, this ground is cold. You should still get up," Song Jing said with concern.
Hearing this, Wang Chen quickly said to those behind him: "Quickly, bring a chair."
Soon soone brought a chair and placed it in the prison.
Wang Chen stood, extended his hand, and said with a smile: "Magistrate Song, please sit."
"This... of course you should sit, Vice Minister," Song Jing said with difficulty.
"I've been sitting all day, I just want to stand a while." Wang Chen supported Song Jing and insisted, "Ah, don't be polite with , please sit."
"This..."
Song Jing was quite conflicted but still reluctantly sat down.
The other officials who had co along also quietly withdrew.
"This imperial prison is truly both gloomy and cold. Magistrate Song, you've suffered," Wang Chen said cordially.
"Vice Minister Wang jests," Song Jing quipped. "In prison, how could there be comfort?"
"Magistrate Song, don't bla . I'm just doing my duty, everything according to Yu Dynasty law," Wang Chen explained, even quietly giving an example. "Even if a Duke ca here, it would still be only two als a day, one blanket—no special treatnt."
He really wasn't lying.
Duke Zhang Ping, who was currently stationed with troops in Yangzhou to deter Sun Tuo, had previously sat in this imperial prison for over a month due to involvent in the Crown Prince Rebellion Case. Wang Chen, then a Sixth Rank official, had witnessed it, so saying such things was also a kind of liability disclair.
"I have already received great care from Vice Minister Wang," Song Jing said gratefully. "In this imperial prison, I've neither suffered torture nor abuse. Unlike others who, even if they leave the Court of Judicial Review alive, have all lost a layer of skin..."
"Magistrate Song, you're really thanking the wrong person for this."
Leaning close to him, he lowered his voice and said: "The reason Magistrate Song hasn't suffered torture or interrogation is entirely because the Prince of Wu personally gave instructions."
Even with ten lives, Wang Chen wouldn't dare claim this credit.
So he had to make it clear.
"Such a thing actually happened?"
Song Jing showed disbelief and felt extrely honored: "The Prince of Wu personally opened his golden mouth just for this lowly official... really?"
At this level, everyone was an expert at playing dumb.
Wang Chen naturally couldn't speak directly, so he smiled tactfully: "If Magistrate Song is cold, tired, or the food doesn't suit your taste, just say so. I'll take my leave now."
With that, he prepared to depart.
Suddenly, Song Jing called out: "Can Vice Minister Wang reveal to what exactly has happened?"
"Nothing has happened."
Wang Chen stopped in his tracks, then slowly turned around, looked at him, and also revealed a genuinely 'pleased' smile: "Shi'an... he's about to co back."
.........
"Too damn fierce!"
In a courtyard of the Prince of Wu's estate, Zhao Yi clenched his fist heavily, his mood refreshed to the extre: "Four-plus months, that city of Shuofeng, withstanding over 200,000 people—to think it held for so long!"
"As expected, he didn't go to Shuofeng unprepared," Ye Changqing said of this man Song Shi'an, unable to wait to et him. "After he claims this achievent of turning the tide, what does he want to do next? How will he contend with Minister Sun?"
"If he's going to contend with Minister Sun..." The Prince of Wu felt this was sowhat thorny. "As part of the Wu Prince faction, wouldn't that also an we have to contend with Minister Sun?"
"Your Highness." Seeing him still hesitating on such matters, Ye Changqing couldn't help but speak bluntly. "The one who wants to contend with Minister Sun is His Majesty. You definitely have to as well. And if you win the contest, then that thing becos yours."
"Don't speak so carelessly."
Zhao Yi reminded Ye Changqing.
"I said 'that thing.'" Ye Changqing retorted impatiently.
"Who doesn't know 'that thing' is that thing."
"Stop, stop, stop." The Prince of Wu interrupted their bickering, then nodded. "For the sake of that thing, I must ease Father Emperor's worries."
Just as he had said on the day of Mother Empress's birthday banquet.
The path Wei Yiyun wanted to take to seize the succession was—ease Father's worries.
"So this city ans it's already been held?" the Prince of Wu asked.
"Basically yes, but we can't be completely certain," Zhao Yi said. "I estimate that Shuofeng City right now has beco a rotten barrel. The city walls have been mounted countless tis. That it can hold is purely because the Qi army is already half-crippled, while Shuofeng's defenders are persisting entirely on willpower. Who knows, street fighting may have already happened many tis."
"It won't have problems at the very end, will it?"
The Prince of Wu asked with concern.
"Logically speaking, it should be snowing by now," Ye Changqing also frowned. "If we're lucky, it might even have already ended early."
If it snowed on a day it shouldn't, that was fate's gift to the brave.
If it snowed on the day it should, that was wisdom and ability earning victory fair and square.
If it didn't snow on the day it should, that was pure fucking bad luck—man's calculations falling short of heaven's.
Song Shi'an's victory would have higher gold content, but the risk also increased.
As the three were sowhat indignant on Shuofeng's behalf, at that mont, a round-faced man in ordinary robes walked in, his face bearing a smile: "Your Highness, both esteed officials."
Jia Guihao. Though he couldn't be considered a core mber of the Wu Prince faction, and his current official position was relatively low—Commandant of Western Sheng'an—because this position gave him quick access to all matters large and small within the city, he had been granted the privilege of entering the estate.
Sheng'an's public security was managed by the four Commandants of East, South, West, and North.
Equivalent to four branch directors of the capital's police bureau.
They were several important officials under the Magistrate of Sheng'an.
"Seeing you enter with a smile, is there good news?" the Prince of Wu asked.
"I've brought a person for Your Highness," he said gleefully.
"What person?" the Prince of Wu asked.
"Isn't Your Highness hoping for snow?" Jia Guihao said sowhat mysteriously. "I've brought an immortal."
"An immortal?" Zhao Yi showed confusion.
"He's a mountain Daoist, extrely efficacious. He can cure illness with talisman water and even pray for rain and snow," Jia Guihao rattled off.
"Nonsense!" Hearing this, the Prince of Wu asked with distaste. "You want this prince to associate with these charlatan Daoists?"
"You should also stop associating with these wandering practitioners," Zhao Yi reminded. "If people catch wind and say you're engaging in sorcery and witchcraft, that would bring trouble to His Highness too."
Being scolded like this, he obediently lowered his head: "Then Your Highness, I'll have him sent away imdiately..."
"Wait."
The Prince of Wu stopped him.
"Your Highness?"
He stopped in his tracks, his face showing confusion.
"You say this Daoist..." The Prince of Wu asked uncertainly. "Is he really efficacious?"
"Your Highness, very efficacious. I personally tested him—he even divined my na," Jia Guihao said with complete confidence.
"You're the Western Commandant. What's strange about him knowing your na?"
Ye Changqing looked at him like he was an idiot.
The Prince of Wu also regarded him with a subtle expression.
A quarter-hour later, Incense burners burned in the Prince of Wu's estate, and the mountain Daoist held ritual implents, dancing a spirit dance in the courtyard.
The Prince of Wu and the other two simply stood to the side, arms crossed, frowning as they watched.
Next to the three of them, Jia Guihao devoutly clasped his hands together, bowing repeatedly to the mountain Daoist...
.........
Shuofeng City—more than half had already beco ruins.
In a corner among the ruins, looking like a beggar, covered in dust and gri, his clothes tattered, Song Shi'an rested his head on a sandbag, looking up at the sun in the sky.
"Goddamn motherfucker, the snow won't fall, and the sun is still warm and pleasant... it's actually kind of comfortable in the sun."
Spouting profanities, Song Shi'an felt a bit ntally exhausted.
Xinyue, holding a bing cake in her hand, walked to his side, handed the cake to him, then also leaned against the wall and sat down.
She too had beco an ash-girl, and her whole body was covered in bloodstains.
The two said nothing, just quietly slacked off like this.
Too tired—even opening their mouths felt like a waste of energy.
"Is it raining?"
Suddenly, Xinyue spoke.
Song Shi'an froze for a mont and turned his head.
He saw a crystalline particle resting on the tip of her nose.
Song Shi'an extended his hand and gently wiped it away with his fingertip.
At his fingertip—crushed ice.
The two simultaneously raised their heads.
In Shuofeng's sky, sun snow began to fall.
Reviews
All reviews (0)