Prudence in Word and Deed

Time flew by in an instant.

This day.

Was the day Wei Chang was to be beheaded at the execution grounds, a public display of justice.

Zhou Yi came to deliver food in the morning and found the small kitchen wasn't open, so he guessed that Young Master Long had already been released from prison.

Massacring an entire family!

He was only locked up for a little over half a month, without even an interrogation.

Living in a single room in the Imperial Prison, with jailers serving him good food and drinks, and girls from Chunfeng Brothel keeping him company, he was living better than 99.9% of the people in the world.

"This world..."

Zhou Yi, working in the Imperial Prison, had heard his colleagues talk about Chancellor Long's immense power.

The current Emperor Chongming was obsessed with cultivating immortality, not attending court for twenty-six years. Chancellor Long had been Prime Minister for nineteen years, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he could cover the sky with one hand.

The common people privately discussed that even if His Majesty attended court again, the civil and military officials wouldn't listen!

Cell Thirteen, Block A.

Zhou Yi carried a food box, the customary last meal prepared for prisoners, with meat and wine regardless of the crime.

"Hero, you'll be on your way in another hour!"

Wei Chang's hair was disheveled, and the burn marks on his face made him look like a vengeful ghost.

"Did you bring the century-old wine?"

"Of course."

Zhou Yi took out a porcelain bottle from his bosom, and when he opened the lid, a rich aroma of wine wafted out. "Century-old Pear Blossom White. The shopkeeper treated it like his prized possession and wouldn't sell it no matter what. I pawned off most of my belongings to get it."

Wei Chang gulped down half the bottle, burped, and exclaimed in admiration.

"Good wine!"

Zhou Yi then fed him Lion's Head Meatballs, Braised Fish Belly Tofu, and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall from Dǐngxiāng Restaurant.

Fatty but not greasy, melting in the mouth.

While eating, Wei Chang asked, "How's your Return to Origin Skill practice going?"

"My talent is mediocre. I can only condense a wisp of internal energy each day through meditation." Zhou Yi had long suspected this. He was old, his foundation was poor, and being able to cultivate internal energy at all proved the skill was top-notch.

The greatest difficulty in life is accepting mediocrity and still striving!

"Good comprehension, but it's a pity you're old."

Wei Chang guided him through several key points in cultivation until he was full of food and drink, laughing heartily. "This last meal is not bad. In my forty-three years, I've never eaten such delicious food or drunk such fine wine!"

Zhou Yi was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Hero, if these iron chains were broken, could you escape?"

Wei Chang shook his head in refusal.

"The poison has already entered my marrow. I won't live for more than a few days. I might as well go to the execution ground and curse this court!"

Just then.

The sound of a lock opening came from the cell door. Zhou Yi quickly cleaned up the dishes.

Zhang Zhou entered with a clerk from the Ministry of Justice. After verifying Wei Chang's identity, a dozen jailers escorted him to the execution ground.

"The virtuous suffer poverty and die young, while the wicked enjoy wealth and longevity!"

Zhou Yi sighed and continued delivering food with his bucket.

The former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites in Cell Six, Block B, had come to terms with his situation after a month of torment. Unfortunately, no one in his family sent silver, and he only received two spoonfuls of thin porridge each day. He was already on the verge of death from starvation.

"Little brother, just one more spoonful, just one more spoonful!"

"That's all there is."

Zhou Yi ignored the former Vice Minister's pleas. Firstly, he was not worried about scarcity but about inequality, and secondly, this man was not a good person.

The reason he was imprisoned in the Imperial Prison was simple: he had embezzled the court's silver. It was said that the Brocade Guard had discovered hundreds of thousands of taels, with all sorts of gold and silver jewelry piled up like a small mountain.

Next to him, in Cell Seven, Block B.

Su Wenhao woke up from meditation, looking quite energetic.

After slurping down his thin porridge, he said, "Little brother, do you have something troubling you? This old man is proficient in the Book of Changes and numerology and can help you solve your problems!"

"Then calculate why I'm troubled?"

Zhou Yi felt some sympathy for Su Wenhao, who was imprisoned in the Imperial Prison for writing poems and complaining.

"Is it because of this fellow?"

Su Wenhao pointed to the former Vice Minister next door, who was lying on the bed groaning from hunger.

Zhou Yi was a little disappointed. Su Wenhao's Book of Changes and numerology was based on observing people's expressions, not true divination, but he still nodded and said.

"I hate corrupt officials the most. They say they're taking the court's silver, but it's actually the people's blood and sweat!"

"Heh heh heh, you don't understand."

Su Wenhao chuckled twice, "I recognize this fellow. His ability as an official is quite decent. He did some practical things for the people, and the amount of silver he embezzled wasn't too much."

The former Vice Minister, lying down, groaned twice, "Old Su, I didn't befriend you in vain!"

Zhou Yi asked curiously, "Then why did he end up in the Imperial Prison?"

"In officialdom, it's not about political achievements or integrity, but about choosing the right side!"

Su Wenhao said, "Those who are corrupt aren't necessarily unable to be promoted, and those who enter the Imperial Prison aren't necessarily there because of corruption."

Zhou Yi pondered carefully, clicking his tongue twice, "Interesting, interesting!"

The former Vice Minister said, "Little brother finds it interesting? Give this old man another spoonful of rice."

"Alright."

Zhou Yi originally wanted to mock him a bit, but on second thought, the prisoners in Cell B were extraordinary. There were quite a few convicts who were reinstated, so it was better not to provoke them.

He scooped up the thick porridge from the bottom of the bucket and filled a bowl for the former Vice Minister.

Zhou Yi asked, "Why is Mr. Su so talkative today?"

This old man was usually taciturn. After eating, he would meditate and cultivate, probably using some kind of internal energy technique, which was why he could maintain his vigor and health.

"Mistakenly fallen into prison, four or five years have passed!"

Su Wenhao recited a line of poetry triumphantly, "This old man has a premonition that the day I leave the cage and regain my freedom is not far away."

"Then congratulations to Su Wenhao."

Zhou Yi cupped his hands and left with the bucket.

This old man hadn't changed after being imprisoned for three or four years, unable to control his mouth and recite poetry. What did he mean by "mistakenly fallen"? It was clear that he didn't accept Emperor Chongming's judgment.

The former Vice Minister, who was burying his head in his meal, suddenly paused, his eyes shining brightly.

After Wei Chang's execution.

Zhou Yi's life returned to the routine of home and the Imperial Prison.

Zhou's father had been a jailer for most of his life, using most of the silver he earned to treat Zhou Yi's illness and a small portion to buy a house in the capital.

Ningde Ward, a courtyard house.

According to the previous life, with the imperial city as the first ring road, Ningde Ward was a courtyard house in the second ring road. Zhou Yi would have to work for five hundred years without eating or drinking to afford it.

The Return to Origin Skill was progressing slowly, but Zhou Yi wasn't in a hurry. His biggest advantage was time.

Over time, he would eventually master the divine skill.

"Reaching out to touch sister's hairy bay, scattered outside, the middle is wide..."

Zhou Yi hummed a newly learned ditty. Although the Return to Origin Skill hadn't been mastered, there was a Taoist method of locking the yang and solidifying essence, which could make a man tenacious and gallop on horseback.

After reporting for duty, Zhou Yi carried the bucket to deliver meals.

He ran into Chang Ning, the warden on night duty, followed by four jailers, escorting a prisoner in shackles.

The prisoner had disheveled hair. On closer inspection, it was Su Wenhao.

Zhou Yi stepped forward to greet him, "Uncle Chang, what happened to him?"

Zhou Yi was the youngest and newest in the Imperial Prison. The other jailers and wardens were of the same generation as Zhou's father. It wouldn't hurt to call everyone "uncle" when meeting them, and he could receive more care from his seniors on weekdays.

Chang Ning snorted coldly, "Hmph! This fellow doesn't accept His Majesty's judgment and even slanders His Majesty's lifespan. He should be sent to the Imperial Prison for interrogation!"

The Imperial Prison, the prison where the Brocade Guard interrogated prisoners!

If there was still a chance of survival after being imprisoned in the Imperial Prison, entering the Imperial Prison meant only praying for an early reincarnation, so as to suffer less torture.

Su Wenhao's face was pale, and he muttered to himself, not knowing what poem he was reciting.

Cell B6.

The former Vice Minister sat cross-legged on the straw mat, glanced at the thin porridge, and beckoned to Zhou Yi.

"This official is about to be released from prison. Hurry up and prepare some fine wine and delicacies, otherwise, when I'm reinstated, I'll make you all look good!"

Zhou Yi looked at the empty cell next to him and suddenly understood.

"Please wait a moment, sir, I'll go prepare it right away!"

That afternoon.

A palace eunuch entered the Imperial Prison to deliver an imperial decree. Vice Minister Liu was commended for his meritorious service in exposing and reporting crimes, and his punishment was offset by his merits. He was transferred to the position of Vice Minister of Revenue.

The Ministry of Personnel was noble, the Ministry of Revenue was rich, and the Ministry of Rites was poor...

Vice Minister Liu had caught Emperor Chongming's eye, a promotion in disguise, truly a rat entering a rice jar.

"In the future, you must be careful in your words and actions!"

Zhou Yi was also covered in cold sweat. If he hadn't given that spoonful of thick porridge, would Vice Minister Liu, with his personality, retaliate after being released from prison?

It was hard to say!