A Meeting in Prison

At the sight of the character "承," Yang Qing felt a twitch between his brows.

The character seemed no different from the others, but its final stroke deviated slightly from the usual brushwork.

It was precisely that tiny difference that made Yang Qing examine it so closely.

His gaze moved past the character and continued downward. One after another, he found several more irregularities in the Imperial Edict.

Put together, those irregularities formed a single instruction: "By command: Personally investigate!"

Was His Majesty telling him to investigate further in secret?

As Yang Qing pondered, Bu Er's voice sounded behind him. "Young master, Guard Suotu is here."

Yang Qing's eyes snapped open.

Suotu had just reached the door of Yang Qing's cell and was staring steadily at him.

"I have failed His Majesty. I did not handle the matter of the special envoy properly."

At the sight of Suotu, Yang Qing bent forward and bowed to him.

Suotu sighed. He had never expected to find Yang Qing in such circumstances when they met again.

"Yang Chengming, you have betrayed His Majesty's favor. Do you now acknowledge your wrongdoing?"

Suotu said to Yang Qing, "Do you know that, upon hearing of this matter, His Majesty could not sleep and worried day and night?"

Yang Qing exclaimed, "This commoner has caused His Majesty distress. I deserve ten thousand deaths!"

"His Majesty's heart was troubled. Had Chancellor Wei not spoken up and stayed his thunderous wrath, your head would likely have fallen long ago!"

"His Majesty took pity on you for your past achievements in Yan Prefecture, and so he merely ordered you to reflect on your mistakes in prison. Do you understand, Yang Chengming?"

Yang Qing nodded silently. "Even ten thousand deaths could not repay His Majesty's grace!"

After they spoke for a while longer, Suotu finally turned and left.

"His Majesty's heart was troubled..." Yang Qing repeated softly.

That explained why he had found so many hidden tricks in the Imperial Edict.

Yang Qing paced a few steps around his cell, then spoke into the empty air. "Bu Er, send word out. Keep a close watch on developments in the Capital City. If possible, delay that person's journey."

Bu Er did not answer, but Yang Qing clearly sensed a gust of wind sweep past him and out of the cell.

Once everything around him had fallen quiet again, Yang Qing returned to his seat in the corner of the cell.

Wild Boar Forest, outside Yan Prefecture City

Bu Er's light-footed figure had barely landed when another figure descended right behind him. Without a word, the newcomer thrust his sword at Bu Er.

Bu Er raised his sword to block, stopping the other man's blade just before his chest.

"Bu Er, how exalted is our young lord? As his personal guard, you stood by and watched him enter prison without lifting a finger! Take this!"

Fury blazed in Phantom Shadow's heart, making his strike several degrees more vicious than usual.

He had never imagined that, after merely going away for a short while, he would return to find Yang Qing imprisoned!

If news of this reached the Alliance, he would have to submit himself to punishment under the sect rules to set the record straight!

Faced with the ferocious Phantom Shadow, Bu Er remained remarkably calm.

"You and I have served together for years. How could you not know our young master's temper?"

At Bu Er's words, Phantom Shadow found himself momentarily speechless.

He did indeed know Yang Qing's disposition very well.

He had already harbored some doubts. Now, seeing Bu Er's reaction, Phantom Shadow began to reassess Yang Qing's imprisonment.

"Are you saying the young lord had already prepared for being imprisoned?"

But why?

"The young master naturally wouldn't explain his plans to us in such detail. But in my view, he did this to ease that person's suspicions in the capital."

"But even so, he couldn't just have himself thrown into prison! Is that a place where anyone can remain for long?"

Besides, how could their young lord's health withstand such an ordeal?

Bu Er gave Phantom Shadow a sidelong glance. "That's a fair point. But knowing our young master's temper, why don't you try persuading him?"

Phantom Shadow waved his hands repeatedly. "The young lord's decisions aren't something people like us can sway!"

Bu Er chuckled. "Since you understand what's at stake, why bother with this unnecessary fuss?"

Phantom Shadow looked rather crestfallen. "I was only hoping we could find some way for the young lord to take a safer path!"

"A safer path? All those paths are already mapped out in our young master's head!"

Laughing, Bu Er punched Phantom Shadow lightly. "If we carry out the young master's instructions properly, won't that make his path safer?"

"Very true!"

Phantom Shadow looked past Bu Er into the distance.

"We've already sent men to keep watch in the Capital City, and the brothers along the route have made all the arrangements. We certainly won't jeopardize the young lord's great undertaking."

Bu Er glanced at him again. "Don't make promises too soon. If anything goes wrong, even if the young master says nothing, I certainly won't let you off!"

Phantom Shadow laughed heartily, then suddenly remembered something. Lowering his voice, he said to Bu Er, "I've been roaming around Yan Prefecture lately, and I noticed a woman who keeps asking about the young lord."

"A woman?"

For some reason, a vaguely familiar, pretty face immediately surfaced in Bu Er's mind. "Was it the eldest daughter of the Murong family?"

Phantom Shadow's eyes lit up at Bu Er's question. "You know about this too?"

Bu Er said, "As for Miss Murong, you must not act rashly without the young master's orders. Otherwise, don't say I didn't warn you."

"Really?"

Phantom Shadow was about to say more when Bu Er gave him another sidelong glance. "Phantom Shadow, since when did you become like a gossiping woman?"

A suspicious look flashed across Phantom Shadow's face, but he quickly suppressed it.

"Take extra care of the young lord."

Leaving those words behind, Phantom Shadow sprang forward as though flying and vanished in an instant.

Yan Prefecture Prison

With a bamboo basket hooked over her arm, Murong Qian walked into the prison, swaying slightly with each step.

"Miss Murong, Lord Yang has been charged and imprisoned. You'll need to be careful."

A head jailer acquainted with the Murong family spoke to Murong Qian.

"Please don't worry, Uncle Zhang. I'm only here to bring him some food and exchange a few words. I won't take long."

As Murong Qian looked down the inexplicably gloomy passage before her, pang after pang tightened around her heart.

"Miss Murong, Lord Yang is in the innermost cell at the end. Go on."

Head Jailer Zhang pointed ahead, then immediately lowered his voice. "I can only give you half an hour. Any longer isn't mine to allow."

"Sorry for the trouble, Uncle Zhang."

Murong Qian dipped in a curtsy to Head Jailer Zhang, then continued toward Yang Qing's cell.

Having already heard the commotion, Yang Qing stood inside his cell and looked at Murong Qian in surprise. "Miss Murong?"

At his words, Murong Qian's eyes immediately reddened. "You've suffered so much!"