It was already deep into the night.
Wen Zhuo and Shen Zheng sat on stone stools in the courtyard, wrapped in windproof cloaks as they played a game of Go by the waning moonlight.
Shen Zheng had the first move. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Three-four, star point.”
Wen Zhuo rubbed his cool hands together and replied unhurriedly, “Seventeen-four, star point.”
“Seventeen-sixteen, star point.”
“Thirty-six, star point.”
“Five-three, small knight’s approach.”
“Seven-one, large knight’s enclosure.”
…
This way of playing demanded the utmost concentration. They had to lay out a nineteen-by-nineteen board in their minds, remember the exact position of every stone, and divide their attention between anticipating the moves to come and weighing the possible attacks and defenses.
Yet that was precisely its advantage. With all their thoughts occupied by the game, there was no room left for pointless worry over what was happening in the prefectural prison.
That was exactly what Wen Zhuo wanted. All he had to do was sit quietly and wait for the drama to unfold, build to its climax, and then end without a sound.
The prefecture of Mianzhou gradually fell silent. Only the southern gate suddenly grew noisy.
Under the pretext of searching for the criminal who had injured Young Master Wen, the constables went from house to house, pounding on doors and forcibly rousing the sleeping townspeople.
Rubbing their bleary eyes, the people stared at the portrait repeatedly held up before them and repeated the answers they had long since grown tired of giving:
“Never seen him.”
“Don’t know him.”
“If we learn anything, we’ll report it to the authorities at once.”
In this way, they were forced fully awake and would not be able to fall soundly asleep again for some time.
This, too, was intentional on Lou Changsui’s part.
He wanted the people to witness Liu Kangren breaking out of prison in fear of punishment, engaging the constables in a desperate battle at the southern gate, and ultimately being overwhelmed and killed.
When Wen Zhuo arrived, and the imperial edict arrived with him, the people themselves would provide testimony on his behalf.
The moment midnight arrived, a bank of dark clouds suddenly drifted across the sky as if summoned, smothering the last trace of moonlight.
Deep within the prefectural prison, Liu Kangren was not asleep.
He had been imprisoned for many days, his nights and days completely reversed. His once-upright frame had wasted away until he was little more than skin and bone, and his face was haggard and exhausted.
He had known for some time that he had fallen into a trap. Yet it was an inescapable trap, and he had no choice but to step into it.
What he regretted was that when he was demoted to Mianzhou, he had left behind everyone from the Duke’s residence, the southern border army, and even his own personal attendants in the capital.
He had intended to bear the blame alone and accept his punishment sincerely, unwilling to implicate anyone else. But now, there was not a single person capable of risking their life to break through Lou Changsui’s blockade and tell his father the truth.
He could imagine how Lou Changsui would distort the facts. Over the past few days, he had gradually developed an ominous premonition.
In this prefectural prison, choked with weeds, he had been forced to fill his stomach with coarse grain and breathe the stench of damp rot and filth. At times, he thought: Better to die sooner. Why go on suffering? Why remain entangled in this mortal world? Let this serve as atonement for the defeat on the southern frontier ten years ago.
But at other times, he was unwilling to accept it.
He could die on the battlefield, die beneath Fan Wan’s blade, or die to a concealed arrow fired from Nanping. But how could he die in a conspiracy devised by his own people, dying so unjustly and without anyone knowing the truth?
Yet whether he lived or died was no longer his decision to make.
Liu Kangren lowered his head, preparing to endure yet another day of this unchanging torment.
Just then, two muffled thuds sounded nearby, as though someone had suddenly collapsed.
A moment later, the faint shuffle of footsteps approached. At first, the footsteps were cautious and furtive, but gradually the newcomers stopped bothering to conceal themselves. The disorderly noise roused every prisoner sleeping in the jail.
Liu Kangren slowly lifted his head, instantly sensing that something was wrong.
His heart began to pound. An inexplicable premonition seized him.
He raised his upper body slightly. Sure enough, the footsteps drew closer and closer. At last, the light of a torch pierced the darkness, illuminating the black wall behind him and the weeds scattered across the floor.
“Lord Liu!” someone shouted in delighted surprise. “Lord Liu is here!”
With a clatter, seven or eight figures crowded around the rotten wooden cell door and began kicking it.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The dull impacts echoed through the prison. The door shuddered violently, splinters raining down as the wood groaned beneath the strain.
After the seven men took turns delivering dozens of heavy kicks, the battered cell door finally collapsed with a thunderous crash, sending clouds of dust and bits of grass into the air.
Liu Kangren was utterly stunned. Bracing himself against the cold wall, he slowly rose to his feet.
His face was gaunt and sallow, and heavy shackles weighed down both his hands. He swayed as he stood, entirely unlike the valiant figure who had once mounted a horse and charged into battle with a spear in hand.
The man at the front shouted, “Lord Liu, we’ve come to rescue you!”
“You… How dare you…” Liu Kangren’s throat constricted, and for a moment he could not get the words out.
He had already recognized the men before him. They were all bannermen who had followed him for years, the same men he had once ordered to oversee the distribution of porridge in Mianzhou.
Back then, he had taken all the blame upon himself, allowing them to escape unscathed.
Liu Kangren was so anxious that he wanted to stamp his feet, but he was utterly weak and could only shake his head repeatedly. His voice was filled with anguish. “Do you know that breaking into a prison is a crime punishable by the extermination of three clans?”
He himself did not fear death, but he absolutely could not bear to see these loyal and courageous men lose their lives because of him.
“Lord Liu, the vermilion rescript from the capital will arrive any moment now. We truly cannot bear to watch you die unjustly!” One of the men stepped forward, his tone earnest. “Please leave with us at once. Find a way to meet the Duke and report everything that happened in Mianzhou. Even if we die, we’ll have no regrets!”
“You…” Tears streamed down Liu Kangren’s face, his heart overwhelmed by conflicting emotions. His knees went weak, and he was about to kneel in gratitude for this profound kindness.
“My lord, please don’t humble yourself before us. We must leave at once!”
One of them hurried forward, hoisted the weakened, starving Liu Kangren onto his back, and turned to rush outside.
Liu Kangren lay against the man’s back, the smell of sweat from his clothes filling his nostrils. Then he suddenly murmured, “Wang Six, thank you.”
He recognized the man. He was the bannerman Liu Kangren had sent to distribute porridge in Liangping County.
Hearing his name called so precisely, Wang Six’s footsteps abruptly halted. His eyes grew hot, and he nearly let his tears fall.
He clenched his teeth and forced the sob rising in his throat back down.
More than anyone, he knew that Lord Liu was a rare good man. But for the sake of his parents, wife, and children, he would ultimately have to personally deliver this good man into a deadly trap that had already been laid.
Wang Six had barely stepped out of the cell when the emaciated prisoner inside suddenly lunged forward and clung desperately to his leg. His eyes were filled with hope as he begged hoarsely, “Big brother! Since you’re saving Lord Liu, take me with you too! Please, give me a chance to live!”
Wang Six’s expression hardened. Without the slightest hesitation, he kicked the man viciously and shouted, “Get lost! A filthy criminal like you dares compare yourself to Lord Liu?”
The prisoner was kicked onto his back. A dull cracking sound came from his chest as one of his ribs snapped on the spot.
He curled up on the ground, a feeble moan escaping his throat as his body convulsed uncontrollably. Blood slowly trickled from the corner of his mouth. It was clear he would not survive.
This was another vicious scheme Lou Changsui had arranged in advance. The kick was meant to stir up the resentment of the other prisoners and direct all their hatred toward Liu Kangren.
If the court sent someone to investigate later, these prisoners would surely embellish the story, driving Liu Kangren’s guilt firmly into place.
“Wang Six—”
Liu Kangren had spent many years in military camps and had seen every kind of injury. With a single glance, he knew the man had suffered internal damage and that there was no hope of saving him.
Wang Six had suddenly become so ruthless that he had kicked a man to death, sending a jolt through Liu Kangren’s heart.
Wang Six turned back and once again resumed his deferential manner. In a low voice, he explained to Liu Kangren, “My lord, tonight we have reached the point of no return. Every bit of mercy adds another bit of risk!”
Liu Kangren’s lips moved, but in the end he closed his mouth.
He was barely able to keep himself alive, relying entirely on these men to risk their lives saving him. What right did he have to demand that they handle everything with perfect care?
When they reached the entrance to the prison, Liu Kangren caught sight of four yamen runners sprawled across the ground. He could not tell whether they were unconscious or dead.
The night was silent as the grave. Clearly, the commotion inside had not yet reached the outside. Behind them, however, the prisoners in the cells had been stirred into even greater agitation by the sudden turn of events, and dissatisfied shouts rose one after another.
Liu Kangren swept his gaze around and happened to notice a ring of keys hanging from one jailer’s waist. One of them surely opened his shackles.
He was about to point this out when Wang Six strode over the men’s bodies without the slightest intention of taking the keys.
Liu Kangren hesitated.
Though he was imprisoned, physically weak, and utterly exhausted, he had practiced martial arts since childhood. If his shackles were removed, he would not only cease to be a burden but might even be able to protect the others.
But then he reconsidered. Their situation was critical, and Wang Six had probably overlooked it in his haste.
So he said nothing more and simply focused on keeping watch over their surroundings.
“How are we getting out of the city?” Liu Kangren asked in a lowered voice, still harboring some doubts.
“Through the southern gate!” Wang Six replied without hesitation. “We bought off the archers guarding it tonight long ago. One of them will secretly let us out from the shadows!”
With that, he signaled to the men behind him. They all tightened their grips on their weapons and glanced around to make sure no one had noticed them. Then, carrying their blades, they hurried toward the southern gate.
While this side was tense with activity and hanging by a thread, the Liu residence remained as calm as ever.
The last trace of moonlight was swallowed by the heavy clouds, leaving behind only a darkness so thick it seemed impossible to dispel.
Shen Zheng lightly put an arm around Wen Zhuo’s shoulder, his brows slightly furrowed. After pondering for a long while, he finally said slowly, “Fourteen eleven—jump.”
Wen Zhuo remained completely at ease, placing his stone crisply and decisively. “Thirteen twelve—atari.”
“Hiss—” Shen Zheng closed his eyes and replayed the game in his mind. His fingertip unconsciously rubbed Wen Zhuo’s arm. After a long while, he declared with certainty, “Fifteen twelve—connect.”
In the darkness, Wen Zhuo looked in his direction. A trace of satisfaction flashed through his eyes. As he said, “Fourteen thirteen—capture,” he could not help thinking that there were few people in the world who could play blind Go with him like this.
Shen Zheng’s Go strength was not exactly top-tier, but his memory was truly impressive now.
“Then… ten fifteen—large knight’s move.” Shen Zheng’s voice carried a hint of caution. He had no idea what Wen Zhuo was thinking.
“Nine seven—wedge.” Wen Zhuo responded at once.
“Four four—three-space extension.”
“Sixteen ten—three-space extension.”
After making that move, Wen Zhuo waited while Shen Zheng racked his brains over his next play. Then he suddenly asked, “Your Highness, your memory is so precise. Back at the Chuntai Go Gathering, when you said it would take you half a month to memorize those three boards, were you deceiving your teacher?”
Shen Zheng had been completely immersed in the game. Caught off guard by the old accusation, his mind went blank in an instant.
He chuckled and squeezed Wen Zhuo’s shoulder in a gesture of surrender. “Teacher, don’t be like this. I’ve already forgotten the brilliant move I just thought of.”
In the alley, the torch flames roasted the air, filling it with the pungent smell of tar.
Wang Six carried Liu Kangren on his back until they reached a fork in the road. His foot sent a loose stone clattering away, and he suddenly called out, “Officer!”
Liu Kangren was wondering whom he was calling when a figure spun out from the shadows. It was the guard from the prefectural office.
Liu Kangren’s heart tightened. He hurriedly asked, “Who is this?”
“My lord, he was sent by the Duke!” Wang Six explained rapidly. “His Majesty has issued an edict ordering your immediate execution. The Duke could not bear to see you die unjustly, so he sent a group of men to Mianzhou ahead of the imperial decree. We learned the news from him. The Duke has also dispatched a force of elite warriors, who are waiting to receive you outside the city!”
After speaking, Wang Six swiftly exchanged a glance with the guard.
According to the original plan, they would act out this charade with Liu Kangren only up to this point. The guard would bring over horses and help Liu Kangren mount one before he rode toward the southern gate. They, meanwhile, would fall behind under the pretext that they could not keep up. That way, the citizens at the southern gate would never get a clear look at their faces, and when Liu Kangren was surrounded and killed by the officials, they could naturally claim that they had been powerless to save him.
Thus, Lou Changsui would be rid of his greatest threat, while they would escape unscathed.
“Officer, where are the horses?” Wang Six asked.
The guard tilted his head, a trace of confusion appearing on his face. “Horses? What horses?”
The expression on Wang Six’s face abruptly froze.
The doubts in Liu Kangren’s heart grew heavier. He carefully studied the guard, finding him extremely unfamiliar. His father had always strictly upheld the law and would never commit an act as treasonous as breaking someone out of prison. Even if he truly intended to save him, he would certainly have sent someone Liu Kangren knew.
He secretly tightened his hands around his shackles and said in a low voice, “Wang Six, I think—”
Before he could finish, the guard stretched his lips into a grin. Suddenly, more than twenty masked men trained in martial arts sprang down from the surrounding alleys and rooftops. Without a word, they swung their fists at Wang Six and the others.
“This is bad!” Liu Kangren’s expression changed dramatically.
The seven banner soldiers, however, were all wearing looks of bewilderment. For a moment, they even forgot to resist.
Their minds were filled with only one thought: Why had the plan changed?
How could the seven of them possibly stand against the guards of the Yongning Marquis’s residence? Before they could even figure out what was happening, their weapons were snatched away. Blows struck the backs of their necks, and they collapsed limply to the ground, losing consciousness in an instant.
Burdened by his shackles, Liu Kangren could not throw a punch in retaliation. He could only stand barefoot in his prison clothes, his gaze dark as he watched the scene unfold.
He thought he was about to die on the spot and had already prepared himself for a desperate struggle. But then the guard suddenly raised a token and announced in a stern voice, “His Majesty’s personally appointed Southern Inspection Commissioner and Director of the Hanlin Academy, Lord Wen Zhuo, requests an audience with Lord Liu.”
Liu Kangren froze, utterly bewildered. “You…”
The guard waved a hand, and two men immediately rushed forward. Grabbing Liu Kangren beneath either arm, they carried him away at a run.
Liu Kangren sucked in a sharp breath and twisted around to look behind him, only to see the seven banner soldiers still lying where they had fallen.
“Lord Liu, you need not worry,” the guard explained in a low voice. “They truly were acting under Lou Changsui’s orders. They were to break you out of prison, lead you to the southern gate, and have you executed there. But you have nothing to fear. They have merely been knocked unconscious. They are not dead.”
Inside the prefectural office, Lou Changsui was as frantic as an ant on a hot griddle. His massive body paced back and forth across the hall, his steps swift and restless.
At last, a stumbling set of footsteps sounded outside. A yamen runner dashed in, kneeling and cupping his fists, his face drenched in sweat.
“My lord!”
Lou Changsui abruptly halted. He rushed forward, seized the man by the arm, and asked in delighted anticipation, “Well? Has fighting broken out at the southern gate? Is Liu Kangren dead?”
The runner’s face was as pale as paper. He looked at Lou Changsui’s broad face, full of eager expectation, and his lips trembled for a moment before he gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, “My lord, we waited at Xiaoyang Stone Road for a long time, but Liu Kangren never appeared. The chief constable could wait no longer and sent me back to ask whether… whether there has been some change in the plan?”
“What did you say?” Lou Changsui was struck as if by lightning. Xiaoyang Stone Road—that wasn’t very close to the prefectural prison?
Lord Liu should have passed through Xiaoyang Stone Road with the officer long ago!
He abruptly shoved the constable aside and roared, “Tell me, you bastard—is this because you lot neglected your duties?”
The constable went tumbling across the ground from the shove. He hurriedly scrambled to his feet and knelt again, lowering his head even further. “My lord, Lord Liu’s whereabouts were indeed never seen on Xiaoyang Stone Road!”
A powerful sense of unease seized Lou Changsui’s heart. He grabbed the steward beside him, eyes wide and voice sharp with fury. “Didn’t I order you to station five men every three streets, with no one allowed to leave without permission? Where are they? Where the hell have they gone?”
The steward’s face was full of bitterness. “My lord, this servant did exactly as you instructed!”
“Could those seven bannermen have betrayed us?” Lou Changsui muttered to himself. His heart hammered against his chest, and a rush of blood surged to his head, bringing out red veins in his bulging eyes. “Prepare a horse for me! With this net cast so tightly, I’d like to see how far they can run!”
This matter concerned his life and fortune, and Lou Changsui did not dare be careless. He hastily threw on an outer robe, then clumsily but urgently mounted his horse. Leading a squad of constables, he sped toward the prefectural prison.
Inside the prison, the jailers had already regained consciousness and were now viciously whipping the prisoners who kept shouting and making a commotion.
When they saw Lou Changsui arrive, the head jailer came forward with a broad smile. “My lord, as you instructed, we’ve already ‘let Lord Liu escape.’”
“Which way did he go? Who was he with?” The torchlight illuminated Lou Changsui’s face. The fat on his cheeks twitched, and his fish-like eyes bulged wide, blazing with fury.
The jailer froze and stammered, “Just as planned…”
Lou Changsui did not wait for him to finish. He immediately wheeled his horse around and galloped off. “All of you, follow me!”
At last, they reached the fork in the road. The horses neighed and came to a simultaneous halt, sending crows scattering into the night sky.
“My lord, look!” The steward pointed ahead.
Before them lay unmistakable signs of a struggle. The seven bannermen were sprawled across the ground in disarray, unconscious. Several suspicious smears of blood remained on the wall, while white marks from sword strikes were embedded in the gray bricks nearby, dust and bits of mortar trembling loose and pattering down.
By the light of the torches, they could see that the horses prepared earlier were still tied to the trees. But Liu Kangren and the officer from the Prince of Xian’s residence had vanished without a trace!
Lou Changsui’s face instantly turned a terrifying purplish red. His features twisted beneath the flickering firelight. Even the chestnut horse beneath him seemed to sense its master’s agitation; it pawed restlessly at the ground and snorted loudly.
“Liu Kangren! Where is Liu Kangren? Aah—!” Lou Changsui roared into the surrounding night.
A quarter past the chou hour.
Wen Zhuo’s nose suddenly itched, and he bowed his head to rub his reddened nose before continuing, “Ninety-eight, stick.”
Shen Zheng pressed his knuckles against his forehead. After weighing his options again and again, he decided to risk everything. “Twelve, board.”
“Eleven-twelve, stick.” Wen Zhuo ruthlessly cut off his last avenue.
Shen Zheng raised a brow and let out an exaggerated sigh. “Do I even have anywhere left to play…? Eleven-one, single official.”
“Nineteen-one, single official.” Wen Zhuo gathered his robes and glanced up at the lightless sky. His ears had already caught the faint rustling coming from the rear gate of the Liu residence.
A knowing smile rose to his lips—slightly satisfied, fairly satisfied, extremely satisfied…
And so, acting on instinct, he sought something from the person beside him, though he himself did not realize what he was seeking. He simply said softly, “Your Highness, I won.”
Shen Zheng set down his piece and conceded. Before the guards could climb over the wall, he drew Wen Zhuo’s lips into a kiss, kissing him three times in succession. With a double meaning, he said, “How is it that Wanshan is so formidable? Truly, you possess the bearing to span Heaven and Earth, the talent and brilliance of a great minister. You make the world look up to you from afar, unable to reach you. And you truly make… His Highness look up to you in admiration.”
