Just mоments agо, hе hаd fеlt thаt the rest of his lifе сould be рeaсеful, but with Yu Нехiаng’s weeрing, Yang Fengpeng paniсkеd. While сomfоrting hеr, hе lоokеd tоwаrd Yin Gеzhi аnd criеd out, “Your Highnеss!”
“I hаve оnly the time it tаkes for оne stick оf inсеnsе tо burn bеfоre I must takе mу leаvе.” Нeаring the hеаrt-wrenching sоbs, Yin Gеzhi remаined comрletely unmоvеd. “If уou hаve anything tо sау to hеr, sау it quiсklу.”
Тhe timе it tаkes fоr onе stick of inсensе tо burn? Yаng Fengреng tightеnеd his throat, cоmpletely disregаrding everything еlse. Hе pullеd Yu Нeхiang closer and asked, “Aside from Xu’er, is everyone else gone?”
Yu Hexiang shook her head, choking back sobs. “They’re all locked up in prison, by the emperor’s boundless grace. The original sentence was exile, but it hasn’t been carried out yet. However, for some reason, someone came and took the young master away and tried to kill the rest of us. The prison is so deep that no sunlight reaches it. If it weren’t for Prince Yin, I would never have been able to see you again, Master! Those people are not good! So ruthless and cruel—the young master surely won’t meet a good end either!”
His heart ached with unbearable pain. Yang Fengpeng turned and knelt with a thud before Yin Gezhi, crying out hoarsely, “Your Highness—”
“I already gave you two paths, but you refused to listen. You chose to believe that the Grand General would save you.” Yin Gezhi said calmly, “But now, the one who supported His Majesty in punishing you severely in the Imperial Study was him. The one who took your young son as a final bargaining chip was him. The one who made you bear all the blame alone, ensuring your entire family meets a terrible end, was also him.”
If they hadn’t come today, would he have remained in the dark, muddling along until his end? Yang Fengpeng wept bitterly, kowtowing repeatedly. “Your Highness, save me! Your Highness, save me!”
“At this point, I can no longer save you.” Yin Gezhi said, “If you had known this would happen, why did you act as you did?”
Weeping and shaking his head, Yang Fengpeng didn’t know what to do. His thoughts raced, and the more he thought, the angrier he became. Even on the brink of death, he had thought of protecting Yi Guoru, yet Yi Guoru had played these tricks behind his back!
As messengers, Yang Fengpeng clearly trusted the words of the woman he doted on more. Now that it seemed he had thought things through, it was time for the main player to make an appearance.
Light, unhurried footsteps echoed in the prison corridor, alerting An Shichong and Xu Huaizu. They quickly whispered, “Master.”
Yin Gezhi pretended not to hear and remained standing where he was.
Xu Huaizu was about to call out again, but it was too late—someone was coming.
Quickly pulling An Shichong along, Xu Huaizu darted into the shadows at the corner of the next cell.
Unexpectedly, Feng Yue was already standing there. Seeing them, she smiled slightly in greeting.
What about Master?! The two were shocked and quickly peeked out to look.
The silver four-clawed dragon robe brushed against the surface of the palace boots. Ye Yuqing fanned himself leisurely as he walked over unhurriedly. When his gaze fell upon the open cell door, he let out a soft “Oh?”
“Do we have guests who arrived first?”
Yin Gezhi turned around, lowering his head slightly in feigned panic.
Ye Yuqing raised an eyebrow, walked over to look at him, and chuckled. “Your Highness, what brings you to such a place?”
“Just taking a casual stroll.” Yin Gezhi offered an explanation that lacked any sincerity.
Glancing at Yang Fengpeng kneeling on the ground and the cloaked woman beside him, Ye Yuqing clapped his hands. “Ah, I understand now. Your Highness has caught the prisoner who escaped from the prison and brought her back, haven’t you?”Yu Hexiang trembled. Yang Fengpeng glanced behind the Crown Prince and, seeing only Feng Chuang, immediately reacted, kowtowing three times to Ye Yuqing: "Your Highness, this guilty official has something to say, something to say!"
"Oh?" Ye Yuqing swept his gentle gaze over him, fanning himself as he smiled. "During yesterday's interrogation, didn't you say you had already said everything you needed to?"
"This guilty official deserves death, but I beg Your Highness to grant me a way out!" His burly body knelt and buried itself on the ground, trembling slightly, looking utterly pitiful.
"Ah, ah." Ye Yuqing shook his head, lifted his robe, and crouched before him. "Does the esteemed official still think there is a way out for you?"
"There isn't, there shouldn't be! But Your Highness, this guilty official has the ledger detailing the division of accounts with General Yi. Half of the so-called embezzled funds went straight into the general's pockets! The military pay for the Northern Border Army amounts to six hundred thousand taels of silver annually. Of this sum, only one hundred thousand taels remain in this guilty official's hands, while the remaining five hundred thousand are directly transferred to the General's Mansion! The defeat in the Northern Border has nothing to do with the military pay!"
This barrage of explosive revelations made Ye Yuqing narrow his eyes. He reached out, grabbed Yang Fengpeng's collar, and yanked him up to face him. His expression was sinister, but his voice remained gentle: "Why didn't you say this earlier?"
"This guilty official's young son is still in the general's hands. How could I speak, Your Highness?!" His eyes reddened. Yang Fengpeng said, "Even now, I dare not repeat these words in the public court!"
The meaning was clear: if Your Highness rescues my young son, these words can be repeated in the public court.
Ye Yuqing shook his head. Turning to Yin Gezhi, he said, "General Yi is a key minister of our dynasty. How can a few words make me suspect him? Prince Yin, if it were you, would you believe it?"
Yin Gezhi shook his head expressionlessly. "No."
Sweat beaded on his forehead. Yang Fengpeng trembled for a moment, gritted his teeth, and finally pushed Yu Hexiang before them.
"She knows where the ledger for the division of accounts is. If Your Highness does not believe it, you can first look at the ledger before deciding whether to use this guilty official as a witness."
"Oh?" Ye Yuqing smiled. "Since the esteemed official is so insistent, I might as well take a look."
"But," Yin Gezhi said with great disdain, "the esteemed official is far too easily threatened. If Your Highness goes through great trouble to reopen the trial for you, and you fall under the general's control again, refusing to speak the truth, wouldn't we have wasted our efforts?"
"No!" Yang Fengpeng said. "Apart from my wife and son, this guilty official has no other vulnerabilities! I can die, but I beg to protect my wife and son!"
Ye Yuqing was deeply moved. Turning to Yin Gezhi, he asked, "Your Highness, do you think this is credible?"
Yin Gezhi nodded solemnly. "It wouldn't hurt to believe it for now."
"Good," Ye Yuqing said. "Then, esteemed official, prepare yourself. Feng Chuang will personally guard you here these next two days to ensure your safety. As for your young master, that will require Prince Yin's intervention."
Yin Gezhi frowned. "Your Highness, such matters can be handled by covert guards."
"What covert guard possesses martial arts as formidable as yours? None of the covert guards by my side can freely enter and leave the General's Mansion," Ye Yuqing said. "Besides, with you taking action, Lord Yang will surely feel more at ease."Yang Fengpeng nodded repeatedly! He understood martial arts, having once been a soldier under General Yi. It was only because he was literate and could manage accounts that he had been gradually promoted to become one of the Three Judicial Commissioners. In terms of martial prowess, he naturally trusted Yin Gezhi the most.
Yin Gezhi sighed and nodded in agreement. Ye Yuqing said with satisfaction, "In that case, this prince will not pursue why Your Highness is in this Death Row."
Feng Yue rolled her eyes upon hearing this. These two were truly shameless, performing such a well-rehearsed act so convincingly in front of others. They weren’t even afraid that Yang Fengpeng might learn the truth after death and jump out from the underworld to settle accounts with them!
Yi Guoru had no intention of harming Yang Fengpeng’s family, but this man always acted on the principle of “better to kill by mistake than to let go.” If Yang Fengpeng believed it, it was his own misfortune. However, the young master of the Yang family was truly in Yi Guoru’s hands. How to rescue him remained a headache.
After much reassurance, Ye Yuqing and Yin Gezhi left the cell together. Feng Yue was about to follow but accidentally bumped into Xu Huaizu nearby.
Suddenly remembering there were still two spectators here, Feng Yue was startled and quickly lowered her head to observe their expressions.
In their hearts, Yin Gezhi was like a god. If they discovered he was working for the Crown Prince, would they be deeply disappointed?
However, it turned out that when one idolizes another to the point of absolute reverence, they lose all sense of reason. After watching their figures disappear around the corner, Xu Huaizu actually sighed in admiration, "Master is truly amazing! He can handle the Crown Prince so calmly and composedly!"
An Shichong nodded. "Unlike us, who panicked and hid. We really should learn more from Master."
Feng Yue: "..."
Outside the cell, Ye Yuqing smiled at Yin Gezhi. "Your Highness has worked hard and achieved much."
"You flatter me. If Wu and Wei can coexist peacefully, I will be more than satisfied and dare not claim credit," Yin Gezhi replied with a cupped-hand salute.
Nodding with satisfaction, Ye Yuqing said earnestly, "As long as this prince is here, Wu and Wei will remain at peace for a day. Your Highness can rest assured."
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