Chapter 280 – To The Imperial Prison
Note: Unedited
Jing Rong was stubborn to the bone. Even if he was to die, he would never admit to something he didn't do. Although he knew clearly well Old General Li was the culprit, Jing Yi would never believe his words because what Jing Yi wanted was his death.
Jing Yi unleashed his inner demon. The whip lashed out without stop, showing no mercy. Every time he lashed out, he intended to claim Jing Rong's life. Then, after over 20 lashes, he stopped.
Jing Rong's body was riddled with opened wounds and blood. His appearance was miserable – the head was dropped down; there was blood flowing out of his mouth; And his hair was disheveled, covering his now pale face.
Jing Yi watched him. Then, he used the handle of the whip to prop up Jing Rong's head. He forced Jing Rong to face him, staring straight into his eyes heavy from weakness.
"Why must you make things painful to yourself? If you confess, you might walk out from here safe and sound."
Jing Rong didn't respond.
"Jing Rong, don't blame me for not taking our blood relationship in consideration. You are the one who harmed Imperial Father, so you should expected a day like this to come. Don't be so adamant to refuse the easy way. I won't kill you today. What I want you to do is to consider my proposal, then give me a reply. Your life and death depend on your choice."
Jing Rong was gasping for air. His cracked and bloody lips stretched into an arrogant smile. He rasped, "What you did today, I will pay you back a thousand fold later."
"Pay me back? Let's see if you have that chance later!" Jing Yi threw away the bloody whip and ordered the imperial guards, "Shut it back into his cell. I'll come back tomorrow to interrogate him again."
"Yes, your Highness!"
As soon the imperial guards untied Jing Rong, he keeled over. He was then dragged away, back to his prison cell.
As Jing Yi stared at the bloody stains left by Jing Rong, he replayed Jing Rong's words from earlier.
At the Rong Estate.
A night passed, but it was a restless one for Ji Yunshu who was gnawed by anxiety. At that moment, Lang Po had left in a hurry to find Mo Ruo.
"I was just drunk for a bit, but how did such a big thing took place overnight?" Mo Ruo had yet entered the courtyard, but he had already shouted out many questions.
Ji Yunshu opened and explained all the in and out of the situation to Mo Ruo.
Mo Ruo slammed his hand on the table. "That old fox. He was ruthless enough to commit regicide!" He paused before continuing, "Since you know the culprit is that old fox, why didn't you report to the Emperor, but let Jing Rong shoulder the blame?"
"The thought did cross my mind." Ji Yunshu argued. "However, the problematic lanterns were all destroyed. In addition, Jing Rong did replace the lanterns. I have no evidence to prove his good intentions and innocence. Not to mention that Lord Zhang from the Dispatch Bureau has given a testimony against Jing Rong. How can I convinced the Emperor from otherwise? Between the credibility of someone who is an imperial official for three generations of emperors and Jing Rong, who will the Emperor chose to believe?"
He would naturally think the culprit is Jing Rong!
Mo Ruo's thought process was still sluggish from the alcohol. He balled his hands into fists and slammed the table, helpless.
At that moment, a servant girl's sudden arrival interrupted their discussion. Her face showed an anxious expression. She quickly trotted to Ji Yunshu. Her breathing was heavy, but she took out a letter in her sleeve and delivered it to Ji Yunshu.
"Teacher Ji, this is something Princess Huiwen ordered this lowly servant to give you. Her Highness had expressed that I must deliver it to you in person."
Princess Huiwen? She must refer to Kong Yu!
Ji Yunshu didn't ask further as she urgently opened the letter. Her hands trembled as she unfolded it. Her trembling didn't diminish after reading the letter. Mo Ruo took away the letter from her and glossed it. His expression became more stern with traces of worry.
"Prince Yi went to the Imperial Palace's prison to interrogate Jing Rong? On what basis?" Mo Ruo became indignant.
"The Emperor has awaken and met with Prince Yi. I presume this was the Emperor's command. Otherwise, he would not be so brazen," Ji Yunshu stated.
"You mean the Emperor suspected the matter is related to Jing Rong?"
"I don't know." She shook her head and directed at Lang Po. "Big Brother Lang, it is possible to get me the permission to enter the imperial prison?"
Lang Po was shocked. "Teacher Ji, the imperial prison is not like the Ministry of Justice's prison. Without the Emperor's authorization, no one can't enter."
"I can!" Mo Ruo uttered. He explained, "The Emperor granted our Mo clan the permission to enter the palace at anytime and have access to many places. The imperial prison is one of those unrestricted places I could go."
So, to say, how convenient!
……….
On the same day, Mo Ruo brought Ji Yunshu to the palace. Ji Yunshu wore a dark cape which covered her head. She was also dressed in common garb to lower her presence. When they reached the imperial prison's entrance, a guard stopped them.
Mo Ruo had a stern face when he looked back at the imperial guard. "Are your eyes blind? Don't you recognize who I am?"
"Gentleman Mo, of course, I recognize you," the imperial guard answered.
"You're still not getting out of my way after recognizing me?!"
"This is the imperial prison. Without the Emperor's decree, I cannot let anyone pass," The imperial guard remained firm.
Like a cold nail, he took out a jade token and put it in front of the Imperial Guard.
"Take a good look. This is a token the Emperor bestowed to our Mo clan. As long as I have this jade, I can access any place within the palace with anyone from the Mo clan, and the imperial prison is no exception."
"This…"
"Anyone who dares to obstruct my way is going against the edict of the Holy One. Do you dare bear this crime?"
She had to admit Mo Ruo's ability to bluff is pretty good. He was able to sway the imperial guard who had no choice but to step aside in fear.
The guard clasped his hands toward Mo Ruo. "Gentleman Mo, please enter."
Mo Ruo smirked as he took back his token, He was about to led Ji Yunshu inside, but the imperial guard was diligent with his work and stopped Ji Yunshu.
"May I ask who is this person?"
Mo Ruo immediately pulled Ji Yunshu behind him. He retorted with a bossy attitude, "An apprentice of our Mo clan."
He pushed everything on the Mo clan. The imperial guard no longer dare to stop them.
As soon as they walked deeper inside, the stench of bodily fluids and blood became more heavy. It made Ji Yunshu's heart shuddered. She couldn't fathom how the stately Jing Rong could fare in this kind of place. Finally, they reached Jing Rong's cell. When she glimpsed at him, her body jolted and her eyes reddened from the upheaval of emotions.
Inside the prison cell, Jing Rong had leaned on the ice-cold wall like before they took him to the torture chamber. Now, the differences were his head weakly dropped and his body was riddled with bloody scars. The blood had long dried, but the bloody scent still remained in the air and couldn't be hidden from her keen smell.
She grabbed the wooden poles and slowly crouched. The hood slipped down, revealing her teary eyes. She called him. "Jing Rong."
Her white and slender hands tightly clutched the prison fence, and her nails seemed to want to embed themselves into the wood.
After a long time, Jing Rong finally raised his head heavily. His eyes were bloodshot. His hair were disheveled with clump sticking together from the blood. In the dim light, he could see Ji Yunshu.
It took him a long moment before he could make a gentle smile appeared on his face. "This Prince knows a bothersome little demon like you will certainly come regardless of what I said," he weakly whispered.
Her tears dripped down. She swallowed her words. It was too hard for her to speak.
He struggled to get up. Then, he tottered toward Ji Yunshu and lowered down so he could reach for her face. He caressed her cheek gently with the same warm smile he always showed her.
"Yunshu, don't worry. I will be fine."
Ji Yunshu stubbornly bite on her lips until the pain numbed her. She raised her hand and stroked his face lightly.
"You are injured. Is it painful?"
Grenn’s Rants Corner
T^T A bit cliché, but the feelings are there.
Jing Rong died under Jing Yi’s torture, and we now realized Wei Yi is the true male lead… not. XD