"Your Excellency, the Princess..."
Murong Bole was discussing matters with Tang Qingci in his tent when a subordinate reported.
"What about her?" Murong Bole asked, his face darkening.
"She has returned to the capital with her men," the subordinate replied.
"How dare she!" Murong Bole roared in anger. He then forced a smile at Tang Qingci and said, "Shi Xi, how easy is it to stay out of trouble when it's hereditary?"
"Your Excellency speaks the truth," Tang Qingci said, suppressing a smile. "The tree may wish for stillness, but the wind will not cease."
"Chi'er..." Murong Bole nodded and called to his eldest son, Murong Chi.
"Father..." Murong Chi responded.
"You... " Murong Bole paused and then said, "I shall return to the capital myself. Chi'er, you will temporarily lead the army to garrison Luoyang and Hongnong, and other places, to guard against another invasion by the Zhao army. Ya'er, you will accompany your father back to the capital."
"As you command, Father!" Murong Chi and Murong Ya responded in unison.
Murong Ya was Murong Bole's second son, and Murong Huiying's second elder brother.
"Shi Xi, what do you think of this arrangement?" Murong Bole then asked Tang Qingci.
"The Zhao army is now like a bird startled by a bow. As long as the army is well-prepared, they will not dare to act rashly. Your Excellency's arrangement is very sound," Tang Qingci replied. "It is also necessary for Your Excellency to return to the capital."
...
"Oh, Princess, you cannot go in!" At the Yuzhou Tingwei Prison, the Tingwei of Yan, Yuwen Jingzheng, bowed repeatedly and clasped his hands in a desperate attempt to stop Murong Huiying, who was accompanied by several hundred elite Hu Lie Camp warriors.
Princess Yan Ziyue, Murong Huiying, upon hearing of Zhou Fugui's predicament, turned pale with shock. She immediately rushed back to Yanjing Shi Yuzhou with several hundred Hu Lie Camp warriors and arrived at the Tingwei Prison. Without a word, she attempted to force her way in, alarming everyone in the prison. While they tried to block Murong Huiying, they also sent word to Yuwen Jingzheng. Upon his arrival, Yuwen Jingzheng naturally dared not let Murong Huiying enter. He tried to persuade her with kind words while ordering his subordinates to block the Hu Lie Camp warriors.
Zhou Fugui was currently a notorious criminal by imperial decree. If Murong Huiying were to break in with her men to retrieve him, and something went wrong, not only would Yuwen Jingzheng's official career end, but he would also be implicated. He would not only be dismissed from office but also stripped of his status as a freeman and sent to the mines or conscripted into the army.
"Yuwen Jingzheng, how dare you stop me?" Murong Huiying's eyebrows shot up as she questioned Cui Tianchou.
Murong Huiying had thrown all caution to the wind. Disregarding her dignity as a woman, the severe consequences of her actions, and everything else, she was determined to snatch Zhou Fugui from the death row cell.
Zhou Fugui had committed a capital offense, an unforgivable crime for which there was no commutation. At least, that was Murong Huiying's belief.
Hundreds of Hu Lie Camp warriors stood behind Murong Huiying, their swords drawn, coldly observing Yuwen Jingzheng and his men, waiting for Murong Huiying's command to charge in and seize their prisoner.
The Hu Lie Camp was an old unit that had followed Murong Bole in his rebellion. They answered only to Murong Bole. Since Murong Bole had entrusted the Hu Lie Camp to Murong Huiying, they would never disobey her orders, no matter what the task.
"This official dares not..." Yuwen Jingzheng, having also cast aside all fear, said, "However, if the Princess wishes to enter this place, she must have an imperial decree. Otherwise, you will have to step over this official."
Upon hearing this, Murong Huiying's eyebrows furrowed. She slowly raised her hand, and a rustling sound of swords being drawn echoed from her Hu Lie Camp warriors.
The courtyard guards and soldiers of the Tingwei Prison were instantly terrified, trembling uncontrollably.
If a fight truly broke out, these men would be no match for the battle-hardened Hu Lie Camp.
"Stop!" Just at this critical moment, a group of horsemen arrived, led by Murong Bole, the Left Wise King of Great Yan. Murong Bole shouted.
"Father, why are you here?" Murong Huiying asked, a mixture of urgency and fear in her voice.
"If I didn't come, the heavens themselves would collapse because of you!" Murong Bole, his beard bristling with anger, glared at Murong Huiying and scolded, "Yingying, how could you be so audacious?"
Murong Bole certainly knew that Murong Huiying had rushed back to Yuzhou in a frantic state because of Zhou Fugui. However, he had never expected her to dare to lead troops to storm the prison for him. If Murong Huiying had truly led her troops into the prison, it would have been tantamount to rebellion. How could Murong Bole not be both anxious and furious?
"Father... I..." Murong Huiying's eyes welled up with tears.
"There is no need to say more," Murong Bole said with a cold snort. "Ya'er, from today onwards, the Hu Lie Camp will be under your command."
Murong Bole no longer dared to let Murong Huiying command the Hu Lie Camp.
"Father, my sister..." Murong Ya, seeing that Murong Bole was about to become angry again, quickly replied, "This son obeys."
"Father, Second Brother..." Murong Huiying's tears finally streamed down her face in sorrow.
Murong Ya, like his elder brother Murong Chi, was extremely doting on his younger sister. Seeing her like this, he cast an apologetic glance at Murong Huiying.
Murong Ya was also extremely curious about this Han man, Zhou Fugui. What kind of person was he that he could make his usually steady and resourceful younger sister act so recklessly today?
Murong Ya was well aware of Zhou Fugui's reputation but had never met him.
Murong Bole, ignoring Murong Huiying, coldly ordered, "Take her back to the manor. Without my permission, she is not to step outside the manor gates."
"Alas, little sister, let's go," Murong Ya said, walking to Murong Huiying's side and helping her onto her horse. They prepared to return to the manor.
"Farewell, Your Highness!" With the crisis averted, Cui Tianchou felt a sense of relief and bowed respectfully.
"Tingwei Yuwen!" Murong Bole turned his horse and said coldly to Cui Tianchou, "Even a death row inmate is allowed visitors, are they not?"
Yuwen Jingzheng was stunned, frozen in place, unsure how to respond.
Death row inmates, and Zhou Fugui had not yet been sentenced, were indeed allowed visitors. However, Murong Huiying had no familial ties to Zhou Fugui, and their relationship could at best be described as ambiguous, or perhaps even adulterous... Yuwen Jingzheng thought to himself, what kind of "visit" was this?
Moreover, Murong Huiying had come with several hundred fierce men for this "visit." Was this how people visited their prisoners?
Yuwen Jingzheng did not understand Murong Bole's intention.
...
The cypress trees, shrouded in gloom, obscure the gate by day; how can one know of clemency when twilight brings chaos? The Han palace itself planted the seeds of bliss for three lives; the Chu envoy now beckons the soul of one facing nine deaths. Even if one possesses plows and fields, one no longer has the face to see the homeland; only then can the benevolent ruler, like Yao and Shun, still permit this scholar to speak words of truth.
Another poem reads: Once a prisoner in South Crown for over two years, one need not ask about safety or danger. Refined gold forged into a hundred chains still sharpens the steel; strong bamboo in winter stands unbent at its joints. Facing the moon, one wishes to join the cuckoo with blood; facing the wind, there will be geese to carry letters. In a humble cup, a lonely lamp grows cold, how many times have I swallowed my tears and sighed alone.
Tingwei Prison, as its name suggests, is the name of Yan's prison, belonging to the Tingwei. The Tingwei Prison is a dungeon for detaining serious offenders.
Since the founding of Yan, disputes over the Yan imperial throne have been frequent, with many coveting the throne. However, these individuals all failed and were cruelly executed. But a small number survived and were imprisoned in the Tingwei Prison for life, including men, women, old, and young.
The palace city surrounding the Tingwei Prison is known as the "Pijin City." Pijin City, with its resonant name, might initially suggest a magnificent palace, but in reality, it is a human hell.
Pijin City, Pijin City, the King of Hell frowns upon hearing its name; those who enter it will find no reincarnation!
Pijin City is a prison for serious offenders, with exceptionally tight security. Emperor Murong Xi of Yan decreed that Zhou Fugui be transferred from the state yamen's great prison to the Tingwei Prison in Pijin City. Zhou Fugui was not a rebel, yet he was incarcerated in Pijin City. Whether this was his "good fortune" or his "honor" was unclear...
This was also one of the reasons why Murong Huiying, upon hearing that Zhou Fugui had been incarcerated in the Tingwei Prison of Pijin City, had acted so recklessly.
The Tingwei Prison within Pijin City is a two-story building with several underground prison cells. The main entrance of the building and its surroundings are lined with cypress trees. The evergreen cypress trees stand tall, their branches like iron, their trunks like steel. The foliage is lush and verdant, and the sunlight shines on the tender green cypress leaves, creating a dazzling emerald hue.
But who would have thought that amidst such beautiful scenery lay the grim and terrifying Tingwei Prison?
As a gust of cold wind blew, the cypress leaves rustled, creating a chilling sound that sent shivers down one's spine.
The cypress trees, shrouded in gloom, obscure the gate by day; how can one know of clemency when twilight brings chaos.
The rocks surrounding the building are painted white, as are the tree trunks. This is to prevent prisoners from escaping the cells. With the rocks and trees painted white, there is nowhere to hide, even in the dead of night.
"Dinner time..." At this moment, in front of a prison cell in the Tingwei Prison, a guard placed two bowls of nauseating, inedible grain and vegetable gruel before the iron bars of two cells.
The guard then tapped the iron bars with his iron rod to alert the prisoners inside, who might be dead or alive...
Each cell had only a small, ventilation window, with bars as thick as a thumb.
The cells were dark and damp, oppressive like hell. One could occasionally hear screams or wails. It was nighttime, and the moonlight, filtering through the window, cast a pale, cold, ethereal glow within the cell.
Each cell was about three meters square, with walls built of rough stones. The floor was also paved with large stones. The pillars of the doors and windows were made of iron bars as thick as an arm. In a corner of the wall sat a chamber pot, emitting a foul odor of excrement and mildew from a distance.
"Brother Fugui, time to eat..." A moment later, a disheveled prisoner, looking neither human nor ghost, and of indeterminate age, approached the iron bars. He squatted on the ground, scooped up a bowl of gruel with one hand, and casually turned his head to address Zhou Fugui, who was locked in the adjacent cell. "Sustenance is essential, and food is its basis. How can one survive without eating? If you don't eat, your head will fall off, and you'll be a hungry ghost, won't you? Do you want to be reincarnated as a hungry ghost? This gruel is difficult to swallow, but it's still food, isn't it? Though it's gruel, it's still cooked with care by the prison cooks. Back in the day..."
"Alright, alright, I'll eat!" Zhou Fugui, as if crawling out of the darkness, rolled his eyes at the man and said weakly, "I'll eat."