In the shadows of a stinking, lightless cell, Song Yunping was clutching the cell bars.
"Some water," he cried out. "I want some water."
After he shouted for half a day, two jailers came over with displeased expressions.
"What are you shouting about?" one asked in displeasure.
"Some tea," Song Yunping said without good will.
The two jailers stared.
"I say, Song Yunping. It seems that you are getting more and more comfortable in this jail?" the other said.
It was damn difficult.
In the past, he feigned humility and served the Fang Family. Although he felt like he was suffering at the time, he bit down and said that one cannot achieve glory without trials and tribulations. He sometimes recalled that time of his life and admired himself. He felt it was just like the suffering that Goujian1 must have endured."
But now, in jail, he learned what true suffering was. After stewing here day after day for almost a month, he could not tolerate it any longer.
What was that Li Changhong doing? Why was he so slow?
"Less nonsense, get me water," Song Yunping said.
"Your mom. Do you want to die? So unreasonable," the jailer cursed.
Song Yunping looked at them with cold eyes.
Whose dying, I won't die!
You will all die, but I won't die!
He wanted to grab the bars and shout, 'Look, I will be released soon!'
The sound of footsteps came from outside.
"Someone must have committed a serious crime," said the other jailer, looking surprised. "I haven't heard of anyone committing a severe crime recently."
"Give this master some water," Song Yunping shouted.
The two jailers ignored him and watched as several soldiers dragged in a man. The two had never seen these soldiers before, so they went to stop them.
Just as they were about to question them, the soldiers looked at them, their faces fierce. The two forgot what they were going to say out of fear.
"Where is Song Yunping?" asked the leader of the soldiers.
Looking for Song Yunping?
The jailers immediately pointed.
The soldiers pulled the man in that direction.
"Open the door," they said.
The jailers did not dare to question their command and stepped forward to open the door. They watched the soldiers carry the man in.
This man's clothes were disheveled and a shawl of hair was covering his face, but his figure was somewhat familiar.
The soldiers walked past them and lightly tossed the man in.
"This is an imperial offender, look carefully," they said, pointing inside.
Imperial offender?
This was a criminal who was arrested on an imperial edict.
This was not an ordinary prisoner.
The jailers were visibly moved.
Such a criminal had to be imprisoned properly.
"Say it right, I am not an imperial offender," said Song Yunping.
The soldiers did not look at him and turned away to leave. The jailers sighed in relief while shaking in fear.
"What kind of person is this?" One of the jailers wanted to take a look, but was pulled back by the other.
"Imperial offender; don't mind too much," his peer reminded.
It was always better to make less trouble for themselves. The jailers put their head downs and left.
"But"—one of them couldn't help but stop and look back—"I think this person resembles…"
"Resembles who?" the other asked.
Resembles Lord County Magistrate, but it was probably not good to compare the county magistrate with an imperial offender. That narrow minded magistrate would not be happy if he knew.
"Nothing, nothing," said that jailer. "Let's go."
Watching the jailers run away like they were flying, Song Yunping cursed them with his cracked lips.
"Your father's water!" he shouted. He hit the bars violently before sitting back down. "You mongrels, just wait for I, your father, to get out. You will see."
He sat for a moment, then looked at the man who was thrown to the ground.
What kind of devil is this imperial offender?
Was he beaten unconscious or scared unconscious?
"Get out, don't stand in my, your father's, spot," he cursed. "Do you know who I, your father, is?"
The man did not move. Song Yunping went over to kick him.
The man moaned painfully.
"How bold, I am…" he seemed to be saying unconsciously.
"What do I care who you…" Song Yunping insulted, but he only finished half of his sentence when the man on the ground shifted to his side, exposing half of his face. Song Yunping immediately changed tones. "Ah, Lord Li!"
This was so sudden that he stepped back from fright. He looked at the man lying on the ground with incredulity.
Was he dreaming? Or was this an illusion caused by being too thirsty and hungry?
Li Changhong?
How was Li Changhong here?
Song Yunping rubbed his eyes and shouted with his voice trembling, "Li Changhong!"
When County Magistrate Li had fallen to the ground, his anxiousness, annoyance, and anger had caused him to lose consciousness. Now, he woke up and looked around at his surroundings in confusion.
Where was this? What happened?
Then he saw the face of Song Yunping, and remembered what had occured.
He gave a shout, and sat straight up.
Song Yunping also shouted out again.
Even if one said he was someone with a similar face, their voices were just too similar.
This person was really Li Changhong, County Magistrate Li. The County Magistrate Li who had come earlier this morning to say he was waiting for good news.
This, was this good news?
Good news was that he, Li Changhong, also became a prisoner?
The two did not have a chance to speak before they heard a voice coming from outside.
"Lord Li."
This was also a familiar voice. Song Yunping and County Magistrate Li both turned to look.
They saw Old Lady Fang walk in, accompanied by a single girl.
"What happened to you? What happened? What's going on here?" she asked, rushing forward in a panic.
Panic, concern, confusion…
Based on Old Lady Fang's response, all kinds of ideas flashed through County Magistrate Li's mind. The reason why the officers had seized him was under the pretext that he was a Jurchen spy.
Could it be a misunderstanding? This was not the doing of the Fang Family?
If that was the case, it would be easier.
"Old Lady Fang, why are you here?" He sighed internally, then squeezed out an authoritative voice. "Don't worry about me being framed. I have done nothing like spying for the Jurchen. It'll all become clear."
Although his clothes were torn, his hair was disheveled, and his face was covered in bruises from falling to the ground, he still tried his best to maintain his elegant temperament.
What he said showed his concern for Old Lady Fang, as if he didn't know what had happened at all, only that he was framed.
Old Lady Fang looked at him and grabbed the cell bars with anguish.
"Lord Li," she said, her voice trembling.
County Magistrate Li was going to squeeze out a smile for her when Old Lady Fang suddenly spit a wad onto his face from where she crouched in front of the prison bars.
He was caught off guard and hit full in the face. He couldn't open his eyes, and he screamed.
"Lord Li, I'll tell you the whereabouts of my grandson. You'll be happy, right?" said the old lady, all her worry, anxiousness, and fear suddenly having melted away.
Her laughter was full of violence, distorting her expression.
"I am also very happy. I truly am so, so happy."
So it was like this, this damn old lady!
He had given up on Song Yunping because Song Yunping had been exposed. This was cutting off the hand at the wrist to save the body, and he avoided implicating himself in order to fish out Fang Chengyu's whereabouts. Yet he didn't expect that this damn old woman was never fooled at all. Rather, she used her grandson's whereabouts to fish him out.
County Magistrate Li watched Old Lady Fang psychotic appearance with shock and fear and could not help shivering.
Why did these women from the Fang Family that he had always toyed with like puppets, at whom he had laughed for ten years suddenly seem so terrifying?
