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Time slipped away in an instant.
That day.
it was the day Wei Chang would be beheaded at the marketplace, to set an example with due process.
Zhou Yi came early in the morning to deliver food, and upon finding the small canteen wasn't serving meals, he guessed that the noble young dragon had already been released from prison.
Annihilation of an entire household!
He'd been detained just over half a month, with not even an interrogation to speak of.
In prison, he stayed in a private cell, pampered with good food and drink from the guards, and even accompanied by girls from the Spring Breeze Building—far happier than ninety-nine percent of people out there.
"This world..."
Zhou Yi, on duty at the heavenly prison, had heard his colleagues say more than once about the Dragon Chancellor's overwhelming power and influence.
The reigning Emperor Chongming was obsessed with mystical practices, so much so that he hadn't appeared in court for twenty-six years. The Dragon Chancellor had now been Prime Minister for nineteen years, effectively having control over everything under heaven.
The common people discussed in private that even if His Majesty were to hold court again, the officials, both civil and military, wouldn't listen anyway!
Cell number thirteen.
Zhou Yi carried a food container, the routine execution meal prepared, ensuring that whether a prisoner's crimes were big or small, they would have meat and wine before their execution.
"Hero, you'll be on your way in another hour!"
Wei Chang's hair was disheveled, and the burn scars on his face made him look like a fierce ghost.
"Did you bring the century-old fine wine?"
"Of course, I did."
Zhou Yi took out a porcelain bottle from his bosom, opened the lid, and let the rich aroma of wine waft out: "Century-old pear blossom white. The store owner treated it as a treasure and refused to sell it. I had to pawn most of my possessions just to get it."
Wei Chang gulped down half the bottle continuously, burped, and exclaimed in admiration.
"Fine wine!"
Zhou Yi then fed him dishes such as lion's head meatballs from Dingxiang Building, fish belly tofu, and Buddha jumps over the wall.
Rich yet not greasy, melting at first taste.
As Wei Chang ate, he asked, "How goes your practice of Guiyuan Skill?"
"I'm of average talent. Meditating daily only allows me to gather a strand of Inner Strength." Zhou Yi had anticipated this; age and poor constitution were factors, but the fact that he could cultivate Inner Strength already indicated that the cultivation technique was of high quality.
The greatest difficulty in life is to accept being ordinary while still striving earnestly!
"Your comprehension is not bad, it's just unfortunate that you're older."
Wei Chang offered guidance on several key points of cultivation until, sated with food and drink, he laughed heartily: "This execution meal isn't bad. In forty-three years, I've never tasted such delicious food or drunk such fine wine!"
Zhou Yi fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Hero, if these chains broke, could you escape?"
Wei Chang shook his head, refusing.
"The poison has penetrated deep into my marrow, I wouldn't live more than a few days anyway. Might as well go to that execution ground and curse this Imperial Court!"
At that moment.
There came the sound of unlocking from the prison door. Zhou Yi hurriedly tidied up the bowls and chopsticks,
Zhang Zhou, accompanied by a clerk from the Ministry of Justice, came in. After confirming Wei Chang's identity, numerous guards escorted him to the execution ground.
"The kind suffer poverty and live shorter lives, while the wicked enjoy wealth and extended longevity!"
Zhou Yi sighed and continued with his task of delivering food.
The Assistant Minister of Rites from cell number six, after a month of torture, had come to accept his situation. Unfortunately, there was no one sending him Silver, with just two spoonfuls of thin porridge a day, he was already so starved he could barely breathe.
"Young man, one more spoonful, please, just one more!"
"That's all there is."
Zhou Yi ignored the Assistant Minister's pleas. For one, due to scarce resources, equality mattered more, and secondly, this person was no good to begin with.
The reason he was locked up in heavenly prison was simple: he embezzled Silver from the Imperial Court. It is said that the Jinyiwei uncovered over a hundred thousand taels, and various gold and silver treasures piled up like a mountain.
In the adjacent cell number seven.
Su Wenhao awoke from his meditation, looking quite spirited.
He finished his thin porridge with loud gulps, then spoke out, "Young man, you seem troubled. I am well-versed in the art of Zhou Yi. I can help you with your worries!"
"Then can you calculate why I'm troubled?"
Zhou Yi felt some sympathy for Su Wenhao, who was locked up in the heavenly prison for merely composing poems and voicing grievances.
"Is it because of him?"
Su Wenhao gestured towards the side, where the emaciated former Assistant Minister of Rites lay on his bed, moaning with hunger.
Zhou Yi felt somewhat disappointed in his heart. Su Wenhao's knowledge of Zhou Yi was about reading people and observing situations, not truly divining the future. Nevertheless, he nodded and said,
"I've hated corrupt officials all my life. They claim to take the Imperial Court's Silver, but in truth, they're draining the lifeblood and fat from the common people!"
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"Hehehe, you just don't understand."
Su Wenhao chuckled twice, "I know this guy. He was quite capable as an official and did some real things for the people. The silver he embezzled wasn't too much either."
The former Shilang lying down grunted twice, "Old Su, I did not make friends with you in vain!"
Zhou Yi asked in surprise, "Then why was he imprisoned in the Sky Prison?"
"It's not about performance or integrity in the officialdom, but about taking sides!"
Su Wenhao said, "Those who are corrupt may not necessarily be barred from promotion, and those who are sent to Sky Prison are not always there because of corruption."
Zhou Yi pondered carefully and clicked his tongue twice, "Interesting, interesting!"
The former Shilang said, "You find it interesting, young man. Serve me another spoon of rice."
"Okay."
Zhou Yi intended to mock him but then thought better of it, considering that the prisoners of Yi Jail were no ordinary criminals and included many who returned to their official positions. It was best not to provoke them.
He scooped the thick porridge from the bottom of the bucket and served a bowl to the former Shilang.
Zhou Yi asked, "Why is Mister Su so talkative today?"
This old man was usually reticent, spending his time in meditation and cultivation after his meals, presumably practicing some kind of inner strength technique, which is why he could maintain such vigorous energy and robust health.
"Trapped in prison, away for four or five years!"
Su Wenhao recited a verse with pride, "I have a premonition, the days of walking out of this cage and returning to freedom are not far."
"Then congratulations to Su Wenhao."
Zhou Yi clasped his hands respectfully and left with the bucket.
This old man had been incarcerated for three or four years and still hadn't changed, unable to keep himself from reciting poetry, clearly showing his disagreement with Emperor Chongming's judgment.
The former Shilang, who was engrossed in cooking, suddenly paused, his eyes shining with excitement.
After Wei Chang was beheaded.
Zhou Yi's life resumed a routine of shuttling between home and Sky Prison.
Father Zhou had spent most of his life as a prison guard. Most of the silver he earned went towards Zhou Yi's medical treatments, with the rest spent on buying a residence in the Divine Capital.
In Ningde Fang, as soon as you enter the courtyard.
According to the layout of the Imperial Capital in his previous life, where the Imperial City was the center, Ningde Fang would be equivalent to a courtyard house within the second ring, which Zhou Yi could only afford after five hundred years of work without eating or drinking.
The progress of the Guiyuan Skill was slow, but Zhou Yi was not in a hurry. His greatest advantage was time.
With time, he would undoubtedly achieve great success in his cultivation.
"Stretch out hand, touch sister's hairy bay, distracting those outside, comfy and wide..."
Zhou Yi hummed the new tune he'd learned. Although he had not achieved great success with the Guiyuan Skill, he possessed a Taoist technique for preserving vitality that enabled one to remain steadfast and vigorous.
After checking in for duty, Zhou Yi carried the bucket to deliver meals.
He encountered the night shift officer Chang Ning, followed by four prison guards, escorting a prisoner in shackles.
The prisoner was disheveled, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Su Wenhao.
Zhou Yi approached to greet him, "Uncle Chang, what happened to him?"
In the Sky Prison, Zhou Yi, being the youngest and latest arrival, referred to the other older guards and officers as uncles, a respectful term that also ensured their favor.
Chang Ning snorted coldly, "Humph! This guy refused to accept His Majesty's judgment and even slandered His Majesty's lifespan. He deserves to be sent to the Jinyiwei Prison for supervision!"
The Jinyiwei Prison was where the Jinyiwei interrogated prisoners!
Being sent to Sky Prison still left a sliver of hope for survival, but being sent to the Jinyiwei Prison meant one could only pray for a swift reincarnation to lessen the torture.
Su Wenhao's face was pale, and he was muttering to himself, reciting some unknown poetry.
Cell Yi-Eight.
The former Shilang sat cross-legged on a mat, glanced at the thin porridge, and beckoned Zhou Yi over.
"I am about to be released. Go prepare some good wine and dishes. Otherwise, once I'm reinstated, I'll make sure you all pay for it!"
Zhou Yi looked at the empty cell beside him and suddenly understood.
"Please wait, Your Excellency. I'll go prepare it immediately!"
That same afternoon.
An imperial eunuch came to the prison to announce that Liu Shilang had reported merits, and his service compensated for his crimes. He was reassigned as the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
The Ministry of Personnel was prestigious, the Ministry of Revenue was wealthy, and the Ministry of Rites was poor...
Liu Shilang had caught Emperor Chongming's eye, and his apparent demotion was actually a covert promotion; it was like a rat getting into a rice bin.
"From now on, you must be prudent and cautious in your words and actions!"
Zhou Yi broke out in a cold sweat. If he hadn't given that spoonful of thick porridge, it would be difficult to say whether Liu Shilang, given his temperament, would seek revenge after his release.
It was hard to tell!