Chapter 154

Just as the emperors in the chat group were itching to set off firecrackers.

Su Qiao, inside the Imperial Prison, looked at the copper lock before him and slowly pulled from beneath his backside a brick that had shaken loose from the back wall of the cell after the earlier explosion.

Then he took aim at the copper lock before him.

"Smack!" came a crisp sound.

The copper lock on the Imperial Prison cell fell to the ground at the sound.

Accompanying this crisp sound.

The surrounding prisoners immediately cast looks of disbelief.

"Holy crap?!"

"So THIS was Lord Su's plan all along?"

"Damn, so tomorrow we've got something new to confess to again?"

"……"

Su Qiao, brick in hand, walked on his own to the main gate of Yudeda Sect.

Looking at the last flimsy copper lock.

Once again came a "smack" as he slapped the lock.

A high-end prison break is often just this plain and unadorned.

Under the gaze of the prisoners of Yudeda Sect

Su Qiao walked out of Yudeda Sect in broad daylight, brazen as could be.

As he was leaving, Su Qiao casually tossed his "tool of the crime," the brick, at the main gate of Yudeda Sect.

Not a single jailer heard any movement from the cells the entire time.

Mainly because the firecrackers Zhu Yuanzhang had set off earlier made too much noise.

Every single Embroidered Uniform Guard in the entire Imperial Prison had run over to Zhu Yuanzhang's side to watch the show.

Besides, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had long since grown numb to "minor disturbances" like locks being smashed.

Nobody noticed at all that Su Qiao, a "prison breaker" who had clearly already been caught, was actually trying to escape.

Su Qiao, having walked out of Yudeda Sect, looked with a helpless expression at the commoners watching the show on Qianmen Street.

It was one thing that the Embroidered Uniform Guard hadn't noticed him.

But not even these commoners had any thought of giving him a single glance!

If it were him instead… hmm, he'd go watch the show too.

What's there to see about an escaped criminal? They've all got one nose and two eyes—firecrackers are way more fun!

Su Qiao, having left Yudeda Sect, wandered down the street bored out of his mind.

By the time Su Qiao came back to his senses.

He had unknowingly walked right up to the gate of his own small courtyard.

Soon, Su Qiao let it go.

After all, he had nowhere else to go.

All that was left was to wait for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to come arrest him.

Su Qiao did a quick calculation on his fingers.

Figured there was still enough time for him to grab a jianbing guozi.

"Boss, one jianbing guozi, the usual. You start making it, I'll go inside and grab the money!"

"You got it!"

……

……

Inside Yudeda Sect.

Jiang Huan, thumb stuck up, hurried toward the cell holding Su Qiao.

"Lord Su, I bow to you. Just one roast duck, and you could make this much of a ruckus."

"This subordinate truly—"

Before the words were finished.

Jiang Huan saw the completely empty cell before him.

The prisoners in the surrounding cells looked at Jiang Huan's expression.

And one after another struck poses of gazing at the ceiling and whistling.

"……I'm done."

"Where's the man?!"

"No, where are the men on duty at Yudeda Sect?! Who's on duty today?!"

Hearing Jiang Huan's roar.

A few Embroidered Uniform Guard in the distance, who had been watching the show amid the broken bricks and tiles, suddenly jolted.

And hurried into the prison.

The moment they met face to face.

Jiang Huan immediately let fly a torrent of abuse

"You were on duty today—where the hell did you go?"

"Huh? This governor is asking you a question, answer! Where were you on duty?!"

The few jailers exchanged uncertain glances.

Until finally a weak voice softly said

GLOSSARY:

【"Su Qiao", "Zhu Yuanzhang", "Embroidered Uniform Guard", "Yudeda Sect", "Jiang Huan"】

"Grand Commander, we, we are going to protect Your Majesty..."

Hearing this.

Jiang Huan nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood.

Protect Your Majesty! This is the first time I've seen someone describe slacking off at work so righteously!

Isn't that just going to watch the spectacle?!

"Protect Your Majesty, how did the prisoner disappear?"

Hearing Jiang Huan say this.

Those prison guards immediately began counting.

"Grand Commander, not a single one is missing? They are all here..."

Before the words had fully left his mouth.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard all saw the Zhaoyuda Sect gate left wide open all the way.

In an instant, the entire Zhaoyuda Sect fell into a silence as dead as death itself.

Jiang Huan's chest heaved continuously.

His heart felt like ten thousand horses galloping.

He would sooner or later be ruined by Su Qiao and this bunch of subordinates!

After casting a contemptuous glare at the crowd before him.

He immediately turned and walked awkwardly toward Zhu Yuanzhang in the distance.

Zhu Yuanzhang's attention had long since left the Zhaoyuda Sect.

Looking at the wreckage before him from the explosion, Zhu Yuanzhang's mood improved considerably.

He immediately wished to return to the palace to inform Fu Youde and others at the Five Armies Grand Commandery.

Unexpectedly, just as Zhu Yuanzhang walked out along the broken walls and ruins of the Zhaoyuda Sect.

Several censors waiting outside immediately walked over.

Each one looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with righteous words and shouted loudly.

"Your Majesty! This is the Zhaoyuda Sect. Regardless, Su Qiao broke out of prison first. Even Su Qiao admitted it. Why does Your Majesty still show such favoritism!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, if all officials of the Great Ming follow such precedents."

"With what face will Your Majesty face the people of the world, and with what face will we hold the power of law and punishment?"

"We beg Your Majesty to immediately hand over the prisoner Su Qiao to the Three Judicial Offices to set the record straight!"

"..."

Zhu Yuanzhang listened to the voices of the censors denouncing him with words and writing.

His old face inevitably turned black.