Chapter 154: Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Four

Upon hearing this, the Xiyue Crown Prince's eyes flashed.

"You mean to let them fall into internal strife first?"

"Does Qingchen have someone in mind?"

Yuan Qingchen said slowly.

"Although both Prince Jing and Prince Kang have troops in hand, Prince Jing is rather rigid and places too much weight on the great righteousness of family and country—he likely will not cooperate with us."

"By comparison, Prince Kang is easier to control."

Suddenly, the door was knocked, and the person outside spoke in a hurried voice.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Word has come from the Imperial Palace—the Xiyue Emperor summons you to the palace to discuss important matters!"

Upon hearing this, the Xiyue Crown Prince's brow furrowed slightly.

"It likely concerns Da Yin."

"I will do my best to persuade Father Emperor to delay the dispatch of troops."

"I leave that matter to Master Qingchen, then."

Yuan Qingchen lowered his head slightly.

"I will not fail the mission."

"Good. The people in the Residence are at your disposal. I am off to the palace first."

The Xiyue Crown Prince gave the instruction and left in haste.

Yuan Qingchen also left the Study and headed toward his own room.

On the way, he was suddenly bumped by a young servant sweeping the courtyard.

Yuan Qingchen glanced at the spot where he had been bumped and frowned slightly.

"This Servant deserves death! Please, Prince's Son, forgive me!"

Yuan Qingchen looked at him deeply.

"Enough. Be more careful in the future."

After saying this, he continued walking. Though his expression was as usual, his steps were several beats quicker than before.

Back in his room, Yuan Qingchen first carefully searched the place. Finding nothing amiss, he slowly drew a slip of paper from his bosom.

It was what that young servant had taken the chance to slip in.

Yuan Qingchen narrowed his eyes slightly.

After unfolding the slip, his eyes suddenly went wide.

!!!

After reading the contents clearly, he clutched the slip tightly and paced back and forth across the room several steps in agitation.

More than once he looked toward the door, wishing he could find that young servant at once and ask for details.

How are Old Madam and Master's Wife and the others faring now?

Where exactly are they?

So many questions to ask, but he could not.

Fortunately, though agitated, he still remembered to destroy the letter. He tossed the slip straight into the stove beneath the teapot.

As the slip burned to ash, he gradually calmed down.

At this moment, the door was suddenly knocked—it was a guard from the Xiyue Crown Prince's Residence.

"Master Yuan, when do you plan to set out? This Subordinate will send men to make preparations."

After a moment's thought, Yuan Qingchen said in a low voice.

"Make preparations at once. We depart in one two-hour period!"

If that is the case, this trip's itinerary must be altered.

An Cheng?

……

Three days later, in a grove a few li outside An Cheng.

After nightfall, a squad of seven or eight Jiedai and twenty-odd soldiers were escorting a prison cart and resting at this spot.

One Jiedai, holding a bowl, picked his teeth as he walked, sauntering leisurely up to the prison cart.

Seeing him come over, the Jiedai guarding the prison cart cupped his belly and gave him an ingratiating smile.

"Boss, keep an eye on things for me a moment, will you? I need to go relieve myself."

The Jiedai captain clicked his tongue impatiently.

"Go on, go on."

"Be quick about it!"

Inside the prison cart sat a middle-aged man. Though reduced to a captive, he sat composed and unhurried. Though his clothes were somewhat soiled and disheveled, they were still worn neatly.

Seeing this, the Jiedai's eyes rolled. He rapped his saber against the prison cart a few times—*clang clang clang*—and shouted loudly at the man resting with his eyes closed.

"Time to eat! Time to eat!"

Zhou Shizhao opened his eyes, looked at the dry steamed bun in the bowl, and reached out.

He did not expect the Jiedai to spitefully sneeze on purpose, spraying spittle all into the bowl.

Seeing this, Zhou Shizhao's hand froze.

The Jiedai mocked.

"What? Does Lord Zhou find it beneath him?"

As he spoke, he blew his nose with his hand, then picked up the steamed bun with that same snotty hand and tossed it into the prison cart.

"Still think you're an imperial official? This is the only one, take it or leave it. Either way, once you're back in the Capital you'll be beheaded anyway, so eating it would just be a waste of grain!"

"Hmph!"

Zhou Shizhao trembled all over with rage, pointing at him.

"You're going too far in bullying me!"

The Jiedai spat, then swaggered off.

Zhou Shizhao looked at the steamed bun smeared with dirt and filthy, and thought of the Jiedai's words just now.

Indeed, even if he returned to the Capital, he would die anyway.

He began to doubt what meaning his persistence still had.

He stared blankly at the iron bars, and in his mind the scenes of the Jiedai deliberately or unintentionally humiliating him along the way kept flashing past.

Gradually, a flash of resolve crossed the depths of his eyes.

A scholar may be killed, but cannot be humiliated!