Chapter 260: Released from Prison (2)

“Why?!” Xu Mengxi’s furious, aggrieved voice rang through the silent corridor.

She stared at her master, whose expression was as still as deep water. Her fists were clenched tight. “Master… Xu Changtian attacked and killed someone in broad daylight, right in front of everyone. Are… are we really just letting this go?”

“We are not letting it go. I will interrogate him personally.” The elderly man before her had graying hair and beard. His voice was patient but grave. “You have served in the Secret Investigation Bureau for seven years. By now, you should know how to look beyond the surface of an incident and see what truly lies beneath. This matter involves the Desert Royal Court, His Majesty himself, and Lord Xu. Mengxi, do you honestly believe your official rank and cultivation are sufficient to handle the investigation that follows?”

Xu Mengxi looked at the old man’s kindly eyes and seemed to understand at last. She bit her lip. When she spoke again, her voice was hoarse. “Master… I didn’t touch anything inside Xu Changtian’s Sumeru Ring.”

The old man smiled. He raised a hand and gently brushed the hair hanging beside his disciple’s cheek. “Of course your master knows you didn’t.”

??

Ten days later, inside an upper-floor chamber of the Imperial Prison.

A cool breeze drifted in through the window. Source qi poured from the source crystals, filling the entire cell, while a faint sandalwood fragrance curled from the small burner beside the bed.

Xu Yuan was sitting cross-legged on the balcony, cultivating with his eyes closed, when the cell door creaked open from outside. He opened his eyes and saw who had entered. Letting his cultivation art fade, he smiled. “What brings you here?”

Xu Mengxi walked into the chamber with an icy expression. “You didn’t demand that Yang Marrow Pill from my master?”

Xu Yuan was briefly speechless. He rose, walked over to the table, and picked up the pot of hot tea. As he poured himself a cup, he watched the steam curl from the stream flowing out of the spout. “It isn’t as though I lack such things. Why would I bully you over one pill?”

Xu Mengxi stared at him coldly. “Stop pretending to be a saint. Whenever you get the chance to push someone around, you never let it pass.”

Xu Yuan glanced at her, the corner of his mouth curling upward. “You really do understand me. If I’d gotten an opportunity like this before, you’d probably have had to sell everything you owned and then sell yourself to warm my bed.”

Xu Mengxi looked at him with open disdain. “Warm your bed? With that cultivation of yours?”

Xu Yuan turned around and slowly swept his gaze over her graceful figure from head to toe. “Mengxi, you may not know this, but sleeping together doesn’t involve only one position.”

Xu Mengxi froze. Then her face flushed red, embarrassment and fury flashing through her eyes as one hand unconsciously closed around the saber at her waist.

Xu Yuan merely waved her off. “All right. At your level, you really shouldn’t try to win a war of words against me. I didn’t ask your master to compensate me because I’ve decided that bullying someone like you simply isn’t interesting anymore.”

The casual way he said it made Xu Mengxi bristle like a little dog. A little dog ready to bite at any moment. Her slender body trembled faintly, as though she might draw her blade.

Xu Yuan showed no trace of alarm. He sipped his tea, watching with great interest as she tried to look calm and indifferent despite being furious.

This female officer from the Secret Investigation Bureau was neither that iceberg of a woman nor the washboard Saintess. Besides, he could beat her now.

Only after a long while did Xu Mengxi speak again, her voice suppressing a great deal of anger. “…Xu Changtian, I hope you meant that.”

“Hmm?” Xu Yuan did not immediately understand what she was referring to. “Meant what?”

Xu Mengxi released the saber at her waist and straightened her back. “If bullying a lowly woman like me is no longer interesting, then I presume Third Young Master Xu will have even less interest in tormenting the common people of the realm.”

Xu Yuan fell silent for a moment. Then he suddenly grinned, reached out, and patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry. If this young master bullies anyone now, it’ll be sects, great clans, princes, and nobles. I won’t bother with those dull little games from the past.”

With that, Xu Yuan turned and headed straight for the cell door.

Clasp! Xu Mengxi grabbed his arm. “Xu Changtian, what are you doing?”

“Leaving prison.” Xu Yuan answered as though it were obvious. “Didn’t you come here to take me out?”

Xu Mengxi was silent for a moment before producing two iron shackles. “Put these on. I’m taking you to meet the Warden first.”

Xu Yuan held out his hands with a smile. “Pure formalism.”

Xu Mengxi glared at him. “Xu Changtian, don’t get too pleased with yourself. One day, I’ll settle every debt from the past with you, one by one.”

As she shackled him, Xu Yuan smiled carelessly. “If you’re planning to do it by yourself, you’ll probably have to wait until you become a Sage.”

??

More than five days had passed.

The sky was clear, without a cloud for thousands of miles.

The Imperial Prison stood in the southwestern corner of the capital's Inner Ring, in a rather secluded district.

Outside the prison stretched a deep, quiet alley.

Accompanied by the Warden and Xu Mengxi, Xu Yuan was escorted out with the utmost courtesy.

The moment Xu Yuan emerged, he spotted a black dragon carriage that had been waiting at the mouth of the alley for some time. “Since the estate has already sent a carriage, there’s no need to see me any farther, Warden.”

The Imperial Prison’s warden was a plump man with an amiable appearance. Nevertheless, he insisted on accompanying him. “It’s only a few steps. Young Master Xu’s stay at our Imperial Prison was rather poorly accommodated. I hope you won’t take offence.”

Xu Yuan glanced at the warden. “You simply weren’t prepared. The next time I come, I’ll let Mengxi know in advance so you can make the proper arrangements.”

Xu Mengxi remained silent, her face cold.

The Warden gave an awkward laugh. His official position was neither particularly high nor particularly low.

Within the small world of the Imperial Prison, his word was law, and many people eventually found themselves begging for his help.

The problem was that those people were either condemned prisoners he could not afford to become entangled with or young masters like the one standing before him now. It was an awkward post with equally awkward authority, which was precisely why he always knew his place.

Taking a deep breath, the plump warden wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. “Third Young Master, you must be joking. These are merely the duties expected of me.”

Xu Mengxi’s eyelids twitched.

The three continued down the alley. Just as they were about to reach the black dragon carriage, the Warden suddenly hurried forward and bowed toward it. “Lord Chancellor, the Third Young Master has been released.”

Xu Yuan paused. His father had personally come to collect him from prison? Wasn’t that a little excessive? No wonder this fat man had insisted on escorting him all the way here.

While the Warden bowed, Xu Mengxi stood silently to one side. A traitor who had stolen the realm. She refused to salute him.

A moment later, a calm, steady middle-aged voice came from inside the carriage. “Warden Wang, you have my thanks.”

Warden Wang kept his head lowered, his voice carrying a flattering smile. “Lord Xu has no need to thank me. This humble official merely did what was required.”

With that, the alley fell silent.

After a long pause, the voice inside the carriage spoke again. “Are you waiting for your father to personally invite you aboard?”

Xu Yuan glanced sideways at the two people beside him. After giving them a slight nod, he climbed into the carriage.

The interior was as spacious as ever. Only one graying, middle-aged man sat quietly cross-legged upon the cushioned couch.

Xu Yuan bowed. “Father… why did you come personally?”

Xu Yinhe kept his eyes closed and answered without preamble. “His Majesty wishes to see you. I came to take you to him.”

At those words, Xu Yuan’s thoughts immediately began racing. “Is this about the Darchai prince?”

Xu Yinhe slowly opened his eyes and shook his head. “He wishes to speak with you about your marriage to Marquis Wucheng’s estate.”