Chapter 103: Breaking Up the Fight

“Sir, though we have known each other in official circles, we have always been honest with one another. I cannot bear to abandon you and flee alone,” the secretary said, gazing at Fang Yang with a slight shake of his head.

Fang Yang’s tone grew urgent as he addressed the secretary. “The men sent by Prince Changwu are formidable. If we both try to escape tomorrow, it’s unlikely either of us will survive. I do not mean to be stubborn, but I hope you will remember our bond and take my family with you, ensuring my lineage continues.”

Upon hearing this, the secretary proposed, “Then why not leave together with me today?”

Fang Yang quickly waved his hand, explaining, “No, if that man has not yet seen us dead in the prison, his attention will surely be on me. If I leave today, I will be relentlessly pursued. Only by diverting his focus can you hope to escape.”

The secretary, not a fool, understood Fang Yang’s reasoning and, after some thought, nodded in agreement. The two then arranged that after nightfall, the secretary would lead Fang Yang’s family away.

Unbeknownst to them, their entire conversation was overheard clearly by Yang Guang, hidden in the shadows.

Night fell, and Fang Yang sat alone in the back hall of the county office, sipping fine wine, gazing into the darkness, lost in thought.

In the damp, cold prison cell, Feng Ye Wu and Lu Jue quietly awaited dawn. After three days of rest, though the cell remained dank and chilly, Lu Jue had regained some strength. However, his knife wound was severe, and the bitter prison food offered little nourishment; otherwise, he might have stood a chance of escaping with Feng Ye Wu.

“Your Majesty, once we leave this cell tomorrow, please act with caution,” Lu Jue whispered to Feng Ye Wu, unwilling to give up hope of her escape.

Feng Ye Wu smiled faintly, feigning agreement but inwardly resolved to face death alongside Lu Jue. Though she had failed to fulfill her father’s last wishes in this life, the brief companionship with Lu Jue had been enough.

“Can you not leave with me?” Feng Ye Wu asked softly, leaning into Lu Jue’s embrace as she looked out at the full moon.

Lu Jue was taken aback by her question. He had indeed considered escaping together, but with the beheading scheduled for the next day and Yang Guang surely watching in secret, his wounds made it impossible to guarantee their survival under Yang Guang’s blade.

Sighing gently, Lu Jue replied, “Your Majesty, I have done all I can to hold off Yang Guang. If we both flee, I fear neither of us will live to see freedom.”

The mention of Yang Guang stirred a sense of helplessness in Feng Ye Wu. She closed her eyes quietly, accepting Lu Jue’s reasoning, sighing and resigning herself to fate.

As the two contemplated life and death, a sudden commotion arose outside the cell. They both looked up toward the prison door.

The locks were undone, and a group of people burst in. Seeing their clothing, Feng Ye Wu and Lu Jue’s hearts leapt with joy—it was the officials from the Court of Justice and the Ministry of Punishments!

Soon, Wei Nan Xi and Sun Chang Xi entered, kneeling before Feng Ye Wu behind the wooden bars. “Your Majesty, we are late in rescuing you. Please punish us as you see fit.”

Feng Ye Wu and Lu Jue exchanged a look filled with happiness. “It matters not. I feared I would never see you two again,” Feng Ye Wu said, a rare smile breaking through as they rose and stepped out as the cell door opened.

In the back hall of the county office, upon their arrival, they saw Fang Yang being held on his knees by the Ministry of Punishment’s men. Hearing footsteps, he looked up in surprise.

Wei Nan Xi stepped forward from behind Feng Ye Wu, sternly rebuking Fang Yang. “You dared to startle the imperial presence. Such a crime deserves execution!”

Fang Yang’s face turned pale. Earlier, he had been drinking quietly when Wei Nan Xi and Sun Chang Xi’s men surrounded him. He had assumed Feng Ye Wu and Lu Jue were some high officials, yet Wei Nan Xi’s words left his mind blank.

Imperial presence? Then Feng Ye Wu’s true identity...

Fang Yang collapsed to the ground, lips trembling, unable to speak.

Lu Jue glanced around, furrowing his brow as he quietly asked Sun Chang Xi, “Lord Sun, were you alone when you arrived with only this county magistrate?”

Sun Chang Xi looked puzzled, unaware of the implication, and nodded dumbly.

Lu Jue’s suspicion grew—he wondered where Yang Guang had gone.

Feng Ye Wu noticed Lu Jue’s look and asked silently if something was wrong.

Leaning close, Lu Jue whispered, “Your Majesty, from what I know of Yang Guang, he is exceedingly stubborn. If we were still alive, he would not have released us so easily.”

Wei Nan Xi, overhearing Lu Jue, and having heard some details from Chen Pingwu on the way, also grew suspicious.

Outside Yanwu County, Yang Guang stood blocking the official road, quietly wiping his blade. Behind him, a tipped-over carriage lay to one side, seven or eight bodies lying still, blood seeping slowly through the cracks.

The body of the county secretary lay not far from the carriage, eyes wide in shock beneath the moonlight.

Earlier that afternoon, Yang Guang had overheard the conversation between Fang Yang and the secretary and had waited quietly on the official road after leaving Yanwu County. He had narrowly missed the group led by Wei Nan Xi, who had taken a shortcut from the northwest, while the official road lay to the east.

After cleaning his blade, Yang Guang slowly made his way toward Yanwu County.

The county was small, and just steps inside, Yang Guang saw crowds outside the county office, flames flickering everywhere.

The clothing of many present immediately put Yang Guang on alert.

Visitors from the capital?

Confirming their uniforms, Yang Guang frowned, slipping into the shadows and vanishing.

Inside the county office, Fang Yang had regained his composure. From Lu Jue’s whispered conversation, he realized that they were searching for Yang Guang.

“Your... Majesty... I did not know Your Majesty would come in person. I beg your forgiveness,” Fang Yang stammered.

Feng Ye Wu sneered, turning to sit on the grand counselor’s chair in the back hall, her gaze cold and detached. “Forgiveness? Hmph. Were it not for my own experience, I would never believe that in this world, those who persecute imperial officials with impunity are none other than your common bureaucrats!”

Her tone grew harsher as she scolded them aloud.

Hearing this, Fang Yang knelt hastily, desperate for mercy.

“Enough. You are of no use to me,” Feng Ye Wu said, waving her hand to signal Wei Nan Xi’s men to drag Fang Yang away.

Fang Yang shouted desperately, “Your Majesty, please no! I have evidence! I was ordered by others!”