Imperial prison!?
Yan Yihuan was utterly shocked, feeling as though he had fallen into an icy abyss. The chill rose from the depths of his heart, and his whole body trembled uncontrollably in that instant, his words becoming fragmented and incoherent.
“Don’t panic. He is only being detained for now, his life is temporarily safe.” Ming Zhang looked at him with heartache as he gently drew Yan Yihuan into his arms, patting his back like a caring older brother. “But you know what kind of place the imperial prison is. One can disappear from this world there without a sound at any moment. After all, only a few know that Yan Rong has been imprisoned.”
“Disappear…” The gentle warmth of the comfort finally helped Yan Yihuan recover his voice, but the Yan family’s rebellion was already an established fact. His eyes were vacant as he murmured, “That day will come eventually.”
“Yihuan, do you want to save your second brother?”
Ming Zhang’s words were like a lifeline. Yan Yihuan shuddered and quickly lifted his head, his face full of disbelief. “Is there still a way?”
In those brief moments just now, he had already thought it through. The only person in this world who could save the Yan family was the Emperor. He would beg, beg with everything he had, only asking that the entire Yan family be spared the death penalty. He would do anything for it, even if the Emperor wanted to kill him to vent his anger.
Yan Yihuan had thought Ming Zhang might have some way to persuade the Emperor, but the words that followed made him forget even his anxiety and grief. He froze on the spot.
“You mean for me to go find Li Xuanjing?”
“That’s right. He has actually been in the capital all along, and the reason he was willing to stay in the capital despite the enormous risk was you.”
Yan Yihuan could understand Li Xuanjing secretly remaining in the capital to provide support for King Qin’s rebellion.
Even when Ming Zhang said Li Xuanjing stayed in the capital for his sake, though Yan Yihuan found it somewhat absurd, they had known each other since childhood, so it still seemed believable to him.
However, what shocked Yan Yihuan most was that these words had actually come from Ming Zhang. It instantly cleared some of the grief clouding his mind. Although he couldn’t understand why, his instincts told him something was wrong.
“Ming Zhang ge, you’re just trying to comfort me because I’m sad, aren’t you?” Yan Yihuan tried hard to sound more relaxed, but his trembling voice still exposed his nervousness. “How could it possibly be Jing ge?”
“As I just said, King Qin has King Yan assisting him, and their advance has been unstoppable,” Ming Zhang said solemnly. “The capital’s troops are depleted, and although His Majesty does not show it in front of you, the situation is already extremely critical.
“When they truly breach the capital, what leverage would His Majesty have left? Would it not be Yan Rong and you?”
Using the lives of himself and his second brother to force Father to stop?
No, something still felt wrong. But with so many things tangled together at once, Yan Yihuan couldn’t sort it out.
“Right now, only Li Xuanjing can help you and Yan Rong. He has people inside the palace, so you can follow their arrangements…”
“Ming Zhang ge, please say no more.” Yan Yihuan suddenly interrupted him. Although his gaze carried confusion, his tone was firm. “I will not leave the palace.”
“Why?” Ming Zhang, who had been about to reveal the entire plan, froze for a moment. “Do you not want to save your second brother?”
“I do. If my second brother really is in the imperial prison, of course I want to save him.” For some reason, Yan Yihuan found himself calmer instead. He said each word clearly, “I may not understand the shifting schemes of the court, nor why Ming Zhang ge would say such things, but I already made my decision long ago. I trust His Majesty, so I will not ask Jing ge for help, and I will not leave.”
Yan Yihuan believed that people could be insincere, but if they were insincere, then flaws would show sooner or later.
At times, His Majesty could indeed be stern, and Yan Yihuan would fear and avoid him because he was the supreme ruler. But in his heart, he knew clearly just how indulgent His Majesty had always been toward him. Every bit of kindness had surrounded him like a shadow, without the slightest trace of perfunctory affection.
The gap between himself and His Majesty was as vast as heaven and earth, so was there really any need for the emperor to carefully put on an act for him? What did he even have that was worth deceiving?
Just as he thought now, he and His Majesty had spent nearly every moment together these past days. Looking back, the emperor had remained calm and composed the entire time, showing no sign that the war situation was already so dire. Yan Yihuan believed the emperor must have a plan to deal with it. The only person who could save the entire Yan family was His Majesty.
“Do not be foolish.” Ming Zhang looked utterly sincere at this moment and deeply anxious for him as well. “Actually, His Majesty originally summoned me to enter the palace after lunch for an audience today, but I was truly worried about you, so I came early with the Youluo token. It was all because I wanted to save you and Yan Rong.”
As he spoke, Ming Zhang let out a deep sigh. “To tell you the truth, I was sent by His Majesty to deal with Li Xuanjing for quite some time. He now trusts me greatly, which is why he told me the plan to save you and Yan Rong. Although I serve His Majesty, I have also always cared for you like a younger brother.”
“Ming Zhang, there is no need to say more.” The whole matter was far too strange, but even though Yan Yihuan was utterly lost, he remained firm. “My father and eldest brother have already sided with King Qin. My second brother may not know the full story, but he has still been implicated because of it. If I also flee with Li Xuanjing, then my entire Yan family would truly become traitors, and there would never again be any chance to clear our name.”
Ming Zhang stared at him in disbelief. The Yan Yihuan he knew had always been someone who panicked easily and lost all sense of direction whenever something happened.
Ming Zhang had originally thought that after throwing Yan Yihuan’s mind into chaos, then taking the chance to offer him a way to survive, Yan Yihuan would immediately agree without hesitation. It should have taken almost no effort.
But what he had not expected was that Yan Yihuan would be so resolute, no longer following his lead as before.
Had they already become of one heart and one mind?
The possibility pierced Ming Zhang’s heart like needles, bringing a sharp pain that instantly darkened his expression.
Yan Yihuan keenly sensed the change in Ming Zhang’s mood. Yet he spoke with some concern.
“Ming Zhang ge, I trust His Majesty, and you should trust him as well. Although King Qin is brave, he is still committing a grave offense against the realm.” At this moment, Yan Yihuan found Ming Zhang somewhat frightening.
“Even if my second brother truly sent secret letters, then what he wrote must have been urging my father and the others to turn back before it was too late. As long as His Majesty investigates the matter clearly, he certainly will not wrong him.
“So, Ming Zhang ge, let us treat what you just said as a joke. I will not agree.” After thinking for a moment, Yan Yihuan hurriedly added, “Don’t worry, I will not tell His Majesty either.”
“Heh, you really are self-righteous.” Ming Zhang no longer seemed willing to maintain his concerned facade. His gaze grew darker and colder, carrying a chilling gloom. “Yan Yihuan, His Majesty and I have known each other since we were six years old. The depth of our bond is beyond anything you could imagine.”
What did Ming Zhang mean by that?
A sense of danger made Yan Yihuan’s hair stand on end. He unconsciously stepped back several paces, then suddenly turned toward the palace doors and shouted loudly,
“Li Jiang!”
Unlike before, Li Jiang did not appear. Something was wrong!
Yan Yihuan looked at Ming Zhang again, who had been staring at him coldly the entire time, and cold sweat instantly broke out across his body. Without caring that he had not yet properly arranged his clothing, he turned to run outside. But his arm was seized hard, the grip so strong that he cried out in pain before being pulled violently to Ming Zhang’s side.
Lowering his eyes to the dark red marks crisscrossing beneath Yan Yihuan’s collar, Ming Zhang’s voice grew even colder.
“Whether you go to find Li Xuanjing or not is no longer up to you.”
