History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 411 He Lan and Lu Gongzhi
When pondering the time of death, Wei Yao's first thought was that the emperor had ordered Xue Zhixiao's execution. However, having served the emperor for so long, given the emperor's methods and mindset, if he truly wanted to kill Xue Zhixiao, he wouldn't have let him die in this way. The one who would kill him would surely be a confidant of the emperor, such as the imperial physician Wang Xian, who would assassinate someone after using them. How could the ministers not be terrified and disheartened?
However, reviewing only Xue Zhixiao's case was definitely not enough. After a moment's thought, she had an idea. It was already noon when the Court of Justice, Zheng Gukai, brought over a food box and whispered, "Last night I found some time to examine Li Songgui's body. His death was suspicious. He did indeed choke to death on soil, but the floors of the prison cells are all hard. The degree of injury to his fingers is different when he grabs the soil himself versus when someone else grabs his hand to grab the soil. You, Shaoqing, will definitely be on duty for a long time, and it won't be good if there aren't trustworthy prison guards. I've taken on a few disciples in the Sizhou prison. If you, Shaoqing, are comfortable with that..."

Wei Yao nodded: "Okay, give me the names, and I'll assign them."

He had only taken a few bites of his meal when the jailer Yang Baozi came to report: "Shaoqing, He Lan is on his way to the Imperial Prison."

Yang Baozi has a dual identity: he is both a prison guard and an informant for the emperor to monitor the imperial prison. He previously served under the imperial physician Wang Xian. After Wang Xian took office in Xiangzhou and handed over all the secret guards and informants to Wei Yao, Wei Yao no longer relied on the original commander and promoted Yang Baozi to deputy commander.

Lanterns illuminated the way as He Lan followed the jailer down into the imperial prison dungeon. She immediately felt the narrowness and oppression of the surroundings. The prisoners on both sides, some still and some not, all stared at her, their gazes like poisoned arrows, making her uneasy.

Many people in the Hongchi Poetry Society knew that she and Lu Gongzhi were in love. When Lu Gongzhi was suddenly taken away by the government, she did not want the people in the poetry society to think that she was heartless and only coveted the Lu family's reputation. Besides, Lu Gongzhi was talented and famous, and as long as he was released without charge, he would still have a bright future. That's why she was so anxious and inquired everywhere about where he was being held.

She never expected that the matter she had been trying to find out would take a turn for the better yesterday afternoon. A county jailer told her that she could come to the imperial prison to visit him at noon today.

What bad luck!
Why not just let her and Lu Gongzhi be forced to sever ties in the eyes of the poetry club members? Why wait so long before giving them a chance to meet again?

What should we say when we meet?
Is there any possibility that the Lu family will release him?

"Young man, you must be very brave to serve as a prison guard in the imperial prison?" she asked the person leading the way with a lantern in a soft voice, her words filled with sincere admiration.

The jailer countered, "Is this your first time in the imperial prison, young lady?"

"Yes." He Lan dug his fingernails into his palm, trying to keep his voice from trembling with nervousness: "I was ignorant and thought that the people brought here were all serious criminals. I didn't expect that I would be allowed to visit them."

The jailer said, "It's alright. You'll learn something new once you see it. All these people in prison were just like you before."

He Lan dared not ponder these words, and feigned innocence, asking, "So, may I visit Lu Lang often?"

The jailer turned and looked at her intently. His stern face, combined with the surrounding atmosphere, gave him an air of cold indifference, like that of iron. "Do you want to?"

He Lan's teeth chattered, but fortunately only she could hear the noise. With tears in her eyes, she replied, "I want Lu Lang to be safe and see him often, and I also want him to get out of prison as soon as possible."

The jailer continued to lead the way.

In the dim light, a burly official carried a straw mat closer. He Lan and the jailer sidestepped to avoid it. Wrapped in the straw mat was a corpse with a swollen and purplish face. He Lan tried to avoid it, but couldn't. He couldn't help but feel his stomach cramp and lean against the wall to vomit.

The leopard came over, and after recognizing the young man carrying the lantern, he bowed and said, "Young Master Cui."

It turned out that this person was not a prison official, but Cui Zuan, a descendant of Cui Zhen, the Minister of Justice. Cui Zuan had not yet entered officialdom, but because he enjoyed judging cases, he stayed by Cui Zhen's side to assist with miscellaneous tasks. Cui Zuan had a different opinion on Wei Yao's appointment as Vice Minister of Justice. He believed that this was the emperor interfering with the criminal law through officials of the Secretariat, and that this method was not beneficial to the development of criminal law, but would only undermine justice and allow imperial power to be above the law.

So after he met He Lan at the entrance of the imperial prison, he took over from the prison guard and led the young lady to Lu Gongzhi.

Yang Baozi could only let Cui Zuan follow him silently. When they arrived at the prison cell of the Lu father and son, Lu Gongzhi, who had not known He Lan was coming beforehand, could hardly believe what he was seeing. He was so disheveled that he had nowhere to hide, and his former elegance and demeanor were completely shattered. "He... lady."

Only by hearing the voice could He Lan confirm that the disheveled man was Lu Gongzhi. Useless! She had gone to great lengths to attract the man she loved, and he had become useless!

"Young Master Lu".

Lu Gongzhi smiled wryly. This distant address was even more awkward than when he first met He Lan. Genuine awkwardness and deliberate distancing were so different!
Cui Zuan walked very lightly, taking two steps out of the cell. Just as he had expected, Wei Yao was eavesdropping outside the cell.

Wei Yao, being thick-skinned, didn't think much of it. She hadn't had time to eat lunch earlier, and Gu Kai was carrying the food box while she stood there listening and drinking her soup.

Inside the prison cell.

After a brief silence, Lu Gongzhi calmly said, "Seeing that you are safe and well, I have no more worries. Before, there was nothing between us. The fact that you came to visit me is a testament to the friendship of our poetry club members who debated poetry together. You asked me about your difficulties with poetry and books. When I went to prison, I handed my notes to the officials. I think the notes are still there. Ask the prison officer when you leave."

He Lan didn't blink, tears quickly streaming down her face. She said, "Compared to my husband's life, the notebook is just an external thing. I am willing to wait for my husband to return to the Hongchi Poetry Society and then personally lend me the notebook to read."

Lu Gongzhi clutched his aching chest. These words, though seemingly affectionate, were actually a rejection, as he feared that taking Lu Gongzhi's notes would implicate him in the case Lu Gongzhi had committed.

“What the young lady said makes sense.”

He Lan finally sensed the other person's distance and breathed a sigh of relief. It would be better for everyone if they were even, but what if the Lu family had a chance to survive the disaster? She couldn't push things too far, so she asked Yang Baozi, "I came in a hurry this time and couldn't bring anything with me. May I ask what else I can bring for Young Master Lu besides winter clothes and blankets?"

With a gloomy face, Yang Baozi asked, "You... have goodwill towards the Lu family?"

He Lan's heart pounded. Oh no, summoning her to visit was indeed a trap! How could she answer that? She dared to fool Lu Gongzhi, but she absolutely could not fool the jailer.

"I...I...didn't."

Outside the cell, Wei Yao smiled with relief upon hearing this, put the spoon back in the bowl, and gestured to Gu Kai that she didn't need to listen anymore.

Now that she had left, Cui Zuan no longer needed to eavesdrop. He had practiced his footwork so that his landings were almost silent. He walked straight to the archive where the Yuanxi case was kept and then searched for the case files of the Lu family father and son.

At this moment, He Lan walked out of the cell, and Lu Gongzhi's father's voice came from the dim light: "Miss He, remember what you said today. You have no goodwill towards my Lu family, and my Lu family will treat you the same way in the future."

Yang Baozi instructed a lowly clerk to take He Lan away, while he left enough candle oil for the Lu family father and son before departing.

Wei Yao returned to the case file archive and instructed Gu Kai to find the case file of Zhao Xiu's disappearance. Just as she was about to set off for the Grand Court of Imperial Sacrifices, the spy monitoring Fuqiao South Street sent a message.