Jinyi Spring

Chapter 172 A Different Kind of Weight

The group of people galloped towards the capital under the cover of night. By the time they arrived at the city gates, they were already closed.

The cold moonlight shone on the city tower. The gatekeeper leaned out and looked down, recognized him as Deputy Commander Xue, and hurriedly opened the city gate.

Xue and Cheng rode their horses straight to the imperial prison, which was located to the east.

The Imperial Concubine valued Fan Ru highly, not because she was the fiancée of a member of the Xue family. Mainly, having a member of her own family among the female physicians made her feel more comfortable entrusting many matters in the palace to her. The Imperial Concubine cultivated Fan Ru as a confidante, hoping she would become invaluable in the future.

Who would have thought that this disappointing person would stumble here?

Deep inside the imperial prison, the lights were dim. As soon as Xue Jicheng stepped inside, he heard the sound of a whip whistling through the air.

Song Xianzheng sat to the side, watching the jailer administer the torture with unhurried demeanor. The whip lashed down again and again, leaving Fan Ru covered in bloody welts. She had just been subjected to the finger-crushing torture; her ten fingers were swollen beyond recognition. She collapsed to the ground, unable even to cry out.

Upon seeing Xue Jicheng enter, Song Xian stood up and clasped his hands in greeting. "Lord Xue, you've come at just the right time. This Fan Ru is incredibly stubborn and refuses to reveal who's behind it all."

Hearing the voice, Fan Ru mustered her last bit of strength to lift her head and sobbed out a few words, "Lord Xue, I'm... innocent..."

Xue Jicheng's face turned ashen. He stepped forward and lashed Song Xian hard with his riding whip. "How dare you torture me to extract a confession?!"

Song Xian dared not dodge and lowered his head, saying, "My master said that we cannot let Fan Ru go just because she is related to Lord Xue. That would harm Lord Xue's reputation."

Enraged, Xue Jicheng lashed out with his whip again, "You only left behind a lackey, where is Ming Shanyue?"

Song Xian said, "My master doesn't need to interrogate such a petty thief. He's gone drinking with his cousin."

Xue Jicheng choked, his face turning even more pale.

Fan Ru lay on the ground, trembling all over, tears mixed with blood streaming down her face. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but only managed a weak sob.

Xue Jicheng took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "That's enough for today. We'll continue the trial tomorrow."

Song Xian knew that as long as the Prince of Shu's mansion did not pursue the matter, it would be over by tomorrow, but he did not say anything more.

I've already dealt with Fan Ru enough.

The master hated Fan Ru intensely, not only because she often annoyed Miss Feng, but also because she exposed Miss Feng to Xue Jicheng.

The fact that Xue and Cheng rushed to the imperial prison immediately after entering the city, instead of Feng's residence, indicates that they did not notice anything amiss.

Ming Shanyue was leading his men to guard the only route from Beisheng Gate to the Feng residence. He only breathed a long sigh of relief after receiving the news.

If Xue and Cheng realize something, all subsequent plans and arrangements will be disrupted, and who knows how many more problems will arise.

At this moment, Feng Chuchen and her siblings, along with Aunt Wang and her son, Peony, and Hibiscus, were in an unfamiliar courtyard.

Although Feng Chuchen, Aunt Wang, and Shaoyao had all been here once before, they still felt unfamiliar with the place.

Peony asked Guo Hei, "Why did you make us come here so late at night?"

Guo Hei only said one sentence, "It's the master's order."

He told Feng Chuchen the reason in private.

Feng Chuchen was both angry with Xue Ru and worried about her mother in the nunnery and Ming Shanyue, whose whereabouts were unknown.

Wang Shuping was asleep on the couch, while Feng Buji's face was serious, his hands tightly wrapped around his sister's arm. He guessed that his sister must have offended someone while seeking medical treatment at the Prince's mansion.

Aunt Wang and Peony sat on the brocade stool, looking at their master's stern face, not daring to say a word.

The candlelight was dim, casting the shadows of several people obliquely on the wall, and the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

After an unknown amount of time, the faint sound of the night watchman's drum could be heard again in the distance.

It's Hai hour (9-11 PM).

Feng Buji had already fallen asleep on the couch, his brows still furrowed, and he was restless even in his dreams.

Feng Chuchen could no longer sit still and got up to go outside. The cold wind howled, making her tighten her clothes.

Only one lantern swayed in the wind under the eaves; the night was as dark as ink, and a few cold stars twinkled in the sky.

Hearing the commotion, Guo Hei, who was sitting in the side room, came out.

"Miss Feng," Feng Chuchen asked softly, "Will my mother be in danger?"

Guo Hei glanced at her, but couldn't bring himself to say it. In fact, Qingxin Fagu had been in extreme danger all along.

Feng Chuchen knew she had asked an unnecessary question, so she pursed her lips.

Guo Hei said in a low voice, "Don't worry, young lady. My master and so many others are doing their best to protect the Dharma Master."

"Ugh……"

Feng Chuchen sighed softly, as if it had drifted from a very, very far place.

She gazed at the end of the night.

There, a lone star shone, so faint it seemed as if it could be swallowed by the darkness at any moment.

She thought of her mother from her previous life, of that tall building, of that body that drifted down like a leaf...

In this life, my mother has suffered so much again.

Disliked by her husband, grieving the loss of her daughter, she was forced to become a nun. For sixteen years, she lived a solitary life in that small courtyard, keeping watch by the dim light of a lamp and striking a wooden fish. She dared not even cry loudly, for fear of being heard and causing trouble for her son.

Feng Chuchen knew that at this moment, too many people were risking their lives for them.

Ming Shanyue, Duke Ming, Princess Changning, Duke Ming, Prince Consort Shangguan, Xiao Henian, Lord Hu... She counted these names one by one, each of whom was doing their best to help them.

But these people are also politicians.

In the imperial court, there is no pure friendship. Politicians weigh options, they calculate, and they will sacrifice what is less important in order to protect what is most important. When faced with two evils, they choose the lesser one—that "lesser" one is the first to be abandoned.

In those people's eyes, the three of them were not of equal importance.

Loyalty to the emperor is of paramount importance. He is a strong contender for the next emperor, the most crucial piece in this game. All the plans and schemes ultimately rest on his shoulders.

She herself is secondary. She is a useful pawn; her appearance will expose Consort Xue's true colors, make the Emperor feel guilty, and boost the chances of winning over the Prince. She can be of great use at crucial moments.

And Mom... was the lightest one.

Feng Chuchen closed her eyes, the night wind making her eyes sting.

Of the three, the one who needs to be saved the most is the mother.

Even if you don't become emperor, you can still live by serving the king.

She would rather not be a princess.

Only Mom needs to escape from there.

She is afraid.

I fear that my mother will ultimately become a pawn to be discarded.

They were afraid she would die at the hands of the Xue family.

They feared she would eventually be sent back to the palace and become a bargaining chip in the next round of power struggles...

That star is still shining. Faint, yet tenacious.

Feng Chuchen stared at it, clasped his hands together, his fingertips touching his palms, and trembled slightly.