If you force me to take the blame, I'll spend a day in jail and gain a year's worth of spi

Leaving the prison, Xiao Fenghua was filled with unease.

She had no intention of delaying, and without even returning to her own room to change out of the clothes tainted by the bad luck of prison, she went straight to Prince Jing Xiao Jingfeng's study.

Prince Jing, Xiao Jingfeng, was in his prime, with a calm and composed demeanor. His face bore some resemblance to Xiao Sheng, but his brows held a deeper and more majestic air, forged through the trials of power and intrigue.

He was reviewing official documents in his study when he saw his usually calm and capable eldest daughter with a look of lingering surprise on her face.

Surprised, he put down his vermilion brush and smiled:

"Fenghua, what's the matter that you're in such a hurry?"

But then he got angry again because of that brat Sheng'er?

Hehe, I told you long ago to send him to the imperial prison to suffer and temper his temper.

Unexpectedly, he became even more outrageous, fabricating such a blatant lie as Chairman Du visiting him in prison. He deserves a good lesson.

His tone was tinged with a mixture of indulgence and helplessness, clearly indicating that he had also learned of Xiao Sheng's "fabricated" "fairy tale" and, like his daughter before, believed that his son was just being silly.

However, Xiao Fenghua's next words instantly froze the smile on his face.

"Father,"

Xiao Fenghua took a deep breath. "I went to the prison today not because I was angered by Xiao Sheng. On the contrary, I am certain that... what he said in his letter was not false."

Xiao Jingfeng raised an eyebrow:

"oh?

You actually believed those absurd things Sheng'er said in her letter?

Fenghua, this isn't like you at all.

"At first, the daughter, like her father, believed that he was making things up and was lying to get away with it."

Xiao Fenghua gave a bitter smile, then her expression turned extremely serious. "But what my daughter saw and heard with her own eyes and ears, she has no choice but to believe."

Then, she recounted everything she had seen and heard in the prison that day.

She described it in great detail, especially Chen Dongpeng's description of the "invasion" and "illusion array" of the Heavenly Prison Array, as well as the shocking scene of Zhang Yu's instant breakthrough and his aura as vast as the sea.

All of this left Prince Xiao Jingfeng, who was used to seeing all sorts of things, dumbfounded, his face filled with disbelief.

"This... Fenghua, are you sure you're not under some kind of sophisticated illusion?"

Or... is it the unique environment of the prison that affected your judgment?

Xiao Jingfeng's first reaction after hearing this was still doubt.

This story sounds too fantastical, too bizarre, it's practically a legendary tale written by a storyteller in a teahouse.

A 23-year-old ninth-rank official?

A master of formations who can silently infiltrate the Heavenly Prison Formation?

All of this revolves around a commoner, abandoned son of a noble family.

How is that possible?

"Father!"

Xiao Fenghua spoke with certainty, her eyes clear.

"My daughter wears the 'Eye of Illusion' and also practices array formations, so she is quite resistant to illusions."

Although the prison environment was special, it was absolutely impossible for the daughter to have such a vivid hallucination.

Moreover, the aura of that ninth-grade martial artist was undeniable; my daughter personally experienced it and there was no mistake about it.

That kind of telepathic transmission is something that cannot be simulated by illusion.

She paused, then added, "At first, like her father, I thought it was Sheng'er being silly. But after experiencing it firsthand, I realized how wrong I was. That Zhang Yu... is unfathomable."

Seeing his daughter's unprecedentedly solemn and certain expression, Xiao Jingfeng's doubts gradually faded, replaced by deep shock and contemplation.

He knew his daughter was meticulous, had a keen eye, rarely made mistakes, and would never speak carelessly about such matters.

"Such a thing is true..."

Xiao Jingfeng murmured, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table as he processed this shocking information.

A moment later, he suddenly looked up:

"Immediately send someone to investigate all of Zhang Yu's information, down to the smallest detail, for me to find out."

From birth to now, everything he has experienced, everyone he has met, and everything he has done, especially the three years since he returned to the Marquis's residence—not a single detail should be missed!

"Father, there's no need."

Xiao Fenghua shook her head and took out a neatly folded piece of paper from her sleeve.

"After receiving news from Sheng'er yesterday, my daughter has already used the Prince's mansion's secret network to compile all of Zhang Yu's public information and everything else that could be found."

She handed the paper to Xiao Jingfeng, saying:

"Zhang Yu, the eldest son of the Marquis of Yong'an, was defiled by his younger brother Zhang Heng thirteen years ago. His parents, being biased, abandoned him on the estate without hesitation, leaving him to fend for himself."

Three years ago, he was brought back to the Marquis's manor from the estate outside the city. After returning to the manor, his martial arts aptitude was assessed as the lowest grade. After three years of training and countless resources were consumed, he barely managed to reach the first rank, and was known as a "martial arts waste".

His personality is... cowardly and stoic. He tries his best to please his mother, Qin Xuehua, his younger brother, and his younger sister. He is especially obedient to his fiancée, Jiang Luohan, the daughter of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. He is known as a "simp".

He held a lowly position in the Marquis's household and was often looked down upon and bullied.

As Xiao Jingfeng listened, he quickly scanned the notes on the paper, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

This record is worlds apart from the image Zhang Yu presents today.

A cowardly and incompetent good-for-nothing sycophant, and a mysterious genius who can be treated with respect by Du Jun, command a master of formations, and who has reached the ninth rank at the age of twenty-three.

These are two completely different people!

"What about his experiences at the estate before returning to the manor?"

Is there anything unusual?

Apprenticeship?

A serendipitous encounter?

Xiao Jingfeng pressed for an answer.

"The records in Zhuangzi are very simple: he was weak and sickly, but there was nothing unusual about him."

Moreover, under Zhang Heng's secret instructions, he was tormented by his servants in many ways and almost died on the estate several times.

There is no record of any teacher or mentor.

A serendipitous encounter... at least not on the surface.

Xiao Fenghua replied,

"After returning to the manor, he spent most of his time in the manor. When he went out occasionally, it was mostly to buy gifts for Jiang Luohan or to handle some inconspicuous household affairs."

On the surface, there's nothing unusual about it.

"That's strange..."

Xiao Jingfeng put down the paper and fell into deep thought.

"Or perhaps, for the past three years, or even earlier, he has been deliberately disguising himself and enduring to the extreme."

Either he recently obtained some unimaginable, earth-shattering opportunity, and soared to great heights.

Either way, it's extremely terrifying.

He disguised himself for three years, deceiving everyone in the Marquis's mansion and even the eyes and ears of the capital.

This level of composure, perseverance, and acting skills is truly terrifying.

If one encounters an opportunity recently, the level of that opportunity will be frighteningly high, capable of transforming one completely and achieving instant success.

Why did he have to go to the imperial prison?

He was sentenced to fifty years?

Xiao Jingfeng realized the key point.

"This is exactly what my daughter doesn't understand the most."

Xiao Fenghua said, "Given the strength and background he has demonstrated, he is fully capable of avoiding imprisonment or getting away with it easily."

Even the charges against him were deliberately arranged by his subordinate, Li Dagang.

He seemed... willing to stay inside, even warning his daughter not to reveal his true condition and to blame everything on Sheng'er's "mischief".

He seems...to avoid attracting too much attention and is intentionally hiding his true feelings.

"hide?

Hiding in the imperial prison?

A glint flashed in Xiao Jingfeng's eyes.

"This prison...is there something special about it for him?"

Or is he plotting something that requires the use of this prison?

The father and daughter exchanged a glance, both seeing the seriousness and confusion in each other's eyes.

Zhang Yu is like a huge mystery; the more they investigate, the more doubts they discover, and the thicker the fog becomes.

"Father, what should we do?"

Xiao Fenghua asked,

"This person has unlimited potential, a mysterious background, and acts strangely."

Whether they are friend or foe remains to be seen.

But since he asked his daughter to keep it a secret, at least for now, he has no intention of being an enemy of my Prince Jing's Mansion.

Perhaps...we could try to make contact, or even...become friends?

Xiao Jingfeng pondered for a long time before slowly saying:

"This matter is of great importance and requires careful handling."

Since he wants to hide it, we'll cooperate for now and continue playing the role of Sheng'er's "mischief".

Secretly, increase monitoring of him, especially his two subordinates, Li Dagang and Mo Zhai, and provide assistance when appropriate.

"My daughter understands," Xiao Fenghua nodded.

"in addition,"

A sharp glint flashed in Xiao Jingfeng's eyes.

"As for Sheng'er... since he's already taken the blame, let him carry it to the end."

Go back and "scold" him again to make him "behave".

Perhaps... letting him remain in the prison, 'neighboring' Zhang Yu, wouldn't be a bad thing.

Sometimes, things done unintentionally can turn out surprisingly well.

Xiao Fenghua understood immediately and replied, "Yes, Father."