The Thief Prince

After the jailer left, there was a clattering sound, and the cell door was locked again.

Liu Ruozai sat down against the wall, staring blankly at the still steaming food on the ground.

He knew that the people behind him would not let him off easily, but their haste in taking action seemed illogical.

The saying "the law does not apply to officials and scholars" is not just an empty phrase.

Without the emperor's decree, who would dare to execute a retired fifth-rank official in private?

But if it wasn't a last meal before execution, why did the jailer's attitude change so quickly?

As he was pondering, a head popped up beside him, looking at Liu Ruozai pitifully: "Grandpa?"

Liu Ruozai turned to look at him, and the man grinned and said, "This is the last meal. The old man has a small appetite and can't finish all of this. Why don't I eat with you so you won't be lonely?"

Liu Ruozai smiled helplessly, too lazy to argue with a rascal: "If you want to eat, just take it yourself."

"Alright, I know the old man is a good person."

The man didn't stand on ceremony; he reached over, grabbed a few lean pieces, stuffed them into his mouth, and chewed them with relish.

He took another swig of wine, smacked his lips, but didn't reach out again.

Seeing his reaction, Liu Ruozai asked in confusion, "Is this all you're going to eat?"

The man wiped his mouth and said, "After all, this is the old man's last meal. No matter how badly I, Niu Ang, am dealt with, I can't let you go on your way on an empty stomach."

Liu Ruozai couldn't help but glance at him again: "You do have some sense of loyalty."

Niu Ang patted his chest: "That's right! It's fate that I, Niu Ang, have eaten your food and wine."

"If there's anything you need to tell me, just tell me. Once I get out, I'll do everything I can to help you."

Liu Ruozai smiled: "Didn't you say you killed someone? How were you able to get out?"

Niu Ang smiled slyly: "Old man, don't you understand?"

"You didn't kill anyone, so you're probably a good official, but those corrupt officials would never let you live."

"Although I am a bad person and have more than one life on my hands, if I can use money to get things done, I might be able to get out alive."

That's just how the world is.

Liu Ruozai remained silent for a long time after hearing this.

Just then, the cell door rang again.

This time, it wasn't a jailer who came, but the prison warden.

The burly jailer stood outside the door and said to Liu Ruozai, "Prisoner Liu Ruozai, come out."

The prisoners in each cell raised their heads and looked at Liu Ruozai, their gazes filled with a sense of shared sorrow.

Those who were imprisoned with Liu Ruozai were all serious criminals.

And for serious criminals like them, very few come back alive once they're taken out.

Liu Ruozai stood up and followed the jailer out of the cell.

He was led deeper into the prison, turning two corners, until he arrived at a single cell.

The single cell was much cleaner than the prison cell; the walls were plastered with lime, and the floor was covered with straw mats.

The jailer told him to wait a moment, and soon two jailers came in, one carrying hot soup and the other carrying a towel and a wooden basin.

The jailer stood at the door and whispered, "Sir, why don't you soak your feet?"

Liu Ruozai glanced at him, but did not refuse. He sat down and had the two men wash his feet.

The jailer respectfully withdrew, and the head jailer also withdrew, and the room fell silent for a moment.

A short while later, the door opened again.

A thin, middle-aged man in an official robe walked in. Liu Ruozai recognized him; he was the warden of this prison.

The warden bowed to Liu Ruozai and asked with a smile, "Lord Liu, have they been serving you well?"

Liu Ruozai glanced at him but didn't say anything.

The warden didn't mind, and simply dragged a stool over and sat down, blocking the view from outside the door.

"Master Liu is indeed a distinguished person from the capital. He has fallen into my hands and there are people outside helping him."

Liu Ruozai remained silent.

"Please take a look at this, Mr. Liu."

As he spoke, he pulled a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it over.

Liu Ruozai took it and saw that it was a confession, listing his crimes:

He admitted to colluding with bandits, to accepting bribes, to trading with the Liao people, and finally to implicate several officials.

Liu Ruozai recognized most of those names; they were mostly old acquaintances from his time in the capital.

The warden said, "If you sign this, the prefect will sentence you to exile for three thousand li."

"You can choose any of Fuzhou, Huizhou, or Hejian Prefecture. You may suffer some hardships on the way, but at least your life will be saved."

Liu Ruozai raised his head and met his gaze: "What if I refuse?"

The warden's face darkened: "Then the gentleman will die in this prison."

"Master Liu has been here for a while now, he should know that the death of a few prisoners in this jail is nothing."

"Besides, you are already quite old, so even if something goes wrong, the higher-ups won't ask any questions."

Liu Ruozai suddenly let go, and the incriminating note floated into the foot bath water, the ink quickly blurring into a blur.

The warden's face turned completely cold: "Why is Lord Liu so stubborn? Even if you don't think about yourself, you should at least think about your family."

"Your butler, your brother, your sister..."

Liu Ruozai's expression changed slightly, but he still said, "I would rather die than submit!"

The warden stared at him for a moment, nodded, stood up, and knocked on the door.

Two jailers pushed open the door and came in. The warden said, "Take him back. His meals will continue as usual."

Liu Ruozai was taken back to that prison.

When Niu Ang saw him return, he was first taken aback, and then felt somewhat relieved.

That evening, the meal was changed back to spoiled rice balls and vegetable soup, and Liu Ruozai's portion was smaller than usual.

Niu Ang broke off a small half of his rice ball and put it in Liu Ruozai's bowl: "I am grateful."

Liu Ruozai looked at him, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

There was a time when he believed that those whose names were called at Donghua Gate were good men, and that the court officials in their purple robes were heroes of the world.

Rascals and criminals like Niu Ang are destabilizing factors for the Great Zhou Dynasty. Only if they all disappear can the Great Zhou become better.

But now, his former colleagues are forcing him to do things that make him live a life of ignominy.

This criminal, with whom he had only known each other for a few days, expressed genuine goodwill towards him.

Right and wrong seem to have become difficult to discern.

Little did they know, the situation became even stranger the next day.

On this day, it wasn't the prisoners who came to deliver the food, but the jailer.

The jailer personally carried a food box and opened it in front of Yoo Ruo-jae.

Inside, there was half a roast chicken, half a plate of mutton, a plate of stir-fried vegetables, and a bowl of yellow rice.

The jailer said, "Liu Ruozai, come out when you're done eating. Someone's visiting you."

Looking at the food, Liu Ruozai became increasingly puzzled.

Visiting someone in prison? Could it be your own younger brother or sister?

That's not right. They're far away in Luzhou. How could they get here so quickly?

This time, Liu Ruozai once again shared the food and wine with Niu Ang, who did not stand on ceremony and ate quite a bit of food and wine.

Half an hour later, the cell door opened, and he was taken to that single cell again.

A young man in a short jacket stood in the room; he looked capable and efficient.

Upon seeing Liu Ruozai enter, the young man exclaimed excitedly, "Uncle! I've finally found you!"

Liu Ruozai was taken aback; he didn't recognize the man.

But then he saw the young man wink at him quickly.

The jailer behind him nodded to the young man: "Fifteen minutes, hurry up."

After saying that, he closed the door and left.

The door closed, and the young man stepped forward, cupping his hands in greeting: "My name is Sun Wang, and I am a leader under Brother Li Zheng of the Black Wind Stronghold of Liangshan. I greet you, Master Liu."

Liu Ruozai paused for a moment, then remembered the letter.

Li Zheng?

That bandit leader, Li Zheng?