I couldn’t understand why, instead of the solemn and moving farewell scene that should have been, we ended up shouting for help while stranded in the middle of the lake?
Discussing remarriage with a jealous husband in the middle of a lake was truly an unwise choice.
The next day, An Jin left home for morning court as usual. Different from before, he did not return.
Chapter Fifty: Defection to Western Liang
A major event occurred in Yan Feng City, and everyone in the streets and alleys knew and discussed it.
The incident began when the Ministry of Punishment’s Secretary Duan Chang received a secret report accusing the Ministry of Personnel’s Vice Minister An Jin and the Ministry of Rites’ Secretary Su Xi of participating in a case of buying official positions under false names, and abusing their power by coercing a witness to give false testimony, allowing the two to escape legal consequences. The Ministry of Punishment took this case very seriously and immediately reported it to the current Emperor.
His Majesty was furious, ordering the three judicial departments – the Ministry of Punishment, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate – to jointly investigate and get to the bottom of the case.
The witness, originally exiled to the border, was brought back for re-questioning, and the implicated parties, Vice Minister An Jin and Secretary Su Xi, were detained in the imperial prison, awaiting trial at any moment.
My parents rushed to see me upon hearing the bad news. I simply said it was a wrongful imprisonment, just a misunderstanding, to reassure them.
The old eunuch, upon hearing this, asked nothing, only looking at me with a somewhat guilty expression. The more he acted this way, the more I felt he knew everything but was just playing dumb.
My mother-in-law came to see me once. We sat facing each other in silence for a while. Finally, she gave me a meaningful look, stood up and left, patting my shoulder as she passed. “Take care of yourself.”
I did not go to see An Jin. I just counted the days in my heart, waiting for his return.
My elder brother and Miao Yin often came to see me, and my younger sister would drop by, telling me amusing stories about her latest matchmaking attempts. I continued to eat and drink as usual, taking Xiao Huang and Yuan Xiang to the study, and painting when I had free time, though every painting turned out to be An Jin’s face, which was quite frustrating.
Anxin was detained in the dungeon for five nights when a significant commotion finally broke out. I was sleeping lightly and was startled awake, quickly throwing on my clothes and stepping outside. Mother-in-law was already standing in the courtyard, saying gravely, “They’re here.”
Father-in-law struggled out of the room but was helped back by mother-in-law. Que’er rushed in from outside, unusually serious. “Madam, many soldiers have arrived.”
Finally, they’re here. I took a deep breath, barely suppressing my anxiety. “Let me go take a look.”
I will not allow any rash actions. We should first gather more evidence.”
The assistant minister’s eyes narrowed. “Evidence? You think you can protect the An family? This is a matter of national security!”
“We’re innocent!” I shouted, feeling a surge of defiance. “You can’t just take us without proof!”
A tense silence enveloped the scene, the soldiers hesitant. Duan Chang took a step closer, his voice softening. “Let’s discuss this calmly. We can work together to clear any misunderstandings.”
Suddenly, a commotion erupted at the edge of the gathering. A figure dashed past the torches, cloaked and hooded, evading the soldiers’ grasp. Gasps erupted from the crowd as the shadowy figure sprinted toward the forest.
“Stop that person!” the assistant minister yelled, his authority momentarily eclipsed by the chaos.
Soldiers broke ranks, dashing off in pursuit of the mysterious figure. I watched, my heart racing, an inexplicable hope arising. Could this rogue be my chance to find answers—or perhaps to escape?
“Madam, we must take you inside!” Duan Chang insisted, but I stayed rooted to the spot, my mind racing.
In this moment, everything changed. I realized I couldn’t rely on anyone but myself. I had to act, and act swiftly.
The weight of the situation pressed down on me as I turned to face Duan Chang, the gravity of our plight hanging in the air. “I need to know more about Anxin’s involvement before I decide anything.”
His expression softened ever so slightly. “I understand, but right now, we need to get to safety. Please, come with me.”
With one last look toward the thinning ranks of soldiers, I felt an unfamiliar resolve building within me. This was just the beginning.
Moreover, the madam is a woman who does not know martial arts, so there’s no need to bind her.”
The assistant minister hesitated momentarily before relenting. We were not taken to the Ministry of Justice but directly thrown into its prison. Father-in-law and I were placed in adjacent cells, others were confined elsewhere, and mother-in-law was taken away to an unknown location.
Poor father-in-law. His face was pale yellow, looking exhausted. The cell was strewn with straw, covering the cold, damp stone floor. He was breathing heavily, his voice weak, which broke my heart. Only two torches were lit, with two prison guards sitting outside the iron bars, drinking and casting suspicious glances at me.
I smiled at them and pulled out a gold leaf from my sleeve, placing it outside the bars. The guards’ eyes brightened. They looked around, casually picking up the gold leaf and tucking it into their pouches, asking quietly, “What do you need?”
“Could you help bring some hot tea and cotton padding for my father-in-law? He’s elderly and has a leg injury and can’t endure such treatment.”
The guards exchanged glances and nodded.
One turned and left, presumably to fetch what I requested.
The other guard looked around, then suddenly grinned through the bars. I was about to step back when he whispered, “I’m Mantis, stationed here to assist. Madam, please give any instructions.” He quickly showed and then hid a small gold badge.
Since Anxin had apparently arranged things even in the prison, I felt somewhat relieved. This was my first time in a cell, and despite being prepared, I still felt somewhat depressed. The place was dark, the ground damp and hard, with a musty smell. However, all of this was nothing compared to the oppression of losing freedom in a confined space.
But I understood that since Anxin had made arrangements, this was likely the best treatment possible. I peeked at father-in-law, who seemed to have fallen asleep among the straw.
Knowing I couldn’t sleep, I hugged my knees and began thinking about Anxin. Where would he be now?
An Jin has always been reliable in his words and actions. Since he said he was confident, it meant he was almost certain. What I could do was to protect the An family with all my might, keep everyone calm, and wait for his return.
He once said that after coming back, we would find a place in the countryside, buy some land, grow some small flowers and grass, raise little Yuan Xiao, have two children, and become a pair of landowners living a carefree life. Imagining the scene he described, I gradually forgot that I was in a prison cell, warmth filling my heart.
