CH 64.3

No one else was in the hall, and after a long time, Lin Bozhou drew out his handkerchief and gently wiped Meng Huan’s white finger. At this moment, Meng Huan lay sleepily in his arms, saying, “My hands are sore.”

Lin Bozhou laughed softly and said, “The Northern Zhenfu Division’s trial date has been extended. After three days, Huan Huan’s leg injury will almost heal, so you don’t have to worry about your legs when you go out. This husband will go over with Huan Huan.”

To Meng Huan, the torture and prison institution was somewhat scary, but the thought of beating An Chui and Cui Renfang to death gave him security in his heart. “Okay.”

Lin Bozhou rubbed his cheek again. “Huan Huan doesn’t have to worry about anything. You only need to tell the truth.”

These words were even more comforting for the socially afraid people.

Meng Huan’s forehead rested in his arms, nodding. “I know.”

–

The three days arrived, but before leaving home this day, a eunuch from the palace came to the prince’s residence.

He spoke softly, dressed in a blue robe, wearing a turban, with a white face. “Your Highness.”

When Lin Bozhou saw him, he said, “What do you want to say?”

The eunuch, named Li San, bowed his head in a disciplined manner. “Godfather asked this servant to tell Your Highness that the Liaodong supervisors sent are the people Godfather found personally. They are well-behaved and smart and have already begun to depart. When they arrive at the front line in Liaodong, they will immediately send a letter to Your Highness.”

Lin Bozhou took a sip from his cup of tea and responded with his eyes downcast.

Li San said again, “Godfather told this servant to tell Your Highness that the other day when Your Highness was busy with family matters and did not come to the cabinet, His Majesty left his study early and looked for people to play chess.”

Lin Bozhou closed his eyes and asked, “What’s going on with His Majesty lately? He used to be naughty occasionally, but now he only thinks about playing every day.”

Li San shook his head. “This servant doesn’t know, but recently, His Majesty has been going out with Master Kong Jie and the eldest young master of the Cui family.”

Lin Bozhou’s finger paused.

“However,” said the eunuch, “His Majesty only plays chess with them and never discusses political affairs. His Majesty keeps in mind the teachings of Your Highness, and anyone who dares to use the chess game to ask him for favors will be caned by His Majesty.”

Speaking of this, the beads that Lin Bozhou pushed in his hand paused. “Okay.”

“This servant has nothing more to say.” Li San was respectful.

Lin Bozhou responded, “Receive your reward and return to the palace.”

“Yes.”

The eunuch stepped back, exited the hall, turned around, and followed You Jin into the hallway.

This was Lin Bozhou’s people in the palace, Li San’s godfather, also known as the seal-holding eunuch, Pei Xiyi. Lin Bozhou established the current generation of eunuchs beside Emperor Xuan He after fighting off the previous generation of eunuchs. Most of them were his people, so, of course, they would listen to him.

Meng Huan changed his clothes and stepped out of the door. Lin Bozhou took his hand and said, “Go to the Northern Zhenfu Division.”

There were two tall horses at the entrance. With a tall and strong physique, Luo Juan, wearing a scarlet flying fish robe and carrying a Xiuchun sword* at his waist, was standing at the residence’s entrance to meet Lin Bozhou and Meng Huan. When he saw people coming, he bowed his head and gripped the horses’ reins tightly with his rough hands.

*A kind of sword held by the Jinyi guard.

Meng Huan got on the carriage, and next to him, Lin Bozhou lifted the curtain with one hand. “Luo-Qianhu*.”

*Official title of a hereditary military position.

Luo Juan came over on his own and followed the carriage. “Your Highness, during these days when Elder Cui was imprisoned in the North Zhenfu Division’s prison, no one came to see him except his family members, who had delivered a few pieces of clothing and meals.”

In theory, with Elder Cui’s connections, he could live comfortably even in prison and direct his minions to rescue him. However, Luo Juan wasn’t idle in the Northern Zenfu, and he was backed by Lin Bozhou and the capital army governor, so he could strictly control the operation of Elder Cui’s connections.

“No one came to see him?” Lin Bozhou looked pensive. “He committed a serious crime this time. Without operating relations, the result of the interrogation will only be death.”

Luo Juan thought with his pure mind. “Perhaps, Elder Cui has admitted guilt and given up the trapped-beast fight. After all, collaboration with the enemy, treason, and harming royal relatives are ironclad capital crimes and cannot be washed away.”

Lin Bozhou lowered the curtain and returned to the carriage.

Luo Juan’s next words came, “Cui Renfang usually embezzled money and fields, formed a party for self-serving purposes, running wild to the point of no return. Now, his time to die is really coming.”

Meng Huan listened to these words, and his heart pounded.

An Chui and Cui Renfang must be killed as soon as possible.

Otherwise, if Lin Bozhou really went to Jianzhou to face the Jurchen, one would cross swords with him, and the other would trip in the back. Lin Bozhou would be in danger of being attacked from the front and back.

…… The scene of Lin Bozhou sitting behind the city wall came to mind.

He turned his head sideways, the evening light tinting his bony and distinct jaw, his eyes reflecting the falling snow and dark light of the world, his jaw and sideburns were stained with blood, and his ebony hair was bonded into a block.

Lin Bozhou finished dressing his wounds and scanned the dead soldiers around him, his heart was ashen, and his lonely figure sat paralyzed inside the city walls, his eyes half-closed, his dark brown eyes reflecting the swords and shadows of the foreigners attacking the city.

—Just thinking about it made his heart hurt.

As if his heart was clenched and flushed with pain.

“Thump, thump, thump—”

His heart was beating extremely fast.

In the past few days, Meng Huan repeatedly recalled what An Chui had said and what he had seen, fearing that he would forget, and even recorded the main points, just to add a fire to this duo’s punishment.

Meng Huan took a deep breath.

The carriage’s wheels steadily stopped.

Luo Juan said, “Northern Zhenfu Division, we have arrived.”

The moment before he was about to go in, a fast horse came over, rolling with wind and dust. The visitor flung himself from his horse, shivering, and handed a letter to Lin Bozhou’s hand.

He spoke while panting, his sweat beads rolling down. “Your Highness, Liao…… Liaodong, an 800-li urgent letter!”

The 800-li urgent letter was the highest level of urgent delivery in ancient times. Whenever a letter of this kind was encountered, it was a very critical military and political situation, usually involving an uprising in a certain place or even the death of His Majesty.

Lin Bozhou lowered his eyelashes, the bottom of his eyes as if reflecting the dark light of a deep pool, and looked down soberly at the letter in his hand.

Meng Huan’s fair face tilted up, a little puzzled, and quietly looked at him.