Chapter 221

Chapter 221: The Last Drink

On the thirteenth day of the second month, Wang Ye escorted a large group of people tied to the burning-cotton case from Ji Zhou to the capital.

Emperor Chong Sheng ordered that on the fifteenth day of the second month, these wicked criminals would be beheaded in public at the capital’s Cai Shi Kou execution ground, to make an example of them.

Old Madam Du and the pampered Du men had long since lost their lofty air. After days of bitter cold and hunger on the road, Old Madam Du’s hand, which had been turning prayer beads, swelled like soaked, cracked bark.

Third Master Du and the others had lost their fine robes, and they looked no different from old farmers now. In fact, they were even more timid than those farmers.

Yan Hai kept his head lowered, unwilling to let his former colleagues see him like this. Everyone looked half-dead, and everyone wanted to tuck their heads into their collars to avoid the snowballs someone kept throwing from who knew where.

Only one person lifted his head and looked around.

Lin Yi refused to believe the Heir Apparent would abandon him.

When Lin Yi had been thrown into the Ji Zhou prison, Lin Yi had not believed it. When Wang Ye interrogated Lin Yi, Lin Yi had not believed it. Even now, as Lin Yi was escorted back to the capital, Lin Yi still did not believe it.

Lin Yi was certain the Heir Apparent was running around for him. The only reason Lin Yi had not been freed was that the time had not come.

But as Lin Yi searched with hopeful eyes, endless wind and snow struck his face and blurred his sight. In the end, Lin Yi still did not see that figure he had been waiting for.

The prison carts rolled into the prison compound, and Lin Yi was dragged off and locked in a cell like the rest.

Old Madam Du curled in a corner. [Good… so good… I finally made it to the capital alive.]

That person had said that as long as Old Madam Du took all the blame for the burning-cotton matter, Du Family’s juniors would be protected, and Ming Yi’s post would be kept as well. Ming Yi had worked so hard to become a fourth-rank prefect.

And Kuang Ge’er was so gifted… So many outstanding youths in the Southern Du Branch… Even if Old Madam Du died, Old Madam Du had to keep them safe.

That single breath kept the Du people going, but living was not the same as living well.

Lin Yi clung to the iron bars and called to a jailer, “Young man!”

The jailer had not planned to bother with these monsters who had burned cotton and harmed the people. But the moment the jailer heard Lin Yi’s voice, it sounded strangely familiar.

The jailer leaned closer and stared for a long moment before the jailer finally dared to ask, “You are… Lin Yi, Lin Brother? How did you end up here, and-locked up with these people?”

Back when Lin Yi had worked in the capital for Qi Shu Xian, Lin Yi had managed estates and shops and handled profit-making businesses. Lin Yi had been steady, and Lin Yi had even done good deeds wherever Lin Yi went.

Now that the jailer recognized Lin Yi, the jailer could hardly believe it.

Lin Yi only gave a bitter smile and shook his head. “It’s hard to explain in a few words. If Qi Shi Zi has been here, please tell him for me…”

The jailer stared. “Qi Shi Zi? Lin Brother, you really don’t know? Qi Shi Zi is already Deputy General Qi, and Qi Shi Zi took the Grain Transport Army to Mo Bei to oversee the fighting!”

“What?” Lin Yi froze, and the world spun.

The Heir Apparent had left. The Heir Apparent had gone to Mo Bei.

Then what about Lin Yi? Was Lin Yi truly going to be executed the day after tomorrow?

For the first time, a panic Lin Yi had never known rose in Lin Yi’s chest.

At the same time, in the Duke’s mansion, Jiang Mang had been standing outside for a long time. The steward sent Jiang Mang away again and again, but Jiang Mang stood there like a stone statue and refused to leave.

Lin Yi, as one of the main people in charge of the cotton convoy, had dealt with the Southern Du Branch and colluded with wealthy merchants, and Lin Yi had been thrown into prison. Jiang Mang escaped only because, by a twist of fate, Jiang Mang ran off to rescue someone that day, and a few commoner recognized Jiang Mang.

But Jiang Mang had watched as every brother who went with Jiang Mang was beaten with rods, and Lin Yi was escorted back to the capital to await execution. Jiang Mang chased the escorting party day and night all the way back.

Only after reaching the capital did Jiang Mang learn that the Heir Apparent had already gone to Mo Bei. The Heir Apparent had left… so what was going to happen to Lin Yi?

Jiang Mang did not like Lin Yi. Jiang Mang even hated Lin Yi a little.

Still, Jiang Mang knew Lin Yi had acted under the Heir Apparent’s orders.

Now the Heir Apparent was unhurt, and even promoted to Deputy General, leading troops to deliver grain. Lin Yi, though, was going to die.

Jiang Mang had too many questions stuck in Jiang Mang’s throat. If Jiang Mang could not see the Heir Apparent, then Jiang Mang would see Miss Meng and ask Miss Meng what, exactly, was going on.

So as long as the Duke’s mansion refused to let Jiang Mang see her, Jiang Mang would keep standing there.

Jiang Mang was a rough man. Jiang Mang stood there from day to night, then from night to dawn.

When Jiang Mang was tired, Jiang Mang squatted and kept watch outside the gate. When Jiang Mang was thirsty, Jiang Mang rubbed snow into a ball and ate it, and when Jiang Mang was hungry, Jiang Mang bought a flatbread from the side.

This strange behavior soon drew attention from people passing by the Duke’s mansion.

Inside the Duke’s mansion, Duke Qi wanted nothing more than to have Jiang Mang beaten and thrown out. But the mansion was already sitting on a knife’s edge, and Duke Qi did not dare do that.

At noon the next day, Duke Qi pinched his nose and had Jiang Mang invited in.

Duke Qi looked down from above and barked, “Shu Xian is not in the capital anymore! What do you want? Are you trying to make an enemy of my Duke’s mansion?”

Jiang Mang pressed his lips together and saluted. Jiang Mang said, “I wouldn’t dare. I only want to see Miss Meng.”

Duke Qi paused before Duke Qi remembered that “Miss Meng” meant Meng Yang. [So this little slut could still stir up trouble for the Duke’s mansion, even after becoming a bedchamber maid?]

Duke Qi sneered. “Impossible. Meng Yang is a bedchamber maid now. How could Meng Yang meet an outside man? If you have something to say, say it. If not, get out. And if you dare stand outside my gate again, I won’t keep treating you well for Xian’er’s sake-I’ll have you beaten out!”

“Bedchamber maid?” Jiang Mang was stunned. Jiang Mang had only just reached the capital and had not known this.

Duke Qi said with disgust, “It was your doings with Meng Yang that dragged Shu Xian down! If it weren’t for the Northern Di rebels, Shu Xian would still be a city gate guard with no rank.”

Was it? Had they dragged the Heir Apparent down?

Jiang Mang pulled the corner of his mouth into a crooked smile, and suddenly Jiang Mang did not want to ask any more. Jiang Mang turned and left the Duke’s mansion.

That night, Jiang Mang drank for the whole night.

The next day, crowds of commoner went to Cai Shi Kou execution ground to watch. Jiang Mang was swept along in the crowd, dazed and muddled, half awake and half drunk.

Jiang Mang stood among the commoner and heard them spit and curse at the people on the platform. Jiang Mang watched as they hurled every filthy thing they could find up at the stage.

Jiang Mang saw Lin Yi kneeling near the back of the crowd. Compared to Ji Zhou Prefect Yan Hai and the Du clan, Lin Yi’s status was not even high enough to kneel in front to receive punishment.

The noise around Jiang Mang made Jiang Mang’s ears throb with pain. Jiang Mang hugged Jiang Mang’s wine jar and tried to push forward.

Jiang Mang had not taken two steps before a guard under the execution stage stopped Jiang Mang. Lin Yi looked over, and their eyes met.

Lin Yi’s face was blank. Lin Yi thought Jiang Mang had probably come to gloat.

Lin Yi had always thought Jiang Mang was stupid. How could you do something big without sacrifices? As long as the sacrifice did not land on you, who cared about anyone else.

But reality proved the stupid one had been Lin Yi.

Lin Yi looked away.

Then a crash rang out as the wine jar shattered. All the guards lifted their blades.

Jiang Mang only cupped his hands toward Lin Yi. Jiang Mang said, “Lin Yi, this last drink is on me. Jiang is paying!”

Jiang Mang turned and left.

Lin Yi stared at Jiang Mang’s back, numb and wordless.

A shout came from behind, “Time’s up-execute!”

Jiang Mang stumbled. Jiang Mang did not know how long Jiang Mang walked, or where Jiang Mang went, until Jiang Mang could not walk anymore and fell face-first onto the ground.