Mr. Gao, having caught his breath, supported his waist with one hand and walked over to Lu Qing, shaking his head with so helplessness: "Prince, you’re being foolish! The land of Bhutan is humid and filled with snakes and insects, and the customs are strange. Why would you think of going to such a place!
Moreover, after all these years, don’t you understand His Majesty’s thoughts? Among the vassal states, although His Majesty is very wary of the strong and formidable Jie Country, what he fears most is the Fan Country, known for using witchcraft and poisons.
You left without saying a word... now involved in the death of King Fan, leading the nephew to bring the corpse and demand an explanation...
No wonder His Majesty is so displeased.
So you should calm down and think carefully about how to explain this matter to His Majesty.
All these years, His Majesty has always been very fond of you. As long as you can clarify this matter, I believe His Majesty will not treat you harshly."
Lu Qing listened silently to Mr. Gao’s words, turned to look at the Shackles Prison behind him, and smiled faintly: "Then I will borrow your auspicious words, Mr. Gao."
These words themselves were nothing, but his action of turning to look at the Shackles Prison behind him before speaking added a touch of irony to them.
Even Mr. Gao, a smooth and seasoned eunuch, was montarily at a loss for words due to his reaction, unsure of what to say, whether to persuade or not, resulting in an awkward expression.
"Mr. Gao, you’ve worked hard today, you should return early. His Majesty still needs people to attend to him." Lu Qing didn’t need any reaction from him, just nodded, and turned to follow the governnt officials inside.
Lu Qing remained calm and composed from beginning to end, but the constables escorting them into the Shackles Prison were not so calm.
Although this place, by rule, was used to detain those who committed cris and were awaiting personal interrogation by the Emperor, for years, no court officials had actually been detained here, so it was essentially always vacant.
A group of constables who hadn’t even seen guilty court officials now had to guard a prince who fundantally shouldn’t be detained here...
This really troubled them, and for a mont, they didn’t know how to handle this situation.
In the end, their leader made the decision to find the largest cell for Lu Qing and the others, where they laid a thick layer of dry straw and tossed in a few quilts.
During this season, even if it’s slightly cool at night, quilts aren’t necessary.
But after all, he is a prince, accustod to luxury since childhood. What if the soft straw still felt prickly and uncomfortable?
Not to ntion himself, even the personal attendants by his side, while servants to him, were considered highly esteed by others!
In other words, if they didn’t treat Prince Xiaoyao well during this ti, should the Holy Emperor’s anger subside, and father and son reconciled, without any grudges, they wouldn’t have enough heads to account for how they mistreated the prince and violated protocol.
On the other hand, treating the prisoner kindly isn’t a major offense, is it?
With such considerations, apart from the straw and quilts, soon after, constables brought them clean water and towels for simple washing.
Though the cell couldn’t be considered a good place by any asure, it was far better than being cramped inside a prisoner cart from days before.
After having the prison al, clearly specially prepared for them by the constables, the group said little and soon went to rest.
Lu Qing helped Zhu Yu in the corner of the cell, adding more straw and layering a quilt over it, making it like a soft mattress.
The other four were relatively casual, Yan Daoxin laid a quilt in a corner and lay down with his clothes on.
The talisman slept near the cell door, with neither caring much about the thickness of the straw.
In the cell, Lu Qing couldn’t lie too close to Zhu Yu, even without using a quilt, he lay a few feet away from Zhu Yu.
On the soft quilt, Zhu Yu finally had both arms free, her legs could stretch, and one might even say with the palace quilt beneath her, the straw-paved bed was more comfortable than the beds in the small inns of Bhutan.
She was exhausted.
Yet for so reason, she couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning, though her body was extrely fatigued, so tired that it was annoying, questions kept bubbling up in her mind, disturbing her peace.
No matter how it looked, a nephew from a vassal state, even without an official summons, to et him in a small place like the South Study Room, seed unworthy of the dignity of the Sovereign of the World.
So why the South Study Room?
Emperor Jin had Mr. Gao and guards escort them openly to the Shackles Prison, encountered many palace attendants along the way, by now probably many both inside and outside the palace knew this prince, Lu Qing, due to a mistake, was sent to Shackles Prison.
This ant, co tomorrow, it would surely spark a great deal of discussion, with rumors probably spreading far and wide.
From this angle, it seed Emperor Jin was deeply blaming Lu Qing for the trouble he caused, wanting to deal with him harshly without leniency, just the move of locking his adopted son in Shackles Prison was enough to chill the heart, almost like shattering the "father-son" bond built over the years, leaving no room for reconciliation.
But before leaving the South Study Room, Emperor Jin tasked Lu Qing with reflecting and thinking clearly on how to explain his actions...
This, on the other hand, made one feel he seed to still be giving Lu Qing a way out, genuinely wanting to protect him...
Zhu Yu flopped over irritably once again.
Emperor Jin’s attitude towards Lu Qing was truly inscrutable.
The talk about Lu Qing being a blessing, bringing future offspring, was all spoken publicly by him, giving the impression that this adopted son was highly favored.
Yet it was he who conferred the title of Two-Character King, secretly made Lu Qing the Golden-faced Imperial Censor to carry out unpleasant tasks, and even for appearances, had guards beat people with sticks, then turned around and gave Lu Qing’s credit to Lu Zhang.
Now, using the Shackles Prison to "declare to the world," making it appear Lu Qing was an outsider in his heart, not genuinely treated as a prince, while subtly hinting behind the scenes to Lu Qing.
Plus, previously, the Chifu Guard, both a helper and a spy, monitoring Lu Qing’s every move, yet after they entered the Shuo Land, didn’t follow any further.
For a vassal state where even the Shadow Guard could go, claiming the Chifu Guard couldn’t, Zhu Yu doesn’t believe, the only possibility is the master behind them didn’t allow them to follow.
This person’s mind truly is inscrutable.
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