Chapter 113: Heaven Knows My Intentions

Her expression was so much like when she used to play and bicker with him years ago.

But Yan Lin knew she was serious.

He suddenly felt a bit regretful: it was a pity he would soon leave the capital, otherwise, he really wanted to know what kind of skills Zhang Zhe had to make his Ningning so infatuated.

But he was probably a good person, right?

He looked up at the faintly visible figure of Zhou Yinzhi at the other end of the dungeon corridor, and after a moment of silence, he said, “You should go.”

Sneaking into the dungeon to visit a prisoner who would soon be exiled was quite bold.

Jiang Xuening also knew that if she stayed too long, it would make things difficult for Zhou Yinzhi.

Despite the myriad of sorrow and reluctance in her heart, she stood up and said, “Then I’ll go.”

But after taking a few steps towards the prison door, she couldn’t help but stop.

Yan Lin looked at her.

She looked at him and smiled, “The sword you gave me is still with me. I couldn’t bring it in today, so I’ll keep it for you to retrieve another day.”

Yan Lin remembered the sword he had entrusted to her and smiled, “It’s a deal.”

Jiang Xuening said, “It’s a deal.”

With that, she turned and pulled up her cloak, wrapping herself tightly again, and walked towards Zhou Yinzhi.

Seeing her come out, Zhou Yinzhi secretly breathed a sigh of relief and, without saying a word, walked ahead to quietly lead her out of the dungeon.

The guards of the dungeon, even without the heavy soldiers, were still stricter than ordinary prisons.

They had to pass through three checkpoints. The first two were fine, as no one stopped them when they saw Zhou Yinzhi. However, as they approached the last checkpoint, they heard a commotion ahead!

“Who are you, sirs?”

“This is the emperor’s decree, ordering the exile of the Yan family today. They must depart for Huangzhou and leave before New Year’s Eve. The emperor said he doesn’t want to see these people ruining the festive mood.”

“Yes, yes…”

There were quite a few people, and from the sound of armor and weapons clashing, it was clear they were the imperial guards, sent by the emperor himself.

Zhou Yinzhi was shocked.

Jiang Xuening was also startled.

According to the laws, prisoners in the dungeon were not allowed visitors. Those who secretly visited did so at their own risk. If they were caught by the imperial guards, it would be a big problem.

Involving Zhou Yinzhi was a minor issue, but it could also implicate the Yongyi Marquis’s household!

Jiang Xuening looked at the road ahead and decisively whispered, “Find a place for me to hide.”

Hide?

But the dungeon was so small, with no guardrooms, only cell after cell.

Zhou Yinzhi was sweating.

He led Jiang Xuening back, turned left into a long corridor flanked by cells, and at the end found a relatively clean and tidy cell with a gap between the bed and the wall that could hide a person.

Zhou Yinzhi said, “Miss, you’ll have to endure this.”

Jiang Xuening knew the urgency and quickly hid in the corner, telling Zhou Yinzhi, “It’s fine, I’ll hide for a while. You go check the situation outside.”

Jiang Boyou said the exile would be after the New Year.

Why were they taking people now?

She was really worried.

Zhou Yinzhi composed himself, straightened his robe, and walked out of the cell as if nothing had happened. But when he saw the imperial guards coming to take the prisoners for exile, a sudden realization struck him: a cell deep in the dungeon, with the door open as if unoccupied, but the bed was neatly made…

---

The winter wind was cold, and two lanterns hung outside the prison, swaying in the wind.

The imperial guards, holding the decree, took the prisoners out of the dungeon. The most important ones were put in prison carts, one after another, while the less important ones were chained and walked behind the carts.

In just over a month, Yan Mu looked much older.

His temples were white as frost, but his expression was very calm.

The leader of the imperial guards was quite respectful to him. After everything was ready, he cupped his fists and said, “Marquis, we must go now. It’s cold and windy, and we are just following orders. Please bear with us.”

Yan Mu responded softly.

Yan Lin, in the prison cart behind him, looked worriedly at the dungeon, silent.

The procession set off in an orderly manner, without much noise.

The prison carts rolled through the streets.

The capital was asleep at midnight, and the people in the markets did not know that the meritorious officials of the former Marquis’s household were passing by their windows, heading to a desolate place.

In a dark corner of the street, a carriage stood quietly.

The horse snorted, its breath visible in the cold air.

Yan Mu, a seasoned soldier, was very familiar with the sound of horses. Hearing this insignificant sound, his eyelids twitched. He opened his eyes and looked towards the source of the sound.

He saw the carriage.

And the person inside, also looking this way.

The prison convoy was still some distance from the carriage.

It was so dark that Xie Wei shouldn’t have been able to see clearly.

But at that moment, he saw Yan Mu’s suddenly bright eyes, burning with intensity—

“Hahaha…”

For some reason, Yan Mu suddenly threw his head back and laughed.

His laughter was full of relief.

The soldiers escorting him were startled, not knowing the reason behind it.

The prison cart soon moved far away.

The laughter gradually faded.

The heavy buildings of the capital obscured the prison cart from view. When the last few prisoners in their prison clothes disappeared from sight, Xie Wei finally lowered his eyes slowly.

Jian Shu and Dao Qin stood by the carriage.

Xie Wei quietly clenched his fist. He should have gone to see them one last time, but given his current situation and identity, such a decision was not wise.

After a long time, he raised his eyes again.

He asked, “How are the preparations on that side?”

Both Jian Shu and Dao Qin knew what he was asking about.

The reason the Yongyi Marquis’s household was being exiled to Huangzhou so urgently, besides the emperor Shen Lang not wanting them around, was mainly due to Xie Wei’s “invite the enemy into the trap” plan proposed in the imperial study.

The imperial guards had withdrawn from the dungeon.

Now even the most important prisoners had been removed.

Those lurking in the shadows thought they had encountered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and were ready to act.

The sword said, “Just as you predicted, it will be tonight.”

---

Jiang Xuening crouched in the corner, listening intently to the sounds outside.

People came and went.

But Zhou Yinzhi hadn’t returned for a long time, which made her feel uneasy. She couldn’t help but peek out and look around.

In the rush earlier, she hadn’t had time to look closely.

Now she noticed that this cell was unusually clean.

The floor and walls were dark and gray, but the bed was neatly made, with no wrinkles on the folded blanket, and two blue-black outer robes carefully folded on top.

It seemed the person living here was very tidy.

Wait…

At that moment, Jiang Xuening’s mind buzzed, and she realized something was wrong: was this cell actually occupied?

This thought was alarming.

More anomalies quickly surfaced, such as this cell being deep in the dungeon, and although it seemed occupied, the door was unlocked when Zhou Yinzhi brought her in.

A strange and ominous feeling crept over her.

Jiang Xuening decided to leave immediately.

But events unfolded much faster than she anticipated, far beyond her expectations.

Almost as soon as she lifted her skirt to stand, shouts and cries of battle erupted at the dungeon entrance!

The guards’ voices were filled with panic.

“Who are you? What are you doing here?”

“Ah—”

“Prison break, prison break, someone is breaking into the prison!!!”

The sound of clashing weapons echoed sharply, from the entrance to the depths of the dungeon.

Most of the prisoners here were heinous criminals and notorious bandits.

Upon hearing the commotion and the words “prison break,” whether awake or asleep, they all became alert. The once deathly silent prison suddenly turned into a hellish scene, filled with frenzied shouts and cries. Every cell door had a crazed figure standing before it, some disheveled, some insane, like a dance of demons!

Jiang Xuening’s heart sank.

She remembered that in the previous life, there was indeed a famous prison break in the capital, marking the beginning of the Heavenly Sect rebels’ chaos. Xiao Dingfei’s whereabouts were revealed because of this, leading to his capture later.

But was it today?

She never expected to encounter this event on her visit!

The prison was full of dangerous criminals, and if they were released, who knew what havoc they would wreak.

If she was discovered…

Jiang Xuening’s scalp tingled. She was already at the cell door but didn’t know if she should step out, whether to take the risk and rush out amidst the chaos.

Cheers came from the entrance.

The prisoners began to jeer.

Someone knocked over the oil lamps embedded in the walls, plunging the corridor into darkness.

Hurried footsteps approached!

Jiang Xuening heard the footsteps getting closer and immediately wanted to hide. But as she turned, a figure quickly entered her peripheral vision.

At that moment, her heart stopped!

The coarse blue-black robe looked very ordinary, just slightly better than what the other prisoners wore. However, the flickering lamplight couldn’t warm his cold demeanor. His slender fingers held a long string of brass keys. He frowned, and compared to his usual silence, his thin face now had a sharp, battle-ready look!

Zhang Zhe never expected someone to be in his cell.

The other person was already dumbfounded upon seeing him.

He was equally stunned upon seeing the other person, and then a rare hint of anger appeared in his eyes. In his urgency, he couldn’t control his tone: “What are you doing here?!”

Jiang Xuening was at a loss for words.

Standing at the cell door, she couldn’t move a step.

A thought flashed through her mind: Compared to why I’m here, isn’t it more puzzling why you’re here?

But she couldn’t say anything, only staring blankly at him.

Zhang Zhe felt a surge of inexplicable anger. Looking around, there was no place to hide.

The Heavenly Sect rebels were breaking into the prison, and he had important duties.

But Jiang Xuening, a delicate girl, was caught in such a dangerous situation. If he ignored her, who knew what might happen?

Moreover…

How could he watch her fall into danger?

“Get in!” Zhang Zhe had no time to explain, pulling her into the cell and throwing down the keys. He grabbed a robe from the bed and said, “Take off your clothes.”

Jiang Xuening couldn’t believe what she heard.

She stared wide-eyed at Zhang Zhe, standing still in shock.

Zhang Zhe was frustrated that the usually quick-witted girl was now acting dumb. Hearing the chaos outside getting closer, he couldn’t care much and quickly removed her cloak and outer robe, putting the dark blue coarse robe on her and tying it around her waist.

Then there was her hair.

Fortunately, Jiang Xuening had come secretly at night, so she wasn’t dressed too elaborately. Her hair was simply tied with a ribbon at the back. Zhang Zhe used the ribbon to tie her hair into a man’s bun.

The robe was too big for the girl, hanging low, with her hands hidden in the wide sleeves, making her look even smaller and more delicate.

Like an obedient kitten.

She blinked at Zhang Zhe, her fair, unadorned face standing out in the chaotic and dangerous night, exuding a striking and alluring beauty.

When Zhang Zhe lowered his hand, he saw her face and her overly focused gaze on him.

Jiang Xuening wanted to ask what was happening.

But Zhang Zhe, staring at her, quickly turned away. He grabbed some black ash from the wall, paused with his hand in front of her, and said, “Forgive me,” before smearing it on her face!

Jiang Xuening swallowed her words: “…”

Zhang Zhe’s hands were rough.

When the black ash touched her face, she could clearly feel the calluses on his fingers scraping her delicate skin, leaving a dry and warm shiver.

In a moment, Jiang Xuening’s pretty face was smeared with dirt, hiding some of her beauty. Except for being smaller, she now looked like a fellow prisoner.

The Heavenly Sect rebels soon arrived.

They seemed to know the location and headed straight for the cell.

There were many of them, led by a few prisoners still in their prison clothes, holding swords and knives, their faces covered with black cloths, showing only their eyes, which were filled with a murderous intent. Seeing Zhang Zhe, they asked directly, “Where is Master Gongyi?”

Zhang Zhe said, “I checked earlier, Master Gongyi is not in the dungeon. It’s likely a trap set by the court! There’s no time to lose, we must retreat now!”

The group was shocked: “What!”

The Heavenly Sect had come to rescue Master Gongyi and other imprisoned members. Hearing that Master Gongyi was not in the dungeon, they realized the seriousness of the situation and decided to retreat without hesitation.

However, the leader noticed Jiang Xuening standing behind Zhang Zhe.

He frowned.

He asked suspiciously, “Lord Zhang, who is this?”

Zhang Zhe stood in front of Jiang Xuening, grabbed her hand, and said calmly, “The prisoner’s with me.”

The others glanced at Jiang Xuening.

But now was not the time for questions. The leader didn’t ask further, blew a loud whistle, and said, “We retreat!”

The Heavenly Sect members heard the whistle and retreated.

Some cell doors had been broken open.

The prisoners inside rushed out like a tide, gathering together and charging towards the exit of the now chaotic dungeon!

Jiang Xuening felt swept along by the chaotic crowd, unable to control herself.

But in front of her, a hand held hers tightly.

His silent and resolute back never turned, pulling her along, protecting her, never letting go, leading her forward.

Heaven must have heard her heart’s voice.

It let her meet him here.

The surroundings were noisy.

But a corner of her heart suddenly became quiet, quiet enough for Jiang Xuening to hear her own heartbeat growing stronger again.

What dangers lay ahead?

She didn’t know.

And she didn’t want to know.

At this moment, this figure filled her vision, occupied her heart. Even if it meant going through fire and water, to the ends of the earth, she would willingly follow, without regret.

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