Chapter 114: The Coarse Blue-Black Robe

As the saying goes, there are four great joys in life: the wedding night, the moment of passing the imperial examination, the long-awaited rain after a drought, and meeting an old friend in a distant land.

However, at this moment, there might be a fifth joy to add.

That is “escaping from prison.”

There is truly nothing more exhilarating than finding hope in a desperate situation.

At a glance, the prison was filled with people.

Many were awaiting trial or were death row inmates who had committed serious crimes. Upon seeing this rare opportunity, they were overjoyed, either shaking the unopened cell doors vigorously or running out and shouting loudly.

A large group of people surged forward.

Most of them rushed towards the exit of the prison.

However, there were a few people still wearing prison clothes who had not yet taken them off. They were moving against the crowd, holding long knives, searching cell by cell.

These people were clearly not from the Heavenly Sect.

Some cells they passed without stopping, while others they opened after asking who was inside, either with a knife or with keys taken from the prison guards, releasing the prisoners.

But the further they went, the more anxious they became.

Jiang Xuening was carried along by the crowd, holding Zhang Zhe’s hand, and as they moved forward, she inadvertently looked up and noticed these unusual people. She felt they were looking for someone.

Her gaze followed them quietly.

After passing a few more cells, the group suddenly saw something and shouted towards a cell in the middle.

Amidst the excitement of everyone, there was a man sitting quietly inside.

His dirty prison clothes were covered in stains and blood, and his feet were casually spread apart on the cold ground. His body leaned back against the straw-strewn floor, his wrists resting on his knees, with his palms hanging down.

A thick chain locked his ankles.

His long hair, unkempt for some time, covered his face.

He seemed completely unaware of the commotion outside, not taking a single step out.

It wasn’t until the group called out to him that he raised his head.

The cell door was quickly opened.

The man stood up, revealing a tall and burly figure. Without a word, he bent down, grabbed the chain on his feet with both hands, and with a forceful pull, the thick chain snapped with a loud clang, showing his immense strength.

Jiang Xuening, still moving forward, saw this scene from a distance and her eyelid twitched.

The prison was chaotic and noisy, with no one having time to care about anyone else. Unexpectedly, the disheveled man seemed to sense something and looked in Jiang Xuening’s direction.

His sharp gaze, like that of a hawk, flashed through his messy hair.

Jiang Xuening felt a chill down her spine, sensing an indescribable indifference and cruelty in his eyes, the kind of look only a ruthless person who had licked blood from a knife’s edge would have.

But there was no time to think further.

In a moment, they had turned a corner, reached the prison gate, and rushed outside.

The soldiers escorting the Yongyi Marquis’s mansion had just left, and the prison guards were relaxed. When the Heavenly Sect members attacked, they were easily overwhelmed. Now, they had no strength to resist. To save their own lives, they retreated while fighting, easily breaking through the blockade!

*

On the quiet long road, Xie Wei’s carriage remained in place.

Soon, Dao Qin, who had gone to gather information, returned.

Bowing in front of the carriage, he said, “Everything is going smoothly. The prison has been breached by these people, and arrangements have been made at the city gate. We are just waiting for Master Zhang to bring the people through. Xiao Bao is also there, so there should be no problem along the way. But Meng Yang…”

Xie Wei, who feared the cold, would not go out in snowy weather unless necessary.

Seeing the snow always reminded him of unpleasant things.

Sitting inside the carriage, he didn’t even lift the curtain, his face pale as jade from the cold, and he interrupted Dao Qin lightly, “Dangerous people have their uses. He’s just a pawn, not enough to ruin the plan.”

Dao Qin dared not speak further.

From a distance, they could hear some commotion from a few streets away.

It soon quieted down.

It seemed that the Heavenly Sect members and the prisoners had passed through the nearby streets after escaping from the prison.

Some people, after escaping, did not follow the crowd but quietly hid in the darkness, fleeing alone.

But most of the prisoners instinctively followed the Heavenly Sect members, heading towards the west gate under the cover of night.

Faintly, someone could be heard asking, “Weren’t we supposed to go to the east gate?”

Then came Zhang Zhe’s calm reply, “There is an ambush at the east gate. If you go, you will die. Go if you wish.”

The crowd suddenly fell silent.

At the same time, the scene at the prison gate was different.

Zhou Yinzhi had no idea what was happening.

After hiding Jiang Xuening in the most secluded cell, he pretended to check on the situation of the imperial guards escorting the Yongyi Marquis’s household for exile. Once the matter was settled, he planned to return and bring Jiang Xuening out. Unexpectedly, a few colleagues from the Ministry of Justice and the Jinyiwei pulled him to the back office to drink and gamble. Normally, Zhou Yinzhi wouldn’t refuse such invitations, and today, fearing suspicion, he reluctantly joined them, planning to gamble a few rounds, gather some information, and then find an excuse to return to the prison.

After just two rounds, there was a sudden uproar outside.

He was startled and instinctively reached for his sword, ready to rush out, but the official in charge of guarding the prison pulled him back, laughing, “You Jinyiwei don’t know, there’s something big happening in this prison today. The emperor has given orders, don’t go out, don’t mess things up.”

Looking at the people from the Three Judicial Offices, they were all calm and composed.

They acted as if they hadn’t heard the commotion outside.

Zhou Yinzhi was anxious but didn’t dare to look for Jiang Xuening. He patiently inquired and learned that there was a top-secret plan, known only to a few. The prison guards left in the prison were unaware and were prepared to be sacrificed, just waiting for the others to successfully break out!

As for Jiang Xuening…

Zhou Yinzhi didn’t dare to think about what might happen inside.

He could only hope that the hiding place he found for Jiang Xuening, deep in the prison, would remain undiscovered unless someone specifically searched for it or she came out herself.

Feigning calm, he continued gambling with the others in the back office.

However, he lost every round.

Someone teased him, asking if he was scared, but he pretended not to hear.

When the commotion outside died down and someone came to report, he quickly followed the others out and re-entered the prison to check.

He couldn’t control his steps, hurrying towards the depths of the prison.

The closer he got to the cell, the faster his heart beat.

Finally, turning the corner, he saw the clean cell, but it was empty!

There was no one inside.

Only a corner of a woman’s dress, hastily stuffed under the bed, peeked out from the disheveled bedding.

Zhou Yinzhi’s mind went blank, as if he had fallen into an ice cave, his whole body turning cold!

*

Following Zhang Zhe to the west gate, Jiang Xuening’s mind, initially overwhelmed by the sudden events, began to clear as the night wind blew.

She reviewed the events in her mind.

She looked up at the figure leading her, his large hand enveloping hers, his palm warm and slightly sweaty.

Why was Zhang Zhe in the prison?

Why did those people seem to be rescuing him?

And Zhang Zhe mentioned an ambush at the east gate, as if he knew something in advance…

It seemed she had been unwittingly dragged into this, and she was a bit angry.

Memories from her past life told Jiang Xuening that this prison break was orchestrated by the Heavenly Sect.

Given Zhang Zhe’s character, no judge dared to write his sentence when he was truly imprisoned, and he had to write his own. This showed his integrity.

He couldn’t possibly be involved in a prison break.

There seemed to be a plot she was unaware of.

She knew she might be an unexpected variable in this plan, fearing she would cause trouble for Zhang Zhe. She kept her mouth shut and followed him closely, not daring to ask a single question.

Fortunately, the tense atmosphere meant no one noticed her.

The disheveled man who had broken the chain earlier blended in with the crowd, becoming inconspicuous.

When they first left the prison, someone questioned the plan, as the Heavenly Sect had arranged to leave through the east gate, having bribed the guards there.

But Zhang Zhe insisted there was an ambush.

The masked leader of the Heavenly Sect was skeptical but, seeing Zhang Zhe’s confidence, signaled to his men to split into two groups: one to check the east gate and the other to follow Zhang Zhe to the west gate.

Some of the escaped prisoners went with the group to the east gate.

But most, especially those originally imprisoned, trusted Zhang Zhe and followed him to the west gate.

The leader of the Heavenly Sect stopped in the shadows of a tall building, his sharp eyes on Zhang Zhe, and said, “I’ve been in the sect for years, but I didn’t know we had an official among us. Master Zhang, you’re impressive. Which hall did you join and when?”

Even facing these ruthless men, Zhang Zhe’s expression didn’t change.

He coldly glanced at the man and said, “Is this something you should be asking? Now that we’re at the west gate, to be safe, send someone with me to check for ambushes before we all go through.”

The leader, with a scar on his eyebrow, looked fierce.

Hearing Zhang Zhe’s words, his eyes turned colder.

However, as he gripped the knife handle, he seemed to think of something and didn’t act out. Instead, he said, “Then I’ll go with you. But Master Zhang, you need to give a reason. Our original plan was well thought out. Why do you say there’s an ambush? Are you suspecting someone from our sect leaked the information?”

In the Heavenly Sect, trust and mutual support were paramount. Joining the sect meant becoming brothers in life and death.

This was the sect’s rule.

Hearing the leader’s words, everyone started whispering, looking at Zhang Zhe with strange expressions.

Zhang Zhe knew the leader’s words were dangerous, but since he was already involved, he had to disregard his safety.

Gu Chunfang had shown him kindness.

He calmly replied, “I risked my life to save Gongyi Cheng. The court spread rumors that Gongyi Cheng was in the prison, but as you all saw, he is not here. This shows the court was prepared for us. Since Gongyi Cheng is not here, this must be a trap. Don’t you think it was too easy to break into the prison? If I were the court, I would set an ambush at the city gate. The east gate might not have an ambush, but if it does, it would be a death trap. If you don’t trust me, don’t come with me.”

With that, he let go of his hand and looked deeply at Jiang Xuening, who had been silently watching him, then walked towards the city gate.

The released hand immediately felt the cold wind blowing through the fingers.

Jiang Xuening’s heart tightened, and she found it hard to breathe.

The others were also surprised by Zhang Zhe’s words, not out of arrogance, but a calmness that came from standing above them.

The leader of the Heavenly Sect frowned deeply.

Someone in the crowd muttered, “It makes sense. When we were in prison, this master was very resourceful, quietly inquiring about Gongyi Cheng’s whereabouts. But how dare he call Gongyi Cheng by name? That’s very bold…”

Calling Gongyi Cheng by name?

Some attentive people in the crowd suddenly felt a jolt.

Gongyi Cheng was a top advisor to the sect leader, with a status higher than the heads of the various halls. Everyone had to respectfully call him “Master Gongyi.”

How many people in the sect could call him by name?

This thought made some people quietly ponder.

Meanwhile, Zhang Zhe reached the city gate and was naturally questioned. However, those watching from the shadows saw that the soldiers guarding the gate fell silent upon seeing Zhang Zhe, showing respect and fear, and quietly opened the gate.

Zhang Zhe returned and said, “We can leave the city.”

Everyone was in disbelief, looking at each other, and no one dared to go first.

Zhang Zhe glanced at them, said nothing more, and walked towards the gate.

Jiang Xuening thought for a moment, then followed without a word.

Few had seen her being rescued from the prison, and she was wearing men’s clothes, making it hard to tell her gender from behind. Her following seemed to encourage others.

The gate was right there, and so was freedom.

Who wouldn’t be tempted?

After the first person, the second and third quickly followed, and soon everyone was following.

The soldiers guarding the gate kept their heads down, not stopping them at all.

Seeing this, the people behind also followed, albeit skeptically.

It was an unprecedented experience: walking through the gate openly, they couldn’t believe it. These people, who usually had to hide from officials, were now being respectfully escorted out by the guards. It was exhilarating and thrilling!

Someone couldn’t help but laugh after leaving the gate.

“Impressive, Master Zhang! I’ve never felt this good in my life!”

“Yes, the sect leader is truly a genius, hiding such a powerful hand in the capital. If only it had been revealed earlier, we wouldn’t have suffered so much!”

“We really made it out…”

The leader of the Heavenly Sect frowned deeply, looking at Zhang Zhe, searching his memory for clues about someone more mysterious than Gongyi Cheng, but found nothing.

He stepped forward to flatter Zhang Zhe.

Then he cautiously asked, “Forgive my ignorance, Master Zhang. You must use a different name in the sect. Do you have another alias?”

Zhang Zhe’s gaze turned colder, staring at the man.

He didn’t speak for a long time.

Jiang Xuening held her breath.

Zhang Zhe finally looked away and said calmly, “No alias. I just didn’t know that besides being brave, Master Huang is also meticulous and suspicious.”

The words “Master Huang” made Huang Qian’s pupils contract instantly.

He was masked, so others couldn’t see, but under the mask, his face had changed!

The prison break was a top-secret plan, ordered by the sect leader himself. Huang Qian had secretly come from Tongzhou to lead the operation, and the participants were all summoned from the capital. No one should have known his identity!

This Master Zhang…

A suspicion that had been growing in his mind now made Huang Qian break out in a cold sweat.

If it was that person…

He no longer dared to question, bowing and saying, “Forgive my rudeness.”

Zhang Zhe said nothing more.

In the silence, Jiang Xuening’s gaze shifted from Huang Qian to Zhang Zhe, noticing something unusual. Her eyes showed a hint of curiosity: was he pretending to be the mysterious Heavenly Sect member Du Junshan?

It was a good choice.

In her past life, Du Junshan was elusive, never revealing his true identity. Even when the Heavenly Sect was destroyed by Xie Wei, he remained a mystery. Pretending to be him was perfect.

She stood behind Zhang Zhe.

Her clothes had been changed, and she no longer had a cloak, feeling cold in the wind. Her hands were icy, and she looked at Zhang Zhe for a long time.

But Zhang Zhe didn’t seem to intend to hold her hand again.

Jiang Xuening, hiding in the crowd, bit her lip, feeling more timid than ever, her heart pounding.

She quietly reached out and held Zhang Zhe’s hand.

Zhang Zhe was startled.

He turned and met her clear, slightly nervous eyes, which quickly looked away in embarrassment but then looked back boldly, as if it was only natural.

Her earlobes were as red as if stained with rouge.

Zhang Zhe knew he should let go.

But at that moment, feeling her cold hand and noticing her thin clothes and trembling fingers, a voice in his mind said: This is not a secret desire to be close to her. You brought her out, so you must protect her. This is not selfishness.

So he was tempted.

He let her soft, slender hand hold his, then slowly tightened his grip, careful not to use too much force.

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