jdhmnovel Chapter 237 Missed the Heavenly Prison
Chapter 237 Missed the Heavenly Prison
The following day, upon seeing that his father, Lin Yong, was taking a rare day off, Lin Yu immediately went to see his father and told him in detail about the situation in Xinyang and everyone's determination.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yong's expression turned solemn. He knew that this matter was of great importance, not only concerning a county magistrate, but also potentially involving the power struggle among various factions within the imperial court.
“Huai’an, now that you have made up your mind, I will give you my full support. But you must understand that this rescue requires utmost caution and must not be rushed, lest it offend His Majesty.”
Lin Yong looked at his son with deep eyes and said earnestly.
Lin Yu nodded in agreement: "Father, I understand. I will act carefully, starting with gathering evidence, and then looking for a suitable opportunity to speak to His Majesty."
In the days that followed, Lin Yu and Qin Xin began traveling extensively. They visited righteous individuals in the court, seeking their support and assistance.
Using his intelligence and wit, Lin Yu cleverly eavesdropped on information about Shi Wanxia's case through conversations with various forces, attempting to uncover the mastermind and the truth behind it.
Qin Xin, on the other hand, used her attentiveness and gentleness to silently observe everything around her while Lin Yu was talking to others, paying attention to any potentially useful details.
She also frequently wrote back to Xinyang to inform Shuyun and others about the situation in the capital, so that they would not worry too much.
However, their actions were not without obstacles. Some officials who had colluded with the forces that framed Shi Wanxia realized Lin Yu's intentions and began to secretly obstruct them.
They sent people to monitor Lin Yu and Qin Xin's every move, attempting to sabotage their rescue plan.
But Lin Yu and Qin Xin were not deterred by the difficulties. Lin Yu used his connections in the capital to cleverly evade surveillance and continue his investigation.
Qin Xin also encouraged Lin Yu from the side. Her presence brought Lin Yu a sense of warmth and comfort amidst his exhaustion and pressure.
With the combined efforts of people in Xinyang and the capital, the rescue operation for Shi Wanxia is progressing with difficulty.
Although the road ahead is full of unknowns and dangers, they all share the same belief: to clear Shi Wanxia's name so that she can continue to work for the well-being of the people of Xinyang and bring hope and light to this land.
Meanwhile, in Xinyang County, Xu Mingyi was keenly aware of the weight of his responsibilities. On one hand, he arranged for people to continue collecting evidence of Shi Wanxia's achievements; on the other hand, he strengthened the protection of the people of Xinyang and the Shi government.
He knew that this rescue was not only for Shi Wanxia personally, but also for the fairness and justice of Xinyang County.
If good officials like Shi Wanxia are framed and brought down, who will truly serve the people in the future?
Shuyun was not idle either. She organized some trusted women to secretly visit the streets and alleys of Xinyang and tell the illiterate people about Shi Wanxia's deeds, hoping to gain more support from the people.
Although their actions were low-key, they planted a seed of hope in the hearts of the people of Xinyang. Everyone was silently hoping that Shi Wanxia would return safely and continue to lead Xinyang County to prosperity.
Inside the Dali Temple prison, the atmosphere was oppressively heavy. Pei Xuan, dressed in official robes, entered with a stern expression and several constables.
In the corner, Shi Wanxia curled up. In just a few days, she had become thin and haggard, her hair disheveled and scattered over her shoulders. Her once bright eyes had lost their luster, leaving only endless exhaustion and fear.
Looking at her like this, Pei Xuan couldn't help but feel a pang of pity.
Although he was acting under orders, the girl's plight was truly pitiful.
He cleared his throat and said, "Miss Shi, I am here on His Majesty's orders to send you to the Ministry of Justice prison."
Upon hearing this, Shi Wanxia trembled slightly, raised her head, and looked up with eyes full of fear and helplessness.
Seeing this, Pei Xuan softened his tone: "Don't worry, I heard that His Majesty intends to meet with you in a few days. You are a smart girl, and you can clarify things with His Majesty in person at that time."
Pei Xuan paused, and seeing that the surrounding constables were not paying attention, he suddenly leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Don't worry, young lady. I've already taken care of things at the prison. If you encounter any difficulties in prison, you can go to Old Feng."
“He has served in the prison for many years and is a trustworthy man. I have already spoken to him and he will take care of the young lady.”
Shi Wanxia was slightly taken aback, a hint of gratitude flashed in her eyes, and she nodded gently.
Just then, a yamen runner rushed over and reported to Pei Xuan: "Sir, Cui Zhihao of the Cui family has been escorted to the capital and will soon arrive at the Dali Temple. He will then be imprisoned in the imperial prison according to His Majesty's decree."
Pei Xuan frowned and said in a low voice, "I understand. Let's settle him in first and make sure nothing goes wrong."
The constable obeyed and left. Pei Xuan turned around, looked at Shi Wanxia, and sighed, "Miss, I apologize."
Having said that, he signaled the bailiffs to take Shi Wanxia out of the cell. Shi Wanxia stood up, her steps unsteady, but she still tried her best to straighten her back. Under the escort of the bailiffs, she slowly walked out of the Dali Temple prison and headed towards the Ministry of Justice's prison.
Pei Xuan watched her departing figure, silently praying that the girl could survive this ordeal and that he himself would not be drawn into the vortex of this storm.
After all, in the ever-changing political arena, one wrong step could lead to utter ruin.
With her weak body, Shi Wanxia slowly walked out of the Dali Temple prison under the escort of Dali Temple officials.
She kept her head down, her mind filled with worry about her unknown fate, completely oblivious to the commotion around her.
Suddenly, a cacophony of footsteps and the scraping of chains came from the road. Looking up, one could see a group of officials escorting a man hurriedly towards them.
That man was Choi Ji-ho. Despite the dust on his face and clothes, he still couldn't hide his innate nobility.
He stood tall and walked with a steady gait, as if all the disturbances around him were irrelevant. His calm and composed demeanor made it seem as if he were simply going on a routine trip, rather than being escorted back to the capital.
However, when his gaze inadvertently fell upon the disheveled Shi Wanxia, a hint of panic flashed across his usually composed eyes.
His lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but was stopped by the surrounding officials.
Cui Zhihao could only stare intently at Shi Wanxia, his eyes filled with concern and tenderness. He tried his best to control his emotions, but his slightly clenched fists still betrayed the turmoil in his heart.
Shi Wanxia also saw Cui Zhihao. A complex expression flashed in her eyes, including surprise, grievance, and an indescribable dependence.
Standing before the gates of the Dali Temple, their eyes met, and it was as if everything around them had come to a standstill.
The shouts of the officials and the chatter of the bystanders gradually faded away, leaving only the deep affection in each other's eyes.
But this brief eye contact was quickly broken as the officials shoved Cui Zhihao forward, leaving him only able to look back at Shi Wanxia every few steps.
Shi Wanxia stood there blankly, watching his departing figure until it disappeared from sight.
At this moment, they all knew they were about to face imprisonment in the Heavenly Prison, but this chance encounter gave them a sense of comfort and strength.
In this vortex of power struggles and conflicts, which resembles a workplace, this emotion became the most precious support in their hearts.