The youths, held back by the prison guards, all raised their heads to look at Cui Xun.
In the prison cell of the Ghost Judge Hall, after Guo Qinwei had finished recounting everything that happened at Luoyan Ridge, he sighed deeply and asked Li Ying and Ashina Jia, “May I ask the two princesses, after the Seventeenth Young Master was captured, did the Turks mistreat him?”
If Li Ying could have taken human form, Guo Qinwei would have seen her crying inconsolably. Ashina Jia bit her lip and lowered her head, tears welling in her eyes. She didn’t know how to answer. As Guo Qinwei grew suspicious, he was about to say something when he suddenly heard a clear, spring-like voice from the glowing ghost fire: “No, Cui Xun is, after all, a son of the Boling Cui clan. His status is noble. The Turks didn’t mistreat him; in fact, they were quite polite to him. He stayed in Turkic lands for two years, found an opportunity, and escaped back to the Great Zhou.”
Hearing Li Ying’s words, Guo Qinwei felt somewhat relieved. He asked Li Ying again, “After the Seventeenth Young Master escaped and returned, did the common people of the Great Zhou and the families of the Imperial Force Army hold any grievances against him?”
At the Cui Residence, He Shisan suddenly crouched down, picked up a pebble, and threw it at Cui Xun.
The pebble struck Cui Xun’s forehead, breaking the skin. A string of blood drops, like red beads, flowed from the corner of his eye down his pale face, leaving a trail of crimson.
Like tears of blood.
Within the glowing ghost fire, Li Ying desperately bit her hand, trying to make her voice sound cheerful as she told Guo Qinwei, “No, the common people of the Great Zhou and the families of the Imperial Force Army knew his capture was unavoidable. Besides, he didn’t surrender to the Turks. Why would they hold grievances against him? Everyone understood his situation.”
Ashina Jia could no longer hold back her tears, which fell in streams. Before Guo Qinwei could grow suspicious, she raised her head, smiling through tears, and said, “What Princess Yong’an says is true. I’m crying because I remember when he was in the Turkic lands, I didn’t dare to tell him my feelings. Now, everything is too late. That’s why I’m crying.”
With both Ashina Jia and Li Ying speaking this way, Guo Qinwei finally felt at ease. He sighed, “If the Turks didn’t mistreat him, and the people of the Great Zhou understood him, that’s good, that’s good…”
The blood dripping onto the stone bricks seemed to bloom like an eerily beautiful flower. Encouraged by He Shisan, the other youths eagerly picked up pebbles from the ground and threw them at Cui Xun. Lu Huai stepped forward, shielding Cui Xun. He raised his sleeve to protect his face as several pebbles struck his body, causing sharp pain. Lu Huai was furious. He lowered his sleeve and shouted at the prison guards, “Are you all dead?”
The prison guards jumped in shock and drew their swords. “That’s our Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review! Stop at once!”
Seeing the gleaming swords, the youths finally quieted down. Lu Huai sneered, “Afraid now? Too late! Take them all to the Court of Judicial Review and give each twenty strokes of the paddle! Beat them hard! Let’s see if they dare to do this again!”
He suddenly remembered something and added, “After the beating, interrogate them! Find out who gave them the audacity to storm the residence of a government official!”
The prison guards, having received their orders, began to take He Shisan and the other youths away. Cui Xun, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly said, “Let it go.”
Lu Huai could hardly believe his ears. “What did you say?”
Cui Xun repeated, “Let it go.”
Lu Huai looked at the blood flowing from Cui Xun’s temple and found it hard to believe. Was this still the same vengeful Cui Xun? He couldn’t help but ask, “Why let it go?”
Cui Xun calmly replied, “Do I need a reason?”
Lu Huai was stunned. After a moment, he sneered, “You think it can be dismissed just because you say so?”
Now it was Cui Xun’s turn to be stunned. “I’m the victim here, and I’m not pursuing the matter. What are you pursuing?”
“Victim?” Lu Huai snorted coldly. “What victim? Cui Xun, let me tell you, you’re imprisoned here under the custody of the Court of Judicial Review. This is the prison of the Court of Judicial Review. Those who dare to storm it must face the consequences! How can you decide whether to pursue this or not?”
Cui Xun was momentarily at a loss. He pressed his lips together, appearing extremely tired. He said, “Then do as you please.”
With that, he dragged his shackles back to his bedchamber without giving Lu Huai another glance. Listening to the clanking of chains and watching his prisoner’s back, Lu Huai felt an inexplicable anger rising within him.
Just then, a prison guard carrying a wooden food box arrived. From a distance, Lu Huai could already smell a rancid odor. He said, “Stop.”
The prison guard halted and respectfully bowed to him. Lu Huai asked, “What is this?”
The prison guard replied, “Deputy Minister, this is the prisoner’s meal.”
Lu Huai walked to the prison guard and looked at the wooden food box. “Open it.”
The prison guard was reluctant but still opened it. Lu Huai took out a bowl of rice. On top of the rice was a single, wilted green vegetable. The stench of rotten rice was overwhelming, making one nauseous.
Lu Huai flew into a rage. He smashed the bowl to the ground. “You call this food? Even dogs wouldn’t eat this!”
The prison guard was so frightened he fell to his knees. Lu Huai was so angry he felt dizzy. He looked around at the other trembling prison guards. “Earlier, the Empress Dowager said that if Cui Xun were to be imprisoned in the Court of Judicial Review, she feared his life would end before Guo Qinwei’s head arrived. I felt quite wronged then, but now I see the Empress Dowager had remarkable foresight.”
The other prison guards all knelt. “Deputy Minister, please forgive us.”
Lu Huai clenched his fist and said, word by word, “Listen to me. As an official, I, Lu Huai, seek only justice. Even though Cui Xun is now a prisoner, I will treat him fairly. From today onwards, if Cui Xun loses so much as a hair while in custody, I will hold all of you accountable!”