The Blood Crown - Chapter 148

Yan Sikong felt as if struck by lightning, his blood boiling and his body trembling. “You… suspect me?”

“How do you explain it?” Feng Ye’s gaze bore deeply into his eyes.

“On that day, I was injured while saving the crown prince and never left the main tent. There were guards stationed outside the Prince Jingyuan’s tent. Who, besides the Feng family servants, could come and go freely? They appeared from the southwestern mountain slope, the only route that could bypass the garrison troops and enter the hunting grounds. If we could think of it, others could too!” Yan Sikong’s chest heaved violently as he gritted his teeth. “As for Ah Li… I don’t know why he went to find Xiao Liu. I will investigate this matter. If he betrayed me, I will kill him myself!”

Feng Ye said fiercely, “You always have excuses to justify yourself. You would go to any lengths for revenge. The Feng family did not force you to do anything. You wanted to act on your own.”

“Nonsense!” Yan Sikong’s eyes almost bled with rage. “If I, Yan Sikong, were truly behind this, it wouldn’t have ended like this! How could I be so foolish as to leave your father in the camp? How could I be so foolish as to have no plan? How could I be so foolish as to let you be captured!”

“You probably didn’t expect to be injured. Maybe it disrupted your plans. You watched the Feng family retreat step by step, saw Yan Zilian lose the emperor’s favor, and you grew scared.” Feng Ye’s voice was laced with killing intent. “You feared losing all your support, feared Chen Mu being deposed, feared your years of scheming turning to dust. After I rejected you, you took desperate measures.”

Yan Sikong’s heart ached unbearably. He growled, “Feng Ye, no matter how mad I am, I would never put you in danger. You once said you believed in me…”

“I did believe in you!” Feng Ye snarled. “I exposed your schemes time and again but still tried to understand you. Despite your calculating and treacherous nature, I wanted to believe in you, but you repeatedly showed me that you are unworthy of trust!”

Yan Sikong looked at the face he had been concerned about day and night, feeling each word pierce his heart. The person he had worked so hard to save, who he had risked his life for, now misunderstood him so deeply.

Tears welled in Yan Sikong’s eyes, his face a mix of anger and sorrow. “Feng Ye, think carefully. Who is most eager to harm the Feng family? Who got your father drunk? Who made Zhao Fuyi get the news so quickly? Now that you and your father are imprisoned, who is most pleased? Who?” He shouted, “Is it me, Yan Sikong?”

Struggle flashed in Feng Ye’s eyes. He felt his insides twist in pain, making it difficult to breathe. He said hoarsely, “You, Yan Sikong, recount all that you have done. How can I not suspect you?”

Yan Sikong, holding back his pain, said, “Feng Ye, you speak of understanding and believing in me, but you have never truly forgiven me. In your eyes, I am always a vile villain.”

Feng Ye remained silent.

Yan Sikong took a deep breath and glanced at the incense burning halfway. “Very well, I did not come here to defend myself. My teacher and I have been working tirelessly to clear the Feng family’s name. I need you to recount everything you saw that day, including what happened the night before after drinking. As for between us… we shall not discuss it.”

Feng Ye paused for a moment, then began recounting the events in a flat tone. The whole situation gradually unfolded before Yan Sikong.

That night, Emperor Zhao Wu, using the spring hunt and Feng Jianping’s ceremony as excuses, rewarded the officials with a lot of wine. Feng Jianping, in particular, was frequently toasted, and although Feng Ye tried to stop them, both he and his father ended up drunk.

According to Xue Bo, apart from him and the Feng family servants who took care of the father and son, Emperor Zhao Wu also sent several eunuchs with detoxifying soup and medicine, and to clean up the waste. As for Xiao Liu, the coachman, although he had access to the main tent, it was unclear when and who stole the military token.

Early the next morning, Feng Ye went hunting. Due to the low-lying terrain of the Shanhai hunting grounds, surrounded by rivers, morning fog was common throughout most of the year, and that day was no exception. When he heard the commotion, the garrison troops and Feng family soldiers had already clashed. When he arrived nearby, he discovered that the so-called “assassins” were Feng family soldiers. He tried to stop them, but amidst the chaos, he was powerless. Zhao Fuyi personally ordered him to dismount and surrender.

As for Xiao Liu, he was shot with several arrows and died.

The more Yan Sikong listened, the colder he felt. The entire plan was full of holes. Anyone could see that the Feng family was framed. Yet Xie Zhongren dared to use such clumsy tactics to frame loyal subjects, confident in his actions because Emperor Zhao Wu wanted them dead. Thus, any fabricated “crime” would be treated as treason.

As Feng Ye concluded his story, his anger and frustration mixed together, causing him to cough up blood.

“Feng Ye!” Yan Sikong, panic-stricken, threw the best wound medicine and internal pills into the cage. “Your health must not collapse. I will definitely get you out!”

Feng Ye looked at Yan Sikong, struggling with his gaze. “How will you rescue me? We have already been captured. Treason is a major crime, and only death awaits us.”

Yan Sikong looked around instinctively. Grasping the iron bars, he said in a deep voice, “If my teacher also cannot be saved, I have already made plans with She Zhun to stage a prison break.”

—

Feng Ye stiffened. “But this is the Imperial Prison.”

“Even if it’s hell, I will rescue you,” Yan Sikong’s lips trembled. “Even if you doubt me… I will never let you die.”

Feng Ye was somewhat moved, but Yan Sikong had deceived him more than once. Now, with the entire Feng family facing extermination due to betrayal, his heart was filled with hatred and he could no longer easily trust anyone.

Yan Sikong struggled to suppress his longing but couldn’t hold it back. He slowly extended his hand and whispered, “I’m leaving now, Feng Ye. May I… touch you?”

Feng Ye’s form swayed slightly. The two of them, separated by the iron bars and less than a yard of distance, seemed to be divided by an insurmountable chasm. It felt as if no matter how hard they tried, they could never embrace each other again.

As the incense was about to burn out, its dim flickering light was struggling in its final moments. Yan Sikong glanced at the incense and then at Feng Ye, silently pleading.

Finally, Feng Ye moved forward and took Yan Sikong’s hand.

Yan Sikong gripped that hand tightly, looking at the bloodstained body before him, which was a stark contrast to the once heroic young noble he remembered. Choked with emotion, he said, “Feng Ye, you must survive. I will definitely rescue you. I will save you.”

Feng Ye’s eyes reddened, biting his lip. He refused to show any sign of weakness in front of Yan Sikong. He would rather they had not met today, so he wouldn’t have to doubt or expose his most miserable self.

The incense finally went out. Yan Sikong, with tears in his eyes, tried to withdraw his hand, but Feng Ye held on tightly.

Feng Ye’s voice was hoarse but resolute. “I will not die. I, Feng Ye, was born to overturn the world. I will never die in this mere cage. I will make all who dare to harm me wish they had never been born!”

Feng Ye released his hand. Yan Sikong took one last deep look at him and forced himself to turn and leave.

Guided by the jailer, Yan Sikong left the Imperial Prison secretly and hurried back home.

By the time he returned to the mansion, it was late at night. He didn’t use the main entrance but slipped in through a side door. After retrieving a dagger from his study, he went to Ah Li’s room and knocked quietly.

After a while, Ah Li opened the door and looked surprised to see Yan Sikong.

Yan Sikong entered the room with a blank expression, closing the door behind him. As Ah Li was about to gesture a question about the late visit, Yan Sikong suddenly attacked. He kicked Ah Li’s abdomen, sending the burly body crashing into the bed.

Yan Sikong swiftly moved onto the bed, pinning Ah Li’s chest with his knee and stabbing towards his eye with the dagger.

Ah Li’s eyes widened in shock, filled with panic, confusion, fear, and grievance. He instinctively tried to block the attack, but his arm was frozen in mid-air. In the critical moment, all his emotions crystallized into despair as he watched Yan Sikong’s dagger descend.

The blade, glinting coldly, stopped just above Ah Li’s eye. With a slight push, his eye would be gone.

Ah Li stared with wide eyes, not daring to breathe.

Yan Sikong’s voice was icy. “Why did you go to find Xiao Liu?”

Ah Li signaled: Young master, what wrong have I done?

“Why did you go to find Xiao Liu?” Yan Sikong’s dagger inched closer. “If you dare lie, I’ll kill you!”

Ah Li’s hand trembled, and he gestured: That time, I injured him and felt guilty, so I secretly sent him some medicinal supplements.

Yan Sikong was taken aback.

Ah Li was referring to the scene he and Feng Ye had performed in front of his mansion. Earlier, when he still lived in the old residence and had no carriage, Xiao Liu often picked him up and dropped him off at Feng Ye’s command. Ah Li had seen Xiao Liu many times and perhaps considered him one of his few “friends.”

Ah Li, with his natural strength, might not have controlled his power well when he threw Xiao Liu from the horse. He had been worried about it and had later asked about Xiao Liu’s injury, but since Yan Sikong had never paid much attention to Xiao Liu, he hadn’t been concerned.

Seeing Ah Li’s guilty and terrified expression, and his obedience as the dagger approached, it didn’t seem like an act. Yan Sikong felt a mix of emotions. He roared and slapped Ah Li hard.

Ah Li’s eyes turned red, trembling as he gestured: Young master, what wrong have I done?

Yan Sikong stood up, gritting his teeth. “A few days ago, in the case of the rebellion of King Jingyuan, Xiao Liu stole the military token to mobilize the troops. He was bribed by Xie Zhongren!”

Ah Li, in a panic, “said” that Xiao Liu had mentioned he was secretly pledged to a woman, and from his words, Yan Sikong felt the woman was from Smoke Willow Street.

Yan Sikong said coldly, “Investigate.”

Ah Li nodded.

“From now on, do not act without my orders.”

Ah Li got up, knelt on the ground, and said excitedly: My life is given by the young master. I will never betray the young master, even if it means death.

Yan Sikong sighed deeply.

If Xiao Liu had already been bribed by Xie Zhongren, then Xie Zhongren should have known that he and Feng Ye were acting. But from the Liu An incident, Xie Zhongren appeared unaware. He wouldn’t sacrifice a minister to deceive Yan Sikong. This meant there were two possibilities: either Xiao Liu had not revealed his true relationship with Feng Ye, or Xie Zhongren bribed Xiao Liu after Liu An’s demotion.

He needed to determine whether Xie Zhongren knew the truth, as it would affect his next steps. And the woman might provide the answer.

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