The Blood Crown - Chapter 86

Yan Sikong took out some prepared silver and politely handed it to the chief jailer.

“Lord Yan, what’s the meaning of this?” The chief jailer quickly declined. “I can’t accept this.”

Yan Sikong smiled, “I’m here on the orders of the Grand Marshal and the Chief Secretary to persuade Ge Zhong to sign on the charges against him. I hope you can cooperate with me to let our brothers avoid trouble.”

The chief jailer whispered, “It’s no use. Once they’re sentenced, they refuse to sign.”

“I know, but the Grand Marshal asked me to give it a try.” Yan Sikong also whispered, mimicking his tone, “When you’re punished with wine later, I’ll try to offer a toast.”

The chief jailer smiled knowingly, “Lord Yan, single-handedly persuading Kui Prefecture, with your eloquence, you captured the city without shedding blood. We admire that. No wonder the Grand Marshal sent you. Rest assured.” He signaled for the jailers to leave with him.

Yan Sikong tucked the money pouch into his arms. “Buy some good wine for the brothers.”

“That’s very kind of you, Lord Yan. Thank you.” The chief jailer and the jailers left happily.

Yan Sikong closed the iron door of the cell. By the dim light, he descended the narrow stone steps, his footsteps light as if afraid to disturb a dream, not daring to make too much noise.

After all, he had been waiting for this day for eleven years.

The cell emitted a smell of mold and blood mixed together, making it hard to breathe. Dim moonlight filtered through the high window, casting eerie shadows of various cold and bizarre torture devices on the wall. As the moonlight reached the corner, it had completely disappeared, the pitch-black darkness seeming to devour everything around it.

Yan Sikong, dressed in immaculate white, looked out of place in this place of soaring resentment. His originally relaxed and elegant demeanor was replaced by a chill, and the white garment that wandered in the darkness couldn’t help but seem a bit eerie.

Yan Sikong approached the only cell in the prison, quietly watching the man lying with his back to him on the crude bed. The man, whose face was full of decay and looked twenty years older overnight, was none other than Ge Zhong—the once illustrious governor of the two lakes, now a prisoner.

Ge Zhong, with empty eyes, glanced indifferently at him before turning away.

“Lord Ge.” Yan Sikong spoke softly, “We will be departing for the capital tomorrow. I brought some good wine and food. Would you like to share a drink with me?”

“Don’t waste your effort,” Ge Zhong said hoarsely, “I am innocent of the charges. I won’t sign even if you kill me.”

“We’ll talk about the charges later. Life is like a floating duckweed, at the mercy of the wind and rain. Why not enjoy some pleasure in time and not waste this good wine and food?” 

Ge Zhong fell silent for a moment, then turned around, slowly climbing up from the bed. His frail body looked extremely feeble.

Yan Sikong sat on the ground, placing the wine and food inside the iron railing, pouring two cups of wine and handing one to Ge Zhong. “Here, Lord Ge, I toast you.”

Ge Zhong sneered, “What are you toasting me for?”

“Toasting Lord Ge’s unwavering integrity.”

Ge Zhong couldn’t tell if Yan Sikong was mocking him, but he didn’t bother to care. He didn’t wait for Yan Sikong, but lifted the cup himself and downed it. The spicy wine flowed down his throat, numbing the pain and coldness somewhat. He exclaimed, “Good, good wine!”

Yan Sikong also drank a cup, “Lord Ge, the food is still warm. Please have some.”

Ge Zhong didn’t hesitate, picking up the bowl and taking a few bites.

Yan Sikong, however, didn’t touch his chopsticks, just smiling faintly at Ge Zhong. Though only separated by a few iron bars, his gaze at Ge Zhong was like that of a hunter looking at his prey caught in his trap, deciding life and death, all in his hands, enjoying it.

Ge Zhong suddenly realized something, lifted his head, and met Yan Sikong’s cold yet smiling eyes. His heart trembled fiercely, feeling a chill run down his spine.

Yan Sikong said, “Lord Ge, eat more.”

Ge Zhong stopped, hesitatingly looking at the food in his hands.

Yan Sikong laughed, “Are you afraid I poisoned it?” He also took a few bites.

Ge Zhong snorted coldly, “We have no grudges, why would you poison a dying man like me?”

Yan Sikong thought to himself, We do have grudges, but I won’t poison you. I want to watch you being escorted to the execution platform, and I’ll be there to watch you beheaded, just like my father watched from the audience back then.

Ge Zhong finished his meal, leaning weakly against the wall. “You can go now. Whatever you want to say, I won’t sign.”

Yan Sikong took out a scroll from his sleeve, filled with words he wrote himself, many of which were evidence he personally collected. He spread out the scroll, facing Ge Zhong. “Would Lord Ge like to take a look at his indictment?”

Ge Zhong didn’t even lift his eyes, murmuring, “I didn’t rebel. I am innocent. I won’t sign.”

“I know you are innocent, Lord Ge.”

Ge Zhong was taken aback and looked at Yan Sikong. “You know?”

Yan Sikong’s tone was gentle. “Yes, I know you are innocent of rebellion, Lord Ge.”

Ge Zhong suddenly became agitated. “What do you know? Who framed me? Who wrote those letters and placed them in my mansion? Was it you? Was it?”

“Although you are innocent of rebellion, there is plenty of solid evidence for other crimes,” Yan Sikong replied calmly.

“I did not rebel!” Ge Zhong glared fiercely at Yan Sikong. “What do you know?”

But Yan Sikong didn’t rush to answer his question, only smiled and said, “Are you still waiting for Prime Minister Xie to save you? Prime Minister Xie is currently overwhelmed with troubles because of you. He has abandoned you long ago.”

“What do you want to say?” Ge Zhong’s voice turned cold. “No matter how you provoke me, I will never sign, never admit to something I didn’t do. Give up on this idea.”

“With all your crimes, Lord Ge, you cannot escape death. Are you also not concerned about your son and relatives?” Yan Sikong asked.

Ge Zhong narrowed his eyes.

“If you refuse to sign, the final outcome will either be a confession under duress or forced signing. Each charge on the indictment will then be confirmed. But if you are willing to sign, the Grand Marshal and the Chief Secretary will treat your son leniently.” Yan Sikong smiled. “Recently, the Empress Dowager’s health has been failing. The Emperor is a filial son. As long as you beg for her forgiveness to pray for her health, your son can be spared.”

“Why should I trust a mere lackey like you? If Zhao Fuyi truly promises to spare my son, let him come and say it himself. Who do you think you are?” Ge Zhong cursed.

“The Grand Marshal’s status is noble. How could he bargain with a prisoner? This message can only be conveyed by me,” Yan Sikong replied.

“You…” Ge Zhong cursed. “Then get lost! I don’t believe you. I, Ge Zhong, am loyal and righteous. I would rather die with dignity than live in disgrace!”

Yan Sikong chuckled a few times, then burst into laughter, laughing so hard that his whole body trembled. The laughter echoed in the spacious dungeon, colliding with the damp walls, eerie torture devices, and dim candlelight, evoking chilling echoes as if attracting all sorts of evil spirits to laugh along, making it spine-chilling to hear.

Ge Zhong looked around anxiously and angrily. “Why are you laughing? Stop laughing!”

After a long time, Yan Sikong finally stopped laughing. He shook his head and sighed, “I never expected, Ge Zhong, Lord Ge, to be such a staunch and unyielding person. Your pride and dignity are admirable, fit for admiration by all. It’s a pity, though. If I didn’t know your true colors, I would admire you.”

Ge Zhong exclaimed in hatred, “I did not rebel! I did not rebel…”

“You indeed did not rebel,” Yan Sikong stared directly at Ge Zhong. “But did you not embezzle, extort, abuse power, sell offices, and abuse your authority?”

Ge Zhong’s face twisted in anger. “Those are all framed by someone! Just like those forged letters, someone framed me! All of them, all forged!”

“Oh, those letters.” Yan Sikong smiled. “Lord Ge must be familiar with forged letters. You must also know someone who can imitate handwriting, right?”

“Have you found the person who can imitate handwriting?” Ge Zhong grabbed the iron bars with both hands. “Go and investigate! If there is none in Jingzhou, then investigate elsewhere!”

Yan Sikong smiled and picked up the indictment that Ge Zhong had scorned to look at. He spread it out in front of him and said softly, “Lord Ge, as a renowned calligrapher, the ‘Imperial Edict’ you wrote a few years ago was praised as having the style of the ‘Boyuan Tablet.’ I dare not offer criticism lightly, so I invite Lord Ge to appreciate it. How is the imitation of these characters?”

Ge Zhong blinked, looked at the indictment, and suddenly widened his eyes. Scanning through it, he realized that it was not an indictment for him to sign, but a confession letter. And the handwriting on the paper was unmistakably his own!

Ge Zhong stared at Yan Sikong like he was seeing a demon, trembling and pointing at him. “You… you… you forged this… you…”

But Yan Sikong just smiled, saying nothing.

Ge Zhong suddenly roared and lunged forward, extending his thin, twig-like arms through the iron bars, grabbing at Yan Sikong.

Yan Sikong elegantly dodged aside.

“Who are you!” Ge Zhong’s eyes were bloodshot, his expression ferocious. He shouted fiercely, “Why are you doing this to me!”

Yan Sikong admired Ge Zhong’s frantic and crazed appearance, feeling supreme pleasure. He chuckled, “Ge Zhong, do you remember Guangning eleven years ago?” (End of Chapter)