Chapter 245: Disapproval (1/2)

After breakfast, the emperor had Qi Chen brought to him. He sat on the throne looking down at the dejected man on his knees. His heart ached a little. He'd seen Qi Chen grow up. He wasn't willing to accept that Qi Chen would be capable of such atrocity.

“Tell me, Qi Chen,” the emperor said severely. “Who pushed you into committing such treacherous act?”

Qi Chen looked up at him and scoffed. “No one. It's all me.”

“Do you know what you did is a capital offense?”

“Of course I do. If Nan Xun hadn't arrived in time, I'd be the one sentencing you to death. If I had been a little crueler, I wouldn't have been stopped! Do you know that? It's your fault. It's your fault from the very beginning.”

Qi Chen broke into laughter. He laughed so hard that tears burst out from his eyes. He curled into himself and held his hands over his abdomen.

He'd always been a proud man. He wasn't going to submit to other people anymore. He stayed on the floor, motionless, a whirlwind of thoughts filling his head.

The emperor gave up. Qi Chen was no longer the obedient boy he remembered. He took a deep breath and motioned at the guards to take Qi Chen away. The way Qi Chen bared his teeth at him made his heart spasm.

Qi Chen was put back into the wet and dark cell. It was cold, but he refused to get up. He fell asleep lying on the floor.

It was dark outside when he woke up. He could hear noises of mice grinding their teeth. His face contorted into a scowl. He'd been used to living in luxury. He took a deep breath and stood up.

He stomped on the mouse, killing it in an instant. It was cathartic to imagine himself stepping on those who betrayed him.

“Your Highness.”

There were noises coming from the outside. Qi Chen had thought he was imagining things. The man called out for him again when there was no response. Qi Chen turned to the door and saw a familiar face. He frowned. Where had he seen this man before?

“I'm here to rescue Your Highness,” whispered the man. He took the key to the cell from an unconscious warden and unlocked the door, urging Qi Chen to leave with him.

Qi Chen didn't hesitate for too long. If he stayed, the only thing he'd receive was the poisonous wine gifted by the emperor. There was no way back for him. He must leave if he didn't want to die. He'd wait for a chance to make his comeback.

He approached the man and let him unlock the chains on his hands before walking out.

He hadn't been paying attention. Now he saw for himself how much trouble the man had gone through to rescue him. The prison was littered with dead wardens. They must have been weakened by incense first for them to suffer such great casualties.

It had nothing to do with him now. He left without a glance back.

There were a few men waiting for them outside. Qi Chen and his rescuer got into the coach, setting for the city gate. Qi Chen didn't ask where they were going.

Nan Xun and Jun Huan hadn't seen each other since their argument. He wasn't mad at her now, but he didn't know how to apologize to her. He debated over what to do as he paced his garden.

He was panicking a little. He knew what kind of a person Jun Huang was. He should have antic.i.p.ated Jun Huang's reaction. He'd been too forceful. He was to blame for their fight.

“Your Highness,” a shadow guard muttered into Nan Xun's ear. “Someone broke the second prince out of prison.”

Nan Xun stilled. The fact that someone broke Qi Chen out wasn't surprising, but he didn't expect them to act so quickly.

Someone else was involved. He told the shadow guard to describe what had happened in the cell. He came to the conclusion that Prince Duan was the one who did it. He shot to his feet, ignoring the shadow guard's confused expression.

“Follow me to Gentleman Feng's manor.” He rushed outside. The guard quickly caught up with him.

Qi Chen was close to falling asleep in the shaky coach. It came to a halt before a small residence. Disgust flashed through his expression, but he didn't say anything. He jumped off the coach and followed the servants inside.

The building was as small as a regular house. He'd never been in a place like this. It got on his nerves. He was a tiger fallen from his grace. Even a dog could bully him.