Chapter 73: Saving a life, father and daughter negotiate (1/2)

Han Congan was a convict awaiting execution and was prohibited from having visitors. But Han Yunxi had special status; moreover, she was the crown prince’s lifesaver. Though the latter wasn’t common knowledge, the justice court minister had the social connections to know this fact. He’d long told his subordinates to let her in if she came. The prison guards who’d punished her illegally last time were all so frightened that they hid away, afraid that she’d recognize them.

The prison guard leading the way warned her in a low tone, “Esteemed wangfei, Han Congan’s been yelling to see you since last night.”

“Un, you can go. I’ll call you if there’s anything I need,” Han Yunxi said mildly.

It wasn’t strange that Han Congan wanted to see her. He probably wanted her to save his life. Han Yunxi really didn’t understand someone like this: he knew they were hostile to each other, but why did he still bother trying? Begging wouldn’t get him anywhere, so couldn’t he grow a bit of backbone?

—

When Han Congan saw Han Yunxi arrive, he rushed over in pleasant surprise. Thank goodness the metal bars held him back, because a night and half a day had been enough to change him into something less than human. With his wild hair and disheveled prison clothes, it was obvious that he’d been tortured. Could anyone avoid torture in the imperial prisons? Even Han Yunxi had suffered through it.

“Daughter, you’ve finally come…”

“Father knew that you’d come! Father knew that you wouldn’t cast him aside.”

Han Congan’s voice was choked in his throat, his hollow eyes turning red like a pitiful old man. Those who didn’t know anything would think that Han Yunxi was the unfilial daughter that cast him aside. She only gave him a cold look before settling to sit by the wall. Seeing this, Han Congan’s eyes turned redder as he gripped the prison bars and slowly slid to the ground.

“Daughter, you’re the only one who can save father now!”

“All of father’s hopes rest on you…won’t you say something?”

……

Han Congan’s eyes were filled with heartfelt expectation, his hoary voice grieved and heartbroken. But Han Yunxi remained unmoved. She examined him coldly, turning him numb with her scrutiny. He suddenly fell silent and gave her a mournful look, feeling especially wretched.

“Han Congan, you finally remembered that I’m your daughter,” Han Yunxi spoke, her face drawn into a sneer. When had this father ever called her ‘daughter’ in her memories?

Han Congan smoothed out his lips, hands brushing through his beard as he shook his head and muttered to himself. He seemed to regret things deeply, but Han Yunxi didn’t hear what he said. Soon enough, he lifted his head against and grabbed the prison bars, very agitated.

“Daughter, your father knows his wrongs. Father is already this age, so won’t you forgive him? This is father begging you!”

“Why?” Han Yunxi asked coldly. His child had already grown up before he asked for forgiveness. Wasn’t that just laughable?

“Yunxi, for better or worse, I’m still your father. Can you bear to see your father paraded as a prisoner through the streets? You old father can’t afford to lose such face!”

“Right now, you’re the only one who can save father. Just treat it as father begging you, begging you…begging you on behalf of your dead mother to save father just this once!”

It’d be better if Han Congan had never said those words. But once he did, Han Yunxi’s temper flared up and she impatiently cut him off. “Divine Doctor Han, you’re overpraising me. You’ve been convicted with a capital offence and I don’t have such power in my hands.”

“No! You saved the crown prince’s life. The emperor will definitely listen to you! Daughter, you even saved three generations of the Han Clan, so save your father too. His majesty will definitely listen to you! You’re a person who’s rendered extraordinary service!”

“How about, you plead with the Duke of Qin? The emperor will listen to the Duke of Qin’s words!”

Han Congan seemed to be clutching to his final life-saving rice straws, exerting all his efforts to speak and plead. “Yunxi, as long as you save father, father will do anything for you.” But the more he acted this way, the more Han Yunxi hated him.

“You’ll agree to anything, is that right?” she asked with a cold smile.

Han Congan hurriedly nodded his head, looking extremely pathetic.

“Very well. Then you tell me, how did my mother die?” Han Yunxi questioned. This was her only reason for coming here.

But these words stopped Han Congan’s entreaties. Han Yunxi didn’t miss the complicated flicker in his eyes and asked, “Were there witnesses when my mother died in labor? Were there any attempts to save her?”

Han Yunxi came straight to the point, her sharp questions changing Han Congan’s grieved eyes into clear and sharp ones. He thought that Han Yunxi would be like her mother, soft-hearted and easy to talk to. As long as he implored her, this girl would relent and rescue him. But he didn’t expect her to come for this matter. Seeing Han Congan’s face change, Han Yunxi smiled coldly. She knew her suspicions were right.

“What, do you think it’s strange I’d ask such a question?”

Han Yunxi’s voice hid traces of anger. She thought, if the truth matches my guess and Han Congan let my mother die because he was jealous of her medical skills, then he caused her death. If that’s the case, I’ll make this man suffer worse than death before he dies!

But the actual situation far exceeded Han Yunxi’s expectations. Han Congan looked at her and suddenly started to laugh.

“I never thought, never thought that I, Han Congan, would have a day like today, ahahaha!”

Han Yunxi frowned, unable to understand how a man who was begging for his life one moment could laugh so bleakly the next?

Was the truth different from her imagination?

“Are you going to tell me or not?” Han Yunxi wasn’t so patient.

“Han Yunxi, are you sure you won’t save father?” Han Congan suddenly grew serious, his tone turning menacing.