Chapter 65: Imprisoned — I Knew You Would Come
With Liu Hexiao’s command, the scholars erupted in fury, accusing him of siding with tyranny. The scene descended into chaos as voices rose and the crowd surged. In the commotion, Yihuan was swept into the fray and pushed into the throng.
The soldiers charged forward, swiftly subduing the protesting scholars. In no time, the disorderly group was bound and captured.
Caught in the middle, Yihuan found herself restrained alongside them, mistaken as one of their accomplices.
She stood frozen, staring at Liu Hexiao as if she no longer recognized him. Her lips moved, but no words came out.
Liu Hexiao’s cold gaze swept over the bound captives. When his eyes fell on her petite figure, his expression faltered for just a moment.
His brow twitched, but his face remained impassive.
One of his subordinates stepped forward and reported, “Sir, we’ve apprehended all the troublemakers. How should we deal with them?”
Liu Hexiao’s voice was icy as he gave the order: “Take them to the Chief Magistrate prison.”
The subordinate hesitated. “Not the Ministry of Justice prison?”
Given the severity of their actions, it would typically warrant detention at the Ministry of Justice, where they would face harsh interrogation. Why send them to the smaller Chief Magistrate jail instead?
Liu Hexiao’s voice turned sharper. “Do you think the Ministry of Justice isn’t chaotic enough already?”
The subordinate froze. He understood— Grand Scholar and the implicated officials were already imprisoned there, and adding a group of protesting scholars would only make the situation worse.
Without further questioning, the subordinate obeyed and led the group toward the Chief Magistrate prison.
Amid the crowd, Yihuan was jostled and shoved along. She neither protested nor showed any sign of fear. Her unwavering gaze remained fixed on Liu Hexiao until he faded from sight. Only then did she lower her eyes and tighten her grip on her emotions.
Liu Hexiao’s eyes lingered on her retreating figure, his expression darkening. A flicker of concern flashed across his otherwise stoic face.
As the crowd on Changming Street dispersed, another group of soldiers in full armor arrived, their presence imposing.
At the forefront rode the Deputy Minister of War, sent by imperial decree to arrest the protesters. The emperor had explicitly ordered him to execute a few on the spot as a warning to others.
When the Deputy Minister arrived, he was informed that Liu Hexiao had already taken control of the situation.
The minister scoffed coldly. “That Liu Hexiao… always quick to act.”
—
At the Chief Magistrate prison, male and female prisoners were held separately. Yihuan was placed in a cell with other women who had also been mistakenly detained.
The women wept and protested their innocence. Some had merely been passing through Changming Street, while others had tried to dissuade their sons from joining the protest. Yet, all of them had been caught up in the sweep.
“It’s all because of that heartless Lord Liu!” one woman cried bitterly.
Another woman, older and more authoritative, huffed. “Lord Liu is no ordinary official. He’s the Prince Qi’s heir!”
The others turned to her in curiosity. “What about the Prince Qi’s heir?”
The older woman smirked knowingly. “I’ve heard that the Prince Qi’s heir spends his days idling around, causing trouble. Didn’t he once bully someone in broad daylight? And they say he’s a regular at the brothels and gambling halls.” She paused for dramatic effect. “With someone like that, what good can we expect now that we’re in his hands?”
Her animated recounting drew everyone’s attention.
The others gasped in shock, and the more timid among them began to cry.
Yihuan, who had been silently listening, stood up and spoke firmly. “Madam, did you witness these events with your own eyes?”
The woman hesitated. “Well, everyone says so. It must be true!”
Yihuan’s tone grew colder. “If you didn’t see it yourself, then don’t tarnish someone’s reputation.”
The woman bristled at Yihuan’s words, her tone turning sharp. “Who are you to defend him? And what business is it of yours if I speak of him?”
The others looked at Yihuan with curiosity, their interest piqued. One of them suddenly exclaimed, “Wait! She’s the girl from Shengjing Dessert Shop! I heard that the shop belongs to the Prince Qi’s heir!”
The group erupted in shocked whispers.
“So you’re one of them?”
The older woman wasted no time lunging at Yihuan, her expression fierce. She grabbed Yihuan aggressively, as if trying to assert her dominance.
Yihuan’s expression turned icy. Without hesitation, she removed the hairpin from her head and pressed it firmly against the woman’s neck.
The crowd froze.
This move—swift and precise—was something Yihuan had secretly learned while watching Liu Hexiao teach Lin Yiran self-defense.
The women were startled and immediately backed away, none daring to approach.
“Ah! Let me go! Let me go!” the older woman screamed, panicked and visibly regretting her earlier outburst.
“Don’t move,” Yihuan said sternly.
The older woman froze, terrified of provoking Yihuan further.
Yihuan’s expression was grave as she looked at the group and spoke firmly. “Listen carefully. I will only say this once.”
Everyone fell silent, holding their breath.
“Yes, Shengjing Dessert Shop is managed by the Shizi and me,” Yihuan said calmly, “but the Shizi is not the kind of person you think he is.” Her steady gaze swept across each face in the room. “If we’re imprisoned here, he must have his reasons. Once everything is resolved, he’ll release us. If you refuse to believe that and insist on stirring up trouble, then suit yourselves. But if you cause any real trouble, you’ll not only lose your lives but may even drag your families down with you. You’re all aware of how harsh our kingdom’s laws are, aren’t you?”
Her words landed heavily, silencing the group.
Everyone in the capital knew the grim fate of former Left Minister Lin. His insistence on urging the emperor to abolish brutal punishments had enraged the throne. Even as the son of Prime Minister Lin, he couldn’t escape cruel punishment. His fall from grace had led to his father’s exile, his siblings left destitute, and the glory of the Lin family wiped away overnight.
Seeing that the women had calmed down, Yihuan turned back to the older woman. “Instead of wasting your energy gossiping, perhaps you should conserve your strength for what’s to come.”
The older woman nodded quickly, and only then did Yihuan release her.
The earlier exchange left everyone wary of Yihuan. They edged away, sitting as far from her as possible.
Yihuan returned to her spot in the corner, pulling the jade whistle from her sleeve.
She stared at the delicate object, its smooth surface glinting faintly in the dim light. She gazed at it in a daze for a long moment before carefully tucking it away again.
Time passed slowly. Eventually, Yihuan leaned against the wall and dozed off.
—
When she woke, it was the middle of the night.
The faint moonlight from a tiny window high up in the prison ceiling cast a pale glow, illuminating just a small square of the room.
Yihuan thought she heard movement near the cell door. She held her breath and listened intently.
After a moment, the cell door creaked open.
A tall figure slipped inside like a shadow, moving swiftly to cover her mouth and scoop her up before she could react.
Before Yihuan could struggle, a familiar scent reached her nose.
Under the moonlight, she opened her eyes wide and saw Liu Hexiao’s face. His profile was illuminated by the silvery light, cool and flawless, glowing faintly.
Liu Hexiao carried her out of the cell and into a narrow passageway where they hid in the shadows.
Yihuan looked up at him, her lips curving into a faint smile.
Liu Hexiao frowned slightly. “You’ve been in this prison all day. How can you still be smiling?”
In a soft voice, Yihuan replied, “I just knew you’d come for me.”
Liu Hexiao raised an eyebrow. “That doesn’t mean you should’ve gotten involved in their nonsense.”
Yihuan bit her lip but said nothing, her gaze fixed on him, her eyes shimmering with emotion.
Liu Hexiao could never resist her look. His heart softened, and he pulled her closer into his arms.
After a moment of silence, he said, “I’ll take you back.”
Yihuan lifted her head. “I’m not going.”
His voice lowered, turning serious. “I have important matters to handle in the coming days. I might not be able to look after you. Leaving you here makes me uneasy.”
Yihuan shook her head firmly. “If I leave, the others will definitely start making trouble. If I stay, I can at least help keep them in check.”
She knew there was no way the scholars or the detained women could be released at the moment. If chaos erupted and word got out, they would almost certainly be sent to the harsher Ministry of Justice prison, where death might await them.
Liu Hexiao hesitated, deep in thought. The winds of change were already blowing in Shengjing. If Yihuan returned to Changming Street and unrest truly broke out, who knew what dangers she might face? At least in the prison, she would remain under his watchful eye.
Still, he frowned. “But the conditions here are terrible, and the food is barely edible…”
Yihuan chuckled softly. “Is this really the time to be worrying about food?”
In a low voice, Liu Hexiao admitted, “It’s been a long time since I’ve had anything you’ve made… I miss it.”
Her eyes welled up with tears, and she whispered, “Once all this is over, I’ll cook for you every day.”
He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “It’s a promise.”
After escorting her back to the cell, Liu Hexiao disappeared into the night.
Yihuan watched as he left, gazing at the fading moon in the sky. The first light of dawn was already gathering on the horizon.
The sound of iron chains clanking loudly woke Yihuan from her light sleep.
As her eyes fluttered open, she saw two fierce-looking jailers standing before her.
The jailers scanned the room, their presence intimidating. Most of the women instinctively shrank back into the corners.
One of the jailers barked, his voice rough and grating: “The official will be interrogating you one by one today! If you know what’s good for you, confess quickly and save yourself the pain of torture!”
The women shuddered in fear, barely daring to breathe.
Yihuan’s heart pounded with unease, but she forced herself to remain calm.
The jailers’ eyes swept over the group and landed on Yihuan, who sat alone in the corner, silent and composed.
“You,” one of them growled. “You go first!”
