Chapter 156 My Brother's Entrustment

Chapter 156 My Brother's Entrustment

In the early hours of that night, firelight illuminated the stone walls of the prison, where various instruments of torture hung.

Several prison guards sat drowsily in front of a dark, square table.

They were all startled awake by the sound outside the door, shook their heads, and looked at their colleagues dressed in the same jailer uniforms.

The sound of the watchman striking his gong came from outside.

"You guys are pretty punctual," the jailer said, yawning as he stood up, stretching and flexing his stiff body.

"Where's Lao He? Why hasn't he arrived yet?" another person asked.

"He'll be here soon. It's cold outside, so put on your coat," the head jailer, who was coming to relieve the shift, instructed.

"Okay."

No one noticed anything amiss and they left, yawning.

The change of guards took only a short while.

The head jailer winked at the other two, and they left.

A short while later, three people returned.

The head jailer bowed his head and said, "Your Highness, please follow me."

Shen Nanzi, dressed in a prison guard's uniform, followed the prison guard away.

The prison was damp and cold, filled with a foul, nauseating odor.

The further in you go, the dimmer the light becomes.

There weren't many prisoners in the prison, and many cells were empty.

Shen Nanzi observed the whole way.

Upon reaching the last cell, the jailer stopped and whispered instructions:

"Speak quickly, someone will come to inspect in a quarter of an hour."

Shen Nanzi nodded.

The jailer left.

Shen Nanzi looked into the cell and saw the burly Shen Minghan leaning against the cell wall, his eyes fixed on her.

"elder brother!"

Upon hearing her voice, Shen Minghan's eyes immediately lit up, and he quickly got up and walked to the cell door.

Shen Nanzi noticed that his movements were noticeably slower, and her eyes instantly filled with tears. Her voice choked with emotion, "Brother, where are you hurt?"

She pulled out two thumb-sized medicine bottles from her bosom. "These contain medicine for injuries. One is pills, and the other is powder. One is for internal use, and the other is for external application. Brother, take some."

Shen Minghan took it, poured out a black pill, and put it in his mouth.

"They're all minor injuries."

Seeing that her brother's hair had turned gray and his face looked haggard after only a few days of not seeing him, Shen Nanzi felt heartbroken.

Seeing her tears falling, Shen Minghan reached out and, just like when they were children, used his sleeve to wipe away the tears from her face.

"Don't cry, your brother didn't suffer."

Feeling the warmth of her brother's fingers through the fabric, Shen Nanzi thought of the jailer's words and looked up:

"Brother, Xie Yu is injured, and his life hangs in the balance."

Shen Minghan showed little surprise, as if he had already expected it. "How did you get in?"

“I went back to Prince Jing’s residence, got the silver notes, and made some arrangements.”

"You can't just enter the Heavenly Prison with a silver note."

Shen Nanzi instantly understood and cautiously looked around. "Brother, do you mean someone let me in?"

“Hmm,” Shen Minghan said thoughtfully, glancing around warily, his voice low, “It seems they are the ones who helped you.”

Shen Nanzi guessed that it was probably her brother's advisor.

"Brother, where is the military tally?" Shen Nanzi asked in a low voice as well.

Shen Minghan: "I've hidden it in the crack of the bedroom door. But after you take it, go and meet up with your sister-in-law and the others immediately."

Worried that someone might be overheard, Shen Minghan wrote the address in Shen Nanzi's palm.

"However, the Grand Commandant's mansion is definitely under surveillance. You'll have to find a way to get in. If you can't get in, then give up."

Shen Nanzi said, "Brother, don't worry, I'll find a way to get it out."

"Once you have them, take them and leave Luoyang immediately for the Shuofang border."

border?

Shen Nanzi's eyes widened. "And what about you, brother?"

Shen Minghan stared at her. "Prince Jing seems unstoppable now, but he is just a pawn in this game, only more conspicuous."

Shen Nanzi's eyes flickered slightly.

Shen Minghan continued, "If he could control everything, my brother wouldn't be in this prison today."

"The player in this game is someone else!"

Shen Nanzi's eyes trembled. Even if she was slow to realize it, she could guess who it was.

"The Sixth Prince is not the Emperor's preferred heir apparent, as are the Fifth Prince and even Prince Jing."

Shen Nanzi looked up in shock, “It’s Xie Yao’s son, Xie Hongrui.”

Shen Minghan nodded, "The people I mentioned, including us, will all be purged by the Emperor. Before he dies, he will clear away all obstacles."

Shen Nanzi's fingers gripped the thick piece of wood, her fingertips turning white.

"I never expected that Xie Yan was also doing the work for someone else. His goal is actually the same as the Emperor's."

Shen Minghan shook his head: "Xie Yan is also the biggest variable at the moment."

Shen Nanzi didn't quite understand, "Does brother think he will fight for it?"

Shen Minghan's gaze was resolute: "No man would stop in the face of absolute power, especially a young master."

Shen Nanzi shook her head slightly and said in a low voice, "Not necessarily, brother. I have witnessed his boundless tolerance of Xue Qingning."

Shen Minghan looked at her with concern, "If your brother can't get out, then your sister-in-law, three nephews and one niece will be in your care!"

Shen Nanzi shook her head, tears streaming down her face like a burst dam. "Brother, you know I'm the most useless person."

"For so many years, my arrogance has been based on you, brother. You mustn't say such discouraging things."

"I'll find a way. I've already set up trade routes. Even if it means breaking you out of prison, I'll get you out."

"Shen Nanzi!" Shen Minghan wiped away Shen Nanzi's tears with his sleeve again, his tone stern, "Listen to me, the Sixth Prince is out of the picture, now our Shen family depends on you!"

"You must carefully consider the situation before making any decision, and you cannot act recklessly without considering the consequences."

"Remember! That's the bloodline of the Shen family! You have to protect it well for me!"

Her brother always treated her like a child, and always took care of everything for her.

As a result, even as she grew older, she still relied on her brother for everything.

She goes to her brother for everything, even the smallest things; his word is her choice.

Shen Nanzi shook her head, her eyes red, refusing to accept this heavy responsibility.

If she accepts, her brother will truly feel at ease confessing his guilt.

He will stubbornly live on only because she refuses.

Shen Minghan was well aware of his sister's thoughts.

"After you've settled in, help your brother investigate someone. He's the one who sent the message, asking me to send your sister-in-law and nephew away. If it weren't for this person, I'm afraid the entire Shen family would be wiped out."

"He is our Shen family's benefactor!"

Shen Nanzi nodded, "I will definitely find out."

At that moment, the head jailer walked over.

"The patrol is coming soon, Your Highness, leave immediately!"

Shen Nanzi looked at Shen Minghan, memorizing his face, burying it deep in her heart, "Brother!"

Shen Minghan turned his back and waved his sleeve, "Go quickly! Your brother believes in you!"

Shen Nanzi could tell that her brother was suppressing his grief.

They lost!

We lost on the Emperor's chessboard!