You've Got Mail: A Cautionary Tale

Chapter 96 — Anxious and Uneasy

Edited by DancingDolphinsYo

His heart aching, Guan Shanjin stroked Wu Xingzi’s cheek. “It’s no big deal. Going to jail is something that has been discussed with the Emperor. Don’t have such an expression, hmm?”

“It’s been discussed with the Emperor?” Wu Xingzi felt as though he had woken up from a dream. His face was ashen, and his grip on Guan Shanjin’s clothes tightened. “You decided to go to jail yourself?”

Guan Shanjin did not expect that Wu Xingzi would hit the nail on the head. His brow furrowed slightly, and at that moment, he was unable to respond.

How could Wu Xingzi not understand now? Guan Shanjin’s current state was evident that his guess was correct! To not make a mistake at the critical moment, Guan Shanjin definitely had to decide to go to jail. Wu Xingzi’s heart pulsed with pain, and after a moment of hesitation, he stammered, “C-can… Can…” you let someone else go instead?

But in the end, Wu Xingzi did not finish his question.

He was well aware that as the commanding general, when needed, he would have to personally take such risks. How else would he be able to let his soldiers submit to him? How else would he lead his army? With the Emperor on the outside, with Man Yue watching over everything, what reason did Guan Shanjin have to not enter the jail himself? Furthermore, if Yan Wenxin had arranged some sort of investigating method in jail, only Guan Shanjin would be able to break through it.

Wu Xingzi’s heart brimmed with anxiety, and he was unable to give any words of comfort. Unknowingly, his eyes reddened slightly.

Looking at him, Guan Shanjin’s heart hurt, and he hurriedly pulled the older man into his arms and patted him in comfort. “Don’t worry, I’ve fought my way out of battles and wars, what sort of injuries and hardship have I not suffered before? Yan Wenxin’s claws aren’t that deeply dug in jail, and even if there were to be some questioning going on, it’s no big deal. Don’t worry about it, don’t cry.”

The hand patting his back was so very gentle, and warm like a spring breeze. Wu Xingzi hunched into himself, nodding glumly. However, he was unable to put away his worries, and he could not help but ask, “Do you have any of your men situated in jail? Will there be any changes occurring?”

Guan Shanjin laughed lightly, bowing his head and tapping on Wu Xingzi’s nose, making a promise. “There’s the Emperor’s men in jail, and they’re also people I’m familiar with. Naturally, there wouldn’t be any big changes. You must believe me. If I can’t even come out of jail, how could I have the dignity to defend the southern borders?”

“You can’t say things like that…” Wu Xingzi frowned, clicking his tongue. These two things had nothing to do with each other, and listed in history books were many fellow generals who guarded the borders that died in jail. However, he did not say this out loud, as it was truly too inauspicious. “Right, then what would happen to Ping Yifan?”

“Someone else will temporarily be disguised as Ping Yifan. When Guan Shanjin goes to jail, it would just be about time for him to leave the capital as well, and make a trip down south.” Guan Shanjin was still hugging Wu Xingzi, patting him. Still, the information he provided sent a chill down the older fellow’s spine.

“You mean… Ping Yifan is actually involved with the southern barbarians?”

Guan Shanjin pondered for a moment, then shook his head. “Don’t get yourself involved in this matter; the lesser you know, the better. Once Ping Yifan leaves, Yan Wenxin will definitely assign someone to watch you. For now, just remain in Rancui’s place, and do some farming and reading. I’ll get someone to bring you that qin I gave you. Once I’m out of jail, play a few pieces for me, hmm?”

“Ai…” Thousands of words were contained within Wu Xingzi’s heart, but he also understood that Guan Shanjin would not listen. Sighing, he feigned casualness and changed the topic. “It was so unfortunate that Bai-gongzi abruptly stopped playing that day. Would I be able to have the chance to listen to him play again?”

The hand on Wu Xingzi’s waist tightened, but quickly let go. Guan Shanjin laughed lowly and said, “If you want to listen to the qin, I’ll just play it for you. Forget all about what Bai-gongzi, Hei-gongzi and Huang-gongzi1! Other than your pengornis ranking list, if you were to have a qin musician ranking list, I’m going to get jealous.”

“Ai, what are you getting jealous about…” Wu Xingzi’s ear turned red from the heated breath brushing against it. He glanced at him, answering obediently, “I’ll wait for you to play the qin. You must be careful in jail…”

He paused, then continued, mumbling, “It doesn’t matter what happens to the others, I just wish that you’re safe and sound.” This might be a little selfish, but it was his undeniable wish.

A jolt shot through Guan Shanjin’s heart. A moment later, he hoarsely made a promise. “I will, there’s no need for you to worry.”

The two clung to each other for some time, then Guan Shanjin instructed Wu Xingzi to not come looking for Ping Yifan in the next few days. If anything happened, Hei’er would make sure of Wu Xingzi’s safety, and bring him away.

Back in Rancui’s place, Wu Xingzi was a little distracted. In his room was a qin, and it clearly was the one Guan Shanjin had gifted him in Bastion City.

The plain and smooth surface of the qin was warm to touch. His hand lingered among the strings, before finally clenching into a fist, as though he dared not touch it.

When Guan Shanjin decided to do something, he would carry it out all the way until the end. Wu Xingzi understood that he would not be able to reverse anything, and so he could only carry on with his days as agreed, quietly waiting for the incident to occur.

As expected, a few days later, a huge wave rippled through the capital. The son of the Lord Protector, the previous Great Southern Garrison General, Guan Shanjin, due to colluding with the southern barbarians, had been taken to jail.

When news of this spread through the capital, Wu Xingzi and the two girls were squatting in the garden and harvesting eggplants, planning to make fried eggplant slices in the afternoon.

The two girls were like sparrows, their mouths chattering away about the news in the capital. In one morning, they managed to discuss all of yesterday’s ongoings.

Wu Xingzi was used to listening to the two girls chattering away with a smile. Since coming back from Ping Yifan’s place, a few days had already passed. There seemed to be nothing mentioned on the streets with regards to the matters of the Lord Protector’s estate. At the very most, people were only talking about how Young Master Bai, after entering the residence, seemed to be very well liked by the Lord Protector’s wife, and they were now discussing a marriage with the Bai family. As for Guan Shanjin, who was usually a topic of conversation, nothing was heard about him, and it seemed as though he had completely vanished from the capital.

Seeing that the basket was about to barely be able to hold any more eggplants in it, Wu Xingzi lifted the basket and stood up. “Alright, just look at the two of you. Aren’t you thirsty?” He scolded them laughingly.

Mint and Osmanthus simultaneously stuck their tongues out at him. One had a basket of beans in her hands, and the other had a basket of cucumbers. Standing up, they patted the dirt and dust off their skirts.

“It’s all because Mr. Wu doesn’t like to leave the house.” The two girls could have been said to have spared no effort, as they were worried that Wu Xingzi was not happy in the capital.

“Aren’t your little tongues clever.” Wu Xingzi reached out, helping Osmanthus wipe a bit of mud off her face, a calmness in his heart. “Take the vegetables and wash them, and we’ll stew the beans and fry the eggplants at noon. I’ll go ask Manager Rancui if he would like to join us for a meal.”

“Got it!” Osmanthus immediately emptied the basket of beans into her sister’s basket of cucumbers. She then took away the basket of eggplants from Wu Xingzi, and the two girls swiftly ran off to the kitchen.

Wu Xingzi used what was left of the water to wash his hands and face. Turning around, just as he was about to head to Rancui’s yard, unexpectedly, he came across Rancui walking over with Hei’er.

His heart inexplicably jumped. Thinking about what Guan Shanjin had told him a few days ago, he could not help but grip the cuffs of his sleeves, his face paling gradually.

Seeing him like this, Rancui too had a rough idea. It was likely that a few days ago, Guan Shanjin had already spoken to Wu Xingzi about today’s matter, and thus, he could save some of his efforts.

“Rancui.” Wu Xingzi’s voice was very careful, afraid that if he was too loud, he would scare himself.

“Mr. Wu.” Rancui still had carried an unparalleled smile, waving the basket in his hand. “Here’s some osmanthus cake.”

Very quickly, Hei’er took the basket, bowing towards Wu Xingzi respectfully. “Mr. Wu.”

“Hei’er.” Wu Xingzi revealed a nervous smile, tugging hard at his sleeves. “I was just telling the girls, we’ve harvested a lot of beans, eggplants and cucumbers, and lunch is going to be very satisfying, so I wanted to invite the two of you to come share it. Do Rancui and Hei’er like stewed beans and fried eggplants?”

“What a coincidence. I’m not picky about food, and I’ll thank Mr. Wu first then.” Rancui clapped his hands. His facial features were filled with charm, and with his gentle tone, one’s heart was soothed.

Hei’er did not speak, but placed the osmanthus cake directly on a nearby bamboo table. This was where Wu Xingzi liked to relax. With a table and a few chairs, the area was simple yet comfortable.

Warmly, Rancui grabbed Wu Xingzi’s hand and walked over to the table, sitting down. He wanted to start the conversation with some inconsequential matters, only for Wu Xingzi to speak up first. “What happened to Haiwang?”

Alright, Mr. Wu had always been very forthcoming. Rancui’s mouth fell half-open, finally picking up a piece of osmanthus cake, shoving it into his mouth and chewing on it.

“It has only just happened, and it’ll probably spread through the entire capital in the afternoon, and throughout the entire Great Xia in a couple of days.” Rancui made a gesture at Hei’er. Hei’er did not look happy, but after seeing how tensed Wu Xingzi was, he still sighed quietly and left for the moment.

When Hei’er walked away, Rancui patted Wu Xingzi’s hand that was almost about to dig through the table. “Didn’t Guan Shanjin mention it to you? About an hour ago, the Emperor had declared that he had colluded with the country’s enemy, and was taken away to be tossed into jail. The trial will be held tomorrow. Due to the severity of the matter, the Emperor has assigned a few experienced and loyal ministers to be in charge of this matter.”

“Is Yan Wenxin one of them?” Wu Xingzi only realised that his voice was trembling after asking that question.

“No, Yan Wenxin is the Minister of State Affairs, and this is not under his responsibility.” Rancui again picked up another piece of osmanthus cake. Seeing Wu Xingzi relax slightly, he continued, a little wickedly, “However, the Assistant Minister of War, the Assistant Minister of Punishments, and the Assistant Minister of the Court of Judicial Review are all in cahoots with Yan Wenxin. Yan Wenxin has long had a large portion of control over the departments that will be in charge of this matter of Guan Shanjin.”

Wu Xingzi shuddered violently. He stood up from his seat, wanting to rush out immediately, but was deftly held back by Rancui. “Mr. Wu, don’t be anxious!”

“W-what are we going to do? Haiwang told me that everything was under control.” Wu Xingzi’s eyes were slightly red, and he was about to cry from anxiety. He had worked his entire life in the magistrate’s office, and he knew quite a bit about lawsuits and litigation. The Great Xia attached great importance to justice. Every trial had to adhere to procedures rigorously, and every law in Great Xia could be said to be strict. But no matter how strict the laws were, there were still many loopholes one could exploit. As long as Yan Wenxin had the intention to kill Guan Shanjin, the situation would only become even more tumultuous.

“Don’t be scared. At most, Guan Shanjin would just have to endure some superficial injuries. As long as the Emperor doesn’t approve, doesn’t allow it, his life would most definitely still be his.” Rancui was very calm, and he pushed Wu Xingzi back to his chair. Pursing his lips, he said, “Although generations of the Lord Protector’s family have always been officials, and they never had formed an alliance with any other officials, they have always been the Emperor’s right-hand men. The Emperor’s men are all their men, and no matter how capable Yan Wenxin is, he would never be able to win the Emperor.”

“This is not a matter of winning or losing…” Wu Xingzi kept pinching his palm. For the past few days, he had deliberately refused to recall the things Guan Shanjin had told him that day, pretending that Guan Shanjin was fine. As long as there was no news, that was the best news there could be. However, how could this incident allow him to hide inside his shell?

That day, Guan Shanjin had clearly made light of the dangers of the matter, afraid that he would worry.

Still, now that things were like this, other than quietly waiting, there was nothing else he could do.

At noon, Rancui and Hei’er remained for lunch. However, Wu Xingzi was clearly distracted, and he did not touch much of the food. With his head bowed, he furiously shovelled rice into his mouth, and only stopped after finishing five big bowls.

Rancui could not bear to watch him like this. Drinking a mouthful of wine, he sighed, “Mr. Wu, for now, why don’t you learn to play the qin from me? When the General comes out from jail, you can then play the qin for him and soothe his heart?”

Wu Xingzi brightened. He recalled the promise he had shared with Guan Shanjin, and immediately nodded continuously, agreeing to Rancui. The anxiety in his heart too finally abated a little.

Days went on like this. In the morning, Wu Xingzi would tend to his darling garden. After lunch, he would take a nap, then go to Rancui’s yard and learn to play the qin for two hours. When that was all done, he would return to his own yard and practice playing, only stopping when it was dinnertime.

The situation of the Lord Protector’s son, changing overnight, had become the talk of the town. The once highly regarded hero now, in everyone’s eyes, had turned into a treacherous and evil traitor. For his own benefits, he took advantage of the loophole of being situated far from the Emperor’s eyes, selling his own country to the enemies. He had to be punished, his crime was unforgivable!

At first, the two girls would still go about the streets and get more information. After a few days, they too were unwilling to go out anymore. How could they not know what the General had done to safeguard Bastion City? These people in the capital were only making irresponsible remarks, slandering the General, insulting him with everything they had, but did anyone of them actually ask the citizens of Bastion City anything? They suppressed the rage in their hearts, wishing that they could just grab those people vilifying the General and slap them hard!

Somehow or another, Guan Shanjin had already spent half a month in jail. Wu Xingzi’s fingers too had been slightly injured from playing the qin. Rancui could not bear to see this, and so he confiscated his qin, only returning it when his injuries had healed.

With no other choice, Wu Xingzi spent the entire day in his yard in a daze.

“Master, someone would like to see you.” One day, Mint rushed towards him with her skirts raised slightly. Her little face was bright red, and she was clearly nervous.

“Who is it?”

“It’s…” Mint bit her lip, speaking quietly, “It’s Vice General Man.”

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