The prison cell was so quiet that only the occasional rustling of Xie Jiang turning pages could be heard.
Su Yang, kneeling by the bed, gradually grew restless. He inched closer to Xie Jiang, trying to lean on Xie Jiang's arm like a dependent bird.
However, he knew Xie Jiang's temperament and dared not truly press against Xie Jiang. Instead, he rested his head on the edge of the bed.
From the perspective of those at the prison door, Su Yang appeared intimately nestled beside Xie Jiang.
Xu Hengyi's eyes widened, a mixture of shock and bewilderment. He seemed to be finally understanding what a favored companion meant.
But how could Xie Jiang be that kind of person? Xie Jiang was clearly flirting with his sister every day.
Xia Zeshi was more observant than Xu Hengyi. He could guess some of Su Yang's subtle movements from their posture alone. He whispered to Xu Hengyi, "Su Yang moved closer on his own."
Xie Jiang did nothing but turn pages; his attention was not on Su Yang.
Although Xie Jiang was close with Ruan Ziji and his group, Xia Zeshi believed Xie Jiang was not one of them.
It was Su Yang who seemed a bit off. However, Su Yang was similar to Ruan Ziji, both possessing desires but lacking the courage to act on them.
Only then did Xu Hengyi feel relieved. If Xie Jiang truly had such inclinations, and he spent all day by Xie Jiang's side, wouldn't he be in danger?
Xie Jiang turned to the last page of the book in his hand and finally put it down after a while.
"Young Master."
Su Yang reached out to hold Xie Jiang's arm, but a sharp glance from Xie Jiang made him immediately retract his hand, afraid to overstep.
If Xie Jiang hadn't reacted, Su Yang would have continued to push his luck.
Xie Jiang lowered his crossed legs and slowly sat up, looking at the people outside the cell door. "What are you all doing crowding around the prison? Are you treating me like a monkey?"
For easier supervision of prisoners, the entire row of prison doors was made of wooden bars. A group of people gathered outside looked exactly like onlookers at a zoo.
Su Yang felt immense sympathy. "Young Master, you have been wronged. Da Yu lacks hospitality. They are all blind and don't know your noble status, actually imprisoning you..."
What was this person saying?
Who was blind?
Fang Yuchun had no intention of engaging with Su Yang, nor would he quibble over Su Yang's words. In his eyes, Su Yang was just like Ruan Ziji and the other young dandies – incorrigible and unreasonable.
It was Xie Taihong who was more amiable and easygoing, so unlike Xie Jiang as a father and son. He preferred dealing with people like him.
He spoke elegantly and courteously to Xie Taihong, "Marquis of Nanhai is young and hot-blooded. He is temporarily detained in the Shun Tian Prefecture prison for a few days to reflect on his mistakes and receive a small punishment. This is not necessarily a bad thing for the Marquis of Nanhai."
He did not deliberately lower his voice, so the two people in the cell could hear him.
Just as Xie Taihong was about to speak, Su Yang's voice came again, "Young Master looks much thinner. Did Shun Tian Prefecture torture you? Did they abuse you?"
"No, no, no, absolutely no torture."
The jailer immediately explained to everyone upon hearing Su Yang's words.
"How could we possibly torture the Marquis of Nanhai? And where does the talk of abuse come from?"
What was wrong with this envoy Lan Yong? The jailer suspected he was deliberately causing trouble.
This cell for the Marquis of Nanhai was clean and tidy. To ensure the Marquis of Nanhai lived comfortably, all surrounding prisoners had been moved elsewhere. Apart from not being free to leave, what else was unsatisfactory for the Marquis of Nanhai?
Thin? Where was he thin?
Fang Yuchun still said to Xie Taihong, "The lighting in the cell is a bit dim, not as radiant as when he's outside."
Xu Hengyi suspected Su Yang was blind. "Xie Jiang is fine. Not a single hair is out of place. Who would dare torture Xie Jiang?"
"Who says only physical injury counts as torture?" Su Yang pointed to the stack of books by the bed. "Forcing my Young Master to read books, isn't that torture? Your Da Yu Shun Tian Prefecture has truly formidable methods!"
Xu Hengyi was baffled. "How can reading books be considered torture?"
Su Yang sneered, "If reading books isn't torture, would you be willing to read?"
Xu Hengyi: "I, I..."
He actually was unwilling.
Xu Hengyi was rendered speechless.
Xie Jiang picked up a book and slapped it on Su Yang's face.
If you can't speak, shut up!
She was playing the role of a domineering figure, not an uneducated blockhead incapable of being carved!
"Why did you follow me to Da Yu?"
He Zhi Fei alone was enough for the matter of submitting to Da Yu. He Zhi Fei could handle any major or minor issue perfectly.
Xie Taihong, at least, had the title of father of the Xie family head to be of some use.
What was Su Yang following for? Was he here for an overseas trip?
"I, I am..."
Su Yang was somewhat hurt by the question. He missed his Young Master desperately; how could he not come to Da Yu? "Didn't I write it all in my letters?"
Xie Jiang had not seen any letters.
Any letters that reached her were first screened by Tian Kangtai. For less important matters, Tian Kangtai, as her trusted head steward, would handle them.
Su Yang's letters pouring out his heart were considered less important, and Tian Kangtai had not delivered them to Xie Jiang at all.
Tian Kangtai had only mentioned that Su Yang had sent a letter of greeting, and Xie Jiang had no interest in reading it. Tian Kangtai understood.
Xie Jiang did not ignore personal letters of greeting.
If it were letters from Yi Yan Gen or Xu Heng Yan, Tian Kangtai would not have bothered to inquire, nor would he have opened and read them himself. He would have delivered them to Xie Jiang unopened.
Neither Xie Jiang nor Tian Kangtai had any intention of telling Su Yang the truth.
Tian Kangtai promptly replied from outside the prison, "Upon hearing that Young Master was imprisoned in Shun Tian Prefecture prison, the Master and the two young masters were extremely worried, fearing that Young Master might have suffered any grievance. Therefore, as soon as they arrived at the inn and before settling down, the Master and the two young masters came to visit Young Master."
Xie Taihong put on a benevolent fatherly expression. "If we don't see the situation for ourselves, how can we be at ease?"
He then said to Fang Yuchun, "I heard he has been detained for several days. When will he be released?"
Fang Yuchun said kindly, "Regarding the matter of the Marquis of Nanhai, I dare not act on my own. I must ask His Majesty for instructions."
"This matter requires an audience with His Majesty? Then your Majesty must be extremely busy! He has already been detained for several days, is that not enough? We also learned about my little Jiang's and the Hao family's affairs on the way."
Fang Yuchun's words were clearly an excuse, and Xie Taihong frowned displeasedly.
"Since Shun Tian Prefecture refused to seek justice for my little Jiang, my little Jiang had no choice but to seek it himself. Isn't it natural for debt to be repaid?"
"My little Jiang did not wish to conflict with you, so he surrendered himself to be imprisoned. Do you really think little Jiang is wrong?"
Fang Yuchun and Xie Taihong began to argue back and forth.
Fang Yuchun maintained a very humble posture.
He truly couldn't be assertive towards Xie Taihong.
Firstly, he couldn't afford to offend him.
Secondly, regarding Hao Wei's matter, his previous inaction left him completely without a leg to stand on.
Zuo Shixin helped by speaking conciliatory words, and only then were they barely able to appease Xie Taihong.
He Zhi Fei then spoke, "Since Master Fang cannot make the decision, then let's go find someone who can. Da Yu must give us an explanation for the grievances Young Master has suffered these past few days."
"His Majesty will summon the three of you at the morning court tomorrow." So there was no need to argue with him so urgently.
Fang Yuchun wished they would go directly to His Majesty. As long as His Majesty ordered Xie Jiang's release, he would immediately escort him out with great fanfare.