Chapter Fourteen: Abduction

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Ye Pei was well aware of how impenetrable the Celestial Prison was. His father, being the Grand General of the Northern Kingdom’s armies, naturally knew of such matters—what was classified information to the common folk was, among the upper echelons of both nations, a tacit understanding. You know some of my secrets, and I know a few of yours; we each hold the other’s secrets in our hands, but so what?

Still, for the Northern Kingdom’s influence to seep into the capital of the Summer Kingdom was almost impossible. However, Ye Pei’s maternal grandfather, the venerable Huang Cang, did have a branch business here. Though modest in size, it had nonetheless established a firm foothold.

Thus, upon his arrival, Ye Pei sought out the person in charge—the distant cousin, Huang Qing.

Once they were seated and the initial pleasantries exchanged, Ye Pei stated his purpose.

“Ah... the Celestial Prison, you say? Now that’s as tough as it gets, my friend.” Huang Qing frowned at the words. “And to be honest, the help I can offer is quite limited. After all, you’ll be gone the moment you break him out, but I have to stick around and manage the family business.”

“I understand, Brother Qing. All I need from you is to point out one of the new turnkeys for the next shift. The rest is up to me.”

While Ye Pei was pondering how to rescue Meng Huaicheng, someone else had already set their sights on Uncle Meng.

Lei Ting, Warden of District One in the Celestial Prison, was a model official—loyal to his country, his family, and the people. From the very first day Duan Xingyun used his connections to throw Meng Huaicheng into prison, Lei Ting’s curiosity was piqued. By duty, he was also obliged to investigate the reason for Meng Huaicheng’s incarceration. The other wardens might have simply turned a blind eye and let the matter rest—after all, the prisoners weren’t going anywhere. The Celestial Prison made a point of granting inmates no time for free movement, precisely to cut off any possible means or inspiration for escape.

But Lei Ting was an upright man. Though he greatly admired Duan Xingyun’s father, the old general Duan Yaoqi, he had little patience for Duan Xingyun himself, that second-generation official with neither substance nor skill. So Lei Ting quietly activated his network in the capital, determined to uncover the truth behind Meng Huaicheng’s imprisonment.

In Yaoguang Town, this was hardly a secret. The brawl that day, with both sides crashing through windows and battling in the street, had been witnessed by nearly every passerby. Within two days, reports in various versions lay on Lei Ting’s desk.

Some of these findings came from questioning witnesses on the scene; others were gleaned directly from the Zhang family. Only the mysterious young lord in black, Lin Yukun, had vanished without a trace.

Lei Ting finished reading the reports and sank into thought.

“So it was just a street fight in town. Since when did something like that warrant a place in my Celestial Prison?... Young Master Duan, do you have some dirt that this Northern Kingdom man is holding over you?”

“According to the Zhangs, before Meng Huaicheng let them go, he cried out the word ‘Yan’—but was silenced by a dart from the young lord in black. What was he trying to say? ‘Yan’? ‘Yan’ as in the surname Yan? Or perhaps ‘Yan’ as in flame?”

“Duan Xingyun has been staying quietly at home these days, but that young lord in black hasn’t been seen in any surrounding town since leaving Yaoguang. Where could he have gone? None of Duan Xingyun’s close companions fit the bill—none with the surname Yan, who wear black and throw darts.”

At this, Lei Ting felt an answer, almost unbelievable, rising to the surface. He took a deep breath and muttered to himself, “This Meng Huaicheng must have glimpsed a spark of fire...”

Then another thought occurred. “If that young lord in black really is from the Yan Clan, then Duan Xingyun must be hiding something big. But if I report to the court, I have no solid evidence—just a few testimonies. That’s hardly enough for His Majesty to mete out punishment or issue a warning. But at least I can ensure Meng Huaicheng’s safety. I refuse to believe Duan Xingyun has the means to send someone into this prison to silence him.”

Less than an hour after Ye Pei entered Starlight City, Lei Ting had already received word of the young lord’s arrival.

“Heh... He’s probably here for Meng Huaicheng. The young master of the Ye family, risking all this just for his family’s captain of the guard?”

Yet, confident in the Celestial Prison’s impregnability, Lei Ting made no move to have Ye Pei watched. As a man who relished a challenge, he was genuinely curious to see if anyone could breach this underground steel fortress from without.

In the end, this decision of Lei Ting’s proved both a dereliction of duty—and entirely justified.

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One day later.

“Shi Yuheng... Yes, he’ll do. Zhongqing!” Ye Pei muttered to himself, shuffling through a stack of papers.

Jiang Zhongqing, who had been practicing swordsmanship, immediately approached upon hearing Ye Pei’s call.

For convenience, Ye Pei had rented a small courtyard in Starlight City.

“Zhongqing, I have a task for you. Go and bring this man’s wife and son here. The address is on this page. You have three days.”

“...Brother Pei, must we trouble women and children?” Jiang Zhongqing’s usually expressionless face betrayed a hint of surprise.

“It’s not about troubling them or taking them hostage. Just bring them here—we’ll treat them well,” Ye Pei replied.

Jiang Zhongqing considered a moment, then nodded. “Understood.”

Taking the address, Jiang Zhongqing left the courtyard. Watching his retreating figure, Ye Pei turned to Alan and said, “Alan, keep an eye on his mood these days.”

Alan replied, “Indeed, young master. Perhaps now that he’s less busy, the grief over his parents is finally surfacing...”

Ye Pei nodded. “That’s true. I honestly don’t know how to comfort him.”

Alan shrugged. “It’s not something we can fix for him. He’ll have to find his own way through.”

...

Meanwhile, on Jiang Zhongqing’s end—

“Shi Yuheng... Yes, this is the place.” With the information in hand, Jiang Zhongqing found the not-so-large residence of Shi Yuheng, the turnkey.

With June approaching, the Celestial Prison was about to rotate shifts, and Shi Yuheng was scheduled for the next term.

Jiang Zhongqing planned to wait nearby and seize the opportunity when Mrs. Shi and her son went out, preferably in a spot where he could act without witnesses.

Off-duty, the prison turnkeys led leisurely lives, drawing handsome salaries with little work. Shi Yuheng had few hobbies, but was known for his strong sense of justice, often assisting the city guard—which gave Jiang Zhongqing his chance.

He booked a guest room in a tavern nearby, choosing one with a window overlooking Shi Yuheng’s gate. There he watched all day, confirming the identities of Shi’s wife and child, then went to sleep calmly.

The next morning, Jiang Zhongqing was at his post early. He saw Shi Yuheng, resplendent in uniform, stride out with confidence; later, five-year-old Shi Jie skipped out to play with the neighbor’s children; towards noon, Mrs. Shi, wicker basket in hand, locked the door, called her son, and the boy bounced after her to buy groceries.

Witnessing this ordinary morning, Jiang Zhongqing sighed, “I really do feel a pang of guilt...”

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Glancing at the busy marketplace nearby, Jiang Zhongqing reckoned that mother and son were unlikely to wander into any secluded alley for him to make his move. So, he checked out of the inn and, seizing a moment when the surroundings were empty, vaulted over the wall into Shi Yuheng’s house, and took a seat in the parlor.

Soon, Mrs. Shi returned with her son. Hearing the door open and the sound of voices, Jiang Zhongqing sprang to the entryway and leapt onto the wall. As mother and child stepped inside, he dropped down, blocking the door behind him. “Come with me, Mrs. Shi.”

By noon, when Shi Yuheng returned home in high spirits, all he found on the table was a note with Ye Pei’s address; his wife and child had vanished.

Meanwhile, at Ye Pei’s courtyard—

“Sir, what is it that you want?” Mrs. Shi had been frightened upon her arrival, but seeing that Ye Pei and his attendant were both courteous and made every effort to treat her and her son well, her anxiety gradually subsided. As for Shi Jie, being a child, he thought these unfamiliar gentlemen seemed rather friendly.

Ye Pei gave no direct answer to Mrs. Shi’s question.

Soon, the frantic Shi Yuheng arrived. His wife and son had already been settled in another room.

As he entered the courtyard, Shi Yuheng’s hand instinctively went to his sword as he stormed toward the main hall, shouting at Ye Pei, “You scoundrel! Where are my wife and son?”

Ye Pei yawned, set down his teacup, and replied, “Old Shi...”

Shi Yuheng cut him off with an angry roar, “Don’t get familiar with me! Hand them over!”

Ye Pei shook his head. “Very well...” Then, raising his voice, he called out, “You at the door! I have important business to discuss with you. What’s the meaning of drawing swords in my house?”

This brazen twisting of words only enraged Shi Yuheng further. “Shameless brat! Taste my blade!”

He had barely finished speaking before he drew his sword and charged. Ye Pei, in a flash, snatched Jiang Zhongqing’s sword and stepped forward to meet him.

After a few sharp clashes of steel and brief shouts, Shi Yuheng was already down, Ye Pei’s sword at his throat.

“You...” Shi Yuheng was at a loss. As a turnkey of the Celestial Prison, his skills placed him among the empire’s elite. Yet here he was, coming to rescue his family, only to be bested in a handful of moves by a youth he’d never seen before. Anxiety, fury, and shame all warred within him, leaving him speechless.

Ye Pei sheathed his sword and spoke again, “Enough, old Shi. Get up so we can talk. I told you—I have important matters to discuss with you.”