A cell in Tianlao was gloomy, terrifying, damp, and filthy.
There is not only the smell of dampness and blood, but also the smell of death.
Lu Wenzheng's face was gloomy and his hair was disheveled. He lay motionless on the damp and dirty haystack, feeling dazed, painful and desperate.
His whole body was covered in scars, and the wounds were aching in waves. The slightest movement would cause pain to penetrate his bones, and he would almost faint.
He gasped in pain from time to time, and streams of blood flowed down the corners of his mouth uncontrollably, turning the clothes on his chest crimson.
The interrogation during the day was still vivid in my mind. At this time, his body ached and his heart ached even more.
He suddenly had a terrible premonition that his grievances might not be redressed in his lifetime, and he himself might not be able to get out alive...
Suddenly, there was a strange noise outside. After hearing a few "bang bangs", the shouting guards and guards immediately became silent.
Next came the sound of light and fast footsteps. One after another, two black-clothed masked men were light and gliding in like agile civet cats. Their footsteps were like flying, and they were in front of his cell in a blink of an eye.
The man in front raised his sword, cut off the door lock, and rushed in with a single stride.
Looking at Mr. Lu's miserable and embarrassing expression, the visitor's heart turned into a sea of sorrow, his eyes instantly shattered, and he lost his voice: "Sir!"
Lu Wenzheng raised his head with difficulty, looked into the other party's dark and deep eyes, and couldn't help but be startled, "Is it you?..."
The man pulled off his mask, revealing his resolute and handsome face. His quivering eyelashes were dark and curled, and his clear eyes under the cold moonlight were as black as paint, with faint crystal waves flickering.
It was Ling Yun.
"Zhichao, why is it you?..." Lu Wenzheng said in surprise: Aren't you also being imprisoned in the sky prison? You... how did you come out? "
"It's hard to explain in words." Ling Yun knelt on the ground, leaned down, and looked at Master Lu with his dazzling eyes.
"Let's not talk about this now - I already know your situation in prison. How can you stay in such a dirty and evil place any longer? Without further ado, please come with me!" He said, Without any explanation, he stretched out his hand to pull Lu Wenzheng.
Lu Wenzheng's heart trembled unconsciously, "Where are you going?"
Ling Yun's sharp eyes turned, "Let's leave this hellish place first!"
Lu Wenzheng shook his head decisively and said: "No!"
Ling Yun was startled, "Why?"
Lu Wenzheng sighed: "Zhichao, you think everything is too simple. If I let you go today, wouldn't I be charged with robbing a prison and absconding in fear of crime? They are worried that they will not be able to catch me, so If I come here, wouldn’t I just fall into their trap? Even if I have a hundred people, I won’t be able to clear up my grievances today! So——”
Lu Wenzheng paused for a moment and said: "Although Lu is being framed by powerful ministers, he is extremely loyal to the court and the Holy Emperor; and what I can do now is to wait here for their review and evidence collection. I believe that one day my grievances will be resolved." Zhaoxue, the court and the Holy Emperor will restore my innocence——"
Ling Yun said sadly: "But if they continue to interrogate like this, how can you bear severe torture?"
Lu Wenzheng said in a deep voice: "Jade can be broken but its whiteness cannot be destroyed; bamboo can be cut but its knots cannot be destroyed. Even if Lv's body is shattered to pieces, he must keep his innocence."
"Sir, why are you bothering?..." Ling Yun couldn't help but feel a trace of resentment in Ling Yun's eyes. He raised his face slightly, tried to calm down the turbulent struggle in his heart, and let out a long breath.
"Didn't your Excellency just ask me why I wasn't in the sky prison? Do you know how I got out? I originally had the same idea as yourselves. I just stayed in the sky prison peacefully and waited for them to investigate and collect evidence. I am innocent.
"But the night before yesterday, I was murdered by them. They first poisoned me, and then set fire to me. They did everything they could to kill me. If I hadn't been rescued by friends in the world in time, I might not have known it. I died in the sky prison in vain...so I had no choice but to follow them and escape from the sky prison..."
"Zhichao, you...are you telling the truth?..." Lu Wenzheng looked at him in disbelief and said in surprise.
Ling Yun smiled bitterly and said: "Who is willing to risk the world's disapproval and do such a disobedient thing for no reason? But if I didn't leave at that time, there was really only a dead end! Sir, the reason why I did this is also You are indeed forced to have no choice!”
Lu Wenzheng sighed endlessly, and after a long time he said: "But if you do this, they will frame you for colluding with thieves, killing people and escaping from prison, and you will become what they call a rebellious traitor!"
"That's better than sitting back and waiting to die!" Ling Yun curled his lips disapprovingly, a look of persistence and determination flashed across his clear eyes, "True gold is not afraid of fire, sir, as long as you and I have a clear conscience and can live up to the conscience of heaven and earth. , and don’t care what other people think? Sir, let me leave this hell on earth first, if I don’t leave, there is really only one way to die!”
Just as he was talking, Du Zhenghai, another masked man in black, barged in from the outside and said in a low and urgent voice: "Oh no, the officers and soldiers are here!"
Ling Yun raised his sword eyebrows and said urgently: "Sir, don't hesitate, just come with me!"
Lu Wenzheng said categorically: "Life and death are small matters, but integrity is big. Lu is innocent all his life, how can he do such an unsubmissive thing! - Go away quickly, don't bother me!"
Ling Yun said angrily: "If you don't leave, I won't leave either. I would rather live and die with you!"
Lu Wenzheng said angrily: "Ling Yun, if you force me again, I will crash to death here!"
"Sir..." Ling Yun's expression froze for a moment, revealing a hint of unspeakable pain.
Lu Wenzheng took a breath and said in a trembling voice: "By the way, Zhichao, I have another important thing to entrust you with. Please come closer."
Ling Yun's heart couldn't help but throbbed, and he hurriedly climbed up on his knees and took a few steps forward. He was so close to Lu Wenzheng that they could almost hear each other's breathing.
Lu Wenzheng leaned in his ear and said: "Under the desk in my original study room in the Shangshu Mansion of the Ministry of Justice, on the third floor from the east, you tap three times with your hand on the left and three times on the right, and rotate. There will be mechanisms, dragons and phoenixes. The jade talisman is inside."
Dragon and Phoenix Jade Talisman? ..." Although Mr. Lu's voice was extremely low, every word came into Ling Yun's ears clearly. He felt a shock in his heart.
Lu Wenzheng said: "I know that everyone is paying attention to this thing. You must try every means to get it, because its role is so important that I cannot tell you - and you must not let it fall into the hands of evildoers." , otherwise the serious consequences will be much greater than the role it plays."
He took a breath and added: "If one day you are in trouble and you really can't save it, then destroy it!..."
"Destroy it?..." Ling Yun was horrified, and a look of solemnity suddenly flashed across his originally peaceful face.
Lu Wenzheng nodded and whispered a few words into Ling Yun's ear; Ling Yun nodded vigorously with tears in his eyes.
Lu Wenzheng sighed softly again and said: "Although the dragon and phoenix jade talisman is a treasure, no one is innocent and is guilty of carrying the jade. Sometimes it will cause disaster for you. At this time, you have to weigh the pros and cons and make the right decision." Choice. Zhichao, you are a smart person, do you understand what I mean?..."
The look of worry on Ling Yun's eyebrows gradually became thicker, and he nodded thoughtfully.
There were jingles clashing and swords clanging outside, and Du Zhenghai had already exchanged hands with the jailers and guards.
Lu Wenzheng urged: "Zhichao, don't hesitate, let's go quickly! - Remember, you must find the dragon and phoenix jade talisman; and Yang Zhen, if you can meet him, you will go together to find out the cause of the prince's death and clear the way for me. Shen Yuan, even if I die, I should rest in peace..."
Ling Yun felt that his vision was blurry, and his heart was in pain as if it had been severely torn apart. At this time, he was choked with sobs and could only nod his head repeatedly.
At this time, Du Zhenghai rushed towards him in a few steps and said in a hurried voice: "Brother Ling, don't delay any longer, hurry up!"
Ling Yun bowed deeply to Lu Wenzheng and said, "Sir, please take care of yourself!..." He stood up, picked up the sword, and fought with the guards together with Du Zhenghai.
Ling Yun was now in a state of confusion and had no intention of fighting. He managed to deal with it for a few times, then with a feint, he and Du Zhenghai rushed out of the cell door...
When the two of them returned exhausted to the thatched cottage that Du Zhenghai rented outside the city, it was almost five o'clock.
Dawn is gradually breaking, and the light blue sky is inlaid with a few dim remaining stars. The window paper was a little pale, and there were a few feeble rooster crows coming from outside.
The two of them felt exhausted both physically and mentally. Under the depression, they seemed too lazy to say anything more and just fell asleep.
When Ling Yun woke up, it was already past noon. Du Zhenghai brought the food, and the two of them ate dully, then sat facing each other in silence.
After a long while, Du Zhenghai finally broke the unspeakable silence in front of him.
"Oh, I really don't understand, why doesn't Mr. Lu leave?..." His temples bulged slightly, and there was a light red under his eyes, as if he was trying his best to suppress the resentment and dissatisfaction in his heart.
"You know clearly that the traitors are colluding and plotting to frame him, but you just sit back and wait for death. From the beginning to the end, you never forget your so-called loyalty to the emperor, and you dream that one day you will be able to clear up the injustice - huh, how pedantic!"
Ling Yun held back the sourness in his heart and said in a slightly hoarse voice with a slight tremor, "He is not wishful thinking. His grievances will one day be vindicated."
Du Zhenghai raised his eyebrows slightly and said in a deliberately protracted tone: "Even if this is the case, I don't know how long it will take. I'm afraid... alas!" He stopped talking.
"..." Ling Yun lowered his eyes sadly and remained silent.
Seeing that he was in a low mood, Du Zhenghai wanted to comfort him, but he didn't know where to start. After a long time, he asked, "What are you going to do next?"
Ling Yun closed his eyes slightly and pondered for a moment, "I-I want to go back and have a look..."
"Go back and take a look?" Du Zhenghai was stunned for a moment and suddenly came to his senses.
His eyes suddenly became distant, and a teasing smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, "I almost forgot, the former Commander Ling now has the status of the eldest son of the Marquis Mansion!"...
