When everyone settles down for the night, Lan Qiren makes one last trip to the Mingshi with another four disciples of senior ranking. He makes sure the prisoner is secure before asking the previous disciples to join the new ones outside.
“This will be your priority,” he tells all eight of them. “Your single duty consists of making sure the prisoner is alive at the end of each day, and that four of you are always watching him. Take shifts of eight hours each and that should be enough. Tell me, did he eat anything?”
“We offered to feed him, Sir. It did not go well,” one of the disciples admitted.
“Why? What happened?”
“He spat the food out, soiling our robes, Sir,” another one says, making a face.
“Alright, then alternate between a reward system, for example, for every question he answers truthfully, he will receive one mouthful of food. Stick to plain rice or congee for now. If that doesn't work, on the third day, sleep deprivation. Again, try the reward system. As a minimum, he should get water three times a day, and two meals if he cooperates. Make sure he is aware that any one of these privileges can be taken away at any time. We should crack him by the fourth day for sure.”
They all bow to each other. “When are you expected to return?” One of them asks him.
“Hopefully by the end of the week. It goes without saying that the prisoner must not meet anyone outside of you eight. I am trusting you all because you have proven yourselves again and again to keep the Clan safe.”
There are proud smiles on everyone's faces as the new disciples switch with the old ones.
“Ignore anything irrelevant and make notes of anything significant. Our aim is to discover his identity, and what his intentions were in trying to disturb the peace.” Lan Qiren deliberately does not drop any sensitive information. “I will come and see him tomorrow morning. Let's see if he's changed his mind by then.”
He leaves with the old guards, hoping their prisoner does not drag this out longer than necessary.
*************
It is still dark in the morning when Lan Qiren leaves the guest house. It's also very cold this early, and he watches his breath steam as he marches towards an unpleasant duty, hating how it must be the first task he must attend to after meditation. But he promised his disciples, and a good leader must lead by example, that's one of the lessons his father taught him and his Xiongzhang.
Funny that his older brother hadn't followed that advice.
Or, maybe he had, and him going into seclusion was his way of leading; by punishing himself just the same as he would anyone else who committed the same crime. But really, was falling in love such a bad thing to happen? Was it a crime?
It is not something Lan Qiren can fully understand but judging by what poems and old wives say, it happens without thought, and sometimes, unwillingly. Therefore, it should not be considered a crime.
Lan Qiren shakes off any negative thoughts regarding his Xiongzhang and continues in the dark, the pathways easier to navigate as his eyes adjust to the dim dark blue of the night. Stars wink at him from above, casting a little light to show him the way. They remind him of children wanting to help him, of A-Zhan and A-Ying coming back from what was supposed to be a fun event for them, and deciding instead to make sure everything was going according to plan with the Mingshi incident. Perhaps the lesson he must learn right now is accepting help when it is offered, no matter where it comes from.
A lamp shines outside the Mingshi as Lan Qiren approaches, and all seems well. It is risky keeping their prisoner like this, but necessary. If he has accomplices, then they might come forth in a bid to rescue him, and if not, if he's really working alone, then they must get answers from him.
