Gift of the Fox

Chapter 45: Beilangshen's Resolve

Once the gates opened wide, the emperor, his retinues, Jong and Ming rode into the prison yard. Ming was still cuddling with Jong, so terrified she was - she had just seen the emperor so up close, and had just realised she was having a relationship with his very brother! She felt truly scared - she was a mere peasant woman... How could she ever stand on equal ground with a prince?!

Once the riders entered the yard, the doors closed again in order not to let anyone else sneak in and out. Prison guards met the emperor and his retinues in the yard. Beilangshen jumped off his horse and so did his Vidar guards and the ninjas. Jong and Ming descended their white horse too. Jong clutched Ming's hand, walked up to the emperor, and stood beside him. Beilangshen ordered the prison guards:

"Take me to Zhong Xiang's office."

The guards bowed and led him into the prison building. His retinues and his brother with his lover followed him. They ascended some stairs and arrived at the office, where a fat middle-aged man - Zhong Xiang - was sitting at the table. Once he saw His Majesty enter, he widened his eyes, fell to his knees before him, and slyly and sweetly cried out:

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

His young cousin Zhong Tang who also presented in the room immediately sprang up and fell to his knees before the emperor too, repeating after his elder cousin. Ming watched with astonishment the two landlords she had always believed to be almighty look so weak and worthless before this two metres tall blackened man - the emperor... And he had turned out to be her lover's brother!

H... How can I ever marry Jong after this? 

Her heart sank with sorrow. She couldn't imagine herself standing beside Jong anymore - he had just risen so high above heavens in her mind...

"Zhong Xiang," the emperor's stern voice sounded, "I hear you hold a prisoner who is innocent, and you even plan to execute him today."

At such a strict remark of the emperor, sweat poured off Zhong Xiang's forehead:

"I... I'd never dare arrest an innocent man, Your Majesty! We all know it is against Your Grace's orders!"

"I desire to hear what prisoner Yi Zhu's crimes are, if so."

Ming trembled - what if the emperor deemed her father guilty? After all, all of these nobles were the same... So she fearfully whispered to Jong:

"Y... Your Highness, please... My father is truly innocent... Please tell His Majesty!" Tears fell from her cheeks.

"Hey, I'm still Jong for you, Ming. Please refer to me so." Jong smiled at her. "And my brother already knows everything. I discussed the details with him yesterday. Don't you worry about a thing!"

At the demand of the emperor, Zhong Xiang lowered his head even closer to the floor and exclaimed:

"He did not pay the loan to Zhong Tang, the owner of the lands his restaurant was in, and of the restaurant building itself. It was intolerable, Your Majesty!" 

"Aha, so that is the case..." Beilangshen raised both of his eyebrows. A faint smile ran through his lips. He shot his stern gaze at the prison guards: "Bring the prisoner Yi Zhu here!"

The guards bowed and ran out of the room to fulfill the order. At such strictness of the emperor, Ming trembled even more, but Jong sensed it and pressed her to his chest, kissing her on the head.

"Don't worry, Ming. My brother knows what he's doing."

Soon, the beaten, weakened, and broken old man, Yi Zhu, was brought by the guards and thrown to the floor before the emperor. As he glanced up and noticed he was brought before the monarch, he widened his eyes and lowered his head to the floor, trembling with fear. He was apparently terrified that even the emperor had gotten involved in the matter and was about to execute him. Ming, seeing her father in such a miserable state, burst into tears: