The Double-Chapter 605 - 175 Private Prison_4

"Once healed, I will give you company," Jih Heng said.

Zhao Ke said, "My lord, this man’s legs are probably ruined."

As martial artists, Zhao Ke could tell at first glance that the man’s legs had likely been broken by someone long ago. Too much time had elapsed; they were beyond repair. Even if he was rescued, he probably couldn’t serve as a guard at the Duke Residence anymore.

"No matter," Jih Heng said, "as long as he is useful."

The man covered in blood immediately showed a grateful expression. At the moment, the only way to distinguish his feelings was through his eyes. Fortunately, his eyes were inherently expressive. As Zhao Ke watched, he suddenly felt that the man’s gaze was somewhat familiar, slightly resembling Jiang Family’s Second Miss. Gentle and composed, in the dim and filthy private prison, it was like the sun illuminating this hellish place.

"He looks different from the others," Zhao Ke said, "I wonder what he did to offend Princess Yongning, to end up in such a state."

"Go back and check his background," Jih Heng finished speaking and looked toward the other side. Wen Ji was coming from behind and said, "Master, Jiang Youyao has been found. However, she seems to be out of her senses and is currently out of commission. Following the master’s orders, we have given her Miss Situ’s medicine; she doesn’t need to worry about dying for the next few days."

Zhao Ke told Wen Ji, "Lend a hand; the master wants this man rescued."

Upon hearing this, Wen Ji also showed a hint of surprise, but still, he didn’t say anything, and lifted the man out of the prison. It was only when they got him out that they realized one side of his garment was white. He wasn’t wearing a reddish-brown robe, but white clothing, which was soaked through with his blood.

And yet he hadn’t died?

It was not that they had never seen someone with a strong will, but it was indeed surprising that someone could lose so much blood and still live. After taking one glance at the man, Jih Heng thought for a moment and said, "Princess Yongning’s doing, deliberately leaving him alive to be tormented slowly."

Zhao Ke and Wen Ji understood; Princess Yongning was afraid of this man dying too easily, so she deliberately provided medicine to keep him alive and torture him slowly.

"However, he still seems quite lucid," said Zhao Ke, "Not easy; ordinary people would have gone crazy or become despondent after being tortured for so long. He still seems very much alive. Now he can neither speak nor move; tch, if his legs weren’t ruined, he would seem like a good prospect."

The man’s eyes dimmed upon hearing this, but the change was quickly concealed. Jih Heng noticed this and pondered thoughtfully.

"Also don’t know how he managed to offend Princess Yongning," Zhao Ke muttered quietly while hoisting the bloodied man onto his shoulders. The man was likely starved to the point of being as light as a piece of paper; Zhao Ke didn’t find it difficult to carry him and said, "What a pity."

The trio left the Princess’s Mansion’s private prison. Just as they were about to exit, Jih Heng and Zhao Ke went ahead. After the two had left, Wen Ji crouched in front of the tea house outside the private prison door and ignited a Smoke Bamboo.

With a loud ’bang’, the sound echoed powerfully through the night of Yanjing City. The two guards at the door who had been drinking sprang to their feet, startled awake, shouting, "What’s happening?" as they ran toward the tea house.

Wen Ji’s figure disappeared into the night.

...

Meanwhile, at the Duke Residence, Zhao Ke, acting on Jih Heng’s orders, rushed back and placed the bloodied man outside Miss Situ Jiuyue’s Alchemy Room, shouting, "Miss Situ, Miss Situ!"

The door "pop" was opened, and Situ Jiuyue appeared in the doorway, impatiently saying, "What is it?"

"Sir Wen Ji has rescued someone from outside, and we don’t know if they can be saved. Miss Situ, if you aren’t busy, please help us take a look," Zhao Ke wiped his sweat. After Jih Heng left the Princess’s Mansion, she didn’t return to the Duke Residence, probably attending to her own matters, and Zhao Ke didn’t dare to ask. However, he couldn’t neglect the person he was carrying on his back—it was someone Jih Heng had personally ordered to be saved, so they couldn’t just be treated carelessly.

"Jih Heng saving someone?" Situ Jiuyue’s delicate brows furrowed, "What kind of joke are you telling?"

"It’s true." Zhao Ke feared that Situ Jiuyue would refuse to save a dying person. This Miss Situ was extremely capricious; if she found someone displeasing, she might even defy an imperial edict. Only Jih Heng’s words would she consider listening to begrudgingly. Zhao Ke said, "Miss Jiuyue, this person is seriously injured, and Sir Wen Ji doesn’t know if they can be revived. But this person is quite interesting. Take a look first, then decide whether to save them or not."

"I’ve already said I’m not a doctor," Situ Jiuyue was displeased, yet she still stepped aside by the door, indicating for Zhao Ke to carry the person in.

The words "quite interesting" intrigued her. How many truly interesting people could there be in the world? If she encountered one, she would naturally want to save them, because that too would be an interesting thing to do.

Zhao Ke carried the person in and placed them horizontally on a small bed in the Alchemy Room, just large enough for one person to lie down. Situ Jiuyue stepped forward for a look, and to her surprise, the person was still conscious, just unable to move, and they gave her a slight smile.

Situ Jiuyue was taken aback.

In her life, she had encountered many expressions while practicing medicine—the gratitude and panic she had seen, and the disgust and hatred she met with when she became Poison Beauty. Whether a face was being saved or destroyed, none could ever remain so calm. People cannot remain composed when facing matters of great importance related to themselves.

Yet this person was still able to smile at her—calmly, gracefully, and even amicably. It reminded her of the sunshine in March, precious and beautiful.

"Who is he?" Situ Jiuyue asked.

"Don’t know, Sir Wen Ji told us to check this person’s background," Zhao Ke didn’t hide from Situ Jiuyue, "He was found in Princess Yongning’s Private Prison."

"Princess Yongning?" Situ Jiuyue’s eyebrows raised, "Her again? Jih Heng is helping Jiang Li, right?"

Zhao Ke scratched his head, smiling awkwardly. What could he say about his headmaster’s matters? A smile would suffice.

Situ Jiuyue stretched out her hand and lifted the person’s clothes, which were almost fused with flesh, making a separating sound as she did so.

The person on the bed trembled, appearing to be in extreme pain, yet they endured it.

Zhao Ke inhaled sharply.

The person’s entire body was covered in scars, with not an inch of unmarred skin. Apparently, Princess Yongning had applied every punishment she knew on him.

"Miss Situ," Zhao Ke said pityingly as he looked on, "This person’s injuries are quite serious... It seems his leg is broken, can it still heal?"

Situ Jiuyue glanced at the person’s knee, "Impossible."