Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 449 - 285: All Set

"Is that Wan Xue Nian?" Gu Chengyu saw the man beaten terribly, his snow-white undergarments stained red with blood, torn into strips hanging on him, with chains on his hands and feet.

Earlier, he seemed lifeless, lying motionless on the straw-strewn ground. If not for the occasional faint rise and fall of his chest, Gu Chengyu would have thought he was dead.

Wan Xue Nian struggled to open his eyes. He seemed to hear correctly; indeed, someone was calling him. Could it be that treacherous Kuang Zhao Ying, coming to interrogate him again late at night?

He barely managed to open his eyes, his view obstructed by hair, making it unclear. He saw only a dark figure, but upon seeing this figure, he suddenly gained strength.

"Who are you?" He still harbored a sliver of hope, hoping this was someone sent by the Third Prince, wondering if the Third Prince had thought of a plan.

"Someone who can save you. Time is short, listen to me. Do not confess to any of the charges. Within three days, you will be released. Remember, you just need to endure for three days." After speaking, Gu Chengyu prepared to leave.

Wan Xue Nian, finding some surge of strength from somewhere, sat up abruptly from the straw. "Are you sent by the Third Prince?"

Gu Chengyu looked back at the light emanating from Wan Xue Nian’s eyes without speaking. Let him hold onto such hopes! Perhaps only then can he withstand these tortures.

When he came in, he had already observed that those who could endure weren’t just ordinary people.

At least Gu Chengyu could be sure that if ever these things were to be used on him, he would rebel, regardless of who the Emperor is. A desperate fight, even if it meant death, was better than being subjected to cruel torture.

Wan Xue Nian, seeing Gu Chengyu remain silent, knew that those who could enter this cell must be top-tier experts. If this is what was said, then perhaps the Third Prince hadn’t given up on him. He still had a chance to get out.

Gu Chengyu quietly cursed in his heart, with accusations against the two coming in like snowflakes. In such large families, there were always some prodigal sons. When the wall falls, everyone gives it a push. There is never a shortage of vile people in the world, especially those who add insult to injury.

Even trivial matters became things officials would write about in their memorials, a straw that could break the camel’s back.

Even if these two were released, considering the Eldest Prince and the Third Prince, losing their official’s hats would be the least of it; likely, they’d be exiled a thousand miles away. Still, that was better than the extermination of their entire clan.

Gu Chengyu ignored him, turning to look at Song Shuqing on the other side. Song Shuqing’s condition was no better than Wan Xue Nian’s; being younger, he possibly faced harsher punishment.

He lay on the straw, barely clinging to life. Seeing Gu Chengyu approach, he only lifted an eyelid, seeming too weak to even speak.

"Mr. Song, as long as you don’t admit, you can be saved in just two or three days."

Song Shuqing’s situation was different. When he was previously an Imperial Censor, he offended quite a few people, so the accusations against him were even more numerous than against Wan Xue Nian.

But that depends on the Emperor’s will. If, after all of this, the Emperor still wishes to employ the two, then those accusations would remain internal and unissued. Ultimately, it depended on their positions in the Emperor’s heart.

Song Shuqing slightly parted his dry, cracked lips, a faint voice emerging from his mouth, "Who, sent you?"

His voice was fragmented, speaking was extremely laborious.

Song Shuqing had thought about it; recently, the Eldest Prince lost trust in him, unlikely to risk so much to save him.

The target this time seemed to be Wan Xue Nian, with him only being implicated by association. And this person probably had something to do with the imperial examination fraud case; if it were merely someone from the Third Prince, there’d be no need to bother with him.

Since a concubine from his family was given to the Third Prince, the Eldest Prince’s trust in him plummeted. The Third Prince, due to being schemed against by the concubine, was also very reluctant to take a concubine, becoming even more indifferent toward him. He had nowhere to turn to rely on either side.

This person likely wasn’t associated with either the Eldest Prince or Third Prince. Could it be from the Second Prince? He quickly ran through possibilities in his mind, but then dismissed it. The Second Prince would probably be glad to see them in trouble. Not adding insult to injury would be the best case, so how could he possibly send someone to convey messages?

He thought further, recalling the list of candidates for the exams. Today, Kuang Zhao Ying came with that list, asking him and Lord Wan to identify people. Perhaps this person was sent by someone on that list.

Who could have such influence? Could it be those aristocratic families?

Song Shuqing felt he had realized the truth, thinking this person feared they might wrongly accuse someone, harming their family’s descendants.

Song Shuqing, experienced and shrewd, rapidly cycled through a myriad of thoughts. Now he only had one concern: Could this person find evidence to save them?

"Won’t say for now!" Song Shuqing believed this person understood his meaning.

Gu Chengyu raised an eyebrow, recognizing that this man was much more clear-headed than Wan Xue Nian. He likely already knew Gu Chengyu’s intentions, trying to negotiate with him!

"As long as you keep your mouth shut." Gu Chengyu calculated that his quarter-hour was almost up. He turned and left the cell.

Reaching the entrance of the Heavenly Prison, seeing nobody outside, he slipped out. He locked the entrance door with the key, then returned the key to the soldier’s body.

Glancing at the two leaning against the wall, he passed a Jade Bottle under their noses. Seeing signs of awakening in them, Gu Chengyu utilized Qinggong to fly up to the rooftop.

His timing was impeccable. Just as he landed on the roof, a team of soldiers passed by below. The two soldiers, thinking they had fallen asleep, quickly stood up straight upon seeing the patrol approaching.

Gu Chengyu arrived where the soldier was upstairs and let him smell the antidote, then retraced his pathway back.

"My Lord, you’re back!" Ming Mo and Ming Yan were anxiously waiting in the courtyard, feeling like the time had dragged on endlessly.

Gu Chengyu nodded and headed to the main room, intending to change his clothes. Upon opening the chest, all his usual garments were missing; only some ordinary silk clothes remained inside.

A few black lines appeared on his forehead as he surveyed the room’s decorations, finding nothing of value, just some of his common items.

This was indeed a thorough cover-up! Not even sparing the clothes. Gu Chengyu casually picked one and changed out of his night attire. He hadn’t noticed it before, but now he realized his back was drenched with sweat; evidently, he had been extremely tense earlier.

Now that everything had been done, he only needed to wait at home.

Perhaps because all these matters had been completed, Gu Chengyu enjoyed a restful sleep that night. The next morning, he practiced calligraphy and painting as usual.

After washing up, Zhu Pang hurriedly arrived at the residence. Entering the study, seeing Gu Chengyu calmly practicing his calligraphy, he couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

Seating himself casually in an armchair, he looked around the room and noticed that the furnishings had changed—all replaced with items that didn’t seem to hold much monetary value.

He asked in surprise, "Where did all the things from your room go?" Previously, a Spring vase used to be on the tall cabinet, which he was very fond of, always touching it each time he visited, but now it was gone.

Zhu Pang suddenly thought of a possibility, "You didn’t, by any chance, use Silver to hire someone to help, did you?"