AYM Chapter 112 (Extra 3)

Extra 3: I’m in Hell, You’re in the Mortal World

The deepest reaches of the Imperial Prison were dark and damp.

 

Filthy water seeped out constantly, corroding the walls. The mingled stench had nowhere to escape and continued to run rampant within this confined space.

 

Even with closed eyes, the unbearable stench continued to invade senses, a constant reminder of captivity and the grim prospect of never seeing the light of day again.

 

It was deathly quiet here. The slightest sound seemed amplified, reverberating through one’s heart.

 

The approaching footsteps were light. Not those of a prison guard.

 

Ming Zhang’s brows drew together slightly. He opened his eyes and listened to the crisp clinking of chains, followed by the heavy sound of the ironbound prison door being opened.

 

Had the day of his interrogation finally come?

 

His betrayal would certainly never be made public, becoming a subject for others to gossip about. Then who would be the one to interrogate him?

 

Ming Zhang soon learned the answer. The person who entered made his heart, which had been relatively calm until then, convulse painfully several times.

 

“Han Zhen?”

 

Han Zhen quietly looked at the man before him, so pale that it was almost painful to look at. He did not answer immediately because he, too, needed a little time to suppress the pain in his heart, to keep even the slightest trace of abnormality from entering his voice.

 

“I’ll be the one conducting the interrogation today.”

 

“Oh, I see.” The deep voice held not the slightest trace of emotion, yet it made Ming Zhang’s heart tremble faintly. He could not even bring himself to say a word of greeting after such a long separation. “Then… His Majesty sent you?”

 

Just as he had expected, the Emperor had no intention of making public the things he had done behind the scenes. Of course, Ming Zhang did not believe the Emperor would still take their childhood friendship into consideration this time. But why Han Zhen?

 

“No. It was the Third Young Master Yan.” Han Zhen stared unblinkingly into those tired yet tranquil eyes, yet found not the slightest trace of disappointment or loneliness in them. “The Third Young Master said that you had Tang Tong protect him the whole time, so he pleaded with His Majesty to let me come.”

 

Ming Zhang, whose eyes had remained utterly calm until now, finally smiled. A faint warmth appeared in his gaze. “It must have been difficult for him, to give this much thought to my situation.”

 

Han Zhen had never seen Ming Zhang like this before.

 

Before that iron door opened, he had thought he would see a Ming Zhang filled with resentment and unwillingness, perhaps even someone who might lose control.

 

But apart from the haggardness brought on by this prison where no sunlight could reach, he was so calm that it was unsettling.

 

Yes, how could the person before him be someone reckless and impulsive?

 

He was clearly someone who saw through countless possibilities, someone who could calculate a hundred steps ahead with every step he took. Once he made a choice, he had already played out the ending countless times in his mind.

 

How could the Ming Zhang he had known all these years have allowed himself to fall into such a hopeless situation, and how could he accept it so calmly?

 

So… had he done it deliberately?

 

Han Zhen’s heart began to pound wildly with the realization.

 

Deliberately allowing the situation to reach this point, ending this painful pursuit of something he could never have, as though offering himself up as a sacrifice, deliberately falling into this situation from which there was no turning back.

 

Then what about him?

 

What did he count for in all this?!

 

Among all his countless calculations, had Ming Zhang ever thought of him, even for a fleeting moment?

 

Even though he had already persuaded himself to let go, Han Zhen’s heart still ached inevitably. His lashes trembled as he turned his eyes away. When he finally spoke, his words were as cold as the walls around them.

 

“Ming Zhang, let’s begin.”

 

Ming Zhang was also studying the man before him, someone he hadn’t seen for a mere month, yet someone he had traced in his mind countless times.

 

It had taken only this one month for him to understand that what he had let go of through such extreme measures… was merely his own obsession.

 

The person who had stood behind him all along was like a gentle drizzle, fine and soft, soundless yet soaking through his entire heart.

 

It was a pity… that he had understood this far too late.

 

Now, there was only three feet between them on opposite sides of this desk, yet they were separated by nothing less than the mortal world and hell.

 

Since he was already in hell, why should he provoke the mortal world again?

 

For the next few days, there were no more irrelevant words between them. Han Zhen asked, and Ming Zhang answered. If not for the repulsive depths of the Imperial Prison surrounding them, they might have seemed like old friends reunited, speaking with perfect ease.

 

But every reunion would eventually end in parting. Five days had already passed. Clearly, it could not be dragged out any longer.

 

After today, they might never see each other again. How could Ming Zhang not understand that?

 

“Since His Majesty had me conduct the interrogation, he clearly has no intention of punishing you any further. This… is also what the Third Young Master wished for.” After saying this, Han Zhen remained silent for a long while. At last, he raised his head and looked deeply at the person he would never be able to let go of for the rest of his life. Some of the hardness in his expression finally fell away as he sighed deeply.

 

“From now on, let us each go our own way.”

 

Ming Zhang’s fingers tightened abruptly around the edge of the table. Almost instinctively, he blurted out,

 

“Don’t go!”

 

Han Zhen, who had already turned to leave, stopped in his tracks. Before he could turn around, a pair of arms that were not particularly strong wrapped tightly around him from behind. Looking down, he saw the ridges of knuckles and clearly visible blue veins beneath skin so thin it was almost translucent.

 

“You’re injured?”

 

The words made Han Zhen freeze as well. He had not expected that the brief hesitation caused by that embrace would be enough for Ming Zhang to notice that his injuries had not yet fully healed.

 

“Almost recovered.” Han Zhen did not deny it, his voice exceedingly faint. “It just hasn’t completely healed yet.”

 

Ming Zhang’s brows drew together slightly, but then a warm hand covered the back of his own. The strength gathering in it told him that Han Zhen was trying to pull him away.

 

For the first time, Ming Zhang was completely at a loss. He did not even know what he could say to make Han Zhen stay a little longer. Without thinking, the words slipped from his lips.

 

“Then how is King Qing now?”

 

If those earlier words would only hasten Han Zhen’s departure, then at this moment Ming Zhang would rather speak to him about official matters, anything that might at least give him a reason to stay.

 

But why did this casual mention of King Qing cause the body in his arms to tense instantly, while his voice took on a trace of unnatural evasion?

 

“With King Qin and King Wei ahead of him, King Qing is naturally keeping himself in line.”

 

Where Han Zhen could not see, Ming Zhang slowly closed his eyes, quietly listening and drawing in as deeply and gently as he could, the presence he had already lost the right to seek.

 

But he also knew that it was time to let go.

 

“I understand.”

 

The arms that had been wrapped tightly around him loosened so suddenly.

 

“You should go.”

 

Ming Zhang did not press any further. This visibly eased some of the tension from Han Zhen’s shoulders, yet his heart felt as though it had been hollowed out, so empty that he could barely feel it beating. He turned around and gave Ming Zhang one long, deep look. Then he never looked back again.

 

Ming Zhang simply stood there, watching him in silence until even his silhouette disappeared into the darkness at the far end of the long, narrow passageway. Only then did he turn his gaze toward Ling Chen, who was walking toward him.

 

“This subordinate has come to escort Lord Ming back to the residence.”

 

“I’m no longer Lord Ming.” Ming Zhang lowered his eyes and gave a self-mocking laugh. “And never will be again.”

 

The carriage taking him back to the Ming residence was sturdy and cramped. Not only would it keep them out of sight, it would also be suitable for discussing matters that could not be spoken of openly.

 

“Ling Chen, what exactly does His Majesty intend to do with King Qing?”

 

Ling Chen’s eyes shot up in surprise at the completely unexpected question, a clear trace of surprise and evasion in his gaze. But after a moment, he regained his composure.

 

“This subordinate does not know.”

 

Ming Zhang had never expected Ling Chen to answer. All he wanted was that brief reaction.

 

“Then why don’t you let me take a guess?” Under Ling Chen’s deliberately composed gaze, Ming Zhang slowly continued, “Although King Qin and King Wei were bold, they would not have been so reckless. The one waiting behind them to reap the benefits is none other than the one who has always welcomed everyone with a smile and appeared to have no worldly ambitions, King Qing.”

 

In truth, he and the emperor had long suspected King Qing. The clues uncovered in the rebellion of the two kings had only served to confirm their suspicions.

 

The depth of his schemes was enough to keep the emperor restless day and night.

 

But with two of the Emperor’s uncles having just died, no matter how wary the Emperor was, he could not openly move against this uncle who appeared to be content with keeping to himself.

 

So if he could not act openly, he could only act in secret.

 

To assassinate King Qing, who had been raised outside the palace for eighteen years from childhood and had honed formidable and unfathomable martial arts, there was only one person both capable of matching him and worthy of absolute trust.

 

Han Zhen.

 

“So His Majesty will definitely send him in secret to carry out the assassination.” Ming Zhang looked directly into Ling Chen’s eyes. “Am I right?”

 

Ling Chen did not answer, but the way his gaze shifted away had already said everything.

 

“How are Han Zhen’s injuries?” Having gotten the answer he wanted, Ming Zhang did not press the matter further.

 

Ling Chen breathed a sigh of relief. “He was very seriously injured in that battle, but Lord Han said he has recovered completely.”

 

Silence once again filled the cramped space inside the carriage. Ling Chen’s lips moved a few times, as though he had finally made up his mind. He raised his head.

 

“Lord Ming, it was Lord Han himself who asked the Emperor to assign him the mission of assassinating King Qing.

 

“Lord Han’s only request was to exchange this mission for your safety from this point onward. Lord Han, he…”

 

The pale lips instantly lost the last trace of color.

 

Han Zhen, he…

 

King Qing’s fief, Qingzhou Prefecture, was Ming Zhang’s ancestral home. On the third day after returning to the Ming residence, Ming Zhang submitted a memorial requesting leave from the capital to return home.

 

This time, the Emperor also spared his dignity, saying only that he had been injured while suppressing the rebels and was returning home to recuperate.

 

Yet just two days later, Ming Zhang sent a request to meet with King Qing. Naturally, King Qing would not refuse a senior court official who served at the Emperor’s side, and he arranged a banquet to receive him with great hospitality.

 

But at their first meeting, Ming Zhang’s heart sank.

 

King Qing was indeed as the rumors described. Although he appeared approachable, he was tall and heavily built, and every word he spoke rang with resonant authority.

 

On closer inspection, even the prominent joints of his knuckles resembled small hammers, strong and powerful. The delicate celadon wine cup in his hand made one instinctively worry that it might be crushed at any moment.

 

Indeed, he was a master.

 

How could Han Zhen, having only just recovered from serious injuries, possibly be his match?

 

Han Zhen, you know that yourself, don’t you?

 

Ming Zhang tipped his head back and drained his wine. Raising his sleeve to cover his face, he forced the faint moisture at the corners of his eyes back.

 

I chased after the emperor for more than ten years; you followed me for more than ten years.

 

I have let go. Why have you not?

 

Someone as wretched as me, how could I possibly be worth risking your life for?

 

He set down his wine cup and was once again the Ming Zhang who could navigate every relationship with ease, completely at home wherever he went. Meanwhile, as Han Zhen secretly infiltrated the city, the entire Qingzhou Prefecture remained silent as though nothing at all had happened.

 

Dressed in black, Han Zhen was almost indistinguishable from the night itself. His eyes were fixed on the two imposing characters above the main entrance.

 

Ming Residence.

 

Han Zhen knew he should not linger here, yet he seemed rooted to the spot, simply staring.

 

Just one look. Just one would be enough.

 

Dark clouds veiled the moon, and the night was deep enough to make the heart uneasy. Layer upon layer of rooftops crisscrossed in the darkness. Only then, crouched upon the black-tiled roof, did Han Zhen suddenly realize how ridiculous he was being. The sprawling Ming residence was enormous. How could finding one person possibly be so easy?

 

After the bitter realization came a desolate sorrow, quietly rising within him, spreading along his bones and into every corner of his body. Invisible, yet aching with a pain that seemed to gnaw straight into the marrow.

 

Even though he was already so close, even though this was a moment before an assassination from which he might never return, he still could not see him one last time.

 

But perhaps this was simply fate. The fate that belonged to the two of them.

 

No one knew that someone had come, or that he had quietly left.

 

After Han Zhen turned and disappeared into the night, an anxious servant’s voice broke the silence of the Ming residence.

 

“It’s already nearly two hours later than usual. Why has Young Master not returned from King Qing’s residence yet?”