Fall of the Crimson Flower

ACT XVIII: The Snake in the Grass

There were prosperous and declining countries, but a prison was still a prison. No matter how one tried to sugarcoat it, going to a prison was never a pleasant experience to undergo for the guards and prisoners alike — especially for the prisoners. If there was anything that could make this gloomy place a little bit better, it was perhaps how said country maintained the place and treated their captives.

Escorted by four palace guards, two in the front and two in the back, Zhou Zishu was brought straight from the Dragon's Hall to the imperial prison. The building appeared like a small fortress from the outside; it had been standing on the capital city's ground since the days of Qingya's founding Emperor, keeping many of the country's most dangerous criminals and war prisoners within its dungeon. Nevertheless, old as it was, the imperial prison was well-maintained, showing few signs of having been ravaged by the flow of time. It was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice, assisted by soldiers from the Imperial Army who were responsible for guarding and patrolling the vicinity.

As he was led into the dungeon, Zhou Zishu couldn't help but quietly laugh at himself. It hadn't even been half a month since he left the prison of Jin, and now he had to return to yet another prison, this time under the surveillance of the opposing country. At the same time, he couldn't help but compare the Qingya's imperial prison with that of the Jin Empire. Although both places were equally grim and gloomy, he felt that this imperial prison was cleaner and, somehow, looked more "humane." For one, when he walked passed some of the cells, it didn't seem that the convicts locked up in there had been terribly mistreated.

But while the environment was considerably better than he imagined, it did not mean that his personal circumstances had improved. Now locked up in one of the highest security cells, he practically had no means of contact with Wen Kexing. The latter should've also understood that he mustn't insist on establishing communications with Zhou Zishu during this situation.

On one hand, Zhou Zishu understood perfectly that his being placed in prison while the Empress deliberated over her decision was an expected outcome. He was grateful enough that Luo Fumeng and the court of Qingya didn't dismiss him without first hearing what he had to say — or worse, sending him to the executioner upon his return. However, while he was able to maintain his composure throughout the court session, there was an unpleasant premonition growing in him, something that made him feel uneasy. What it was exactly, he could yet put his finger on it. All he had was a gut feeling telling him that in that there was more than met the eyes in the recent development of the conflict between Jin and Qingya.

Particularly on the Qingya's side.

"So they finally decided to throw you here, after all, General Zhou."

In the midst of his musing, Zhou Zishu was startled by a familiar voice. Lifting his face, he turned to the cell next to him and was instantly struck by something akin to astonishment.

"You don't look that surprised to see this old man here. I suppose you are already informed of what had transpired in Tianya while you were gone."

"......Venerable Minister Gao..."

"That title is no longer mine. At least not until I clear my name and regain my honor," Gao Chong smiled bitterly, "Though, from the way I see it, accomplishing such a feat at this point would be nothing short of a miracle."

Zhou Zishu did not at all expect that he would receive a private audience with the recently convicted Venerable Minister of Military Affairs, not to mention that their cells were literally next to each other when there were still other empty cells scattered all around. Did the guards think it would be easier to monitor them both if they were to become neighbors and simply decided to put him in the same area as Gao Chong?