The Imperial Prison of Esnia was specifically for imprisoning disgraced nobles and high-ranking officials. Since those imprisoned there were all arrested with the Emperor's personal authorization and edict, these unfortunate individuals had virtually no chance of redemption once they entered. To the respectable subjects of Esnia and even Fast, the Imperial Prison, though only known by name, was a mysterious and terrifying place, a veritable hell on earth in their imagination.
As Aurelian Dragon was escorted in by the palace guards, he himself was surprised; the Heavenly Prison before him was completely different from what he had imagined. In his mind, the Heavenly Prison should be similar to the prisons outside—a prison is a prison, after all—how could it resemble a courtyard filled with flowers and plants? This place was more like an inn than a prison, and a rather nice one at that.
This is not because Aurelian Dragon has only been in the position of Eastern Governor for a little over ten days and has not yet had time to learn about the situation of the Heavenly Prison, but because the Heavenly Prison is an institution under the jurisdiction of Sanssouci Palace, so even the Eastern Governor has no right to interfere in its affairs.
The prison, comprised of several courtyards, appeared ordinary, resembling the residence of a wealthy noble family. Only the walls were significantly higher and thicker than those of typical residences. The walls, standing 36 feet high, were constructed to the specifications of city walls, with crenellations on the outside and parapets on the inside to prevent guards from falling. Guards could often be seen peering out, a feature that hinted at the prison's extraordinary nature. Day and night, pairs of guards patrolled the walls, watching for any signs of slacking off or dozing off. This demonstrated the extremely strict security measures; without exceptional skill and courage, one could not expect to gain any advantage here.
Aurelian Dragon also noticed a towering circular tower in the center of the complex, over six zhang high. Anyone standing atop it with keen eyesight could certainly have a complete grasp of the entire prison's movements. Clearly, this tower was the command center in emergencies, playing a crucial role in overseeing the entire operation.
After the routine procedures, the round-faced, beardless warden announced the new prisoners' destination in his distinctive high-pitched voice. According to Fast's regulations, the affairs of the prison were managed by a powerful eunuch from Sanssouci Palace.
"Room No. 3, Class A!"
The head guard with the mustache nodded and signaled his men to escort Aurelian Dragon over.
Aurelian Dragon is currently residing in the third room of the Jia-class ward. The facilities there are quite complete, perhaps even better than those in an ordinary household. The fact that he is the only prisoner in this vast Jia-class ward indicates that Aurelian Dragon is now the highest-ranking prisoner there. Even in prison, there is a hierarchy, resulting in different treatment. The Heavenly Prison is truly unique, leaving the victim, who has been inexplicably framed and feels helpless, unsure whether to be happy or sad.
Aurelian Dragon quickly figured out the situation of the entire Jia-character courtyard. Apart from not being able to leave the courtyard, his other rights of movement were not restricted in any way. However, this was meaningless to Aurelian Dragon, as his power had been completely suppressed. He was now just an ordinary person and could not do anything at all.
After enjoying a dinner that, while not lavish, was still nutritious enough, Aurelian Dragon lay listlessly on his bed. He was all alone in the yard, so finding someone to chat with was impossible. He could only lie there wondering what Phoenix Vane and the others were doing, whether they were busy trying to help him, and how his troubles must have worried them terribly.
Thinking of the woman who had framed him for no reason, Aurelian Dragon was filled with rage again. If she ever had the chance to fall into his hands again, he would never let that hateful woman off easily. But when he thought about his current situation, Aurelian Dragon felt a wave of dejection. The so-called "ironclad evidence" probably best described his current predicament.
And so, with no other options and completely isolated from the outside world, the man let his thoughts wander aimlessly through the jungle of his imagination.
※ ※ ※
As night fell, it was time to light the lamps. Dozens of lamps were lit in the prison, but for such a large area, these few lamps were far from enough to illuminate the entire prison. Apart from the passageways and important areas, there were still many dark places in the prison.
As October approaches, the weather has turned cooler, especially at night when the chill intensifies, causing significant temperature differences between day and night. People who don't have anything to do usually stay home; after all, a warm nest is much more comfortable than being outside in the cold wind.
There wasn't a soul to be seen near the prison. Who would be so bored as to come to such a terrifying place? Putting aside how powerful the guards inside were, there was a force of 500 palace guards stationed near this godforsaken place. Only a madman would think of running wild here.
But tonight, some foolish or daring individual deliberately lurked near the prison. Four women appeared at the foot of the wall, all dressed in a bluish-gray nightsuit, the same color as the wall. The tight-fitting clothes accentuated their curves, revealing that these women were quite attractive. Each woman possessed specially designed double-clawed wall-climbing hooks on her hands, supported by arm guards; these hooks served not only as tools for climbing but also as deadly weapons.
The 36-foot-high wall might not be an insurmountable obstacle for a highly skilled intruder, but recklessly leaping over it could attract the attention of the guards and result in a merciless attack, which was not their purpose in coming here.
The woman at the head of the group had the most alluring figure and the most skillful agility. She listened intently for a moment, then gestured to the other three women, measured her distance, and walked to the base of a wall, beginning to slowly climb up. Her movements were extremely subtle, and in the deathly silence, she made not a sound—truly a seasoned wall-climber.
A head popped out from outside the battlements, carefully observing the surroundings. The position she chose was truly ingenious, right between two sentry posts. Unless one got very close to observe, it would be impossible to discover the problem.
Satisfied with her choice and judgment, the woman nimbly ascended the wall, followed silently by the other three. Four pairs of eyes, still bright in the darkness, exchanged glances and nodded. The woman with the alluring figure led the way, and the four figures disappeared into the darkness.
The four women moved like mice through the courtyard, crawling along the ground in the shadows of the lamplight, bypassing the dark, continuous rows of houses. They dared not leap onto the rooftops to escape, for that would alert the sharp-eyed guards on the high towers, leading to an attack by the many skilled guards in the prison.
※ ※ ※
One by one, the lights on the four walls were extinguished, leaving only two dim lamps on the table. Andre III sat in the shadows of the lamplight, staring blankly at the necklace in his hand. The necklace, as smooth as jade, shimmered with a soft yet crystalline light under the lamplight.
How many years has it been? Andre III's eyes slowly welled up with tears. Only when he was alone would he carefully lift the veil of his heart and release the memories that belonged only to him.
As time goes by, this memory in my heart is like a fine wine that has aged, becoming more and more mellow. Every time I open it, I am deeply intoxicated by its unique flavor.
Is it sadness? Is it longing? Or is it regret? He can no longer distinguish the feeling in these words, perhaps because they are inherently inexplicable.
Unbeknownst to him, the mist in Andre III's eyes grew thicker. He gently shook the necklace in his hand, watching the pendant below shimmer before his eyes, just like those beautiful eyes, those unforgettable eyes.
"Your Highness, His Majesty is resting!" The voice of Gao De'an, the personal eunuch who had served him for many years, interrupted Andre III's thoughts.
"No, I know Father hasn't rested yet, I want to see him!"
Andre III smiled slightly; upon hearing such a clear and energetic voice, he knew who it was.
"Come in!" King Andre III composed himself. He always felt very happy to be with his most beloved youngest daughter. Unlike her brothers, she was not only thinking about how to seize power in the empire and waiting to sit in his current position.
The door opened, and a fragrant breeze wafted in, carrying a beautiful green cloud. Her emerald green dress was vibrant and full of life, instantly filling the room with the unique fragrance of a young girl.
"Father, that's really outrageous of you, Gao De'an! He actually wouldn't let me come to see you!" Before he even reached Andre III, the coquettish words had already drifted over.
"My dear daughter, didn't he already let you in?" King Andre III smiled as he looked at his always spirited daughter.
Princess Selene Qian, even alone, seemed full of life. She chuckled and leaned intimately against the armrest of the chair, forcefully pushing Andre III's hand away. She put one arm around his shoulder and back, while her other slender hand grabbed the necklace in his hand.
"What a beautiful necklace! How come I've never seen it before? Whose is it?" Princess Selene Qian's words were quick and urgent, but they sounded very pleasant.
"This is Father's treasure!" King Andre III gripped the necklace tightly in his hand, then gently patted Princess Selene Qian's face with his other hand.
"Hehe, little monster, tell me, what do you want today?"
"Honestly, Father always sees right through people's thoughts. It's so boring!" Princess Selene Qian stuck out her little tongue lightly, looking both charming and cute.
Hearing his daughter's little compliment, Andre III laughed heartily. He pointed a finger at Princess Selene Qian's delicate nose and said with a cheerful smile, "Little rascal, how could I not know what you're thinking? Tell me!"
"Father, I heard that Brother Aurelian was…" Princess Selene Qian stared intently at Andre III with her dark eyes, and when she noticed that her father's originally smiling face had suddenly darkened, she secretly groaned in her heart.
"He's such a disappointment, causing such a huge mess! All the evidence is against him now, and the two dead men were Prince Elnario and Gilmans's confidants, who were on a very important mission. I don't think anyone can save Aurelian Dragon now."
As expected, Andre III interrupted Princess Selene Qian with displeasure and began to criticize Aurelian Dragon's mistakes.
Princess Selene Qian grew anxious and grabbed Andre III by the neck, asking, "So, Father is determined to order his execution?"
"But…but…" Princess Selene Qian rolled her eyes, "Brother Aurelian was with me at that time, how could he possibly be in two places to kill those two guys?"
"Is this true?" King Andre III was startled. He looked directly into his daughter's eyes and asked very seriously.
Princess Selene Qian blushed and said shyly, "Yes, I had just finished my cultivation when I sought out Brother Aurelian..." Then she lowered her head and whispered, "I was afraid Father would be displeased, so I asked Brother Aurelian not to tell anyone..."
"So that's how it is!" A fleeting smile played on Andre III's eyes, but Princess Selene Qian, with her head bowed, couldn't see it. "My dear daughter, you're not trying to exonerate the Aurelian Dragon, are you?"
"No, no!" Princess Selene Qian quickly raised her head and hurriedly explained.
"Father, think about it. Brother Aurelian had absolutely no reason to kill those two! What exactly was their so-called important mission that made Third Brother and Gilmans so angry with Brother Aurelian?"
Prince Andre III looked approvingly at Princess Selene Qian and nodded, saying, "Brilliant! Prince Elnario and Gilmans were secretly planning a big operation, and those two bastards were key figures in it. Humph, they deserved to die!"
The obedient Princess Selene Qian sensed something amiss in Andre III's words and quickly grabbed his arm, saying repeatedly, "Father, since you also know there's something wrong with this matter, why do you still condemn Brother Aurelian?"
"The evidence is conclusive, of course I will bring him to justice!" Andre III answered confidently, which made Princess Selene Qian both anxious and angry. Just as she was about to speak, Andre III added a sentence, which made her heart cheer up.
"That's wonderful! I knew Father loved me the most!" Princess Selene Qian jumped up happily and kissed Andre III on the cheek. "Father, please issue the decree to release Brother Aurelian quickly!"
King Andre III shook his head and sighed deliberately, "Alas, now that Brother Aurelian is here, he won't be so kind to our poor old father anymore!"
With her greatest worry over, Princess Selene Qian was in high spirits. She clung to Andre III's arm, shaking it and saying, "Same, same!" Her youngest daughter's expression filled Andre III with immense joy.
Unwittingly, Andre III's gaze fell upon the necklace in his hand. Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he reached out and hung the necklace around Princess Selene Qian's snow-white neck. The luster of the jade and her fair, delicate skin complemented each other beautifully, making her extremely alluring.
"Is this for me?" Although eager for Andre III to issue a decree, Princess Selene Qian still stroked the necklace with great joy, feeling a strange warmth emanating from it.
"You must remember my words!" Andre III changed his demeanor from before and began to solemnly explain things to Princess Selene Qian. Influenced by her father's atmosphere, Princess Selene Qian also carefully kept her father's words in mind.
※ ※ ※
As Aurelian Dragon was half-asleep dreaming of women, he suddenly felt the temperature in the room drop, a gust of cold wind swept by, and four curvaceous figures appeared in the room.
"Wow, it really is a woman!"
The man, lost in his daydream, rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Sure enough, there were four stunningly beautiful young women, their curvaceous figures beneath their tight-fitting night clothes enough to make any normal man drool. The man, who considered himself a connoisseur of beauty, had his eyes wide open, his gaze fixed on the woman with the most alluring figure.
"Such a wonderful thing exists in the prison! Such desserts are served after dinner?" Aurelian Dragon's smile was like that of a beggar who had found gold on the street, almost reaching out to touch the most alluring woman. "Wow, this is amazing! I love it! What's your name?"
Seeing this damned man grinning like a lecher, the four women who had come with murderous intent exchanged bewildered glances, a sense of powerlessness washing over them. They had anticipated countless reactions from this man, but they hadn't expected this turn of events. They didn't know whether to burst into laughter or weep for the mental strain they had expended.
Seeing that the women in front of her were standing there without reacting, Aurelian Dragon simply stood up and reached out to take their hands. "Don't be shy, let's sit down and talk slowly."
"Fool!!"
"idiot!!"
Now the four women finally understood what kind of person this man, whom they considered a major enemy, really was, and the same thought immediately arose in their minds.
A flash of cold light appeared, and the leading, alluring woman held a gleaming longsword. Since the room was unlit, the sword emitted a chilling aura in the moonlight streaming in from the window. If someone still didn't understand after seeing this, they could only be categorized as hopeless.
Fortunately, the person in question hadn't failed to that extent. Aurelian Dragon's eyes widened suddenly, and she let out a scream: "Come... uh..."
But the words he was about to say were swallowed back down by the longsword pointed at his throat. The chilling blade emanated a murderous aura that sent shivers down Aurelian Dragon's spine.
"Miss, you're not serious, are you?" Aurelian Dragon said with a pained expression, pointing to the longsword pressed against her throat. "This thing is no joke. If something goes wrong, a lot of people will be heartbroken!"
The young woman at the head of the group frowned in disgust and said disdainfully, "You clown, I really don't know how Phoenix Vane could possibly fall for you?"
"Oh, so you know Phoenix?" Aurelian Dragon's expression turned serious, and he suddenly said in a very solemn tone, "Young lady, please put down your sword! May I ask what brings you here to see me, Aurelian, at this hour?"
"Huh?!" The four women were taken aback by Aurelian Dragon's sudden change and looked at him with puzzled expressions.
"Hehe, so this is the kind of man girls like!" Aurelian Dragon said with a grin.
Finally realizing she'd been tricked by this man, the Night Visitor's anger flared to its peak. The lead woman, with her alluring figure, took a deep breath, temporarily suppressing her raging fury, and gritted her teeth, saying, "Enough! I 've had enough of your clumsy clown act! Stop with the empty talk, we're here to take your dog's life!" She then made a move to strike.
"Wait!" Aurelian Dragon suddenly shouted, and the woman holding the longsword was startled, her hand movements pausing for a moment.
"What a spineless man!" The women exchanged glances, their hearts filled with contempt for him.
"It seems that the famous beauty and war goddess Phoenix Vane is nothing special. She actually fell for a boring and shallow man like you. Her taste is truly questionable."
The woman, clearly in a dominant position, mocked and ridiculed him mercilessly before launching into her ruthless pronouncement of her verdict—one of her favorite things to do, as it made her feel like a god who controlled life.
"You filthy man, this day next year will be your death anniversary!"
To everyone's surprise, Aurelian Dragon showed no fear whatsoever. Instead, he looked at the woman in front of him with a wicked smile, completely ignoring the fact that a sharp, gleaming sword was pointing at his throat.
"Do you really want my life? If so, there are some people who will absolutely not agree to it!"
"Who?" The four women tensed simultaneously, sensing an ominous undertone in Aurelian Dragon's voice. The woman with the most alluring figure tightened her grip, her longsword suddenly thrusting forward, a sharp, piercing energy emanating from it, aiming straight for Aurelian Dragon's throat, which would be fatal in an instant.
Almost simultaneously, the four women felt a sudden, chilling aura surge into the room, like a raging torrent rushing towards them. Having experienced many battles, they naturally understood what this meant, but the strange thing was how this master with terrifying skill had entered. A chill couldn't help but rise in their hearts, despite their self-assured abilities. If this person could truly pass by them silently, without them even noticing, such an opponent was simply terrifying.
With a clear, metallic clang, the longsword, brimming with killing intent, was struck heavily by a strange, powerful force in front of Aurelian Dragon, causing it to tremble and be deflected to the side.
A burst of sparks flashed, and a long, entirely black sword revealed itself in the dimly lit room. Then, a beautiful figure slowly appeared before everyone. The woman, who possessed night vision, could see it clearly. This opponent who had terrified them was actually an exceptionally pretty young woman, but the cold, piercing light emanating from her eyes was chilling.
Before the four women could react, the black longsword flashed with countless chilling streaks of light in front of them with incredibly precise movements. Four attacks in one strike, almost simultaneously, forced them to take a step back to block the blow. This freed up space in front of them, significantly reducing the threat to the Aurelian Dragon.
"So it was you, you little bitch!"
The alluring woman's eyes seemed to blaze with fury, but in reality, she was filled with resentment. If she had struck with deadly intent from the moment she arrived, Aurelian Dragon would already be dead. She had been careless, thinking she had the situation completely under control, allowing this despicable man to act as he pleased. Little did she know that she had been outmaneuvered. Now, with this highly skilled woman blocking Aurelian Dragon's path, killing him would be no easy task.
The two women behind them were anxious. Without thinking, they raised their longswords and thrust them at the enemy blocking their way, one to the left and one to the right. They used the same moves, but the different angles made them look different and showed different killing intent. It was obvious that they were well-trained.