activa-t Chapter 86 Practice
Chapter 86 Practice
Two days later, at dawn, several people in plain clothes stood at the entrance of the Ministry of Justice prison.
Yin De stood at the front, wearing a dark blue robe with a leather belt around his waist, his face calm and composed.
Fuquan followed behind him, carrying the cushion and hand warmer used in Yin'e's sedan chair.
Although it was the height of summer and hand warmers were unnecessary, the Tenth Prince ordered that the sedan chair be arranged in a neat and tidy manner, as if welcoming an honored guest.
A small blue sedan chair was parked next to the stone lions in front of the Ministry of Justice, with a four-clawed python pattern embroidered on the curtain, indicating the rank of a prince.
Several sedan chair carriers squatted in the corner, smoking pipes, the embers in their pipes flickering in the morning breeze.
When Batu walked out of the Ministry of Justice prison, the sun had just climbed over the eaves.
His hair was a bit messy, and he hadn't shaved for several days, with a patch of dark stubble on his chin.
But he was in good spirits, his eyes were bright, and he walked with a steady gait, unlike someone who had been locked up in a jail for three days.
He looked up and saw Yin De and Fu Quan, paused for a moment, then saw the sedan chair, and his eyes immediately reddened.
"Uncle, Tenth Master sent us to take you home." Yin De stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting.
Fuquan quickly came over, grinning as he called out "Uncle," and reached out to help him up.
Batu waved his hand and got into the sedan chair himself.
The moment the sedan curtain was lowered, he let out a long breath, leaned against the sedan wall, and closed his eyes.
These past few days at the Ministry of Justice, he repeated those words over and over again, just as the Tenth Master had instructed.
Although the eldest prince was not satisfied, he did not make things difficult for him.
Meals were delivered on time, water was plentiful, and even the bedding for sleeping was new.
He knew this wasn't the Ministry of Justice's rule, but rather a matter of respect for the Tenth Prince.
The sedan chair swayed and wobbled as it made its way toward the Tenth Prince's residence.
Batu lifted a corner of the sedan curtain and looked at the bustling crowd on the street, at the vegetable vendors, the porters, the cart drivers, and the bird walkers. Suddenly, he felt as if it were all a dream.
Just a few days ago, he was still dealing with Gao Mengyuan in Juxianju, fighting desperately in the fire, and licking blood from the edge of a knife.
Now, he sits in a sedan chair, being carried home like a nobleman.
He knew that all of this was given to him by Tenth Master.
Ulan had been waiting at the entrance of the Tenth Prince's mansion since early morning.
Her face was a little pale, clearly she hadn't been sleeping well for the past few days.
Su Mo'er stood behind her, holding a bowl of tea in her hands. The tea had been changed several times, but Wu Lan hadn't drunk a drop.
"Madam, the eldest uncle's sedan chair has arrived!" Wang Cheng, the gatekeeper, had sharp eyes and spotted the small blue sedan chair from afar, so he shouted at the top of his lungs.
Ulan stopped abruptly.
She craned her neck to look into the alleyway.
The sedan chair stopped at the gate of the mansion. Fuquan lifted the curtain, and Batu crawled out.
Ulan's eyes immediately reddened when she looked at Batu.
Batu strode forward, stood in front of Ulan, and reached out his hand, wanting to pat her on the shoulder.
"Little sister, I'm back."
Ulan raised her hand and punched Batu hard in the chest.
Then she looked up and said with a relieved tone, "It's good that you're back."
Yin'e saw all of this and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
He instructed Fuquan to invite Batu to his study.
When Batu came in, he had changed into clean clothes and his hair was tied up again, and he looked much more energetic.
He knelt down as soon as he entered and kowtowed to Yin'e: "Tenth Prince, this servant has returned."
Yin'e waved his hand, telling him to get up and sit down.
Fuquan brought in two cups of tea, then left and gently closed the door behind him.
"Did you suffer any injustices at the Ministry of Justice?" Yin'e picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked casually.
Batu shook his head, holding the teacup in both hands: "No, everything is fine."
Yin'e nodded: "What did they say?"
"I told you everything according to what Master Shi instructed. I don't know much about Juxianju. I was just there to pay off a debt when Gao Mengyuan called me there."
I didn't know about the fire; I just ran out when I heard someone shout "Fire!"
I knew nothing about Sun Yongfu's affairs; I didn't see him after I came out of the outhouse.
It's always the same few sentences, repeated dozens of times.
Yin'e's lips curled up slightly, revealing a satisfied smile.
The eldest prince was naturally dissatisfied. He wanted to extract something from Batu, something related to the crown prince, or something related to the Eighth Prince's faction.
But Batu knew nothing, or rather, he only knew what the Tenth Master had told him to know.
Even the most ruthless prince wouldn't dare torture a witness who was "protected" by the emperor. He could only watch helplessly.
"I understand." Yin'e stood up, walked to the door, opened it, and called out, "Yin De."
Yin De's footsteps came from the other end of the corridor, growing louder as they approached, and stopped at the door.
"Go to the accounting office and get five hundred taels of silver for Batu." Yin'e turned around, looked at Batu, and said, "Let him go first."
Batu was stunned.
His body seemed to be frozen in place, sitting motionless in the chair, almost dropping the teacup in his hand.
His lips trembled for a while, as if he was processing the meaning of Yin'e's words.
Then he suddenly stood up, lifted the hem of his robe, and knelt down.
"Tenth Master! This servant has finally seen through you. You are brave and resourceful, a man destined for great things."
Please let me stay. From now on, I will follow you through thick and thin, even if it means going through fire and water!
His forehead slammed heavily against the floor tiles, then lifted up, then slammed down again, each blow heavier and faster than the last.
Yin'e did not speak immediately.
He walked up to Batu, bent down, and supported his arms with both hands, helping him up from the ground.
"I understand your feelings." Yin'e sat down opposite him. "But you are, after all, my father-in-law's heir, the eldest son of Prince Urjingalap, and you will inherit the throne in the future."
Why do you always stay in the capital?
Your father is getting old, and someone has to take care of things on the grassland.
Go back first, get along well with your father, and take charge of the tribe's affairs.
He paused for a moment, then said, "In the future, if there's anything I can do to help you on the grasslands, I won't be polite."
Batu raised his head and looked into Yin'e's eyes.
Batu's eyes reddened, and he nodded vigorously, wiping his eyes with his sleeve: "Don't worry, Tenth Master, this servant will remember."
Yin'e reached out and patted his shoulder, his gaze becoming serious: "Don't get involved in those vices like gambling, prostitution, and drugs anymore."
You're lucky to have met me this time; you might not be so lucky next time.
Batu nodded repeatedly: "Tenth Master, if this servant touches those things again, you won't even need to lift a finger; I'll tie myself up and come see you myself!"
Yin'e smiled, stood up, and called out towards the door, "Fuquan."
Fuquan pushed open the door and came in, standing with his hands hanging down.
"Go tell the kitchen to prepare a fine feast tonight for my great-uncle's farewell dinner. We'll drink until we're drunk."
"Yes, sir!" Fuquan responded and dashed out in a flash.