Chapter 76: Release

The Jinyiwei was responsible for guarding and surveillance, but it was divided into two systems. For example, Zhang Jie, who served as a command officer of the Jinyiwei, was in charge only of guarding duties, not surveillance. After Emperor Hongwu Zhu Yuanzhang executed nearly all his meritorious officials through mass trials, he promptly disbanded the Jinyiwei, taking “getting rid of the tool once it’s done its job” to its extreme. When Emperor Yongle Zhu Di ascended the throne, fearing instability and dissent among officials, he not only reestablished the Jinyiwei but also created the Beizhenfusi to handle surveillance and imperial prisons, while the Nanzenfusi was solely responsible for military craftsmen.

Thus, a saying spread throughout the court: if one was placed under the supervision of the Dali Temple, there was at least a chance of being released someday; but if sent to the Jinyiwei’s imperial prisons, one’s life, death, honor, and disgrace were entirely in the hands of others—requiring the resolve to endure imprisonment for life.

In just these few years, one person named Jie Jin had died in the Beizhenfusi’s imperial prisons, Yang Pu was imprisoned there, and there were at least dozens of civil officials currently locked inside. Military officials, on the other hand, were hard to find. After all, most famous military officials were meritorious figures from the Jingnan Campaign who preferred to live comfortably and indulge in pleasure rather than get involved in state affairs.

At that moment, Zhang Yue stood in front of the gloomy courtyard of the Beizhenfusi. Though not alone, and though he felt he wasn’t worthy of being associated with such a terrifying place, a sense of dread crept up his spine—as if, with just one breath, a foul, icy breath would invade his organs.

He wasn’t the only one nervous. Zhang Jiu’s face looked no better than that of a dead man; he couldn’t stand still and kept walking back and forth, clenching and unclenching his fists, occasionally muttering nervously. Zhang Chao, usually bold and reckless, could initially peer into the courtyard on tiptoes, but when the two Jinyiwei guards there gave him sinister smiles, he immediately became quiet and stood closely beside Zhang Yue, whispering endless questions to annoy his cousin.

“Third brother, do you think our uncle is being tortured in there?”
“I heard imperial prisons are dark and damp. Our uncle’s been in there for at least a month—has he become emaciated?”
“Do you think we should set off for Zhengpingzhou right away? After being released from prison, he should rest for a few days, right?”
“Third brother, it’s almost noon. Why hasn’t our uncle been released yet? Could something have changed?”

Despite Zhang Yue’s initial confidence, he was now overwhelmed by the barrage of questions from Zhang Chao. Although Zhang Jiu was a bit far away, he had been listening intently to his two elder brothers’ conversation, his face growing increasingly pale. Then, as the sound of wheels turning came from the other end of the alley, the three brothers along with their attendants turned around in unison, filled with fear.

This territory under the Northern Pacification Commission seemed so desolate that even birds avoided it; the nearby houses were mostly uninhabited. They had been waiting in this alley for over an hour, and aside from the Jinyiwei officers coming in and out on official business, not a single soul had appeared. Who could this be now? Could it be that after deciding to release the prisoners just recently, some imperial envoy had come to change their mind?

Yet when the carriage drew near, a familiar voice called out from inside, instantly calming everyone’s nerves. Zhang Jiu rushed forward at top speed, lifted the curtain, and climbed into the carriage, while Zhang Yue and Zhang Chao walked up alongside it.

“Sister, why have you come too?”

It was Zhang Qing in the carriage. She slightly lifted the curtain, revealing her tear-streaked face and Zhang Jiu, who was clinging to her. She gave a slight nod to Zhang Chao and Zhang Yue before explaining, “I heard that Father would be released today, so I begged my father-in-law and mother-in-law relentlessly to let me see him. My husband also interceded, and that’s how I was able to come. The Jinyiwei prison is no place to stay—I don’t know how Father is…”

Seeing Zhang Qing in tears, Zhang Yue felt uneasy as well. Although their uncle Zhang Xin had escaped disaster this time, he had to go to Jiaozhi and it was uncertain when he would return. Zhang Yue had tried to reassure Zhang Jiu by saying that Zhang You could take care of him there, but with malarial diseases, acclimatization issues, local rebellions, and the remote location, Zhang Xin’s situation remained extremely precarious. The Zhang family of Xiangfu had spared no effort to save Zhang Xin, spending a fortune, and although they were lucky enough to succeed, they couldn’t buy back his position as Deputy Minister of Works.

“He’s out! Uncle is out!”

Zhang Chao’s shout immediately lifted everyone’s spirits, and they hurriedly looked in his direction. At that moment, two Jinyiwei officers dressed in official robes and carrying embroidered spring knives escorted a middle-aged man out of the Northern Pacification Commission’s gates—it was Zhang Xin. Just over a month apart, he looked much older; though his clothes were still neat, his gait was already unsteady, showing signs of old age.

When he saw Zhang Xin covering his forehead with his hand and squinting at the red sun in the sky, Zhang Jiu, who had already jumped down from the carriage, could no longer hide his excitement. He rushed forward quickly, grabbed his father’s left arm, and choked up for a long time without being able to say a word, only biting his lip hard.

Zhang Xin then lowered his right hand and gently patted his son’s head. Seeing Zhang Yue and Zhang Chao standing not far away, as well as Zhang Qing leaning out half of her body from the carriage, with all of them showing joy and concern, he nodded slightly and forced a smile, though he felt as if he had survived a disaster.

In the cell to his left was Yang Pu. Even in such a gloomy environment, this man continued to study. Though Zhang Xin admired him, he thought he lacked the determination and courage to do the same. What scared him even more was that while he had only been imprisoned for over a month, Yang Pu had already been in the imperial prison of the Jinyiwei’s Beizhenfu Si for more than two years.

What would happen to him if he were locked up for two years? It was a question that filled him with dread at the mere thought of it.

With his son’s support, Zhang Xin walked slowly, gradually moving away from the gate of Beizhenfu Si. Yet, just as they were about to finish that short distance, he suddenly turned his head and saw a figure at the gate. Instantly, his pupils contracted sharply, and his chest rose and fell unnaturally. Although the person wore a faint smile and nodded at him, it couldn’t dispel the chill in his heart.

Zhang Yue also saw the unexpected figure at the gate of Beizhenfu Si and immediately recognized him as Yuan Qianhu, the man he had encountered at the Imperial Academy before. When Zhang Xin was intimidated by that mysterious smile, he too felt as if the other person was smiling at him, so his discomfort was unbearable.

Was this strange guy an enemy or a friend?