Chapter Three: Terror in the Imperial Prison

Looking at Zhu Gaoxu’s current display of arrogance, it seemed he no longer held their past friendship in any regard.

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu approach with a condescending air, Fang Xiaoru asked in a deep voice, "I wonder what brings His Highness, the Prince of Gaoyang, here today?"

With Fang Xiaoru’s question, Zhu Gaoxu stopped mocking Chen Kan. He turned his head and said, "Nothing particularly important. In three days, my father is going to pay his respects at the Xiao Mausoleum to the Emperor, my grandfather. So, I have been specially sent by my father to request a formal edict of accession from you, Master. I hope you will not be stingy with your ink."

*In three days, visiting the Ming Xiao Mausoleum, and he wants Fang Xiaoru to write the edict of accession?*

At these words from Zhu Gaoxu, Chen Kan’s heart skipped a beat. It was happening—the prelude to the world-shaking massacre of the ten degrees of kinship was about to begin. Was it too late to disavow his mentor? *Urgent... waiting online!*

Upon hearing this, Fang Xiaoru’s face darkened. He refused flatly, "Your Highness is joking. I am but a pedantic scholar; how could I possibly write an edict of accession? I suggest you return and tell the Prince of Yan to find someone else!"

"Oh?"

No sooner had Fang Xiaoru finished speaking than Zhu Gaoxu, who had been smiling the second before, said coldly, "So, you are refusing to write this edict?"

"It is not that I refuse to write it, but that I cannot write it, nor do I know how to," Fang Xiaoru replied, his expression unchanged.

Zhu Gaoxu realized, "I see!"

*Clang!*

In the next moment, his long blade was unsheathed and pointed straight at Fang Xiaoru’s face. He barked, "Fang Xiaoru, I will ask you one more time: will you write this edict or not?"

"Hah!"

Faced with Zhu Gaoxu’s interrogation, Fang Xiaoru’s face also turned cold. He sneered with disdain, "The Prince of Yan is a vassal; he has committed treason by taking up arms. A treacherous subject and a rebel, conspiring to usurp the nation, yet he dares to covet the throne. If I were to write this edict, what face would I have to meet the founding Emperor in the afterlife? Tell the Prince of Yan to give up this delusion."

These words were enough to make not only Zhu Gaoxu’s rage soar, but even Chen Kan’s heart tremble. *“Those who know the times are wise, man!”*

And what was wrong with Zhu Gaoxu? Had he studied abroad in Sichuan? How could he change his face so quickly?

"You pedantic scholar, do you really think I dare not kill you?"

"Kill me if you wish; I shall never write this edict." Fang Xiaoru looked resolute, and with that, he closed his eyes, ready to meet his end.

"Haha... Hahaha..."

Zhu Gaoxu’s fury burned even brighter. He threw his head back and laughed, then snarled, "Since you are so eager to die, I will grant your wish."

Without hesitation, he raised his blade and swung it down!

***

Seeing that Fang Xiaoru was about to lose his life on the spot, Chen Kan’s eyebrows twitched, and his face changed dramatically. According to historical records of Zhu Di’s violent temper, if Zhu Gaoxu really killed Fang Xiaoru, Zhu Gaoxu might be fine as his own son, but what about everyone else in this prison? What about himself, or Zhu Gaoxu’s own guards? Would they survive?

"Your Highness, no!"

Chen Kan shouted, rushing forward, his body pushed to its absolute limit. But how could his feet possibly be faster than the swing of a blade? Seeing Fang Xiaoru about to be decapitated, Chen Kan could almost see his own new body being hacked to pieces by Zhu Di. Cold sweat broke out across his forehead. He could only pray to the heavens that Zhu Gaoxu’s strike would miss, or that Fang Xiaoru would suddenly activate a skill to catch the blade with his bare hands.

*Clang...*

The sound of metal clashing rang out. At the last critical second, one of Zhu Gaoxu’s personal guards had stepped in to block the fatal blow for Fang Xiaoru.

*Whew.* Fang Xiaoru was alive, and Chen Kan let out a long breath. His life was saved; he could almost see himself rising in rank and wealth.

"Hm?"

With his strike blocked, Zhu Gaoxu’s eyes gleamed with malice. The guard sheathed his sword and whispered, "Your Highness, please reconsider."

Taking advantage of the gap, Chen Kan stepped forward to shield Fang Xiaoru. He bit the bullet and said, "Your Highness, Prince of Gaoyang, I... my teacher... you cannot kill him..."

Honestly, Chen Kan felt like he was on a roller coaster. He was so nervous he couldn't even form a coherent sentence, especially while facing Zhu Gaoxu, who was half a head taller and built like a tank. The pressure was immense. *Damn it! Who the hell transmigrates like this?*

Who was Zhu Gaoxu? He was Zhu Di’s greatest general during the Jingnan Campaign, a ruthless man who had fought his way from the east side of Beijing all the way to Yingtian, never blinking once. Could one expect a good outcome by crossing him? Chen Kan didn't care if Fang Xiaoru died, but if Fang Xiaoru’s death implicated him, then he couldn't die—at least not yet.

Separating the two, Chen Kan said with a trembling voice, "Your Highness, take my advice. This... that... why don't you head back for now?"

"Your Highness, before entering the city, Master Daoyan said that Fang Xiaoru must not be killed. Please think it over." The guard also chimed in at the right moment.

Chen Kan keenly noticed that when the guard mentioned Daoyan, a flicker of hesitation crossed Zhu Gaoxu’s face, and his rage subsided ever so slightly. *There is hope!*

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu’s attitude waver, Chen Kan’s mind raced. He organized his thoughts with the speed of a man who had lived two lives, and before his brain could even catch up, he said with a straight face, "Your Highness, if my teacher dies by your blade today, you may indeed enjoy a moment’s satisfaction. You may feel relieved, but have you considered how you will face the anger of the Prince of Yan in the Hall of Heavenly Protection later?"

Chen Kan spoke as fast as he could. Beads of sweat trickled down his chin and hit the floor.

"Using my father to pressure me? Chen Kan, have you thought about the consequences of doing this?" Zhu Gaoxu’s killing intent rushed toward Chen Kan, but Chen Kan felt an involuntary sense of relief.

After a moment’s thought, he bowed to Zhu Gaoxu. "I dare not. I—the commoner—did not intend to use the Prince of Yan to pressure you. It is just that you and I once shared a friendship, and I truly cannot bear to see you ruin your future over a trifle."

This was the only way Chen Kan could think of to turn Zhu Gaoxu back. Fang Xiaoru was the model for scholars in the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Di needed him to draft the edict of accession to win the hearts of the literati. If Zhu Gaoxu had ambitions for the throne, he had to understand that killing Fang Xiaoru today would inevitably alienate his father.

Chen Kan couldn't say it explicitly, or he would be branded a sower of discord. Offending the soon-to-be-emperor Zhu Taizong, or the future Emperors Renzong and Xuanzong, would be a disaster. Having transmigrated, Chen Kan wanted to live. As the saying went, "A miserable life is better than a good death."

If Zhu Gaoxu didn't understand this, there was nothing more Chen Kan could do. Fortunately, while Zhu Gaoxu was impulsive and short-tempered, he was not a fool. After the intervention by Chen Kan and the guard, his anger gradually dissipated. He realized that if he killed Fang Xiaoru, he would certainly face dire consequences.

Calming down, he looked at Chen Kan, who was shielding Fang Xiaoru like a mother hen, and found his former friend somewhat unrecognizable. The original Chen Kan was a bookworm, always spouting morality and righteousness—which was why he had become Fang Xiaoru’s student. But this Chen Kan... Zhu Gaoxu found him difficult to read. Such ambiguous, double-edged words were not something the Chen Kan he knew could have uttered.

"Heh!"

Zhu Gaoxu chuckled and sheathed his blade. "Chen Kan, you truly are a loyal friend; even while languishing in prison, you still think of me. Very well, for the sake of the care you showed me when I was a hostage in the capital, I will spare the life of this pedantic scholar today."