"Replying to Your Excellency. Old Li went home to visit his family; this is his wife's younger brother…"
A Prison Officer approached Captain Deng and whispered in his ear, "Old Li's home visit is taking a long time, and he doesn't want to lose his post, so he had his wife's younger brother fill in. He recently gave some gratuities to the brothers, Your Excellency... please overlook it."
"Ah, I see."
Captain Deng nodded in understanding and agreed to let them pass.
Officials and Clerks followed two different paths. Official posts were not hereditary, but Clerical positions were. It wasn't uncommon for a Clerk's family member to take over their duties. Old Li's duties weren't crucial, so having someone substitute for him was acceptable.
This was a point he couldn't criticize, because his own rank of Captain was inherited from his father!
Xu Xing and Chang Ji, hidden in the cart's inter PClayer, breathed a sigh of relief when they heard this.
Originally, according to the Heavenly Kun King's plan, they were to directly impersonate Old Li. However, Xu Xing, in patching up the plan, suggested the Heavenly Kun King find someone to impersonate Old Li's wife's younger brother.
This way, those unfamiliar with Old Li would assume "Old Li" was still Old Li, unchanged. And those acquainted with Old Li would also have a plausible explanation.
The Night Fragrance Cart continued to rumble along.
Emptying night soil involved a separate, small path, not going through the Sky Prison's main gate.
The Sky Prison was guarded by the Three Wardens, Six Departments, and Twelve Detention Teams, with the Night Patrol Department's Tiqi scattered throughout. Wanting to slip through and escape was by no means an easy task.
However, compared to the Sky Prison's main gate, the small path for emptying night soil was much easier.
They only needed to endure questioning at three checkpoints.
Before long, following their plan, "Old Li" successfully passed two checkpoints. But when they reached the third checkpoint, the Prison Guard station, the Night Fragrance Cart was blocked. Two bailiffs stepped forward to conduct a routine search.
Captain Deng and his team will inspect the Sky Prison prisoners at one quarter of an hour past Chen hour.
Chang Ji and I are in Room No. D24 and Cell No. D25. Even if Judge Tian delays things, we can at most gain an extra one quarter of an hour...
About ten minutes have passed now; we must get out of the Sky Prison within the next five minutes.
Sensing the footsteps of the bailiffs approaching the Night Fragrance Cart, Xu Xing grew worried.
One quarter of an hour is equivalent to fifteen minutes.
When leaving the Sky Prison, he had his Instance World self keep an eye on the Western-style clock in the Academy.
This ensured their timing wouldn't be off.
Now, fifty minutes had passed in the Instance World, which translated to ten minutes in Reality…
If they couldn't muddle through next... then they would have to fight to the death!
"Why is today's Night Fragrance so smelly?"
"Haul it away, haul it away…"
Suddenly, the two bailiffs stopped, tightly covering their noses and mouths with their hands, while their other hands fanned the air, urging "Old Li" to quickly pull away the overnight Night Fragrance.
Xu Xing heard this and his hands, hidden in the Night Fragrance Cart, released the steel knife.
It seemed Great Fortune favored him... He had stumbled upon good luck.
Indeed, the imperial Court itself was a den of corruption; how could this Sky Prison system be any better? With no hope for promotion, everyone just did their jobs perfunctorily to collect their pay. Going through the motions and slacking off was the norm. Who had the spare energy to work diligently?
"Heard the food in the Sky Prison has improved quite a bit recently."
"The Prison Officers inside are all fattened till they drip oil…"
"After eating meat, their bowel movements are certainly stinkier."
The bailiffs stood to one side, whispering about recent events in the Sky Prison. When they mentioned the Prison Officers inside the Sky Prison, their tone soured considerably.
Prison Officers could accept bribes. But these bailiffs of the Prison Guard station could only guard the main gate bitterly, unable to skim any profit.
The iron-barred main gate gradually opened, revealing a road leading to the outside world.
Old Li remained silent, pushing the handcart and walking away.
Everything was proceeding with remarkable smoothness.
「Inside the Sky Prison.」
Captain Deng was inspecting Room No. D24.
"Your Excellency."
"Mr. Xu... has been swapped!"
A Prison Officer approached the prison cell, turned Xu Xing's body over, and his pupils shrank intensely. He quickly ran to Captain Deng's side and whispered in his ear.
If the Sky Prison lost a prisoner, they, the officials, would be in serious trouble. Losing an official prisoner was an even greater, heaven-defying crime!
Therefore, upon seeing Xu Xing had been swapped, the Prison Officer didn't dare to make a scene.
"Quick, notify the Three Wardens, Six Departments, and Twelve Detention Teams outside…"
"It's Old Li…"
"There's something wrong with him!"
"Absolutely do not let Xu Xing escape."
Captain Deng's expression changed abruptly, and he ordered in a strained voice.
Losing an official prisoner meant, at best, dismissal from office; at worst, execution.
He came to his senses, vaguely feeling this matter was related to Old Li.
However—
A few jailers quickly brought news.
Old Li had already pushed the Night Fragrance Cart out of the Sky Prison. Moreover, at the entrance of an alley outside the Sky Prison, Old Li had abandoned the Night Fragrance Cart and vanished without a trace.
"A capital offense! A capital offense!"
Cold sweat beaded on Captain Deng's forehead.
"Your Excellency…"
"In this subordinate's humble opinion, why don't we announce that Xu Xing and Chang Ji suddenly died of a violent illness?"
"Or, we could just use a fire as an excuse…"
The effects of Mount Siming's bribes to the Sky Prison's Prison Officers became apparent. Several Prison Officers knew that once news of Xu Xing's escape was known by others, not only would Captain Deng not fare well, but they too would not have a good end.
Thus, these Prison Officers instantly united, intending to deceive everyone.
A fire in the Sky Prison—they would certainly bear great blame, but at most, it would be dismissal from office. Furthermore, the law does not punish the masses. The Sky Prison could be rebuilt, but it couldn't do without them, these hereditary Prison Officers. Whose family didn't have some backing?
"Right! A fire!"
"Use a fire as the excuse…"
Captain Deng had a sudden realization, slapped his thigh, and agreed to this suggestion.
"However, the Night Patrol Department's Tiqi must have noticed our unusual state. What should be done about that?"
"The swap of an official prisoner definitely couldn't be hidden from the Night Patrol Department's spies…"
He fretted again.
"Your Excellency…"
"Let's pool our silver together. Hopefully, we can satisfy that group from the Night Patrol Department."
Several Prison Officers looked bitter and sighed.
「On the other side.」
West City of Shenjing, Liren Alley.
After obtaining the secret formula for making Glazed glass, Han Sui rushed nonstop to the Glass Factory located here. He had several master craftsmen from the Directorate of Palace Buildings immediately start firing Glazed glass according to the given formula.
One hour later.
A perfect piece of transparent Glazed glass was fired by the master craftsmen.
"A masterpiece!"
"To think such a treasure could be made from common Gravel!"
Han Sui gently stroked the Glazed glass, unable to stop himself from exclaiming in amazement.
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he too wouldn't believe that the Gravel seen every day could transform into Glazed glass more valuable than Gold.
What a pity...
He shook his head, a trace of regret suddenly arising in his heart.
He somewhat regretted letting Xu Xing take the fall.
Han Sui composed himself and asked the housekeeper beside him, "Has Zhao Yunniang left?"
"Old Master…"
"Zhao Yunniang has already left Shenjing under the escort of the retainers and... by now, she should probably be at Zhaoma Station Post."
The housekeeper cupped his hands and replied.
Zhaoma Station Post was south of Shenjing, about twenty kilometers away.
"After escorting her out of the Capital's vicinity, have them return."
Han Sui nodded.
He had the retainers escort Zhao Yunniang. Firstly, to prevent anyone from intercepting and killing Zhao Yunniang, which would tarnish his name with dirty water. Secondly, the retainers could also keep Zhao Yunniang under surveillance. If the Glazed glass formula she provided turned out to be fake, it would be easy to "invite Zhao Yunniang back to Shenjing..."
However, not even half an hour after he had spoken.
A Night Patrol Hundred Households hurriedly rode over. "Lord Han, the Command Envoy has issued an order: swiftly apprehend Zhao Yunniang. Do not let her escape Shenjing…"