Chapter 97: Sky Prison (I)

Chapter 97: Sky Prison (I)

The sky prisons were not the most sinister, most horrible place on earth, but they were definitely the place on earth most able to convey a sense of disparity between what you once had and what you had now.

Before each person imprisoned here walked through those great, rusted copper gates, who among them had not been an outstanding and respected member of society? And so, to these people, who had fallen in dignity as far as it is possible for one person to fall, although this prison was truly no worse than any other, it was nonetheless the most frightening place on earth.

Old Huang was a guard of the sky prisons, and his son, Young Huang, was also a guard. Father and son alternated shifts, keeping guard over a separate area of the prison called the Winter Cells. Although they had to make daily patrols, and could not leave their posts by day or by night, in reality, their work consisted of little more than sweeping the courtyard.

This was because there were no prisoners inside the Winter Cells, not even one.

This place was a particularly special part of the sky prisons, and had always been reserved for those of the imperial family who had committed grave crimes. And although princes and royalty broke the law no less frequently than the common people, in reality, who would dare lightly accuse one of them of any crime, aloof and untouchable as they were on their lofty thrones? From Old Huangs vague recollection, there had only been a single incident, ten or so years ago, when this prison had once held the most respected and honourable prince in the world. Ever since that time, the Winter Cells had remained empty, kept clean but cold by their daily sweepings.

To the other side of the courtyard outside the Winter Cells was a long corridor called the Dark Path, the end of which led to a large, brick-lined jail cell. Court officials who had committed crimes were kept here.

Compared to the emptiness of the Winter Cells, the Dark Path was much livelier. Now and then, officials in varying stages of emotion some weeping, some dazed, some screaming, some numb with shock would be seen being dragged into the cell in chains.

Old Huang often craned his neck and peered over at the commotion, and when his son came to take his shift, he would sigh, Its one of those great lords again. This statement had been repeated many times over the years without the slightest variation.

Of course, some people walked out of the Dark Path as well. If they walked out still in chains, their faces rigid and dry, Old Huang would bid them farewell in his heart, murmuring quietly, May your evil dissipate, and may you be reborn to a new life soon. But if they walked out with a spring in their step, and with a guard for escort, Old Huang would bow and clasp his hands in greeting without saying a word.

Amidst the tedium of guarding the prisons, watching drama unfold in the Dark Path, be it joy or grief, was not a bad way to pass the time.

Today, Old Huang had swept the courtyard of the Winter Cells clean and locked the door, as he always did, and now he stood out in the open grounds, his hands tucked into his sleeves as he stared in the direction of the Dark Path. Once in awhile, one hand emerged from his sleeve pocket with a peanut, which he then put into his mouth.

He was chewing his fifth peanut when a rattling sound came from the door leading to the Dark Path, a sign that someone was turning the lock. Old Huang knew this meant some new criminal was being taken into that place, and he hurriedly retreated to the shadows at the side of the building.

The door opened, and two familiar faces emerged the prison guards Ah Wei and Ah Niu. They stumbled to the side of the door and bowed hurriedly.

Old Huang shivered and pressed himself quickly against the wall again.

This was because the person who followed was the big boss of the entire sky prison, the judicial commissioner, An Rui, Officer An. He was not in his court uniform today, but in a plain robe, smiling broadly as he raised a hand and gestured towards the corridor, saying, Please, Mister Su, this way.

The person he had called Mister Su was a thin but scholarly and handsome young man, and he did not look to be of any particularly high rank. But he seemed unmoved by the judicial commissioners courteous words, and only smiled at him indifferently as he continued to make his way slowly through the doorway.

They made their way along the Dark Path, clearly heading towards the jail cell for a visit. Old Huang raised an eyebrow, trying to guess the identity of the visitor, but suddenly, the young man halted, and his gaze swept over towards the other side of the courtyard. Old Huang jumped and stumbled, thinking he had been discovered in his hiding place.

That sidelooks a little different. The young man pointed in Old Huangs direction.

That way is the Winter Cells, An Rui replied cautiously. Mister Su should know, it is the place where members of the imperial family are held.

In such a clear case with so much evidence, Xie Yu knew well that the reason he had been imprisoned for half a month already without a verdict was because Xia Jiang was keeping his promise, and was finding ways to save his life. These ways would of course infuriate Prince Yu, and so the prince was retaliating by sending Mei Changsu here to try to find from himself some means of countering Xia Jiang.

And so, Xie Yu was prepared, and no matter what he faced, he would grit his teeth and refuse to react.

Marquis Xie, Mei Changsu took a step closer, leaning over slightly. I knowas soon as you saw me, you couldnt help wondering just how it was that you ended up in my hands, am I right? And up until now, I fear you have not been able to arrive at a satisfactory answer, am I right? You simply cannot understand where it was you made a mistake, and do not know how things progressed to such a state that, all of a sudden, you were thrown into the depths of hell, descending in a single day from an extremely honoured official to a prisoner awaiting death, am I right?

At these soul-piercing words, Xie Yus face tightened, and he visibly gritted his teeth, but he did not say a word.

In fact, you do not need to waste your energy wondering. I have come today prepared to explain everything to you clearly. Marquis Xie, the reason you lost. Mei Changsus gaze fell like ice onto the others face, as he slowly spat out the last few words, is because you are stupid.

Xie Yus eyebrow twitched.

I am not saying you are more stupid than the average person, but you are simply more stupid than I. Mei Changsu smiled. It is because I am smarter than you, so I know how you will react, and how you will act. I see clearly what you plan, and what you seek. But as for what I am thinking, and what I am doing, and how I scheme, you havent even begun to crack the surface. So, if we look at it this way, how could you help but lose? What could you do but fail? And after you have lost, after you have failed, you cannot even understand why it is you lost, if this is not stupiditythen what is it?

Xie Yus face was pale as he forcefully suppressed the emotion in his chest, his nostrils flaring.

Mei Changsu paced a few steps in the small cell, as if taking a brief tour of the tiny room. He turned and glanced around before stopping before Xie Yu and slowly kneeling to face him, as he smiled suddenly, Do you know who, besides me, is smarter than you?

Xie Yu turned his head away, determined to ignore him.

Xia Jiang. Mei Changsu did not seem to notice, and continued blandly. Xia Jiang is so much smarter than you that you cannot help but repeat the failure you suffered at my hands, and continue to lose again and again.

Mei Changsu stopped, looking at the bulging veins on Xie Yus neck, and then continued in his flat but almost bewitching tone, Let me tell you how a smart person will defeat you. In fact, once you understand, it is really very simple. First, he will come to this place to look upon this fallen Marquis, and tell you that he will not stand by and watch, and so he will make you a deal. You will not betray his secrets, and he will save your life. This exchange is certainly not false. He will very seriously find a way to let you walk out of this sky prison alive. And once you have walked out of this sky prison without dying from a death penalty, his promise will be fulfilled. He has saved your life, and so naturally, you will not betray any of the secrets of his crimes. Then, you will be sentenced to exile, and banished to some distant cold land. Perhaps you believe that you can survive such suffering, but in fact, you will not even have the opportunity to taste it. Because, by this time, your case has ended, and no one will question you again, and no one will even listen to you seriously again, so no matter what secrets you hold for Xia Jiang, you simply wont have the chance to reveal them. The road from the capital to your place of exile is long, and any one of the stops you make along the way may be your last. And when that time comes, your death will only be the death of an exiled convict, so no one will care, no one will even notice. And even if someone did, you will already be dead, and both you and your precious secrets will have been neatly disposed of and transported to the next world before anyone even has the chance to hear them. And Xia Jiangsmart person that he is, will live a good life, without ever needing to worry again. Isnt that nice?

Beads of sweat as large as beans were crowding on Xie Yus forehead and dripping onto his plain, colourless robes, making dark wet patches on the cloth.

Marquis Xie, Mei Changsus urgent whisper carried such cold cruelty that it may as well have come from the depths of hell itself. You had best lift your head and look at me, so the two of us can have a good long talk, what do you think?

sorry I just dont know how to translate it. han means cold, but zihao just meanscharacter/number? (help lol)

*Edit: thank you Feytwilight for the suggestion! I will use Winter Cells as the translation.

Translators Notes

Okay, so I start intern year today, and I very likely wont be able to keep up this pace of translation. Im going to aim for one chapter every two weeks. Sorry

(If I disappear for too long, you can come bother me on tumblr: star-shadows)