Inlaid With Jade - Chapter 94

Chapter 94
Treating the wound

After Yang Jinming left the prison in a daze, Wei Lin came to Li Heming’s cell. The Northern Office’s prison was underground, damp and cold, and there was no sunlight all year round. Many criminals died inside because their wounds became festered after being tortured and because of long-term illness.

When Wei Lin pushed the door open, Li Heming treated his wounds with the faint light on the corridor wall. He took off his prison uniform and sat on the narrow bed with his back slightly bent, revealing half of his body with new and old scars. Several bloody whip wounds crossed his chest and abdomen, some of which had already formed blood scabs, some were filling with pus, and the one he suffered today was slowly oozing out blood. He placed a jug of spicy liquor at the side of his feet and held a sharp and thin knife in his right hand. He pressed the tip of the blade against the wound and gently twisted it, and the turbid pus and rotten flesh fell to the ground. Cutting out the flesh to heal wounds was not easy. He only cut a few times, but sweat flowed down his back.

Li Heming heard Wei Lin coming in, looked up at him, and then lowered his head to continue treating the wound. Wei Lin did not disturb him. He raised his hand to take down an oil lamp outside the wall and hung it in the cell before leaning against the door with his hands folded. He had several important things on his hands, but he looked leisurely and unhurried.

With the illumination of the oil lamp, Li Heming could see the small abscesses that he could not see before, and his movements became more neat. But looking at the wounds on his abdomen that were bleeding after cutting out the rotten flesh, it was better to say that he was tortured in another way than to say that he was treating the wounds.

After cleaning the rotten flesh, Li Heming became soaked in sweat. He frowned and put down the knife, picked up a roll of white cloth and stuffed it into his mouth, picked up the liquor at his feet, endured the pain, and slowly poured it on the wounds where he had cleaned the pus and rotten flesh. The cold and stimulating liquor washed the dirt from the wound. Li Heming’s muscles and veins bulged. He tried hard to hold back the pain without groaning. Blood mixed with clear liquid flowed down his chest, and the bloody smell mixed with the thick aroma of liquor filled the air. This process was hell.

Li Heming held the liquor jar in one hand and poured half a jar on his body. He washed the wound thoroughly before stopping. He put down the jar, sat for a while, took out the white cloth in his mouth, and began to bandage the wound. The wound was considered treated after a knife and a white cloth were wrapped around it.

The Northern Office’s imperial prison was unlike an ordinary one. Ordinary prisoners may ask someone to bring a few bottles of wound medicine for healing, and they would not suffer this pain. But in the imperial prison of the Northern Office, even if you are the Emperor’s grandson, you could only bring in a bottle of liquor at most. Wei Lin didn’t need to guess to know that this wine was brought to Li Heming by He San.

He San was originally Li Heming’s man. After Li Heming went to jail, he would hang outside his cell whenever he had nothing to do. The Imperial Guards in charge of guarding Li Heming could only turn a blind eye when necessary. They pretended not to see He San sending wine and the knife to the cell, even when he spread a soft blanket on Li Heming’s cold, narrow bed.

Wei Lin knocked his knife on the wall and gestured to the guards outside the door to leave. When they were far away, he finally stated his purpose. He walked a few steps closer, looked at Li Heming, who was indifferent on the bed, and said in a soft voice: “Where are the files of Wang Changzhong’s case and Unsolved Case?”

Unlike Li Heming’s cold and indifferent eyes, Wei Lin’s eyes always burned like fire, containing hatred that wanted to scorch everything. However, at this moment, Li Heming could not see any light in his eyes.

Li Heming slowly wore the bloodstained uniform and said calmly: “The case files handled by the Northern Office are naturally in the Office.”

He seemed to have not yet recovered from the pain. His voice was hoarse when he spoke, but his words were spoken lightly, as if Wei Lin was a fool who couldn’t even find two files on the bookshelf.

Wei Lin naturally knew that Li Heming was trying to evade him. He frowned and said in confusion: “It was you who told me about your father’s death in battle related to Zhu Ming and pushed me to my current position. Since you chose to pave the way for me, why don’t you tell me where the file is now?”

He was aggressive, but Li Heming said calmly: “It’s not the time yet. Wait a little longer.”

Wei Lin clenched the knife and looked at Li Heming steadily: “Although Zhu Ming is now under house arrest in Zhongcui Palace, it is uncertain when the Emperor will pardon him. If he goes to the north after the Mid-Autumn Festival, we won’t have the opportunity like now. How long do you want me to wait?”

“Not too long,” Li Heming said. He won’t live to see the Mid-Autumn Festival. When the time comes, you will know.”

The spring chill dissipated, the sun was in the sky, and Wei Lin finally understood what Li Heming meant by the time.

Last winter, the people trapped in the wilderness because of the Unsolved Case had corpses rotting in piles in the hot summer, and rats and ants were rampant, which inevitably bred an epidemic. Fortunately, it was discovered in time and quickly controlled. However, after investigating the cause of the epidemic, the Unsolved Case, which Emperor Chong’an finally suppressed, was brought up again. The rumor that the Unsolved Case was related to the Sixth Prince spread around Ji County at some point and gradually reached the capital. Within half a month, it became a rumor that the Sixth Prince caused the disaster. The Nuo opera that Emperor Chong’an ordered to be held before became a joke.

At this time, the truth of Wang Changzhong’s corruption case and the Unsolved Case in Ji County flowed into the people through Wei Lin’s hands. For a time, rumors were everywhere, and the words “punishing the prince to appease the people’s hearts” were heard.

Zhu Xi’s remark that ‘the world is full of rumor’ finally forced Emperor Chong’an to hang the sword on Zhu Ming’s neck.