Chapter 529: Chapter 531: And Then What?

"What do you mean by that?" Seeing the prison chief about to walk away, he grew anxious. "Get back here! Explain yourself."

"Santian, stop making a scene. Don’t you see he’s insulting you?" The skinny man standing next to him pulled him back.

Santian scoffed, "Insulting me? Do you think my Chinese is that bad? What part of that was an insult? The man’s just completely unreasonable. I asked him a question, and he didn’t even answer. This is nothing like the ’nation of etiquette’ you all talk about."

"Hah! Santian, stop showing off your eloquence. Have you still not grasped our situation? We don’t even know if we’ll make it out of here alive. What’s the point of causing a scene?"

"Hah, easy for you all to say. Even if we can’t get out, can’t we at least try to get a decent meal?

You see all that fine food and wine, and you’re not tempted?

We’re already in this mess, so what’s the harm in asking a few more questions?

If they’re really up to something, maybe we could at least get a full meal out of it."

He finished speaking, his eyes glued to the spread of food and wine. He swallowed hard in front of everyone. "Even if it’s a condemned man’s meal, just give me a feast like that, and I’ll accept my fate."

They were kept barely alive on scraps all day; a quick end would be better than this.

But the others weren’t so philosophical. At that moment, they wished they could cover his mouth. If their captors actually took his suggestion, they would truly die in a foreign land.

"Santian, what nonsense are you spouting? With so many of us missing for so long, someone is bound to come looking for us sooner or later." The man who spoke was being deliberately vague, but Santian paid him no mind.

All he could think about was the delicious spread just out of his reach.

"Still daydreaming over there? Our Prince Zuo has led us to become prisoners here. For all we know, our homeland already has a new master."

At these words, Prince Zuo Tengshang, who had been facing the wall, finally stirred. He gave his subordinates a menacing look as his mind weighed the possibility.

’I led this expedition not only to clear my head, but also to see if the lands of the Rong Dynasty were as prosperous as my spies had reported.

I hadn’t expected to be so careless. And I can’t figure out what’s wrong with the generals here—how dare they throw us into a prison cell.

At first, I had assumed they were just trying to intimidate us. But as the days passed, one scratch mark after another appearing on the wall, I knew that escaping wouldn’t be so easy.’

Thinking back on what Santian had said, it wasn’t entirely without reason.

’Those brats back home have long been eager to get rid of me and climb into my position.

Now that I, the old man standing in their way, am gone from our territory, why would those unfilial sons come looking for me? They’re probably fighting over who will be the new Prince Zuo right now.’

"My lord, Tian San spoke without thinking. The young masters are filial; they will surely lead men to rescue us," Tu Zhong said, offering comforting words he didn’t even believe himself.

"You think they’ll come to save me?" After a long silence, Prince Zuo’s voice was hoarse.

Tu Zhong replied, "They will. You are their father..."

Thinking of the young masters’ increasingly fierce infighting, Tu Zhong’s voice trailed off, losing its conviction.

"You’re only fooling yourself with those words," Santian said with contempt. "It’s not that I want to stir up trouble, Prince, but the current situation is not in our favor.

If we can’t get out of here soon, even if we do get out later, there will be no place for us."

The young masters’ ambitions were obvious. He didn’t believe the Prince was unaware of it.

For his own sake, he wanted to make one last effort. "While we still have a chance to salvage this, Prince, you should have a good talk with the Governor here.

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As long as they’re willing to let us go back, it doesn’t matter if you suffer a small loss for now. You can always get it back later."

’Prince Zuo Tengshang had already considered this. The problem is that these officials don’t play by the rules. They’ve locked us up in here, and the only people we have contact with are these prison chiefs. Even if I wanted to negotiate, I have no opportunity.

Me, the great Prince Zuo... am I really expected to swallow my pride and bow my head first?’

"Exactly! If we don’t go back soon, who knows what crimes we’ll be accused of.

I don’t really care about myself, but what about my family back home—the old folks, the children?

My lords, please, think of a way, quickly!" Someone started it, and soon the bandits in every cell were standing at the bars, pleading in low voices.

After being locked up for so many days, they had learned to be afraid. If they dared to make a racket, they might have to go hungry at their next meal.

And if they really got on the prison chief’s bad side, they’d be dragged out for a round of torture, which was truly terrifying.

"Tu Zhong, do you really think those wretched sons of mine will come for me?" Prince Zuo Tengshang asked again.

Tu Zhong lowered his head. ’In truth, the Prince himself already knew the answer...’

"Answer me."

From those two words, Tu Zhong sensed a bleakness, like that of a setting sun. ’The Prince must be suffering greatly right now.’

"Prince, why don’t we try to negotiate with the officials in charge here? At worst, we can promise not to come here and raid..."

Prince Zuo Tengshang laughed coldly. "Isn’t it a little late to be saying that? I am a prisoner now. Do you think I have any capital to negotiate with?"

"But you are a nobleman of the Eastern Yi, Prince. Aren’t they afraid of souring relations between our two nations by doing this?"

Prince Zuo Tengshang crouched down and picked up the wine jug. "In the past, whenever Lord Shan returned laden with spoils, everyone would sing and dance in celebration. Especially those wretched sons of mine—singing my praises, extolling my virtues, and then reaping huge benefits from me.

So who was it this time that insisted I lead the troops personally?"

Tu Zhong said, "The Crown Prince... but wasn’t it also that you were in a bad mood, Prince, and wanted to come out to clear your head..."

"Hah. It seems I’ve raised a few wolf cubs..." After so many days facing the wall, Prince Zuo Tengshang had figured it all out.

"You all start making a scene now. Get their ’parents official’ to come and see me."

Tu Zhong said, "This local ’parents official’ doesn’t seem to hold as high a rank as that Great General..."

"Just do as I command." After speaking, Prince Zuo Tengshang unsealed the wine jug and took a sip.

"My lord, could the wine be poisoned?" a short man standing behind Tu Zhong asked nervously.

Tu Zhong replied, "..." ’Isn’t it a bit late to bring that up now?

If it was poisoned, he’s already drunk it.’

"The officials of the Rong Dynasty aren’t that foolish. There’s no benefit for them in poisoning our Prince.

Everyone, stop standing around. Start shouting now, with all your might.

We have to make enough noise to bring their ’parents official’ over here."

"And then what?" Santian couldn’t understand what they were trying to do.

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