Iron Dynasty Chapter 880

The proprietor of the tofu pudding stall met his end, not escaping his fate.

Beyond the southern wall of the academy lay a labyrinth of narrow, winding alleys. His plan was meticulously crafted: navigate two turns, slip through a hidden doorway, shed his outer garment, and emerge onto the bustling street with an altered visage.

However, what he hadn't accounted for was the intimate knowledge of Qingzhou City possessed by Wang Xuan's elite guards. These protectors had been stationed in the city for numerous years, intimately familiar with every twisting lane, every secret passage, and every deceptive dead-end alley that masqueraded as an escape route.

He was apprehended a mere three streets away from the academy. Before he could even begin to change his attire, he found himself pinned against a wall, a cold blade pressed against his throat.

Brought back to the security bureau in manacles, his countenance was one of perfect impassivity. It was the mask of a man who had long accepted this potential outcome and found a grim peace with it.

Wang Xuan occupied a seat opposite him in the stark interrogation chamber, his gaze piercing as he studied the captive for a prolonged duration.

"Six years," Wang Xuan stated, his voice carrying a measured weight.

The man remained resolutely silent.

"Six years you spent dispensing tofu pudding throughout Qingzhou City. Cultivating a reputation. Becoming a well-known figure. Forging connections with the personnel of the security bureau." Wang Xuan clasped his hands together on the table. "That represents a considerable investment of time and effort. The Prince of Chu certainly chose wisely when he dispatched you."

Still, no sound escaped the man's lips.

"The other two individuals apprehended in the garden have already provided their statements," Wang Xuan continued. While not entirely accurate, the assertion held a significant kernel of truth. "We have obtained details regarding the escape route, the designated contact points in the southern territories, and the reception party awaiting beyond the city limits. Much of the plan is now laid bare. What I require from you is the remaining information."

The man's eyes dropped to the surface of the table.

Wang Xuan maintained his expectant silence.

After a protracted pause, the man finally spoke, his voice low. "I have a family."

"That fact is known to us," Wang Xuan replied smoothly. "It is precisely because of this knowledge that we are engaging in this current discourse, rather than a more severe form of interrogation."

Another silence descended, this one of shorter duration.

Then, the man began to divulge his secrets.

Outside the confines of the interrogation room, Di Ying stood a solitary figure in the dimly lit corridor.

An hour prior, he had submitted his written confession to Wang Xuan's adjutant—a complete and unvarnished account, devoid of any omissions. The oppressive burden of his confession had not vanished entirely, but its nature had shifted. It no longer felt like a venomous entity coiled within him, poised to strike. Instead, it felt like an event irrevocably consigned to the past, a deed that could never be undone.

Wang Xuan emerged from the interrogation room, gently closing the door behind him.

He joined Di Ying, standing beside him for a silent moment. Through the narrow window at the corridor's termination, the nascent morning light spilled in, signaling the city's gradual return to its usual cadence. The recent emergency had passed, leaving behind none of the widespread chaos that could have easily erupted.

"The students?" Di Ying inquired, his voice carrying a note of quiet concern.

"They are currently being detained for questioning. The majority are merely frightened youths who were misled with promises of superior opportunities in the southern regions. Their knowledge of the broader scheme is minimal." Wang Xuan paused, his expression grave. "A select few possessed more significant information. They will face separate proceedings."

Di Ying offered a subtle nod of understanding.

"Di Ying." Wang Xuan turned, his gaze meeting Di Ying's directly. "Regarding what I conveyed to you this morning—concerning His Majesty's intentions for your reinstatement..."

"Was it truthful?" Di Ying asked, his voice remarkably steady.

"It was truthful at the moment of its utterance." Wang Xuan held his gaze intently. "Whether that truth endures after the report detailing today's events reaches Jinling Province—that matter now lies beyond my direct influence."

Di Ying shifted his gaze toward the corridor window.

"I comprehend," he stated calmly.

And he truly did understand. Earlier that morning, he had made a definitive choice. He had chosen not to conceal his transgressions, not to flee, nor to seek a compromised middle ground that would preserve his standing at the cost of his integrity. He had elected the solitary path that allowed him to face himself with his conscience clear.

Whatever consequences followed were simply the inevitable result of his decision.

"The southern military operation," Di Ying remarked after a brief silence. "Lu Fei's campaign. If there is any conceivable way that the intelligence I possess regarding the Prince of Chu's network within Qingzhou could aid the army's efforts—"

"I will ensure it reaches the appropriate channels," Wang Xuan assured him assuringly.

No further words were exchanged. Yet, Wang Xuan did not depart immediately.

They stood together for a moment in the confined space of the corridor—two individuals whose acquaintance stretched back to a time before either held any significant command—before Wang Xuan adjusted his coat and proceeded towards the main hall.

Di Ying watched him depart.

Then, he turned back to the window, his gaze fixed on the dawning light, patiently awaiting whatever was to come next.