After Transmigration, I Snag a Stunning Bigwig as My Husband-Chapter 851 - 848: Prison Break
But on this day, the people from Duke Chong’s Mansion were unable to bring back Duke Chong.
Marquis Dongxiang was not at the Ministry of Justice.
The prison guard at the Ministry of Justice used the excuse that it rained for half a day today, telling the people from Duke Chong’s Mansion to come tomorrow after lunch to pick up Duke Chong if it doesn’t rain.
Duke Chong’s antidote had nothing to do with Duke Chong’s porcelain case.
The people from Duke Chong’s Mansion were furious, but they could only endure it.
Everyone was immersed in the joy of Old Duke Chong finding an antidote, but they didn’t expect a problem at the Ministry of Justice Prison.
Late at night, the Ministry of Justice encountered a problem.
The flames soared to the sky.
Illuminating the night like it was daytime.
At that time, Su Jin was in the bamboo house, preparing nourishing pills for Old Duke Chong to take after his antidote treatment.
The toxin had tormented him for too long, and he would need at least six months to recuperate.
Xingxing, afraid that Su Jin would be hungry, went to the small kitchen to bring her a late-night snack, and halfway there, she saw a fire blazing in a part of the Capital City.
She quickly ran towards the bamboo house, saying, "Miss, Miss, I don’t know what’s on fire in the Capital, but it’s huge."
Su Jin stepped out of the bamboo house and saw the flames burning in the distance.
For two directionally challenged people, distinguishing north, south, east, and west was difficult, so they didn’t know where the fire was.
However, Xingxing’s shout startled Xie Jingchen in the study.
He came out to take a look.
His brow furrowed tightly.
Without saying anything, Xie Jingchen leaped forward.
Su Jin came over just in time to catch a glimpse of his departing back; the Hidden Guard was a step behind and was stopped by Su Jin, "Where is he going?"
"The direction of the fire seems to be the Ministry of Justice," said the Hidden Guard.
As soon as the Hidden Guard spoke, he also disappeared into the backyard.
Su Jin and Xingxing looked at each other.
The two who wanted to go to the Ministry of Justice felt helpless.
Xingxing frowned and said, "It only rained yesterday, how can there still be a fire?"
Su Jin looked at the distant flames and said, "The Ministry of Justice Prison is full of straw, easy to ignite."
"After raining for two days, no one thought someone would set a fire, making it easier to do so."
The fire at this time must be related to Duke Chong.
He was to be released back to the mansion tomorrow, why break him out now?
Su Jin was puzzled.
The master and servant stood on the corridor, watching the flames in the distance.
Half an hour later, Xie Jingchen returned to the mansion, his expression not looking good. Su Jin asked, "What happened?"
"Duke Chong was rescued," Xie Jingchen said.
Su Jin’s brows furrowed.
Xingxing said incredulously, "How could he be rescued? Didn’t the Marquis send people to watch over him?"
He did.
Marquis Dongxiang sent people to watch over Duke Chong.
But he did not send people to watch the Vice Minister of Ministry of Justice Mansion, nor the Chief of Staff Mansion.
Duke Chong’s personal Hidden Guard Li Zhong took people and seized the son of Lord Lin from the Vice Minister Mansion, and also sent people to capture Qu Qingqing, the daughter of the Minister of the Ministry of Justice.
Brandishing knives at their necks, they reached the Ministry of Justice Prison, forcing the Assistant Minister to release Duke Chong, or else his son and his superior’s daughter would suffer a tragic fate.
Either case would have made the Assistant Minister back down, much more so with both together.
The servant sent by Marquis Dongxiang to watch over Duke Chong could not disregard two human lives, especially when holding two hostages placed a knife to the Assistant Minister’s own throat.
Young Lord Lin and Qu Qingqing stayed outside while Li Zhong pressed the Assistant Minister into the Ministry of Justice Prison and split open the iron lock of Duke Chong’s cell with a single stroke.
No killing occurred, just a mere hostage situation that got Duke Chong out of the prison cell.
They had no regard for human lives while others could not afford to disregard them.
Moreover, no one understood why Duke Chong chose this time to break out.
This added to his crimes.
By the time Xie Jingchen and Su Chong rushed to the Ministry from their respective mansions.
The Ministry of Justice Prison was nearly burned down.
Duke Chong escaped.
Young Lord Lin took a stab wound, Qu Qingqing was safe.
The Assistant Minister was taken hostage.
The government officials searched all night and finally found the unconscious Assistant Minister in a small alley.
Fortunately...
He was only knocked out.
The government officials were terrified of finding multiple stab wounds on the Assistant Minister when they found him.
Su Jin looked at Xie Jingchen and asked, "Why did Duke Chong escape at this time?"
Xie Jingchen had pondered this question and speculated, "It should be related to Old Duke Chong."
"Father-in-law has already sent people to guard every city gate and sent people to report to the Emperor in the palace."
Su Jin replied, "What’s the use of guarding the city gates? With the possibility of using disguise techniques, escaping the Capital is as easy as can be. Moreover, the court cannot prohibit entry and exit for just one person, Duke Chong."
"So what should we do?" asked Xingxing. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
"Intercept based on height," Su Jin said.
"The disguise technique can only change appearance, not height and physique."
The next day, a large number of government officials appeared at the four city gates of the Capital.
Anyone with a similar height and physique to Duke Chong was prohibited from leaving the city, especially those with a hunchback.
Subsequent events confirmed Xie Jingchen’s speculation—
Duke Chong’s decision to escape was indeed related to Old Duke Chong.
After the antidote treatment, after resting for a day, Old Duke Chong was able to speak.
Three years ago, Old Duke Chong was poisoned during an assassination attempt, leaving him unable to speak and bedridden for three years. The truth was revealed with Old Duke Chong now able to speak.
It was Duke Chong.
The assassins back then were sent by Duke Chong.
The leader was none other than Hidden Guard Li Zhong.
Back then, the Hidden Guard had his face covered, but Old Duke Chong recognized him.
Unfilial son, committing the crime of patricide, Old Duke Chong would never condone it, nor would he be swayed by Duke Chong’s attempt to blame Prince Qi.
Duke Chong knew very well that once Old Duke Chong’s poison was cured and he could speak, it wouldn’t just mean ruin but death would be inevitable.
If he didn’t escape now, he would never have another chance to escape.
Since Marquis Dongxiang poisoned Prince Qi, Duke Chong knew he couldn’t avoid sharing the same fate as Prince Qi.
But he took one last gamble.
If he could kill the Eldest Prince, then the Second Prince would surely become the Crown Prince.
Leveraging the Second Prince’s influence, he wouldn’t fail.
But the assassination failed.
The Eldest Prince was only injured with superficial injuries.
Before he could resolve to abandon everything in the Capital and leave, Marquis Dongxiang imprisoned him in the Ministry of Justice Prison.
Fortunately, he had already planned his escape from prison.
The plan was very successful, he got out of the Ministry of Justice Prison.
But he failed again.
He didn’t expect the inspections at the city gates to be so strict; anyone with a similar height, even half a head shorter, was prohibited from leaving the city.
He was trapped inside the city, unable to get out.
And soldiers were searching everywhere.
This vast Capital had no place for him to hide, wandering like a stray dog.
Duke Chong had never been so embarrassed in his life.
He regretted it.
He shouldn’t have spared Old Duke Chong’s life years ago.
For a moment of mercy, he hung a knife over his own head, leading to his own downfall.
He hid for several days, narrowly avoiding discovery multiple times. The Hidden Guards diminished in number, trying to distract the pursuers, and now only a few remained.
The Hidden Guard Li Zhong was a bit panicked, "Duke..."
They feared they might not escape disaster this time.
Duke Chong ground his teeth tightly and pulled out a vial from his sleeve, clenching it tightly.
Li Zhong stopped him, "Duke, you mustn’t."
