Bone Painting Coroner

Chapter 659 - Stumbling Block

The capital.

Wei Yi was brought into the capital and sent directly to Prince Yi’s estate. Thankfully, he wasn’t injured other than some reddish-purple marks on his wrists from being tied up.

Several rough men had just picked him up and threw him onto the ground, warning, “Behave.”

Wei Yi’s arms were bound behind his back, a wad of cloth shoved into his mouth, and his eyes covered with a strip of cloth. He could neither talk nor see. He could only use his ears and nose to determine where he currently was.

The ground below his butt was hard but very smooth. Around him was the faint scent of sandalwood. Thus, he wasn’t in a prison.

He could also hear the distant sounds of other people and their footsteps, so he likely wasn’t kept in a remote room. From the echo he heard when that person had spoken earlier, he thought that he should be within a large lounge or receiving hall; and from the length of the echo, this lounge or hall should be uncommonly spacious, not one in an ordinary home.

The only possibilities that he could think of were minute. Who would want to abduct him? And they didn’t harm him along the way either. He was given food and drink when requested. They took care of him when he wanted to sleep or go to the toilet as well.

How could he know that these people had to take good care of him? After all, he was a chess piece that Jing Yi held in reserve and could be important in the future. If something happened to him, Jing Yi would surely demand these people’s heads.

Just before they entered the capital, he was blindfolded and gagged. He sat on the ground motionlessly and those people left soon after, leaving him alone.

Suddenly, footsteps approached him. Jing Yi and Dou Quan entered the room and looked at the bound person in front of them, then scoffed and sat down. “Your Highness, how do you want to deal with this fool?” Dou Quan asked.

Jing Yi revealed a sinister expression, “It’s not yet time to deal with him now. So long as he remains within this prince’s grasp, Jing Rong would have to obey this prince even if he is able to return to the capital, especially if he wants to save this fool.”

“But what if Prince Rong and his people came to save him?”

“Save? Where would he go? How could he save him if this prince just hides him well?” Hehe.

“Where does Your Highness intend to hide him?”

Jing Yi grinned and said, “The most dangerous place is also the safest place. If he were hidden within the capital, Jing Rong surely would be able to find him. But if… he were sent into the palace, Jing Rong would never think that this person would actually be within the palace no matter how smart he was.” A cold smile hung upon his lips as he finished speaking, eyes already crowing with the certainty of victory.

Dou Quan nodded. “Yes, this subordinate knows what to do now.”

Jing Yi jerked his chin and commanded, “Take off his blindfold.”

“Yes.” Dou Quan tugged off the strip of cloth covering Wei Yi’s eyes.

Wei Yi couldn’t react in time, his eyes unable to open with the sudden assault of bright light, and took some time before he could adapt. When he opened his eyes, he realised that he was in the hall of Prince Yi’s estate.

Seated in front of him was the sly Jing Yi.

He knew of this person and had heard Ji Yunshu mention him before. Sinister and ruthless! Unscrupulous! Even these words were not enough to describe him; he was practically no better than an animal.

Jing Yi regarded him with some surprise. “I really didn’t expect that that arrow didn’t actually kill you that time. For a fool, you are quite a lucky one.”

“That was you?” Wei Yi looked at him in astonishment. His eyes weren’t blank with incomprehension, but gleamed with some astuteness instead.

“Why? Is that so surprising?”

Wei Yi secretly clenched his fists.

“This prince spent quite a bit of effort in order to capture you from Jinjiang to the capital.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“Do what? What could a fool like you let this prince do?” Jing Yi mocked him openly, “This prince would like to see just how important you are to Jing Rong and that Teacher Ji.”

Eh? Wei Yi knit his brows slightly and lowered his gaze, “So does that mean that Shu’er will come to the capital soon?”

“Shu’er?” Jing Yi stood up and walked to his front, “This prince heard that you and that Teacher… no, I should call her Miss Ji, you are betrothed?”

He didn’t answer.

“No wonder she is so protective of you. However, to this prince, it looks like Jing Rong is the one that she likes instead. Otherwise, she wouldn’t leave you alone in Jinjing and go to Yufu together with Jing Rong as a couple.” He was obviously trying to drive a wedge between them.

Wei Yi raised his head and glared fiercely at him. “Shu’er left me at home for my own good.”

“If it were for your own good, she should have brought you along. She was looking down on you for being so troublesome.” Jing Yi said savagely, “You suffered an arrow wound for her, but she didn’t appreciate it at all and even abandoned you in Jinjiang. [1]Now that you’ve been brought to the capital by this prince, where is she?’

“She will come.”

“She will? You’re getting ahead of yourself. Who knows, maybe she might not even be able to enter the gates of the capital before… she dies.”

Ah! Wei Yi’s eyes grew round with shock as he stared at him.

“Little fool, you should pray that they can’t return to the capital. That way, you’ll be able to return safely to your Jinjiang. But if they returned to the capital, this prince would not be able to guarantee that you’ll keep your life.”

Hehe. Jing Yi’s ambitions were growing. This time, he would undoubtedly turn the tables on Jing Rong with a single move, and prevent him from ever becoming a stumbling block in the process of his ascension to the throne.

If they did manage to return in the end, Wei Yi would become a chess piece in his hands to use as blackmail. If the blackmail was successful, he would live; otherwise, he would die.

Just the thought of that day approaching filled him with glee. Jing Yi then commanded Dou Quan, “Bring this fool secretly into the palace.”

“Yes.” Dou Quan said.

That evening, Wei Yi was bundled up and sent into Concubine Xiao’s Zhangzhi Hall. Concubine Xiao had set aside an empty room to keep him, and had people take good care of his dietary needs.

Three days passed just like that. He was locked in the room with only a single lamp for company. He sat on the floor with his back against a large pillar, his arms hugging his knees, and his head buried deeply within his arms.

The door opened and a little palace maid brought in some dishes. This maid was the same girl that had her cheek sliced open by a pair of scissors, and her name is Sui’er. It had been her ‘serving’ Wei Yi these past few days.

Sui’er put down the meal and eyed the person sitting on the ground. “The food has been placed here. Eat them by yourself and I’ll be back to collect the dishes.”

Just as she was about to exit, Wei Yi lifted his head from where he was squatting down and asked her, “What’s your name?” His voice was warm, gentle, and rather magnetic.

Sui’er turned her head and looked at him, her gaze turning a little shy. “I’m called Sui’er.”

“What happened to your face?”

Sui’er cradled her bandaged cheek self-consciously and lowered her head. “I had a minor injury.”

“Who hurt you?”

“I...I hurt myself.” She spoke very softly.

“Oh.” Wei Yi didn’t continue asking.

However, Sui’er’s curiosity had been stoked. She glanced warily at the courtyard and found nobody else around, so she walked in front of Wei Yi and asked, “Didn’t the princess once bring you into the palace?”

“Mn.”

“They all say that you are a fool, but I think… that you don’t seem like a fool!”

[1] Ed/N: Jing Yi: You took an arrow to the knee for her and yet she didn't appreciate you! Wei Yi: wrong universe bro