My Sims of the Eastern Jin Dynasty

In Jiankang, Xiao Heng traveled on the same boat as Xie Xuan.

Just as they reached the shore, a group of people came galloping towards them.

It wasn't the Black Banner of the Northern Prefecture, but rather the Imperial Guards of the Imperial City.

About fifty riders, their hooves thundering like muffled thunder, instantly shattered the slightly relaxed atmosphere on the dock.

The leader was a middle-aged general with a fair complexion and a light beard; he was Zhang Xuanzhi, who was in charge of the garrison of Stone City.

He reined in his horse and stopped a short distance away, his gaze sweeping over Xie Xuan before fixing firmly on Xiao Heng.

"Could it be Xiao Heng from the Northern Prefecture?"

Xiao Heng stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting.

"That's me!"

Zhang Xuanzhi ignored him, took out a roll of yellow silk from his bosom, and said loudly.

"By imperial decree! Xiao Heng of the Northern Army pursued the enemy to the capital region, beating drums and causing disturbance, shaking the palace. Furthermore, there are unclear matters regarding his unauthorized erection of inscriptions and collection of enemy remains. He is hereby handed over to the Court of Justice to clarify the facts and await punishment. Xie Xuan, the Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Army, also bears some responsibility for failing to properly control his subordinates. However, considering his role in repelling the enemy, his merits and demerits will be discussed separately. This is the imperial decree."

After reading it, he closed the edict and looked at Xiao Heng.

"Please, don't make things difficult for us."

The riverbank was deathly silent, with only the sound of the river water lapping against the shore.

Xie Xuan looked at Xiao Heng, nodded, and then left.

Xiao Heng stood still, his face showing little surprise. He turned and walked toward the carriage that Zhang Xuanzhi had brought. It was not an official's carriage, but a simple blue-canopied carriage.

Zhang Xuanzhi waved his hand, and two imperial guards stepped forward, one on the left and one on the right, and led him onto the carriage in a relatively mild manner.

In the Tingwei Prison, Xiao Heng was taken to a separate cell, which was cleaner than the usual prison cell. It had a couch and a small table, and even a few dishes of food on the table.

But the iron bars were tight, and only a sliver of light shone through the gaps in the windows. The sound of the jailer locking the door was particularly jarring to Xiao Heng.

He did not cry out for justice, nor did he try to ask any questions. He simply lay quietly by the bed and closed his eyes.

So this is how one enters Beijing.

This isn't open warfare on the battlefield; this is the rule of Jiankang.

Once his consciousness settled in, Xiao Heng quickly confirmed that he was safe and boldly went to sleep.

After an unknown amount of time, footsteps came from the end of the passage.

Xiao Heng opened his eyes.

They discovered it was a prison guard who delivered food.

The jailer did not go inside, but instead left after placing a finely crafted food box inside.

Xiao Heng patted his stomach, turned over, picked up the food box, and opened it. There were three dishes, even more plentiful than what was on the table before.

But he didn't let his guard down; he quickly simulated the ancient book before starting to eat.

Half a month passed in a flash, and the food boxes remained the same day after day, exquisite yet monotonous.

Occasionally there would be wine, and the dishes would change, with one day even including a plate of fresh seasonal fruits.

This doesn't feel like being in prison; it's more like being kept in captivity. The guards, aside from delivering food, never look around and rarely speak, like they're mute.

He later tested him and found that he was not only mute, but also deaf.

Simulating ancient books became his only pastime.

Just when he almost thought he would be forgotten forever in this stone chamber, the sound of iron locks rang out again, this time more solemnly than before.

It was neither a jailer nor an official under the Court of Justice who arrived.

The prison door opened, and a man in his fifties, dressed in a dark blue brocade robe, stood outside the door, bearing a resemblance to Xiao Heng.

His beard and hair were meticulously trimmed, exuding an air of someone accustomed to being in a superior position.

The visitor was Xiao Zhuo, Xiao Heng's uncle, the head of a branch of the Lanling Xiao clan, and a former magistrate of Taoyang County (now Quanzhou, Guangxi), a prestigious but powerless position.

"Saburo."

"uncle."

Xiao Heng stood up, bowed, and was surprised. His family had not kept in touch with him much after he joined the army, so their appearance at this time was definitely not ordinary.

Xiao Zhuo walked slowly into the cell, his gaze sweeping over the relatively tidy bed and the untouched writing materials on the desk. He nodded slightly, as if acknowledging the treatment he was receiving.

He was followed by a servant carrying a larger food box and a package.

"You may all step back."

Xiao Zhuo said to his servants, and everyone silently retreated to a distance in the passage.

Only the uncle and nephew remained in the cell.

Xiao Zhuo did not sit down, but stood and looked at Xiao Heng.

"She's lost some weight, but her complexion is still pretty good."

"Uncle, I appreciate your concern. This place is acceptable."

"Not bad?"

Xiao Zhuo repeated softly.

"Throwing you here is to silence public opinion. Those upright officials in the Censorate are fixated on your alleged startling of the emperor and unauthorized establishment of the capital, and are even impeaching you for trying to win over the army—your ambitions are far from small!"

Xiao Heng remained silent for a moment.

"He's accused of quite a few crimes; he seems really frightened this time!"

Seeing that Xiao Heng was still as disrespectful as before, he smiled.

"What works on the battlefield will bring disaster here in Jiankang."

"Uncle, have you come today to admonish your nephew, or...?"

Xiao Heng raised his eyes.

"I've come to tell you about the situation outside."

Xiao Zhuo interrupted him, his tone returning to calm.

"You've been here for half a month, and you haven't been idle outside. Although Commander Xie hasn't returned, he has petitioned on your behalf, praising your merits in the pursuit and your decisive actions, which have benefited the country. Minor faults do not overshadow your great achievements, and the Battle of Huaiyin even turned the tide of the war!"

He took a step closer, lowering his voice even further.

"However, regarding your matter in the East Sea, the Prince of Kuaiji intends to use it to impeach the Northern Army, and some members of the Taiyuan Wang clan echoed this sentiment. But there are also those like Wang Xun who believe you are a capable person and should not be easily dismissed. My Lanling Xiao clan naturally cannot sit idly by and watch our own scion be sacrificed as a pawn. Your uncle (the head of the Xiao clan) has secretly contacted several old families in Jiangzuo to intervene on your behalf!"

The amount of information was quite large, and Xiao Heng quickly digested it. He realized that he had indeed become a bargaining chip, with all parties pushing and blocking each other on the chessboard.

"What's the conclusion?" he asked directly.

The conclusion is, you're not going to die anytime soon!

Xiao Zhuo spoke in a flat tone.

"The Ministry of Justice will likely interrogate him soon!"

Xiao Heng felt little emotional; this was already one of the best possible outcomes.

"Thank you, Uncle, and the family for your trouble."

"It's not just for you."

Xiao Zhuo looked at him.

"Sanlang, you must understand that the family's efforts this time are for you, and even more so for the sake of the Lanling Xiao Clan. You are no longer an unknown figure; your every move is linked to the rise and fall of the family's reputation. Now that you have stepped into the arena of conflict in Jiankang, you can no longer remain uninvolved. From now on, you must be more thoughtful in your actions and have a broader perspective. Although the Northern Army's forces are sharp, they are ultimately cold blades; you need a strategist to sustain them in the long run. The family can be your strategist, and also..."

He left his words unsaid, leaving a meaningful silence.

Xiao Heng understood. No wonder the Lanling Xiao clan could produce emperors in history; they simply didn't want to be subordinate to anyone.

This can be seen as both recruitment and a warning. The family has seen value in him and is willing to invest, but from now on he must also take the family's interests into consideration.

"I have learned a lot from you, nephew."

Xiao Heng cupped his hands in a respectful manner, but made no further promises.

Xiao Zhuo didn't seem to expect him to give an immediate response, and nodded.

"It's good that you understand. Leave these clothes and supplies here. You'll have to endure a few more days in prison. Before the turmoil completely subsides, this place is actually safer. After you get out of prison, go back to your residence first!"

After saying that, he didn't linger and turned to leave.

The cell door was locked again.

Xiao Heng opened the large food box, inside were several of his favorite exquisite pastries and a pot of wine.

The package contained several clean, high-quality underwear and an outer robe.

He picked up a piece of pastry, put it in his mouth, and tasted its delicate sweetness—the flavor of a top-tier restaurant in Jiankang.

......