Pledging Allegiance - Person of Nightmares

In the cold and damp dungeon, a disheveled figure was tightly bound by shackles, huddled in a corner and trembling ceaselessly.

The sound of a lock turning echoed through the small, cramped cell. The person's eyes lit up. He lunged at the iron bars, yanking the chains with a loud clatter. "My lord, my lord! I've been wronged! Let me out, I'll tell you everything..."

A jailer kicked him to the ground and berated, "Behave yourself! This is Lord Censor. If you dare lie, watch your head!"

Lord... Lord Censor?

The person remained in the position he had fallen, frozen on the spot, not daring to move.

The jailer turned his face, his expression instantly changing. He smiled obsequiously and said respectfully, "My lord, as you instructed, I've been watching this fellow. He's been relatively well-behaved."

Before him, Li Sheng gave a soft grunt of acknowledgment.

"Liu Chengyin." He leisurely pulled a slip of paper from his sleeve, glanced at it, and then let it go.

The slip of paper fluttered down through the air and landed in front of Liu Chengyin, who flinched violently.

Li Sheng's voice sounded from above. "This slip of paper, did you give it to Fan Qu?"

Liu Chengyin snapped back to his senses and immediately fell to his knees in fright, stammering, "Yes... it was me..."

"I heard this was intelligence you obtained at the risk of your life, presented specifically to me?" Li Sheng chuckled darkly. "The food and drink on the boat are poisoned—do you know who poisoned it?"

Liu Chengyin trembled like a leaf in the wind. At the time, he had been possessed by greed, thinking that such important information would surely attract the attention of the great lord above. So, on a whim, he decided to take all the credit for himself.

He never imagined that while he was gleefully awaiting his reward from above, a group of guards would storm into his home, bind him without a word, and unceremoniously toss him into the dungeon of the Grand Censor's temporary residence.

Liu Chengyin had agonized in this sunless cell for a full day and night. He wracked his brains but couldn't figure out what crime he had committed, and he still clung to a sliver of hope.

"This lowly one does not know..." He knelt at Li Sheng's feet, not daring to look up. "This lowly one only knew that the matter was of great importance and concerned all you lords, which is why I reported it overnight... I am utterly loyal and would never dare to deceive you!"

"Utterly loyal..."

Li Sheng repeated the words under his breath. The next moment, the smile on his face vanished.

"The poison was planted by the remnants of Yanling. How would you know about Yanling's affairs?"

"Could it be that you are in contact with them?"

Before he finished speaking, Liu Chengyin's face had already turned deathly pale.

He finally understood why Li Sheng had arrested him. He never would have imagined that his momentary greed would earn him the monstrous charge of colluding with the enemy.

At this point, any hope or fortune was nothing compared to his own life. The moment the jailer's blade was pressed against his neck, Liu Chengyin shuddered violently and cried out, his voice nearly breaking, "I'll talk! I'll talk! It wasn't me! I didn't get this note!"

Li Sheng waved his hand, signaling the jailer to withdraw the blade, then said coldly, "Who was it? Tell me everything, from beginning to end."

"It... it was a man in white," Liu Chengyin said, desperately searching his memory. "He wanted me to give this slip of paper to you. He said... he said... he wanted to pledge his allegiance."

"Who is he? Do you remember?"

"I... he..."

Liu Chengyin stammered incoherently. Under Li Sheng's condescending and increasingly impatient gaze, he broke out in a cold sweat.

He bit the tip of his tongue, forcing himself to calm down. He carefully recalled the past and finally remembered a detail.

"I remember now!" Liu Chengyin's eyes widened. "At the teahouse, when the waiter announced his tip, he called him Young Master Jiang! The man's surname is Jiang!"

"Jiang..."

Li Sheng narrowed his eyes, lost in thought.

But the jailer beside him suddenly had a change of expression and whispered, "My lord, someone came to the manor today claiming his surname was Jiang."

Li Sheng gently toyed with the jade thumb ring on his hand, his expression unreadable. "Where is he?"

"Hearing that you were not at the manor, my lord, he said that if you wished to see him, you need only send a message to Heshan Academy," the jailer said.

Li Sheng's hand paused. "Heshan Academy?"

Noticing the change in his tone, the jailer was momentarily unsure of the Grand Censor's thoughts and nodded hesitantly.

Li Sheng glanced at the collapsed Liu Chengyin on the floor. After a moment, he sneered and muttered to himself, "Good, good. It's this place again."

"Then have someone send a message to that Young Master Jiang," he said. "Just say that this old man is waiting for him at the manor. Since he wants to pledge his allegiance, he should come with sincerity."

"Understood."

Shen Mengzhi's expression was calm as he gave a slight nod to the attendant sent by Li Sheng. "Please reply to Lord Censor that this Jiang will set out immediately."

After the attendant left, Qi Yu frowned and said in a low voice, "No, Li Sheng is asking you to go to his residence alone. Doesn't that mean he has ulterior motives?"

"Whether he has ulterior motives or not," Shen Mengzhi turned, his gaze fixed on a bowl of bitter, brown medicinal soup on the table, "I must go."

His fingertips traced the patterns on the ceramic bowl. He wanted to find some sweet malt candy but remembered that the sugar jar at home had long been empty. After a long moment, Shen Mengzhi picked up the bowl and, with a frown, drank the medicine in one gulp. The bitter vapor instantly filled his mouth, so bitter that his vision went black. He felt dazed and couldn't speak for a good while.

Qi Yu, sitting far away, could still smell the medicine. "This medicine is far too bitter."

"You drink this medicine in the winter?" he couldn't help but ask. "I remember your old injuries always act up around the twelfth lunar month. Is this medicine effective? You shouldn't push yourself. The matter with Li Sheng can wait..."

"Don't worry, my body isn't that weak yet." Shen Mengzhi finally endured the aftertaste. At the same time, the medicine's effects gradually began to take hold, making his complexion look a little better. "I hope this bowl of medicine can last me until spring. It's truly too bitter; I don't want to drink another."

"You shouldn't have agreed to Chu Jin's request," Qi Yu said. "When he asked you to stay at the academy, you should have refused. Then you wouldn't have had to go through Li Sheng and stir up all this trouble just for a reason to leave the mountain."

Shen Mengzhi said slowly, "I had no reason to refuse him. Chu Jin would not allow me to interfere in these matters. Only by using Li Sheng can I logically get close to him and stay by his side."

After a pause, he added, "Besides, there's something we need at the hundred-day banquet at the Grand Censor's manor. Only through Li Sheng can I enter his residence."

Qi Yu was silent for a moment before saying, "That's true."

"I've delayed here with you for too long." Shen Mengzhi stood up and reached for his outer robe. "I should be going."

But Qi Yu stood up with him. "Wait, I'll go with you."

Shen Mengzhi was taken aback. "You?"

"If anyone asks, just say I'm your attendant," Qi Yu said. "Li Sheng is Chu Jin's mortal enemy, and you have intricate ties with Chu Jin. It's too dangerous to go alone."

His expression was nonchalant, but the words 'be an attendant' sounded awkward coming from his mouth. The once-pampered Young Master Qi, born of noble blood, was always the center of attention wherever he went. With a wave of his hand, crowds of people would scramble to be his attendant—back then, he probably never imagined a day like this would come.

Qi Yu felt the fabric of his own clothes and then smiled. "Perfect. These clothes are also quite suitable for being your attendant."

Shen Mengzhi looked at him with a slightly complex expression. After a moment, he said, "Then let's go."

Li Sheng's temporary residence wasn't far. The two descended the mountain and had just reached the entrance when they saw a sudden commotion in the street. An imposing carriage charged ostentatiously from the end of the road, scattering the crowd.

The coachman's shouts were loud, carrying all the way to their ears. Qi Yu watched with a cold eye and said, "Which prominent figure of Great Qin is this, acting so ostentatiously? What a grand display of power."

Shen Mengzhi glanced over, but the crowd blocked his view, so he couldn't see the entire carriage. He looked away, then knocked on the door of the Li residence. After stating his purpose, a young servant immediately led him toward the inner courtyard.

This temporary residence Li Sheng had purchased was left behind by a wealthy merchant of Xufang. Inside, the carved beams, painted rafters, blue tiles, and upturned eaves all utilized the unique craftsmanship of Yanling. After it was bought, this Lord Censor ordered artisans to tear it all down and replace it with the current nondescript style.

"This Censor Li is truly arrogant to the extreme. He's left not a single trace of Yanling in this residence." Qi Yu covertly sized up the residence, which had been altered beyond recognition. "But his aesthetic sense isn't much to speak of either. This place used to be decent to look at; now, it can only be described as exceedingly ugly."

Shen Mengzhi smiled and whispered, "...I think so too."

The two turned into a side courtyard. The servant leading the way bowed and said, "Lord Censor has instructed Young Master Jiang to wait here for a moment."

Shen Mengzhi nodded and took a seat as indicated. This side room wasn't large and was in a remote location. Both the decorations and the layout were casual, showing that Li Sheng didn't place much importance on this meeting.

The young servant said, "Lord Censor will be here shortly."

As he spoke, his voice was slightly tense. Shen Mengzhi's gaze paused, and he discreetly shot a look at Qi Yu.

Then, he smiled faintly. "Very well, thank you."

After the young servant withdrew, a maidservant brought in tea. Her steps were a bit hurried. After setting down the tea, she secretly peeked at Shen Mengzhi. Seeing his expression was normal, she quickly averted her gaze and turned to leave.

Shen Mengzhi lifted the teacup but did not drink. His eyes were lowered, but a faint smile played on his lips. "Does Lord Censor intend to observe me from the shadows the entire time?"

After he spoke, the room fell silent for a second. Then, a person emerged from behind a heavy curtain.

Li Sheng showed little surprise at being discovered. He merely looked Shen Mengzhi up and down before sitting down and saying casually, "You're Jiang Zhen?"

"I am," Shen Mengzhi said.

"How did you know this old man was here?" Li Sheng asked.

"The servants of Lord Censor's manor seem to become somewhat restrained upon entering this room," Shen Mengzhi said unhurriedly. "This Jiang is but a commoner and claims no authority. The only one they could fear must be Lord Censor himself."

Li Sheng gave a lukewarm snort. He had indeed intended to observe Shen Mengzhi's behavior, but it was clear his guest wasn't taking the bait and hadn't revealed any flaws.

He glanced at the silent Qi Yu standing to the side. "And this is?"

"This is my attendant, Wen Yu," Shen Mengzhi said. "I am not feeling well, so I will need Wen Yu to speak on my behalf for some matters. I hope Lord Censor will forgive me."

After speaking, he coughed a few times in a very natural manner. Perhaps his appearance was convincing enough, as Li Sheng didn't seem to doubt him and looked away.

"The person who deliberately sent a secret message before the ritual to inform me that someone would poison the food and wine on the boat—was that you?" he asked coldly.

Shen Mengzhi said, "It was."

Li Sheng asked, "And how did you know?"

"This Jiang is untalented but knows a little about pharmacology," Shen Mengzhi said slowly. "In the days before the ritual, all the apothecaries in Xufang City, large and small, were out of two medicinal herbs: ginseng and hellebore. And these two herbs, when combined, create a potent poison."

"Someone bought up large quantities of these herbs right before the ritual. What could their intention be? I found it suspicious and dared not fail to report it to Lord Censor."

"In that case, you have indeed performed a service," Li Sheng said with a laugh, but his tone immediately shifted. "However, how can I be certain you are not one of Chu Jin's men?"

His tone became sharp and icy. "You are from Heshan Academy, so you must know Chu Jin. Why choose to help this old man?"

After all this back and forth, this was the one thing that truly made Li Sheng harbor resentment.

Shen Mengzhi's smile remained unchanged. He curled his fingers slightly and tapped gently on the celadon teacup. Without hesitation, he said, "At Heshan, my relationship with the Prince Regent was merely that of a chance acquaintance. Besides, he deceived me and my fellow students at the academy for years under the guise of a Hostage Prince, and then he used his feigned death to trigger the War of Yan-Qin."

"If you think about it, he should be my sworn enemy."

Li Sheng stared intently into his eyes. The latter didn't flinch or look away, showing no sign of guilt.

He narrowed his eyes. "You are a refugee of Yanling. Why didn't you join that group of assassins to restore your country? Why betray them and come to help my Great Qin?"

"Are the refugees of Yanling not also the subjects of the current Great Qin?" Shen Mengzhi's lips curved slightly. "...Does Lord Censor know that the dethroned ruler, Xiao Zhuo, is not yet dead?"

At these words, Li Sheng's pupils contracted sharply. He demanded in a harsh voice, "Is this information reliable?!"

But Shen Mengzhi seemed tired of speaking and said softly, "Wen Yu."

Facing the Grand Censor of Great Qin, Qi Yu's expression was calm as he stated flatly, "It is absolutely true. On the day Xiangjing fell, Xiao Zhuo escaped through a palace passage and has been wandering among the common people, remaining hidden until now. He intends to reclaim his throne and has at his command the Dragon Blood Cavalry, an extraordinary force cultivated by the Yanling Royal Family for a century, who are utterly loyal to their monarch. With Xiao Zhuo alive, the riots by Yanling refugees within Great Qin will only increase, not decrease, from now on."

Li Sheng's face changed, his expression as dark as water. "He's actually still alive..."

"He is alive, and I do not wish for Xiao Zhuo to be restored to the throne." Shen Mengzhi covered his lips with his hand and coughed lightly, his expression composed. "This is my sincerity. I wonder if Lord Censor is satisfied?"

Li Sheng frowned. "You have a grudge against Xiao Zhuo?"

Shen Mengzhi said, "I do."

Conversations between intelligent people only require a hint. Just as the two were silently sizing each other up, they suddenly heard rapid footsteps approaching from outside, like a hurricane arriving in an instant. Then, with a loud bang, the door was violently kicked open.

"I heard Lord Censor caught an old acquaintance of Chu Jin's. Why wasn't I informed?"

The voice was extremely arrogant, carrying a violence that seemed to cut to the bone, and it crashed into their ears. The moment he heard it, Shen Mengzhi's pupils shrank slightly. His body went rigid for a moment, and he subconsciously clenched his fists.

An arrogant, ruthless, and scalp-numbing gaze fell upon him.

He gently held his breath and relaxed his limbs, trying his best to appear natural.

The newcomer suddenly let out a cold, ambiguous laugh and said, "What a coincidence. The feeling you give me is just like someone I know."

"An enemy... whose bones I'd love to grind to dust and scatter to the winds."