Chapter 125: The Jailer's Reinforcements

Following Zhu Hao’s command, the twenty or so guards accompanying him swiftly and efficiently subdued the reckless jailer, pinning him firmly to the ground.

The jailer, struggling in vain against the firm grip of his captors, decided to try a softer approach. Still unaware that he had offended the true Prince Xin rather than some imposter, he shouted indignantly from the floor, "Hey! Hey, this is a misunderstanding! Easy there, brothers, you’re hurting me!"

He then looked toward Zhu Hao and added, "Listen, brother, we’re just playing around, there’s no need to play for keeps! Tell these bastards to let me go, and I swear I won't expose you for impersonating a prince!"

The jailer naively assumed that Zhu Hao was treating him this way to prevent him from revealing the "impersonation." But there was no need for Zhu Hao to impersonate anyone; he was the true Prince Xin. The jailer simply lacked the eyes to recognize true royalty.

Zhu Hao, having no patience for the man’s drivel, spoke coldly: "I will give you one more chance. Answer me: are the twenty-three students being held in this prison?"

The jailer failed to cherish this opportunity and continued to ramble, "Brother, if you want me to answer, you need to tell them to let me go! Otherwise, how am I supposed to talk?"

Losing all patience, Zhu Hao let out a cold snort. "Obstinate to the end. Take him away!"

Just as the words left his lips, a squad of soldiers rushed out from behind him, accompanied by an arrogant shout: "Surround them! I want to see who has the guts to cause trouble at the Hangzhou Prefecture prison!"

A squad of over a hundred soldiers quickly encircled Zhu Hao’s group of fewer than thirty. Zhu Hao’s guards grew tense, their hands gripping their sword hilts, ready for a fight.

From behind the soldiers, a man strolled out, his eyes filled with overweening arrogance. "Which blind fool is stirring up trouble here? Let me have a look!" It was clear that this arrogant voice belonged to the same person who had ordered the encirclement.

As the man emerged, Zhu Hao took note of his appearance. He wore a scholar’s robe and held a paper folding fan, giving him the air of a man of letters. However, his boisterous shouting and his position in the middle of a squad of soldiers completely ruined that image, making him look entirely out of place.

Hearing the arrogant voice, the jailer acted as if he had found a savior. He shouted repeatedly, "Brother Gao, I’m here! This bunch is impersonating Prince Xin and they hit me—you have to stand up for me!"

It was evident that this "Brother Gao" was the reinforcements the jailer had summoned. Zhu Hao knew without asking that the other prison guards must have sought out this man as soon as they saw their superior being restrained.

When the man surnamed Gao heard the jailer’s plea, he was about to bark an order, but his gaze fell upon the attire of Zhu Hao’s group. Unlike the jailer, he was a man of some standing. The moment he saw the stone-blue, four-clawed dragon robe on Zhu Hao, he knew it was a genuine princely garment, not some costume borrowed from a theater troupe. The quality difference between stage robes and the real thing was immense, allowing Gao to recognize the authenticity of the garment instantly.

Realizing who stood before him, Gao roughly deduced Zhu Hao's identity. In the entire city of Hangzhou, only one person was entitled to wear such a robe.

Though he had guessed the truth, Gao still feigned ignorance to save his subordinate. "Who are you? How dare you cause a disturbance at the Hangzhou Prefecture prison and assault a jailer?"

Before Zhu Hao could answer, the jailer, frustrated that his "Brother Gao" was being so formal, complained, "Brother Gao, why are you wasting time with these bastards? Just arrest them all! I’m still on the ground here!"

Gao cursed inwardly, *You fool! If you want to court death, do it yourself; don't drag me down with you! It’s laughable that you’ve kicked an iron plate and still don't realize it!* He deeply regretted ever calling such a person "brother."

Zhu Hao ignored the jailer’s whining and looked at Gao. The shift from arrogance to calm inquiry told him that Gao was a man of discernment who had realized his identity. "Judging by your attitude, you seem to have realized who I am. To be able to mobilize so many soldiers in such a short time, you must be someone of consequence. Tell me, who are you, and what are you trying to do?"

Gao did not humble himself, instead standing his ground. "I am Gao Naiqian, Commander of the Hangzhou Forward Guard! You claim to be a prince; forgive my dim eyes, but which prince are you?"

Zhu Hao noted the name. *Not a nobody indeed. A Guard Commander in charge of over five thousand men—not someone to be trifled with.*

Irritated by Gao’s continued feigned ignorance, Zhu Hao let out a cold snort. "Commander Gao, you know full well who I am. In this city, who else besides me would wear the stone-blue, four-clawed dragon robe of a prince? I advise you not to play dumb, or you will bear the consequences."

With his identity reaffirmed, Gao could no longer maintain the ruse. He dropped to one knee and bowed. "Your subordinate, Gao Naiqian, Commander of the Hangzhou Forward Guard, pays his respects to Your Highness, Prince Xin!"

Zhu Hao had no intention of dealing harshly with a commander of five thousand troops. Seeing Gao submit, he said, "Rise, Commander Gao. You brought so many soldiers to surround me—what was your intention?"

Gao, no longer caring about his jailer "brother" and only hoping the Prince would not vent his anger on him, quickly explained, "Your Highness, I heard there was a disturbance and came to investigate. I did not realize it was you. It is all a misunderstanding!"

Gao then turned to his soldiers and roared, "Get out of the way! You dare surround the Prince? Do you want to commit treason, you bastards?" To avoid the Prince's wrath, Gao completely forgot that his own insult, "bastards," included himself, as these men had acted under his orders.

At his command, the hundred soldiers dispersed and retreated behind him.

Seeing the shift in the situation, the jailer realized he had committed a grave error and began pleading frantically, "Your Highness, please spare me! I was wrong! I had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai! Please, have mercy!"

Zhu Hao ignored the wailing and said coldly, "Jailer, I gave you a chance. Let me teach you a lesson: often, one only gets a single chance."

He then ordered his guards, "Take him to the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Have them interrogate him thoroughly!"

As the guards moved to drag the jailer away, Zhu Hao remembered something. "Wait!" He looked at the jailer again. "I asked you earlier if those students were being held here. You haven't answered me yet."

Thinking this was a sign of mercy, the jailer spilled everything. "Your Highness, I'll tell you! They were indeed brought here at first, but the next day, the Prefect secretly had them all taken away. As for where they are now, I truly do not know!"

Zhu Hao had suspected they wouldn't leave the students in the prison waiting to be rescued, and the jailer’s words confirmed it.

"Thank you," Zhu Hao said sincerely.

Thinking he was about to be released, the jailer replied, "You're welcome, Your Highness, if you could just let me go..."

Before he could finish, Zhu Hao waved his hand at the guards. "Take him away."

The jailer was stunned, his gratitude turning back into desperate pleas. "Your Highness, you can't do this! I told you everything! You..."

Zhu Hao had no interest in listening further. "Noisy. Gag him."

Two guards efficiently removed their socks and stuffed them into the jailer's mouth. They dragged him toward the Zhejiang Thousand-Household Office of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The jailer, now gagged, could only produce muffled, fading whimpers as he was hauled away.