Outside the prison, two factions were vying for power. Inside, this manifested as Evelyn Smith sometimes receiving good food and drink, and other times being beaten with sticks. He did not defend himself—he ate when given food, and did not beg for mercy when beaten. Although he worried about his wife, he never asked anyone for information.

Day after day passed, and Evelyn Smith was beaten more and more often. On New Year's Eve, the faint sound of firecrackers could be heard from outside. Lying on the haystack, Evelyn Smith thought to himself that he probably wouldn't survive until next autumn. Rather than let Logan Clark and the others go to unnecessary trouble, it would be better to die early and be reborn.

Evelyn Smith struggled to his feet, took off his tattered outer garment, looked up at the small window high above, and moved toward it step by step. He threw one end of the garment up several times until it finally looped around an iron bar.

He tied the two ends of the garment into a tight knot and tugged hard, feeling it was sturdy enough. Then he fetched some dry grass to use as a footstool.

Once everything was ready, Evelyn Smith slipped his neck into the noose, ready to kick away the hay and end it all.

With a sharp crack of a firecracker, a flurry of snowflakes burst in from the window, scattering suddenly, like the smoke from the firecracker.

“There are no gods in this world, so where would reincarnation come from?” Evelyn Smith muttered. Suddenly, he no longer wanted to die, and carefully pulled his neck out.

The knot in the garment was too tight to untie, so Evelyn Smith simply moved the hay back to the sheltered spot, lay down on it, emptied his mind, and listened intently to the sound of firecrackers outside.

Nine

Several jailers entered the cell, said nothing, and dragged the prisoner outside.

Evelyn Smith was puzzled and wanted to ask, but realized no one would answer. He thought to himself that perhaps the time had come, and that Lingji Palace had used some means to have him executed early.

Evelyn Smith did not want to die, but he also did not want to struggle in vain.

The jailers dragged the prisoner to the back door, draped a coat over him, pushed him outside, and immediately shut the door. No one else came out.

It was near dusk, and there were no pedestrians in the streets and alleys. Evelyn Smith stood there, leaning to one side, completely confused. He couldn't help but call out loudly, “What’s going on?”

No one answered.

Evelyn Smith waited a while longer, then wrapped his coat tightly around himself and, dragging his battered body, slowly made his way toward the mouth of the alley.

The New Year had just passed, and the festive atmosphere had completely vanished. It wasn't until he reached Xuanwumen Inner Street that he saw people coming and going, all hurrying along. When acquaintances met, they only nodded, not even bothering with a formal greeting.

Evelyn Smith grew even more confused, thinking he must be dreaming. But the pain from his injuries had not lessened at all. By now, he was certain he had truly been released. His longing for home surged, and gritting his teeth, he limped toward Guanyinsi Alley in the eastern part of the city.

Guanyinsi Alley was rather long, and the Zhao family lived deep inside. By the time Evelyn Smith reached the entrance, it was already dark. From a distance, he saw seven or eight people approaching. One person stepped out from the group, ran up to him, and hugged Evelyn Smith with both arms, laughing heartily.

Evelyn Smith cried out in pain, and the other quickly let go. “We just got the news—didn’t expect you’d already be out, big brother.”

“Second brother, what’s going on?” Evelyn Smith recognized this as Logan Clark and several friends he was on good terms with. There was no time for small talk; he asked the reason first. The suspense had been killing him all the way home—something big must have happened in the capital, and he was the only one who knew nothing.

“Let’s talk as we walk,” said Logan Clark, and with the others crowding around Evelyn Smith, they entered the alley. He continued, “The Retired Emperor has been restored to the throne—didn’t you know, big brother?”

“Restored?” Evelyn Smith didn’t react at first. About half a month ago, the jailers had indeed started acting strangely, often whispering secretly and avoiding the prisoners. He hadn’t paid it any mind, never imagining something so momentous had happened outside.

“The former emperor…”

“It’s the Prince of Cheng,” someone corrected.

Logan Clark quickly changed his words. “The Prince of Cheng fell gravely ill, and the ministers supported the Retired Emperor—now the current emperor. There’s just been a general amnesty. I thought this was your chance, big brother, and we were just about to go to the Ministry of Justice to inquire. Didn’t expect you’d already come back—ha, what great news!”

Evelyn Smith nodded in response, still feeling as if none of this was real. He was just a lowly centurion, yet had escaped death because of a restoration—an unimaginable stroke of luck.

With the master’s return, the whole Zhao household burst into tears. Logan Clark and the others offered comfort, then soon took their leave, saying they would host a welcome banquet for Evelyn Smith the next day.

After several months apart, his wife Miller had grown much thinner and was crying so hard she could barely speak. Ethan Sullivan, on the other hand, was overjoyed, repeating, “It’s all thanks to madam—good deeds are rewarded, it’s all thanks to madam…”

When Ethan Sullivan finally withdrew, Miller had a chance to explain: “Who could have guessed? The maid introduced by our neighbor turned out to be a palace maid who had served the Retired Emperor and Empress. At that time, they were living in the Southern Garden, in hardship… A few days ago, she came specially to ask about you, but didn’t say much. And today you came home—if that’s not heaven’s blessing, what is?”

Evelyn Smith was dumbfounded. He had used a dagger and his own blood to prove that immortals didn’t exist, yet after going in a circle, it seemed he had ended up right back where he started.

Ten

Evelyn Smith was ordered to report to the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters. The last time he had come, he was a criminal, suffering torture. Now, returning, his legs were still weak, and the scars on his body still ached faintly.

Yesterday, a military officer had brought news, throwing the whole family into panic again. Evelyn Smith, however, remained calm. “If they’re not here to arrest me, then there’s nothing to worry about.”

Evelyn Smith was invited to the back hall, where a refined-looking official received him.