In a narrow, unremarkable cell within the heavenly prison, a Taoist in plain robes sat cross-legged on a straw mat, eyes closed, meditating.

Surrounding him were the cries and pleas of other prisoners, yet he remained unmoved, not even a twitch of his brow.

The jailer, Little Lin, had been observing him for three days. He had just been transferred to a new post, and the first prisoner he was tasked with was this young Taoist.

The Taoist had a fair and gentle appearance, not like someone who would commit a crime. After being imprisoned, his treatment was peculiar. The head jailer only instructed Little Lin to monitor his actions and keep records, without any interrogation or torture.

It was as if he was here seeking refuge.

Little Lin had tentatively asked the head jailer what crime the Taoist had committed. The head jailer told him to mind his own business and not to ask unnecessary questions.

But who isn't a bit curious? The more the head jailer told him to keep quiet, the more Little Lin couldn't suppress his urge to find out.

The young Taoist didn't seem like a bad-tempered person, so during the long days, why not chat with him?

"Hey," Little Lin finally broke the silence, "Taoist, which law did you break? What crime got you locked up here?"

The Taoist kept his eyes closed, neither responding nor acknowledging.

Little Lin tapped the cell door with the shackles in his hand, producing a clanging sound, causing the person inside to shudder.

"Hmm?" He looked around blankly, "Is it mealtime?"

"……"

Little Lin was silent.

He thought he was dealing with some deeply hidden master! Turns out he was just napping!

Tao Mian had a restful sleep, something he hadn't experienced in a long time. Feeling refreshed, he leisurely surveyed his new abode.

It was more rundown than he had imagined, with the only clean thing being the straw mat beneath him.

Fortunately, he was the type to adapt to circumstances, so he didn't mind.

His gaze met the dumbfounded jailer outside, and Tao Mian smiled slightly.

"Hello."

"I... wait," Little Lin was affected by his calm and relaxed demeanor, mistakenly thinking they were in a teahouse instead of a prison. He shook his head vigorously to clear his thoughts, "Be honest! Don't try to get chummy with me. Just answer whatever I ask!"

Tao Mian hadn't heard anyone speak to him so rudely in a long time, and he found it quite refreshing.

"I'll speak freely, ask away."

Little Lin was conflicted, he had too many questions. Where did he come from, what did he do, why wasn't he being interrogated... and so on.

He finally chose a crucial question.

"What crime did you commit to be imprisoned here?"

Tao Mian genuinely pondered for a while before letting out a long sigh.

Little Lin perked up his ears, was there some huge secret?

The young Taoist lazily replied—

"I am indeed guilty."

"What crime? Confess truthfully!"

"The crime of stealing hearts."

"……"

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"You took it seriously?"

"…………"

Little Lin was both embarrassed and angry.

"You're messing with me, aren't you! Watch me teach you a lesson!"

Tao Mian was beside himself with laughter, unable to straighten his back, even gasping for air as he cried out.

The young jailer's face turned beet red from his laughter, and he pretended to be fierce, telling him to stop.

"Stop laughing, stop laughing! If you keep laughing, I'll hang you up and whip you!"

"You're young, but you talk big," Tao Mian finally stopped, still with a trace of a smile on his face, "Do you know why your head jailer told you not to ask too many questions? Because, you see, I have connections."

Tao Mian raised a finger, pointing upwards.

The jailer foolishly looked up.

Only then did he realize which "connections" he meant.

Tao Mian curled his finger, smiling at him.

"So what if you have connections? You talk so big, but you're still locked up here."

The jailer retorted weakly, waiting for a response that never came. He looked up to find the young Taoist inside the cell sighing softly.

"This place can't hold me. But, for now, it's better to be locked up."

His words were cryptic, nearly frying Little Lin's brain.

He wanted to ask more, but the other had closed his eyes again, ignoring everything.

The mysterious prisoner had been held for several days, and it seemed new instructions had been given from above, as people began visiting him.

The first visitors were two children, appearing to be siblings.

These siblings were interesting, looking nothing alike. If the boy hadn't called her sister, Little Lin wouldn't have believed they were related.

Before even seeing the person, the brother was already teary-eyed, while the sister wiped his nose, chiding him for being embarrassing.

Upon seeing the thin figure inside the cell, the sister's eyes turned red, and the brother burst into tears.

"Brother Tao! You've suffered."

Little Lin stood at the cell door, expecting the usually indifferent young Taoist to comfort the children with a few words of wisdom.

Instead, the Taoist wailed even more miserably.

"Little Tu! Little Dui! This place is unfit for humans! It's filthy, chaotic, and the jailers bully people. I can't survive another day, boohoo."

Little Lin:……

Who's bullying whom? Who's bullying whom! He was being interrogated by the Taoist to the point of digging up his ancestors, enduring daily mental torment. Who was really being bullied?!

Little Lin was indignant, but he remained silent. The Taoist's tongue was sharp, capable of angering half the heavenly prison with just a few words if he wished.

The two children barely got a word in before the young Taoist criticized the heavenly prison from top to bottom, and visiting time was up.

Little Lin thought he was just venting and didn't take it seriously. But that very night, three or four people from the palace secretly visited, bringing clean and expensive bedding and clothes. All the utensils and tableware were replaced with new, dazzling ones, nearly blinding Little Lin. Various delicacies, wines, and snacks were also sent in.

The enthusiastic young Taoist warmly invited the jailer to join him for a drink in the cell.

Little Lin politely declined.

Now it seemed less like seeking refuge and more like a vacation.

The first wave of visitors wasn't surprising, Little Lin thought. Since the young Taoist claimed to have connections, perhaps the two children had pleaded with someone, sending good food and clothes. Such things weren't unheard of in the heavenly prison.

The second wave of visitors, however, shocked the jailer.

"Gen-General..." Little Lin's legs went weak, "The prison is damp and cold, why have you suddenly come here..."

The visitor was General Wu Yueren, the most trusted and valued by the current emperor. It was said that General Wu had accompanied the emperor through life and death on the battlefield, earning his deep admiration. Rumors about their relationship abounded, with many speculating a subtle and ambiguous connection. After all, they were a perfect match in talent and beauty.

But at that moment, Little Lin's mind was devoid of any romantic notions. He was utterly confused as to why a person of such high status would visit a seemingly unrelated Taoist in the heavenly prison.

Wu Yueren arrived at the cell door, frowning at the luxurious environment inside.

"Remove all this, a prisoner living better than a little prince."

With one sentence, he made it clear he disapproved of Tao Mian and held no regard for the little prince.

Little Lin was sweating profusely, unsure of what to do. He couldn't afford to offend the general, but he also sensed that Tao Mian's backer was not to be trifled with.

In desperation, he looked to Tao Mian for help.

Tao Mian returned a smile, devoid of his usual teasing, instead offering reassurance.

"General, such a fiery temper."

He spoke slowly.

What followed, Little Lin didn't know. Wu Yueren seemed easily provoked by a single sentence from Tao Mian, proving the Taoist had a knack for driving people mad.

Little Lin was dismissed with a wave of the general's hand.

Half an hour later, General Wu left the heavenly prison in a fury, and Little Lin approached to inquire.

He thought his curiosity would be the death of him, but what's a person without a bit of nosiness?

The general was furious, yet inside the cell, the Taoist leisurely sipped the remaining wine from his cup.

"Oh, you're back?" He even had the mood to greet him.

Little Lin was at a loss for words, as if holding something back, wanting to speak but unable to, and eventually decided against it.

Tao Mian wasn't in a hurry, knowing the jailer was simple and couldn't keep secrets, he'd spill eventually.

Sure enough, as he expected, half an incense stick's time later, Little Lin leaned against the cell bars, whispering.

"You said you stole someone's heart."

"Hmm? Hmm... did I?"

"You did! Definitely! I have a good memory, don't try to fool me."

"Then I must have."

"The person you mentioned." Little Lin glanced around, gesturing for Tao Mian to come closer.

Tao Mian obligingly leaned in.

Little Lin's voice dropped even lower.

"Could it be, could it be the general?!"

"……"

The scene of Tao Mian laughing that day, even seventy years later, Little Lin would still want to die recalling it.

Tao Mian, such a mischievous person, wiped tears of laughter from his eyes, saying yes, yes, look at this, such a cruel unrequited love.

Little Lin wanted to bash his head against the cell door.

He and the Taoist agreed never to mention that night again, and the Taoist readily agreed, yet couldn't stop laughing.

General Wu visited several more times, each time leaving in a huff. Little Lin's face would turn sour at the sight of him, making Wu Yueren think he had some grudge against him, worsening his mood.

Annoyed, yet he kept coming.

Little Lin couldn't fathom the general's thoughts.

The Taoist leisurely replied—he had already said it was a cruel unrequited love.

Little Lin didn't believe it.

Gradually, he realized the young Taoist indeed had some connections, as even the little prince and princess came to see him.

The little prince managed to restrain his emotions, but the little princess cried until her eyes were swollen. She said that person was too much, how could they bear to let Little Tao suffer.

The "that person" she referred to, Little Lin didn't know the name. But it seemed to be a taboo, as the princess, despite her agitation, never mentioned the name directly.

The princess demanded Little Lin open the cell door, and he broke into a cold sweat, repeatedly saying he dared not.

Defying the princess was a serious matter, but the head jailer had warned him that opening this cell door without permission was a beheading offense.

Little Lin couldn't understand why the person who sent the Taoist here was so contradictory, wanting him to suffer yet unable to bear seeing him in too much hardship.

Life in the cell passed slowly, with the Taoist's daily amusement being to tease the jailer. Little Lin often suffered silently, but he didn't dislike the Taoist.

The Taoist had a charm, able to easily break through anyone's defenses if he wished, knowing exactly where the boundaries lay, advancing and retreating with grace.

Little Lin thought, perhaps the "crime of stealing hearts" wasn't just a joke.

The young jailer believed that having seen the general, the little prince, and the princess, he had witnessed enough of the world to boast to his friends for a long time.

But he never expected that one night, a figure quietly stood before the cell, unnoticed by anyone.

When he saw the person's face clearly, Little Lin's knees went weak.

"Your Highness..."