36 Self-rescue volunteer

◎Song Jinyi is unwilling to sit and wait for death, she also wants to find a way to save herself◎

"stop!"

Along with Song Jinyi's heart-wrenching screams, a male voice rang out.

Song Jinyi's eyes widened as she clearly saw the sharp blade resting on Xie Wuyang's fair neck. A slight difference would have split the slender neck.

Does it have to be this exciting every time?!

Song Jinyi felt like a drowning person being pulled ashore, her heart beating uncontrollably and breathing heavily. She saw the jailer with a knife put away his machete and look towards the dark corridor, and she also looked in the direction of his gaze.

A white mist appeared faintly from the darkness of the corridor. After a few seconds, a swaying human figure was projected in the dim candlelight.

The man was dressed in snow-white clothes, standing upright, with an air of coldness and dignity that was not tainted by the mundane world. The warm yellow candlelight behind him softened his face, making him look like a kind-looking statue in a temple.

She recognized this person; it was the one she had met in the main hall—the current Crown Prince Gu Jinyan.

The jailer in the prison saluted and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince—"

Song Jinyi broke free from the others and crawled to hug Gu Jinyan's thighs, "Help, please save us——"

The servant beside Gu Jinyan bent down and wanted to pull her aside, "Suian." Gu Jinyan stopped him and gently helped Song Jinyi up.

"Madam, please stand up first. I came here to uphold justice. To punish without authorization is to betray justice and practice selfish tactics." The second half of the sentence became colder, and it was said to the jailer who was carrying out the private punishment.

When the other cooks saw their savior, they also wanted to squeeze in beside the prince and ask for his protection, but the servants beside Gu Jinyan drew their swords and shouted them back.

Seeing this, the jailer whispered, "Your Highness, this is the order of Prince Yu."

Gu Jinyan said calmly, "Aren't they guests invited by Prince Yu? The birthday banquet has just passed. Even if they haven't made any contributions, they have worked hard. Besides, there are at least dozens of lives in this room..."

Since Your Majesty came to power, you have worked tirelessly every day to ensure the stability of people's livelihood in various states. If dozens of casualties occur in any state, the prefect must report it to Your Majesty as soon as possible, and Your Majesty will personally send a governor to the scene.

First, His Majesty hasn't issued an order to execute them. Are you trying to override the imperial authority? Second, the Empress Dowager's birthday is a joyous occasion celebrated by the entire nation. How can bloodshed be allowed?!"

After hearing this, Song Jinyi wanted to give the prince a thumbs up. What he said was really great.

She glanced at the jailers, who were looking at each other with their heads down, at a loss as to what to do. They did not dare to refute the prince. She thought the matter was over, but she did not expect that the inner prison would be so bustling today, and another person had come.

In this brief silence, the sound of footsteps suddenly rang out. A steady and powerful female voice came from the corridor, "If the Queen Mother orders the execution, will Your Highness the Crown Prince stop it?"

Song Jinyi looked over and saw the nanny beside the Queen Mother. She bowed slightly to the Crown Prince and said, "The Crown Prince is kind and willing to condescend to come here to save these criminals.

Unfortunately, they committed a heinous crime and disturbed the Queen Mother, who was furious and ordered them all to be executed."

"The Queen Mother has been fasting for years and has been a kind person. Why did she suddenly start a massacre?"

Nanny Sun squinted her eyes and asked, "Could it be that the Crown Prince thought that this servant was falsely conveying the imperial decree?"

"I dare not, but the Imperial Grandmother has been a vegetarian and chanting Buddhist scriptures all year round. They are here to celebrate her longevity. If her soul returns to the Ninth Heaven, as the Buddhists say, breaking the precepts of killing without permission only adds to one's sins. The Imperial Grandmother may have been confused for a moment, but Aunt Sun is a sensible person. We should persuade her more..."

Gu Jinyan is worthy of being the prince, he has a lot of profound principles to talk about.

Nanny Sun was silent for a while, and then a look of struggle appeared on her face. She seemed to agree with the prince's reasoning and began to waver in her heart.

Song Jinyi watched from the corner, quickly analyzing the current situation in her mind: Prince Yu was unhappy, and the Queen Mother was worried, and both forces wanted them dead.

Only the prince, whether for some other motive or out of his own kindness, was willing to uphold justice for them.

But how could he resist two forces alone? He was afraid that he would be unable to do anything alone. Song Jinyi was unwilling to sit and wait for death, so she also had to find a way to save herself.

Song Jinyi knelt before Nanny Sun and pleaded, "Since this birthday banquet did not please the Queen Mother, I am willing to make amends and make her happy. Please give me a chance."

Upon hearing this, Nanny Sun looked at Song Jinyi and said rather arrogantly, "How can a chef like you possibly be able to make the Queen Mother happy?"

"I originally wanted to give a gift to the Queen Mother after the birthday banquet, but unfortunately I didn't have time to give it to her." Song Jinyi smiled ingratiatingly.

Nanny Sun said disdainfully, "Whatever is in the world is also in the palace. What is not in the world is also in the palace. What special things do you have?"

"The things in the palace are naturally the best in the world." Song Jinyi flattered at first, and then asked, "Has Madam Sun ever heard of cake?"

Nanny Sun thought for a moment and said, "I've never heard of it."

"This is a pastry I accidentally learned from somewhere else. It tastes good and has a good texture. The most amazing thing is that eating this cake makes people feel happy."

Nanny Sun asked, "Can it make people feel happy? Is there really such a wonderful thing in the world?"

"I dare not deceive."

Song Jinyi was not lying. The sugar in the cake would affect the cerebral cortex, stimulate dopamine, and produce physiological pleasure.

The prince was also curious about the cake, so he said that he would go and persuade the Empress Dowager to taste it together.

Song Jinyi also said: "If I am lucky enough to make the Queen Mother happy, then Nanny will be the biggest contributor. Even if it fails, it will only be my own fault and has nothing to do with you.

It will do you no harm and benefit.”

Nanny Sun was so moved by what she said that she finally agreed.

Nanny Sun went to Zhaoren Palace with the prince.

After an incense stick of time, only Nanny Sun came back. She looked Song Jinyi up and down and said, "Young lady, you are so lucky. Not only did His Royal Highness the Crown Prince plead for you, but also Mr. Huo delivered a letter to speak for you.

But no matter who pleads for you, your life is still in the hands of the Queen Mother. Whether you can leave the palace depends on you. If you fail to please the Queen Mother, you know the consequences. "

Song Jinyi bowed and thanked Nanny Sun for delivering her message, and replied, "I am aware of the consequences, but I am also confident that the Queen Mother will forgive me and others after seeing the gift."

After Nanny Sun left, Sui An, who was standing behind her, raised his neck and said to Song Jinyi, "The Crown Prince wants to see you."

Song Jinyi stood up from the ground tremblingly, her knees numb from kneeling. She pleaded with Sui An, "Sir, I can go with you to the Crown Prince first. But my friend is seriously injured, has a high fever, and is unconscious. Please save him."

Apart from her sore and swollen knees and her hungry stomach, she could barely be considered a lively person. But Xie Wuyang was different. She was afraid that when she came back, she would see a corpse.

If Sui'an doesn't care about Xie Wuyang, she won't go.

Sui'an looked up at the unconscious Xie Wuyang and waved his hand. Then a sensible eunuch behind him lifted up Xie Wuyang.

Sui An said: "You still have to serve the Queen Mother and be considered a guest of this palace. We will find a place for you to live so that your friend can recuperate in peace."

Then he said to the eunuchs, "Go and ask Doctor Hu to come and take a look."

Song Jinyi thanked him quickly.

When Song Jinyi left, she caught a glimpse of Li He huddled in the corner. She was mentally retarded and always seemed to be stupid. No matter what, Chun Sanniang was her only relative in this world.

Having lost his only relative, he seemed to have lost all his spirit, his eyes were empty and his face was haggard.

Song Jinyi sighed. After all, this matter was caused by her. I didn't kill Boren, but Boren died because of me. She asked the jailer for a bowl of water and handed it to Li He.

Song Jinyi stood up and glanced at the rest of the people. They had heard the conversation between Song Jinyi and Nanny Sun just now, and understood that their lives were in Song Jinyi's hands. They looked at Song Jinyi eagerly, hoping that he would save their lives.

Song Jinyi nodded and said, "Don't worry, I will do my best even for my own sake. But Li He is my friend, so please don't bully her."

They responded hurriedly: "Of course, of course."

******

East Palace.

The decorations and servants in the palace were not as prosperous and numerous as she had imagined, and it was even a little deserted.

The palace maid poured tea for her, and Song Jinyi drank five cups in one breath until she was full. When she was about to drink the sixth cup, the prince arrived late. He sat in the main seat, waved his hand, and dismissed everyone else, leaving only Suian to serve.

Song Jinyi watched suspiciously as the eunuchs and palace maids left the room. She stroked her chin and guessed with a strange train of thought, "This prince has left me here in a mysterious way. Could it be that he has taken a fancy to me?"

Gu Jinyan exchanged a few pleasantries with her before asking, "Miss, there's no need to be so reserved. I called you here just to ask who the man with you is."

"He's a friend of the common people."

Gu Jinyan asked curiously: "Just friends? He risked his life to block the sword for you, and you risked your own life for him?" The last two sentences had a deeper meaning, like a mockery.

Song Jinyi said, "I've only known him for a month or so. He worked for me to pay off his debts. We have no other personal feelings for each other. Now... he's blocking the sword for me, so he's naturally my friend."

What Song Jinyi said was indeed the truth. The word "friend" has an ambiguous meaning. Some people are called friends after having met them a few times, some become friends after just meeting and discovering that they have similar interests, and some even become friends through thick and thin.

Song Jinyi had a grudge against Xie Wuyang before, but the grudge gradually faded after a long time of getting along. In addition, this time, she owed him a life, so they could settle the matter.

Gu Jinyan waited a long time before asking, "Do you know his background?"

Song Jinyi nodded. "He is from Xirong. His parents died early, and he wandered alone. Because of his good looks, he was sold to Daxia. I saved him."

"He's handsome?" Gu Jinyan glanced at Song Jinyi thoughtfully and said, "His appearance is indeed impressive."

Song Jinyi agreed and nodded, but then Gu Jinyan changed the subject and said, "Most foreigners have brown hair and brown eyes, and their hair is like rough hemp rope. I've only seen blond hair like your friend among the nobles of Xirong."