Chapter 630 Are all the children Li Sheng's biological children?
The moment you step into the prison, a musty smell hits your nose.
Jiang Nuanzhi followed behind the jailer who was leading the way, stepping on the slippery bluestone path, and encountered no obstacles along the way, smoothly reaching the second basement level.
The jailer was not just attentive, but even obsequious wouldn't be an adequate description. He had already brought out a chair, polished it to a gleaming shine with his sleeve, and said with a beaming smile, "My lord, please have a seat. I'll have someone arrange it right away, so that such a filthy place won't offend your eyes."
As he spoke, he noticed a frighteningly bright light in Jiang Nuanzhi's eyes.
Jiang Nuanzhi waved her hand: "No need for trouble, just take me there to meet the person."
The jailer hesitated for a moment: "That place is filthy, sir."
"What are you dawdling for! If you delay my master's business, I'll skin you alive! Lead the way now!"
When Dongzang shouted, the mice opposite him shrank back like they'd seen a cat, and two people immediately responded.
With a beaming smile, he trotted forward to lead the way.
Dongzang was indeed adept at communicating with such people. Jiang Nuanzhi had been trying to find a way to cover up her identity, but now she realized that when there's an imbalance of status, you don't need to do anything; others will already cover for you. There's no need to put in any effort. Dongzang understood this principle even better. She was far more experienced than Jiang Nuanzhi, a complete novice entering the prison for the first time. In this dark, damp, and stuffy prison, she felt as at ease as if she were at home.
“My lord, look, this whole area is a prison where members of the Zhao family are being held.”
The jailer's eyes narrowed into slits as he rubbed his hands together.
Jiang Nuanzhi looked in the direction he pointed. The prison windows were pitifully small to begin with. Now, as the jailer walked in with an oil lamp, the dim light made everyone in the prison squint and look in this direction. These people were dressed neatly, and their eyes were briefly empty before bursting with hope. Cries and pleas for mercy were mixed together, making people's heads buzz.
As Jiang Nuan passed by a prison, she couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Inside, there was a bed and all the necessary toiletries, completely out of place with the others. A woman inside, covered by a blanket, had her back to her, so her features were obscured. A well-dressed maidservant attended to her.
“My lord, this is where Miss Zhao lives. As you know, her status is somewhat different.” The jailer saw Jiang Nuanzhi looking in that direction and quickly said, “My lord, are you annoyed by what you’ve heard? The Zhao family members around here have only recently been released from prison and are all eager to get out. They’re just a bit noisy, but they’ll all settle down after a while.”
"Where is Zhao Xiuyuan?" Jiang Nuanzhi asked, turning her gaze away from Zhao Xiyue's direction.
"You've come with me, sir, but we'll have to go down one more floor." The jailer smiled obsequiously, his tone carrying a hint of self-satisfaction: "The Zhao family is very powerful, and this Lord Zhao is a high-ranking official from the previous dynasty, so he's being held separately on the third underground floor. I had to pull a lot of strings to get you to see him!"
Dongzang glanced at the jailer, then pulled a heavy silver bag from his pocket and tossed it over.
The jailer caught it, weighed it in his hand for a moment, stuffed it into his sleeve, and immediately jogged to lead the way: "Honorable sir, this way please, this way is easier to walk!"
The group went down another floor and finally stopped in front of a cell where not a ray of light could get in.
The man in the cell sat with his back to Jiang Nuanzhi on a damp, moldy pile of straw, his back still straight. Only the corners of his plain white clothes were covered in mud.
The clanging of chains rang out, and the man's back suddenly tensed.
"You've arrived."
His tone was so familiar, as if he were some old friend of his.
Zhao Xiuyuan readily turned to Jiang Nuanzhi and said, "Since Madam Li has come to hear a story, shouldn't you at least prepare a bowl of wine for Xiuyuan? Coming empty-handed is rather stingy."
Jiang Nuanzhi raised an eyebrow, then waved her hand.
Before long, a table appeared in the cell, laden with food and drinks.
Jiang Nuanzhi lifted her robe and sat down, looking at the person opposite her: "Please, Lord Zhao."
To be honest, I only saw Zhao Xiuyuan a few days ago, and now that I'm sitting closer, I suddenly realized that his temples have turned white overnight.
"Please, Madam."
Zhao Xiuyuan placed the teacup in front of Jiang Nuanzhi. With his head bowed and eyes lowered, his demeanor still carried the air of a scion of a prominent family.
What happened back then couldn't be explained in just a few words, and since she happened to have some time today, she simply picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip. Anyway, she wasn't the one who was anxious.
“Li Rong never married before, and those children are all Li Sheng’s biological children.”
Zhao Xiuyuan suddenly spoke, his gaze abruptly turning to Jiang Nuanzhi in front of him.
Her hair, like ink splashed on a canvas, cascaded down her back with a graceful movement. She sipped her tea, not even lifting an eyelid at the words. She remained as calm as if she hadn't heard a thing.
Brother Zhao frowned and continued, "Madam has a good eye for men. He is aloof and unlikely to get entangled with women. Now he is once again in command of the three armies. He is upright and loyal, and there is no one like him in the world."
As he spoke, he subtly observed the woman opposite him. He saw that she was still listening with her eyes lowered, her expression unchanged.
Zhao Xiuyuan considered himself to have some understanding of women, but he had never seen anyone like her before. This woman was indeed extraordinary; if he hadn't already known this, she would be a woman of profound cunning who wouldn't be entangled in matters of the heart.
Just as he was frowning in thought, the woman in front of him suddenly looked up at him.
But there was a barely perceptible smile in his eyes: "If Lord Zhao can only say these things, I am truly disappointed."
Zhao Xiuyuan was stunned, feeling as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer.
This person is really perceptive.
The woman in front of him was slender and beautiful, like a figure in a painting, but the wisdom and experience in her eyes were something he had never seen before.
What is an ordinary woman like?
Most would refer to themselves as "this humble woman" or "this concubine," and were generally humble and respectful. It was truly rare to see someone so openly refer to themselves as "this official" as he did.
Zhao Xiuyuan did indeed harbor some contempt, thinking that negotiating with a woman was different, but he did not expect that the other party would be so perceptive in noticing.
Only then did he realize that the woman opposite him was someone who had never been at a disadvantage even when facing Xiao Yuanshan.
Xiao Yuanshan couldn't get the better of her, let alone himself.
Zhao Xiuyuan gave a bitter laugh: "I'm sorry for my intrusion. Doctor Jiang is different from ordinary women. I've misunderstood."
After saying that, he poured himself a glass of wine and drank it all in one gulp.
"When we first met, Dr. Jiang's husband was bedridden and their child was crying incessantly. How glorious Xiuyuan was back then!"
Today, Xiu Yuan is a prisoner. The general has been reinstated, and the physician is a rising star with a bright future.
(End of this chapter)
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