Chapter 65 Chapter 65 "As long as you are willing to bow your head and submit." ...
Xue Yuanyin stayed in jail for five or six days and finally got used to life in prison.
The guards delivered three meals a day to the iron gate, then carried them into her cell. Ah Zhen would watch her eat and then take the lunch box away. The rest of the time, she could read, play chess, or even bathe. As long as it wasn't too excessive, the guards would consider it.
But she couldn't get a pen or paper, for fear she might send a message through the window. She couldn't harm herself either, as the higher-ups hadn't sent anyone to try her yet. Self-harm in prison would be a serious offense, and anyone guarding the prison would be doomed.
Sometimes the jailer would chain her wrists as well, removing them when she needed to use her hands, but at least there was always a chain connected to the wall, preventing her from regaining her freedom.
Xue Yuanyin's daily task was to study the lock rings on his hands and feet and the long thick chain, trying to break or open them, but to no avail.
She went to talk to the two jailers at the door, asking who would come to interrogate her and what her fate would be. The jailers did not answer, as if they were two deaf people.
Xue Yuanyin was helpless and really bored, so she asked Ah Zhen to chop some bamboo for her. She sat on the edge of the cattail bed, using the bed as a desk, and recalled the steps to make a bamboo dragonfly.
Of course, the knife for cutting bamboo was not given to him. Xue Yuanyin found some small gravel and ground the bamboo into pieces of the size he wanted. Later, he felt that the stones were too difficult to use, so he simply used his internal force to shatter the bamboo pieces. He immediately felt that it was much easier than grinding them slowly with stones.
Because the tools were not suitable, it took me five or six days to make a pair of wings for the bamboo dragonfly.
Under any other circumstances she would have been impatient, but she was bored at the moment and had to use it to pass the time.
However, the situation outside changed in just a few days.
An urgent report from the borderland of 800 miles away was sent all the way to the imperial study. There was unrest in the Western Regions, and the Western Qiang were ready to invade the Great Zhou. Ashilie, the first general under the command of their Khan, openly challenged the power of the Great Zhou Dynasty to the garrison soldiers at the Qintang Pass on the border between the two countries, and called on the Great Zhou Dynasty to come and fight.
When this incident happened, the whole court was shocked and the news spread rapidly in the capital like a boiling pot!
The Crown Prince, acting as regent, summoned all his ministers to discuss matters overnight after reading the secret letter.
In the imperial study, the court's veteran ministers slammed the table and stood up, "This Ah Shi Lie is going too far! Every time he goes to war, he takes pleasure in beheading his soldiers. He is cruel and ruthless. This provocation has already caused public unrest. We cannot retreat. We must show our courage and fight him head-on!"
Another veteran minister retorted, "Lord Zhou's words are flattering. A Shi Lie is no ordinary man. However, General Gao is dead, General Xue has disappeared, and General Xun, while a valiant warrior, is wounded and elderly. It's time for him to retire. The garrison troops are not as skilled as A Shi Lie. Who should we send to support the frontier? Who should we choose as our military supervisor? Who should we choose as our military advisor?"
Everyone knows that when Ashlie goes to war he first kills the main general, the military supervisor and the military advisor, and then he massacres the city when there is no leader. He wins the war in this bloody and violent way. His reputation can stop children from crying at night, and it is not an exaggeration to call him a demon among men.
Who would dare to lead an army into a battle destined for death? Even if the generals were fearless, the military supervisors and military advisors were either eunuchs or civil officials. Which civil official would dare to take on this mess?
The old minister took a look at the secret letter, his eyes lit up, and he said:
"The letter says that Ashlie has heard of the astonishing abilities of the eldest son of the Zhang family in Xiaocang Valley and wishes to witness his prowess. So, why not let the eldest son of the Zhang family be the military advisor? Everyone has witnessed the eldest son's abilities daily, and he's more than qualified to be a military advisor. He will surely be able to plan meticulously, win battles thousands of miles away, and secure victory for the Great Zhou!"
As soon as these words were spoken, many eyes fell on the gentle and handsome figure in front of the steps.
The imperial study was silent for a moment, and people's hearts were in turmoil. The elders and officials from the six ministries who were discussing the matter turned their thoughts around. Except for those who were related to the Zhang family by marriage, the rest began to recommend.
"That makes perfect sense!"
"It is indeed the most suitable for Master Zhang to serve as the military's think tank and join the battle..."
“…”
Zhang Jingxuan raised his eyes slightly, and his calm and cold eyes swept over the crowd. All the court officials lowered their heads and did not look at him.
Although they had ulterior motives, they were telling the truth, leaving the Crown Prince with no rebuttal. However, he did not want to be led around by Ashlie, so he suppressed his anger and said:
"The events in Xiaocang Valley were clearly being conducted in secret. Commander Qin only arrived in Beijing a while ago after investigating the case. Ashlie's announcement only caused a stir in the borderlands; it's far from possible that it would have spread so quickly throughout the capital. This is a blatant conspiracy! Who leaked the title of the eldest son of the Zhang family?!"
Looking at the court officials around him who were vaguely expecting him to take on this difficult task, Zhang Jingxuan's gentle face gradually became colder.
He understood the whole thing in a flash, and a fierce look flashed in his eyes. He said slowly, "It's Xue Chang."
Xue Chang had taken action in the shadows, and the rumors that suddenly spread through the capital must have been spread by him. If he went to the frontier, even if he survived, the Crown Prince would be effectively severing an arm! By then, Prince Yu's comeback would be just around the corner!
But this is a difficult conspiracy. Xue Chang, who is known as a hero, is worthy of his tactics.
It turns out that Xue Chang had prepared a backup plan here. He must have been investigating him for a long time, but he just kept it in his hands and only took action today.
Prince Yu and his faction are forcing him to leave the capital and join the army to face Ashlie's butcher knife!
Zhang Jingxuan's face looked gentle, but his smile was gone, and a coldness suddenly appeared in his eyes.
-
The days in prison were very hard to endure. After lunch, Xue Yuanyin was carving the second pair of wings for the bamboo dragonfly.
Halfway through, the jailer said someone came to visit her. Xue Yuanyin thought it was Princess Ning Yan, because she was the only one who came to visit her without worrying about her identity these days.
Unexpectedly, the person who came was Liu Minyan.
He sat in the prison in a white robe, looking like an immortal who was not tainted by the mundane world. Xue Yuanyin didn't know what to say in this situation. After thinking for a moment, he asked:
"Are you here to say goodbye to me?"
"yes."
Liu Minyan's eyes were still gentle, but he had lost that familiar air. He said calmly, "My engagement with you is off. I intend to leave the capital and return to my hometown, Luoyang, to make a living. I'll be leaving tomorrow, and I'm specifically telling you this."
Xue Yuanyin was not surprised. She and Liu Minyan were tied together for the sake of profit. Now that the profit was gone, it was in line with his nature for him to withdraw in time.
Without the pressure of the upcoming engagement, Xue Yuanyin's attitude towards him actually improved. After all, he had come to visit her specially. With the intention of saying goodbye, she sincerely wished him well:
"I hope you have a bright future and can realize your ambitions and rise to prominence in Luoyang."
Liu Minyan wanted to leave after explaining everything, but after hearing these words, he became more interested and said:
"I've been using you so much, and now I'm abandoning you without hesitation, and you actually bless me?"
Xue Yuanyin didn't expect him to ask further questions, so she said whatever was on her mind: "Because I prefer your honesty now compared to your original appearance."
Liu Minyan looked at her, and suddenly smiled softly, lowering his voice and saying:
"That guy from the Zhang family doesn't seem to be very honest with you, right? Not only do you not hate him, you seem to..."
Xue Yuanyin's face turned cold and she interrupted him, "You don't have to say anymore! I don't want to hear it."
Liu Minyan paused sympathetically and said:
"You're actually quite nice, and a woman who easily attracts attention. If all goes well, I'd be willing to marry you. But for me, my future is more important than romantic relationships, so I don't plan to stay in the capital for long, and naturally, I can't continue my relationship with Miss Xue. Since we're not meant to be, let's say goodbye. I can't help you with your situation, so I wish you well in the future."
Xue Yuanyin had lost her patience for the conversation due to the momentary tension in the air, so she thanked him calmly. They said their goodbyes, and she watched him get up and leave.
-
Ever since Liu Minyan came, Xue Yuanyin's peaceful days came to an end.
Strange officials began to frequently come to the prison to interrogate her, and their attitude was quite aggressive. Xue Yuanyin vaguely guessed what information they wanted to pry out of her, so she naturally would not tell them, so all of them returned empty-handed.
After carving two pairs of wings for the bamboo dragonfly, Xue Yuanyin's hands were so cold that they were swollen. He didn't want to continue with the delicate work and threw them in the corner.
Without paper, she would use the cattails on the bed to make grasshoppers and mandarin ducks. In the end, she made several small mandarin ducks to kill time, and stood them in a row facing the wall to reflect on her mistakes.
Footsteps were heard again at the prison gate. Xue Yuanyin looked up and saw a strange jailer approaching. He had a cold expression and was holding what looked like torture instruments. He told the two jailers at the gate to open the door and let her through.
The jailer at the door did not let him go and asked, "Who sent you?"
The jailer holding the torture instruments grew impatient. A sullen face clung to the bars as he spoke, "Prince Yu suddenly disappeared just when the pursuit was about to succeed. He must have been rescued by Xue Chang. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was furious and ordered me to torture her to uncover Prince Yu's secret agents in the capital."
The two jailers at the door hesitated. The order from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was inconsistent with the instructions they had received. Logically, they should obey the Crown Prince, but this was not the Eastern Palace prison, but that person's private prison. What should they do?
Xue Yuanyin looked at this scene in some surprise. They actually had a conflict with each other.
Seeing that soft tactics didn't work, the jailer resorted to force. He took out a spare key and prepared to open the door and torture him.
Xue Yuanyin took a look at the bloody torture instruments, and the unhealed wounds on his body began to churn slightly. He lowered his eyes and said nothing.
The two jailers at the door did not dare to stop him, so the jailer broke in and picked up Xue Yuanyin.
She was in pain, and before she could speak, her hands were tied up in the nail torture device. The jailer asked her questions, but she said nothing. Finally, he lost his patience and said:
"Since you won't tell me, you have to endure this torture."
Xue Yuanyin was like a dead fish, without any strength to resist. He closed his eyes and prepared to endure the torture that was about to follow.
…
Zhang Jingxuan was left in the Imperial Study. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was extremely anxious because of the urgent news. He said:
"You think of a way. I don't want you to go with the army."
Zhang Jingxuan pondered for a few breaths before speaking to calm the prince down:
"Your Highness, please do not be anxious. This is merely a conspiracy by our adversaries. These are troubled times, and I cannot leave Your Highness's side."
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's brows relaxed and he was about to say something, but Zhang Jingxuan had already made up his mind to leave and found an excuse to leave the imperial study.
Zhang Jingxuan left the palace. The wind outside was getting colder. He put on his cloak and took a carriage straight to the door of the private prison. He entered with a torch and suddenly saw the jailer at the iron gate winking at him.
Zhang Jingxuan's expression changed slightly. He strode over and saw the torture device about to be put on. His brows knitted tightly and he shouted sternly:
"stop!"
The jailer paused, put away the torture instruments, saw who had arrived, walked out, closed the bars, and bowed.
"Mr. Zhang."
Zhang Jingxuan's eyes were filled with cold hostility: "Get lost!"
The jailer hesitated for a moment: "But His Highness said..."
Zhang Jingxuan suppressed his anger and said coldly, "I said, get out!"
The jailer was frightened and dared not say anything. He bowed hurriedly and turned away with the torture instruments.
After the prison was quiet, Zhang Jingxuan lit the oil lamp on the corridor pillar with a torch, put down the torch, opened the gate, and walked in slowly.
He looked at her, but she only raised her head in surprise when she saw him, and then calmed down, with a look of little interest, like a puppet.
They just stood there in silence for a moment.
Xue Yuanyin thanked him softly. Zhang Jingxuan didn't answer, but she didn't care and just looked at him.
Suddenly, I saw that he was wearing something on his thumb that I had never seen before. It was made of white jade, crystal clear and smooth, with fine patterns carved on the jade and light red lines flowing on it, like a ring.
What other power did he acquire after becoming the Crown Prince Regent? He could actually wear a ring that represented power in the court.
Xue Yuanyin suddenly asked, "Isn't Master Zhang the Crown Prince's most respected minister? Why don't you let the Crown Prince's men continue to torture him?"
Zhang Jingxuan pursed his lips, frowning slightly, a hint of annoyance and warning surfaced: "Xue Yuanyin."
Xue Yuanyin stared at him calmly, without saying a word. The atmosphere was so cold it felt almost frozen. After a while, Zhang Jingxuan finally gave in. He drove away the jailer and told the maid Ah Zhen to leave. Suddenly, only the two of them were left in the cell.
He sat down opposite her, feeling somewhat powerless, and said in a soft and slow voice, "Do you really want to die so badly?"
Xue Yuanyin felt inexplicably sad and ridiculous, and said:
"I want to die? Are you kidding me? Who doesn't want to live? But who can save me? Can you give up all your responsibilities and glory to intercede for me?"
Zhang Jingxuan's lips straightened slightly.
He hadn't come to see her these days, and she hadn't let the jailer outside pass on any message to him. After several days of stalemate, he was the one who came first because he lost his patience.
But with her attitude, how can anyone negotiate calmly?
Zhang Jingxuan suppressed the hidden anger in his chest, his calm eyes swirling with darkness as he said:
"I can lend you a helping hand. As long as you're willing to give in, I can do my best to get you out of prison safely."
Xue Yuanyin laughed softly at the words, a laugh that was somewhat self-deprecating. Zhang Jingxuan had been winning for too long. Did he think she was a fool? He actually said such naive words.
She said, "Zhang Jingxuan, why don't you be frank? Stop being so secretive and just tell me what you want to negotiate. You just said that. Do you think I'm easy to fool?"
Xue Yuanyin didn't believe that Zhang Jingxuan had taken her out without asking for anything in return. This didn't suit his nature. She waited for him to make his demands and turned around to sit back on the bed. Seeing her like this, Zhang Jingxuan thought she was refusing to communicate. Slightly annoyed, he stepped forward and grabbed her arm.
"What are you being stubborn about?!"
Xue Yuanyin was halfway towards the mat when she was pulled back. She stumbled and nearly fell. She felt baffled and felt a surge of resentment at being scolded. As she struggled, the chains rattled. "Why are you so angry? I just wanted to sit down and rest! You're so baffling!"
She tried to struggle with her backhand, but he held on tightly and refused to let go. Xue Yuanyin was a little annoyed and kicked him, trying to make him let go. However, they were too close to each other and Zhang Jingxuan could not dodge in time. He suddenly bent down and groaned in pain.
Xue Yuanyin's movements froze slightly. She seemed to have bent her knees and bumped into him... She was a little dumbfounded and didn't dare to move. She said:
"Are...are you okay?"
Zhang Jingxuan sat half-leaning against the wall with a pale face and did not answer.
Xue Yuanyin walked up to him and squatted down, feeling a little lost for a moment. She said awkwardly:
"I didn't mean to... I just thought you were holding me too tightly, so I accidentally..."
She carefully glanced at his spot, but couldn't see anything through his winter velvet robe, so she asked with a guilty conscience:
"Where did I kick you? Did I hurt you?"
Zhang Jingxuan took a long time to recover and glanced at her coldly: "What do you think?"
It seems that the kick was accurate... Xue Yuanyin felt a little guilty and was unsure of what to do. With a hint of temptation in his eyes, he said:
"Then... do you want to see a doctor? You're not useless, are you?"
Zhang Jingxuan stared at her with heavy eyes, and said with gritted teeth:
"Xue, Yuan, Yin!"
Seeing that he was about to get angry, Xue Yuanyin didn't dare to say anything. She thought to herself, maybe he kicked that yin pill...
It is said that a man would feel extreme pain when kicked there. The rumor was true. It actually made Zhang Jingxuan, who seemed to be calm and composed, change his expression suddenly.
After a while, he straightened up slightly, his expression softening slightly. Xue Yuanyin quickly restrained his expression and changed the subject:
"Go on, whatever you were about to say."
Back to business, the air became stagnant again.
Zhang Jingxuan suppressed his emotions and tried to speak calmly:
"Okay, since you insist on using this method of negotiation with me, then as you wish, I'll speak frankly."
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The author has something to say: Why are my male and female protagonists quarreling again? (x)
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