Chapter 102 The Last Time [A Special Mission Will Soon Be Issued to the Host]...
[The last time]
"Isn't this Lord Jiang a favorite of the Prime Minister? How come he's been arrested too?"
"Such is the state of affairs; one may enjoy glory for a time, but fall from grace for a time."
"Can he ever regain his former glory?"
"It was Lord Qin who arrested him, and it was the Prime Minister who protected him. Who can say for sure? It all depends on who's more powerful. We lowly underlings should just be careful and serve him well."
"Say less, everyone."
The warden walked over with a frown and chased away the guards who were huddled together, cautiously peeking at the innermost cell. He warned, "These are turbulent times. Watch your mouths. Keep your words to yourselves. Be careful what you say, or you'll get into trouble. No one can protect you then!"
The jailers scattered immediately, dodging the slaps thrown by the jailer, and left dejectedly. As they fled, they nearly knocked over a lame man who was walking unsteadily against the wall to deliver food.
With lightning speed, the warden caught the food box before it tipped over, watched the fleeing figure, and cursed the little brat under his breath. Then, his gaze swept over the cripple who kept his head down and looked timid, and without saying anything more, he waved him away.
In the dark and damp prison, the firelight was dim. The lame man, carrying a food box, limped slowly deeper into the prison.
The prison warden disappeared from the cell, and the cell door slammed shut with a bang.
The lame man's steps slowly came to a stop, and he turned his head slightly, revealing a pair of eyes looking back—
The wind picked up outside, and the night wind slipped in through the cracks, extinguishing several torches stuck in the wall. Only two or three torches remained, their flickering lights powerless in the deep darkness, able to illuminate only a small corner of the area.
The night watchman, who had just been woken up by the jailer, tilted his head and fell into a deep sleep again. The prison was extremely quiet, with only the sound of the night wind whistling outside.
The lame man walked quickly to the innermost cell and called out in a low voice, "Jiang Shiyan!"
Jiang Shiyan, who was lying on his side pretending to be asleep, suddenly stiffened when he heard the voice. He opened his eyes in disbelief, and the face that was pressed against the cell door immediately came into view—
"Why are you here!" Jiang Shiyan got up and walked over quickly. His eyes swept over the other end, and seeing that the guard on night watch was completely asleep, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Her gaze swept across the dimly lit cell, finally settling on Jiang Shiyan's face. Xue Rongyue said, "I was worried about you, so I came to check on you."
A complex expression flashed across Jiang Shiyan's face for a moment, then he comforted her, "I'm fine. I just had a bad day. They won't be able to control me for long."
Xue Rongyue brought out a bowl of fragrant plain noodles, several side dishes, and a steaming roasted chicken leg from the food box, and asked, "What exactly happened? Why were you suddenly arrested?"
Jiang Shiyan glanced at the steaming bowl of plain noodles and sneered, "They've finally revealed their true colors. They're scared and trying to trap me with some trivial matters. It's just a pity that I'll be released soon."
"That's good." Xue Rongyue seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, picked up the bowl of plain noodles and handed it to Jiang Shiyan, "Eat something. I also brought you a change of clothes and a dagger for self-defense."
After saying that, Xue Rongyue took out the dagger hidden in her sleeve and placed it at Jiang Shiyan's feet.
Jiang Shiyan looked away from the dagger, took the bowl of plain noodles, and smiled sincerely: "You still remember that I love eating the plain noodles from this place."
Xue Rongyue said, "You've told me this many times, so of course I remember."
“I’m so happy, I’m really happy.” Jiang Shiyan looked deeply at Xue Rongyue. “I’m so glad that you care about me. If I had known that being locked up in jail would be treated like this by you, I would have come here long ago.”
"Don't talk nonsense, eat it while it's hot, or it'll get cold."
As soon as Xue Rongyue finished speaking, Jiang Shiyan picked up the bowl of noodles and began to eat it heartily.
Xue Rongyue's gaze was deep as she watched him wolf down his food. Only after he had eaten half of the noodles did she pick up another pair of chopsticks and put a few appetizers into the bowl of noodles: "These appetizers are all your favorite sweet and sour flavors."
Seeing her so naturally serving him food, Jiang Shiyan's smile deepened, and he replied with a laugh, "Look at the dark circles under your eyes, haven't you been sleeping well these past few days?"
Xue Rongyue responded softly.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine." Jiang Shiyan reached out a hand and affectionately stroked Xue Rongyue's earlobe with his fingertips. "Are you worried that if something happens to me, I'll betray you? Don't worry, even if I'm really doomed this time, I will never let anything happen to you."
"good."
Seeing that Xue Rongyue no longer avoided his intimate gestures, Jiang Shiyan felt his heart instantly filled, and the blood running through his body was boiling. He breathed a sigh of relief and ate all the side dishes and noodles he had eaten.
Xue Rongyue chuckled softly and put the bowls and chopsticks away: "Then I'll be going now."
As she spoke, she slowly stood up, her almond-shaped eyes lowered, and she stared at him intently for a moment.
Although Jiang Shiyan was reluctant, he knew that this place was a prison and no matter how Xue Rongyue sneaked in, it was not safe here, so he could only nod.
After putting on her felt hat and covering most of her face with her tattered clothes, Xue Rongyue limped away, carrying the food box.
Jiang Shiyan watched her departing figure with bated breath. He saw Xue Rongyue stop abruptly after taking only a couple of steps. She slowly turned to the side and looked directly at him.
Those almond-shaped eyes were like a lake whose depth was unknown.
For some reason, Jiang Shiyan's heart suddenly skipped a beat, but he forced himself to remain calm and asked, "What's wrong?"
Xue Rongyue curled her lips and smiled gently. Although the smile was fleeting, her eyes were somewhat strange, as if she were looking at someone else through him.
In the end, she said nothing and slowly walked away.
Night had fallen, and even the stars and moon had vanished, leaving only the deep, heavy darkness that silently enveloped Chang'an. The ever-flowing night wind extinguished the last torch, and the long, narrow passageway was so dark that it seemed to stretch on forever.
Xue Rongyue's figure disappeared inch by inch in the light, gradually swallowed by the darkness. She groped her way forward in the dimness, her steps heavy, and she walked very slowly.
Xue Rongyue walked quietly through the dimly lit passageway with her head down when suddenly a beam of light appeared before her eyes. Immediately afterward, a hoarse, almost mute voice rang out: "Xue Rongyue."
Xue Rongyue's body stiffened instantly.
She slowly raised her head, and Qin Jin stood not far in front of her, his shoulders covered in frost, his hands clenched tightly at his sides, and his eyes flashing with undisguised and uncontrollable heartache, helplessness and...despair.
Like a prisoner sentenced to a crime, about to face the execution he has been trying to avoid.
Aside from that initial moment of stiffness, Xue Rongyue's expression remained calm, almost eerily calm, as if she had known all along that this moment would come.
She even smiled at Qin Jin with a sense of relief, wanting to say something but swallowing it back, finally only saying, "It's windy tonight, why didn't you put on more clothes?"
Suddenly, a "pfft" sound of spitting blood came from deep within the cell, followed by the sound of painful struggle. Ji Dian, who was standing behind Qin Jin glaring angrily at Xue Rongyue, changed his expression and rushed over.
"Why?" The veins on the back of his hand bulged, every inch of Qin Jin's skin was taut, and his voice trembled uncontrollably.
Xue Rongyue smiled helplessly: "There's no reason why. I can only say that I don't regret it."
"No regrets? Do you know what you're doing? Do you know what the consequences of doing this will be?!" Qin Jin roared, his anger bursting forth at that moment.
Xue Rongyue looked calmly at Qin Jin, her gaze lingering on his face, carefully tracing every inch of his features, and replied, "I know."
She knew, of course, that this was a deadly trap she had carefully prepared for herself.
It was also the path to survival that she painstakingly built for herself.
"...You know, you know?" Qin Jin gritted his teeth, his surging, humble resentment temporarily suppressing his anger.
His usually upright figure suddenly curled up for a moment, as if crushed by a thousand pounds. He pressed one hand hard against his chest, which was throbbing with pain, as if this could suppress all the pain and emotions.
Qin Jin looked at Xue Rongyue, his eyes gradually reddening: "Xue Rongyue, have you really... never cared about me at all?"
The poison had begun to take effect, and black blood was flowing from Jiang Shiyan's mouth and nose. Ji Dian, who had rushed over, was shocked and quickly helped Jiang Shiyan to his feet and called for a doctor.
The prison was in complete chaos.
Having avenged her great grudge, an overwhelming wave of sorrow washed over her. Xue Rongyue's pale lips trembled slightly. She lowered her eyes in despair, repeatedly telling herself that there was no turning back now.
Finally, she said, "I will take responsibility for my own actions. The evil I have committed will never implicate you..."
"You know that's not what I'm talking about!" Qin Jin roared, his eyes bloodshot, asking each word slowly and deliberately, "You're courting death, what am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to do! Tell me!"
Her eyelashes trembled uncontrollably. Xue Rongyue gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, and suppressed the surging tears: "General, you are young and promising, with a bright future ahead of you. You should naturally enjoy peace and happiness every year and be remembered for eternity."
"...Peace and safety every year? What a wonderful phrase, 'peace and safety every year'..." A strong metallic taste of blood welled up in Qin Jin's throat, and he involuntarily took a step back.
Just then, Ji Dian, supporting Jiang Shiyan who was vomiting black blood, quickly walked over. The doctor followed closely behind and took the man from Ji Dian's arms. Ji Dian glared angrily at Xue Rongyue: "What poison did you give him? Where is the antidote?!"
Xue Rongyue's gaze fell on the dying Jiang Shiyan, watching his painful struggle as he faced death: "There is no antidote."
"You...you actually...wanted to kill me! This is...the Poison of the Entanglement, you couldn't possibly have it, who...who sent you here! Who!..."
Jiang Shiyan's face was deathly pale, and black blood kept oozing out. He looked at Xue Rongyue with despair and resentment in his eyes. The hatred of being betrayed kept churning in his heart, more painful than poison that broke his heart. He gripped the ground with his fingertips and held on to his last breath.
—A lingering concern about poison.
Secret poison of the palace.
Upon hearing this, Ji Dian's expression changed drastically, and he looked at Xue Rongyue with surprise and uncertainty.
Xue Rongyue was also surprised that Jiang Shiyan could guess the name of the poison, and her eyes narrowed slightly.
“...I...I know, you, you actually betrayed me and...joined forces with him...Damn it, damn it, I trusted you so much..." Another mouthful of blood gushed out, Jiang Shiyan's face grew paler and paler, and his eyes gradually became unfocused.
The poison of the Entanglement Poison is extremely potent and can be very deadly when it takes effect, taking a person's life in just a few breaths. Moreover, the antidote is extremely difficult to prepare.
Ji Dian knew perfectly well that Jiang Shiyan was beyond saving, so he grabbed Jiang Shiyan's collar and asked urgently, "Who is he? Who did Xue Rongyue spar with? Tell me quickly!"
Black blood gushed from his mouth again, as if his internal organs had been churned apart. Jiang Shiyan smiled at Xue Rongyue, a smile tinged with resentment, anger, pain, and sorrow. Under Ji Dian's relentless questioning, he slowly opened his mouth—
Xue Rongyue's pupils contracted sharply, and her body trembled violently.
She absolutely must not let Jiang Shiyan utter that name, otherwise all her plans will be in vain!
She suddenly drew the dagger hidden at her waist and rushed towards Jiang Shiyan without regard for anything else!
"You dare!"
Ji Dian, who had been wary of Xue Rongyue, immediately slapped away the dagger that Xue Rongyue was thrusting at him, then flipped over and pinned her to the ground.
Xue Rongyue stared wide-eyed, almost panicked, as Jiang Shiyan opened and closed his mouth, uttering two words in quick succession—
"I don't......"
At the same moment, a whooshing sound suddenly rang out.
With a faint sound of swords piercing flesh, Jiang Shiyan's body twitched twice, his eyes widened, and he stopped breathing.
The deathly silence lasted for a moment.
"Qin Jin! Are you crazy?!"
Ji Dian snapped out of her shock and looked at Qin Jin in disbelief.
Her rapidly beating heart seemed to finally settle down, or perhaps it had completely stopped beating. Xue Rongyue stared blankly at him.
The short moment felt like an eternity.
The faint firelight illuminated Qin Jin's cold and aloof features, but instead of bringing warmth, it made him appear even colder. All his emotions seemed to be suppressed by an even more clamorous and terrifying force. Qin Jin expressionlessly pulled the long sword that had pierced Jiang Shiyan's heart out and sheathed it.
"...Do you even know what you're doing?!" Ji Dian rushed forward, grabbing Qin Jin's collar tightly, his anger rising.
"I know."
Qin Jin told him, "I will bear all the consequences myself."
"you!"
Ji Dian clenched his fists, wishing he could smash them. He was so angry that he paced back and forth, but he had no choice but to quickly carry Jiang Shiyan's body out and figure out how to handle the aftermath.
Only Xue Rongyue and Qin Jin remained in the prison. A strong gust of wind rushed in, and the sweat that had just appeared turned into a bone-chilling cold.
Qin Jin's gaze fell on Xue Rongyue, as if he were looking at her, yet not quite.
All the memories of the past surged up at this moment, like the clouds drifting over distant mountains, seemingly close at hand but actually unattainable.
For a moment, Qin Jin even doubted whether those things had actually existed or were just his imagination.
"You...you don't have to do this..." Xue Rongyue sat on the ground, muttering silently.
Qin Jin suppressed all his emotions, his imposing figure looming over her, his deep-set eyes appearing even more stern in the flickering firelight.
He looked down at Xue Rongyue: "The last time."
Her gliding fingertips suddenly froze as a familiar system voice rang out, interrupting Xue Rongyue's unfinished reading of the original novel's plot—
[A specific event has been detected. A special task will be issued to the host shortly.]
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Author's note: Sorry I'm late, goodnight everyone~
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