Chapter 58 The Return of the Hostage
Although Shen Jin managed to gloss over the little incident at the Qixi Lantern Festival with the excuse of a "big fish," the half-dead assassin captured that night acted as a fuse, accelerating the changes in the situation in the capital.
Although the assassin was stubborn, he couldn't withstand the 108 different methods employed in the Regent's Palace dungeon. His final confession, while not directly pointing to Northern Yan, further strained the already delicate relationship between the two nations.
In order to avoid escalating the situation, or rather, to go back and reorganize their troops for a comeback, the Northern Yan delegation decided to return home ahead of schedule.
Xiao Yi, who had served as a hostage for five years and had little presence in the country, was also granted special permission to return home with the delegation.
The ten-mile-long pavilion in the capital city is swept by a bleak autumn wind.
This was a farewell without much sorrow or parting emotion.
The busy officials of the Ministry of Rites wore professional, fake smiles, secretly hoping these plague-like figures would leave as soon as possible. The envoys from Northern Yan, on the other hand, had menacing faces and eyes filled with resentment.
As the regent, Shen Jin naturally had to make a final show of force.
He was clad in black iron armor, covered by a black cloak, and rode a warhorse named "Snow Treader." His posture was as sturdy as a pine tree, and his face was cold and stern. Behind him stood three thousand elite black-armored cavalrymen, their murderous aura soaring to the heavens.
This is telling the people of Northern Yan: You can leave if you want, but don't look back. If you do, we'll break your legs.
Jiang Mianmian sat in the carriage behind Shen Jin, lifted a corner of the curtain, and peeked out.
[Tsk tsk, what a show. Shen Jin's acting is pretty good. I'd give him 101 out of 100, one extra point to let him get arrogant.]
[Is Xiao Yi leaving too? Good thing he's gone; no one will be after my "divine doctor" persona anymore. I haven't cashed in on that ranch deed yet; I hope he doesn't renege on his promise when he gets back.]
Just then, a chestnut horse slowly emerged from the Northern Yan's ranks.
The one sitting on the horse was none other than Xiao Yi.
After several days of rest, although his leg was not yet fully healed, his complexion had improved considerably. He changed back into the clothing of Northern Yan, a dark green robe embroidered with wolf head totems, his long hair braided, and a large gold ring hanging by his ear, exuding an exotic and wild charm.
He didn't look at Shen Jin, but instead fixed his gaze directly on the carriage where Jiang Mianmian was.
"The Regent".
Xiao Yi reined in Shen Jin's horse ten paces ahead, his voice not loud, but carrying a chilling penetrating force, "Years will pass, and the journey will be long. In these five years of hard work, I, Xiao, have received a lot of 'care.' In the future... I will surely repay you handsomely."
Shen Jin stared at him coldly, not even bothering to lift his eyelids:
"I will be waiting."
Four simple words, yet exuding domineering power.
Xiao Yi smiled, a hint of madness flashing in his eyes. He suddenly dismounted, ignoring his leg injury, and limped to Jiang Mianmian's carriage.
"What are you trying to do?!"
Shadow One immediately led his men to stop them, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
"take it easy."
Xiao Yi raised his hands to indicate that he had no weapons. "I just want to say goodbye to an old friend."
He spoke softly to the person inside the carriage through the curtain:
"Sister, I'm leaving."
Jiang Mianmian inside the car: [...]
[Sister? Who's your sister? Don't try to claim kinship with me! Shen Jin is still here, are you trying to get me killed?]
"You saved my life, and I have no way to repay you."
Xiao Yi took out an object from his pocket. It was a whistle made from the fangs of an unknown beast. It was pure white and covered with intricate and strange patterns, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.
"This is the 'Wolf King's Whistle'."
Xiao Yi stared at the carriage curtain, as if he could see the person inside through the fabric. "It is the supreme symbol of our Northern Yan royal family. Seeing the sentry is like seeing the wolf king. It can command the pack of wolves, and also... mobilize all the secret agents I left in Daqian."
Those around gasped in shock.
Commanding the wolves? Mobilizing the hidden agents?
This thing is priceless! You could even say it's a life-saving trump card!
"This is for you."
Xiao Yi offered it with both hands, his eyes burning with passion, "As long as you play it, no matter where I am, I will rush to your side. I will go through fire and water for you."
These words were spoken with deep emotion, deeply moving and touching.
If it were a lovestruck young girl, she would probably have been moved to tears long ago.
But Jiang Mianmian is a pragmatist.
When she heard the words "command the pack of wolves" and "mobilize the hidden agents" in the car, her eyes instantly turned into searchlights.
Holy crap! That's awesome!
[How much would this thing be worth if auctioned off? Or if I own a hot pot restaurant and someone causes trouble, I could just whistle and summon a bunch of wolves to keep things quiet—wouldn't that be cool?]
[How about... I accept it? Why not take it if it's free!]
Jiang Mianmian's hands were itching to lift the curtain and take the priceless "whistle".
Sudden--
"Smack!"
A large hand wearing a black wristband suddenly appeared and intercepted the Wolf King's whistle in mid-air.
It is cautious and prudent.
He dismounted at some point and stood in front of the carriage, like an insurmountable mountain, blocking Xiao Yi's sticky gaze.
Shen Jin pinched the pale white bone whistle between two fingers, his eyes filled with disgust as if he were squeezing a dead fly.
"Wolf King's Whistle?"
Shen Jin sneered, his voice filled with disdain, "Things made from dead people's bones are too yin. The princess is weak and cannot bear such filth."
Xiao Yi's expression changed: "Shen Jin! This is my heartfelt gift! You have no right to..."
"Thoughts?"
Shen Jin interrupted him, his fingers tightening slightly.
"Crack—"
A crisp cracking sound rang out.
The incredibly hard wolf-tooth whistle, which represented the supreme power of the Northern Yan royal family, was actually shattered into powder like a biscuit under Shen Jin's fingertips.
White bone powder flowed down through Chen Jin's fingers and drifted away in the wind.
The entire room fell silent.
The Northern Yan envoys' eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. That was the Wolf King's Whistle! As hard as iron! And just like that... it was crushed?
Xiao Yi's face instantly turned ashen, his eyes blazing with murderous intent: "Chen Jin! You—!"
"how?"
Shen Jin patted the bone powder off his hands and looked at him casually, "Don't want to leave? Then I don't mind sending you to the underworld to reunite with the owner of these bones."
threaten.
A blatant threat.
Xiao Yi stared intently at Shen Jin, his chest heaving violently. He knew that he was no match for Shen Jin at the moment.
"Good...very good."
Xiao Yi took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart. He glanced at the carriage, a hint of obsessive possessiveness flashing in his eyes.
“Chen Jin, you can protect her for a while, but not forever.”
"One day, I will take her back. Along with this vast empire."
After saying that, he turned around, mounted his horse, spurred it on, and galloped off to the north without looking back.
"Walk!"
The Northern Yan delegation followed sheepishly, fearing that Shen Jin might change his mind and wipe them all out.
Amidst the swirling dust, Chen Jin stood still, watching the group disappear into the distance.
He turned around and lifted the carriage curtain.
Jiang Mianmian was looking at the pile of white powder on the ground with a pained expression, as if she were looking at a pile of burned banknotes.
【Ahhh! My Wolf King Whistle! My life-saving charm! My prized possession!】
[Shen Jin, you spendthrift! Why did you crush it? If you didn't like it, you could have sold it! Crushing it meant losing tens of thousands of taels of silver!]
What a waste! Absolutely a waste!
Looking at her "heartbroken" expression, Shen Jin's lingering jealousy instantly turned into laughter.
"What? Feeling sorry for him?"
Shen Jin said coolly, "That belongs to another man. You want it that badly?"
Jiang Mianmian was startled, and her survival instinct instantly kicked in.
Oh dear, I forgot this guy is a jealous person.
She immediately put on a disgusted expression: "Who wants it? I think that thing is disgusting! Dead human bones, just hearing about it makes me shudder! Your Highness sculpted it well! Exquisitely! Absolutely fantastic!"
"snort."
Shen Jin snorted, got into the carriage, and sat down beside her. "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. Sell it for money? Don't even think about it."
"From now on, you are not allowed to accept anything from any other man other than what I give you, not even a blade of grass."
"If I were to discover that you are hiding..."
He leaned closer to her, his tone dangerous, "I will have Yingyi empty your little treasury and confiscate it."
Jiang Mianmian instantly clutched her chest: [Robbers! Bandits! Hegemonism!]
"Did you hear that?" Shen Jin pinched her chin.
"I heard you, I heard you!" Jiang Mianmian pecked at the rice like a chick. "Your Highness, rest assured, I only have money in my eyes... oh no, only Your Highness!"
He calmly and with satisfaction released his hand.
"Return to the residence."
The carriage slowly started moving.
Chen Jin leaned back on the soft cushion, closing his eyes to rest.
Although he had crushed the obstructive whistle, the sense of crisis in his heart had not completely disappeared. Xiao Yi's gaze before leaving was full of ambition and predation.
It was a wolf that had not yet grown up.
If he were allowed to return to the grasslands, he would surely become a major threat in time.
but……
Shen Jin opened his eyes and glanced at the woman beside him who was secretly taking out a piece of Sachima from her sleeve and gnawing on it.
As long as she's by his side, even if a pack of wolves comes, he can pull out their teeth one by one.
Trying to steal someone?
Unless you step over his corpse.
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