Meanwhile, in the prison cell, Nian Gengyao sat cross-legged on a straw mat. Although he was a general, he had spent years fighting and sleeping outdoors, often camping on the frontier. So even sitting on the straw mat, he didn't complain, but still maintained the arrogant and haughty demeanor of a great general. He treated the prison guards with indifference.
The jailer knew his identity and turned a blind eye to whatever he did, not wanting to offend someone he couldn't afford to mess with.
Nian Gengyao always felt that he was the emperor's benefactor. He had supported the emperor back then, and without his tireless efforts fighting battles, the emperor wouldn't be enjoying his peaceful life of luxury and pleasure. The country's fate was inextricably linked to the emperor's; half the throne belonged to him, and half to Nian Gengyao! Besides, his sister was still in the palace; the emperor would surely take care of her.
He always believed that the emperor was just imprisoning him for a few days to show the civil and military officials, and that he would be released in a few days.
During the days Nian Gengyao was imprisoned, no one dared to speak to him. Some people were terrified of the emperor, fearing they would be implicated and accused of colluding with him. His daily meals were not the meager porridge and side dishes that ordinary prisoners received. After all, he had contributed to the country, and he was provided with a full range of dishes, including fish, meat, and wine.
Nian Gengyao, however, felt that the emperor was still mindful of his past contributions and was merely trying to intimidate him, showing no remorse whatsoever.
That day, the servant who delivered the wine and food chatted with the other jailers at the prison gate, saying, "Have you heard? The Emperor is going to promote Consort Nian to Imperial Noble Consort."
"Really!" another jailer asked loudly, raising his wine cup. "Didn't they say that Consort Nian was seriously ill, and even the Imperial Hospital was helpless? How come she's better?"
Upon hearing about his younger sister, Nian Gengyao immediately stood up and ran to the door to listen carefully.
The jailer denied it, saying, "No, Consort Nian, no! She should be Imperial Noble Consort, is still unconscious. The so-called conferment ceremony was just for show."
"If you say that, won't a lot of people come to laugh at this Imperial Noble Consort?" The jailer laughed loudly, but was pulled back by an older jailer next to him.
"Shh! Keep your voice down. Don't be like Wang Liqun. We still have Nian Gengyao locked up here! If you talk about his sister in front of him, he'll kill you when he gets out."
The man realized he had said the wrong thing and quickly shut his mouth.
Nian Gengyao didn't hear the jailer's mockery of Lady Nian; he only stopped listening when he heard that the emperor had bestowed the title of Imperial Noble Consort upon his sister.
Nian Gengyao was overjoyed, knowing he could leave soon. He just had to wait for the Emperor's anger to subside. He thought, "I, Nian Gengyao, have spent half my life fighting on the battlefield. The people in the army are all loyal to me. My sister is a favored concubine, and now she's an Imperial Noble Consort, holding a position equivalent to a vice-Empress. What can the Emperor do to me? He'll still have to release me."
He pounded on the wooden door of the cell and shouted, "Jailer! Jailer! Come here to me, General!"
The jailer thought he had overheard what he had just said. Thinking about the stories of Nian Gengyao that he had heard before, his legs began to tremble, and he sobered up halfway from the alcohol. He looked around at the people with pleading eyes.
The other prison guards didn't dare to move either, fearing that Nian Gengyao would vent his anger on them.
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