Chapter 36

Lin Nanjie walked into the cell, approached He Lanyou, and looked at his face carefully.

Then my eyes lit up.

Probably because he is half Han Chinese, He Lanyou's appearance combines the wildness of the grassland nomads and the elegance of the Han people. His face is delicate, but also has an aggressiveness that cannot be ignored. Especially his deep eyes, which are even more wild and hard to hide, staring at Lin Nanjie fiercely and warily.

Lin Nanjie thought to himself, really, I don’t understand that people younger than me are in trouble.

"Bah!" He Lanyou snorted fiercely.

He had heard in Tatar that the most evil people in Daqi, besides the Imperial Guard, were the eunuchs, and what was even more evil was that the two were in cahoots with each other, just like the current situation. The Imperial Guard killed many people, and the eunuchs were not only good at whispering in the emperor's ear, but also controlled the government, persecuted loyal officials, and even worse, molested men and women.

Therefore, He Lanyou has no good feelings towards Lin Nanjie at all.

Lin Nanjie quickly dodged back and avoided He Lanyou's attack.

"Empress!" He Lanyou cursed.

With a "snap" sound, the whip fell again, and Liao Baifan said coldly: "Behave yourself!"

The bloodstains on her body spread again, but He Lanyou seemed to feel nothing.

Lin Nanjie was not very angry. He imitated Li Chenghuan's attitude, raised his chin, and glanced at him: "He is quite handsome."

He Lanyou was horrified: "What are you going to do to me!"

Lin Nanqi rolled his eyes rudely: "Did you replace your face with your brain? No wonder you are not popular with girls."

He Lanyou could tell that Lin Nanjie was scolding him, and his face immediately turned red: "Bullshit! Are you scolding me for being stupid?"

Lin Nanqi blinked and spread his hands: "I heard that you were captured this time because you were betrayed by your own people. It would be fine if you were captured, but you also caused Miss Shen's uncle to be captured and face the risk of being beheaded. Do you think you are doing this to Miss Shen?"

He Lanyou choked and turned his head away fiercely: "It wasn't me who did it."

Lin Nanjie's eyes widened: "Wow, you are so heartless! Miss Shen saved your life at the border, but you actually watched her die without helping her!"

He Lanyou said disdainfully: "I am a Tatar, and I cannot coexist with you Daqi."

Lin Nan thought for a moment and said, "But your mother is from Daqi, right?"

He Lanyou was startled, then glared at Lin Nanqi even more fiercely: "How do you know?"

Lin Nanjie said slowly: "You look different from the rough and violent Tatars. Tatars love to eat meat and don't like to take baths. They also share wives with fathers, sons and brothers. Are you the same?"

He Lanyou frowned deeply, and her eyes were filled with disgust when she thought about what her mother had almost gone through.

Seeing that He Lanyou didn't say anything, Lin Nanqi said, "I heard that your mother was abducted by the Tatars. She was a beautiful woman with a tragic fate. Are you willing to watch her die with hatred in her heart?"

Lin Nanqi paced back and forth, muttering, "First I watched your mother die of depression, and then watched Miss Shen's family suffer. It would be better to give you a quick death."

"You are so cold-blooded. I'm sure Miss Shen won't come to see you when you are executed."

"Forget it. There's nothing to say to someone like you."

After Lin Nanqi finished speaking, he turned around and walked out.

He Lanyou lowered his head, thinking of his mother who died with hatred, and Shen Liuzheng's sorrowful look when she saved him, his eyes moistened: "Wait... wait!"

Lin Nanjie stopped walking modestly and turned to look at him: "Do you have any more last words to say?"

He Lanyou gritted her teeth and said, "I will only tell her!"

Lin Nanjie acted like a hypocritical eunuch: "Okay, I'll pass on the message, but I can't decide whether Miss Shen is willing to come or not."

"But," Lin Nanqie chuckled, "If you're willing to beg me, I'll talk to Miss Shen."

He Lanyou was so angry that he bit his bloody lower lip fiercely and whispered, "Please."

Lin Nanqi smiled brightly: "Okay then."

After Lin Nanqi was released from prison, he went straight to the Beichang Palace.

The Beichang Palace had been vacant for three years. Although the people had returned, it was still deserted and gloomy. The fact that the Beichang Prince was imprisoned as soon as he returned to the court was a great blow to the Beichang Palace.

Lin Nanqi explained his purpose to the palace servant. The servant looked at him angrily but dared not say anything, then went in to report.

After a while, Princess Beichang and Shen Liuzheng came out to greet them.

Princess Beichang looked unhappy. She glanced at Lin Nanjie and said in a neutral tone, "I wonder what the eunuch is talking about?"

Shen Liuzheng, on the other hand, saw that Lin Nanqi was more enthusiastic: "Eunuch Lin is here, but does the Emperor have something to say?"

Lin Nanqie's face was calm: "Miss Shen guessed correctly. The emperor knew that the princess must be worried about the prince, so he specially ordered me to tell the princess that the prince is in good condition and the princess does not need to worry."

Princess Beichang's expression finally relaxed, and she softened her tone and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. It is worth my care for you."

Lin Nanqi lowered his voice and said, "The Emperor is concerned about the Prince and Princess, and specifically asked me to visit them in the prison. The Prince is fine, and Princess can rest assured."

Princess Beichang nodded, her eyes slightly moist: "That's good."

Shen Liuzheng supported Princess Beichang and said happily, "Really?"

Lin Nanjie nodded sincerely.

Shen Liuzheng comforted Princess Beichang for a while, then said to Lin Nanqi, "Thank you for coming here, Eunuch Lin. Aunt, let's go in and talk."

Lin Nanjie followed Shen Liuzheng into the Beichang Palace. The Beichang Palace was the residence of Yu Ci in the past. It was originally spacious and magnificent, with carved beams and painted pillars, and it was extraordinary. However, after being vacant for three years, many places were covered with dust. Now that the prince was in prison, the Princess of Beichang had no time to take care of the palace, which looked even more desolate.

Lin Nanqi sighed quietly.

As soon as he arrived at the flower hall, Lin Nanjie heard the sound of scolding coming from inside: "My father had made great contributions to the country of Daqi in the past. Why do those civil servants say that it is the truth? I think they are just jealous of my father's great achievements and can't stand seeing him do well!"

"That's right. We suffered so much at the border, and our father was arrested because of a few letters whose authenticity was unclear? I don't accept it! I want to argue with the emperor!" said another one indignantly.

Princess Beichang's face changed, and she said to Lin Nanqi in a coy tone, "Don't blame me, Eunuch Lin. These are my two unpromising sons. They heard that their father was in trouble, so they got a little impatient."

Lin Nanqi responded with a flawless smile: "Don't be nervous, Princess. The two young masters are also very filial."

Princess Beichang hurried into the flower hall and said to the two men who were shouting, "Shut up, both of you! The emperor cannot talk so freely!"

The prince Yao Zhenan was not convinced: "Mom, don't hold me back! I'm going to go talk to the emperor and make things clear!"

The second son, Yao Shaoan, also said: "I will go with my eldest brother!"

Princess Beichang shouted coldly, interrupting the two people's conversation: "Shut up, everyone! Hurry up and meet the eunuch from the palace!"

The Yao Zhenan brothers then discovered that there was a person standing behind Princess Beichang. That person was slender and tall, wearing a green eunuch's uniform. It was the person who came from the palace.

The two of them then reluctantly said, "Hello, sir. May I ask what brings you to your house?"

Princess Beichang said angrily: "Eunuch came to inform the mansion with good intentions. Your father was not injured in the imperial prison. You two are so old, but you are so impatient when encountering things. You should know that the emperor is thinking about the Yao family after all!"

Only then did Yao Zhenan shut up, snorted coldly at Lin Nanjie, and turned away.

Although Yao Shaoan was a calmer person, he was still hiding his anger on his face.

At this time, a young man in fine clothes beside the two brothers came out. He first bowed to Lin Nanjie and said apologetically, "Don't blame me, sir. It's just that my elder and second brothers have been emotionally unstable recently because of my father's matter. We dare not show any disrespect to the emperor. We hope that you will forgive us."

This man had a very deep and pleasant voice and his words were flawless.

Lin Nanjie looked at him curiously. He was handsome, with straight eyebrows and extraordinary demeanor. He was wearing a dark blue brocade dress, which outlined his slender and powerful figure. His deep peach blossom eyes were passionate and a little cold, which could easily attract people's attention.

Lin Nan said: "You're welcome. Who is this person?"

Princess Beichang was about to introduce him, but Shen Liuzheng spoke first: "This is my third cousin Yao Ju'an."

Lin Nanjie looked at Yao Ju'an steadily. It was the stock with the highest popularity, for sure, but this stock was a love-affair stock.

"Eunuch Lin?" Yao Ju'an felt a little uncomfortable when he saw the eunuch in front of him staring at him, so he reminded him.

Lin Nanjie came back to his senses and said with a smile: "The Third Young Master is indeed a handsome man with extraordinary bearing."

Yao Ju'an did not show any flattery or surprise on his face. Instead, he said calmly, "Thank you for the compliment, eunuch."

Shen Liuzheng was delighted to see that Yao Ju'an was not surprised by the insult.

Lin Nanqi smacked it.

Don't be surprised by insults.

Deeply scheming.

Seeing Yao Ju'an's calm and composed manner, Yao Zhen'an snorted coldly: "Father has been imprisoned, and you are not in a hurry at all!"

Yao Ju'an said in a gentle tone, "Your Majesty cares about the Yao family. Father will definitely return safely."

Yao Zhenan was angry: "Father is so kind to you, why do you treat him so nonchalantly?"

Yao Ju'an's handsome face was silent. "I have contacted my friends in the capital and written a letter to plead for my father. I hope the emperor will be lenient in view of my father's great contributions. Now, I have to visit several ministers who are close to me, hoping to gain more opportunities."

Only then did Yao Zhenan snort coldly.

Shen Liuzheng said, "Brother, please don't blame Third Brother. Third Brother has been running around these days and has lost weight. I will go and ask the Emperor for mercy."

Yao Zhenan said nothing more.

Lin Nanjie said, "Miss Shen, can I have a word with you for a moment?"

Shen Liuzheng nodded.

The two of them walked outside the flower hall, and Lin Nanqi said to Shen Liuzheng, "Miss Shen, do you know the fourth prince of Tatar?"

Shen Liuzheng was startled. "Yes, he is familiar with me. This time, he was captured by my uncle and brought back to the capital. He should be imprisoned in the imperial prison. Has Eunuch Lin seen him?"

Lin Nanjie nodded: "Although he is not favored in the Tatar court, he should know something about the inside story. The Jinyiwei has not asked him yet. If there is anyone he is willing to tell, it must be Miss Shen."

Shen Liuzheng lowered his eyes and thought for a while: "I am willing to go see him."

The two returned to the prison, and Si Nanhao joked, "Well done, Eunuch Lin, you left not long ago and you came back with a girl."

Lin Nan gave him an elbow and said, "Stop talking nonsense."

Si Nanhao led the two of them lazily back to the place where He Lanyou was imprisoned. He Lanyou didn't expect that Lin Nanqi really brought Shen Liuzheng here.

Lin Nan said: "Now you can speak."

He Lanyou pursed her lips and said, "I'm only telling Liu Zheng this."

Lin Nanjie nodded to Shen Liuzheng and retreated with Si Nanhao.

Unable to hear what was going on inside, Si Nanhao ate a piece of beef jerky in boredom and said, "Hey, tell me, why did the task of imprisoning Prince Beichang fall to us, the Jinyi Guards?"

"You don't know. My father was furious when he came home yesterday. He felt that the emperor didn't trust the Ministry of Justice. He didn't even let the Ministry handle such a major matter. What else could he say? The worst place to go would be the Dali Temple. It was a good opportunity for us, the Jinyiwei."

"He asked all sorts of questions, fearing that the Prince of Beichang had lost his life in the imperial prison."

"This is not the Yanluo Palace."

Lin Nanjie thought of He Lanyou's miserable condition and looked at Si Nanhao silently: "Are you sure?"

"Who put me in a noose around my neck the first time we met?"

Si Nanhao smiled awkwardly and cleared his throat: "Well, we are all working for the emperor. The emperor's orders are the most important. The emperor's orders are the most important."

"By the way, you still owe me a meal from last time. I'm going to take you to a nice place today." Si Nanhao winked at Lin Nanjie.

Lin Nanqi became excited when he mentioned food: "Okay!"