Pei Wenjin
Xiao Diting was taken to the innermost cell of the prison and bound three times, inside and out.
The dim light from the brazier outside shone faintly into the dark cell, and the sound of dripping water filled the air. Xiao Diting sat arrogantly on the only torture chair in the cell, his back against a row of sharp spikes, staring intently at Pei Wenjin.
Pei Wenjin stayed alone in the room, leaving the other Imperial Guards to stand guard outside. He casually fiddled with the horrifying instruments of torture on the wall, causing them to clang and clatter randomly. Apparently, none of them were to his liking, and he stared at them for quite a while.
Xiao Diting knew that this person was trying to test her patience.
"Lord Pei, there's no need to waste time with me here. Just speak your mind." Xiao Diting's decision to take the initiative at this moment was actually a bit too aggressive.
She wasn't sure what Pei Wenjin was planning, so she adopted an offensive strategy to force him to talk. As long as he spoke, she could get useful information. Besides, Xiao Diting was certain that Pei Wenjin couldn't do anything to her.
After all, if he really wanted to capture her, he could have taken her down yesterday. Given Lord Pei's personality, it's quite unusual that he waited until today to invite her for "tea".
Pei Wenjin took a steel needle, about the thickness of a finger and nearly as long as his forearm, from the wall. He pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and slowly wiped the needle from its tip, his eyes flickering slightly. He didn't ask a question, but answered nonetheless.
"Does Your Highness know what this is?"
Pei Wenjin relinquished the initiative to answer, and Xiao Diting pursed his lips and snorted coldly.
As if lamenting her lack of romantic understanding, Pei Wenjin pointed a steel needle at Xiao Diting's shoulder, the metal tip tapping it lightly, causing Xiao Diting to flinch slightly.
Her little gesture greatly pleased the commander, who continued slowly, "This thing is called a 'flying needle.' We usually use this method on some disobedient but not easy-going guests. With just a little force, the 'flying needle' can easily pierce through their collarbone. If they are disobedient, we can tug on it and you can clearly feel the flesh and bone being pulled."
This physical sensation is very strange; under such intense pain, both the mind and body will be under tremendous pressure.
Xiao Diting was unwilling to listen to his cryptic remarks and adopted an extremely uncooperative attitude: "I'll say it again, Lord Pei, there's no need to intimidate me. Just say what you have to say, it's better for both of us."
Pei Wenjin had had his fill of playing and nonchalantly tossed the "flying needle" behind him. The "flying needle" was firmly embedded in the wall, its tail vibrating and leaving afterimages. The crisp sound was like the beginning of an interrogation.
Pei Wenjin stood with his hands behind his back, his previous nonchalant demeanor replaced by a sharp gaze: "Since Your Highness prefers to speak frankly, then this humble servant will not try to beat around the bush with Your Highness."
Xiao Diting was used to being interrogated; she had been treated this way countless times in modern times. She was almost always confident and fearless, and no matter how excellent the interrogation methods were, they could not extract a single truth from her.
But this time she clearly felt powerless, feeling both lost about her surroundings and unable to fathom the thoughts of the person in front of her.
Pei Wenjin paced with official steps, his posture upright, his tone unhurried, but his opening remarks were like a blow to the head: "What was Your Highness doing at Xuanlan Courtyard yesterday? Even if you were going to drink and be merry, you should have gone to the romantic Four Seasons Courtyard, not that 'gentle haven' where shady dealings are done... Look at the marks on your neck..."
Pei Wenjin read out a name, which seemed to be the restaurant where she was after she transmigrated. Speaking of which, "Xuanlan Courtyard" doesn't sound like a very proper name.
Xiao Diting felt like crying but had no tears. She couldn't condemn the real Xiao Diting, and could only lament in her heart: "Yes, what is the meaning of me, a girl, being mixed in with this?"
Xiao Diting frantically searched his brain for any useful information, but unfortunately, he found nothing.
Getting the "Listening" talent to work is a bit complicated. Pei Wenjin probably knows what her talent is all about and doesn't want to reveal his true feelings during this negotiation, so he deliberately tied her up.
She could only feign composure: "I also have a question for Lord Pei."
Anyone can use the tactic of asking a question instead of answering one, but Pei Wenjin raised one eyebrow, indicating that she should speak frankly.
Xiao Diting regained some control of the situation: "Even if you are very dissatisfied with me, you cannot bind and interrogate me without the Emperor's order. Do you have any respect for hierarchy?"
Xiao Diting swallowed hard, his expression displeased: "Besides, this is probably against the rules, isn't it?"
Her words directly shut down Pei Wenjin's idea of using her identity as leverage. She was extremely anxious and didn't know how to answer for a moment, when suddenly a thought flashed through her mind—Pei Wenjin had no reason to interrogate her; it was against the rules.
She didn't know if ancient laws were as humane as modern laws, but she had no choice.
Pei Wenjin casually replied, "That's true. Your presence here is against the rules... If nothing unexpected happens, you should be sitting among a pile of files at the Dali Temple right now."
This tactic was truly effective. The two, one sitting and one standing, faced off sharply, exchanging words and veiled threats for several rounds. Xiao Di realized she had found a breakthrough, and she smiled warmly: "Lord Pei, is your action perhaps hoping that I will put in a good word for you with His Majesty the Emperor?"
Pei Wenjin's expression remained unchanged, and he changed the subject: "Do you know why we're questioning you here?"
Xiao Diting instantly pieced together all the clues: "Because someone is monitoring me, and the prison warden is your territory, so only here can't be spied on by any 'others'."
Pei Wenjin gave his approval and moved slightly closer to Xiao Diting. Xiao Diting smelled that cool fragrance on him again. Lord Pei had changed to a new incense, and this time the scent was somewhat cold, like cedar.
Incense has a calming and soothing effect.
Xiao Diting was not so presumptuous. It seemed that Lord Pei was so busy with official duties that he could not get a proper rest and had to rely on incense to calm his nerves.
To be honest, he was in a rather bleak situation.
The tense atmosphere between the two eased somewhat. Xiao Diting was uncomfortable being tied up, so he adjusted his position. Pei Wenjin saw this and praised, "Not bad, Your Highness is very intelligent. Even when framed, you were able to discern the situation and come to work with me to find a way out. Your methods are truly remarkable."
Xiao Diting couldn't help but think to himself that he couldn't tell whether the man was praising the princess or praising him personally for being reliable.
Xiao Diting didn't even bother to roll his eyes. He knew that Pei Wenjin's doubts hadn't been dispelled, but this was a way of letting him off the hook.
She sighed, feigning innocence: "If Lord Pei has no other questions, could you please untie me?"
Pei Wenjin tilted his head and blinked mischievously, "Haven't you almost solved it already?"
Xiao Diting was relieved. It turned out that Pei Wenjin had known about her little tricks all along, but had just kept quiet. This man was frighteningly perceptive. He definitely couldn't offend him easily in the future.
Xiao Diting pulled her hands out from behind her back and slowly peeled off the ropes binding her body. She was very patient in this process, and had a kind of arrogant sense of triumph.
Even if you have a keen understanding of the whole situation, so what? You still can't gain even the slightest advantage over me.
Xiao Diting tore off the last bit of shackles from her body and stood up abruptly. Pei Wenjin stood in front of her the whole time, without retreating an inch.
The cell was dimly lit, and the scent of incense was even stronger. Xiao Diting sniffed and exhaled, "Lord Pei, there's no point in us wasting any more time here. Why don't we speak in private?"
Her soft breath brushed against Pei Wenjin's chin like a feather, and Pei Wenjin made way for her.
"If Your Highness has no other plans, why don't you come with me to the outskirts of the city?"
Xiao Diting took two steps and turned back to look at him, puzzled: "Didn't the trail go cold in the suburbs?"
Pei Wenjin shook his head: "No, even a cunning rabbit has three burrows. Naturally, one should make the most thorough plans for everything. If you can't catch someone, you can still look at the account books... Your Highness has only been confined for a few days. You shouldn't have forgotten your ability to judge the truth by looking at the account books, right?"
Xiao Diting found herself being led by the nose by the other party very easily. Although she was not very satisfied with this arrangement, Pei Wenjin's candor in sharing important information about the case with her had solved a lot of her problems.
Xiao Diting readily agreed, "Thank you for your trouble, Lord Pei."
A group of Imperial Guards ostentatiously escorted the princess's carriage, which Xiao Diting initially strongly resisted.
After all, she had sneaked out of the palace. If the emperor found out, who knows what he would say to her.
She expressed her displeasure several times, but Pei Wenjin deflected her with the excuse that "Your Highness is of noble birth, and I cannot bear the thought of you enduring such a long journey."
She was forced into a carriage in a daze, and they left the capital along Zhuque Street. Pei Wenjin rode the horse in the street, and his other colleagues silently surrounded them. They left the city in a grand procession.
Xiao Diting remained completely bewildered. The Imperial Guards weren't wearing their flying fish robes this time on the case. Those who knew them understood they were going out of the city together on a case, but those who didn't would have thought they were from a wealthy family, escorting a noble lady on an outing.
She had asked Lord Pei what he meant by this before, and her expression was one of anger: "Lord Pei, are you trying to get me to impeach you before the Emperor for your extravagant and wasteful behavior?"
Pei Wenjin picked up the conversation: "This humble official would not dare to do so."
Then, with great respect, he ushered her into the carriage. His gentle manner concealed an unyielding strength that could not be defied.
"You dare not, my ancestors?" Xiao Di sneered inwardly. "I think you are very bold."
Unable to discern Lord Pei's intentions, Xiao Diting lifted the carriage curtain to secretly observe the commander accompanying him.
The commander looked very young, and she would occasionally overhear the palace maids talking about this young favorite of the emperor. Rumor had it that he was young and promising, the only son of the Marquis of Zhenbei, and that the Pei family had been generals for generations, a family full of loyal martyrs.
When it came to Pei Wenjin's generation, not only did he not inherit his father's title, but he was also not on the frontier. Oh, Xiao Di understood. This person was completely immersed in the pleasure of being a commander and wielding power, and had no idea what the world was like.
As for titles and ranks held by their fathers, although a commander is not as prestigious as a marquis, the Jinyiwei's will is the emperor's will.
She and Pei Wenjin remained silent throughout the journey, their tentative intimacy vanishing in an instant. Xiao Diting could almost still smell the faint scent of incense. Pei Wenjin rode alongside her with indifferent gait, his brow furrowed with impatient restlessness.
He had his own plans, and Xiao Yu was very curious, so she patiently played along with him as he slowly put on his act.
As soon as Xiao Diting lowered the carriage curtain and slowly leaned back against the soft cushions inside the carriage, she caught a fleeting glimpse of Pei Wenjin's irritation, and for a moment she felt extremely pleased.
Pei Wenjin, Pei Wenjin, Xiao Diting mocked him in his heart.
This matter couldn't be left unresolved; Xiao Diting knew there were more things to come. She steadied herself and asked, "Lord Pei, how much longer until we reach our destination?"
Pei Wenjin: "No rush, Your Highness. If you are bored, I can play you a little tune."
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