Chapter 69 What do you think of me?
The Prison of Punishments was where serious criminals were interrogated in the Dayan Dynasty, so the treatment there was naturally not very good.
Compared to the prison in Si'an County, this place is noticeably darker, damper, and colder. The prison is built of thick, heavy bluestone blocks, and its internal and external structures are complex, with layers upon layers of guards.
Once someone enters, there's no escape.
Song Jin had only ever been to the small jail in Si'an County before, so this was his first time in such a large prison. He felt like a country bumpkin visiting the city.
In the apocalypse, dealing with prisoners is much simpler: either kill them on the spot, send them to do manual labor, or assign them the most dangerous death sentences. They wouldn't bother building something like this.
Song Jin looked at the maze-like prison in amazement and whispered, "This should also be from the previous dynasty, right?"
According to her observation, besides their similar appearances, Qi Zheng and Qi Ye were even more alike in that they were both stingy.
During her time in the capital, she had seen many luxurious items, but when she inquired about their origins, they were all the work of the previous dynasty's emperor. It was said that when the new dynasty was established, the capital was originally supposed to be moved to the north.
After all, the Qi family's main base was further north.
But with the national treasury empty, Qi Ye simply declared himself emperor on the spot, using everything he had from before. Even now, he's just tweaking and modifying what he already had.
Not only did he not build any new palaces, he even sold some of them, which shows how stingy he was.
Given the complex nature of this prison, it couldn't possibly be Qi Yexiu's.
Let him do it. He'd probably rather have the hardened criminals build their own prison on the spot than spend money fixing this thing for a bunch of serious offenders.
In just a few words, her eyes darted around, her lips moved in a playful, mischievous way, and she perfectly conveyed her inner thoughts.
Qi Zheng was unable to refute, but still tried to defend his father: "The Prison Temple was the former emperor's brothel. The word 'brothel' represents both 'beautiful women' and 'repairing.' He would throw those disobedient beauties he kidnapped from outside into it, seal the windows, withhold food, and force them to obey."
The walls of the Prison Temple are made of thick stone. With the windows open, it's dark but you can still feel the passage of time. Once they're all sealed off, the dark space is completely silent, with only the echo of your own footsteps and breathing, along with the sounds of rats and insects...
One day and two days
Song Jin cursed under her breath: "That damned emperor, cutting off his head is too good for him."
Qi Zheng wholeheartedly agreed. Considering the various deeds of the previous emperor, it was indeed a lenient punishment for him to only have his head chopped off.
but
He pondered for a moment, then whispered, "The former emperor's cause of death was actually quite different."
Song Jin immediately became interested, leaned closer, and whispered furtively, "Didn't you say your father chopped off your head with a single blow?"
To hear more clearly, she stood on tiptoe, stretched her neck, and her carefully styled hair fell onto Qi Zheng's lowered cheek, sending a tingling sensation through her, which felt almost burning hot in the cold dungeon.
Qi Zheng awkwardly turned his head slightly to avoid the tickling hair, but then met her fair cheek. In the dim light, everything flickered, but her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness.
He paused, then stopped moving, lowered his head, and, suppressing his breathing, said softly, "That's what people outside say, but actually, the person my father beheaded was the former prime minister who was wearing the yellow robe and plotting to seize the throne. The real desolate emperor was ultimately dealt with by Prime Minister Song."
Song Jin exclaimed, glancing around at the surrounding cells, and lowered her voice further: "You mean?"
Qi Zheng gave a soft "hmm": "The mother of the Prime Minister Song is no ordinary woman."
Song Jin hissed. Before, she would have only been curious about such gossip, but now, knowing someone's reputation, she felt a little guilty about talking about it behind their back.
So, she glanced around furtively, then tiptoed closer, her head almost touching Qi Zheng's, and whispered, "I heard that Chief Minister Song killed his father?"
As long as she speaks softly enough, it doesn't count as talking badly about someone.
Stubbornly, Song Jin slightly opened her eyes and stared intently at Qi Zheng, her chin raised, her rosy lips slightly parted, revealing her white teeth.
Qi Zheng suddenly realized that sometimes having too good eyesight isn't a good thing.
He took a slightly embarrassed step back, creating some distance between himself and her. Under her slightly questioning gaze, before she could speak, he said, "This was actually a misunderstanding."
Song Jin was shocked. How many rumors had she heard over the years? She quickly pressed on, "What misunderstanding is it?"
Qi Zheng covered his eyes and said softly, "That day, the army had already reached Yong'an City. If they had forced their way in, countless people would have died. So, the two sides began negotiations. The negotiator sent by the previous dynasty was Song Jiang, the father of the Grand Secretary Song and the then Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince. He was also the compiler of the water conservancy project in Qingjun Prefecture."
Song Jin: "The water conservancy project in Si'an County?"
Qi Zheng nodded: "Mr. Song Jiang was a rare gentleman in the previous dynasty. He repaired water conservancy projects, helped the people, and advised the monarch. He saved many people over the years and was highly respected in the court and among the people."
But when faced with such a ruler, no matter how wise Song Jiang was, how much he racked his brains, or how exhausted he was, he could only delay the dynasty's decline slightly, and could only watch helplessly as the rebels stormed the city gates.
And the person leading the charge was his own son.
Enraged? Heartbroken? No, none of those. He was filled with nothing but guilt and disbelief.
No one knows what was discussed in that negotiation, but in the end, twenty-year-old Song Shang emerged carrying his father's head.
This is a huge mistake in negotiations.
For modern society, which emphasizes the concepts of heaven, earth, ruler, and kinship, this is a huge backlash.
This is also the biggest source of information about treacherous officials and rebels in the Song Dynasty.
Who can call someone a gentleman or a good person who dares to break the rules and cruelly murders his own father for power?
Qi Zheng sighed softly: "The city gate at that time was opened by Song Jiang, who persuaded the British to cooperate from the outside. After everything was prepared, he committed suicide in front of Chief Minister Song."
Ultimately, it's nothing more than the ideology of Heaven, Earth, Ruler, and Parents.
Back then, when Song Jiang was still a county magistrate, he met a clever and beautiful woman. The two married and had a child who was exceptionally intelligent.
Those were truly very pleasant days.
But the emperor was in a state of panic, and the officials, eager to curry favor and get promoted, secretly kidnapped his wife and also took away his son, who had noticed something amiss.
Over the years, Song Jiang, who believed his wife and children had died in a bandit uprising, rose through the ranks. Although he was frustrated by the decadence of the court, he always wanted to do something for the people.
One or two years later, they each became their own masters, each harboring their own grudges.
Upon first seeing the rebel leader, Song Jiang learned the truths he was unaware of, and understood the treacherous nature of the emperor's treacherous trust.
He calmly accepted the order, acting for his monarch for the last time, and paving the way for his children for the last time.
He couldn't have both loyalty and love, but he did his best.
What he couldn't have foreseen was that after his death, the Song Chamber of Commerce not only failed to distance themselves from all of this as he had wished, but instead personally severed his head and threw it at the feet of the Desolate Emperor, so that even in death he could witness his former master being torn to pieces.
A thousand painful and disgusting torments flashed before Song Jin's eyes, and her feelings became complicated. She sighed, "They must have suffered a lot of torture during their time in captivity."
Qi Zheng's voice also became a bit heavy as he said, "Back then, it was rumored that the Gu tribe in Lingnan possessed a method for achieving immortality, which could prolong life by consuming it. Lord Song's mother was from Lingnan."
Song Jin cursed under her breath: "Damn it."
Qi Zheng nodded: "They truly deserve to die, and there are many similar people in this prison; they deserve to be torn to pieces."
In the end, we've come full circle back to this point.
Song Jin's initial anger froze instantly, leaving her with a sense of speechlessness, like someone suddenly turning into a madman at the end of a ghost story, and she suddenly felt a chill.
She said speechlessly, "Do you think I would pity these people?"
To be honest, the cries of the prisoners inside the cell, mingled with the howling wind through the cracks, did sound quite pitiful. But who was Song Jin?
During the apocalypse, she had seen and even done far more horrifying things than this, so why would she find this inappropriate?
Qi Zheng naturally didn't think that someone who had easily lost limbs would find the punishment inappropriate; however, her gloomy appearance just now was somewhat jarring.
He thought she looked better when she smiled.
Qi Zheng brushed aside the matter: "Let's go, we'll be at General Song's place in a little while. General Song was raised by Lord Song since childhood, and they have a deep bond. Now that Lord Song's fate is uncertain, he probably doesn't want to hear people talking about these past events behind his back."
Speaking of this, we have to mention his speculations about Song Shang. He had even considered whether to discuss this with Song Jin.
But after much thought, I decided it's best not to bring it up at all, let alone discuss it.
Song Jin hadn't thought that far ahead. Looking at the darkness of the prison, she remembered her mission. She tightened her grip on the food box and whispered, "Can that person still eat?"
Qi Zheng's lips twitched: "General Song is not the main culprit, he was just implicated. Father Emperor isn't that heartless."
Song Jin muttered, "But they still imprisoned him. The emperor's power is immense."
Qi Zheng sighed helplessly, "I think you're quite bold yourself."
Song Jin raised an eyebrow and patted Qi Zheng's shoulder. His shoulders were broad and thick, and one could feel the firm, undulating muscles as soon as one touched them.
She couldn't resist pinching it again, grinning mischievously, "I'm just treating you like a brother, you certainly won't tell on me, right?"
Qi Zheng felt her unruly hand, glanced at her joking manner, grabbed her sleeve and pulled her hand down, saying indifferently, "That's hard to say."
As he spoke, he turned and walked forward, his steps steady yet large and rapid.
Song Jin stood there, arms crossed, muttering with a pout, "How stingy! Princes really are something else."
Even a princess is not worthy to be his brother; she's climbing the social ladder.
Qi Zheng's cool voice came: "Are you leaving or not?"
Song Jin quickly followed: "Let's go, let's go! Why aren't we moving?"
She came with a mission; if this person is so petty, what a disgrace she'll be if she goes back on her word!
The two walked inside one after the other, arriving at a cell with a window.
Bright sunlight streamed into the room, which was lined with brand-new straw mats. The straw was clearly freshly harvested rice from this year. Next to it was a small wooden table with tea and pastries on it.
Although simple, it has all the necessary internal organs.
Song Shenzhi, dressed in clean linen prison clothes, sat cross-legged on a straw cushion, drinking tea. His long, narrow eyes were deep and unfathomable, giving him quite the air of a major villain.
His appearance has a somewhat ambiguous, both righteous and evil quality.
Song Jin carried the food box over, squatted down, and, chin in hand, sized up the General Protector of the Nation: "You're adapting quite well, aren't you?"
The person and the prison cell were a perfect match, not at all out of place. Looking at her so relaxed, she wished she hadn't come.
Song Shenzhi gently placed the teacup on the table. His long, deep, eagle-like eyes stared intently at Song Jin, who was squatting in front of the cell. After a long while, he finally spoke in a hoarse voice.
"It's alright. On the battlefield, you can lie down anywhere, exposed to the wind and sun, and your rations will be dry and hard. Sometimes even grass roots and insects are good food. Here, we have beds and blankets and don't have to be exposed to the sun and wind. How could we not adapt?"
Upon hearing this, Song Jin quickly turned to look at Qi Zheng, giving him a disdainful look.
Look at this! Where is justice? People risk their lives to protect their country, and after finally coming home, they're locked up in jail for some trivial matter.
The evil imperial power, the petty emperor.
Qi Zheng: ...
Song Jin then handed over the carefully prepared lunchbox, which contained a roast goose, a pot of liquor, and several delicate and durable pastries.
Song Shenzhi knew at a glance whose handiwork it was, but he didn't care much. He simply looked at Song Jin quietly, his deep eyes softening little by little.
He said, "You look just like your father."
Song Jin touched her nose guiltily: "Really? Well, it's quite a coincidence."
Faced with such a great general who was dedicated to the country and its people, she became unusually honest and couldn't bring herself to talk nonsense.
Song Shenzhi's expression softened, and the villainous aura he once possessed vanished, replaced by a righteous and upright demeanor. As if afraid of frightening the younger sister before him, he lowered his voice and asked gently.
"How have you been settling in the capital these past few days? It's just that I couldn't leave the frontier, otherwise I would have personally come to bring you back. Eldest brother and fourth and fifth brothers are a bit unreliable these days. If they've offended you, just tell me, and I'll deal with them for you. There are quite a few petty people in the capital. If anyone bullies you, don't hold back. We brothers will take responsibility for anything that happens..."
He spoke softly, his eyes filled with affection, and he certainly didn't look like a great general who had fought on the battlefield; he seemed more like a friendly older brother next door.
It has to be said, compared to the other four brothers of the Song family, he was indeed much more reliable. No wonder he became a great general; look how eloquent and considerate he was!
These days, Song Jin has been told every day not to cause trouble or make a scene. It's rare for someone to tell her not to be afraid of trouble and that they'll take responsibility if anything happens. It feels really good.
She was overjoyed by his flattery, thinking that since he was so eloquent, it wouldn't be a bad idea for her to bring him things every day from now on.
Suddenly, Song Shenzhi changed the subject and asked, "My little sister will be of marriageable age next year. Is she engaged yet?"
Song Jin made two "uh" sounds, subconsciously glanced at Qi Zheng who was standing next to her like a wooden stake, and scratched her head: "No rush, right?"
She thought he meant to say he knew some reliable people he could recommend. His tone was so friendly that she felt awkward refusing directly; she had to be tactful.
Then he changed the subject and smiled at her: "What do you think of me?"
Song Jin: ...
Song Shenzhi said very seriously, "My official rank is decent, and my appearance and physique are acceptable. I've been busy on the battlefield these past few years, and there haven't been any shady characters around me, nor will there be in the future. You are my father's biological daughter, and I am his adopted son. You don't need to worry about any shady characters or things after we get married. I will treat my wife like my own mother. It doesn't matter if the children take your surname or mine. After the marriage, I will listen to you on everything. If you want to stay in the capital, you can stay in the capital; if you want to go to the frontier with me, we can go together..."
In the past, this would have meant that if the husband was away from home all year round, the house, money, and children would all belong to me.
To be honest, it actually sounds quite tempting.
Qi Zheng stood to the side watching the proposal unfold, then interrupted coldly, "It's time to go."
Song Jin came to her senses: "Huh, so fast?"
Qi Zheng's voice was cold: "You still want to go through the wedding ceremony before leaving?"
With that, he turned and left, acting as if he didn't care whether he left or not.
Song Jin scratched his head and glanced at Song Shenzhi, who was still in prison.
Song Shenzhi smiled: "It's alright, don't worry about me. This time it was my fault for not managing my subordinates well, and it's only right that I reflect on it here. Prison is cold and desolate; it's not suitable for a young girl to stay there. Little sister, go home quickly and think about this matter carefully. Your third brother is serious."
...
This was the first time Song Jin had been proposed to in her two lifetimes.
Although they had only met once before and had never spoken a word to each other.
However, it must be said that Song Shenzhi's conditions were indeed outstanding. At the age of twenty-three, he was a great general, unmatched among the younger generation of the court. Moreover, he was handsome, had a strong physique, knew how to charm people, and could even live apart from others...
"Are you tempted?"
As Qi Zheng stepped out of the dark prison, he turned around and saw her still deep in thought. His brows furrowed instantly, and his voice carried a chilling undertone.
Song Jin raised his eyes, grinning mischievously as he retorted, "If a beautiful woman suddenly threw herself into your arms, wouldn't you be tempted?"
Qi Zheng replied without hesitation: "Of course I can. I don't even like her, so why would I be attracted to her?"
Song Jin pouted: "Talking to you is so boring. You should learn from other people; they speak so well."
This wasn't the first time she'd said this, but it was the first time it had sounded jarring to Qi Zheng. He said in a deep voice, "If you find him interesting, then go and talk to him."
Song Jin: "What do you mean? Why are you talking so sarcastically? Who offended you?"
Qi Zheng said in a deep voice, without hesitation: "You..."
Song Jin's eyes widened, her mind racing. After a moment's thought, she suddenly realized what she meant, and then said irritably, "Why are you so petty? All I did was say you're old-fashioned and boring. What's the big deal?"
Qi Zheng's expression turned cold as he gave her a deep look: "Let's go."
With that, he turned and walked away without saying a word, getting straight into the carriage. This was the third time he had shown her his back that day.
Song Jin glared at him angrily.
Okay, so you're using the silent treatment on her? You think you're so clever? You talk like nobody cares about talking.
She followed him into the carriage aggressively, also without saying a word, just staring at him with wide eyes.
She stared at her, stared at her, and stared at her again.
Qi Zheng simply closed his eyes, refusing to look at her irritating face.
The two of them arrived at the Song residence without saying a word the entire way.
Song Jin, who had been glaring at people the whole way, was also in a bad mood. She thought, "Say what you want, nobody cares." Before the carriage had even come to a complete stop, she jumped off and hurried towards the Song residence, kicking the stone lions at the gate as she passed them.
A crack appeared on the surface of the stone lion that was originally intact.
Li Qingshan, the guard and coachman, felt a pang of unease as he looked at her fiery back. He pulled back the carriage curtain and peered inside.
Qi Zheng sat in the corner of the carriage, eyes closed and motionless.
This scene was all too familiar. This time, Li Qingshan dared not ask any more questions. As a man nearing thirty, he couldn't possibly interfere with the interactions between these young people.
Li Qingshan: "Your Highness, shall we return to the Prince's Mansion?"
Having finally escaped the Imperial Academy, he probably wouldn't want to go back.
Qi Zheng replied, "Enter the palace."
Li Qingshan asked no more questions and obediently drove the carriage towards the palace.
In the imperial study, Qi Ye was still overwhelmed by the pile of messy memorials. They were all trivial matters, and these people dared to call themselves pillars of the nation? In his eyes, they were all just stepping stones.
Eunuch Sun announced: "Your Majesty, Prince Qi has arrived."
Qi Ye's vision cleared instantly, and his back pain subsided. He straightened his back, tidied his hair and clothes, and coughed lightly twice: "Come in."
The door to the Imperial Study opened, and Qi Zheng walked in against the light. He was tall and imposing, with handsome features and a strong masculine presence.
Qi Ye felt a surge of pride every time he looked at his child. "Look, sister," he thought, "their child has grown into a strong and upright young man."
His eyes were slightly moist, but he adopted the demeanor of a father and asked, "What brings you here today? Did you do poorly on your quiz and get scolded?"
Qi Zheng: "...Father, I'm twenty this year, not two."
They won't complain about such a small matter.
Qi Ye: "In private, just call me 'Father'."
The more I hear "Father Emperor," the more unfamiliar it sounds.
Qi Zheng paused, still unable to say it, so he simply omitted it: "I went to the Prison Temple today."
Qi Ye was not surprised. Ever since Song Shenzhi was imprisoned, Qi Zheng had been making arrangements every day to ensure Song Shenzhi's safety.
He is a grateful person.
Song Shang brought him back, which was a favor to him, so he took care of the Song family in every way within his ability and the rules, unlike those people who had benefited from Song Shang over the years but only remembered his transgressions.
Qi Ye's expression softened: "What? You want to plead for General Song? I naturally know he's innocent, but the assassin was his subordinate. If we don't investigate, others will follow suit, and the court will soon be riddled with problems. However, this matter can't be investigated in a short time. I was originally planning to release him in a couple of days, but if you feel that's inappropriate, it's fine today."
Everyone around us has been to jail. Those who want to talk nonsense, let them go in there themselves if they dare.
Upon hearing this, Qi Zheng straightened up and said without hesitation, "I think it's better to release him after the whole matter has been resolved and General Song's innocence has been cleared. General Song has fought on the battlefield for many years, making great contributions. Should he be allowed to do something like what Lord Song did and then be smeared, just for a few days of free time? It's only a few days; General Song will surely be able to wait."
Anyway, that person felt very comfortable at the Prison Temple, and wouldn't mind staying a little longer.
Song Shenzhi: ...
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