Shang Shaoyan glared fiercely at Ashina Yeting, then blinked at Qiao Xiuyu and said sweetly, "Seventh Brother, he's talking nonsense!"
Ashina Yeting, always eager for drama, "kindly" reminded him: "Seventh Master, I dare not lie. This was said by Princess Yang herself when she challenged me, asking me to be her male concubine."
Shang Shaoyan: "..."
She turned her head fiercely to glare at Ashina Yeting: "Shut up, you old bastard!"
Then Shang Shaoyan turned his head, his wet eyes staring at Qiao Xiuyu, and said aggrievedly, "Seventh Brother, he was the one who said it first! He said I was beautiful and wanted to marry me, I was just talking back. You are a million times more beautiful than him, a million times more gentle and considerate than him, how could I possibly be interested in him?"
Qiao Xiuyu thought about it and felt that it made sense, so he wasn't so upset anymore. He smiled and kissed the top of Shang Shaoyan's head: "I believe you. What you said is the truth."
Ashina Yeting: "..."
His face twisted as he stared at the two philandering lovers, oblivious to everyone else, and roared, "He Yang, don't you dare turn your back on me like that!"
Shang Shaoyan pouted at him, then hid behind Qiao Xiuyu, saying aggrievedly, "Seventh Brother, look at him, he couldn't get what he wanted from me, so he started yelling at me—I'm so scared!"
Qiao Xiuyu patted Shang Shaoyan's hand reassuringly, then looked coldly at Ashina Yeting: "This Ashina Yeling, I advise you to be sensible!"
Ashina Yeting: "..."
He wiped his face and said weakly, "My name is Ashina Yeting."
Qiao Xiuyu nodded: "Alright, Ashina Yeming. I advise you to be sensible!"
Ashina Yeting: "..."
He closed his eyes, clearly not wanting to speak anymore.
Seeing that Qiao Xiuyu was much more comfortable, Shang Shaoyan finally straightened up, cleared his throat, and said in a nonchalant tone, "Speak, what is it that you want to see me about?"
Ashina Yeting opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in his emerald green pupils. He raised his chin and said, "I told you, I'm here to marry you."
Shang Shaoyan stared at him for a moment, then said to Qiao Xiuyu, who was on the verge of exploding with rage, "Let's go, Qilang, there's no point in talking to this idiot."
After saying that, she turned and left.
Qiao Xiuyu glared fiercely at Ashina Yeting, then turned to leave with Shang Shaoyan.
Ashina Yeting spoke slowly and deliberately: "This is something that Shang Xiao and Cheng Lingxiu decided on."
Upon hearing his parents' names, Shang Shaoyan paused slightly, turned to look at Ashina Yeting, and said expressionlessly, "Explain yourself."
Ashina Yeting raised an eyebrow, sat cross-legged on the ground, and looked more like he was on vacation than a prisoner: "The last person your parents saw before they died was me."
He paused, then laughed: "Your Southern Chen is quite interesting. Fierce generals like Shang Xiao and Cheng Lingxiu have always been respected in our Western Turkic Khaganate, and it wouldn't be impossible for them to become Khans... But it's your Southern Chen nobles who want them dead."
Shang Shaoyan also laughed, but the laugh was too cold: "Tell me what I know. What you're saying isn't a secret to me."
Ashina Yeting squinted at Shang Shaoyan for a while before speaking: "Your parents and I were both enemies and friends. Before they died, they were drinking with me on the border of Shuocheng. Halfway through the drinking, your mother said that they were afraid they didn't have much time left and wanted to entrust their two children to me. Therefore, she gave me a jade pendant that was passed down in your family."
As he spoke, he took out a piece of fine mutton fat jade from his pocket and tossed it to Shang Shaoyan: "Look, I wasn't lying."
Shang Shaoyan caught the jade pendant accurately, then examined it for a moment before saying calmly, "I've looked at it, it's fake."
Ashina Yeting scoffed, "Whether it's true or false, you and I both know. In short, your parents said that rather than letting you and Shang Yunlan wait to die in Shengjing, it's better for me to make proper arrangements for you. Even if you live an ordinary life, it will be much better."
Shang Shaoyan silently stroked the jade pendant for a long while before saying in a hoarse voice, "I told you, this jade pendant is fake. I don't believe a single word you said."
Ashina Yeting shrugged indifferently: "Believe it or not, it's up to you."
He paused for a moment, then chuckled, "Alright, I need to go to sleep. The prison food here... is pretty good."
After saying that, Ashina Yeting turned his body to the side, with his back to Shang Shaoyan, and closed the curtain to rest.
Shang Shaoyan stared intently at Ashina Yeting for a long time before finally pulling Qiao Xiuyu away from the dungeon.
No sooner had she left than Ashina Yeting opened his eyes and looked at the brick wall with a complicated expression.
...
Shang Shaoyan returned to the tent with a heavy heart. Qiao Xiuyu followed behind her somewhat uneasily, wanting to say a few words to comfort her, but found that it would be futile to say anything.
Shang Shaoyan lay on the bed, silently looking at the jade pendant.
Since she gained all of Shang Shaoyan's memories, she has truly regarded Shang Xiao and Cheng Lingxiu as her parents.
According to Ashina Yeting... if what Ashina Yeting said is true, it seems that Shang Xiao and Cheng Lingxiu knew they would die.
Based on her understanding of her parents, Shang Xiao and Cheng Lingxiu would certainly not stand still and wait to die.
Either Shang Xiao and Cheng Lingxiu really couldn't escape, or the two of them didn't die at all.
After all, no one saw their bodies.
Shang Shaoyan was startled by this sudden thought, but he quickly calmed down and began to think about it.
Given Shang Xiao and Cheng Lingxiu's abilities, it wouldn't be difficult for them to uncover the truth and evade capture. They also love their children more than Nan Chen, so naturally they wouldn't sit idly by and wait to die.
It now seems highly likely that they are still alive.
But... if they are still alive, why have they remained missing for so long?
Shang Shaoyan frowned and thought for a long time until a pair of hands gently touched her brow and smoothed it out.
"Seventh Brother?" Shang Shaoyan snapped out of his reverie and forced a smile. "Why haven't you returned to the manor yet?"
Qiao Xiuyu frowned and tenderly brushed away Shang Shaoyan's stray hairs: "How can I go back in peace with you like this?"
Shang Shaoyan was silent for a moment, then placed his face in Qiao Xiuyu's hands and murmured, "Seventh Brother, what exactly happened to my parents?"
She lowered her eyes, somewhat bewildered. Qiao Xiuyu paused for a moment, then sighed, as if guessing something, and said gently, "I'm not smart, I might not know the answer... but An'an, you shouldn't worry about this. It's unlikely that Ashina Yeting is telling the truth. Even if he is, you can find out the whole story yourself. If all else fails, you can send a letter to your brother, and he can help you investigate."
He paused, then lowered his head and planted a kiss on Shang Shaoyan's forehead: "You should get some sleep first. That Ashina Yeting is clearly up to no good and wants to keep you awake."
Shang Shaoyan couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Qiao Xiuyu lay down as well, pulling Shang Shaoyan into her arms and comforting him, "Sleep, I'm here."
Shang Shaoyan then fell asleep in Qiao Xiuyu's arms.
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