The Slender Waist-Chapter 787 - 559 The Great Prison Cold_2

"This is called knowing oneself and knowing the enemy, and it is also to constantly remind us both that we must never underestimate. Hmph! Do not be fooled by his show of weakness and magnanimity today. When the day comes and weapons clash, he will not hold back."

Pei Jue was silent for a while.

His gaze was quite playful.

Feng Yun glanced at him, "Your Majesty, did I say something wrong?"

Pei Jue said, "His plans are profound and his strategies surpass others, yet in the end, he still failed to secure what he wanted most."

What he wanted most?

Feng Yun snorted with an expressionless face.

She never believed that she was what Xiao Cheng wanted most.

Ambitious men covet empires; what are women to them?

"It’s undeniable that he has never given up on you."

Pei Jue’s cheeks tensed, his tone carrying a trace of sourness.

It was the truth.

What foiled Xiao Cheng’s schemes was Feng Yun’s rebirth.

Otherwise, his perfect plans would not have fallen through. First, securing the support of the Feng Family by deception, and once he ruled the world, and the time was ripe, he would pull the Feng Family from their steed. With his means, Feng Yun would merely be an object in his palm.

"Meeting me, that’s his bad luck." Feng Yun glanced at him and smiled, "Heaven doesn’t take him, but I will."

Pei Jue quietly approached, gazing at her intently.

A handsome face, flickering between light and shadow, all the more profound.

"Lady Yun." He asked, "In this lifetime, between me and Xiao Cheng, who will win?"

Feng Yun looked at him indifferently, leaned in, wrapped her arms around his neck, and looked up with a smile, "Hasn’t Your Majesty already won?"

Pei Jue’s eyelids slightly drooped, touching her face.

"In this struggle for supremacy, many perish, many thrive. There can only be one victor."

Feng Yun curled her lips lightly, speaking with a relaxed composure.

"If you win, I will watch you dominate the world. If you lose, I will join you in rising again from the east."

Pei Jue’s pupils constricted slightly.

A heart unexpectedly clenched.

"What if... I die?"

Feng Yun’s heart skipped, looking at the long shadows cast by the lamp light, slowly breaking into a smile. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"If you live, I’ll share the splendor with you. If you die, I’ll avenge you."

Pei Jue held his breath for an instant.

Eyes fixed on her, he suddenly hugged her tightly, his heart beating erratically, his voice husky.

"I’ve always thought that I, too, was someone you wanted revenge on."

"Yes." Feng Yun raised her eyes to look at him, a slight smile on her face, "I think I might take my revenge on you for a lifetime."

"Lady Yun..."

Pei Jue held her tight, breathing heavily, trapping her in his arms, his towering frame enveloping her as if cradling a child, with utmost care.

The night was silent, the wind still.

The dim glow of the fire hazy, casting light on Feng Yun’s face resting on Pei Jue’s shoulder.

Quiet and peaceful, her half-lowered eyelids cast a shadow, yet her smile was absent.

-

The third watch of the night.

A carriage broke through the night mist and entered the Imperial Censorate Prison of West Capital City.

The guards had just changed shifts; the sentries beneath the gatehouse, upon seeing the figure alighting from the carriage, paused, then hurriedly stepped forward to salute.

"Your Majesty."

With a grunt, Pei Jue held Feng Yun’s hand and walked inside.

"Open the gate."

The corridor leading to the prison was gloomy and dismal, with its rammed earth cells and iron-cast gates that not even water could penetrate.

The prisoners held here were all extraordinary, with Feng Jingyao among them.

The cells were eerily quiet, without a single sound.

Pei Jue asked: "Has there been any interrogation these past two days?"

The jailer spoke in a low voice: "Without the command of Your Majesty, we dare not act rashly."

Pei Jue pondered for a moment, then waved his hand, "You may all leave."

"Understood." The guards departed.

Amidst the chaotic footsteps, Pei Jue glanced at Zuo Zhong and Jiu You.

"Without my orders, no one is to enter."

"Yes." Zuo Zhong and Jiu You bowed their hands in unison, quietly retreated, and stood at the entrance of the corridor.

Here was only one defendant, Feng Jingyao.

Under the dim lamplight, a faint musty smell permeated the air.

Feng Jingyao, with his back against the wall, sat on the damp straw, head drooping, fully awake.

These days, not a single person in the prison had spoken to him. The daily rationed food, resembling swill, was often spoiled and nauseating.

He knew that Pei Jue was not letting him die - it was like tormenting a hawk to erode his will.

But Pei Jue underestimated him.

How could such tactics force him to submit?

"Prince of Yonghuai, please return." Feng Jingyao’s pale face had not a trace of color, his voice extremely slow, as if talking to himself without looking at Pei Jue, desperately clinging to the dignity of a noble family.

"There’s no point in wasting your efforts on me. I did not instruct Duan Wu to steal the Defense Map, nor do I have any conspiracies. I am merely the Qi Envoy sent to West Capital City, coming in the spirit of goodwill between both nations. If the Jin Court had a shred of sincerity, they should not imprison me like this..."

Pei Jue said nothing, slowly approached, opened the cell door, and tossed the envoy’s credentials from Qi Country in front of Feng Jingyao.

"Minister Feng, have a look."

Feng Jingyao’s feet were shackled in chains, but his hands were free.

He looked up at Pei Jue, hesitated for a moment before picking it up.

"Hmmph!"

Gnashing his teeth, he looked up coldly.

But his gaze was not on Pei Jue, it was on Feng Yun.

"I knew you were trouble. If only I hadn’t been soft-hearted back then, allowing you to survive till now, only for you to turn against me."

This was him blaming Xiao Cheng’s attempt to kill him on Feng Yun.

Feng Yun smiled, nonchalantly straightened her sleeve, and then casually started to reveal the plight of the Feng Family members to him, piece by piece.

"Those who were dismissed, dismissed; those who were removed from office, removed; those to be jailed, jailed. Even Feng Ying, who you valued most for bringing honor to the Feng Family, has been sent to the Cold Palace. Great Uncle, at this juncture, do you believe the Feng Family still has any hope of rising again?"

Feng Jingyao sneered, "So what? Even if I cannot die a good death, do you think you can live a good life? If Xiao San can treat the Feng Family like this, sooner or later, he’ll treat you the same. Or do you think, with just the power of the Prince of Yonghuai, you can reverse the decline of Jin’s national strength and the chaos of government? Just wait, once Xiao San recovers, you will all be doomed, and you won’t die well..."

Feng Yun suddenly smiled.

"At this point, you’re still trying to sow discord, trying to use others to further your own ends? The fate of Jin Country is not for Minister Feng to worry about. If I were you, what I would do now is confess honestly, seeking a good death."

Feng Jingyao’s eyelids twitched slightly, "I have nothing to confess. Kill or slash, it’s all up to you."

"Nothing?" Feng Yun leaned in slightly, her eyes cold as Han Pool’s waters, fixed on him, "Does Minister Feng want to think carefully about how you collaborated with Xiao Jue back then, plotting to frame the Xie Family, sending the Xie Family Army to their graves in Bingzhou, implicating Crown Prince Huai Ren in injustice, usurping his crown prince position, imprisoning him in Yuzhao Hall, leading to his bitter death, and furthermore..."

Her words were deliberate, as if biting into iron.

"Why did you insist on sending my mother to her death?"