Returning after a three-year escape from death, the tyrant has turned evil.

Chapter 168 Locked in Jail
Song Yi sat on the low couch and quickly took out the jade pendant hidden under the carpet. The pendant protruded from the ground, so it would be easy to spot if someone stepped on it.

Her eyes searched around, and she found a more secluded corner to hide in for the time being.

Two maids outside suddenly brought in food and were somewhat surprised to see Song Yi still half-squatting there.

"What are you doing?!"

Song Yi quickly stood up and walked back calmly. When she saw that the two maids were carrying food, she looked at them with some surprise.

"This is what the young master instructed."

The young master she was referring to was Ashina Wolf Owl.

Song Yi took it without refusing at all and started eating it in big mouthfuls.

She can't die yet; she has to wait for someone to come and save her.

However, most of the food on the grassland was dried meat, and even the steamed buns were extremely dry and hard to swallow. She couldn't get used to it, but she still forced herself to swallow a lot.

The two maids went out. She was no longer tied up and had some freedom of movement, but she still couldn't go out.

Song Yi wandered around, trying to find a way out.

During this time, she tentatively went out the door, but as expected, she was blocked by two curved swords, so she had no choice but to go back.

Helpless, Song Yi tried for a long time but still couldn't come up with a solution.

She sat back down, closed her eyes to rest, and took the opportunity to think carefully about a solution.

After an unknown amount of time, footsteps suddenly came from outside the tent. The maids bowed, placed one hand on their chests, and said respectfully, "Khan."

This is Wolf Owl's father, and the current overlord of this grassland.

"Did Xiao'er bring back a woman from the Central Plains today?"

"Yes, I am currently confined to this tent."

He gave a casual reply, not intending to go in and look, but said in his rough voice, "Since she is a prisoner, take her to the dungeon."

"This is."

Suddenly, Song Yi was grabbed by the arms by two men and taken away.

Once outside, Song Yi observed the surrounding environment more closely.

Soldiers carrying scimitars were everywhere, and many wooden stakes were erected on the grassland, with various kinds of fresh beef and mutton hanging on them.

Many people stared at her curiously.

Song Yi felt a chill run down her spine and was forced to follow. She walked until she reached the edge of a pit. She stepped down the wooden stairs and the surrounding environment suddenly became dark. What came into view was a narrow, long passageway with torches hanging on the walls, barely illuminating the place.

It was not only dark down there, but also extremely damp, cold, and wet. As soon as she came down, she felt uncomfortable, as if the surrounding moisture was sticking to her skin, making it wet and suffocating.

Song Yi was led over and saw that there were many people locked in the cages on both sides.

The air was thick with the stench of blood.

She continued walking, almost to the end, before finally seeing the soldiers beside Jiang Lanye.

They all hung their heads, lifeless, and did not look up.

Song Yi was imprisoned in the cell next door.

They're gone.

Song Yi reached out and gripped the wooden railing, unable to help but whisper, "How long have you been locked up here?"

The moment she spoke, the soldier next door was startled.

"Whose voice is that? I can't believe my ears, can it be..."

Song Yi immediately shushed him and said, "I am a palace maid."

The sound from that side abruptly stopped.

They immediately realized what was going on.

Immediately, their anger surged wildly, almost bursting from their bodies. Clenching their fists tightly, they slammed them against the wall in a fit of rage and helplessness. It was one thing for them to be captured, but for the Imperial Concubine, someone of His Majesty's favor, to be captured and humiliated by these barbarians with such a noble status, was a disgrace to them!

But judging from what Song Yi said just now, this group of people still don't know that Song Yi is the Imperial Concubine.

This is good, so Song Yi can protect herself.

But if even she was captured, what about His Majesty and the others?
Despair filled the crowd, followed by the faint sound of suppressed sobs.

Hearing the commotion next door, Song Yi felt conflicted and tried to comfort him, saying, "It's not what you think. We didn't lose, and His Majesty is fine. It's just that I was captured."

Upon hearing this, they breathed a sigh of relief and then said:
"But... Your Highness, you are all alone here. Have they done anything to you? What should you do next?"

Song Yi's nose tingled with tears, and she said softly, "Now, we must trust His Majesty and believe that General Xie and the others will one day lead their troops to attack."

That's all they can think about now.

Song Yi spoke with them for a while, and after a while, a jailer came over and warned them to be quiet. Song Yi sat on a relatively clean stone bench in the corner and closed his eyes to rest.

Xie Ling must have already discovered that she had been captured, but Jiang Lanye was still unconscious.

Moreover, she is now essentially inside the main camp, so she is not so easily rescued.

Most importantly, Song Yi is currently preoccupied with avoiding one thing.

That is, what should Jiang Lanye do when he wakes up and finds that she is gone?

He couldn't stand Song Yi being away from him for even half an hour before. Now she's been kidnapped.

He still has injuries and hasn't fully recovered.

Thinking of this, Song Yi felt a wave of despair.

She closed her eyes and thought for a long time, her eyes slightly warmed, and she almost shed tears.

Immediately afterwards, Ashina Wolf Owl's voice suddenly rang out.

Why did Father insist on locking her up?

"Young master, this is the Khan's order, and we dare not disobey it."

He was somewhat dissatisfied. He walked to the cell where Song Yi was being held, looked at Song Yi, and chuckled, saying:

“This is a rabbit I caught. It’s not a threat. Father is being too cautious and letting it out.”

"This"

"Don't worry, I will speak to the Khan."

"Yes."

Immediately afterwards, the lock on the cell door was opened.

Song Yi opened her eyes and looked at him coldly.

Wolf Owl stepped forward, raised his hand to pinch her chin, looked down at her seriously, and deliberately said, "Look how pitiful you are. There might be rats in this cell. Even now, you still won't admit defeat to me?"

Song Yi was so angry she laughed, and chuckled, "Admit defeat? So many people would submit to you, do you think you're missing someone to admit defeat to you?"

Without saying a word, he grabbed Song Yi's wrist and forcibly pulled her up, saying, "Let's go."

As he passed the cell next door, he suddenly stopped.

"By the way, you should know them, right? Want to catch up?"

Song Yi did not look up at them.

The imprisoned soldiers saw this and glared at him angrily.

Wolf Owl raised an eyebrow and asked directly, "You should know her, right? She's the woman of your Central Plains Emperor?"

"What nonsense are you spouting? You call yourself Ashina Wolf Owl! Your actions are utterly unworthy of your name. You wouldn't even spare a palace maid who can't even kill a chicken!"

He glanced at Song Yi and laughed, "That's none of your business."

　Just a quick note: the part where Song Yi is kidnapped won't take up too much screen time. Think of it as Song Yi going through a solo adventure; she'll perform meritorious service later, and this part is necessary. She'll definitely return to the palace smoothly after the war is won! Love you all, thanks for your support!
　　(End of this chapter)