Denghuangtai

"You won't even let me slack off when I'm about to die?" Pei Qingyan retorted immediately, not to be outdone.

"Whatever." Yun Zheng rolled his eyes and ignored Pei Qingyan. He had been so concerned that he hadn't figured out Pei Qingyan's purpose in arranging for people to kowtow. Although he still didn't understand what Pei Qingyan was up to, he had at least figured out one thing after calming down.

Pei Qingyan is not someone who will surrender easily; she must have her reasons for doing this.

Perhaps, she really can use this to buy herself a chance to survive.

Even if it's not possible...

That's okay.

Yun Zheng raised his teacup, took a sip, and the teacup concealed a hint of calculation that flashed in his eyes.

He was willing to sit here and argue with Pei Qingyan just to buy time.

As long as... it's delayed until that matter is accomplished, Pei Qingyan's predicament today can be resolved.

"I'll say this," Pei Qingyan sat up, looking at Yun Zheng, "I heard that death row inmates are given a lavish meal before being sent to the execution ground. Why don't I get that treatment? Are you being stingy and unwilling to have it prepared for me?"

Yun Zheng scoffed and said disdainfully, "I'm not so destitute that I have to cut off the food of a dying person."

Pei Qingyan gestured with his hand towards the empty, upturned table outside the teacup, responding silently.

"Someone come here." Yun Zheng turned his head and ordered loudly, "Serve General Pei his dishes."

As soon as he finished speaking, several prison guards walked in with their heads bowed and carrying several food boxes. They knelt silently in front of the two men and placed the food plates from the boxes onto the table.

"how?"

Pei Qingyan glanced at the table and saw that it was full of dishes she used to love.

Years have passed, and the two of them have reached a point of no return. It's remarkable that Yun Zheng still remembers her preferences from back then.

"General Pei remains silent. Is he dissatisfied with the meal I prepared?"

Yun Zheng's deep voice pulled Pei Qingyan back to reality from her thoughts. Pei Qingyan coughed lightly, deliberately being unreasonable, and said, "I'm not very satisfied."

Tell me about it.

"It lacks dragon liver and phoenix gall, and is devoid of bear paws and deer blood."

"You certainly dare to dream," Yun Zheng mocked, rubbing his temples as he said slowly, "Tell me what I can get your hands on."

"Is this all the Grand Minister is capable of?" Pei Qingyan clicked his tongue repeatedly. "It is said that a Taoist should be viewed with new eyes after three days of separation. After five years, I thought the Grand Minister would have made some progress. Back when I rescued you from the bear, you were just a teenager. Now, the Grand Minister is well past adulthood, and you still can't handle a bear?"

Yun Zheng remained silent, gazing intently at Pei Qingyan.

Pei Qingyan didn't flinch, sitting there calmly. She even raised her eyebrows at Yun Zheng provocatively, smiling smugly.

After a long while, Yun Zheng turned his head and said loudly, "Someone go and bring General Pei a bear."

The chief clerk entered in response, but froze on the spot upon hearing Yun Zheng's instructions. After a long while, he forced himself to say, "My lord, these bears have a habit of hibernating, so it will be difficult to find them at this time of year."

"If you can't have bear paws, deer blood will do."

Pei Qingyan made a very "thoughtful" suggestion.

"This..." The chief secretary frowned, stealing a glance at Yun Zheng's reaction, hoping that his lord could reject Pei Qingyan's unrealistic idea.

"Alas. I have spent my whole life fighting for the Great Zhao, and now that I am about to die, I can't even get a bite to eat." Pei Qingyan shook his head and sighed, his voice almost choked with sobs.

Yun Zheng's temples throbbed with pain. "Go! Get it done for her!"

Upon hearing this, the chief clerk's heart sank to the bottom. He sighed silently and muttered to himself, "I was blind to expect the lord to refuse this living ancestor."

The chief clerk resignedly turned around, but before he could leave the cell, Pei Qingyan's voice rang out behind him again.

"etc."

The chief secretary closed his eyes in pain, sighed deeply, and turned away helplessly.

"Don't forget the dragon liver and phoenix..."

Before Pei Qingyan could finish speaking, Yun Zheng interrupted her, saying coldly, "General Pei, go and find me a pair of dragons and phoenixes."

If it were anyone else, seeing Yun Zheng's expression at this moment, they would certainly not dare to act recklessly again, but Pei Qingyan is different. Not only did she not restrain herself, but she became even more outrageous.

She said calmly, "I'd like to go and find you, but would you release me from the imperial prison?"

"You're dreaming."

Pei Qingyan shrugged, looking innocent. "Look, you won't let me out, yet you want me to go find Longfeng. How am I supposed to find him? In this prison?"

She tapped her fingers on the table. "Grand Minister, you're being a bit too difficult."

"Pei Qingyan, do you believe I'll send you on your way right now?" Yun Zheng threatened through gritted teeth.

"Alright." Pei Qingyan raised his hands in surrender, taking a step back. "I don't want these, can I get something I usually use instead?"

"you say."

"It's a bit cold, would you like a heater?"

Yun Zheng pointed to the object beside him, "General Pei, if keeping your eyes is useless, you might as well gouge them out."

Pei Qingyan touched his nose. "The charcoal inside is wrong. I need beast-gold charcoal."

Yun Zheng propped his head up with his hand, staring at Pei Qingyan with great interest, and asked, "I'm very curious, General Pei, how did you manage to stay in the desolate Shuofang City for five years, given your pickiness?"

"Who cares about these things when war breaks out?" Pei Qingyan replied casually.

Yun Zheng's eyes flashed, and a layer of pity and heartache appeared between his brows. He lowered his eyes so that Pei Qingyan would not see his sudden change. "Never mind."

He deliberately used a condescending tone, "Considering you've fought bravely and endured the elements on the border, I'll go all the way. Is there anything else you want? Just say it."

"I want the sun in the sky," Pei Qingyan said shamelessly.

Yun Zheng's tone instantly turned cold. "General Pei, please give me some pointers on what mortals can do."

After saying that, Yun Zheng still felt it was a bit too broad, so he added, "They can get this cell in a short time."

"What good stuff could someone who can get their hands on this place possibly have?" Pei Qingyan scoffed.

"Are you going to tell me or not? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"I'll say it! Let me think..." Pei Qingyan pondered for a long time, then finally came up with an idea. "First, bring me a pot of Yicheng Jiu Yun tea, served in a stemmed cup. Then bring me a pot of wine, served in a begonia-shaped stone and banana leaf cup. Replace the tea with Ju Yan tea, and the teacups won't do either, replace them with apricot-rhinoceros teacups. And these bowls and plates..."

Pei Qingyan rattled off a long list, from food and drinks to bowls, plates, and cups, to tables, chairs, and even cushions.

The chief clerk, listening from the side, couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement, thinking to himself, "In the whole world, only this living ancestor dares to push his luck like this."

Pei Qingyan didn't have the ability to read minds, so he couldn't hear the Chief Secretary's thoughts. Of course, even if he could hear them, he wouldn't hold back in the slightest.

She pointed to the dim candlelight outside the cell bars, "This thing is too dark. Bring me that purple-gold cloud candlestick. I want white candles."

Pei Qingyan made exorbitant demands, requiring items that were either from the imperial palace or tributes from foreign lands, all of which were extremely rare. Ordinary wealthy families would find it very difficult to even see one or two of them, let alone possess them.

However, this is not her fault. Pei Xuan was a skilled warrior and was favored by the late emperor. Whenever he made meritorious contributions, the late emperor would reward him with countless rare treasures. Later, Pei Xuan married the late emperor's elder sister, and with Princess Huaiyang in the family, Pei Xuan's Grand Marshal's Mansion received countless rewards from the palace every year.

Having grown up in such an environment, Pei Qingyan was naturally more knowledgeable and worldly than ordinary wealthy children. The things she mentioned were nothing more than the things she used in her daily life.

"Is there anything else?" Yun Zheng asked.

That's all for now.

Upon hearing this, Yun Zheng turned his head and gestured with his chin to the chief secretary, signaling him to go and prepare.

The chief clerk resigned himself to his fate and left, leaving only Pei Qingyan and Yun Zheng in the prison cell.

Pei Qingyan still felt a little dizzy. She shook her head and leaned back against the armrest. Yun Zheng sat opposite her, quietly watching her.

This was, in fact, the first time the two had been so calm since their reunion, with neither confrontation nor mutual sarcasm. They simply sat facing each other.

The cell fell silent.

After an unknown amount of time, suddenly exclamations came from outside, each one louder than the last, followed by the sound of gongs and drums!

Yun Zheng suddenly stood up. "What happened?"