Denghuangtai

The twenty-first year of the Jianyuan era.

Season winter, New Year's day.

Imperial Prison.

Outside, snow was falling heavily and the wind was howling. Inside the prison cell, it was dark, damp, and chilling to the bone.

Pei Qingyan curled up on the cold straw mat, her eyes closed, her head spinning, her consciousness swirling in endless darkness and excruciating pain.

Besides his own heavy, labored breathing, all he could hear were screams coming from the direction of the interrogation room.

"It'll be soon," Pei Qingyan thought to himself.

She was escorted to Beijing yesterday, and it seems that someone will come to interrogate her soon.

The methods of the Court of Justice and the Imperial Prison are always ruthless. I wonder how many rounds she can withstand from those people in her condition.

Pei Qingyan opened her eyes and tried to sit up. The Pei family had led troops for generations and were all brave and upright men. Although she was imprisoned, seriously injured, and on the verge of death, she could not lose the spirit of the Pei family.

In particular, now that the Pei family is full of loyal martyrs, she is the only one left.

In early spring, her robust father suddenly died in Chang'an. In May, her elder brother, who was in charge of guarding the southwest, was executed on the battlefield for violating military discipline.

Because of her involvement in the murder case, she was escorted back to Beijing from the north to await her fate.

How could there be such a bizarre coincidence that the Pei family members keep having accidents one after another?

She doesn't believe it!

Pei Qingyan bit her tongue, the intense pain mixed with the taste of blood between her lips and teeth. She forcefully tore a hole in the chaos, and her consciousness returned.

She had to live to find out the truth for herself, her father, and her brothers!

The distant wails seemed to have subsided somewhat, and with the creaking sound of the iron gate opening, a series of footsteps approached from afar.

"Your Excellency... is right inside, please watch your step."

A fawning voice rang out.

"Lingjun" is a respectful title for the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat.

If I remember correctly, the current Minister of the Imperial Secretariat is Yun Zheng, the nephew of Consort Yun.

An extremely handsome face appeared in Pei Qingyan's mind.

Five years ago, she left the capital in a hurry, thinking that she would never have anything to do with this person again in her life. Unexpectedly, the first person to interrogate her would be him.

"Open the door."

Yun Zheng's voice rang out, carrying an undeniable air of authority.

The copper lock was opened, and Pei Qingyan struggled to look up at the person who had entered.

Several years had passed since they last met, and the man before her, with his sinister and ruthless expression, was completely different from the cool and clear-headed young man she remembered.

Yun Zheng stood in the doorway with his back to the light, his brows furrowed and his gaze fixed on her, sending chills down her spine.

"General Pei, it's been five years. How have you been?"

Yun Zheng spoke in a flat tone, but his words were full of sarcasm.

"I am perfectly fine."

Pei Qingyan sat leaning against the corner of the wall, covered in wounds, yet his tone remained calm.

"Is that so?" Yun Zheng's voice was cold, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. He stepped forward, reached out and tore open Pei Qingyan's half-closed collar, revealing a thick iron chain that pierced through her collarbone and out through her back. The wound was gruesome and the blood had dried and turned black.

As Yun Zheng's movements became somewhat rough, blood seeped from the wound, but even so, Pei Qingyan didn't even flinch.

Yun Zheng stared at the crimson bloodstain for a long time, then sneered, "General Pei now has some of the bearing of a general."

What was clearly a compliment came out of Yun Zheng's mouth with a hint of sarcasm.

Pei Qingyan raised his eyes to look at Yun Zheng, and after a long while, slowly said, "Lord Yun, you didn't come here just to praise me, did you?"

"Five years ago, your father caused my father to die on the battlefield, his body never to be found. Now that your father and brothers are dead, and your death is imminent, out of consideration for our past relationship, I can let you choose how to die."

"What if I don't want to die?"

Yun Zheng sneered, "You killed the imperial envoy, and there's plenty of evidence. Do you think you still have a chance to live?"

"Originally, the hope was slim, but now that I see Yun Lingjun, I feel that the opportunity has arrived."

Yun Zheng remained indifferent, his gaze fixed on Pei Qingyan with increasing hatred. He leaned down and gripped Pei Qingyan's neck tightly. "Pei Qingyan, are you looking for death?"

Pei Qingyan's face, which had been deathly pale from blood loss, instantly turned bright red, but her expression remained unchanged. Her voice was low and hoarse, "Lord Yun, I've heard that Old Madam Dou is suffering from a strange illness and urgently needs ice silkworms for medicine..."

Yun Zheng loosened his grip slightly, his eyes growing even colder.

At the beginning of the year, his grandmother suddenly began to fall into a deep sleep frequently, and her health gradually deteriorated. The Yun family searched far and wide for renowned doctors, and after many twists and turns, they finally obtained a cure from a hermit.

The problem is that this formula requires the Ice Silkworm as a medicinal ingredient. Legend has it that this creature grows in the frigid Arctic, and is extremely cold and poisonous; touching it will result in death. For centuries, its name has been heard but its form has never been seen.

Yun Zheng sent out more than a dozen groups of guards, but they all returned empty-handed.

His gaze fell on Pei Qingyan, his tone growing colder: "You have an ice silkworm?"

"I want to make a deal with you, Lord Ling. I'll exchange the Ice Silkworm for your help."

"Your crime is irrefutable. The Court of Justice will interrogate you and sentence you to death. I can't help you."

"The deal with Yun Lingjun will not help me escape; I have other ways to get out of this predicament."

"What do you want me to do?"

"I'm just using your connections to investigate some information; it won't harm you."

Yun Zheng released his grip on Pei Qingyan, his expression shifting unpredictably, a silent surge of malice welling up in his eyes.

After a long silence, his cold voice rang out again: "If you can successfully escape within three days, I will consider cooperation."

Yun Zheng leaned down, his icy breath brushing against Pei Qingyan's ear. "You'd better really have the Ice Silkworm, otherwise, before the Court of Justice convicts you, I'll take your life myself."