Jiang Nongqin was different from ordinary women. Although the two of them communicated their thoughts, Yang Si felt that there was still a gap between them.
She took the initiative to bring up the topic. Yang Si felt that he had finally written the first line. The rest was much simpler.
However, the two of them were not emotional people. They talked more about official matters.
He asked curiously, "Where did the lord capture Huang Song?"
Jiang Nongqin said, "It doesn't matter where. No matter where he is, he can't escape from the lord's palm."
Yang Si had a certain immunity to such diehard comments. He automatically ignored them.
"Did he have any extreme reactions when he was captured?"
Jiang Nongqin said, "He's like a turtle in a jar. What's the use of resisting? The lord treats him well. If he doesn't appreciate it, he'll die. "
Yang Si was speechless.
His "heart disease" was going to act up again.
Apart from a small number of people who were separated in the chaos, most of the mainstays under Huang Song's command were captured and became Jiang Pengji's prisoners.
The latter did not have the habit of abusing captives, but she would not treat defeated people as distinguished guests. Apart from Huang Song who was treated well, the other people's conditions were very ordinary. The food supply was the same as that of ordinary soldiers. Some people flew into a rage and knocked over their food. Some people ate in silence.
Cheng Jing was detained alone, so Wei Ci easily found him. When he saw Cheng Jing, Wei Ci was carrying a food box in his hand. There were a few plates of hot dishes and freshly made white rice on the top of the box. At the bottom was a set of clean clothes that he had never worn before.
Wei Ci did not expect to see Cheng Jing again. According to the trajectory of his previous life, the latter would commit suicide in prison.
On second thought, the friendship between Cheng Jing and Huang Song was not as deep as it was in his previous life. Naturally, he would not commit suicide for his master.
Cheng Jing was locked in a small tent. There were many soldiers guarding outside. He could not escape even if he had wings.
"Why are you here?" Cheng Jing put down his bowl and chopsticks. He raised his head to look at Wei Ci and said with understanding, "Did you become a lobbyist?"
It was dark inside the tent. There was only a dim oil lamp on the low table. It made Cheng Jing look even more haggard and wretched.
Wei Ci did not say anything. He bent down to take a few candles and kindling from the bottom of the food box and lit them up one by one. Only then did the tent become much brighter.
"My lord did not instruct me on this," Wei Ci said straightforwardly, "I'm just worried that my senior brother will be neglected, so I came over to take a look."
Under the candlelight, Wei Ci saw that Cheng Jing's chin had green stubble and his eyes were bloodshot. Where was his usual elegant demeanor?
Cheng Jing did not get angry. He would not be surprised if Wei Ci was really a lobbyist.
"You rarely call me Senior Brother Jing."
Wei Ci was considered Master Yuanjing's last disciple. The seniority of the disciples did not depend on their age, but on the time they joined the sect.
"After all, we're from the same sect. Whether you call him Senior Brother or Youmo, isn't it still the same person?"
Wei Ci took a seat opposite Cheng Jing and took out the dishes from the food box. The aroma of the food assailed their nostrils and made their thumbs twitch.
Even though Cheng Jing didn't have much of an appetite right now, when he smelled the aroma of food, he faintly felt hungry.
The corners of Cheng Jing's mouth twitched as he forced a smile.
"Zixiao wants to use this to bribe people?"
Wei Ci said as he took out two jars of wine. "Today, we won't talk about official matters. We'll just reminisce about the past."
Cheng Jing's temperament was different from his other brothers. Wei Ci wasn't confident that he could convince him to join the lord.
Wei Ci might not believe it, but this time, he was really here to take care of Senior Brother Cheng Jing.
There was one thing that Wei Ci didn't understand in his previous and current lives. Why did Cheng Jing follow Huang Song?
Wasn't his "Dao" to follow the will of heaven and support the orthodox?
Whether it was in terms of family background or personal charm, Huang Song was worlds apart from the word "orthodox".
Wei Ci asked without hesitation.
Cheng Jing took a sip of wine. This wine was very different from what he usually drank. The taste was more mellow, and there was a burning sensation as it flowed down his throat. The aftereffect was quite strong. After drinking a few cups, his face turned red. His eyes were watery and he was also a little sleepy.
"Zixiao, do you know the origin of the lord's … Bogao's ancestors?"
Wei Ci was stunned. "Isn't this person from the Yuanshi family?"
Cheng Jing said, "Bogao's branch is the only surviving descendant of the Xia royal family. In the last years of the Xia Kingdom, the royal family was almost wiped out. Our ancestors were grateful for the great ancestor's promotion, so they risked their lives to escort the last emperor's young daughter to escape. They hid in a branch of the family and carefully took care of her as she grew up. However, no one told her her identity. Our ancestors also treated her as their own daughter. At that time, the world was divided into five countries. If her identity was revealed, not only would it harm her, it would also implicate the Cheng family. "
Wei Ci suddenly understood something.
"In that case, the last emperor's concubine married into the Yuanshi family?"
Cheng Jing nodded, confirming Wei Ci's words. At that time, the Yuanshi family was still considered a prominent martial family. The Cheng family married the concubine into this family in order to better protect this bloodline. Who would have thought that the ancestors of the Yuanshi family would make mistakes one after another, and in just two generations, they fell into such dire straits.
Huang Song's grandfather committed a crime and almost implicated the three families. It was only with the help of the Cheng family that the matter was settled.
The death penalty could be forgiven, but punishment was inevitable. Huang Song's father was exiled and died halfway through.
The orphan and widowed mother had no one to rely on, and the Yuanshi family refused to take care of them. Huang Song's mother could only rely on her embroidery skills to earn money to support the family.
When Huang Song's mother was widowed, she was still very young. By chance, she caught the eye of the Dongqing Emperor's favorite chamberlain, Huang Tan, and he came to ask for her hand in marriage.
Huang Song's mother remarried, and Huang Song's father changed his surname to Huang Tan's stepson. Huang Song naturally followed his father's surname.
Not many people knew about this old past, even Huang Song himself did not know.
Of course, Cheng Jing assisted him partly because of their bloodline, but also because Huang Song had his merits.
If he could restore the glory of his ancestors, that would be the best.
"Senior brother, tell me about this …"
Wei Ci was a little puzzled. According to the normal scenario, if the lord knew that Huang Song had this relationship, Huang Song's life would be in danger.
Cheng Jing said, "The remaining power of the Xia Kingdom has long been gone. Whether Bogao has royal blood or not, does it matter?"
Moreover, there were only a few people who knew about this matter, and most of them were dying.
Who would believe that the grandson of a eunuch in the eyes of outsiders was actually the last descendant of the previous dynasty's royal family?
"Senior brother also said that the Xia Kingdom no longer exists. Do you still insist that they are the legitimate ones?" Wei Ci asked.
Cheng Jing smiled and said, "That depends on whether the Duke of Lanting that you serve can become the 'legitimate' one."
When others heard this, they would probably think that Cheng Jing had the intention to pledge allegiance, but Wei Ci knew very well that he was determined not to pledge allegiance.
Unless …
Unless the lord can really ascend to the throne!
Wei Ci sighed and said, "Senior brother, do you have the heart to waste your time and be an idler in the mountains?"
Cheng Jing said, "This is not a question of whether I have the heart or not. This is a question of whether the Duke of Lanting is willing to fulfill my wish."
He did not have the initiative.
Cheng Jing was not against serving Jiang Pengji, but it was not the current her.
Wei Ci said, "Senior brother, don't you think it's a pity?"
What a waste of a good time.
If the world was at peace, it would be extremely difficult for Cheng Jing to be put in an important position. Would he really not be depressed in the future?
Cheng Jing said, "There's Wei Ci, Yang Si, and Han Yu. Cheng Jing is not missing."
The Yuans under Huang Song were the only ones who were powerful. He had seen how much harm they had caused.
If the Langya branch was completely powerful, would Jiang Pengji feel that she could not do anything alone?
It was better to retreat in the face of the current and seek peace. It would not be too late to become an official after the world was at peace.
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