The heavy iron door was slowly pulled open. The well-oiled mechanism did not creak, but this silent pressure made the people of the Overwatch Council, who were guarding the door, feel nervous.
Fan Xian lowered his head slightly, and his left eyelid twitched. He felt a faint chill coming from behind the iron door. It seemed that this man, who should have been in his seventies or eighties, who should have lived only in the pages of history, after being imprisoned for 20 years, still exuded the aura of a secret agent.
The sound of the iron chains dragging across the stone floor was somewhat ear-piercing. The sound grew louder and louder, indicating that the man inside was getting closer and closer to the iron door.
Fan Xian raised his head and looked calmly at the iron door. He thought about how Chen Pingping had led the Black Knights in a surprise attack during the Second Northern Expedition, and how he had captured Xiao En, who had secretly returned to his hometown to attend a wedding, and brought him back to Northern Qi. But because of this, Chen Pingping's legs were crippled. This Xiao En was truly a powerful man.
After Xiao En was captured by the Kingdom of Qing, the Kingdom of Qing went on another Northern Expedition. After three Northern Expeditions, the once insufferably powerful Northern Wei was beaten to the brink of death. In the end, it split into countless smaller countries. Directly inheriting Northern Wei's power and most of its territory was the Northern Wei Jiedushi, the Zhan family, who established the country as Qi.
This was the origin of the Kingdom of Northern Qi. Back then, General Zhan Qingfeng had been demoted for no reason, and Northern Wei had fallen apart. In the end, it was the Zhan family who had emerged from this terrible mess. This was truly a strange thing.
...
...
The spring sun shone gently through the tall trees outside the prison and onto the iron door, leaving mottled marks on the door. At the same time, it lightly imprinted itself on the old man's face. The sound of the iron chains dragging across the floor suddenly stopped, and an old sigh rang out.
Outside the iron door, the four swordsmen of the Sixth Bureau of the Overwatch Council gripped their ropes tightly, as if they were facing a great enemy. They were far away from the shackles, and there was a man in the shackles. His hair was a mess, and his wrists and feet were shackled with steel, but his clothes were very clean.
That old sigh came from the wrinkled lips under the disheveled hair. After the sigh, the old man faintly sighed again, "The taste of sunlight, it's been a long time."
This was, of course, Xiao En, who had been locked up by the Kingdom of Qing for 20 years. Seeing him walk out of the Celestial Prison, the guards of the Overwatch Council grew nervous. It was as if they could smell the sweet scent of blood in the air. Fan Xian frowned slightly. This man's aura could easily drive someone mad. Everyone gripped their swords tightly in their hands, or their fingers tightened on the triggers of their crossbows, aiming at the tall but stooped old man.
A dull thud resounded!
The former head of the Seventh Bureau, who was now a prison guard with turbid eyes, walked forward and smacked Xiao En's back with a rod for no reason at all!
Xiao En didn't seem to feel anything. He slowly turned his head to look at the former head of the Seventh Bureau of the Overwatch Council. He let out a soft breath and blew away his messy hair, revealing a pair of cold, serene eyes and a pair of withered lips. In a raspy voice, he said, "Old neighbor, we've lived together for 20 years. I'm about to leave, and you're just going to send me off like this?"
The former head of the Seventh Bureau slowly closed his eyes and lowered the rod in his hand, as if afraid of Xiao En's eyes. He took two deep breaths and said, "These are all young people. Why must you provoke them? If they accidentally kill you now, I don't think you'll be satisfied. "
Xiao En slowly blinked and looked at the handsome young man in the crowd surrounding him.
Fan Xian noticed that he was looking at him. He forced his zhenqi to steady his mind and smiled back.
Xiao En was a little surprised that such a young man could be so calm. He shook his head and said to the prison guard, "I'm leaving the Kingdom of Qing. I don't think you'll have to stay in the Celestial Prison any longer. But I think you must be hoping that I'm dead. Otherwise, I'll find a way to make you pay me back for the 20 years we've been together. "
The prison guard was expressionless. "I wish you a safe journey. Don't ever come back."
Xiao En laughed hoarsely. "I'll definitely come back." He looked at the prison guard's face and said, emphasizing each word, "No matter how much you torture me, I'll use it on your children."
The prison guard closed his eyes. He knew that if Xiao En could regain control of the dark forces of Northern Qi, then he would be able to exact his revenge on him. It would be extremely difficult for him to protect his family.
Xiao En threw his head back and laughed. The heavy chains on his body began to clang, as if he was afraid that this terrifying figure would soon be freed.
The people of the Overwatch Council were incredibly nervous. Only Fan Xian, hearing the hatred in his opponent's laughter, felt slightly nervous and narrowed his eyes. He still didn't understand why the Eldest Princess was playing this game.
…
…
The air outside the Overwatch Council's prison was incredibly tense. It was as if there was a faint bloody light emanating from the man in the shackles.
At that moment, there was a creaking sound, and the ordinary, black wheelchair slowly approached the shackles.
Fei Jie was pushing the wheelchair, and Chen Pingping was sitting in it.
The wheelchair didn't make a loud sound, but it was like a bell that shook everyone out of their nervousness. Everyone saw that the director had arrived, and for some reason, they all let out a collective sigh of relief.
They were nervous facing Xiao En, because they didn't know what this legendary figure would do once he was released from prison.
Chen Pingping's arrival put everyone at ease, because all the officials of the Overwatch Council deeply believed that as long as Director Chen was here, Xiao En could not rebel.
Chen Pingping slowly raised his head and looked at the old acquaintance in the shackles. "What are you laughing at?" His voice carried a trace of disdain, and a trace of amusement.
Xiao En, with his head full of disheveled hair, looked at Chen Pingping in the wheelchair, and suddenly said, "I'm laughing at the fact that your legs were destroyed by my hands."
Chen Pingping smiled and shook his head. "I thought you were laughing at your tragic life. You've been locked up by me for twenty years. What else do you need to say? I'm the victor, and you're the loser. This is a fact that history has long determined, and you will never be able to change it. "
Xiao En roared, and his white hair flew back like swords. In his rage, he took two steps forward, and the chains shook violently. The four swordsmen of the Sixth Bureau, who were holding the shackles, exerted all their strength to hold him back. The two forces clashed, and a cloud of dust rose in front of the prison.
Chen Pingping, however, was not nervous at all. He looked at him with pity. "You're already so old, how can you still be so angry?"
Xiao En suddenly closed his eyes and faced the sky. After a long time, he opened them again, and a cold light shone from them. "Chen Pingping, do you really dare to let me go back to the north?"
Chen Pingping smiled. "Go back and enjoy your retirement. Behave yourself. I'm also old now, and I can't be bothered to go so far to catch you."
Xiao En's voice was as sharp as a knife, and his aged voice was like the rust on a knife. It scraped against everyone's ears. "My son died by your hand at the wedding. I don't think you'll ever have the chance to catch me again."
Chen Pingping waved his hand, and Fan Xian walked over with a smile on his face. The closer he got to Xiao En, the more he felt his innate coldness, but his expression remained unchanged.
"We're already old. What else can you do? If one day I have to catch you … "Chen Pingping smiled." Xiao En, this is Fan Xian. He's my successor. He'll be with you on this trip to the north. I don't think you'll be lonely. "
Xiao En turned slightly, and the shackles clanged against the chains again. The old man gazed at this young, handsome official of the Overwatch Council through the strands of hair in front of his eyes. He didn't say anything for a while. Only now did Fan Xian see clearly the lingering hatred in Xiao En's eyes.
Pushing the wheelchair, Fei Jie slowly said, "Sir Xiao En, I was the one who poisoned the wedding. Coincidentally, Fan Xian is my student. "
Chen Pingping and Fei Jie smiled at the same time. Fan Xian smiled at the perfect moment. "Senior Xiao En, if there's anything in the future, I'll be the one to accompany you."
Xiao En chuckled, but there was no joy in his laughter. It was cold and murderous. His greatest defeat in this life had been given to him by Chen Pingping and Fei Jie. He had never imagined that the young man who would be escorting him back to the north would have such a deep connection with them. He tilted his head slightly to look at Fan Xian. "You're still too young. You'll have to be careful on the road."
Fan Xian bowed politely. "I'll learn from you on the road."
— — — —
The grass by the side of the road was as fine as jade. Low branches hung in the sky beside the carriages. The silent carriages left the prison of the Overwatch Council and followed Tianhe Avenue to the north of the city. Along the way, the city patrol yamen had set up checkpoints. There was no one on the long street, only soldiers standing guard. In the distance, a few crossbowmen of the Sixth Bureau could be seen, occupying the eaves of a few buildings.
The side gate of the palace was closed. The commander of the palace, Gong Dian, looked coldly at the carriages in the distance. Suddenly, he said, "I admire Fan Xian."
The general beside him frowned. "Sir?"
Gong Dian's lips curled up. "You've never had any dealings with Xiao En, so you don't know how dangerous this trip will be. Fan Xian's name is known throughout the land, and he's a member of the royal family. There's no need for him to go to Northern Qi. But this kid has the guts to accept this mission... I really admire him. "
…
…
Fan Xian sat in the first carriage and closed his eyes to rest. The real diplomatic mission had left the capital the day before. Fan Xian and his entourage, including himself, had been delayed to the end because of the secret agreement to trade Xiao En for Yan Bingyun. Last night, he had prevented his family from seeing him off. His entire mind was focused on this mission.
Fan Xian seemed to be falling asleep with the rise and fall of the carriage, but he was thinking about many things. Aside from Xiao En, Si Lili's plan for the House of Red Sleeves was also very tricky. Only now did he remember that the gentle woman he had spent a night with was in the carriage behind him. He couldn't help but be slightly startled.
At that moment, the carriage jolted. He knew that the carriage had rolled over the stone ridge at the north gate of the capital.
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