News gathered from all sides, through all sorts of channels, gathered in that courtyard in the southwest corner of Shangjing. The diplomatic mission confirmed that Xiao En had already secretly entered Shangjing. As for where he was being held, perhaps only the mother and son in the palace, as well as Master Shen of the Discipline Commission, knew. It was strange to say that the Northern Qi royal court had welcomed Xiao En with great fanfare at Wuduhe, but the return to the capital was completely silent. Presumably, Shang Shanhu and those who wanted Xiao En dead were still engaged in a tug-of-war.
For Fan Xian, Xiao En's life and death were not within the scope of his consideration. To be more precise, once he entered Shangjing, Fan Xian had no way of knowing whether Xiao En lived or died until he had enough confidence to mobilize the hidden forces in the north.
Unless Wu Zhu came, or rather, unless Wu Zhu brought the chest to Fan Xian.
This was another question that had been plaguing Fan Xian: why did the usually cold and inhuman Uncle Wu Zhu insist on not entering the north? Could it be that there was someone on this land he did not wish to see?
On the other hand, it was clear that Fan Xian's proposal to Chang Ninghou was beginning to take effect. That proposal contained great benefits, and it had successfully enticed some people. A meeting with Master Shen of the Discipline Commission had also been secretly arranged. Fan Xian knew that although these things seemed to be secretive, his mother in the palace in Shangjing would certainly be watching all of this from the shadows.
She would not completely trust Fan Xian, but he had to try.
Fan Xian did not trust him at all, but he had thrown out the bait, and he always hoped to catch something.
On the surface, it seemed that Wei Shaoqing was still stalling, but in reality, both sides of the negotiation had already felt that the process was gradually speeding up. Although it was still a little behind the bottom line that Fan Xian had strongly requested, on a fine, sunny day, the Chamberlain of Dependencies and the Discipline Commission secretly issued a joint document, and the diplomatic mission finally had the opportunity to meet with Yan Bingyun.
That day, the sky was clear, and there was not a single cloud in the porcelain blue sky. Fan Xian put his hand on the awning, shielding himself from the blazing sun. His lips curled into a smile, and he thought of the opening he often used in elementary school in his previous life.
He was very happy, and also a little excited. During the journey, before the deal was made, the darkness hidden in the deepest part of his heart had almost made him make certain trades. Fortunately, none of this had become reality. Just as he had said a long time ago, Fan Xian admired this young master Yan, whom he had never met before. He admired him very much.
A son of a high-ranking official was able to give up glory, splendor, wealth, and travel to a faraway foreign country. With great difficulty, he took on the role of a spy on the northern border, and he had done an exceptional job, successfully infiltrating the upper echelons of Northern Qi. Just from this, Fan Xian knew that this Master Yan was in many ways more outstanding than he was.
The place where Yan Bingyun was imprisoned was a heavily guarded manor on the outskirts of Shangjing. Not far from the manor was a military camp, and both inside and outside the manor were guarded by the Brocade Guards of Northern Qi. Yan Bingyun was imprisoned in a heavily guarded manor on the outskirts of Shangjing. Not far from the manor was a military camp, and both the inside and outside of the manor were guarded by the Northern Qi Brocade Guard.
This building was not as antique as the other buildings in Shangjing. It was purely made of hard stone and did not have a courtyard. Looking from the corner tower, one would be able to see all the moving objects on the lawn. It was really a good place to imprison people.
Today, Fan Xian had only brought Wang Qinian to visit Yan Bingyun. Gao Da belonged to the Tiger Guards, and Lin Jing and Lin Wen belonged to the Office of the Grand Herald. They had little to do with the affairs of the Overwatch Council, so it was not convenient for them to come.
Wei Hua spoke to Fan Xian calmly. "Master Fan, look at this place. The birds are singing, the flowers are fragrant, the grass is flat, and the wind is soft. Our court treats your people well, doesn't it?"
Fan Xian's expression was even colder than his. "Even if it's a paradise, after living here for a long time, it's still just a prison."
The vice-provost of the Brocade Guard spoke. "Even if it's a prison, it's still much more comfortable than the dungeons of the Overwatch Council." This high-ranking official of the Brocade Guard thought of the wretched state the old man had been in when his subordinates had picked up Xiao En at the border.
Fan Xian frowned. He hated this vice-provost the most. After the diplomatic mission entered the capital, he should have been the one to liaise with the two sides. Who knew that he would go into hiding? Fan Xian still had not figured out the official positions in Northern Qi. He was clearly a member of the Brocade Guard, so why was the leader called the Provost of the Discipline Commission, while his subordinate spy was called the Provost? When he first heard this name, he almost thought that he was from the military.
"What's the point of talking so much? I want to go in and see someone. " Fan Xian looked at the provost coldly. Xiao En had suffered in the south for 20 years, but after Yan Bingyun had been captured, who knew how much torture he had endured? It was already not easy for him to live this long.
— — —
Before meeting Yan Bingyun, Fan Xian had already imagined many scenes. For example, Yan Bingyun would be hung on a rack, his skin split open, his fingers pierced by ten steel needles, his toenails stripped bare, revealing the tender flesh underneath, his smooth skin scorched by a soldering iron, and even his youthful gums had already entered the stage of old age, completely bald.
Of course, this was the worst possible scenario.
Fan Xian had also imagined that Yan Bingyun might be sitting on a soft couch, surrounded by brocade quilts, with four or five Northern Qi beauties with bare legs and half-exposed breasts surrounding him, feeding him grapes. The grape juice dripped onto Yan Bingyun's extremely supple chest, and the beauties next to him carefully dabbed it with a soft towel.
Of course, this was the worst possible scenario.
There was also a strange imagination that lingered in Fan Xian's mind. Perhaps when he first met Yan Bingyun, he would pounce on him like a wounded tiger, ready to tear him to pieces, snot and tears running down his face as he complained that the people in the Council had not cared about his life, and that the people of the motherland had come too late.
Of course, this was the least likely scenario.
But no matter how he imagined it, when Fan Xian walked into the room, he still felt that the human imagination was quite lacking, and that his own was not that strong either. He looked at the young man sitting on the chair and opened his mouth slightly in shock. He had not expected Yan Bingyun's current situation to be like this.
Vice minister Wei and the vice-provost clearly had not expected this either, and they opened their mouths to cry out in surprise.
…
…
The room was decorated simply and elegantly. There was a large bed, a desk, and a few other everyday furnishings. It did not look like a torture chamber, but more like a home. Fan Xian did not know if Northern Qi knew he was coming and had arranged this at the last minute. His eyes were only fixed on the chair.
Sitting on the chair was a young man with a cold expression. This young man was extremely handsome, with thin lips and sharp eyebrows. In terms of physiognomy, he was an extremely fickle person. To everyone's surprise, there was a young lady lying on the young man's lap. The young lady's soft sobs echoed in the quiet room!
Fan Xian finally closed his astonished mouth tightly, but his heart was a mess. He smiled bitterly as he thought about how he and his entourage had been so worried about the head spy of the Qing Kingdom. How could they have known that in this cell, there would be a romantic drama, and not the scene of 007 being tortured as he had imagined?
The young man on the chair was Yan Bingyun. When he noticed that a few people had walked in from outside and that two of them were wearing Qing official robes, he frowned. Just like that, a cold aura began to permeate the room.
This coldness even startled the sobbing girl lying on Yan Bingyun's lap. The girl raised her head in surprise and looked back at the people at the door. Only now did Fan Xian realize that the girl had delicate features, and there was a sense of gentleness between her brows. Presumably, she was the daughter of a wealthy family, but he did not know how she had come to be in such a heavily guarded cell.
"Miss Shen?" Wei Hua was shocked and yelled, "Guards! Escort the young lady out. "
"Shen?" Fan Xian frowned again, feeling that things were getting more and more interesting.
A few Brocade Guards rushed in from outside the door. Wei Hua's face was ashen as he scolded, "What are you doing? How could you let Miss Shen come to such a dangerous place? " The vice-provost's face was also full of anger, and he slapped them across the face. After a few slaps, the Brocade Guards responsible for guarding the important criminals covered their faces and walked to Miss Shen's side, not daring to reach out.
"Miss Shen? If you still don't leave, don't blame me for being rough. "The vice-provost bowed to Miss Shen.
Wei Hua also walked to her side and advised gently, "Little Sister Shen, it's better to return. Otherwise, if Uncle Shen finds out about this matter, he won't beat you to death."
…
…
Fan Xian's gaze did not meet Yan Bingyun's. He only quietly looked at the girl on Yan Bingyun's knees. This girl's surname was Shen, and to be able to enter the manor that was heavily guarded by the Northern Qi Brocade Guards, there was no need to ask; she had to be the young lady of Sir Shen's family.
But he did not know what relationship this Miss Shen had with Yan Bingyun. Fan Xian smiled bitterly and thought to himself, Could it be that our great Master Yan is using a honey trap?
Miss Shen quietly stood up and looked at Yan Bingyun, who had not said a word. A crazy and vicious hatred slowly appeared in her gentle eyes. Biting her lip, she said, word by word, "I only want you to tell me one thing. Which of what you said before was true?"
Yan Bingyun tilted his head slightly and looked back with his emotionless eyes. Quietly, he said, "I am an employee of the Fourth Bureau of the Qing Overwatch Council. Miss Shen should know very well that none of what I said was true."
Wei Hua glanced at Fan Xian, who had been watching coldly from the side. Afraid that if the young lady continued to speak, these southern officials would laugh at her. He quickly ordered people to drag Miss Shen out.
Miss Shen coldly shook off the hands of the Brocade Guards. Looking at Yan Bingyun, who remained unmoving in his chair, she said miserably, "Good, good. What a sentimental Yan Bingyun."
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