What a sentimental Yan Bingyun!
These earnest words were filled with heartbreak and despair. Even Fan Xian, who had a heart of steel, could not help but sigh when he heard this. Wei Hua's face was filled with rage. He looked at Yan Bingyun, who was sitting calmly in his chair, as if he wanted to immediately tear this enemy spy to pieces.
Following a series of barely audible sobs, Miss Shen was finally invited out of the manor's cell.
Fan Xian sighed again. "What a sentimental woman." Even though he said this, he had many doubts in his heart. Even if that young lady was the daughter of Shen Zhong, the head of the Brocade Guard in Northern Qi, and even if Yan Bingyun had some sort of emotional entanglement with her during his years in Northern Qi … who was Yan Bingyun? She was the highest-ranking spy of the Qing Kingdom that Northern Qi had captured in the past 15 years. How could they have allowed Miss Shen to walk in and put on a show in front of the Qing Kingdom's envoys?
Suddenly, he understood what his counterparts in the north were thinking.
The cell, which did not look like a prison cell, was much quieter. Sitting in his chair, Yan Bingyun did not stand up. He only poured himself a cup of tea and slowly sipped it. This powerful figure, who had been hiding in Northern Qi for many years, had a frosty expression on his face. He gave off the feeling that he did not care about anything — not even his own life or death.
Wei Hua seemed to have calmed down from his earlier anger. He looked at Yan Bingyun and frowned. "Mister Yan, no matter how you look at it, we have been good friends for the past two years … We all serve our respective countries, and this is not a big deal. But please remember, there are some things that I can never forgive. After you leave this time, please remember not to set foot in Northern Qi again. His Majesty has already sent a secret edict through Master Shen. If you dare set foot in Northern Qi again, Northern Qi will cut off your head even if it costs the lives of 3,000 cavalrymen."
Yan Bingyun half-lowered his head, as if he had not heard what Wei Hua had said. His fingers gently played with the handle of his teacup. Ever since his identity had been exposed last year and he had been imprisoned, this great scholar Yun, who had once been a social figure in Shangjing, seemed to have become a natural mute.
"Today, I am here to see him," Fan Xian said expressionlessly to Wei Hua. Fan Xian expressionlessly said to Wei Hua, "I need a specific date. When can I take him back to the diplomatic mission?"
"He can't return to the diplomatic mission, so he can only sneak out of Shangjing. Do you know how many people in Shangjing … want to tear your Lord Yan's fresh meat apart?" Wei Hua said coldly.
Fan Xian shook his head. "His Majesty has decreed that I must bring Sir Yan back to the diplomatic mission. As for the cover-up, we will do it. Do you think we want to stir up unnecessary trouble?"
Wei Hua frowned. He knew that Xiao En and Si Lili had already entered Shangjing. In this secret agreement, the Qing Kingdom had already made the first move. They could not delay any longer. Furthermore, Fan Xian's intrusion into his manor had indeed provoked much criticism. But his seemingly absurd proposal had, for some reason, moved the people of the palace, as well as Master Shen, who held a great deal of power in his hands.
"I'll get the paperwork done right away."
Fan Xian nodded calmly and said, "Can you make things easier for me? I would like to speak with Sir Yan alone. "
Wei Hua frowned. If Fan Xian really wanted to discuss something, he could have waited until Yan Bingyun returned to the diplomatic mission. Wouldn't that have been more secretive? After thinking about it, he still had no idea what Fan Xian wanted. He nodded and signaled for the vice-provost to leave with him.
Only Fan Xian, Wang Qinian … and Yan Bingyun, who had his head half-lowered and was incomparably cold, remained in the room.
— — —
Fan Xian had no self-awareness that he was in the prison of an enemy nation's Brocade Guard. With a warm smile on his face, he dragged a chair and sat in front of Yan Bingyun. Looking at the young man's handsome face, he said, "I am Fan Xian."
Fan Xian knew that before Yan Bingyun was arrested, he had already entered the capital. As the head of the Overwatch Council in the north, Yan Bingyun must have heard of his name.
As expected, after hearing Fan Xian's name, Yan Bingyun's fingers slowly left the slippery handle of the teacup. He raised his head and looked at Fan Xian.
But his eyes were full of mockery and disdain, which surprised Fan Xian.
"Fan Xian? The illegitimate son of the Minister of Revenue, Fan Jian. He grew up in Danzhou, likes to drink, has no talent, that's all. " Yan Bingyun spoke again. His voice was soft and gentle, completely at odds with the cold expression on his face. "What are you doing here?"
Fan Xian sighed. "I say, Sir Yan, you've been locked up for over half a year. The world has changed a lot. First of all, my father has become the Minister of Revenue. Secondly, the untalented me is now the head envoy of the diplomatic mission. My main purpose in coming to Northern Qi is to bring you back home. " For some reason, Yan Bingyun seemed to loathe the name Fan Xian. Fan Xian didn't understand why.
"Bring me back home?" Yan Bingyun slowly raised his head again. He was only in his twenties, but his eyebrows were already mixed with a few strands of silver, giving him a strange appearance. "Who are you? Why should I believe you? "
"I am Fan Xian, the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council." Fan Xian knew that as the head of the secret service, Yan Bingyun would be very careful. Yan Bingyun must still be wondering whether or not Fan Xian was a Qi spy. So he took the token from his waist and waved it in front of Yan Bingyun's eyes.
Yan Bingyun's eyes swept over the wooden token, and he frowned. He knew that this token was extremely difficult to forge, but he still couldn't believe that this man in front of him, who was even younger than him, had become the Commissioner of the Council. The Commissioner was a transcendent existence under the Director. The Eight Bureaus were not under his jurisdiction, but in reality, they were all restricted by him.
And during this half a year of imprisonment, Yan Bingyun had long since sealed off his mind. He wouldn't believe anything that seemed unreasonable. He didn't dare take any risks, because any information he revealed could completely destroy Qing's spy network in Northern Qi. This was a serious matter, and he had to be careful.
Wang Qinian, who had been silent all this time, stepped forward and said quietly, "Sir Yan, Sir Fan is the newly appointed Commissioner. He came north specifically to rescue you from prison."
Yan Bingyun looked at Wang Qinian coldly. "You are Sir Wang of the First Bureau?"
"That's right." Facing Yan Bingyun, who had been sitting peacefully on the chair, Wang Qinian did not know why he felt a little nervous. When he thought about how Yan Bingyun had already been locked up for half a year, Wang Qinian did not know whether to admire or pity him.
"I don't need you to confirm my identity." Fan Xian gently patted Yan Bingyun on the shoulder and smiled. "This matter is almost over. You can keep quiet and follow the diplomatic mission back home. Don't speak until you see Chen Pingping or your father. I think that will make you feel more at ease."
Hearing this, Yan Bingyun frowned. He knew that this could not be a scheme of Northern Qi.
But Fan Xian saw something strange in Yan Bingyun's frown. His face grew cold, and he carefully reached out to Yan Bingyun's collar.
Yan Bingyun raised his head and looked at him. There was a hint of ridicule in his cold eyes. "You want to see?" he asked softly.
"Yes." Fan Xian calmly grunted. Then he slowly pulled open Yan Bingyun's white robe. The robe was as plain as the clouds and as white as snow. As the cloth separated from Yan Bingyun's body, there was a very faint tearing sound.
Yan Bingyun's expression didn't change. Not even his eyebrows twitched.
Fan Xian's expression grew unsightly. Underneath the white robe was the horrifying skin on Yan Bingyun's neck. It was covered in red and purple scars. Clearly, they were new flesh. It seemed that he had been resting for a long time to recover to his present state. There were so many wounds on his neck alone. One could only imagine what kind of torture Yan Bingyun had endured under the cover of this loose white robe.
Wang Qinian cursed a few times. Fan Xian's expression returned to normal. Looking at Yan Bingyun's cold face, he asked, "How long has it been since you've been tortured?"
"Three months," Yan Bingyun replied with a smile. Yan Bingyun replied with a smile. It seemed that this body, which had suffered half a year of terrifying torture, was not his.
Fan Xian carefully tidied up his collar and sighed. "Northern Qi knew when we would arrive, so they stopped for three months. After three months, the wounds are still so terrible. Sir Yan, you have suffered. "
Yan Bingyun looked at him lightly. It seemed that he was not satisfied with the commissioner's words. "It seems that your concern is unnecessary," he said coldly.
Fan Xian was speechless. He didn't know what to say. He had only wanted to express his concern, but he had been ridiculed as not being professional enough.
…
…
"Before the agreement is confirmed, I won't say anything." Yan Bingyun looked into Fan Xian's eyes. "I'm just curious. What method did the court use to rescue me from the hands of Northern Qi?"
Without waiting for Fan Xian and Wang Qinian to reply, Yan Bingyun took a deep breath. "Don't tell me that the court would be stupid enough to trade the grasslands of Qianlong Bay for a useless person like me."
"Don't worry. Even if I was willing, His Majesty wouldn't be so stupid." Fan Xian shook his head helplessly. He explained the general contents of the agreement to Yan Bingyun.
The room suddenly sank into a strange silence. Yan Bingyun lowered his head and didn't speak for a long time. Fan Xian looked at him. Suddenly, he heard Yan Bingyun mutter to himself, "Using Xiao En to trade for me?"
"Idiot!"
Yan Bingyun suddenly raised his head and stared at Fan Xian with a mocking and angry gaze. But he still calmly suppressed his voice to a whisper.
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