Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 286: Talented Yang Serves the King

At midnight, the cold moon is silent.

The prisons in the Nei Lingfu are made of pure iron, with three layers inside and outside. Sneak into the Nei Lingfu to rescue someone is no less difficult than assassinating the emperor.

There are many types of cells, including dark cells, water cells, hanging cells, etc.

For those spies who are not in a hurry to be interrogated, the best option is to throw them into a dark cell and lock them up for a few months.

The cell was a small space of about ten feet square, dark and without a trace of light.

Even the meals were delivered through a small window on the iron gate, and you couldn't see the person delivering the meals at all.

Being locked up here, people will feel isolated and lonely and lose their sense of time.

No matter how strong a person is, his will will gradually wear away and collapse.

Before the outcome of the Liaodong War came out, Jin Yan was still imprisoned in a hanging cell, and was subjected to various tortures by the inner guards every day. It was difficult to see a piece of intact skin on his body.

However, after the war, her importance was greatly reduced and she was thrown into a dark prison.

She didn't know how long she had been locked up, but it gradually became unbearable. There was no light, no sound, she couldn't see anyone, and she couldn't see herself.

She was left with only consciousness, and sometimes she even forgot that she had a body and how long she had been locked up here.

She would rather continue to be tortured by the Tang people than stay here.

Her thinking became slower and slower, her memory became more and more blurred, and there seemed to be a voice in the darkness whispering to her.

"Speak out, free yourself. Nothing in this world is important, so why cling to it?"

Just as Jin Yan's consciousness was slowly fading, a "click" sound suddenly rang out.

This voice instantly pulled her back to the world from the abyss of despair, and her eyes instantly regained clarity and determination.

In the dark cell, you can't hear any sound except when you are being taken in and out.

With a "click", the iron door was pushed open. The dazzling candlelight made Jin Yan curl up in the corner, shielding her face with her arms.

But the other party didn't wait for her to adjust to the light. Two strong arms pulled her up and dragged her out of the dark prison.

Jin Yan was quickly taken to an interrogation room and sat on an iron chair with her hands and feet locked.

It was night time, and the interrogation room was dimly lit with only two wall lamps on.

However, this is just right for Jin Yan.

Her vision had become somewhat accustomed to the situation, and as she squinted her eyes and looked ahead, she noticed a man with a stern face standing in front of her.

She recognized him as the leader of the Tang Dynasty's inner guards, named Wang Jishan, so she said calmly, "General Wang, you don't think that if you lock me up for a few months, I'll start talking, do you?"

Wang Jishan said coldly, "A few months? Humph, you were only imprisoned for more than half a month."

Jin Yan's expression froze. "No matter how long you keep me locked up, I won't speak. You'd better not waste your time."

Wang Jishan clapped his hands twice.

I heard footsteps and two people walked in from the side door.

When the first person saw Jin Yan, he said in a trembling voice, "Ayan!" He took a few quick steps and it was An Lie.

Jin Yan glanced at him and ignored him. She sneered at Wang Jishan and said, "Wang, you don't think that bringing this fool I deceived here will persuade me to speak, do you?"

Seeing Jin Yan in such a mess and with a hoarse voice, An Lie felt a pang of pain in his heart and walked towards Jin Yan.

After taking a few steps, he was stopped by two inner guards.

Wang Jishan glanced at Zhang Sunquan who was standing behind An Lie. Zhang Sunquan reminded him, "An Lie, don't forget your purpose."

An Lie took a deep breath and said, "Yan'er, your mother was killed by the King of Baekje. Don't work for him anymore!"

Jin Yan's eyes flashed with a fierce look, and she angrily said, "Do you think I will fall for this nonsense?"

An Lie said anxiously, "It's true. A Baekje person came and told me."

Jin Yan angrily said, "Shut up, shut up!"

Wang Jishan saw that she was very emotional and no longer as calm as before, and knew that An Lie's words had hit her heart.

His eyes flickered a few times, and he crossed his arms and said, "Madam Jin, I should have told you before that we used a trick to defeat the Baekje main force by giving you a fake coastal defense map."

"Your king might think you've betrayed Baekje and kill your mother. Isn't that a natural thing to do?"

Jin Yan bit her lower lip and said, "My mother is the king's sister. The king will not kill her. Don't try to deceive me!"

Struggling violently in the chair.

Wang Jishan said indifferently, "Is that so? But according to the information I received, your mother has Mahan blood and secretly allied with Mahan nobles to fight against the rule of the Buyeo people. She has always been disliked by King Uija. I am afraid that King Uija has wanted to kill her for a long time."

Jin Yan trembled all over, suddenly lowered her head, and her shoulders trembled slightly.

Wang Jishan said to Changsun Quan, "Prince Consort, let her think about it for a while. There's no need to rush." ​​Changsun Quan nodded and said to An Lie, "Let's go."

An Lie suddenly knelt at Wang Jishan's feet and said, "General Wang, can you lock me up here too? I want to be with Yan'er."

Wang Jishan said, "No."

"Then just lock me up in a cell and keep me closer to Yan'er!"

Wang Jishan said coldly, "What do you think this place is?"

Chang Sunquan hurriedly said, "General Wang, calm down. I will take him away right away."

Just then, Jin Yan's low and hoarse voice sounded.

"An Lie, did the Baekje man who told you the news tell you who sent him?"

An Lie hurriedly said, "He said it was a Baekje man named Heichi Changzhi."

Jin Yan suddenly raised her head and looked at him without blinking.

"Where is Heichi Chang? Why doesn't he come to Chang'an in person?"

An Lie said, "The Baekje people also said that Heichi Changzhi was imprisoned by the Baekje King for pleading for your mother."

Jin Yan smiled sadly and said, "Then it's not his fault. An Lie, look into my eyes."

An Lie stared at Jin Yan and said, "Yan'er, please believe me."

Jin Yan looked him in the eye and said slowly, "I know you are a Zoroastrian. I want you to swear in the name of Goddess Nana that what you just said is true!"

An Lie loudly swore a "sand oath" commonly used by the Sogdians.

"I swear in the name of Goddess Nana, if I told even a single lie in what I just said, I will be buried in the sand and perish under the scorching sun!"

Jin Yan's eyes were filled with tears. She tilted her head back and sobbed, "Fuyu Yici, you cold and venomous snake, I will never let you go!"

Wang Jishan saw that she had finally been persuaded to rebel, and ordered his men, "Take Jin Niangzi to wash herself, change into clean clothes, and give her something to eat."

Jin Yan wiped away her tears and said in a deep voice, "No need. If you want to know anything, you can ask me now!"

Wang Jishan looked at her sideways and said, "Don't worry. I will report your case to His Majesty. Perhaps His Majesty will come to see you in person."

……

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty?"

Li Zhi was sitting on the couch in a daze when he suddenly heard Yang Cairen remind him.

Li Zhi smiled and waved his hand, saying, "I'm sorry, I was distracted."

Yang Cairen lowered her head and said quietly, "Don't blame your Majesty. It's just that my music is too boring, not as good as Concubine Zheng's, so your Majesty is distracted."

This petite talent always has a sense of self-pity. Whenever something happens, she always looks for the reasons in herself.

Li Zhi smiled and said, "I was just thinking about state affairs. Your pipa music is very good, no worse than the imperial concubine's."

Yang Cairen finally burst into laughter and said, "Then I will play another song for Your Majesty."

Li Zhi did not get distracted this time and listened carefully to her playing.

When playing the pipa, Concubine Zheng preferred pieces with more high notes, which were crisp and cheerful and would make people feel relaxed.

Yang Cairen is good at playing gentle and lingering music. The sound of the pipa is mainly in the middle and low notes, which are soft, round, deep and mellow.

Although Concubine Zheng had better skills, Concubine Yang's style was also very fresh and Li Zhi rarely heard it in his daily life.

When she finished playing the song, Li Zhi clapped his hands and praised, "Not bad."

Yang Cairen smiled slightly, climbed onto the couch, came behind Li Zhi, and said softly: "Your Majesty is busy with state affairs, let me massage you a little."

She reached out and gently pulled Li Zhi, letting him lean on her soft breasts, and then gently kneaded Li Zhi's temples with both hands.

When it comes to serving others, she and veteran concubines like Zheng Cairen are both at the top level.

Yang Cairen's massage skills are even better than those of Concubine Zheng and Empress Wu, and she is considered to be the best in the harem.

Li Zhi massaged her for a while, and she felt extremely comfortable all over and slowly closed her eyes.

He originally planned to come to Yang Cairen's place just to listen to music and go to Xu Jin's palace to sleep at night.

As a result, he was so comfortable with Yang Cairen's service that when it was time for dinner, he simply stayed in Yang Cairen's room and had dinner with her.

That night, he sent someone to the main hall of Penglai Palace to say hello, and then stayed.

This is also the first time that Concubine Yang has served the emperor since she left the mountain and returned to the courtyard.

……

(End of this chapter)