Who put the yellow robe on me?

"Your Highness..." Yang Ai's voice was hoarse and timid. She struggled to stand up, but because she hadn't eaten for a long time, her movements were shaky and she almost fell.

Jiang Chen looked calm as he slowly gestured to Xiong Zhiheng to open the cell door.

"Don't stay too long after you go in." Xiong Zhiheng reminded in a low voice. He saluted Jiang Chen and stepped aside. The iron door of the cell made a harsh creaking sound.

Jiang Chen slowly walked up to Yang Ai, put down the food box in his hand, opened the lid, and the pastries inside exuded a faint fragrance, instantly dispelling the dead air in the cell.

"I heard from Han Qingsong that you like the cakes from Zuiyue Tower," Jiang Chen said in a gentle tone, his eyes as calm as an ancient well, "so I sent someone to buy some for you."

Yang Ai stared at the box of pastries, a flicker of hesitation and uncertainty in her eyes. She lowered her head to sniff the sweet aroma, but her stomach growled uncontrollably, and a trace of shame crossed her face. She hesitated for a moment, then finally sat down, picked up a piece, and carefully took a bite.

The pastry melted in her mouth, sweet yet sour, exactly the signature flavor of Zuiyuelou. However, she didn't feel delighted. Instead, she looked up at Jiang Chen with some caution.

"Why does Your Highness treat me like this?" She asked in a calm tone, hiding her inner uneasiness.

Jiang Chen's mouth curled up slightly, "Aren't you afraid that I'll poison the cakes?"

Yang Ai looked up and looked at him for a moment, a hint of stubbornness flashed in her eyes, and a sneer appeared at the corner of her mouth: "If Your Highness wanted to take my life, you would not have come to this cell today." When she said this, her tone was indifferent, but there was a hint of self-deprecation.

Jiang Chen smiled, looking quite satisfied: "You are smarter than your brothers."

Yang Ai ate a piece of cake. Her throat seemed dry from not eating for a long time, making it difficult to swallow. After swallowing with difficulty, she asked, "Your Highness, what brings you here today?"

Jiang Chen slightly restrained his smile and said seriously, "I want to know everything that Concubine De arranged for you to do."

Yang Ai's face turned pale instantly, a complicated look appeared in his eyes, and he didn't speak for a long time.

Jiang Chen looked at her reaction and had already made some judgment in his mind, but he did not rush. Instead, he picked up a piece of cake and took a bite, and said casually: "If you don't say it, you and your third brother will die in this prison of the Ministry of Justice, right?"

Yang Ai opened her mouth, as if about to say something, but swallowed it back. She stared down at the cake in her hand, her fingertips trembling slightly.

The cold air in the prison seemed to penetrate her thin clothes, making her shiver.

Jiang Chen saw through her hesitation and continued in a steady voice, "Yang Da is dead. You and Yang Shan have been imprisoned in this prison of the Ministry of Justice for several days. Do you expect your fourth and fifth brothers to come and rescue you?"

Yang Ai pursed her lips, her eyes showing struggle, but she still didn't speak.

Jiang Chen chuckled, a hint of sarcasm in his tone: "Or, do you think your fourth and fifth brothers will follow the secret order of Concubine De and continue to hunt me down?"

Yang Ai took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly: "Empress Defei will rescue us."

Jiang Chen's expression grew even colder upon hearing this. He stared into Yang Ai's eyes as if he were looking at a clueless child. "To Consort De, the five of you brothers and sisters are nothing more than useless deadpools. Your fourth and fifth brothers are fine; at least they still have a chance to assassinate me. But you and your third brother are both imprisoned in this prison within the Ministry of Justice. Guess what she'll do?"

The corners of Yang Ai's mouth twitched slightly, and a look of disbelief flashed in his eyes.

Jiang Chen didn't give her a chance to refute, and said coldly: "You saw it in the ruined temple at that time. I was surrounded by many experts. Among the five of you brothers and sisters, Yang Da and Yang Shan are the strongest, right? In this situation, you can't do anything to me, not to mention if my Western Region soldiers return to the capital..."

Jiang Chen's words were not finished when his voice suddenly stopped. Such silence was more disturbing than direct words, and Yang Ai's face was full of worry.

There seemed to be an invisible sense of oppression in the air. Yang Ai clenched the pastry in her hand, and her knuckles turned slightly white from the force.

She slowly raised her head and looked at Jiang Chen, her voice so low it was almost inaudible, "Your Highness, how can I trust you? What if I tell you about Concubine De's affairs, and you ignore us siblings? What then?"

A sneer appeared on Jiang Chen's lips: "I can send Yang Shan out of the capital first."

These words hit Yang Ai's heart like a heavy hammer. Her pupils shrank slightly and her inner defenses began to waver.

"Xiao Ai! Don't listen to him!" Yang Shan's roar came from the cell next door. His voice was hoarse but resounding. "Empress Defei will never forgive us!"

Yang Ai's body trembled slightly, and her already wavering heart hesitated again. She bit her lip, lowered her head, and remained silent. For a moment, only Yang Shan's roar echoed between the walls of the cell.

Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, silently cursing Yang Shan for his excessive talk. He adjusted his tone and slowly said, "For attacking the prince, Yang Shan's body should have been left exposed in the wilderness, but I have already sent people to bury his body outside the capital."

Hearing this, Yang Ai could no longer control her inner emotions, tears welling up in her eyes. She covered her mouth, not wanting her crying to reveal too much vulnerability, but in the end, she couldn't hold back her sobs.

Jiang Chen didn't say anything more, just looked at her quietly, without any sympathy in his eyes, only rationality and calmness.

After a long moment, he stood up, turned around, and said, "Xiao Ai, if you tell me everything you know, I'll send someone to replace Yang Shan and get him out of the capital tomorrow. After that, I'll also let you out of this dungeon."

Jiang Chen turned around and said in a slightly cold voice, "If you still insist on doing this, Yang Shan will die of the cold tomorrow. I won't kill you either. I will capture Yang Si and Yang Wu and lock them up next to you, so that you can watch your loved ones die before your eyes."

Every word he said was like a cold knife, piercing Yang Ai's heart. "The life or death of you four siblings depends entirely on your decision."

After saying that, Jiang Chen stopped looking at her and slowly walked towards the door.

"Your Highness!" Just as he reached the prison door, he suddenly heard Yang Ai's choked voice behind him.

Jiang Chen raised the corner of his mouth into a barely perceptible smile, but he did not turn around and just stood there quietly.

Yang Ai clutched the cloth on her knees tightly with both hands, her fingertips had turned white, as if this was the only way to prevent her from collapsing.

She raised her head, tears streaming down her cheeks, and choked out, "Your Highness... I hope you can keep your promise!"

Jiang Chen turned around and smiled: "Although you have no choice now, I will still keep my promise!"

……