It’s hard to break a phoenix’s destiny

Chapter 480: Good Food and Wine to Judge the Prisoner

"Because the weather is cold, the wine should be warmed up." Yang Xianrong looked at the daughter's red wine that Yuan Heshuo brought in, "Is there a small wine stove to warm up the wine?"

She spoke very gently, but with an unquestionable majesty, so that even though Yuan Heshuo was reluctant, he still asked the jailers to find another small wine stove and send it in.

The jailer was very happy to be able to do things in front of Yang Xianrong. After all, being able to sneak a peek at such a beauty would make him feel very satisfied.

Yang Xianrong was also very generous, and said to the jailer: "Don't pour too much wine, it will overflow. You stay here to guard this small wine stove, add some charcoal in time to keep it hot. Oh, and the roasted lamb can be roasted outside first, cut into small pieces and sent in. Or, find another small stove, this roasted lamb also needs to be eaten hot."

She gave the order very naturally, but the officials felt extremely uncomfortable listening to it, and many of them frowned.

Qin Chaoge glanced at Xu Henian and motioned him not to come over, and he went straight out to help prepare. Anyway, he knew the jailers to some extent, and he had been to the imperial palace jail many times, so he was very familiar with it.

With Qin Chaoge's help, everything was finally ready and placed in front of Yang Xianrong. Now the wine was warmed in the small wine stove, and the aroma of the wine gradually spread. Roasted lamb itself was extremely delicious, and the smell was even more appetizing. Even Sima Chi couldn't help but eat a piece first, and then squinted his eyes in satisfaction.

The jailer stood by and gently waved a palm-leaf fan to make the flames more vigorous, while also observing the changes in the small stove at all times to prevent the wine from overflowing.

Yuan Heshuo and Pu Jinshan, who were sitting aside temporarily acting as recorders, couldn't help but sniff and swallow.

The thief Hong Tianquan was brought over.

Handcuffs and shackles are available.

Judging from his appearance, he had been beaten, but not seriously. At least, he was in high spirits. When he smelled the aroma of wine and meat, he opened his eyes wide to look for the source.

He was pinned to the ground by the jailer, but he was able to raise his head and look at Yang Xianrong and Sima Chi. Even if he had never seen the emperor, he could guess that this was probably a person of high status. Hong Tianquan was stunned for a moment, but he was still attracted by Yang Xianrong's pretty face, which attracted his whole soul.

"How bold!" Qin Chaoge roared with a dark face.

"Oh." Hong Tianquan was still looking at Yang Xianrong, and Yang Xianrong was also looking at him, holding a white jade wine glass in her hand, shaking it gently, and then taking another sip. Her graceful movements and white fingers actually made his whole body soften, and he didn't even think about struggling.

Yang Xianrong placed Hong Tianquan's confession in front of her, written on bamboo slips. One, two, three... The room suddenly became extremely quiet, and everyone was waiting for her to speak.

"Are you from Luoyang?"

When Yang Xianrong opened her mouth, her voice was soft and gentle, and it didn't sound like she was trying a case, but rather like she was chatting about family matters.

Hong Tianquan looked at her intently and nodded.

"Are you really from Luoyang?" Yang Xianrong asked again, glancing at Yuan Heshuo.

Yuan Heshuo was also stunned for a moment before he realized to write down this sentence as a record of Hong Tianquan's interrogation.

This time, Hong Tianquan made a sound, although it was not very loud, but it was also quite powerful, "Yes!"

"How old are you this year?" Yang Xianrong continued to ask.

"Thirty-eight!" Hong Tianquan's mind was completely focused on Yang Xianrong's face, and he didn't even want to blink.

"Luoyang is also very big. Do you live in the city or the countryside?" Yang Xianrong took another sip of wine, felt a little choked, and coughed twice.

"I live in the city." Hong Tianquan suddenly blushed. "Are your parents still alive?" Yang Xianrong took the handkerchief Cui Xi handed over, covered her mouth, and put down the white jade cup.

Sima Chi picked up the wine glass and played with it in his hand, refusing to let Yang Xianrong drink any more.

Yang Xianrong could only smile at him. Hong Tianquan, who was kneeling on the ground, felt dizzy again, as if he was the one who had just drunk the wine.

"I'm asking you a question, why don't you answer it?" Yang Xianrong turned around and asked him.

"Oh, ahem, um... I'm so unfortunate, both my parents are gone." Hong Tianquan stuttered.

"Do you have any brothers or sisters?" Yang Xianrong's black and white eyes were as clear as a deer's.

"I have three brothers in my family, and I am the eldest." Hong Tianquan continued to answer.

"Then do you have a wife and children?" Yang Xianrong kept asking questions.

Yuan Heshuo and Pu Jinshan were both taking notes, but their brows were obviously frowned.

In fact, there were quite a few people gathered outside the jailer's lounge. Although they did not reveal their figures, they were all standing closely around and listening carefully to their conversation.

"I have two sons. One is already eighteen years old and is about to get married! Who knows, he might even give me a big fat grandson next year! The younger one is thirteen years old and still eats white rice at home. He is so lazy."

"So what does your family do? Do you have any business to make a living?"

"How can that be possible? It's just like living off the fat of the land. If you have nothing to eat, you can go out and look for something, do odd jobs or something to earn some money."

"It's really pitiful." Yang Xianrong sighed, covered his mouth with a handkerchief and coughed twice.

But the conversation between the two was all meaningless nonsense. Hong Tianquan was asked the same questions when he was interrogated before.

The faces of the ministers standing outside watching were already dark. They thought Yang Xianrong would at least show the majesty of the imperial power and ask a lot of questions. Some people had seen Yang Xianrong's sharp words when he found out the main culprit in Sima Ying's wife-killing case, but they didn't expect that this time all the questions were trivial matters that had nothing to do with the case. They couldn't help but feel annoyed, and some even rolled up their sleeves and planned to leave.

Yuan Heshuo was still recording, and Sima Chi was just staring at Yang Xianrong's every move. Yang Xianrong thought the roasted lamb was delicious, so she reached out and pinched a small piece, put it in her mouth, chewed it gently a few times, and swallowed it.

Hong Tianquan couldn't help swallowing again.

"Friend Xu, can I have another sip of wine?" Yang Xianrong looked at Xu Henian who was standing beside her.

Xu Henian pursed his lips and said, "It seems impossible."

"How about just a small bite? After all, we ate lamb." Her voice became soft, and everyone felt itchy.

"Then you should go back and take the medicine first." Xu Henian didn't like the tone of her voice, because the gazes around him were becoming more and more naked.

"Then let's go back first. I am also a little tired." Yang Xianrong stood up, "Your Majesty, please come back tomorrow."

"What?" Sima Chi didn't react for a moment and didn't even stand up.

"Let's go." Yang Xianrong laughed again. Her smile was so charming that Sima Chi felt dizzy again. He couldn't control himself and lay down on the kang.