The Ministry of Justice's prison cells were no different from prison cells anywhere else—sturdy iron locks on the doors and cruel torture instruments. Manyao had just been shoved into a cell when a slender figure lunged toward her.
"Master! Where did you go? What exactly happened last night? How could there be so many corpses at the tea garden? Are you hurt..."
It was Ling'er. Upon seeing Manyao, she unleashed a torrent of anxious questions. Manyao's heart warmed at the sound. She gently patted Ling'er's hand and smiled faintly. "I'm fine."
Only then did Ling'er relax. She told Manyao that when they had entered the tea garden that morning and seen corpses everywhere but couldn't find her, they had been terrified. Just as they were preparing to report it to the authorities, government officials had arrived and seized everyone from the estate without a word of explanation, dragging them all here. Only Xiao Sha hadn't been captured.
The others from the tea garden locked in the surrounding cells gathered close, crying out anxiously, "Young Master."
Manyao comforted them. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine."
Her composure was calm and unhurried; her clear eyes held a power that set people's hearts at ease, and everyone fell silent. Manyao's gaze landed on Chenyu in the opposite cell—the only one who showed no sign of anxiety. Chenyu smiled when she saw Manyao looking, expressing her complete trust in Manyao's words. Manyao nodded and began to ponder: Those black-clad men Zongzheng Wuyou had called the Wuxiao Men—who had paid to hire them? And those dozen or so black-clad men had already been killed inside the garden, so who were the people who had followed her outside the tea garden last night? Zongzheng Wuyou never attended morning court. How had news of the assassination attempt on Prince Li reached the ears of the Lintian Emperor? The Ministry of Justice had sent people to arrest them from the garden so early in the morning—wasn't that too strange?
"After you were arrested, did they hold a formal trial or interrogation?" Manyao asked.
Ling'er shook her head.
Manyao's heart sank slightly. They had arrested people and held them here all day without asking anything. What were they waiting for? Or rather, who were they waiting for?
"Master, are we really going to be all right?" Ling'er asked worriedly, seeing her expression change.
Manyao frowned and said softly, "If the Ministry of Justice truly wants to find the mastermind behind the assassination attempt on Prince Li, then we'll only be here for two or three days at most before we're released. What I'm afraid of is..." She stopped here. Ling'er stared at her with wide, nervous eyes, waiting for her to continue, but Manyao said no more. She was afraid that they intended to use torture to extract confessions, that all they wanted was a scapegoat. In that case, it would be difficult for them to walk out of here alive.
Ling'er didn't get the rest of her words, but seeing her grave expression, she realized it was something bad. She whispered, "At worst, we'll reveal our identities. Let's see who would dare touch a single hair on your head!"
"No." Manyao's gaze shifted, and she immediately stopped her. In a low, solemn voice, she instructed, "Remember this: No matter what happens, my identity must absolutely not be revealed."
Ling'er asked curiously, "Why?"
Manyao's brow furrowed, her gaze darkening slightly. Slowly, she said, "Because my identity is very sensitive. It's easily exploited by those with ulterior motives."
Ling'er blinked, indicating she didn't understand. Manyao sighed, "Prince Li is skilled in strategy. Last time, he used his schemes to crush Beiyi Kingdom, causing the various nations to fear him. It's hard to say whether this wasn't part of the reason the Emperor chose Prince Li for this marriage alliance. After I arrived here and he rejected the marriage, the Emperor intended to change the candidate, but I fought for half a year... Now, Prince Li was assassinated at my tea garden. If people learn of my identity at this time, it will inevitably invite suspicion. And wouldn't the true mastermind behind the failed assassination of Prince Li use this opportunity to make a fuss? If things go badly, it could even trigger a dispute between two nations."
"It's that complicated!" Ling'er was stunned. Then she asked, "Then what should we do?"
Manyao fell silent for a moment. Slowly, she lowered her eyelashes, her gaze deep and distant. Softly, she said, "Right now, only one person can save us..."
The air in the cell was dark, damp, and carried a moldy stench. Before long, Manyao felt her head growing heavy again and her cheeks burning hot. When Xiao Sha disguised himself as a jailer delivering food and sneaked in, she didn't even recognize him at first. After she did recognize him, she quietly wrote a character in his palm. Xiao Sha was startled, then left. By nightfall, Manyao's body was burning up again, seemingly worse than the night before. Ling'er was so anxious she didn't know what to do, pounding on the cell door and shouting outside, "Someone! Hurry! Our master is sick! Please fetch a physician!"
"What's all the shouting? What's all the shouting?!" a jailer came over, cursing. "Keep making noise, and I'll serve you with a whip! Who do you think you are? Better if you die from illness—if you're all dead, I won't have to stand guard here so late!"
"You, you, you..." Ling'er was too furious to speak. Manyao waved her hand weakly. "Forget it. Nothing we say will help. Since we entered this place, they never intended to let us leave alive."
Ling'er spat angrily at the jailer's retreating back, "Bullying others because of your power! Don't let me run into you later!"
That night.
Manyao was leaning against the wall, sitting on the ground in a daze, when a bucket of cold water suddenly woke her. Her body shuddered. Before she could react, she was already being dragged out. Behind her, she heard Ling'er's panicked voice: "Master, Master... What are you doing? Where are you taking my master?"
Manyao was brought to a torture chamber. Dozens of instruments were arranged in rows, each one sufficient to make a person wish for death. The fire in the furnace burned fiercely, crackling and spraying sparks. The bailiffs threw her to the ground like a tattered rag. Her wet hair clung messily to her face; her hands and feet were numb and painful, her entire body weak. She barely lifted her head and saw a person standing before her, wearing official robes, obese, with a pair of crossed eyes.
"Lord Yu!" Manyao watched him warily, frowning as she asked, "During the day you didn't hold a trial or interrogation. What's the meaning of bringing me here in the middle of the night?"
The Minister of Justice, Lord Yu, bent over in surprise. "You recognize this official? Good, then I needn't waste any more words on you. This is the confession of your crime for hiring assassins to murder Prince Li. If you're sensible and obediently sign and fingerprint it, you can avoid the pain of physical punishment."
A written confession was thrown before her. She glanced at it and couldn't help laughing. Without her identity as the Princess of Qiyun, they had instead pinned the identity of a Beiyi Kingdom spy on her. It seemed they were determined to see her dead.
Manyao sneered, "I had thought Lord Yu would at least go through the motions. I never imagined you would force a confession without even holding a trial!"
"This matter requires no trial. It is already very clear." Lord Yu's expression was gloomy and cold.
Manyao asked in bewilderment, "Clear? I wonder how Lord Yu came to know that I am from Beiyi Kingdom? Is there any evidence that can prove my identity?"
Lord Yu said, "It is precisely because your identity and origins cannot be investigated that you are all the more suspicious."
Manyao mocked, "You don't even know who I am, yet you dare force me to confess? Aren't you afraid of having your family exterminated and your household confiscated?"
Lord Yu started, his complexion changing slightly. "What bold words! Who are you?"
Manyao didn't answer, turning her face away.
Lord Yu looked at the deliberately arrogant yet assured expression on her face and couldn't help but hesitate, pondering inwardly. Before Manyao's heart could settle, a figure suddenly emerged from behind Lord Yu.
That person said coldly, "Stop wasting words on him! Lord Yu, can't you see he's stalling for time?"
The moment Manyao saw this person, her heart sank heavily. Her eyes shifted rapidly as she called out in a low voice, "Crown Prince!"
Indeed, it was Zongzheng Xiaoren, the Crown Prince of Lintian Kingdom. With his appearance, everything became self-evident.
"You even recognize this Crown Prince?" The Crown Prince slowly walked up to her, crouched down to look at her. His pair of narrow, fox-like eyes concealed a sinister and ruthless scheming.
Manyao hadn't expected him to show up personally! From this alone, one could see how terrified he was that the Lintian Emperor would learn he was the one behind this. Before she could answer him, the Crown Prince was already sneering coldly, "Since you recognize this Crown Prince, this Crown Prince definitely cannot keep you alive. No matter who you are, you must sign this confession today. Someone, make her fingerprint it."
Having spoken, he stood up and walked to the furnace at the side. He picked up a branding iron heated until it was glowing red, turned back with a cold smile, and said, "If she refuses, then serve her well with these things." He tossed the glowing red branding iron before her. Sparks flew everywhere, and scalding heat waves rushed toward her face, causing her body to tremble involuntarily. She hurriedly dodged aside.
Before her heart could settle, a jailer had already picked up the branding iron from the ground and advanced on her step by step. Manyao's body was weak; her palms were covered in cold sweat. She lifted her head to stare at the Crown Prince, her eyes shifting. Biting her lip, she said, "Do you think you'll be safe and sound as long as I confess? Your Highness, the Crown Prince, I might as well tell you that Prince Li has long known that you were the one who hired assassins to kill him. That night, the moment the people from Wuxiao Men made their move, he already knew. Moreover, he also knows that Your Highness once approached Wuyin Lou, but Wuyin Lou did not accept this business. So Your Highness settled for the next best thing and found the Wuxiao Men instead."
The Crown Prince's gaze shook, and his expression changed drastically. He leaned in, grasping her chin fiercely, and asked urgently, "Is what you're saying true? How do you know? He even knows clearly about my visit to Wuyin Lou?"
Manyao affirmed, "Yes, I personally heard Prince Li say it to the masked black-clad men. So killing me is useless." In truth, she wasn't certain. Wuyin Lou's reputation in the jianghu was second to none. Regardless of whether the business was completed or not, they could absolutely guarantee the secrecy of their clients' identities; there was no possibility of a leak. As for where Zongzheng Wuyou had learned of it, or whether he truly knew about this matter, she couldn't be certain. However, one thing was certain—her decision back then to not use her true identity as the Princess of Qiyun when she sought out Wuyin Lou to investigate information was the right one.
"What? He said that?" A hint of panic flashed through the Crown Prince's eyes. He released Manyao, stood up, and paced back and forth, his gait disorderly and revealing his anxiety.
"Crown Prince... this..." Lord Yu was also somewhat panicked.
But the Crown Prince stopped. His eyes turned several times, and finally, he suddenly looked up and smiled. "So what if he knows? He won't tell Father Emperor. He owes this Crown Prince. Lord Yu, hurry up and dispose of her. Don't leave behind any trouble."
Manyao was stunned. After all that, she still couldn't escape.
Lord Yu ordered people to seize Manyao and forcibly press her fingerprint down. Manyao's entire body was weak; she couldn't struggle free at all. She stared at the bright red fingerprint on the confession, as if hearing the sound of the blade falling for her beheading. Now, even jumping into the Yellow River couldn't wash her clean.
Only then did the Crown Prince leave satisfied. Before leaving, he instructed Lord Yu to handle the aftermath properly—not a single person from the tea garden could be left alive. Hearing this, Manyao was overcome with fury. She sat propped on the ground, her ten fingers clenched tightly, watching him stride out the door and disappear from sight. She was still thinking: why hasn't Xiao Sha appeared yet? Could it be that person wasn't willing to save her? If that person didn't save her, should she still insist on not revealing her identity and wait to be wrongfully executed?
Manyao was lost in thought when she suddenly heard Lord Yu exclaim, "Eh?" He asked strangely, "Why has His Highness the Crown Prince returned?"
The Crown Prince had indeed returned, except he was slowly backing up. After retreating to the doorway, Manyao saw a sword pressed against his throat. Lord Yu saw it too. His expression changed drastically, and he was about to shout "Assassin!" when Leng Yan appeared in their sight. Lord Yu's cry of "Assassin!" lodged in his throat, unable to come out.
Further back, Manyao saw Prince Li, Zongzheng Wuyou.
His face was still devastatingly handsome, unlike any mortal; his eyes were still wicked and cold, like Yama of the underworld. He gave her a faint, faint glance, and she felt as though the foot she had already stepped into the coffin was being pulled back out. The breath frozen in her chest finally relaxed, and her body lost all support, collapsing toward the ground. Before she fell, she smiled and said to him, "You... finally came..."
The first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the treetops, shining into the spacious room with its half-open window, carrying a warm, yellowish glow.
Zongzheng Wuyou sat by the bedside, turning his head to gaze at the peaceful, gentle sleeping face of the woman in slumber. She slept so soundly—so soundly it made one jealous. Thinking of what she had said before fainting, a strange feeling flashed through Zongzheng Wuyou's heart.
She had said: You finally came!
How could she be so certain he would go save her? What if he hadn't gone? What would she have done?
Zongzheng Wuyou reached out and took a medicine bowl, waiting for her to open her eyes.
It was at this moment that Manyao truly opened her eyes. The moment she opened them, she saw the man sitting quietly by the bedside. He leaned against the bed rail, holding the medicine bowl, his head slightly tilted, his wicked eyes deep and serene, gazing at her quietly with tender eyes.
Manyao was stunned, thinking she was hallucinating. She hurriedly closed her eyes again, and when she opened them once more, the scene before her hadn't changed. Zongzheng Wuyou was still there, and the tenderness she had thought impossible to appear in those wicked eyes was still there too.
"Prince Li... Your Highness?" She looked at him for several seconds before asking uncertainly.
Zongzheng Wuyou's gaze didn't change. He lazily gave an affirmative hum, his voice deep and magnetic, saying to her, "You're awake. Get up and drink the medicine." As he said this, the corners of his lips curved up slightly. A gentle smile slowly spread from his handsome lips.
Manyao stared in a daze. She had once imagined such a smile the first moment she saw him, but from the instant he had opened his eyes, she had believed his smiles could be mocking, sarcastic, cold—but never something so pure and warm. What had made him change his attitude toward her overnight? And so completely!
Manyao sat up warily, scrutinizing him with puzzled eyes, not taking the medicine bowl.
"Why is Your Highness in my room?" she asked. Immediately after asking, she felt something was wrong—if it really were her room, that would be bad! She hurriedly swept her gaze around—golden-yellow silk brocade quilts, a nanmu wood bed, a semi-circular hollow-carved screen, fine blue-and-white porcelain ornaments... This wasn't her room at all!
"This... where am I?" Actually, she didn't need to ask. She already knew.
Zongzheng Wuyou smiled. "This prince's residence. This courtyard had no name before. From now on, it shall be called Manxiang Pavilion."
Manxiang Pavilion? What did he mean by this? Manyao frowned, her belly full of questions.
"You..." She hesitated to speak, wanting to ask something yet not knowing what to ask. Because Zongzheng Wuyou's expression at this moment was so natural—so natural as if things between them were meant to be this way all along. He sat by her side, looking at her with half-lowered eyes, his posture languid. The depth revealed within his gentle gaze was like a fatal whirlpool, drawing her in to sink.
So some people, when gentle, were more terrifying than when killing. Manyao hurriedly averted her gaze, her heart unexpectedly pounding wildly, uncontrollable. Greatly alarmed, she quickly turned her head away. She had clearly long passed the age of girlish yearning and had experienced emotional turmoil and men's deceit. There was no reason she should lose her composure over a look and a smile! It must be the illness confusing her, making her resistance weak.
She thought this way, unaware of how seductive she looked in her sickly pallor, brows tightly furrowed and biting her lower lip lightly.
Zongzheng Wuyou's gaze shifted, as if bewitched. He brought the medicine bowl to his own lips, took a mouthful of medicine, then turned her face toward him and covered her delicate, tender lips with his own.
Both their hearts trembled.
Manyao's eyes widened, her mind going blank for a moment.